SSScout

The center of Scouting is indeed the "safe outdoor adventure". I ditto all the above comments/suggestions/encouragements. I remember my paleoscout era days. A lot of my rank requirements were learned and passed in various backyards, not on campouts or hikes. The skills were then applied, practiced and perfected in camp. Nature requirements? ID plants, animals, animal signs? Much of the IDing can be done with online, book materials, and HOPEFULLY retained to apply when the outdoor part of our safe adventure returns. I just saw a rufous sided towhee on our back porch feeder. Squirrels, chipmunks, deer, all thru the neighborhood. Passing the requirements? With some effort, alot can be done online. I just completed a video "BlueSky" medical appointment. Whodathunk such a thing would be possible only a few years ago. Skype, ZOOM (make sure the privacy settings are correct) has great potential. Religious services, choral practice, family reunions and check ins, committee meetings, meritbadge sessions (going to try Bugling in the near future !). If a Scout is Trustworthy, much can be accomplished before we again take to the woods. Our IOLS/BALOO session for May was canceled, our October sessions are still on. We shall see. Pass the Peach Cobbler, please.

Just because the "rule" isn't written down doesn't mean it isn't a "rule". Perhaps the analogy is not exact, but the reality is there. For many of it's early years, BSA did not allow people of color, females, of a certain sexual orientation, or religion either by official "rule" or by local "gentleman's agreement" . Society changes, perhaps we can say "grows up". Your cited history is correct, Ken Burns and his company tell a good story. The BSA by it's professed ideals of the Scout Promise and Law needed to be nudged , needed to be reminded of those things. That is how society changes, by being reminded of the ideals. Tahawk, buy yourself a beer and put it on my tab. 😉

Mrjeff : Thank you for your leadership to our youth. By your definition, Major League Baseball (just finished watching all nine episodes of Ken Burns wonderful documentary) would never have had black players. Women would not have the vote. The local Boys and Girls Club would still be male only. Sometimes (sometimes) the "rules" of a club need to be changed for the better. The membership of the BSA gradually over the years went from only admitting young white male humans to admitting any young human. The majority of the membership, I think, welcomed this evolving development. Were there "rules" about this that changed ? Some were written and "official", some just informally agreed to, a wink and nod agreement if you will. But the change to the "rules" came, and for the better in my view. We profess to want our kids to learn the benefits of learning skills that help one survive in many different situations, gaining confidence in one's ability. The benefits of abiding by the Scout Promise and Law. The benefits to one's self and society in general of doing things "The Scout Way." How much better for all involved if those future citizens of America and the world are not fettered by taught/learned prejudices? I have heard it said that every child is multi-lingual up to about age 6 months. They all initially speak the same language. And then, to quote Rogers and Hammerstein, "they've got to be carefully taught." I believe the best thing BSA ever did was to make the only initial membership requirements to be a breathing young human. A belief in God? Some higher power? Yes, that is still a worthy requirement, but I can tell you that in my years as a Scout leader and Chaplain, I have often had to remind folks that the BSA is not by definition a "Christian" organization. Religious, yes, but the particular faith of a Scout should never be up for discussion. Form another club? Yes, that is done. Notably the B-P Scouts and the new Vanguard Scouts of the CoJCoLDS . Join another club? Lots of choices there... 4H, Campfire, GSUSA, . Work to change the rules of OUR club? Yes, that is also done. Has been done. I hope to see you on the trail, sometime. Socially distant, of course......

I guess I can retire again, but since I am stuck at home and can't leave, could someone please contact these folks and make arrangements? I'll split the take with you.... "" This is to notify you that your CHECK/CHEQUE is now with UNITED PARCEL SERVICE to be shipped to your home address because that is the best option to ensure that you receive your due funds after meetings with all the state security services. Therefore, the $800,000.00 CERTIFIED CHECK is with the united parcel service. You to contact the UPS ([email protected]) Your Full names Home Address Telephone Number Best Regard Ms Megan Brennan

Removing earwax to cure memory loss, nostalgic photos (I wish I could remember THAT!), close to retirement? No original americans.....

*sigh* Let's go back to that old saw, the Scout Law. " Thrifty: A Scout is Thrifty. A Scout works to pay his way and to help others. He/she saves for the future. She/he conserves natural resources. He/she carefully uses time and property."" The idea is the Scout, by themselves, thru their Patrol and Troop/Crew/Ship EARNS their way. Sell things. Do things. Get pay for effort . This is not the "Good Turn" or "Service Project (which is at base a REALLY Big good turn)". If the local Council , thru it's efforts, provides campgrounds and recognitions, all to the good. That's where the "gimmes" should be. It is all too easy to find a Scout friendly hardware store or landscape company or even a uncle Jake to donate a Troop Trailer or dozen tents or even just a twenty dollar bill when asked. Can't do that. The rule is there for a purpose. Not just because the Council doesn't want to hear that the Deep Pocket has already been tapped by Venture Crew PDQ. It is deeper than that. The Scout unit MUST NOT go out and ask for a handout. That's Council's job. The Scout Unit's responsibility is to show the Scout HOW to be responsible for their activities. You want to go to Seabase? (okay, next year,....) Can't/shouldn't just assume a grant from the Bank of Momanddad. The crew going to Seabase can do carwashes, hold pancake/Dutch oven/hotdog dinners. Rake leaves. Plan ahead. Give VALUE for the fee. Scouting as such must not be a charity. Not on the Scout level. This is not to say that there may be charity involved ( TheMuddy Lions comes to mind) if the reality requires, but it should not be the usual way. Not the "official" way. It also helps prevent personal abuse. "I'm a Scout. give me money so I can go to camp" ? Nah. Doesn't sound good. ".... and they (council, national) don't give it back to the unit..." well not directly, sure. But those funds operate Philmont, and other things. Jamborees need a little start up capital. Council camps are there for your Troop to visit any time, yes? And think of this: If you sell popcorn or campcards or meatsticks, the Council will receive a piece of that action, right? BUT . . .If YOU hold a spaghetti dinner and make boocoo bucks from that, will your unit send some bucks to Council? Ummmm . . . . . Those are my reasons. I hope that helps, ANEagle20.

I agree. How was Scouting begun? With a bunch of kids that read a book about outdoor adventure written by a British army hero who made his fame by being a ""Scout"". He decided the best way to improve the type of recruits the army was getting was to encourage the youth to do adventurous stuff while they were young. Now , granted, alot of the stuff he espoused can't be easily accomplished today, and some of it is downright too dangerous or not really socially acceptable (and rightly so). But that is the idea, virus not withstanding. We should think about that. The promise of FUTURE outdoor adventure is about all we have right now, and that is what we need to concentrate on. Virtual knots, lashings, Patrol competition over ZOOM, compare my indoor CUB campout with yours , but plan the future Camporee, plan the camps as best we can with the promise that it will be possible LATER . Can't get together physically to DO stuff ? Every youth organization, name any... 4H, Royal Rangers, AHG, BP Scouts, GSUSA, Vanguard Scouts (!), are going to have alot of the same problems, it's just that BSA is out front with problems because of the poor handling (40 years ago !) of youth abuse and the inherent present bankruptcy. I was recently asked by a friend about BSA's decline (he was never a Scout) and I had to delineate the leaving of the CoJCoLDS in their desire to have more control over that program, the old "secret files" from the sexual abuse scandals , the loss of other charter orgs over the admission of any young human that is breathing, the defensive fiscal posture necessitated by the salivating lawyers, the proliferation of paid Scouters (compared to other youth organizations), the change in BSA's traditional stance vis a vis the Scout Promise and Law and the world today, Oh we had a good discussion until he decided he really wanted to talk about his own family troubles..... Sell off camps? Last resort, but is often seen by Council pro's as the BEST resort to a short term solution. The time of Troops "owning" their own campsites is just about gone, unless you are way out in flyover land (I hate that term). I refer you to the post I wrote about the Troop doing it's own summer camp program. To re-quote Billie Holiday, "God Bless the Scout that's got his or her own." See you (I hope) on the trail....

Any org that sponsors summer camps is up against that hard place in front of the rock. Our faith sponsors three resident camps and a traveling camp for older teens ( a couple hundred miles by bicycle or canoe or foot). Registrations are way down from what they usually are by this time. Deposit Refund requests have come in. Along with this, the camp directors have to plan for staff hiring, training, cabin prep, site rehab, gear purchase, state inspections and permits, park entry permits, ,,, with what cash? I have no doubt BSA and GSUSA camps will have the same concerns.

No insult or bad interpretation seen, but what was meant ? Totally unknown reference. Random words to see what comes up ? Computer/card games? ...

Yep. The Lionel set comes out at Christmas, around the tree. My #10 1/2 Erector set is hermetically sealed up in the attic waiting for the Gson to be old enough to appreciate it.

Well, so far model railroad , facemasks, Old knives sharp again, wild salmon, no native american stuff. mmmmm . . .

Summer camps . . . Every organization that does such is in the same boat. In our case, (non-BSA) registrations are already way behind the usual. We have even had some requests for refund of deposits. Need to hire, train, schedule staff. Order gear and prep the cabins , pond, kitchen, lodge.... How to do that with what we know already? Scout camp? Cub Scout Day Camps? Our county Parks run a very respectable program. Maybe. It will be a long summer, regardless.

10 little indians, Hiawatha Milwaukee Road, Pawksataunee Phil, Cincinnatti Reds, Lake gitcheegoomee,

"?Magic twist knocker ???"

Umpteen posts ago, it was once noted that the commercials that surrounded our (OUR ! Thanks, Terry) web pages often seemed to respond to our comments and other actions. So it goes, again. I ordered some parts for a chainsaw, PRESTO ! Ads for parts.... We discuss covid19 etc.PRESTO ! hand sanitizer and masks. We are Scouts, camping and hiking, Presto, ads for hiking boots. Indians, Choctaw, Lakota, Mohawk, Sabine, teepee, wickieyup, mocassin, Lenni Lenape, .... What's for sale now ?

Here again, the parochialism of BSA shows thru. The "need" to sell off Council camps and Scout Reservations because they donot pay their own way. The need to secure the pensions, pay, etc, of the pro staff. WHen folks "decide" that a Scout Camp can ONLY be used by Scouts, thaleads to the problem. It is a matter of promotion, even in the present climate of self-quarantine and social distance, the properties can and should be made available to other appropriate groups. Educational, conservation, scientific study, other camping/outdoorsy groups could pay the fee, use the ground and trails. The NCAC gained a nice close in (fairly close) camp Snyder when a local real developer exchanged some wetland credits, shook some hands, and pleased the locals (who did not relish a new Disney park) . The use of Camp Snyder is offered and utilized by local school districts, lots of Scout Packs/Troops/OA/Wood Badge. Church groups rent out the pavilions. The trick is to make it known in the community, and put one person in charge of scheduling.

We need to also remember the Scout slogan. "Do a good turn daily." We just need to be a little more specific and circumspect in how to accomplish this.

Scoutteg83: I have no doubt that your Troop can have a wonderful time, learn the Scout stuff they should have as a Scout's legacy, if you have a suitable "Property" , parents willing to do what needs to be done, and the desire to let go and let your Scouts be Scouts. The planning, and execution of such an endeavor can only add to your friendships and memories. Way back in protozoic Scout time, my Troop's dads and (I guess) moms decided to sponsor a summer camp for our Troop. Somebody's brother's cousin owned some property up by Germantown MD. We soon were camping there on weekends. A spring was discovered and it was dug out, capped with a big concrete culvert and top, and a pipe inserted that provided good water. The stream that ran thru the valley was blocked sufficiently that we had first a place to cool food stuffs and then, further down, was dammed up to give us a deep spot to splash in if not actually swim. A privy was dug, and yes, Scouts dug that. Next, a three sided Adirondack (we learned that name) was built into the hillside with old phone poles. ( Mr. Atwell worked for the C&P Telephone company !) The old phone poles he obtained (!) were dragged in with Mr. Leaman's old war surplus Jeep. That became Mr. McDaniel's Quartermaster's cabin. He always had a cream seperater full of "Bug Juice" for passing Scouts. During our summer week stays, our Patrols would visit there everyday to draw our food supplies and such. It was a little more than a quarter mile hike into the camp ( I measured it for my Surveying Merit Badge) from the parking area, which itself was a couple of miles in on dirt roads from the paved ones. Everything came in on someone's back, or the Jeep. "The Property", as it was called, developed with two Patrol campsites on each side of the stream, with a bigger clearing for a Troop Campfire and "Scout's Own". On the west end, was a knocked down grove of dead American Chestnut, "the Dead Forest", where the nearby Patrols collected the best firewood for camp cooking. Chestnut burned with a blue hot flame, I have never seen the like since. We cooked or we went hungry. We drank water, reconstituted Tang, dry milk and hot cocoa. Mr. Walters taught us how to cook an entire pound of bacon in one pan all at once. We learned to work for and with each other, or we learned who we could NOT depend on, and thus charity. Other than the "official" Scout camps , and Philmont, I think we Scouts went to "the property" at least every other month, no matter the weather. We knew we could always hike and camp at "the Property". A one or two week long summer stay there was operated every summer of my later Scout career. In my collection, I have the woggles we made labeled "CF" for "Camp Freedom" . The Troop utilized The Property for many years after I moved on into adulthood, but was eventually sold, at least part of it, to a religious retreat center. I went up there with Scoutson, some years ago, and found the ruins of the cabin, and the concrete cap of the spring, now sunken into a marsh area. Scoutson often mused he would've liked to have been in "my" Troop. Scoutteg83, I can think of no better , more wonderful project than the one you envision. Good Scouting to you.

((with apologies to George M. Cohen)) Johnnie, wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands cough into elbows, in elbows , in elbows. Gotta kill the virus,, you and me you and me Hurry right away No delay, wash today show that your dad and mommy’s lad knows just what – to – do… separating kid from crew….. Over there, over there Move away, move away, over there Keep your social distance, your social distance, With rubber gloves your hands aren’t bare… Don’t be a boob, sip lots of soup, When they ask take them to task ‘ don’t fly the coop… School’s abated, look’s like we’re fated To stay home and watch all the re-runs on the tube. Joanie wash your hands, wash your hands wash your hands. Joanie show the crowd how to sneeze not so loud, Right into your elbow sleeve That’s where the cough should go , you know Over there, over there, stay away , way away Over there, Til it’s over, pandemic’s over, then we will get back and gather over HERE..

And how were the Bechtel folks included in all this? When the Summit was being dreamed/designed/built, the story I heard (files somewhere)was that Bechtel gave (?) $25M to purchase the reclaimed strip-mine site from WbygodV and then another umpteen million for the construction, roads, infra structure etc. How is this included, or were we misled?

NCAC canceled all Scout events until 30 April. Maryland governor closes all public schools and Maryland college system. Scout District decided to cancel/postpone/reschedule all upcoming events (District PWD, SMS training, Camporee....). Hunkering down time.

Often wondered if one could realistically do Totin' Chip with Wii.

Not specifically BSA related, but our Church has noticed a decided downtick in summer camp registrations. Usually get reservations thru February and March. Not so much at present.

Oh, that is wonderful. 26 mile hiking around the deck of his ship. The SS Leviathan, was it ? Google is your friend: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Leviathan 950 ft long, 100 feet beam. Say, a rectangle 8oofeet long by 80 feet wide, equals 1760 feet into 26 miles.....

Thank you.