SSScout

Wow.

Record keeping: NCAC microfilmed old records, and if you know the approximate date involved, you can run thru the microfilm. The paper was destroyed after the film was made. When my home Troop decided (FINALLY!) to celebrate it's longevity, I went to the Council and did the search. It was very neat to see those long forgotten names again. Proof that, yes, the Pack and Troop were 50 plus years old... Finally, they held a celebratory picnic, media attention and all, celebrating our 61st anniversary. Yes, it took more than 8 years to figure it out and make it happen. Aside: When Scoutson graduated to full time Boy Scout Status, ( 2005) and I started attending the Troop Meetings (in the back of the room) and became a ASM, I thought something was peculiar about the flags as the Scouts did their opening ceremony. After one meeting, I went and inspected the USA and Troop flags. The Troop flag was cotton/wool fabric, it looked old. The US flag had 48 stars! They were the same flags used when I had been a Scout ! And no one had noticed ! The Scouts took'em out of the closet , marched'em up the aisle, and marched'em back and put'em back in the closet, without a further thought.... After a conversation with the CCh, we got new flags and folded and put the old ones away in the file cabinet.

As in everything Scouty, "it depends" Another vote "NO" as to Web3. Give them the Scout Hnadbook, tell/encourage them to read it. Ask the local Boy Troop if they have some Instructors for Scout Skill stuff, willing to visit. Elect PLs, etc. SM sits down with the Scouts or PLC if you have one, and talks over "opportunities". I like the previous idea of a local parent property for initial camping. Back forty type place. That is how the Troop of my youth started. One of my favorite stories involves a PLC I sat in on, with the SM encouraging a new SPL and PLs. The SPL finally said "You mean I can make that decision"? " to which the SM said "DUHHH . . . ". Troop numbers. We were initially told the new girl Troop number could be A) any number at all, not already owned, or B) a "variation " of the number already of the Boy Troop at our CO. So they chose XYZ2... And the papers were signed and sealed and turned in . Congratulations ! Later, we were told the first instruction was incorrect, that the charters and records would note XYZG(for Girl) and XYZB ( for boy) Troop. *sigh* SO we still are the proud Scouters of Troops XYZ and XYZ2 .

Thank you. I appreciate the effort and dedication you and Terri exhibit for all things Scouty And now, inspired by Groucho Marx, let me say,,,, and now, on with the forum. Let joy be unconfined, let there be Faith in the streets, Chaplaincy in the camps, and hiking on the trails. Play Don.....

Oldisnewagain1 : Maybe you don't really want a … back pack.... Maybe you're asking the wrong question... https://74fdc.wordpress.com/2013/01/18/woven-backpacks-design-rooted-in-history-and-tradition/

The answer, as in much of Scouting is... "it depends". Yes, the CO "owns " the Unit. Yes, if the Unit, for what ever reason should fold up and blow away, the Unit's assets would devolve to the CO. Legalities.. Yes, the CO has oversight for the Scout program, legally. The BSA programs are a franchise operation, if the program should not pass muster by the BSA folks, or by the CO's folks, the Unit could be in trouble. Budget? Events? Leadership approval? Public view? Does the Scout Unit really show the CO to it's best ? All considerations if the CO so chooses. But... A Scout is Trustworthy. There must be a certain understanding between the CO (thru the COR and the IH , yes?) about who is in charge of the Unit's operation, events, money, Scout stuff and the Scout Unit Leaders. Yes, there is such a thing as too much micro-managing. But it is also a good thing if the CO takes an interest in "their" Scout Unit. Many (most?) COs have a hands off attitude (we don't bother them, they don't bother us) toward their Scout units. "Isn't it good, we like Scouting, looks good on our publicity, XYZ organization sponsors a Scout Pack/Troop" sort of thing, without a thought of "doing" anything about it. Sign a piece of paper once a year, how ya doin'? Good, see you next year... I would counsel looking on this as an opportunity to foster trust, knowledge of the wonderfulness of Scouting, seek to gain more support and (!!) Volunteer Leaders. Service to your church? Good publicity? An involved COR ( he/she is the voting member of Council !) is a VERY good thing. Smile and answer their questions. Submit a budget? Plan for the year ahead? Talk about the wonderful young people you work with? The Church has Eagle Scouts in it's history? I hope you have a plaque on the Church Social Hall wall listing these accomplished young people. Is this new concern an annoyance? An obstacle to your Scouts being Scouts? Or is it a blessing in disguise? A Scout is also Loyal , and Cheerful and.... Oh, and GrammaScout? Welcome to the forums, thank you for your concern for your ("your !" ) Scout Troop, and Good Scouting to you ! Notice how realistic the virtual smoke is as it follows you around the eCampfire, no matter where you sit....

Doesn't Scouts Canada have a highest rank, equivalent to the BSA Eagle? If she earned much of her Scout Skills in the Scouts Canada program, perhaps Ms Ireland might pursue that ? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen's_Venturer_Award

Always good to see questions concerning religious bias here in the Faith and Chaplaincy forum. Oh, wait...

Always good to see reasoned discussion here in the Faith and Chaplaincy forum. Oh, wait....

Yeah, pity the poor Assyrian Scout. That cuneiform is a real bear to get straight on that clay....

While I have your attention, I am reminded of the agnostic, dyslexic insomniac. Poor man lay awake all night wondering if there is a dog....

*sigh* "By their fruits ye shall know them". Most Scouts do their DtG without even knowing it. This is, as has been said, not a pass/fail thing. "Tie a bowline" Yep. "Point out Poison Ivy". Yep. "Recite the Scout Promise". Yep. "Live your life according to the Scout Law and Promise." ummmmmm . . . When I served as a Scout Chaplain at the Jambo, one of my duties was to sit in the "Relationship" pavilion and be "available". The Scout could earn a patch (!) by coming by and visiting their faith's exhibit. If they didn't have one, (didn't profess a faith, faith wasn't there) they could speak with the "Chaplain di jour" (me). In my 5 hour stint, I met Scouts with unique faiths (Jain? Taoist? Sikh?) and learned alittle myself. And I met a few Scouts that said, in essence, "I'm not so sure about this God stuff." and we would talk. My fellow Chaplains told similar stories. Draw them out. Logic? Science proof? Is humanity the final power in the universe? Is Catholicism/Hinduism/Buddhism/Taoism/Protestantism (choose and -ism) the final word? Define religion? I heard talk about searching, asking, wondering, finding problems without answers, that's what a Scout should be about.... Now if the Scout poo poos the idea and naysays religion and denigrates any faith, then I have a problem with his/her abidance with the twelveth point....

Choices: Over the pack, large poncho is good for standing around in the rain. I hiked with one , and concluded the sweat incurred while hiking with pack condensed on the inside of the poncho. It was almost like not wearing one. Standing still, not much problem. I have a gortex clone Marmot over the hip jacket that I like. It breathes, and sheds water. I will say, as it ages, the goretex Teflon stuff gets "dirty" and eventually passes liquid water. Ventilated vinyl ? Coated nylon? Gortex breathing fabric? Helly Hansen foul weather gear? When I rode my motorcycle regularly, I came to love the heavy duty absolutely rain and wind proof Helly Hansen rain suit I bought. Buy BIG, so it has room for breezes and even a sweater if it gets cool.

Do cartoon tv shows count? Rowan Atkinson, animated....

IOLS Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills BALOO Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation WWend Webelos Week End ASM Assistant Scoutmaster UC Unfortunate Commish DC Distinctive Commish ADC Assisting Distinctive Commish DDC Deputy District Commish RTC Round Table Commish ARTC Assistant RTC PPFF Purdue Perpetual Fudge Factor

Scoutmaster’s Song (with apologies to Gilbert and Sullivan) When A Scouter’s not engaged in his employment (his employment) or planning to go camping with his Troop (with his Troop) his capacity for innocent enjoyment (-cent enjoyment) Can easily be knocked off for a loop (for a loop) Our feelings we with difficulty smother (-culty smother) When some Scoutmasterly duty’s to be done (to be done) Ah, take one consideration with another, (with another) A Scoutmaster’s lot is not a happy one. Ooooohhhhh… When Scoutmasterly duty’s to be done, to be done, A Scoutmaster’s lot is not a happy one. When the helicopter parent is not hov’ring (is not a hov’ring) When the Scout is not a-cutting off their thumb (-off their thumb) He loves to hear the bug-a-ler a-bugling (bugler bugling) And enjoy his tea while sitting on his bum (on his bum) When the PLC has finally decided (has decided) Where the Troop should hike on weekends yet to come (yet to come) Ah, take one consideration with another (with another) A scoutmaster’s lot is not a happy one. Ooooooohhhhh, When Scoutmasterly duty’s to be done, to be done, , His duty is often not a happy one. (happy one).

Thoughts? I never got to hike in Philmont. The senior Scouts from my Troop used army surplus plywood packframes, made their own tarp tents out of 8 mil black plastic , duct tape, and grommets, came back hyped up. Our Troop went camping a lot after that. Since the older Scouts used 'em, dad and I went out and bought the M4 plywood packframe for me, lashed the BSA Yucca pack to it, and that is what I used thru the late 1950s. No hip belt, canvas, cotton cord. When the canvas backpad started to give way, I found a open mesh one that fit and that made a world of difference in comfort. Then a friend brought a Swiss rucksack. Aluminum frame, hip belt , nylon. Wow. Instant conversion. I got a Kelty/REI packframe, and then even tried to convert the M4 with a homemade heavy hinge hip belt thingy, which bent under the load. The M4 is ready for the museum.... When my friend invited me to walk the Camino de Santiago with him, I went out and bought a new Deuter pack. I think I had a max 20 kilos . Very comfortable, extra roomy, served very well. I crafted some rings on the bottom of the pack to lash the sleeping bag to, keeping the light weight stuff on the bottom. I believe I still would favor an external frame as being more adaptable, but the internal frame Deuter was very nice. Pockets on the outside for small stuff... Rain cape, Such choices available now. "Ya pays yer money and ya takes yer cherce."

Here's another life lesson for the Scout. Who do you ask for a reference? When they say no, for whatever reason, what do you do then? In the Eagle candidate's case, I really don't think it's going to make much difference. Attesting to a person's character, history , accomplishments, loyalty to an ideal (God? Creator? J-w-h? ) , is difficult at best. Again, would the lack of the letters be a reason for an Eagle denial ? Some years ago, when I needed some support for a denial I had been given, I was very gratified and surprised by the folks that came to my aid. Their refutation of the rationale given for the denial (buy me a coffee and pie for the whole story) was amazing and made me glad for their friendship and my relationship with them. References are for folks that do not know the candidate to begin with. They can help the BoR to know the candidate..

Summer Scout camp, lots of fun, lots of "growing up".... He accidentally hurt himself . His parents noticed the injury when they picked up their camper. He said he did NOT tell an adult when it happened, treated himself "correctly". Within 48 hours of his injury, his family took him to an ER and he is now on antibiotics, under a physicians care. Have I got all that right? When, exactly, as the SM did you become aware of this injury? What actions (report to camp authorities, , professional examination, treatment, etc.) did YOU, the adult authority, do ? How forgiving, understanding is the family? How old, experienced is the Scout? How afraid of punishment for doing something "stupid" is the Scout? Lots of collateral considerations here. Do you have a family lawyer? Just thinking out loud here.....

Read the fine print, """ References: Must list all six (five if not employed). If not affiliated with an organized religion, then the parent or guardian provides this reference. There are no restrictions on who the Scout may list as the two other references. The candidate may list anyone, including parents or guardians not previously listed, other relatives, Scout leaders including those from the candidate’s unit, or other Scouts and friends. There is no requirement that any of the references be 21 years of age or older. "" (from https://www.scouting.org/resources/guide-to-advancement/eagle-scout-rank/ ) In my career, I have never heard of any candidate have his references questioned. Of course, a candidate wouldn't list folks he might not expect a good comment from.

sonofagun….

Is "Hatchet" optioned yet?

Howzabout this: ""Young Eagles (1934)"" *** When their around-the-world plane trip is halted by a crash in the Ecuadorian jungle, plucky Eagle Scouts Bobby (Bobby Cox) and Jim (Jim Vance) will need all their survival skills as they battle wild animals, hostile natives, and ruthless, treasure-seeking bandits to reach safety in this thrill-packed serial. Carter Dixon co-stars. 12 episodes; 3 3/4 hrs. on two discs. Standard; Soundtrack: English. ((TCM Store catalog))

Friend Fred: I was in the Eagle Patrol in my Scout Troop It had been the Eagle Patrol for some years previous, had gear collected, a "treasury bag", and ribbons on it's Patrol flag (!). I was in the Eagle Patrol until I graduated out of Scouts. It was in existence for some years, I found out, after I left, but eventually dissipated when the Troop came on hard times. Same Patrol, different boys coming in and out. Different ages , therefore. As I got older, I went from Patrol member, to Patrol Quartermaster (cook kits, tents/tarps) and treasurer, and Patrol Leader. Assigning chores on hikes and camp outs was the toughest part, I guess. That is my model in judging B-P's "traditional" Patrol. I had friends of my age and older and younger in it. When I visit the Troop Meeting place/CO, I look at the Eagle Plaque and remember the faces..... The other two types I generalized about usually last only as long as there are Scouts of a certain age or rank. Even the "new boy" Patrol is designed to disappear when the Scouts get too old. If a Scout only has the one type of Troop/Patrol to experience, they may say "that's the way Patrols SHOULD work" and leave it at that. If the Troop Adults don't worry about their interference ("we' have to control and make everything safe") in the Scout culture, then that will be the Troop culture. I still remember my stints as a sub teacher, and how hard it is to get today's middle schoolers to give out an original idea, rather than sit there and wait for the teacher's instruction.....