SSScout

If you are uncomfortable teaching Cubs sharp tool use, here are some suggestions: 1) Check with the Training folks in your Dustrict. Part of the Scouter Intro to Outdoor Leader Skills training (IOLS) includes "Woods Tools", and They can recommend someone who might come and do a Whittlin' Chip class for your boys. I "ga-ron-tea" the boys will enjoy a 'guest Scouter'. 2) Check with your local Scout Troop. They might have a Totin' Chip instructor who could do a Whittlin' Chip for you. 3) There are many threads here-in about the W/C and T/C. Do a search and have fun. 4) Here is a site that is a real codification of what ends up being a true local responsibility: http://www.cubpack178.com/documents/whittling_chip_prog.pdf Just about all inclusive... 5) I will try a PM to you with the program we use here...

There is no reason that camp skills need be taught and practiced ONLY on campouts. Frinstance, I know of many Troops (the one of my youth being one) that will have a "fire building" class on a saturday in someones back yard garden. Everyone is asked to bring tinder, kindling and even some serious fire wood. The Troop/Patrol meeting before, you talk about the theoretical stuff, talk about some exotic tinder (belly button lint? fritos? See other threads in here), safety and such. The next saturday, you do it. More than once. Try your hand at flint and steel, etc. Then, the next campout, you don't need to waste time TRYING to light that cooking fire for second class, you get it lit! Same thing with T/C or W/C. Do that on an afternoon behind the garage. The SM or ASM teaches the PLs, the PLs teach the Scouts.

I wouldn't go so far as to call it an "urban legend", the corner thing tends to be a unit "tradition". Strictly speaking, the pledge on the back of the Totin' Chip card is the only "requirement" , there is no "do this, and this, and this" to earn the T/C. Thus, the Scout has to learn from a more experienced Scout/er how to safely and skillfully use his ax and knife and saw. The old Handbook for Boys and Fieldbook had some excellent photos and diagrams. This training and evaluation is dependant on the experience and skill of the T/C trainer. Once the Scout has "passed" his T/C, the Scout is held to a standard of safe and responsible tool handling by the unit leadership. Should the Scout get goofy, or act irresponsibly or (God forbid) injure someone with his tool, some units will rescind his T/C priveleges at once, no appeal. Some units will give him second/third chances depending on the severity of the infraction. The "score' is kept by cutting off corners of the T/C card (which the Scout is expected to carry with him when using the tool. Think "diver's license"). Cut off four corners, no more T/C. If the T/C is gone, the Scout must re-earn it. It ain't BSA official, just tradition. Some Cub Packs do the same thing with the Cub's Whittlin' Chip card. Once the Cub has "earned" his W/C, the Pack leadership makes sure he only uses his tool (knife) in a safe and responsible manner. A good Webelos leader might hold carving sessions so the Cubs can actually use the knives they were given after they earned the W/C. Here again, the pledge on the back of the W/C card is the only "official" requirement, the earning of the W/C privelege is dependant on the experience and skill of the local unit leadership. Some units really codify things. See http://www.cubpack178.com/documents/whittling_chip_prog.pdf for a REALLY complete W/C program, perhaps overly, but there you are. Cub acts irresponsibly with his tool, nip off a corner. REALLY egregious behavior, card and privelege is GONE. Ummm, Scoutfish?

http://adventurebase100.org/

All through this long and sleepless night I hear my Scouters talking (Eagle's lacking) Saying that out of my life Into another's Council you'll soon be walking Chorus: Somebody shake me, wake me when it's over Somebody tell me that I'm dreamin' And wake me when it's over They say our Scout ain't what it used to be And everyone knows but me I close my ears not wanting to hear But the words are loud and clear Through these walls so thin I hear my neighbors when They say "He ain't an Eagle, she don't love him" They say my heart's in danger 'Cause you're leaving me To be a Venture Ranger... Chorus: Somebody shake me, wake me somebody when it's over Somebody tell me that I'm dreamin' And wake me when it's over Bird, you're what my heart desires My whole world you inspire I can't bear to be losing you Cause I've wanted you my Scout life through (Music interlude) Restlessly I pace the floor Listening to my neighbor's criticize What a fool I am not to realize The appeal may not happen! As the tears stream down my face I can't believe I've been replaced If I've ever ever dreamed before Somebody tell me I'm dreaming now I said shake me, wake me somebody when it's over Somebody tell me that I'm dreaming And wake me when it's over C'mon wake me, shake me somebody... Vanilla shake, please...

The LNT teaching is excellent. Now go to the "original"... At your local REI, or Dick's or Cabala's (just ask), or find it on line: "How to Sh*t in the Woods" by Kathleen Meyer, Ten Speed Press,c.1989, 1994. 108 pages of authoritative, basic, real life stuff. Hygiene in the backcountry. www.KathleenintheWoods.com (the real word is in the title, but thread censor will not allow it)

Official Centennial Jamboree Absorbine Jr.... Official Centennial Jamboree Gold Bond ... Official Centennial Jamboree Ivory Soap, Official Centennial Jamboree UA, Official Centennial Jamboree Desitin, Official Centennial Jamboree Terracil, Official Centennial Jamboree Tinea cruris...

The Cast: a Promoter, an "Ugly Man" under a big box or blanket, a "Fall Guy" (either prearranged so no one is hurt, or someone deserving of embarrassment. It is good to know FG hasn't seen this skit before), some off stage voices, and two or three Stooges. Promoter comes in leading the UM, under his blanket or box. P speaks: "Ladies and gentlemen, I am PROUD to present for your edification and enjoyment, the UGLIEST MAN IN THE WORLD!!! He is SO ugly (voices off stage ::HOW UGLY IS HE??), that the army uses him to test the courage of their soldiers! He is SOOOO ugly (HOW UGLY IS HE??), that his momma used to tie a pork chop to his neck so the dog would play with him! Yes, he is SOOOO ugly (H U I H??), the National Institutes of Health once considered using him as the National Ugly Standard!! etc. ((lay it on thick)) "Now, ladies and gentlemen, I challenge anyone in this audience to gaze upon his visage, if you dare! You sir! Will you dare to look at him?" First Stooge: "I'm the bravest man here!" ((he strides proudly up, peeks under the blanket, and runs screaming from the stage, into the woods)). P: "All right, who's next?" S#2: "Aww, it's a bunch of hooey, It can't be that bad, I don't think anyone could be THAT ugly, it's a trick, it's a... "((he peeks under the blanket and faints dead away, falls on the floor)). P: ((proceed as above, as many times as seems necessary. Then, the Fall Guy is brought up)) You, Mr. Scoutmaster! You're the bravest man we know! Won't you look at this poor creature and prove everyone wrong? Come on, it's important for our Scouts to have faith in their leaders...!! (etc.). ((Mr. Fall Guy eventually comes up. If FG#1 refuses, choose another.)) (( When FG peeks under the blanket, the UM jumps up and runs screaming from the stage...)).

Ask around ( UC, DE, local SMs, school counselor, principal) for someone who tells a good story. An Indian story or Jungle Book story. There are lots of "moral" stories that when told well will hold a Cub's rapt attention. The story teller will probably ask the boys to gather 'round on the floor, and the 5 or ten minutes they take telling one or two stories will be remembered. Aesop's Fables? Uncle Remus? Iroquois? 'Just So' stories? There are many sources available, and if your boys have never been exposed to a good "in person" story teller, they deserve it.

As I tell the folks at IOLS: "There is no food so mediocre that it can't be improved with the addition of catsup". "There is no such thing as a dumb question."

The idea of "special" patches for the "special" year is appropriate, but I agree, the pdf pictures are TOO blatant. I would favor the "usual" designs with a special color border (?gold?), and much smaller (if any) lettering. Is it too late to ask for NO plastic on the back? Makes it harder to sew on. And BadgeMagic sticks better to pure cloth rather than plastic.(This message has been edited by SSScout)

Try to find "Matching Mountains with the Boy Scout Uniform" by Edward F. Reimer, 1929 E.P.Dutton & Co., N.Y. History and insignia of that day.

My coolest thing is being recognized , say, in a local store by a Scout as the man with the bugle, or a Cub from Day camp will introduce me to his mom. But my pal Ted has , I think, the "coolest" story. At the CSDC we worked, Ted and I did Scout Skills, and presented the morning skit. We were doing Lewis and Clark that year. Ted assumed a cartoon french accent as his schtik:"huh, huh, huh, yo' tie ze knot lika zis huh, huh, huh!" and he adopted the voyageur attitude, (if there is one). Months after camp, he told me he was in the local Safeway when a little kid walks up to him, points at him, says "Huh, huh, huh!!!" and runs away! Now THAT is making an impression!

Recommend Bill Mauldin's ""Up Front"" and ""Back Home"".

KiS MiF for all parts of the R/T. Everyone starts out in one room for opening, general announcements and then CS go to one room, VS to another and (usually) BS stay in the big first room. CS "breakout" is run like a Pack Meeting,next months theme used as a start, cheers, den activities, beads awarded for "advancement" etc. Cub activities demonstrated, skits practiced. BS might have a camping demo (biscuit donuts in the parking lot), types of tents discussed, MBfeatured, a special speaker does a slide show about Philmont. VS talk, mostly about trip and adventure planningtrips. Might have a joint meeting to discuss/demo Whitlin'/Totin'Chip, or Astronomy MB and BL. DO NOT make it a lecture series....

I think this is a neat idea. Instead of "printed material", could they not reprint the original MBBook? I'm wondering if these will have the "original" requirements or if they will be "modernized"? I talked to a contractor/builder at our Troop meeeting tonite about being a carpentry MBCouselor, he said he wouldn't know how to hold a hand tool, all he uses are power saws, drills, nailers, etc. "County Farm Agent", also called the "Extension Agent" contact your State University, they usually operate out of that. And your local 4H or County Fair should know. -.--,---,..-,.-.,...,..,-.,,...,-.-.,---,..-,-,..,-.,--.,,

Let's not say "Kill the Thread", Let's say "Time, gentlemen" And remind each other that, as in the bar you met your buddies in in younger days, "you don't have to go home, but you can't stay here". Action appropriate and approved. And there's always another distending discussion around the corner.

Are they required to wear helmets?

Or maybe Way Out West, or Saps at Sea. Or A Night at the Opera....

I favor broadening their horizons alittle. They'll see Up and the rest at home or in the theater. Be adventurous. Second Hand Lions is very good: adventure, love and loyalty, bad guys lose, good guys win and it's a boy who wants to be a Scout!. A Laurel and Hardy or Marx Brothers flick (Music Box or At the Circus). Introduce them to the classics, if you can get a good copy of Max Fleischer's "Gulliver's Travels" (1939!) there are nice restorations available, my Cubs loved it (now that was 12 years ago, in Video tape!). Bus ride with a movie. Captive audience...

Orthopaedic surgeons on helmet use: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00425 Irish sport of "hurling" now requires helmets: http://www.brainandspinalcord.org/blog/2010/01/06/hurlers-required-to-wear-helmets-to-help-prevent-brain-injuries/ On the other hand, statistics tend to show that cycling is safer than walking. Do we wear walking helmets? http://blogs.ft.com/undercover/2008/07/should-we-cyclists-bother-to-wear-helmets/ Anyone seen "Sleeper" lately?

It is exciting, no doubt. And I have to agree there are better ways to spend our dues/donations/endowment. Safe camps? Rebuild camps? Preserve property? Just took title to 10,000 acres in WVA for a Jamboree/high adventure site. Must be lotsa naming rights therebouts, huh? "Coca Cola White Water Rapids". "Burger King Dining Hall". "First Alert Campfire Circle". "Viers Paving Memorial Driveway". "Kaiser Permanente Health Lodge". "Weyerhauser Nature Lodge". "Jinsu Axe Yard". Every time the Jamboree comes around, Car companies "donate" vehicles and then at the end, Jamboree sells them. Maybe Jamboree could GIVE them to deserving Councils or camps for staff use? Could National give local Councils low cost/no cost loans if the council is in financial straits to help fix things up? Course, now, if we could make that racer a Pioneering/Farm Mechanics/Chemistry/Composit Materials/Engineering/Automotive Maintenance/Metalwork/Traffic Safety/Truck Transportation Merit Badge project, that might make it worth while. Can an Offie be lashed to an oak frame and ... Where's Andy Granatelli when you need him?

Yeah, like the boy is going to want to do three ranks at once. CNY, Which type A parent is interested in this? Had a Cub in the Pack I commish. CM asks me (in October)if they could award this Cub his Wolf from the previous year, because his Den Leader had ceased being DL and did not get a chance to sign off on the boys requirements. The new DL (now Bear Den) said that the parents had approached him with this. The previous DL had signed off on the other boys' req's before the year was up, and had promised (so said) to sign off the Cub's req's before the turn of the school year, but didn't before he/she left. I said I saw no reason to penalize the Cub for an adults lapse. If the DL and parents (Akela) and CM were satisfied he had met the req's, award him the rank, postdated if you will. Then too, I guess that wasn't really "working" on a younger rank...

" Doesn't matter what happens to you . Therefore, I want the absolute worst thing to happen to you if you have an UNINTENTIONAL event. No need for padding or knee pads or helmets, they just impede your motion and don't allow the wind in your hair. Please go for the 4 diamond slope , cut close to the tree line, mogul, rad it, and generally raise your adreniline level. Don't worry. go fast." "I love you. Please train and practice and gradually increase the challenge you face so you can meet those challenges with skill and take pride in your accomplishments. Oh, just in case some UNINTENTIONAL event happens, wear the pads, the helmet, the knee pads 'cause ya never can tell when a loose patch of ice may come up, or some other fool cuts across your line, or a misplaced piece of lift tower appears closer to your cut than you thought.I know you don't need to worry about the PLANNED stuff. It's the UNPLANNED stuff we wear helmets for. Have fun."

"it's not a rule, it's only a guideline". No, it's a rule, now. If we didn't love you, it wouldn't be a rule. We learn and get better as we get older. Barney Oldfield didn't use seatbelts when auto racing was invented, but he invented the rear view mirror to increase his chances of surviving AND winning. Bet Jacky Ickx and Jimmy Stewart and all the Gordons and Eckharts are glad to wear helmets and seatbelts now. Same with helmets in ALL sports. It's not wimpy, it's smart. It's an advantage. You might like the feel of the wind in your hair, but you'd like the feel of asphalt in your scalp less, hence helmets for biking; both motor and pedal. http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/03/19/ski.safety/index.html Hit your head once, you never have to do it again. It took a long time to see the advantage of the helmet. High iron workers, football players, Delta Force, deep sea divers, motocross, skateboarder. My son rode his bike across the street to a neighbors house. Riding back he slipped, the bike went one way, he went the other. He walked back home the 300 yards, met me in our driveway(I was washing the car and had not seen what happened) and asked me where had he been? We were at the emergency room for about three hours while he was diagnosed with a "possible" concussion (nothing showed on the scans). He is a believer now if he wasn't before, and will ALWAYS wear the helmet ANY time he is on the bike. Next months Troop ski trip? Helmets are on his mind...and around it! "you only need it once...which once?"