SSScout

Almost there... Little Bennett Regional Park, Clarksburg , MD (Quote from the website)http://www.montgomeryparks.org/enterprise/park_facilities/little_bennett/little_bennett_campground.shtm#camper_ready Camper Ready Camping Come enjoy the great outdoors without making a huge investment in gear! If you're thinking about camping, but don't want to make the investment in equipment to try it, then we have just what you need. Camper Ready Equipment is now available at Little Bennett Campground. For $25 per night (two night minimum) plus the site fee, your campsite will come pre-set with a four-person tent, two camp chairs, a propane stove, and a lantern. Bring your own bedding, cooking gear, and food supplies, and your campsite will be waiting for you to enjoy sleeping under the stars. One week advance notice is required. Call 301-528-3430 for more information. Bring it on, Big Agnes....

Creative, very creative. And probably wrong headed. Spouse accountant sez, in our state, at least, sales tax exception (note the term) must be claimed at the point of sale, not after the fact at the end of the year. If Council wished to claim it's non-profit tax exception status, you should have been given a copy of the appropriate certificate to show at the point of sale. Accountant spouse sez (opinion!) you are within your rights to NOT pay a contribution not of your choice. Mebbe a call to the Council Scout Executive is in order. In our Council, I have had reimbursments put off for MONTHS on occasion, due to changes in staff, end of fiscal year troubles, or paperwork snafus, but never as an "assumed" contribution. You might tell them that if it was a contribution to Scouting's worthy cause, there would have been no claim for reimbursement, at which point you would have asked for an acknowledgement for your tax return FOR THE FULL AMOUNT. Have you cashed the check yet?

Never hurts to try. Libraries are an untried resource for Scouts. For rank advancenment research. For community outreach. Check with the Media Specialist (old title: Librarian) and see if the Cub Pack could sponsor a Pinewood Derby in the library lobby. Troop set up a demo campsite on the front lawn. Venturers sponsor a high adventure expo: Rock climbing demo, wwrafting, etc. Service projects. Eagle and other... Sure, offer to donate some books: a HB, a FB, set of MBbooks. Maybe a reprint of BP's stuff, or his biography. Even if Boys' Life is not the most popular mag on the rack, it won't be there to consider if someone doesn't donate the subsription. Does your Troop or Pack have a better idea to use Book? Make sure a small but tasteful plate is in the cover reading "donated by Troop XYZ, ABC Chuch, ph: 222.333.4444". Our library sets up "special" tables, featuring books by a particular author or subject. Why not Scouting? Library = Boring? Sez who...

So, ASM59, as they say in Louisiana... How's by you? Did your Council receive your adult application accompanied by a $ten check? Even if your DE is ADHD and misplaces stuff, the Council office should be able to affirm/deny your application arrival and you should know if the check gets cashed. Then, you say you attended the Commish Training, so you have a graduation card, yes? Council should have a copy of that. If not, you can send them a copy With all those chickens lined up, you can approach the District Commish and say "here I am, ready to go." Ask to attend the Commish comittee meeting. If you personally know of some needy unit(s), I see no reason why, with your credentials in order, you could not approach the DC and ask to be assigned, officially, to that (those) unit(s). So, How'sbayou?

Yep, our Troop sells Franklins... A Wreatha Franklin... Oops...

Sell Crawford Texas to the Saudis.

High demand... Wiemar Republic.

"...24/7 flags..." McDonald's roofs, Checker's, etc. Hi Hal...

Plastic coated clothes line I say no. Too stff and unyeilding. Wire line, definitely no-no. The preferred is the cotton wrapped braided stuff. Think unseeing personages from Venice. Next, the 2 inch hemp anchor hawser. (see SeaScout Manual for splicing instructions). Just kidding....

Go to your local hardware store or home depott, mention Cub Scouts and watch the price drop... Any 1/4 to 1/2 inch, braided, cotton wound rope. Think big venetion blind cord. For Cubs, the twisted strand rope, unless it is old and "worked" so as to be pliable, will be hard to manipulate. NOT nylon or poly rope, the knots will slip and be frustrating. If you have a bigger caliber (diameter ) cord, you can do knot tying relays, rope rings, and the boys can pull on it without fear of failure or not being able to untie it. Heard of the "Tug o' Peace"? Pound two nails about 4 feet apart into your deck railing, coil the rope around them as many times as necessary, cut the cords at the nails. (my son liked to WHACK with a sharp hatchet, all at once) Don't forget to "Whip" the ends with masking tape or friction tape (also called tar tape). Duct tape will do, but pulls off leaving a sticky residue. Stretch the ropes next to each other out on the driveway or someplace you don't mind getting messy (hold'em down with old bricks), spray paint one end, about a foot long, a contrasting color (black? blue? red?). One end is already white, yes? Let it dry, roll over and spray both sides of the same end. *ahem* Okay, we have imported at no great expense, the RARE, double ended, bi-color rope from the Peruvian Andes, these are freshly picked. You know, not every rope has two ends! And these are the very best of the latest crop! They get darker with age... Ya take the RED end in your RIGHT hand.... your OTHER right, son,... Sorry, but to tie an easy successful bowline, you need 3 to 4 foot of rope. To demonstrate a one handed bowline (wow factor) around a waist, you need about 5 feet. ("help, help, oh help. pull me up, oh help...) After they have mastered (!) the square knot, get'em in a circle with their ropes, have them tie them all end to end in a circle and pull/push to see who has the strongest side? Your next decision is whether the Cubs get to KEEP their practice ropes. We taught with the 4foot 1/2 inch rope, then later, taught a "rattail" knot with about 15 inches of 1/4 inch cord on a mini carabiner that they took home. Just like the big one the Cubmaster had hanging on his belt, for "emergencies".(This message has been edited by SSScout)

Chicago Area Council Owasippee

* "Leaflets three, let it be" refers to what? * In folding an American flag, you seek to finally make a: a) rectangular shape b) square c) triangle * The highest rank a Boy Scout can earn is: a) Silver Wolf b) Eagle c) Gold Award * True or false:::To join the Boy Scouts, a boy MUST be a Christian. * What is the youngest Cub Scout called in America? Australia? Great Britain?

Cub Scouts or Boy Scouts? How silly can we get here? Skills? Scout oriented? Can you direct things in a requirement direction too? Balance beams (2x4s on edge )"over the Niagara Falls!!!". Baseball throw to knock down small "tents". Get a Troop to set up a rope bridge... "Crocadile infested Amazon" Whipped cream or shaving cream pie throws (what or who is the target?) Guess weight? Guess hieght? Check with Council about tomahawk throw equipment and requirements (site, and older boys... Scouts only) Archery possible (site and personnel requirements...see tomahawk above) ? Rope walk between trees, tied 6" above ground, higher rope to hold on to. Animal judging, (guess who the animals are? use imagination) KISMIF

From the Uniform Inspection Guide #34283: "Merit Badge Sash... If worn, Merit Badges are attached to the front (and back, if needed) of sash. Venture/Varsity letter is attached at bottom front corner. Temporary insignia may be worn on back." and from the Insignia Guide # 33066 pg. 4, "Members may wear only temporary patches (no badges of rank) on the back of the the merit badge sash." So, then we have to define "temporary insignia". From the "Insignia Guide", #33066: Pg. 4, "... are issued for such events as summer camp, camporees, and Scouting shows... "yadda yadda. Taken to the bottom line, common denominator, we have the idea that things you EARN (rank, privilege, certification) or are DESIGNATED AS (office, POR) are NOT to be worn on the MB sash. Things that you have PARTICIPATED IN (camporees, Scout camps, Jamborees, banquets, ) may be worn on the back of the MBsash. YES: Camporee, Jamboree, Philmont, Seabase, recognition Dinner, NOAC, NO: Past ranks, Patrol Leader, NESA, Fifty Miler, Life Guard, Cub Scout Stuff, Mile Swim. GREY AREA: Book says yes to Totin Chip, Firemans Chit, but these are earned, yes? But, again, I've seen few back of the sash displays. Only MBs on front. And V/Vs on bottom corner (rare!). Back of the shirt is next... Down side of trousers....

One of the hats I wear is UC. I came by that when I couldn't fit my WB tickets into a "Boy Scout" area (I was/am ASM, and one's WB tickets must be "from" one's registered area), so at my WB trainers' suggestion, I became a UC, which can dip into CScouts and BScouts and VScouts. I filled out the Adult Scouter Application, marked "UC" on it, paid my $ten, turned it in to the Council office, and took the Commissioner Basic Training, which happy coincidence was scheduled for the next month. I then turned up at the next District Commissioner Committee meeting (Council office told me), "surrendered " to the District Commissioner. He was surprised to meet me, hadn't been "done" that way before, but ok, always room for one more. As it turned out, my WB projects involved several units, so I nominated myself (with the DE's blessing) six units to UC for. Again, happy coincidence, those six had no official active UC, so the DC said ok. Now, I can't say that I am the perfect UC, but in that bailiwick, for those six, I am the only game in town. Do I meet the UC recommendation of a visit a month? Well, not a physical visit, but counting email and phone calls, I probably do. I agree with Scoutnut. Make yourself known. Work in any capacity in the District: Cub Daycamp, Camporees, training sessions (Basic, Leader Specific, IOLS, where ever), round tables, service projects. Call the leader of THAT activity. If you come up with Scout activities that would be attractive to multi Units (museum overnights, park projects, etc.) propose them to your District officers and write them up for your District newsletter. You will find outlet for your talents and leadings. Put more nails in your closet door for the extra hats.

I think it's 1) great that the Stategovdot had a change of heart (even if forced by the higher ups) 2) a neat Scout Presence 3) a creative service to the public, kinda like the local church that has a "FREE CAR WASH" with perky kids holding signs out by the road to attract dirty cars in to the lot, "donations accepted" buckets on the side of the lot. 4) a kinda sideways fundraiser (?fundraising permit? Donations vs service/product sale? sell popcorn?) 5) good, facilitating social interaction with John Q. Public and Billy Scout 6) publicity for Scouting (good=Scouts serving public, good=big, mean, beauracracy treats Scouts poorly) 7) Scouts staying up late, not that any of them would want to stay up all night, oh no... 8) important to think healthy, have skim milk to put in your coffee 9) best to buy "Fair Trade Coffee" 10) time to go home.

Look to the WVA site now...

"Master Tree Finder" by May Theilgaard Watts, pub. by Nature Study Guild c.1963, but I have seen a reprint more recently. Pocket size , literally 3" by 5". Organizes trees by leaf shape and size, then bark type. Lists by ecological niche, (swampy, uplands, etc.)too. Nice field guide for North American Trees. I also recommend the Arbor Day Foundation. www.arborday.org Online tree ID section.

Acronymically speaking, KISMIF (Cub Scout mantra) LSMFT (Little Scouts Make Fine Tentpegs) This from my days as a Scout... my mom was a smoker. Don't know why the PTB (powers that be) did away with OWLETS (Outdoor Webelos Leader Extra Training Session) and made it something else.

Build it and they will come... http://www.news-record.com/content/2009/08/01/article/from_the_ground_up_girl_scout_takes_on_barn_raising_challenge

*sigh* It is never the duty of the unit to replace or establish the Scout's faith, however it may be expressed, either by the Scout or his family. "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 If it is possible to remind the Scout of the beauty of creation and of it's Source, then do that. We will never obtain 100% agreement among ourselves on how to best recognize and acknowledge that beauty and our debt thereby. But to accomodate each Scouts individual requirements, and not seem too mushy in one's own faith, that is our challenge. If the Scout's family can't find some way to allow the Scout unit to make that acknowledgement, then, as has been said before, perhaps they need to find another unit. Calling Father Mulcahy...

That's the title of an article in the September 2009 "BACKPACKER" magazine, pg.38. They pit three Boy Scouts of a New Jersey Troop against three BPckr mag "readers" in contests of fire building, first aid, pack packing, bear bagging, cooking, tent pitching, orienteering and... flag folding. The BSHandbook is frequently quoted. The Scouts look good in their mixed old and new uni's, and BIG neckerchiefs. The Scouts do good, too, but not quite good enough. Read all about it. I could not find an internet page for the article. Take "The Boy Scout Quiz" ::: #10. When planning a route, expect to travel no faster than: a) 10 miles per day. b) The slowest hiker in your group. c) 2 miles an hour." d) your Scoutmaster.

Shortridge: That's what I was talking about. My Cmpmstr mentor was never told upfront why the program was shelved. Maybe I'll give him a call again. He lives on the other side of the river from me...

Campmasters... A bit of a sore point around here. If I am to understand the term to be a title for a person who has had some training so as to be knowledgeable about the camp in question, and serve as a camp host or a volunteer guide for a Scout unit visiting the camp, then I am that. Some time ago, a man took on the duty of training folks to be CMstrs for a Camp nearby. They (we) would be, on weekends at least, sort of an unpaid Camp Ranger or host for the Camp. We knew the geography, what keys fit what door or gate, where the tools were, who was in charge of what, valves, switches, sanitation, emergency plans and contacts. I think there were a dozen or fifteen of us. Had a handbook, special ID card, a uniform hat. Then the Council decided that such a corps of people was not needed, in a matter of weeks they (council) told the head Campmaster to not do his thing any more. They fired the CRanger and the CProgram Director and hired a new set. I found this out by showing up for a weekend for which I had signed up months ahead and no one at the office knew what I was talking about. Campmaster? What's that? I phoned the fellow who had trained me and he said yep, no more CMstrs. Personally, I think such a program is a blessing for a Camp, but evidently some don't. I didn't pursue any investigation of the why's or how's involved. Got a couple of pretty hats out of it. Done well, such a program can be nothing but a benefit. I say, ask that Cmstr for help and let him/her feel good about helping your unit.

I'm with Hal... Everything is a test. We just don't remember what the subject is. Or what the grading curve is. That's what life is all about. Might be a SMMinute in there, sum'ares...(This message has been edited by SSScout)