SSScout

Sharpy: See? What did I tell you? As you look thru all this good counsel, you may detect a pattern. Sympathy, recognition, choices. And our sure knowledge that you'll be okay and your Cubs will be the better. You dun good. Spend a little time to list your assets and then get on with it! God speed and YiS

Sharpy: Hey, we;lcome...Please, have a seat... Pull up a log at our virtual campfire... I'll start off here, and no doubt we'll have a few more good ideas come up from around the circle. Firstly, I think it is very neat that you have a Scout dedicated cabin. Too bad about the AA. They do good work. Eventually you may get back on their good side, but that may have to wait. And it is great you have the VFW so interested, but now I have to ask, who is your Charter Organization? The City? the VFW? Someone else? The CO are the first folks you need to go to for support and advocasy(?). If the VFW was your CO, they could give your Pack all the support, both materially and financially, they wanted. I hope you don't need to go this thing alone. Who is your Committee Chair? Do you have a Pack Committee? Your DE sounds like a real gogetter. He helped you found the Pack, yes? Kindly remind him that , ultimately, "it's about the kids". You do need to find a few more allies, in the city council, the VFW and in the community at large. Volunteer Fire Dept.? Lions Club? Local church? Front page coverage? you got media connections? Use them. But veer to the side of NOT embarrassing folks. Work to show the good, fun stuff your Cubs are doing. Enlist the local hardware store and contractor to help fix up the Scout Cabin. Remind them of the great PR involved. Find the grown up Scouts out there. Use those school brochures again and recruit. A Scout Cabin. Ummmm... Need Scouts. Boy Scouts, too, not just Cubs. Any chance of forming a BSTroop? Is there one already "around"? Like real estate, you got "POE-TEN-SHUL". I hope and pray you can make the most of this most excellent opening you have been given. Stay tuned...

Make it a history lesson as well. Cast around and find ( or buy for future use) to borrow a set of "historic " flags and perform a bit of a flag pageant. Let your talk be about the evolution of our flag. From "Don't Tread on Me" and the "Pine Tree" flag and the "Union Jack" flag to the 13 stars and 15 star and stripe (the Old Glory) flag, to the 38 star and 48 star flag, to the 50 Star. Which star is your state? Does that matter? Did the colors and design have any original symbolism? Has the symbolism changed? Is the "value" of the US flag innate, or does it depend on us and our perception of the ideals it represents? When the old flags are to be 'retired', I hope you have a real campfire. Talk about the fires our GGGgrand parents gathered around and how they worked for the country we have today (not only in battle). I have seen this done to good effect: After the patiotic intro, the Scouts take the flag by it's corners and stretches it out between the fire and the audience. The light from the fire shines thru the flag. In one motion, they stretch the flag over the fire and throw the corners into the middle. Quick burn. Next pair of Scouts step up, same routine. Do with each flag. Sing some songs. Maybe a skit or two, if you can remember some that are not too unserious? Have fun. Serve hot dogs before or after.

*sigh* Search these many forums about CSDC... Use many variations. Lots of good ideas out here. In the mean time, it might be a little late to sign up to go to Camp School (check with your DE or DD. You should be able to go on the Council dime...), but you need to get an immediate good working relationship with your Camp Director. The activities that the Cubs run around in and to depend on the two of you working together to get five days of 9 to 4 (or 3:30 or however your schedule is set) fun and memories. Archery, Nature, Scoutcraft, Fishing, BB gun, Virtual Campfire skits and songs and cheers, Crafts, Specials (fire trucks, guest wowsers, helicopters, trick ropers, be creative), whatever is available. Work the District Commissioner Corps and phones and Roundtables for Scouter staff and Scout Jr. staff. Staff skits at day opening help set the spirit of the day. Get a bull horn to save your voice. Always remember, when asking for help, the words "Cub Scouts" can open many doors. Neighboring military camp? Community college? Hardware store? Police Medivac chopper? Construction Contractor? KISMIF.

Let's clear up the confusion that happens every time this subject comes up. And yes, I realize all the following is paraphrased alot... Totin' Chip::: Boy Scout award. Indicates the Boy Scout has learned and demonstrated that he can use and properly care for knife, axe, and saw safely and responsibly. The boy has "permission" to carry and use those tools at Scout activities. This previlege can be revoked if ...and here is where it gets muddy. Leader descretion and Unit tradition comes in. Whittlin' Chit:: Cub Scout award. Indicates that the Bear or Webelos Cub Scout (NOT Tiger or Wolf) has learned and demonstrated that he can use ONLY a folding pocket knife safely and responsibly. I'd like to think that the W/C class also included safe and proper handling all other knives as well (cooking, etc.). The boy has "permission" WITH HIS PARENTS KNOWLEDGE AND PERMISSION, to carry and use a pocket knife at Cub Scout activities ONLY. AND AGAIN, this privelege can be revoked if...Same here, leader discretion and Unit tradition. Chips and Chits. Teach'em and demonstrate how all the time. Boy, will they catch you if you don't say "thank you"! Or don't sweep a safety circle!. Insist on the best behavior and you are more likely to get it. Safety first.

Call your Council office and ask to speak with the Program Director. She/he should be able to tell you the what/how and /when. ` As for opportunity, after the Council camp ranges, check to see if someone in your Pack/Troop/ friend circle is a member of Isaac Walton League. They often have air rifle range that Scouts can use with proper certification, membership, etc. Very often, IWL allows Cub Scout Day Camp on their land and the Cub Rangemaster uses their target range. Be safe, and KISMIF.

"Cutting Corners" is definitely a unit affectation. Warnings, PLC meetings, SM and ASM judgements, I've heard of many different versions of Totin' Chip discipline. The standard should be safety first and mature behavior. Pocket knives falling out of pockets is a mishap. Wish I still had my uncles knife that fell out somewhere on the AT near Pine Knob Shelter. Leaving it on the table after use (folded up) is perhaps purposeful, but not a safety issue (it was folded up?). Waving a closed knife around to show off a birthday present (saw this one) warrants a warning and talk-to about Scout behavior, even if it was closed. Throwing knife target practice (heard about it) warrants instant T/C revocation. The need , always, is to impress on the Scout during T/C (or, come to think about it, Whittlin' Chit with Cubs) training the importance to "respect the edge" and treat the tool with mature respect, not childish glee. That can lead to injury and regret. If you have to revoke, don't forget to "debrief" and remind the Scout they may re-earn the T/C the next time around... Here I was at a Cub Pack Pop Corn award ceremony. "Jeffrey sold umpteen tons of popcorn and he is awarded this POCKET KNIFE!!" (cheers). Jeffrey shakes the CM hand, takes the small box back to his table, opens it up and proceeds to unfold all the blades to show his dad and mom and Denmates. Starts to wave it round like a Starwars Tie Fighter. I walked over (yes, in the middle of the ceremony. I could see this going to a bad place. There were other awards to come!)and said "Jeffery? That's a fine knife. Can I show you how to handle this safely, please?" As the Pack UC, I was known had some clout. "Thank you. Here's how to close it right. See? No fingers missing!. Now, I think maybe dad should help you keep this sharp item safe and help show you how to use it , okay?" Dad looks at me and nods his head, silently saying 'thank you' as he takes the knife from me. Two weeks later, I had the Bears and Webelos in Mr. Jefferysdads rec room, teaching Whittlin' Chit. Gave the Dads copies of the W/C curriculum the District had developed and in a couple hours had eight Cubs reciting "respect the edge" and saying "thank you" everytime anything, much less a knife, was handed them. T/C: SM or ASM teach the PLC and TG. TG or PL teach the Tenderfoots.

Beg pardon, ev, Ecclesiastes 10:NINETEEN. Need less awake time... I view FoS as a necessary evil, to help buy & maintain property, etc. hope it doesn't really pay salaries., but, as has been stated here abouts, oft times the DEs mention it wrongly and without aforethought.

" A feast is made for laughter and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things." Elllesiastes 10:11

SR540beaver: You and I may agree on the definition of a terrorist but some folks don"t: "Homeland Security says Timothy McVeigh is not a Terrorist" http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/homeland-security-says-timothy-mcveigh-isnt-a-terrorist-but-peace-activists-are/701/ *sigh*

In our neck of the woods, a Camporee is a Scout activity, laid out with Patrol events. There are no stand arounds, you camp, you participate. Cubs and Webelos may visit, with parent accompaniment, but that is very rare. Webelos Weekend is the other thing. Webelos are invited to the Webelos Weekend by Scout Troops that organize and run "stations" for the Webs to participate in. Webs come as guests of a particular Troop. If a Cub Pack Web Den wants to come, and they don't have a host Troop, they are assigned one. Instant recruitment!

Trivia Quiz: Who said: "It's ONLY the beginning, folks, only the beginning...!" http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/03/AR2009010301993.html

Baden-Powell... Aids to Scoutmastering Eric Sloan...Diary of an Early American Boy Gary Paulson... Hatchet Anything by Ernest Thompson Seton Oh, and go to SLST and IOLS ASAP.

I tried to spin this off as a seperate thread, but non-function and too many "error" messages. Jblake's "summer Cows" put me in mind of the idea that what I call "joining jokes" are a good way to include folks in the group. Here's one that you do VOCALLY but has to be understood ALPHABETICALLY... The leader says the 'truism' and as folks figure out or know the 'rule' used, they join in and add more... Here goes... >>Silly Sally wears boots but not shoes. >>Silly Sally loves apples and bannanas but not pears. >> Her brother, Happy Harry, goes swimming and running, but never dives or walks. >> For his Nature Merit Badge, he studied Loons and Moose and Deer and Rabbits, but no Beavers or Skunks or Gophers. He sleeps deeply, but never naps. Any more???

It just isn't your turn yet... "Maryland State Police Admit to Keeping List of Non-Violent Activists on List of Possible Terrorists" http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/07/AR2008100703245.html I personally know two folks on the list...

I was gonna start a new thread, but couldn't get the spin off function to work from Snipe Hunt... Jblake47's "summer cows" gag reminded me that what I call "join 'em jokes" can be a means to help include folks (both young and not so) in the group. This one is done VOCALLY but must be understood ALPHABETICALLY, if you see what I mean. You start off with one example, and if anyone else knows the rule, they chime in. Others try out new examples and as they figure it out, presto! You have a new member of the club!: >> Silly Sally wears boots but not shoes. >> Silly Sally loves bannanas but hates pears. Likes apples, too. >> Her brother, Happy Harry, goes swimming but doesn't dive. >> Happy Harry goes jogging and running but never walks. >> They both adore balloons and spoons but not toys. Any More out there?

I tell ya, we need a "Religion and Chaplaincy" forum... J-K-C, I thank you for your passion. It adds to my knowledge of the wonderful mix that is BSA (or isn't). I've often wondered if there was a counter proof to the supposition that religion always supported Scouting. BSA attempts to use the respectful 'agree to disagree' that exists between the various faiths in the world and ,voila, here's the LCWS that stands up and says "no, we can't and here's why". I've often been asked, "do you have to be Christian to be a Boy Scout?". I've never been asked any variant of that ("do you have to be Jewish, Lutheran, Muslim, Pagan, etc.....?"). This must indicate something. Beavah: I tend to agree with the franchise/contractor model for Scouting, but when the possible franchisee doesn't think the BSA model is close enough to their idea of a youth program, then it gets adapted (Royal Rangers comes to mind). Maybe it isn't inclusive enough. Campfire is an alternative. It does get interesting when we are asked to "encourage the boy's faith" and find out that we are not supposed to encourage him in OUR faith. Again, please note the subtle change in the 12th point's published definition in 1972. "...and respects the convictions of others in matters of custom and religion." (1911 til 1972) "...He respects the beliefs of others." (1972 to present) I think the LCWS's stance is wonderful. It contrasts nicely with certain other groups that would rather change the BSA to suit themselves instead of inventing another choice. Question: does the LCWS have an alternative youth program, male or female, for those seeking a scoutlike opportunity?

From the Founder's words (see the much quoted but often neglected guidance in "Aids to Scoumastership" noted by Nachamawat above), to BSA's insistance to make relgious faith a basis rather than a support to the Scouting program, we are still left with the need to "agree to disagree". As it happens, the BSA has been somewhat unique in it's acknowledgement of religion. Many other national Scout associations around the world make no mention of faith or religion in their particular Law. And the published definition of the BSA Law has evolved over the years: " A Scout is Reverent. He is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties and respects the convictions of others in matters of custom and religion." (1911 to 1972) " A Scout is Reverent. He is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties. He respects the beliefs of others. (1972 thru the present) By including spiritual faith in the official program, BSA has both improved and made more difficult our task as Scout leaders. Should we acknowledge and encourage the faiths propounded by our Scouts and their families? Absolutely. Should we criticize their choices? Absolutely not. Should we seek to accomodate their needs? As much as possible. I keep coming back to Father Mulcahy in MASH (the TV series, not the movie), who went out of his way to ease the way of not only his Catholic soldiers and Korean natives, but also the Jewish and Buddhist ones as well. My Quaker flavored version of Christianity is mine. It is, in my experience, the easiest way for God to find me. I am always ready to share my experience with others, but I do not begrudge any others their method. I find it to be well suited to me and my family. Readers of this forum will note my stories about conversations with many other faiths. I welcome this. When I have been asked to lead the "Scout's Own" discussion for IOLS, I note that in respect to a religious observance at a camp out or on the trail, the Scout leader and his/her unit has four choices. 1) Make no acknowledgement. Don't offend or approve by not attempting a religious observance of any kind. Leave the "duty to God" totally to the Scout's own conscience. 2) If your unit is known to be mono-faith, make a small religious service of appropriate ceremony. Use your Chaplain's Aide and let them take the lead in the service planning and execution. Adult faith leaders may be included as appropriate to the faith. Pray, sing, etc. as led. 3) Experiment, let other faiths have a turn in leading an acknowledgment of God's leadership. But make sure parents and Scouts realize that they may be exposed to another tradition other than their own. (I remember my Methodist Church Troop attending a Jewish Synagogue). You can stop at the local church or synagogue on your way out or going home. Nothing like a bunch of trail weary Scouts in the back pews of the local church to start conversation. 4) Any attempt at being inclusive and all incompassing may not be successful, for all the reasons noted in this thread and others. You can't please everyone and you can certainly offend many without trying hard. I then suggest any such acknowledgement should be about 10 or 15 minutes long, be heavy on thankfulness and realizing God's creation. I usually then gave them my attempt at an inclusive "Scout's Own". It includes prayers from Navahoe, Christian, Koranic, Jewish, Irish, and Iroquois traditions. It includes some leader reading/ group response, and single reading/prayer. I say that should anyone find they cannot say what is suggested, they may pass. I remind them that, as I love God and Christ, I would not subject them to my song leading, but that is a personal choice. I have had folks in my IOLS groups of Muslim, Jewish, Lutheran, LDS, Catholic, and various Protestant persuasions. I have not had any give me any negative feed back. Perhaps they were only being polite? Our choices in religion are laid on us first by our families, then by our life situations. Our families require us to attend church (or not), listen to our priest or Immam (or avoid such). We learn to accept or reject that and move on. One chance passes us by as another opens up for us. As Spock said, "there are always choices". What follows is the recorded testimony of James Naylor, on his deathbed, just before his death at age 44 in 1650. It speaks to me and I recommend it to you. "There is a spirit which I feel, that delights to do no evil, nor to avenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things in hope to enjoy its own in the end. It's hope is to outlive all wrath and contention, and to weary out all exaltation and cruelty, or whatever is of a nature contrary to itself. It sees to the end of all temptations. As it bears no evil in itself, so it conceives none in thought to any other: if it be betrayed, it bears it; for its ground and spring are the mercies and forgiveness of God. Its crown is meekness, its life is everlasting love unfeigned, and takes its kingdom with entreaty, and not with contention, and keeps it by lowliness of mind. In God alone it can rejoice, though none else regard it, or can own its life. It is conceived in sorrow, and brought forth without any to pity it; nor doth it murmur at grief, and oppression. It never rejoiceth but through sufferings; for with the world's joy it is murdered. I found it alone, being forsaken. I have fellowship therein with them who lived in dens, and desolate places of the earth, who through death obtained this resurrection, and eternal holy life." Happy Easter time to you all. (This message has been edited by SSScout)

May I guess? 'Scout's Own' discussion? From Rumi: Let the beauty we love be what we do. From the Navahoe: Before me peaceful, behind me peaceful, under me peaceful, around me peaceful. Robbie Burns: (with appropriate accent, if possible) Sum ha' meat, and canna eat, sum ca' eat but ha' nun. But WE ca' eat and we ha' meat, and so the Laird be thank-ed. Try www.religioustolerance.org www.boyscouttrail.com www.usscouts.org for other graces and prayers.

What he said. We would wrap an egg in a slice of bread and pack it in the billy pot of our BSA cook kit. That would be the toast and egg for the next morning on the trail. Bacon wrapped in waxed paper around the bread and egg. Good for at least one day w/o refrigeration. Speaking of fresh eggs... The Ballad of Hard Luck Henry By Robert W. Service Now wouldn't you expect to find a man an awful crank That's staked out nigh three hundred claims, and every one a blank; That's followed every fool stampede, and seen the rise and fall Of camps where men got gold in chunks and he got none at all; That's prospected a bit of ground and sold it for a song To see it yield a fortune to some fool that came along; That's sunk a dozen bedrock holes, and not a speck in sight, Yet sees them take a million from the claims to left and right? Now aren't things like that enough to drive a man to booze? But Hard Luck Smith was hoodoo-proof- he knew the way to lose. 'Twas in the fall of nineteen-four- leap year I've heard them say- When Hard-Luck came to Hunker Creek and took a hillside lay, And lo! as if to make amends for all the futile past, Late in the year he struck it rich, the real pay-streak at last. The riffles of his sluicing-box were choked with speckled earth, And night and day he worked that lay for all that he was worth. And when in chill December's gloom his lucky lease expired, He found that he had made a stake as big as he desired. One day while meditating on the waywardness of fate, He felt the ache of lonely man to find a fitting mate; A petticoated pard to cheer his solitary life, A woman with soft, soothing ways, a confidant, a wife. And while he cooked his supper on his little Yukon stove, He wished that he had staked a claim in Love's rich treasure-trove; When suddenly he paused and held aloft a Yukon egg, For there in pencilled letters was the magic name of Peg. You know these Yukon eggs of ours- some pink, some green, some blue- A dollar per, assorted tints, assorted flavors, too! The supercilious cheechako might designate them nigh, But one acquires a taste for them and likes them by-and-by. Well, Hard-Luck Henry took this egg and held it to the light, And there was more faint pencilling that sorely taxed his sight. At last he made it out, and then the legend ran like this- "Will Klondike miner write to Peg, Plumhollow, Squashville, Wis?" That night he got to thinking of this far-off, unknown fair; It seemed so sort of opportune, an answer to his prayer She flitted sweetly through his dreams, she haunted him by day, She smiled through clouds of nicotine, she cheered his weary way. At last he yielded to the spell; his course of love he set- Wisconsin his objective point, his object, Margaret. With every mile of sea and land his longing grew and grew He practiced all his pretty words, and these, I fear, were few. At last, one frosty evening, with a cold chill down his spine, He found himself before her house, the threshold of the shrine. His courage flickered to a spark, then glowed with sudden flame, He knocked; he heard a welcome word; she came-his goddess came! Oh, she was fair as any flower, and huskily he spoke. "I'm all the way from Klondike, with a mighty heavy poke. I'm looking for a lassie, one whose Christian name is Peg, Who sought a Klondike miner, and who wrote it on an egg." The lassie gazed at him a space, her cheeks grew rosy red, She gazed at him with tear-bright eyes, then tenderly she said, "Yes, lonely Klondike miner, it is true my name is Peg. It's also true I longed for you and wrote it on an egg. My heart went out to someone in that land of night and cold; But oh, I fear that Yukon egg must have been mighty old I waited long, I hoped and feared; you should have come before; I've been a wedded woman now for eighteen months or more. I'm sorry, since you've come so far, you ain't the one that wins; But won't you take a step inside? I'll let you see the twins! *From "Ballads Of A Cheechako" Published 1909

Man, I'm sure gald they don't charge extra for all this extra entertainment. Boubon Pecan, please. You may drizzle with dark chocolate sauce, if you have it.

JiKC: Absolutely. When the boy signs up, the parent(s) are also handed an app and it is explained how important it is to the Troops success to have an active Committee. Oh, BTW, was that the parent helicopter or the UFO helicopters you referred to?

How many Patrols? How many judges? say, 3 tour around to each Patrol site and sample cuisine? Deadline for cooking finish ("Meal must be ready to serve at 6pm")? Add points (so many for this plus so many for that) or take away points (start with 100, deduct 2 for each pot/utensil used in cooking, 3 off for bark in the ragoo, etc.)? Extra credit for serving and ambience of meal setting? Patrol sits together at a hand built lashed table or scattered around tent site? Does sanitary prep count? Overall hygiene? Hand wash station? Does Clean up count? Camp stove or Camp fire? Charcoal or only wood? Camp Kitchen Safety: everyone Totin' Chip equipped? Fire prevention equipped? Patrol Style points: Chef hats, aprons, etc. Grace said? Are they listed in the Mobil Guide? Give ""STARS"" for outstanding Haut Scout Cuisine!! Bone Appetitee!(This message has been edited by SSScout)

How old is the Troop? Find the "first" Eagle, if he's still around, ask him to come and speak about his time and his challenges. Seven at once is a wonderful opportunity, but as has been said, it's the boy'(s) party. Work with (him) them and do it right. Newspaper coverage? PR? Search these forums, you'll find many types of ceremonies, both grand and humble. From Petite Fours to hotdogs and slaw. Congrats to all. Continued Good Scouting to them all.

Scoutfriendshortridge: Good sabertooth chop. Light weight carry no u-ten-sil, no need. Eat when burned sufficiently. Ummmmm. Wipe hand on loin cloth.