SSScout

Thank you, one and all. The training I had in Archery Range management was sufficient for what I did and served another purpose. I began to notice things with a critical eye. When I went to other Scout activities, I often found the archery target range was being "run" by folks that had never done so before (well meaning volunteers) who had been asked "could you do this, there isn't anyone else". And so they "did their best". But my training and experience made me gringe at what I saw. No real instruction (here's an arrow, here's a bow, there's the target, have fun). Little thought as to th

TtheM: Your Troop is truly in the stone age. (point out to them that the Stegasaurus Husbandry MB is no longer required for Pteronodon). DChs are derigeur in most Troops. "A Scout is Helpful". Some Troops even consider DChs a PoR. for advancement. A good DCh just eats up the Cub attention. Talk about admiration and big brother/hero worship! Den Chief and CSDC Scout Staffer are, indeed, two different things. DCs need to be (1) motivated to help Cubs and (2) encouraged by some Scouter. Age is not a consideration, only desire to help and learn. Take the official training that is offered,

eaglepete: The best minds often run around in the same rutted circles. What can I say? but ultimately there's very little to laugh at if a boy is hurt thru someones ignorance or stubborness. Frinstance: eghiglie: I have often found that it is much easier to say no to a boy and make him understand the reasons than it is to say no to a parent and get them to ACCEPT the reasons. Would you agree? Often, maturity and responsibility come at a price. When I was a much younger Scout, I was given my grandfathers pocket knife. (Totin' Chip, yes) I used it carefully for more than a year. It

History: four years ago, My Truly Significant Other finally admitted defeat and went to take Camp School. She has been the CSDC Director ever since, has a ball and is never without compliments for her efforts. So, that made me... whatever was needed. I have been the bugler, the Scoutcraft-Webelos-Map and Compass, campfire skit writer/director, watergames, helicopter pad director..... and when our Archery Range fellow broke his ankle, I jumped in and took the Archery Range Safety Officer training (with 3 days notice, two weeks before camp, no small distance away). I have been so tagged ever

My truly significant other is CSDC Director, which usually makes me a little bit of everything else. I've always liked the idea of seperate Webelos activities, as much as possible, 'cause, yeah, the webs would prefer not to hang out with the lil' brother Tigers and Bears. But the above description of the Webs Only camp (sounds wonderful) makes me wonder: What did the Webs do before to fulfill all those requirements? How did the WDLs make it work? When I was a WDL, I had some fun arranging the SCientist pin stuff, but then I had an engineering background. We also went to museums and saw ex

Since the "pirates Code" er, I mean the Cub Scout Guidelines are so vague on Whittlin' Chip requirements, here is what our Pack did. (best of my memory) Only Bear or Webelos may earn WC. The candidate Cubs were given a permission slip for their parents to consider. Yes or no. The day of the class, the Cubs were taught about different types of knives and how they should be handled (folding pocket knives only for Cubs, but other knives exhibited and discussed... cooking, clasp, lock back, fixed blade, etc.) How to sharpen a knife. How to look at the blade critically. "Listen for the shar

Aye... Guidelines, is it? arrgh.... "...downed tree..." Doesn't mention how the tree came down, probably with good reason. My dad was a timber cruiser in WVA long before he met me(!). I learned alot from him as to safe felling and trimming and gained much experience in same after I obtained my majority. I would presume the PB Counselor (if that is the right term), would guide the Scout thru obtaining proper permission as to which tree to cut (Park Rangers, property owner, etc.), the safe technigues of trimming and cutting. If a tree needs to be felled, the same applies as to permi

Thanks, gahs. I also heard the tailend of his show. Thanks for finding the link. Did anyone else see the insert in the Washington Post about the 100th anniversary of Scouting? (sunday, 28 January) I can't get it to show on the wash post web site.

"Remember, you are just an extra in everyone else's play". = = Stewart Emery = =

Bobcat, wolf, bear, lion, webelos. Long time ago, been there done that. The progression almost made sense. Size and impression. Even made sense from the Jungle Book viewpoint. But like I mentioned in the earlier thread, how can you justify the Lion as the first step and the Bear as the last? Now, we have Tiger Cub, Bobcat, Wolf, Bear, Web. You're putting Lion in front of Tiger Cub ? Even a 1st grader is going to see a problem with that, I'd guess. I'm not familiar with the Learning for Life program, but I've detected a certain, er, stress among the posters here about it. Is there, pe

Never been to Philmont. Always thought it would be neat to go sometime. In my far distant youth, my Troop went to Phil more than once (less crowded then, I guess. I opted for other adventures. The older Scouts that went the first time brought back all the excellent tips for equipment (M4 surplus plywood pack boards, aluminum canteens, folding cook kits, all purpose plastic home-made tarp tents, nylon parachute cord rope,etc.) and methods (bolt your Yucca pack to the packboard thereby avoiding having to use the Diamond Hitch, multi use hiking staffs, foam pads instead of heavy airmattress) t

Neckerchiefs... Not too many Scouters around here wear'em. Some Troops opt to NOT wear'em. Troop of my youth had a custom design ("Always on the Go!"), and it was the BIG version. I agree that the SMALL version looks less appropriate on an adult or a large Scout. And one really can't do too many of the assumed uses too easily with the SMALL version. Signaling? You folks do Signaling? No longer a REQUIREMENT on any but the Signaling merit badge. You teach a non-requirement? Do the boys enjoy it? omygod.....

Neckerchiefs... Not too many Scouters around here wear'em. Some Troops opt to NOT wear'em. Troop of my youth had a custom design ("Always on the Go!"), and it was the BIG version. I agree that the SMALL version looks less appropriate on an adult or a large Scout. And one really can't do too many of the assumed uses too easily with the SMALL version. Signaling? You folks do Signaling? No longer a REQUIREMENT on any but the Signaling merit badge. You teach a non-requirement? Do the boys enjoy it? omygod.....

Pine wood derby... Our District has a couple of Troops that keep really fine, "professional" tracks , timers, stands, posters and flags etc which they "rent" out to the Packs as a service. The "starter" of one is really good, lots of patter, talks up the quality of the car and the Cub. "START YOUR ROUTERS!!!" etc. We always had a "Cub" league ('On Your Honor', the Cub did MOST of the work...)and an "Adult-Unlimited" league, and an "EE" league (everybody else. Siblings, guests, etc). The District enforced the Package rules, and the various Packs knew it in advance. Good recruit

The original question here concerned the physical fitness requirement of Webelos being acceptable also for the TF rank. The discussion has (as is often the case here, ain't it wonderful?) roiled into subbing one earned requirement for the next ranks requirement. #1. The Webelos who crosses over into Boy Scouts, by present requirements, must first EARN the Scout badge. If his Web leaders were worth their salt, this should be a breeze. One SM conference should do it. Then, ... #2. After two months, if they are sharp, the nascent BS can be awarded the TF badge, if he has EARNED it. Ag

Tandems are a serious sub culture in the World of Cycling. There are races, clubs, time trials, magazines devoted to Tandems. Just as with single seats, one can be as frugal or as profligate as one wishes. $300 or $30,000 ("nicely equipped", as the auto ads say). Unfortunately I am far removed from my bicycling days, rich and varied as they were. I'll not bore you with those details. But after reviewing the Cycling MB requirements, I see no reason why a Tandem could not be used to fulfill it. Certainly a pair of adult leaders could participate in a Scout ride on one. Perhaps it

Wow, the luxury of having a seperate RT Commish for Cubs and Boys (note the distinction: I feel all of them younguns are SCOUTS. We have Cubs and Boys)> We have ONE RTCm and then we divide up as possible for our seperate discussions. Our District is in the throes of reorganizing and rebuilding the interconnection between units. I would counsel the following: Make sure you have an accurate District Roster of Units and Leaders. This should include the District Leadership at the front, for all to contact as desired. Then include Unit number, CO, where they meet and when, CCh, CM, SM

Robvio:::Hey, and add my welcome to all the rest. What they said, and here's my nickles worth (inflation): Don't just say to the TC: "hey, I need..." but say to SOMEONE:: "Jack, could you help me with..." or "Betty, would you know how to..." I find asking PEOPLE will gain the help, but just ASKING often doesn't. Good Scouting to you. YiS asking away

Howdy Boothil, greetings from the right coast. 50degrees here, soon to be 20 this weekend, sez the tv weatherman. You have four main tasks ahead of you (personal exp.) 1) Get together with some likeminded boys and adults and plan out one or two easy trips as examples.Check with local parks people. Local trails, parks, etc. Ask the local District DE or Camp chair for suggestions. One or two miles in, camp, one or two miles out. 2) Convince the Troop Committee (I hope you already have the agreement of the SM!!) that your rut is getting uncomfortable. Too much car camping can make a Troop s

Yep, what they said. The boy is father to the man. He will be what he has been. He is a Scout, to be sure, but he is not only a Scout. Let him proudly show what he has accomplished, even as a boy. As your boy looks over his shoulder to see where he's come from, remind him to not get a kink in his neck from dwelling on the past and not paying attention to his next possibilities. Congratulations, Scout. You done good. Congratulations, mom. You done good, too. YiS

I wouldn't call it 'reatricting', necessarily. Put unofficially, my take on Scout badges (Tiger on up...) is that their earning is intended to 1)encourage the trying of new activities 2) reinforce good, healthy behavior 3) encourage the attainment of life enhancing (even survival) skills and 4) help boost the boys self-esteem. Especially in Cubs (but also in BS) often one is encouraging the adult in the above categories, too. The parent often learns along with the boy. If one learns how to ride the Public Transit System, all of the above categories have been fulfilled. If you then

"It's what we do" Yes. I like that.

Boy, these forums do bring jog the memory. (Theres a topic... forms of exercise... memory jogging, down alist running, but I digress) I remember when my folks and I were filling out the Eagle applications that there was a request for "letters of reference" from a number (3?) of non-Scout people that could vouch for the applicants "character, citizenship and worth" as I remember. This reference stuff was new to me. Perhaps it was only Council required, I don't know. But there was included a form letter to send to the requested referencers. Who to ask? School counselor? Teacher? Camp counse

"OOOH NO MR. BILL!" "Spoonerism: a transposition usually initial sounds of two or more words, thus: '...he quoted a white horse souse...' for 'white house source'. hoobert heever... ?sister mouse matter?

I think it great that you are working for your boy(s) to have the Scouting experience, whereever you might be. Waaay back when, my Scout Troop had a SM that had a cousin who had a brother in law who knew someone who owned some wooded property not too far away (something like that). The Troop fathers got together and organized our own summer camp. In the seasons before we held it, weekends were spent building a Quartermaster's cabin with telephone company donated poles. We cleared tent sites, dammed the creek for a swimmin' hole, dug and built a privy, cleared out and capped the spring on