SSScout

As the Carny barker says, " Ya pays yer money and ya takes yer choice" All the above is true. In one of my past lives, I was a CM. I never had more fun in my life. When it came time for me to move on into Scouts with my son, I had a Cub parent approach me and ask "can I pay you to stay on as CM?" He was serious. We ( my dear wife was CCh) had a fair amount of support in keeping things Cubby. Parents went to the Leader Training. But ultimately, I could not get anyone to step up to be CM. Even tho the P/T income might have been nice,(!) I had to consider 1) how BSA would look on it 2)it was apparent that I would be ALONE. None of the other Cub parents would step up to be CM, or CCh, or Treasurer, or DL for the remaining 3 Dens. ( my dear wife was CCh and had agreed with me that without us, the Pack would dissolve. It did) 3) the dad that had promised to be Webelos DL took all the books and materials and we never heard from him again ( asuccessful contractor, his son was very active, and he watched me every meeting. Even took notes). Two Ws went to other Packs, the other 12 boys either went to other Packs or dropped out. Our DE tried hard to recruit at the schools we drew from, to no avail. In conversations with folks, it was apparent that many parents wanted the "Scout Experience" for their son, but ultimately were not willing to support it. As my DE and I agreed over some coffee one night, " all you can do is offer". In our community, one will often see exhibited what I call "the soccer syndrome", the parents are so used to giving their sons and daughters over to professionals, (or even authoritative volunteers-- the soccer coach), that they have lost the ability to take time to do for their son/daughter themselves. Let me drop off my kid and come back in 2 hours...

Camp Rules (Summer Long Term Section) Troop Rules (all the Scout time) Patrol Rules (some of the Scout time) Family House rules (ALL of the time) Federal Registry Volume 38 section 12 page 23 line 8 (If you are germane) God's Rules ( Consequences may not be immediately evident) "Why are there so many silly rules?" "I don't think THAT rule is important" "But officer I didn't know..." "NO... I WON'T MOMMY!" Along with the RULE and it's REASON should be noted the BAD things that could happen should it be flouted (bears in your tent, you clean the latrine) and the GOOD things that can happen if it is followed (you can have some gedunk occasionally, and bears won't go in your tent. They'll go in the OTHER Troops tents...). My original Troop had the following rules, way back when... No candy (except for the boy who was diabetic. We all understood). Mountain pies and Dutch oven cakes were better any way. Your money when we came to a store . No sneakers on serious backpack trips or hikes.(less turned ankles) Good boots only!. No sodas. No one wanted to carry all that extra weight anyway. Carry in, carry out? Water quenches thirst anyway. One boy was allegic to milk, so in camp we carried TANG. Strange taste in Iron heavy water. No food in tents (obvious). The older boys set the pace for all of us. Rules/tradition had to be explained to every new Scout that came up, so what? So, how do you motivate the OLDER boys (not the OLDMEN) to set/follow the RULES? And Show the Younger Scouts that we love them and need them to be safe, both for their health and well being AND our peace of mind? (boy those insuranc claim forms are long...) You have not had panic in you mind until you have had this happen: Cub Scout Day Camp. Archery Range Safety Officer. . Tiger Cubs. Teaching archery by the numbers: "Bows at ready. Nock an arrow. Pull, aim... " and then Johnny Cub turns around WITH THE BOW AT FULL DRAW to ask Mr. Smith a Question... Fortunately ( thank you God) one of my Scout assistants was right next to him and grabs the arrow and pushes it down to the ground. AND THEN THE PARENT later that week comes to me to complain about how strict I was. Similarly, I had other parents compliment me for being so strict. I explained all the RULES of the range first off, and the consequences of disregarding them. First offense, you sit down. Second, you don't shoot for that day. Third, you don't shoot the rest of the week. My Tiger Cub ultimately had a very successful week. Are archery ranges different than candy bars (" well THAT"S a silly rule")? Well, yeah, but all rules should have a REALLY good reason....

Greenbelt is good and about as close in as one can get. Check out the College Park Aviation Museum just south of Greenbelt on US Route One. On the other side of town, near I-270 is Little Bennett Regional Park, with group campsites. A short drive down to the Shady Grove Metro Station, and ride the rail down into DC. Contact the Montgomery County - Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission www.mc-mncppc.org 301.495.4600. Lots of history in the area, visit Fort Mc Henry as you pass by Baltimore, don'tforget a side trip to Mt Vernon or a short hike on the C&O Canal. YiS

eweiss: I would first congratulate you on being as responsible and mature as you seem to be.I can think of no higher honor than to be asked (or to volunteer?) to participate in a service such as this. Perhaps, if it is not to late, you should answer a few questions for yourslf: Did you know the girl? Was she active in the Boy troop as well as the Girl troop? You will be there to honor the girls memory and to give comfort to the family,(obviously a Scouting family). If you speak at the service, speak from YOUR heart, as the Spirit leads, don't worry about formality or ceremonial correctness. Personnally, I am not sure the flag ceremony is especially desirable, but that's just me. I would first try to remember that she was a GIRL Scout. Their promise and law are similar, but different from the BOY ones. I like the responsive reading suggested by Anneinmpls. Very moving and appropriate. If it's not too late, arrange a table or bulletin board with photos and letters from camp, poetry she liked (or wrote!),school things. The idea is to remember her life,yes? Make sure the Scouts (both B & G)come in full dress class A, of course and sit together. I'm sure you won't forget the mom. Some flowers just for her, not just around the bier. Have your PLC ready to do anything to help, direct traffic, help grandparents up the steps, carry and move things. Remind them to LOOK for things that need to be done, and do them before an adult even realizes the need. Do your SM proud. I pray God bless you all. YiS.

You folks seem to be up in New England. Not too far south is the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal tow path along the Potomac River. About 180 miles of almost level hiking from Hagerstown MD to Washington DC. Lots of Hiker-camper sites, state parks and historic sites along the way (Antietam Civil War battlefield, Harpers Ferry, Wash DC). Many in and out places, crosses AT. Contact National Park Service or National Capital Area Council. Excellent guide book available. Commemorative patch and rockers for each section of canal walked. Smile ansd wave as you go by! YiS

Run is fight! Don't forget that our news might come from a White horse souse! From Hoobert Heever!

Norfolk and Southern it is, thank you Manassaseagle. Couldn't think of that, for some old reason. CWBS has great promise and I am glad to see the property as a Scout facility rather than a mini Disneyland. I have heard that the reservations for Cub World are not quite what NCAC would like them to be, yet. We may see a saturation process here. After trying hard (with some small success) to promote the Cub Day Camp opportunity, ("Wings of Wonder" this year), which is /are run by 99% parent volunteers, now NCAC wants Cub Packs to pay bigger bucks for the 3day overnight Camp. There is some discussion in the hinterland that CWBS Cub World will draw from the Day Camps, and vice versa and neither will be as successful as desired. We now have four Cub Camping opportunities, all of which have some success but none are overflowing with Cubs (Webelos weeks, parent-son weekends, Baloo trained Pack camping,and now CWBS). There is certainly alot of disposable income in the DC area, but are the disposees Scout families? Perhaps CWBS has a future as a Cub World, but I think NCAC must leave its options open to use it as a multi-use facility. 600 seat dining hall, and who has the concession here? Wedding receptions? School Proms? "Outdoor Experience" for urban and suburban Schools? Nature study around the lake? Don't forget the pool and COPE course and the rest of the lovely place. Scout Troops can find a good, short notice camp ground here. Wood Badge? Merit Badge College? Bird Study? Lots of possibility, not all are Cub World. And it IS nice, and close in. NCAC will be looking to USE CWBS.

Camp Snyder does hold great promise. The "wetlands" are a created swamp, wetland credits, I understand. Attracts many bird specie. Nice nature trail for the short legged Cub... The article I saw was on thursday, page B3, not on the front page, (a later edition?) and howcum it didn't register in the "headlines section" of our forum? For the DC area, it is a 'close in' facility, almost a drop-in camp ground for Scouts. Unfortunately, I can forsee the need for fences around the whole property to control the suburban nonScout explorer. There are some historic properties on the perifery, an historic church comes to mind. Yes, the Marriott family ( Hot Shoppes, Hotels, Roy Rogers Hamburgers (gone)) has given mightily to the local Council, for which we are appreciative. Bugles must compete with the semi's on I66, but occassionally one can hear the lonesome wail of a diesel coal drag on the old W and OD tracks... Y'all come down an' see us some time, y'hear? YiS...

The evolution of a back pack user. When I became a Scout, my folks outfitted me with the best stuff the local Scout store had, all OI-BSA. I used the Yucca pack exactly twice by itself, packing it like the HfB instructed. The Older Scouts (Philmont vets) all had army surplus M4 PLYWOOD pack boards, or the new aluminum frame Keltys (ooooo..). I convinced my folks I had to have the M4, so we went down to Sunny's Surplus and picked out the best one in a PILE of them. I used it all thru my career. Highly adaptable. However, constant use of the 'diamond hitch' can be tiring, so...I ultimately 1)replaced the canvas back panel with a nylon mesh one. 2) Cleaned up and poly eurathaned it. 3) Replaced all the cotton cordage with nylon parachute cord 4) Installed reflective tape for night hikes 4) got tired of constantly tieing the Yucca pack on the back board, so I drilled holes and BOLTED the canvas bag to the board. 5) Had a fellow Scout dad machine out of T2048 aluminum plate hinges strong enough to serve as attachment points for a hip belt, and attached same to the bottom of the M4. It rode many miles on the AT. It is still reasonably comfortable. It is now up in my attic and occasionally comes out for bragging rights on overnights and antique show and tell ("back when I earned my dinosaur herding merit badge,..."). The last camping trip I went on with my sons troop, I used a REI frame and pack we inherited and I was dissappointed at how unadaptable it was. Many seperate pockets, but few tie on points for the odd tent pole or canteen.It did ride nicely, tho, and served well. My sons Kelty is very nice, aluminum frame and bag,(Tioga?) many pockets and many tie on points. His only complaint is the lower built in stuff sack area is really too small for his all season bag. It is a small frame, and he will no doubt outgrow it in a year or two. Unlike my M4, which I 'grew into', was an adult size board to begin with. Some would even view it as being too small by todays standards. Hey, ever try to find a plain, unadorned packframe that one can "customize"? Do you want an SUV or a Jeep, or a 5 year old pickup truck? YiS...

Definitely , a bugle with a removable mouthpiece. Then, as time and budget permits, replace the original skinny brass m/p with a cornet silver nickle one. The edge is wider and noticably more comfortable. Better tone. If you look around, you can also find 'winter' m/p that are made of a plastic, delrin I think. No freeze!!. If there is a choice, go for a B with the heaviest metal for ruggedness, and a tuning slide. They will tell you to coat the slide and m/p with a thin coat of Vaseline. Prevents corrosion and sticking. Wrap the holding part with a Scout neckerchief or other pretty rag, and your hands won't smell/taste like brass, which happens even if the horn is lacquered (worth the extra cost there). Don't forget to shake it out and clean it out after each use. Wash it out with a mild dish detergent a couple of times a year to keep the green gunk from forming (luvly). Check with your local music store for cleaning rods.I found a neat springy one that can go around curves. Trevorum: You know you want it! Get them chops back! You'll either be the most popular or reviled fellow at the next Camporee! YiS...

Gee, I love this forum. Not so much a lost art as a misplaced one. I played trombone and baritone in band, ended up being a drum major. Being the troop bugler came easily. The embrochure can be acquired as one desires. Now, as an adult leader, I find that I am on call for camporees and such to play bugle. I have been moved to noninate myself as Bugle MB conselor for our DIstrict. I always have boys come up and ask about the bugle (which is the one my uncle played in 19 ought 9!), so I think my example is opening new ideas to others. I learned the usual US calls, but I also picked up some from a couple of old TV shows. "Captain Gallant of the French Foreign Legion" had a lot of pretty ones, notably the French equivalent to our 'retreat' or 'taps', and the French 'call to the colors'. Also, "Boots and Saddles" (cavalry western) taught me 'boots and saddles' and 'dismount to cover', both of which are very distinctive, but mean nothing to anyone else. It is instructive to know that every country in the world has distinctive bugle calls, used by their own military. Encourage your nascent buglers to reach for all 8 notes and look for opportunities to play. If you are better than fair, you can even make a little money playing for American Legion ceremonies and even local military funerals. For lack of a real human lip, they are forced to use a recording. Make yourself available and known, they will come to you. I never asked for it, but they are grateful and it is , I feel, impolite to refuse their "tip". Give it to your troop or other charity if you feel so moved. TaTa - TaTa for now..... YiS SSScout

"All Politics is Local" If our organization seems intolerant of certain beliefs, it is because we are intolerant of those beliefs. If our Cubs pelt a nascent magician with hard candy, it is because they (the 'us' back then) (as Cub leaders) allowed it to happen. P & T are talented magicians and satirical comedians. For a successful comedian, any thing is fair game. I remember seeing MAD magazines parody of the "Handbook for Boys" back about 1965(?), and being very uncomfortable, even angry. "How dare they!!" MAD magazine was one of my favorite activities as I came up thru the ranks. Betrayed!! Well, I learned to take the bigger view. It WAS funny. Maybe we needed to see that satire and comment... How is today any different? Can we look at ourselves as others see us? If we dish it out, can we take it?

I know for a fact that Scouts have been "removed (?)" from Scouting for various reasons, and appropriately so. But once a RANK (any rank)is awarded, how could that seperate rank be rescinded? Proof of fraudulantly fulfilling the requirements? Could not the Scout be allowed to "make it right"? Fulfilling requirements and demonstrating acquired skills may not be the grounds for a Scouts removal from Scouting ("drumming out", "reading out","excommunicate", etc.). How else to discipline a Scout? And who decides? The Troop? The District Committee? Does the Scout get a chance to confront and answer his accusers? The original post mentioned a Scouter who made some statements that may have no basis in fact, but still raise issues of import.

An appropriate evocation before a canoe trip: "Oh Lord, we are going canoeing. In a few minutes we will be very busy. Please forgive us if we happen to forget about you. Please do not forget about us".

But we digress... The question is, then, HAS NATIONAL BSA EVER SANCTIONED THE REVOCATION OF A SCOUTS EAGLE RANK? (OR ANY RANK?) AND IF SO, WHICH COUNCIL ? AND WHAT WERE THE GROUNDS? Yea or Nay?

Channels??? You had Channels??? We had to watch our tv by candle light. Turn on Jack Benny and stare at the wall (on which we drew a square). Ha!!

This quote has been adopted and adapted by many folks, often without attribution. A portion of it was posted in our church meeting place, adapted to read "...in the life of a child" and listed as 'anonymous'. I was moved to post a copy of the 'original' next to it, and I was surprised to find this was removed a day or two later. I re-posted it, and THAT copy has remained up. The comparison is, I think, appropriate. I find it interesting that often the only parts included (and edited) are the first, second and last paragraphs. It looses alot with out the mid part, don't you think? YiS.

Big Nate ran a series on the Pine derby a few years ago. If I can find the copies I made of it , I'll post'em. His car had neat red flames on the side. And his dad had bandages on his fingers and hands. MMMMMMM....

Very well said. Thank you.

In doing the camp cooking part of an adult leader training, I first had everyone repeat the 13th point of the Scout Law, "a Scout is hungry" and then repeat the CCA (camp cook axiom): " there is no food so mediocre that it can not be improved with ketchup (catsup, etc)". Ketchup should be refrigerated over the long haul. I was once in my favorite "all-you-can-eat-" fish place. I first watched the waiter at the counter take the half empty Ketchup bottles and refill them with other half full bottles. Thrifty, yes? I then turned my attention to the bottle on my table and watched fermentation bubbles sslllooowwwlllyyy rise up from the bottom toward the top. I pointed this out to the manager and then asked for a new, unopened bottle of Hunt's. Our troop has a policy that if you sign up for a trip, you pay your share of the food expense (prorated per meal) if you don't go, baring a real emergency reason. Bon Apetit.

"All Politics Is Local" I forget who first said that. "Its For The Kids" Bob the Tomatoe said that. "If your'e going on to Boy Scouts with your son, you can't stay a Cub Master" My wife said that. Three years ago, when I was an ACM and DL, we held a membership drive at our school. Held a PineWood Derby exhibit at the PTA picnic. Info table at "Back to School Night". Presentation at PTA meetings. Posters in the hall ways. (our pack was chartered to the local hospital thru the Board of Directors). We gained three wolves,( Wolf and Bear and Webelos dens ok) and 14 Tiger families expressed interest, so we called a special meeting to explain the program. 12 Tiger families showed up. Boys went over there and had a good time at a "Den Meeting". Parents over here for discussion. Pre planned activities. Each parent responsible for one activity a month, per year. Tiger and parent together. Go to fire house, museum, zoo, model railroad lay out, nature hike, etc..One Pack meeting a month for 1 1/2 hour a month. A Den meeting extra, if they wanted, up to them, but here's all the planning and resources and ideas. Boys love it. All buddies at school. NO ONE SIGNED UP. Not one. "Oh, that's too much time. Joey has soccer/violin/drama/rocktry/football/computer club/etc. I have to work OT too often. Our basement wouldn't make a good meeting space. I don't know anything about Scouts. Isn't that messy? I don't know how you find the time for this. It's so good of you.......". No tigers. Webelos went on to Scouts. Bears became Webs. Wolves ALL went to other packs (parents very honest, said closer to home, home church, etc. nothing personal. No wolves). Now our pack is 12 boys: 6 Webelos, 6 bears. Same routine the next year, Interest expressed at PTA, etc. Folks come and NO ONE SIGNS UP. "Too much time" is the main complaint I heard. (Wife is Comm Chair).We had 4 very loyal Committee people. I had one father say he wants his son to be a Scout, and then he's called to IRAQ. His wife works and ... Three Webelos become Scouts(one drops out), we gain 3 Bears, one Web 2. I double as CM and WDL. I announce that after this year, I will not be CM. (son moving on to Scouts. See above). Parent offers to PAY ME to stay on as CM (!) Pack has folded. All remaining families transferred to other packs. Father who promised to be WDL never called meetings. All Webs transferred or dropped. No one would take up reins as CC or CM. When we rechartered, each year, we filled out the names, BUT COUNCIL NEVER DELETED the old members. In my last year of CM, the charter form STILL showed our pack with 26 members. After Pack dissolved (still chartered!) DE and ADE made many efforts to recruit from the school. NO ONE. Charter is still "active", but now no boys. I only had ONE parent (otherwise very active) express angst about signing the Adult application because of the "Expression of Faith" paragraph. What does all this say about.... Volunteers? ... Policies?... Scandals?... YiS...

Scouts..... Boys..... (Girls....)Cubs...Campers... Please, not 'guys'... Call them, name them for what they ARE, what you WANT them to be. Not the "G" word... ... lets see now..."guy... from the Fr. 1)(obs) a grotesque effigy of Guy Fawlkes, paraded on Guy Fawlkes Day. 2)(slang) a male person. 3) VT. to brace or reinforce. 4) to guide, as on a path." Don't rename our organization. Are you a Scoutmaster or a Guymaster? Yes, it's hard to break old easy habits, but I think it's worth the effort. Who are these young humans before us? Ordinary Young Humans? or... I don't want my son to be a 'guy' . I want my son to be a "Scout".

Buddies... Buddie up at a given signal (bugle, whistle, bell) and count noses... out of bounds defined... Before the noise and commotion, have a night life "listen" and "look" ( owls? nightingales? beady eyes in the flashlight?) later, as a break, weather permitting, present the Astronomy MB for a possibilty. Anyone have a good telescope ? Even binoculars can show the Orion Nebula and Lunar craters. Respect those that have had enough and want to go to sleep. Or anyone with dakness concerns, this should be VOLUNTARY, yes? Private area (private farm back acres, Scout reserve area,). I did a "TRUST WALK" to good effect: Scout out the route in the day time, look for safety of walking, but variety of surface.. Get a sufficiently long rope and tie knots in it every 2 or 3 feet. Tell the participants that they will be tested by this activity. Rules: 1)No Talking except in dire emergency 2) everyone is blindfolded and put on the rope as they leave the start.HOLD ON TO THE ROPE. Space them out so they won't bump or trip each other, left and right side. 3)Leader pulls the rope along at an easy pace, everyone follows, led by the rope.. 4) good to have some "out riders" to help with traffic control. 5) Leader announces if there are curbs, steps, posts to navigate, but no more. 6) Participants soon get the feel of the rope as it starts, stops, flexes up and down. 7) Stop every so often as appropriate and let the group FEEL and SMELL and HEAR. 8) Better if the exercise can be done in a pretty dark area. I was able to lead one group thru a college campus to the horse paddock and dark meadow. We ended in a circle, in the middle of a dark meadow, away from the lights. Told everyone to "Drop the rope" some hesitated. Ask them to listen and smell? then take off blindfolds and remind them this is the sky their GGGGGGrand parents saw. OOOOOO....Take an Hour? YiS SSScout

""By their fruits ye shall know them"" "The humble, meek, merciful, just, pious, and devout souls are everywhere of one religion; and when death has taken off the mask they will know one another, though the diverse liveries they wear here make them strangers." = William Penn = 'nuf said.

But we digress..... I finally found it....From B-P... ""Reverence to God and reverence for one's neighbour 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, whatever form of religion the boy professes. There may be many difficulties relating to the definition of the religious training in our Movement where so many different denominations exist, and the details of the expression of duty to God have, therefore, to be left largely in the hands of the local authority. But there is no difficulty at all in suggesting the line to take on the human side, since direct duty to one's neighbour is implied in almost every form of belief."" (Aids to Scoutmastership, 1919) AND....