SSScout

District Camporee::: 20 plus Troops...300 plus Scouts...Climbing wall... tug-o-war... archery...hammer the bell...air rifles... log drag for time...two man saw on a 12" log...trebuchet (pumpkins are very consistant in size!)...run the obstacle course......Campfire... skits...cheers...songs...SM minute... Drizzle on friday set up... help neighbor Troop that left the rope basket at home...Pour down rain at 11pm... Saturday sunshine... clear night... dewey Sunday morn... Oh the aromas thru camp...Dutch oven brownies...Bacon and eggs... spaghetti... fresh cooked donuts... burgers and ba

As they occur to me, questions to consider: Distance between cays? Expected weather? Plan B? Water sources? Required skill/stamina level? Historical side trips? Tours? "Sag boat"? (thinking bike trip parallel) Industrial size canisters of sunblock? 'Squeeter repellent? Where do I sign up?

That's why we're here. It might be tomorrow, it might be thirty years later. The skills will be there, if they are needed, IF they are taught and practiced NOW. Keep telling your Scouts, IF YOU'RE LUCKY: you will never need the skills and confidence you gain here in Scouting. On the other hand, IF THE FOLKS THAT NEED YOUR HELP ARE LUCKY: You, with your training and confidence, will be there when you are needed.

Just like this forum... From Christ symbology to motorcycles. 1980 GT550 2 stroke sitting in my garage. Goldwing? I've driven cars with smaller engines. Weld two GL's together, Now you've got a vehicle.

The on-going debate not withstanding, (evmori makes some good points and scoutldr makes sense too) on behalf of my fellow Transit workers everywhere, I must protest the increase in the misuse of the term "throw under the bus" to indicate the lack of realization of what is really lost by any particular action. On behalf of the many baby washers (I use to be one) everywhere, I wish to protest (pre use) the unfortunate use of the term "throw the baby out with the bath water". Now, you were saying?

Just from the small glimpse of your Troop, I would advise going to the established camp this year, (summer'08) and consider CAREFULLY the idea of sponsoring your own summer camp NEXT year ('09) or later. * Planning * Insurance * activities * advancement opportunity * field trips away from campus *tents or bunk room or...* Standard equipment or personal * what does the offered 'farm' offer? * medical care * fire protection * stoves or campfire * sanitation* wood supply? * foul weather * etc etc. Back in prehistory when I earned my dinosaur herding MB, my Troop had a relative of a S

A Post Trophy? Past Atrophy? Apt Apathy? A Post Toasty ? Holy Guacamole.

Movie nights::: Copy right fees are a concern, but not a bad one. From our experience, there are three possibilities: * Use your own, personal, bought and paid for DVD. Show it "privately", that is to say, without "public" invitation (no advertising outside of the CO), but you will accept a donation and sell refreshmants. * Go on line and find the movie rental companies. There are fewer now than some years ago, but they do exist and will license a non-profit to show a film at a discount rate. That is to say, cheaper than a professional theater. Either DVD or real (reel!) film, us

Yep. We are in a much more urban area ( I like to say we are on the edge of "creeping suburbia"). There are "Good Turns" and there are "Money Makers" . Depends on the expectations and previous arangements. The family that has lost a parent (however it happens) gets a "Good Turn" of yard work. The rest of the community contracts for shrub trimming and leaf raking. * I like the Yard Sale combined with Camp Cooking. I know of a Kiwanis Club that roasts a WHOLE STEER on a spit, over a VERY large charcoal pit. Lot of planning but oh, the PR and good eating. Not to mention the down wind a

Keeping in mind the need for a "Fund Raising Approval Form" (I think that''s what it''s called) from your Council, some possibilities I''ve seen/heard tell of/participated in::: * "Rent-a-Scout" ::Reserve a time to do yardwork, clean a garage, muck out the barn, paint the fence, etc. So much an hour per Scout. Don''t forget physical limitations, safety concerns and adult supervision. ("how come I can''t get my boy to do his chores at home but he''ll clean the neighbors garage?" One of life''s imponderables...). *Yes, we sell wreaths. Check on possible competition, and plan well for

I am impressed. Eighteen Dens. 8 to ten (or more) boys each? And the CO limits rooms on one night for meeting? This CO needs to see the success this represents. Is this the only ''Childrens Ministry'' here? This is a religious organization, I would guess. The Pack leadeship should be rightly proud of doing something right. Possibilities: * Is there any legality/problem/ with Scout mitosis... Could the CO sponsor TWO Units? And arrange to meet different nights? * Do Unit parents have some connections to arrange for the Pack to meet at another location? VFDept? School cafeter

Our Troop sells popcorn "under protest" (another thread) and we have other fundraisers. The Scout Accounts, to my knowledge, have never been used for anything other than camp fees, trip bus charters, and the like. Never for uniforms or personal gear that would not be Troop owned and ''borrowable''. HOWEVER... some years ago (before my time), a graduating Scout that (among other things) had early on earned his Eagle, asked for and was granted the use of his Scout Account to purchase an equipment trailer for the Troop. This was no small purchase, and the Troop has made good use of the 12'

Church CO is planning a new combination picnic pavilion/storage shed/BBQ grill. Church approaches Troop to 1) solicit financial donation (same for all church ministries and committees) 2) would Troop be interested in helping with the building? Pick and carry? Actual construction? (church father is prime contractor and very amenable to Scouts) 3)prime contractor is aware of Eagle project requirement. Would anyone be interested? Well, yes, a couple of boys make proposals for landscaping, building new picnic tables, building walk ways to and around the grounds,etc. Two Eagle candidates workin

As in all of life, there will be ''go-getters'' and ''come-alongs'' and the ''eventuals''.. The Go Getters will see what they (or their parents) want (Wolf badge, Arrow point) and will nag and work to get it. The Come Alongs will see the Go Getters get theirs (the Wolf badge) and say to themselves "hey, I''d like to get that and be patted on the back in front of the Pack" and will come along to work and nag alittle more to get it. The Eventuals may or may not get it, but hopefully, seeing their friends up front of the Pack "getting it",,, they will, eventually. Give out the awards

Navigation Game::: Needs advance planning. As the Scouts arrive at the meeting place, they are given a card with some directions on it. This can be as exact as compass degrees and pace distances, or as fun as "face the NW door of the church. Turn right. Walk 100 paces straight . at Oak tree with biggest trunk..." etc. The goal is to get them 1) to think about how to get places and 2) get them to the next station where they learn about LNT fire building, etc. That station gives them a new card and on they go. Yeah, it is sort of like a scavenger hunt. I''ve seen this do

Repeat them in the group at the opening and closing of Den Meetings and Pack Meetings. Ask a more Senior Cub to lead the recitation. Make sure everyone has a turn. Use parts of the CSP and the LotP as topics for "CM Minutes". (what does it mean to ''make a promise''? What kind of "Duty" can a young boy do?) Remind them of the symbology of the CS Sign. Play a game about it: write each separate word on a 3x5 card, mix''em up in a paper bag. At an opportune moment ("oh wait, John. I know you know the CSP, Let''s see if the adults have been listening..."), ask the adults in att

My TSO tells the story of going camping with her family. Seems her GSTroop leaders didn''t do much outdoorsy stuff, so her dad (my DiLaw) made it a point (he worked for the Agriculture Dept. Forestry Service) to take the family with him on his research trips when he could. Seems they were camped in North Dakota, and one morning woke up to find their camp surrounded by Bison. DiL comes out of his tent (and he is no small person), raises himself up to his full hieght, spreads his arms out and goes "AAWWWOOUUFFF" (wife''s reporting) to the nearest Bison, which turns and gallops off, taking the

Bruno Samartini? Masked Marvel? Bobo Brazil? Andre the Giant? Clik and Clack the Tappet Brothers?

SKIT 1::: First Scout walks in from stage left, mumbling out loud: "Gotta get the fire lit, gotta light the fire, need to get the fire lit, how can I get the fire lit, oh, I gotta light that fire..." Second Scout walks in from stage right. He is carrying several small boxes, which from the audience side are not labeled. He sees first Scout and asks "hey man, what''s up?" 1S: Can you help me light the fire? 2S turns around and we see the boxes are each and all labeled "FIRE" 2S, with great bravado, hands 1S a box and announces, "Hey, now I''m a FIRE LIGHTER!"

As Strunk and White would say... "Eschew verbacious erudition" Emergency, emergency, everyone for to getting off street...

Attention, attention.... Everyone for to getting off street... Please find Victor Borges'' "Verbal Punctuation" routine..........

Look-in'' good... Thanks for making it all worth while. Now about that 4% mortgage...

Home made Jerky and Home made dried fruit. Roast your beef, then slice fairly thin and dry out in a LOW oven or bought drier. Vacuum pack in plastic baggies. Keeps long time. Trust your nose... Find recipes for dried fruit on line... Don''t forget the catsup/ketchup/catchup...

"A boat is a hole in the water lined with aluminum, wood or fiberglass into which one pours money" Always good to hear the end result of a situation. I just got out of a class at work about dealing with ''workman''s comp'' situations. Recording details, who said what, who saw what, when and where and how... So the ''Tour Permit'' is needed when... And Safe Swim planning is a good thing because... A spur of the moment oppportunistic fun thing can happen when... A Troop can collect equipment and use it when... And Scouts learn that a little service to others can be recognized

MM-mm... And how did you feel about that?