SSScout

Don't forget the parents... Inspire yourselves with watching "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" Skits and silly songs and running jokes... Killer rabbits and Tim the Enchanter can be your friends... Dumdededumdumdum... We're knights of the round table, we dance when 'er we're able and imitate Clark Gable....

Nobody likes everthing... Let's see now,which is prefferred? "Wanna go on a hike?" "Go take a hike!" "Hike up them shorts!" "Let's take a hike." "Hike!" (pneumatically distended leatherized oblate spheroid appears in hand). usw.

A lot of excellent Ideas... You might invite the Scout Troop(s) that your Ws bridge over to. Do you have any Den Chiefs? Good time to recruit them from the Troops nearby. The 'hero worship' factor can really work in your favor with a couple of Boy Scouts to help with the Cub activities. KiS MiF YiS

Hiya, Hiya Hiya... Reeeead all about it... Get yer paper here... EEEEleven Eagle Scouts in the same Court of Honor, Been together since Cubs... Viking Patrol makes good... Reeeeead all about it... http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/18/AR2008011803722.html 19 January 2008 Washington Post page A1.

Recent history.... I was watching the Scouts begin the meeting with the usual color guard entry, and I did something I hadn't done before. I paid close attention to the APPEARANCE of the flags. Here's what I discovered: 1))The Troop flag was the ORIGINAL flag that was used when I was a Scout in the same Troop, and it was really the worse for wear. I later went to the CC and spoke of getting a new Troop flag for the Troop to use and maybe retire the old one to a display case, with it's signatures and history mentioned. He was surprised that it was as old as it obviously was, and liked my suggestion. Troop 50th is approaching. 2)) The American flag had 15 stripes(!!) and only 15 stars. Because of the way the Scouts carry it in, no one had ever noticed this before, in recent memory at least. We had a short history lesson (no, the Troop isn't that old) about how the flag has evolved, and how cum the flag HERE looks the way it does and is it really an American flag we can use, shouldn't we get a new one etc. Well, the "star spangled banner" of the War of 1812 was 'created' just a few miles north of us so perhaps that is how we ended up with such a 'historic' flag rather than the up to date 50 star version. Flags are fun and observation is important. So, SctDad, get an up-to-date version! And just for kicks, sign the haul strip for reminincing when you come back later! YiS

WWJD

Capture the Flag (adult version/international politics not withstanding) is a cool game. Almost any 'wide game' is. But the object/goal is not to ELIMINATE your opponent, merely to best them. Strategy, tactics, teamwork, vision, observation, knowledge of your opponent, knowledge of the ground all come in to play and are developed thereby. Ltag, Pball the goal is too close to the real type of 'point and shoot'. One is not shooting a target to improve ones skill. Ones goal is to KILL the other guy. Fill 'em with paint or low wattage ruby light. Gain skill, confidence and experience and fear conquering by going the distance, living thru freezing weather, climbing rock walls, almost drowning in white water in tippy little canoes. In Rwanda and the Congo and Dafur, real children are being trained to really kill. Paint ball is too close to the real thing for my Scouts. They may eventually have to learn about the real thing, but first let's help'em to think about how to make such conflicts not happen. Past generations have not been all that successful. Is it possible to make things better without 'violence at a distance'? Or violence up close for that matter? So how do the Scouts deal with bullys?

My interpretation of the aforementioned regulation (and it's intent) is not so much the chance of injury as the promotion of war like games. Shot gun skeet, .22 rifle, BB air gun, sling shot and archery TARGET shooting is all still allowed. Even encouraged. But Paintball etc. is a simulation of warfare. The desired intent is to hit a target, NOT to pretend to KILL your opponent. Hence the differentiation and ban. All the above instruments and sport CAN be used to injure, but NOT in the allowed activity. Pball, Ltag are each intended to play act the "game" of war. I would not favor a "lasertag" Camporee. See the book "Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card

Ditto the FOS presentaions. It shouldn't feel ike a timeshare come-on. A QUICK reminder is all. AoL? See if the District OA Ceremony team can do a "show", always wow's our Cubs.

Ah yes, Red Green's solution to every problem (real or not)... Duct Tape. Search these forums, if you dare, and see the many uses (and misuses) of that noble commodity. Is the man still a Scout Leader?

Since the cherces have been opened, I'll have to nominate my father, who played semi-pro softball as a catcher, ONE HANDED. Lost his left arm up to the shoulder in a construction accident before he met my mom, and according to my Uncle, could out throw and out hit many men in his league with the normal equipment. I watched him when he helped coach my Cub Scout softball league and marveled at his manipulation of glove and ball. Catch the ball, toss it in the air slightly, drop the glove, catch the ball and fire it to third base. mm- mm-mm. Sorry to say, all I have is his example and my Uncles remininces. No photos or record books. "Course, Frank Howard was no slouch. (This message has been edited by SSScout)

Well, I tried your instructions, John, and that worked. Should not that extra super address be stripped when the link is clicked? I tried some other links from other sites and they didn't have the extra intro-http, relating to the originating site (to the link). Thanks. YiS

Oh, there will be boys that will complain about going to Kings Dominion or Umpteen Flags over Texas. Is AP Hill hot? sure, but you drink and you spray each other with water and you walk alot. The worst thing that happened to me there was dealing with an MP sergeant who insisted that I should not ride my Staff issued bicycle on "his" pavement. It was okay to ride on the grass, but not on "his" pavement. But that was just poor me, staff Chaplain. Oh well. Jamboree is fun, distracting, educational (shudder), much like a Scout summer camp, but so much bigger and more amazing. Ultimate idea::: Get your Troop or Crew to plan and propose an activity to present. Many of the activity areas were there just by that method. If accepted, your group can get help (extra staff) to make it work, and a real reason to attend. And , again, you'll probably pay to be a volunteer(!) Any boy not ready to immerse themselves in a new, foreign environment will NOT have a immediately fun time. Should this be the first long time away from home? No. The living of the Scout Law and Promise is everywhere. The Scout must be willing and able to take on responsibility for his share of the work of the Troop camp, be willing to try new things and not sit waiting for the fun to come to him, be able to take on responsibility for his own well being. Most Troops insisted on the 'Buddy System', in getting around. The boy must ,in many respects, be willing to submit himself to the will of the group rather than the wim of the individual. Take LOTS of drinks of ordinary water, not just sweet stuff. I met a Scout at the hospital who at first REFUSED to drink anything except sweet stuff. He succumbed and I met him in the hospital. I think he went back to the Jamboree drinking more H2O. Pride hath no bounds. But Scout will help Scout. Pack212, do your calculations again, and make sure your boys will not be dissappointed if they are not of age or rank or experience. Good luck YiS(This message has been edited by SSScout)

Personal courage and tenacity: "The Pistol", the Birth of a Legend" Being the story of Pete Maravich and how he revolutionized basketball. Racism confronted, new technigues vs tradition, cliques vs loyalty. "Drumline" Loyalty, competition, personal success, fitting in and not. Hope you can find'em.

Camp mistakes I've seen, from both sides of the steam table: Watch what comes back, thru the dish window or trash bins. It's messy, but a good measure of what's sucessful and what isn't. If you send out 12 chicken steaks to a table of seven boys and a counselor/staff, and you see eight come back, maybe it's not because folks don't like chicken, maybe it's the chicken... Budget blowers: BIG bowls of catsup/condiments that never get used. They must be thrown out after each meal if not used. Use SMALL bowls or squeeze bottles, and clean them well periodically. Same with puddings, veggies, etc. If you serve "family style", which is good, use SMALLER bowl units and make SECONDS available when the small bowls empty. Better to send out one small bowl, which gets used than one BIG bowl where half gets thrown out. Count the savings in wasted food, less clean up, less trash haulage fees. Make sure the table surfaces are CLEANABLE. Raw wood is a health nightmare. Cold milk, 2%, available at all mealtimes. Coffee/tea table available for adults at all hours, and a place to sit and talk thereby. Published menues? Maybe not a weeks worth, but on the door coming in, for the day is nice. Don't forget the campers may not eat there after the week is over, but the staff will, again and again. "Tuesday means spaghetti" may/may not be a good thing. On the camp clear day, between camps, give the staff something special, if possible. Banana splits are really appreciated. If the food is supposed to be served HOT (hamburgers, chili) make the effort to serve it HOT. Consider an arrangement to provide in camp snacks for a special occasion. Watermelons are good. If campfires in the Troop sites are allowed, hot dogs available for night snacks? etc. You want their attention? Try serving something Anything, enflambe! Have the fire prevention crew at the ready, of course. Maybe not to the whole dining room, but to the head table? Not too salty or spicy, ever. One can always add hot sauce or pepper. Or catsup. Use real eggs and real potatoes, if at all possible. The raw stuff is always better, even if the Scouts learn how to prep it. And don't forget that thirteenth point of the Scout law...

BALOO and WELOT/OWLS don't (doesn't?) "officially" include much if anything about knife/axe safety because "officially" Cubs (Webelos, too) do not have any business handling axes and knive safety is limited to the Whittlin' Chip in Bear and Webelos literature. I did not mean to imply Cub leaders be given the whole Totin' Chip class, only that the "Woodtools" instructor would be the logical source for Whitlin' Chip instruction. Certainly, Whitlin' Chip training should include safe handling of the Cub's pocket clasp knife along with mom's cooking knives and dad's utility knives, too. I like the note from jblake about putting the knife down and picking it up. A search of Scouter.com and other Scout sites will yield a wealth of experience to draw on for Whitlin' Chip instruction. Our boys will be enriched for your efforts, struax. Search out Eric Sloan's book "Diary of an Early American Boy" to see how important axes and knives were at one time.

Gee, I'd really like to read about all these Scouts in the News, but I get the "Page Not Found" at my computer at work and at home and at friends house. Comments?

Still no connection. Every click on a "headline" yields "Page Not Found". The 'Redirect' never worked either.

Poor Cub Scout with a dad like that. Poor example for the boys. Parents in conflict about who's in charge. (folks in flowing blue and gold robes come rushing on stage) **clashing music** "NOBODY EXPECTS THE SCOUTER INQUISITION!!" (push old lady into the comfy chair) etc. etc.

If the weight is held constant, and therefore balanced between the wheels that support the car, why would one less wheel necessarily mean less over all friction? The "normal" force is still the same and instead of four wheels each having 1/4 the force/friction, eliminating one wheel would mean each of the remaining wheels would have 1/3 the force/friction. By that reasoning, eliminating TWO wheels might be better still. Anyone try this: Balance the cars weight such that 95% is on the rear axles (two wheels) and the front axles only hold a token 5% (or less!) of the cars weight. Then, as the car rolls down the track, aero forces might even take more weight off the front axles. Polish the axles and clean up the wheels to eliminate "chatter" and "wobble", so the car does not rub unnecessarily on the guide rail. One problem perculiar to some tracks: as the down grade curves up and bottoms out to the flat, some nose heavy cars will drag on the curve up of the track. Watch for that. Alright, touch cars and come out of your corners rolling. *ding*

Lisabob: I will offer two comments. One: Of course we're a Christian organization. We're also a Muslim organization (else why am I commishining two new Muslim units?), a Buddhist organization and a Jewish organization (witness the several purely Jewish Troops I met at the Jamboree and the Rabbi who was our Chief Chaplain), among other organizations we are. Second: Why do we try to reinvent our own particular wheel? Quote her the Founders words. I don't think anyone has said it better. "Reverence to God and reverence for one's neighbor 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 our business to respect their wishes and to second their efforts to inculcate reverence, whatever form of religion the boy professes." So to respect the parents (oh yes, where is the dad in this?) wishes, you might have to suggest they (1) not go on the activities that do not fit their schedule, (2) help plan trips that WOULD fit their schedule, (3)realize that Scouting is multi faceted and ya can't please everybody all the time (4) we love you anyway (5) or the church down the street has a Troop, maybe they would suit you better? And above all, remind them : do not attend the national Jamboree. Too many OTHER types of Scouts there... YiS

So this went from kvetching about the removal of a "God Rock" to reminiscing about Italian food... "Scouter dot com. Wat a grrreat forum, yes?"

"... literally everywhere in the world" Indeed. Go to your local Scout store and purchase the poster of ALL the Scout symbols of every Scout nation. You can then show THAT to good effect, proof of the possibiity of a world brotherhood of Scouts. And we pray for Mohameds hand to heal quickly.

Excellent question, who is qualified to "teach" and pass on Whitlin' Chip... First, alot of Cub Scout leadership is, after all, self selected. Hopefully, a possible WCh leader might realize their limitations and act (or not) accordingly. Suggestions: In our district, we always try to have a segment of the IOLS be "Woodtools", ie knife, axe and saw use and safety. This by necessity includes requirements for Totin' Chip, which realy does automatically include the Whitlin' Chip material. A Totin' Chip carrying Scout, knowledgable in safe use of knife and axe, must know the Whitlin' Chip material. Accordingly, you might ask the District Training Chair to refer you to the "Woodtools" instructor. He might be willing (any doubt?) to come and give your CS leaders a short seminar for Whitlin' Chip. Then too, having passed Totin' Chip once need not equate to being a good Whitlin' Chip instructor. I knew an SPL who collected pocket knives, had a goodly assortmment. But his goal seemed to be showing off his collection and hearing the Cubs OOO and AAH. Some ASM counseling showed him the error of his way and he became a true believer in teaching knife safety (that, and catching his finger in a clasp knife while trying to close it one handed).

"Scouts Own" "Outdoor Interfaith Service" Diversity awareness... Our district makes sure to have a "Scouts Own" discussion/training in the IOLS training weekend. Alot of good comments and uh-hums during. Single faith units vs diverse faith units vs no faith units (rather not bring it up. Don't want to OFFEND anyone). How to approach a religious service (there's that Scout word "service"*) so as to let it bring everyone in? or no one but a few? or ... But a good, spiritual experience can still be had out in the woods, and many good quotes/readings/prayers/thoughts are available to them that seek via the google. Bible and q'ran can exist side by side. The Golden Lotus has much to recommend itself. "The Redmans Gospel" by Seton will provoke much thought. The Irish and Sufi both can pray better than me. An open mind is a good qualification for a Scout Chaplain. RE: Father Mulcahy of MASH. Hey, maybe SCOUTER.COM needs a new section on Chaplaincy? Or (shudder) just RELIGION? * A visitor comes into a silent Quaker Meeting. He sits down beside a Friend on a bench and waits. After a few minutes in the silence, he leans over to the Friend and whispers "when does the service start?" The Friend leans over and whispers back "after Meeting is over". YiS&C