SSScout

Quick takes::: If A-B mission is to sell beer, and BSA mission is to "instill values" etc., and when we have a "Join Souting Night" and many boys gather round the Pinewood derby track and the monkey bridge and tent set up, ... HOWCUM it seems to be the parents we have to sell, not the boys?...

(true) At the end of a 10 mile in, 10 mile out overnight, at the trail head parking lot: "No, I thought your wife was picking us up?"

" Hey, Joe, could you toss me the... ((Choose one... or be sued for improper name usage)) "Band Aids? ...self adhesive wound bandages ?" "Kleenex? ...soft tissue paper nose wipers?" "model of that classic '67 Mustang? ...mid twentieth century pony car?" "roll of Scotch tape? ...self adhesive clear acetate tape?" "my Teflon skillet? ...non-stick tetra fluoro carbide frying pan?" "that Xerox copy? ...that photo process self image?" "my PC? (ooops! crash)" ... my non-IBM mad

Although not in my personal neck of the woods, I can recommend Camp Gorton in Five Rivers Council, near Dundee NY. Not too big, nice waterfront on Lake Waneta. Phone 670.292.3220. A friend is staff there, and I have visited recently, both with and without Scouts. My, lots of choices (so long as the local councils don't need to sell the camp to pay the taxes) YiS

My luverly wife is the Dcamp Program Director which makes me... First asst... Publicity... "specials" getter... Fill in (who's missing on staff? archery? Scoutcraft? Den Round up? Skits? Campfire MC.....?) Sign maker/poster... Flag pole installer... hey, it's my job it's what I do... Any way... *Lots of advance notice... *Our council sponsors mucho district Dcamps, thuout the summer, so parents can go another week if they can't match the home District Dcamp...for a surcharge of... *SOMEONE (not just me, fortunately)does a Pack "visitation" to talk up all forms of Cu

As the sag wagon driver for a canoe trip on the Shenanndoah, I dropped of the group at the start camp site and commiserated with the trip leaders. Co-ed group, non-Scout. We stayed the night and the next morning checked equipment. It was a 10 day trip. We collected (and I kept until I met the group later at the take out) portable radios, Cell phones, (except for leaders) and... wait for it... two hair driers. In our discussions, no one thought to bring sufficient extension cords. YiS

Can Baltimore be included in the "Northeast"? **Fort McHenry is a great visit. Star Spangle Banner and all. Thr Rangers give a great talk about the forts history, the war of 1812, flag history (when did the flag have 15 stripes?) and such. **Next, consider a visit to the USS Constellation, the 2nd oldest US warship (bow to the USS Constitution). They have an overnight program that allows Scouts to become "powder monkeys" or "cabin boys" in the US navy of 1855. Escorting adult Scouters sign on as "landsman" or "ordinary" if you have some experience. You sleep in hammocks, hold watch overni

In the interim, don't forget the Webs are the example to the rest of the PACK. They may be eager to become full fledged Boy Scouts, but they are the Leaders of the Pack! Make sure they stay for the duration (and have opportunities to teach and demonstrate to the younger Cubs). Talk about role models, woo. When the Webs Bridge over too early, good for them, but bad for the Pack. I also think it's neat that such an 'old' thread can still elicit good discussion. YiS

((Pant-pant-pant)) whew,,, gotta catch up... *ahem* "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 they who decide. It is our business to respect their wishes and to second their efforts to inculcate reverence, what ever form of the religion the boy professes." ==Robert Baden-Powell, "Aids to Scout

If they can SAY the Scout Promise and Law, I think that's fine. In my experience, it's more important the Scout understand what they mean and why we think these things are important. Is it "window dressing" as the old timer would say? Or can the Scout see how the WORDS apply to their LIFE? I've heard an SPL lead the SP, SL, and PoA and then go off to play the "games" after Troop Meeting. Language would be used that many felt was not appropriate to Scouts (or any young man) and when the SPL was approached about it, he found it hard to understand how such criticism applied to HIM. "everybody

*CD: How very sentimental of you. Don't ever lose that touch. You will be remembered by your charges long after THEY think Cub Scouting is too lame for them. My mom was my Den mother (non PC), but I've had old time CSers come up to me and mention her to me (boy, do I feel old all of a sudden). *I agree with JH. I would keep it "in family" and definitely scratch your head for some unique thingy he can take with him. Our Cub Pack had a tradition of creating an arrow thing for the Webeloes cross-overs, but the CM usually gave them a little something from himself, too.. In my last year

Oh, the regrets and the lessons learned. I well remember "Swami" who knows all and tells too much, all by smelling your shoe... I set up the skit in the usual way.But we neglected to pick and plan for an appropriate fall guy,, So my Scouts ( I was SPL)went ahead and let the AUDIENCE pick out the fortune receiver. A Troop from the inner city pushed forward a TF who willingly provided his shoe. At the end, the shoe chukker THREW the shoe into the woods. And I mean THROW. Yep, it was a real expensive sport shoe. Our whole Troop went looking for it. Never again like that... HOWEVER...

I suppose this is what our district calls the "Webelos Weekend". With appropriate planning (each Troop sponsors some incoming Webs and sponsors an activity. Having Scouts teach and demo to Cubs is always a hit)), we have included (on occasion) an archery range, tomahawk throw (appropriate Range Safety Officers), two man (boy) saw (the cookies cut off make good souvenirs. Watch'em work!! ?Working on a branding iron for marking them? Make sure the saw is sharp and true.), a Whittlin' Chip corner, camp/ tent set up demo with discussion for parents about equipment choices, camp cooking (dut

Yep. As a WDL, I had the same "discussion" with my boys and parents once or twice I had to remind them that the requirement is the requirement. Easy enough to play Flag Football one afternoon. It was educational to me to learn the SLIGHT rule differences between Softball and Baseball. A family picnic afternoon got the Softball game done. Are you having fun yet? YiS.

The more I remember, the more I realize how fortunate (blessed, lucky, etc.) our Troop was. One of our Scoutmasters had a brother in law whose cousin knew a fellow that had a uncle.... that owned a sufficiently large piece of property some distance from our stomping grounds (but not too far away). Over the space of a year, our Troop built an Adirondack 3 side cabin with old phone poles (one dad worked for the phone company), capped a natural spring (several plumbers)laid out trails and orienteering compass courses, (surveyor), established four Patrol sites (five, counting "Staff") , dammed u

A very desirable problem. I like the idea of the "extra" belt length attached to the vest... Here's some other ideas.... *Take'm all and wire them together ala chain mail and wear THAT as a vest? * Take your Vise Grips and crimp the BL around the shoulder holes of the red vest like shoulder guards. Did that to some of my sons extras. YiS

Our District has earned a reputation for serving up very successful Cub Scout Day Camps, and this past week is now no exception. Takes organizational work? You bet. What is the one thing to which I would point as the biggest reason for our success? Asking. *Ask your friends and relations to help. They may be or may have been Scout people. A nurse becomes the Camp medico. A scientist friend becomes the nature pavilion guy ( he was a Star Scout waaaay back when). *Ask at your Church, Temple, Synagogue. Don't limit your asking to Scout types or Scout venues, but.... *Ask at the Round

Goodgootamooga. Volunteered to help, willing to help, qualified (we assume... age, rank, experience, etc.)and NOT ALLOWED? I really don't believe that. I believe I would try to have a polite conversation with the "leader", perhaps with a friend in tow (parent?) and find out the truth of the matter. **I know our District activities (Camporee, Day camp, lotsa etc.) would NEVER turn any qualified help away. There's always some where to put a willing pair of hands, some apprentice slot with an experienced person, some desk checker, gofer, runner, "chief asssistant smile encourager" place for a

Jackson Browne, Roadie song. Grateful Dead "live" Truckin' Does Chuck Berry count for "Jammin'?" how 'bout Johnny B. Goode.

Jackson Browne, Roadie song. Grateful Dead "live" Truckin' Does Chuck Berry count for "Jammin'?" how 'bout Johnny B. Goode.

Howdy Its Me: As a past WDL, I can sympathize. 1) Check with Council and District about"Webelos Weekends" and Webelos Sleepaway camps. Both are a good low impact(to the Cub, not necessarily the woods!) camping experience. They can end up with Web pins and a good feeling about BSA camping. The WW should be attended by WScouts and a host Troop. The week long camp should be attended by your Den as a group, often combined with other local Wdens into a Camp Pack. 2) I hope the mom continues to keep the Gameboy "thingy" so the boy can pay attention to the world around him. Keep us p

In my alternative life, I am out in the public space alot. I was approached by a gent in a shirt emblazoned by a pro football team logo. He asked me "Hey, you like football? How 'bout them (insert pro team name here)!!??" I smiled and said yeah, I like to play FB in my back yard and watch a good game on occasion. I then said I had no real interest in watching someone play FB who is payed more in an hour than I'm payed in a year. He hesitated at that comment, then asked if I played in school. I said no, I marched in the band. He then proceeds to regale me with a list of his HS football record.

There always seems to be two perspectives: "Back when I was a Scout..." "This is what I see now..." #1: My mom had been a Campfire girl, my dad had never been a Scout. But when I wanted to join Cub Scouts (so they told me, I asked to join. Perhaps from a school presentation), they whole heartedly supported me and our Pack and then Troop. Dad made things for us, drove us around, coached our CS softball team. Mom was a DL.(DM!). Our basement was a Patrol meeting room, equipment storage place. Altho we lived in a nascent suburb, Scouts was one of the biggest things to do. I al

"All I know is just what I read in the papers, and that's an alibi for my ignorance." = Will Rogers = Give me more ignorance, F. YiS

Yes, it depends on the boy and the Troop and the SM. But... If he looks to be into rough and ready stuff, get him interested in Summer Camp, but maybe not the Patrol cook your own type. If he can enjoy the SC, he's in. Find a Troop that NEEDS a Venture crew, help'm start it! Oh, and is 57 too old to be in Scouts? YiS