SSScout

As WB Staff, I asked this question and was told: "it depends" * extensions are granted (house burning down just might qualify!) * ticket item situation might change due to no fault of the participant. * or... just sloth and poor planning might lead to a missed deadline, in which case, the participant can take the course again... AND "it depends" whether or not they would be REQUIRED to take the two weekends again, or just plan another set of tickets. That's what I was told. Now, that being said, I met an older man with a chest full of square knots. He said that this was the SIXTH WB he had been to, in more than one council. He just liked the comraderie and such... He was a 4 beader, but did not wear them thru the course, he was just "one of the boys". No, he was not a "plant" from National. Everyone on Staff knew about him.

Thanks, S/N, I couldn't get the National source to work...

http://www.boyscouts-ncac.org/openrosters/DocDownload.asp?orgkey=1933&id=33083 It really is all inclusive. The "Cub Scout Outdoor Program Guidelines for 2007" is the quotable source. Print it out and point fingers at will.

The idea of the Charter/sponsoring Organization is, I think, a good one. Compare to the GSUSA model, where the GS unit is "chartered" to the local Council, but the Leader(s) are the defining quality. After several years, that GS unit ceases to exist. The BSA unit, on the other hand, has some continuity. There are GS leaders that are seeeking to modify this reality, but that is another thread. Of course, that continuity depends on the BSA unit Leaders and Scouts in recruiting and such. I knew a Cub Pack that was very successful for 20 plus years, and then could not drum up any Tigers or Wolves for three years straight and , poof, no more Pack. It happens. As to the Charter Org being a "non-Scouting entity", I would think that most COs ARE truly Non-Scouting Entities. Just because the CO is a "Friend" of a Scout Troop, doesn't make it/them any more Scouty. What the CO needs to be is "sympathetic" to the purposes and ideals of the BSA. This could be a Lions Club or a church or VFD or Mosque. The important thing is that , if the Unit NEEDS some help, the CO should be willing to give it. If the Unit appreciates a "hands off" CO, great, but that is not the real idea, is it? ""I could see a potential CO having trouble committing to supporting a Scouting program with such specific, rigid and expansive goals and methods."" The goals and methods are hardly so "specific, rigid or expansive". Most COs in my experience do what they can for their units, or do very little, depending. It is a two way street. The unit can "require" and so can the CO. Or not. I knew a unit sponsored by a church where the Pastor actually DID NOT KNOW(!) they had a Scout unit until I called them (as a UC). Once the Pastor was more knowledgeable, the unit was much better off. The Charter Agreement (check with your local Council for a copy) is, I would say, loosely specific about who does what. I always liked the first paragraph on the Council side, tho: "Respect the aims and objectives of the organization and offer the resources of Scouting to help in meeting those objectives". What exactly IS/ARE the objectives and aims of the "hands off" CO?

Bandaid, Nylon, Plexiglas, Rayon, Walkman, Saran...

Trailer can have: >> Fenders over wheels are used to hold water jugs (eyebolts in wall hold bungies), only when in situ. >> Swing out arm is used to hold hand washing station (gallon milk jug on string, soap bar in nylon mesh on rope, towel) >> Small flood lights in rear, hooked into trailer electric wiring, for night loading/unloading. >> Separate rack over hitch triangle to hold tarps, firewood, etc. >> Signs on sides/rear give Troop ID, phone number to call. >> Include jack, patch kit, tools for tire change. Train Scouts in Tire Change (Auto MB?)

*sigh* BALOO G2SS and..."Cub Scout Outdoor Program Guidelines for 2007" (actively reffered to by the Council Cub Camp Program)::: http://www.boyscouts-ncac.org/openrosters/DocDownload.asp?orgkey=1933&id=33083 ...which talks about CSDC, Pack Camping, Cub Scout Resident Camp, and oh, just oodles of things to complicate your mind...

...and if you collect the poptop levers off soda cans, you can exchange them for time on a kydney dialysis machine...

It's an accronym, people, it codifies what successful teachers have been doing for centuries. Even the Socratic method can be seen as EDGE. Ask the right questions, you'll get the desired answers (or actions). Try teaching a Scout the Bowline without demo ing it with a piece of rope. Teach him with verbal direction, and see how that goes. I had a public speaking coach say it this way: "first, TELL them what you're going to tell them, then tell them, then tell them what you told them". And motivation. How do you make it DESIRABLE to learn the skill. That is not included in EDGE, but should still, I believe, be part of the process.

"Reverence to God and reverence for one's neighbour and reverence for oneself as a servant of God, is the basis of every form of religion. The method of expression of reverence to God varies with every sect and denomination. What sect or denomination a boy belongs to depends, as a rule, on his parents' wishes. It is they who decide. It is our business to respect their wishes and to second their efforts to inculcate reverence, whatever form of religion the boy professes." ==Robert Baden-Powell, Aids to Scoutmastership

Oh, the luxury of an active unit committee that has enough folks to be able to determine who may NOT vote. Treasurer: How's our finances? Popcorn raises enough money or not? Have we collected all the IOUs from the Philmont trip? Program: How are plans for the canoe expedition coming? Does the SPL need any help? The SM should always attend, even if he/she doesn't "vote". In a small Troop, where few people wear many hats, the SM may well be a "voting" member. In any event, the UC needs to hear from the SM as to how the Unit is doing. How'd that last hike go? Are the boys having a good time or only just "being there?" Maybe the old timers on the UC have some suggestions. The good UC will sense burnout before the SM is aware of it himself. The UC is the group that holds the "Operating Officers" of the Scout Unit responsible. And the consensus of this concerned group must be part of the corporate memory of the Unit. Blest is the Scout Unit with a Concerned Committee that puts the welfare of the Unit above petty ego things.

Depends on what kind of pin, and how perminent an attachement one desires. Safety pin type, usuually not a problem. Adjust the bend in the straight pin and the "lock" on the tip end. Clasp pin type, test periodically for tight attachement, clasp to pin. One can buy new clasps at your local hobby shop (sometimes!). If not available, you can try needle nose pliers and teeny bending adjustments of the clasp "handles". I have done this, until I discovered I could buy new ones! (now, where did I put that little plastic bag with the other 9 clasps in it?). And, lacking those possibilities, form a glob of "GOOP" on a piece of wax paper. Allow to dry thoroughly, peel it off the wax paper (plastic wrap is a perminent stick) and then you can push it onto the pin (it takes the place of the clasp). And then don't let the Cub Scout run around playing Steal the Bacon with his medals jangling and getting grabbed by his buddies.

And we still haven't started on the BACK of the shirt. Prime, vacant, undeveloped land, er, territory.

G2SS and SSD are what all Scout leaders (Cubs too!) should start with. Absolutely, go over with the boys, good, safe behavior at the pool. If you think about it, all the SSD things (subsandwiche?) are things that any pool operator, public or private, would want to consider. Your parents AND Cub leaders need to be mindful of them. Deep water needs to be respected by the beginners and you will find the pool staff lifeguards will not complain if your boys are the most respectful and careful ones in the pool. If you want to test your Pack for Swimmers and Beginners, ask the pool staff how you may cordon off a section for your swim test. If it isn't too busy , should be no problem. If you rented out the whole pool, ask folks to come 1/2 hour early to give the test. MiF, KiS&S!

"Hello? Oh, hello Mr. Eaglscouttransferparent. Good to hear from you. How's Johnny like Troopnew? Uhhuh. ummm-mmm. Well, you know, each Troop is different. No, we haven't thought about that. (((surrrre we haven't))). Well, since Johnny transferred out to that New Troop, Carl made Life and Sammy is the new SPL. Yeah, doing a good job too. No, haven't heard any talk about Johnny. Wait, I'm sorry, I think I do remember hearing that some of the boys had heard about Johnny's Eagle project. No, I don't know. They might, I don't know... Say again? Transfer back? After he completes his Eagle? Why would he want to do that? No. Ummmm, Nooo, I wouldn't think Johnny would WANT to come back here if we made him so uncomfortable. Listen, Mr. ESTP, I really don't think it's good for a Scout to bounce around between Troops without a really good reason. Boys need structure and stability, don't you think? Anyway, what's wrong with Troopnew? Uhhuh, uhuh... frankly, that sounds pretty usual to me. I don't think we'd do too much different. Have you spoken to their Scoutmaster? Yes? He said that, eh? Well,as an Eagle, Johnny would be expected to pull his weight in his Troop, don't you think? He could suggest more activities and... No, I believe that's up to the PLC. P-L-C. Well, the boys elect their Patrol Leaders and ... oh, no? He does? Uhhuh... No, I don't think it would, your'e right there, our Troop didn't act like that...still doesn't! eh,eh,eh... Well, listen: I am sorry your boy isn't happy at Troopnew, but he also wasn't happy with us. What makes you think things would be any different? Well, in my experience, making Eagle SOMETIMES indicates a maturation on the part of the boy, sometimes not. Yes, I'm sure you know Johnny better than anyone else. What does Johnny say about all this? Huhhuh...huhhuh... Okay, ummm...okay... (((sigh)))... Well, I still have to say it would not be a good idea for Johnny to switch Troops again. I think Johnny chose a good Troop and... yes, I said I think Johnny... oh, why would you say that? Don't you trust your son's judgement? You obviously supported the decision to switch before... No, it still would not be a good idea. I really believe that if Johnny switched to Troopnew with the intention of earning his Eagle with them, he owes some loyalty to them, don't you think?... They have served him well, don't you think? I think he might make a fine SPL for Troopnew, but then, I haven't seen him in 2 years. You'd have to ask the SM, or even better, I think Johnny should ask the SM. Yes. Yes, um-mm, ... Oh, your'e very welcome. Good talking with you. Good night."(click). Wow.... Martha? You out in the kitchen? I need some Earl Grey, here...Let me tell you about this guy...

I find agreement with everything above. The BL of my youth was a Scout magazine: how to do, make, go and stay. Since the "dumbing down" of the rank requirements (see other threads), the content of BL has lost it's purpose. Articles on finding the north star, morse code study and use, tracking, animal IDing, filled it's pages. It was a addendum to the "Handbook for Boys". It had advertising, but I remember most of it's content was articles about "them that are out doing it" and "how to do it", but that's how things were back then. We made our own tents, camped on a "budget". Here's something indicative: my son's Patrol buys it's food/supplies, THEN divies up the expense. In my Scout day, each Scout contributed, say, $3. (!) and we bought our meals from that. If we had money left over, great, if not, we didn't buy any more. The same attitude seems to permiate the BL of today. It says, "here's a product, already made, to take care of this problem/situation. Buy it". The BL of today resembles a comic book, not a useful how-to book. It is almost too slick. Where previously, only one "Scouts in Action" item would be in an issue, now more episodes are now included because (IMO) they are easy to produce, popular for their subject (action, heroism, reallife, the reading Scout can ID with the Scout in the episode, show how Scout training can really save lives) and no copyright issues. And it is a cartoon. Think Classic Comics. It makes it EASY to read it. The Bible stories are nice. But, as I have had to remind folks before, Christianity is not a requirement to join BSA. Sure, they are Old Testament mostly (haven't seen any New Testament stories for a long while), but where are stories from the Koran? Bhagavad Gita? Book of Mormon? Native American creation stories? Come to think of it, BL used to feature American Indian legend and mythology on a regular basis. When was the last time you saw an article about Kipling's Jungle Book? Jack London wrote for BL. So did Hemingway. Who writes for BL now? I like Gary Paulson ("Hatchet"), but even he is limited in his draw. Scoutson glances through his BL and is done in 10 minutes. It has no draw for him because, in his own words,"it's too young for me", and he said that when he was 13. He's now 16, and it really is "too young" for him. Yes, he receives the BS edition, not the CS edition. And why the perception of the need for seperate issues? Where is the challenge there? I read about the camping and hiking of Boy Scouts and my little Cub self couldn't wait to grow up. The BL of today is playing to the lowest common denominator, and not asking the Scout reader to step up and do more than they thought they could.

Beware the parent who poo poos the idea of any such problem. "one little taste..." We have some friends with which we went to a minor league baseball game. Their boy was 8, ours was 10. Both loved Baseball. We were sitting in the stands behind and beyond first base, about 7 or 8 rows up. Foul ball gets hit toward us, lands in the stands and rolls right up to our feet. Friend's son picks it up happily, and within 30 seconds, his throat starts to close up. The ball had rolled thru some peanut shells on the floor. The parents knew exactly what needed to be done, and he was fine within minutes. But without that knowledge, it might have been diffferent. He only needed a special inhaler. Take it seriously.

1) Things change because the new thing is "better": more logical, longer lasting, cheaper, more useful to those involved. 2) Things change because the people in charge must recreate their world in their own image. This happened EVERYTIME my department got a new manager. Something always changed. Something. Always. 3) Things change because the 'changer' needs to justify his/her existance to the bosses. 4) Things change because the rest of the world has moved on and unless the change is made, the stuff in question will become historic, rather than relevant. 5) Things change because no one resisted the change (for whatever rationale) and it happened. 6) Things change because time only is measured in one direction, at least in our experience. 7) Things change because meteors are non-returnable.

'Round these parts, the place for non-uniform usual pins is the left pocket left flap corner. I see Baloo pins, religious committee pins, Jamboree staff pins, all kindsa pins there. Sorta became the mutually nonvocally agreed upon place. Just happened.

Find someone who can do a Campfire Ashes talk. Done well,it links the prehistoric taming of fire and our use of it to heat our homes, light our night, scare away the big hungry sabertooths, fuel our travel and discovery, with the need to just sit around a basic fire, stare into the flames and tell stories. Fire is a powerful servant and a hard master. Our church camp has as it's motto: "A Fire At The Center" The talk is also about the connection we have with Scouts and campers long goneby. How BP took a bit of ash from his last campfire and mixed it with the next fire, and then took a bit of that fire's cool ash the next morning to add to the next fire (or didn't. This is an apocrophal story and some say it never happened. But "a Scout is Trustworthy" and I believe the Scouters that told me) The speaker tosses his bit of ash and cinders into the Campfire and the watchers are reminded of the "pedigree" these ashes have. Last years Camporee, the Woodbadge course, the National Jamboree, gone to the moon and back, so many countries, so many states and other camps. And then remind the Scouts that a box of plastic baggies will be there in the morning, if anyone would like a unique souvenir of this wonderful weekend, never to happen again. And Sunday afternoon, when mom asks "What's this bag of dirt doing on my kitchen counter?" ,you can tell her it's making history. All the way back to the stone age...

IMHO, budgeting is important, but not the most. As the QMChef, you have to concern yourself with: Food allergies, dietary concerns (religious restrictions, moral objections, etc.), taste and quality vs quantity, cleanup (LNT? paper plates? real cutlery? recycling vs throw it out?), healthy vs comfort food, caffein (don't forget the decaf and herb tea), skim milk and lofat, soymilk for allergies?. Communicate with your AQMs, make sure they are in the loop and are given the opportunity to help. Remind them of the commitments they make. And ALLOW yourself the luxury of asking for help! Be specific, and call on folks. Make a dry run (many!)out to the course site and get to know the facilities, what's available, what you might need to get. Play the "what if" game. If the previous users of the site do not leave the pots and pans that you were expecting, what then? How self contained can you be? Make sure your CD doesn't "assume" things. Help him/her, put it down in writing. And sing. Make sure you sing in your kitchen. But no food fights. Uh-huh. Not Scout like. YiS

As in all things, it's the people that make the program. Anyone out there know Henry Nygard? Actually he served in the Air Force, but he and his sons established a SShip in Montgomery County, SS759, which I did not join, staying in Dirt Scouting (!), but he was a good friend of our family. The first thing they did was build a raft on 55 gallon drums and float it in the local reservoir. Then they partnered with another SShip on the Ches bay and obtained (don't know how) an old PT boat. That didn't last long, I understand, and I then went off to college and lost track of all. Next time I caught up with Sea Scouts, I discover they have named the annual local regatta after Henry. Oh, it's definitely useful, and needs promotion. All you need is some really dedicated people. http://www.seascout.net/chesapeake/special_events/regatta.htm "Is it so nice as all that?" asked the mole, shyly... "Nice? It's the only thing," said the Water Rat Solemnly, as he leaned forward for his stroke. "Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing -- absolutely nothing -- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats."

I did a short demonstration at Scoutson's Troop. I exhibited my collection of neckerslides and 'chiefs. I then held up the red 'chief from my youth and the blue one of the Troop today. I asked the Scouts, aside from the color, if they saw any difference? All of them noted the bigger size of my old red one (almost 6" longer on a side), and some of them noted that it looked "worn". Well, yes, despite being washed and ironed and kept in a plastic bag, it did have a few snags and rubs on it from it's use 40plus years ago. I explained how we practiced bandages, slings, signalling and were encouraged to USE it , not just WEAR it. We wore it almost every where we went as a Troop or Patrol. About the only place we didn't wear it was when we went camping on the Troop "property"; but to Camporees, out in public, it was on our neck. It meant we were from OUR Troop. We were Scouts.

I started out to make a cute connection to the thread about uniform "patches", but got caught up in the song itself. It's very Scout connected, on it's own. Loyalty , trustworthiness, "do your best", keeping promises, bravery, thriftiness, being helpful, acting kindly to folks, obedience, it's all there. I leave it to someone else to make the Cub/Scoutmaster minute out of this that it deserves. Patches == Clarence Carter (vamp) I was born and raised down in Alabama on a farm way back up in the woods. Oh I was so ragged folks used to call me "Patches". Papa used to tease me about it, but deep down inside dad was hurtin' 'cause he'd done the best he could. My papa was a great old man I can see him with a shovel in his hand Education that he never had But he did wonders when the times got bad The little money from the crops we raised Barely paid the bills we made Oh life whipped him Down to the ground When he tried to get up Life would kick him back down On the day papa called me To his dyin' bed Placed his hand on my shoulders And in tears he said Patches I'm depending on you, son To pull the family through My son, it's all left up to you Two days later papa passed away And I became a man that day Everyday I had to work the fields 'Cause that's the only way We got our meals See, I was the oldest of the family And everybody was depending on me Now the years have passed And everybody's grown Mama's been livin' In a brand new home Lord knows it took A lot of sweat and tears And my daddy's voice To help us through the years He said - Patches I'm depending on you, son To pull the family through My son, it's all left up to you (vamp) Daddy had been sick for a long time, flat on his back. Every evenin' after we'd finish our chores and eat our dinner, we'd all go into papa's room to cheer him up a little. And this particular day dad was in good spirits, sittin' on the side of the bed, tellin' mama how good she looked. When all of a sudden, papa had a pain in his chest. I was too young to understand, talkin' about a heart attack here. Mama rushed us all out of the room into the hallway. About ten minutes later she came out with tears in her eyes. She called out to me, "Patches, Patches, get in here, boy. Your daddy wanna see you." I went runnin' into papa's room, there papa lay. Daddy had tears in his eyes. I knew something was wrong, daddy was a poor man, but all of my life he'd been a proud man. I knelt down on one knee beside the bed, papa put his hand on my shoulder. He said, "Patches, Patches, boy, the hammer of life done beat your old papa down to the ground, and I ain't got nobody to turn to to take care of mama and the younger. So what I want you to do is promise me, son, is that you're gonna do your best to help your mama as much as you can." I said, "Papa, I'm gonna do my best." But little did I know then like I know now, that tryin' to climb life's mountains searchin' for a top where there ain't no top, sometimes you find yourself frustrated, crazy. But every time I feel like I can't live my life like I want to, my mind goes back to that day when I see those tears in my daddy's eyes. But most of all I remember his words, "Patches, I'm dependin' on you, boy." Every time I feel like givin' up, I hear his voice. "Patches, Patches, Patches, Patches -" I'm depending on you, son I've tried to do my best It's up to you to do the rest Patches I'm depending on you, son I've tried to do my best It's up to you to do the rest Patches I'm depending on you, son To pull the family through My son, it's all left up to you

I always will remember the gateway arch at the Jamboree from a Detroit Council Troop that announced to all the passers-by that "Antonio's Pizza salutes the BSA!" in a sweeping pizza studded arch. In smaller lettering it announced where they were from. I looked to see if the tents were similarly emblazoned, but they were plain REI tents, (with REI emblazoning). I think it was Antonio, might have been another name. Oh well.