SSScout

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)

Find and contact another Cub Pack (or two?) and challenge them to a softball/soccer. Charge admission. Publicize it to get the local community to come. Sell hot dogs and drinks and souvenirs. Sell popcorn! Organize a Checker tourney for the Town Checker championship. See above. KlS MiF

1) If the boy is not there, then the patrol needs to elect a new PL. 2) If the dues are paid and the registration is valid, then include the Scout (and the family) in all your communication and planned activity invites. The boy is a Scout unless he behaves so unScoutlike that you have to REMOVE him from the Troop (see other threads). The family may contact you and say "please stop sending this stuff" but rightfully they should be included until that time. And they might come back... 3) If, at the end of your Charter year, the Scout is "not around", then remove him from your roster. His loss. I once had a Cub that had paid for alot of the planned activities and planned crafts in his Den, but after one meeting, showed up rarely. He was very surprised when I showed up at his door with the leather kits and told him and his dad that he had paid for them and I was sorry he could not be with us last month when we made these, but he had paid for them so here they are. He attended for awhile more, then dropped. 4) Ditto the previous comments about program and activities. Check with your Friendly Neighborhood Commissioner for some ideaas...

GREEEEN socks, they never get dirty the longer you wear em the darker they get Sometimes I think I should change em but something keeps telling me Oh no not yet ... not yet... not yet.

Well, we all know what the solution is. We're just going to have to find some food that bears don't like and use that when we are camping. I mean, that IS the only real solution, right? Other than reinforced concrete and chrome steel doors... Steel cables for bear bag hanging...

Logic is an important subject to study. The ability to present facts and to reason clearly can make a person trusted and widely known. A "sylogism" is a way to prove something. For instance, I can say that "A Scout is Trustworthy" and that "some boys are Scouts". I can then reason that some boys are Trustworthy. But which boy? Can I therefore say that any boy who is Trustworthy IS a Scout? No, not necessarily. Can I say that ALL Scouts are Trustworthy? Nope. I'd like to, but I can't even say that. So how can I talk about Scouts being Trustworthy? I have to know the Scout, know how he behaves, how he speaks, if he WANTS to be trusted. Walter Cronkite recently died. He was a radio and TV newscaster for many, many years, told folks all about the things that went on in the world every night. You younger people may not have ever seen or heard him, but your mom and dad and grandmom and granddad did. Walter Cronkite became one of the most trusted people in our country. Why? It is said that he was a Scout when he was younger, maybe even an Eagle Scout. Did that make him Trusted by the folks that heard him on TV? Nope. How then, did he gain that reputation? He had to work at it. He had to be careful to seek the truth and when he made his report on the TV he had to know and believe what he told us was true. When he was wrong, rare tho that was, he admitted it, easily. He sought the truth regardless of what some others might think. And then he passed it on to us. Being able to only deal with what is true and sticking to your agreements is what Scouting is about. It's no mistake that "A Scout is Trustworthy" is the first point. So, ""A"" Scout is Trustworthy". Are you that Scout?

Layer Cake Stew Serves 4 to 6, depending on the time of year and size of Scout. Prep: 20 mins. Cook: 30 mins. The directions may seem overly precise, but they are intended for beginning cooks. Utensils: *MINIMUM size 10 x 3 deep cast iron skillet, seasoned and oiled, or equivalent (dutch oven may be used, but do not top heat) * Cover for skillet. High top, if possible. *cutting board and knife * veggie washing brush *pancake tuner/spatula or big spoon (for serving) *big fork Ingredients: * lb. bacon, sliced 1/8 thin * 1 lb. ground beef, lean *1 fist size onion * 3 fist size potatoes *3 nice carrots * 1 or 2 sticks celery * salt and pepper to taste * catsup on the side * water, in big pot for rinsing and washing veggies. Directions: * Prepare nice, HOT fire. HOT coals preferred. Make preparations to support HEAVY skillet over HOT fire. Cook stove may be used. * Place skillet on table or prep area. Rub Soap on OUTSIDE and BOTTOM if using open fire. ***WASH YOUR HANDS WITH SOAP AND WATER*** * Bacon: COVER inside bottom of skillet with bacon. Leave no bare spots. * Beef: Crumble ground beef evenly over bacon. * Onion: Remove skin , cut off ends and any bad spots. Rinse. Cut in quarters and slice thick. Spread evenly over beef. *Potatoes: Cut out eyes and bad spots. Do not peel. Scrub and wash well. Slice into slabs and spread evenly over onions. Salt and pepper to taste. * Carrots: Cut off ends and any bad spots. Do not peel. Scrub and wash well. Cut diagonally (fancy!) thick and spread evenly over onions. * Celery: Cut off ends and bad spots, leave leaves if green. Wash well. Cut diagonally (fancy!) into pieces (leaves too) and spread evenly over carrots. Try not to MOUND things up in the center. * Clean up prep area. Cuttings to compost , if possible, otherwise, Leave No Trace guidelines. **Place cover on skillet. If it sits a little on top of the stew, dont worry, itll settle down as it cooks. **CAREFULLY lift the skillet and place on/over fire. Do not disturb for thirty (30) minutes. If there is no steam escaping after 10 minutes, the fire isnt hot enough. *** After thirty minutes, remove from fire and lift lid. Poke potatoes with big fork. Should be soft. If not, replace cover and place back on fire for ten more minutes. Try again. ****Salivate at will. Serve with biscuits or toast and jam.

"Cutting up at times to get a laff"... Good Lord, yes. I would much rather have a Skills instructor with a sense of humor than one who KNOWS EVERYTHING. (!) You want Cubs (and Scouts?) to learn something? Even when it is about something dead serious? Make'm laugh alittle first, then teach and practice.. Talking to Cubs about life saving... Teach'em the rhyme "reach, throw, row, go". Now since we're in the middle of the woods, we ain't gonna ROW! and since the nearest water is in the tanker truck ("mobile spring"), we ain't gonna teach y'all to swim and GO! That's for Scout Camp when y'all are older! SO... we are gonna teach y'all about REACHING and THROWING! You there on the end! You're drowning! (Cub smiles). Yell "Help! Throw me a rope!" (he says, help throw me a rope). Where upon, you throw him a coiled up hank of rope. After giggles subside, talk about reaching and demonstrate BIG LOOPS, NEAT COILS, and only throwing ONE end, holding on to the other! Figure eight knot in each end! You divide the Cubs into pairs, each pair with a coil of rope, 12 feet long, and with your Scout Staff Assistants assistance (make it fun for them ,too), they proceed to coil and throw and rescue each other. Later in the week, during Water fest, they "rescue" each other and pull their partner up a soap slick plastic sheet. See other CSDC threads... Could you teach this "seriously"? oh sure. Which way would the Cubs remember best, you think? CSDC PD leads flag opening ceremony, but is aware that the Scout Skills man may ad lib something. PD is ALWAYS the fall guy, ALWAYS the straight man, but the color guard does it's job when it's time, in good order. Thereby DEMONSTRATING and MODELING to the DWs and other Cub leaders in attendance, that it is OK to have fun and be silly and accomplish something important at the same time. WHATACONCEPT!!!(This message has been edited by SSScout)

Umbrella. Extra pen and felt tip marker. Sketch pad. Pad for seat. Canteen/waterjug on shoulder strap. Star chart/binoculars for clear sky. Clear sky. Duct tape. The oldest Scout Field Book you can find. Pocket knife, recently sharpened. Every old camp song and cheer from your own Scout days...

I am MBC for Farm Mechanics MB. Requirement 2: "Explain how power is produced or ttransferred in a: a: Diesel engine b. Hydraulic system c. Transmission or any other power system" Point to remember: No where in the FM/MB book is a gasoline engine even mentioned. Only diesel. When I take the boys thru the Farm implements dealer and work shop and discuss safety and operation of equipment, I talk and teach about gasoline and spark plugs and distributors and points and ignitions, along with Rudolph Diesel's invention. (and he used vegetable oil, not mineral!) When we are finished, they still have to talk about diesel engines. Am I adding to the requirements? No. Only to their knowledge. Sometimes you have to add to the Scout, not to the requirements. I have my own requirement: that the Scout be somewhat knowledgeable about the subject.