SSScout

"" And will you impersonate Clark Gable? And dance when 'ere you're able? Camporee...… Vexilollogy is a much under appreciated study. We were well pleased by the response of the Scouts visiting our event, before the wind forced us to take down the canopy . Even AFTER we took down the canopy. Among other things, the Patrols were given a choice of folding up a small 6' x4' US flag ("every Scout knows how to fold up the flag, right?") or a LARGE 15' x 24' US flag. On a calm day, this can be a challenge, but with 20-40 mph winds, it was fun to watch. I was chagrined by the number of Patrols who insisted they wanted the challenge of the BIG flag (more points! ) versus the more sure thing of the SMALL flag. Teamwork.... Now if Irving can avoid the bankruptcy.... When my dad was in his last illness, one of the things I did to give him some comfort was to assure him that, yes, he was dying debt free. I went to the County Courthouse, taught myself how to read the land and contract records, and went thru all his dealings. Liens released, taxes paid and receipted, I learned more about my dad's business dealings than even my mom was aware of, but yep, all was clear. And I came to realize how important it had been to my dad for him NOT to declare bankruptcy, but to pay his debts as he had promised. And he had never been a Scout...…..

Popular weekend, I guess. Look for me in the Vexilollogy tent . National sets the standards, Councils are franchise units, yes? But the Scout Promise and Law mean.... what, in a law suit that has almost global implications....

Is there any significance to the order of the English alphabet? It just sort of happened, I think. Except for "z". As for the Scout Law, (nice question), it varies from country to country. BSA has 12 points, Australia has ten. Denmark has 5 (!). Not all have "Reverent" but all the ones I have seen start with "Trustworthy" or some equivalent. It is an interesting study. Look up B-P's original, it only had 8, I think. Why that order? Some early Scout leader (Seton? West? bound to be some apocryphal story) wrote'm down and there they were.... Can you be trusted to kindly wash your hands before cooking? Helpfully passing out cheerful portions to your loyal friends, who will thriftily not waste any after reverently giving thanks for the courteous way you served it up? Well, they were brave to obediently eat YOUR cooking when asked to table....

Cub Rank Activities Descriptions: Lion: Have fun, make friends. Tiger: Have Fun, make things, take short hikes, make more friends. Wolf: Have fun, make useful things, go places with friends, take longer hikes, learn about nature and life. Bear: Have fun, make useful and decorative things, go further with friends,, think about life, find out what mom and dad do, maybe camp out in a tent?. Webelos : Have fun, make bigger useful attractive things, go further and higher with friends, learn camp skills, get ready to say "thanks, mom and dad, but I can do this myself now."

WisMom, congrats on WB.. Most folks think it worth the time and pelf, but some have qualms and regrets, there ya go. Again, a lot depends on the Staff folks, which change with each course. It is what it is. (Guitar riff intro...…) I study camping and hiking, And all my Wood Badge classes, I got a crazy Scoutmaster, he wears dark glasses. Patrols are doing GREAT, there’s nothing to trade , . Scout future’s so BRIGHT, I gotta wear shades…. I gotta wear shades. I gotta work my tickets, beads and thong are waitin’. Benefit the Scouts, not a lot of louts. Ticket’s going great, and they’re only getting better. Antelopes and Bears, Owls , my friends are made. The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades. I gotta wear shades… With Scouting we are blessed, our kids can realize They gain by going camping, making Dutch Oven Pies. Our Packs are doing GREAT, and the Troops are getting better. Our Scouts can sharpen right, Totin’ Chip blades, The future’s so bright, we better wear shades, We better wear shades…..

Q: (Qwazse) Oh, I think you and I are more on the same page than you might care to admit. "Happy go lucky " indeed... As has been noted, and not just by me, kids won't, don't join Scouting because of methods or aims. Those are for the adults, the parents. They join and stay because of what I call "safe adventure". Kids climb trees because the trees are tall and it is a challenge to their physical prowess and they COULD fall, and it gets a rise out of their mothers (if not their fathers ?). Same sort of attraction to Scouting, at least the "traditional " kind of program. There's that word again, program . What 12 year old is going to ask his folks "what kind of program do they have?" This providential tike is gong to say (I hope) "I want to go hiking/play soccer/join the chess club/be in the school band", whatever, because she/he sees fun and some adventure and challenge in it. Or.... they may just want to lay on the couch and play Minecraft all day.... Much then, depends on the previous years of encouragement ("wow, look how high you are!") or guidance (" hold on to that branch !") or opportunity ( "Want to build a tree house?") or limitation ("if you fall out of the tree, don't blame me, young man !") the parent has given.... So maybe the adults need the rationale, the definition of what has worked, what has gone before more than the kids. Some things become obvious (if everyone takes a turn at the camp chores, they get done quicker and no one person does all the work) but other things come as a result (cooperation gains friends and doing stuff gains pride). I think another movie that ought to be shown at Scout events (WB? ) might be Captains Courageous. Freddie Bartholomew and Spencer Tracy .

Perhaps this is another example of the adults messing things up for the kids, the Scouts. Waaaay back when, I was a Scout.... (yes, I was. Scoutson spoke up once, and said "Dad, school was much easier for you than it is for me. You had a lot less history to learn...."). All I knew or cared about was the "Handbook for Boys" (that was it's title. Not limited to ONLY green shirted people....) and the "Scout Fieldbook". I still have those tucked away. I copied pages out of the Fieldbook for IOLS instruction. The skills, outdoor knowledge were the important things. Learning to work together, to help organize efforts on camp trips came gradually. I even learned to get thru the times when the idiot rich kid said "no" when it was his time to wash dishes.... Our Patrol worked around him.... I had no idea that there were "methods" or "aims" . My "goal" was to live outdoors for awhile and see how far I could hike with a pack. I learned (experimentally !) how to pick out a boot, which socks were better, how to strap loads to a packframe and NOT touch a canvas tent when it was raining. "Handbook for BOYS" not just registered, dues paid scouts... How would we title it now? "Handbook for Youth"? Why did the title change? What is the change? Why the need to define EVERYTHING that is done as meeting an "aim" or using a "method"? It is part and parcel for humans to teach and pass on to our youth that which we have learned so they won't have to discover it all over again. Lighting a fire, weaving cloth, blueberry muffins.... That is how we come to have Airbus A380's.... All true, it does not explain how we keep finding new ways to kill each other. But why do we seek to define and delimit everything that comes along? WHY do we do Scouting the way Mr. B-P laid it out and not some other way? The BSA way is very similar to the South African Scout Association way . Do they also have "aims" and "methods" ? Leadership? The techniques can be taught, yes. But like many other things, some folks have an innate talent, and some others allow those folks to lead (sometimes when they shouldn't be allowed to, but that's another discussion). The motto on my RoundTable News reads "The Work Is Done By Whoever Shows Up.". This is the essence of Leadership. Not who is ASSIGNED to do something, but who is WILLING to do something. Oh, sure, you can be co-erced into Leading (pay, Military authority, etc.), but right down to the Cub Scout Den of 8 eager kids whose parents refuse to step up and "lead" , it really comes to WHO is willing to DO IT. If no one shows up.... Mr. Surbaugh, are you there?

(horrors) You mean the aim of Scouting is NOT to point the pointy part of the tent UP ?

Mike Rowe ?

Tatung42: I find agreement in much you say, the present WB course, even as compared by Older Timers (!) with the previous versions still has much to recommend it. As in many other things, it depends largely on who is doing the training, not just on what is intended to be taught. I also felt challenged by my time in WB to be a better Scouter. And, as you express, if you have successfully worked in the fields, so to speak, it can be hard to allow others to "do the easy tickets" that one has been "doing as routine stuff", but that is the usual thing... to encourage the easy things so that they can do the harder things later, yes? One personal complaint: The metaphor often used, "drinking the kool aid" is, I find , a very poor one. Many folks use it without realizing the history it stems from, which is extremely sad and unfortunate. Here, are we to consider WB a sad, unfortunate opportunity? Is there a better way to express ones decision to join in , to enlist, to be baptized in the spirit of WB? Just askin' .

Funds to the Troop? Need "Fund Raising Approval Form" from Council.. Speak to the District Executive. Dittos the Merit Badge Counselor comments.

"A Scout is Trustworthy". What Qwarzse said. After the deed is done, you can't undo the Tapout , but you could bring the "other" Scout to the next tapout. Did this happen in North Carolina? Just askin'.....

"First, tell the audience what you are going to tell them, then tell them what you told them you would tell them, then tell them what you did tell them you would tell them ." Then go home.

Onslow? Is that "Bookay" or "Bucket"? 😎

I had a roommate in college who was from Istanbul. Here was his "coffee Maker": Small sauce pan, maybe a quart capacity. Put in ONE tablespoon ground coffee per cup desired, plus one. Add one large cup of water per serving desired, in the pot, plus one. Add sugar (or not) as you like. Bring it to a rolling boil for ONE minute. Choice: If Turkish (!) pour immediately into cups and let grounds settle out. If American (!), pour thru paper towel in strainer into cups....

LEGO blocks. A small flashlight. A small plastic box turned into a First Aid kit. A souvenir coin. A spring clip clothes pin, disassembled and adjusted into a PWD car or a Antelope, or a Elf, or ….

Or this: From "The Sacrament of Fire" by John Oxenham (1852-1941) Kneel always when you light a fire! Kneel reverently, and thankful be For God’s unfailing charity; And on ascending flame inspire A little prayer, which shall upbear The incense of your thankfulness For this sweet grace of warmth and light; For here again is sacrifice For your delight. Oak, Elm, and Chestnut, Beech and Red Pine Bole ; -- God shrined HIS sunshine and enwombed For you these stores of light and heat, Your Life- Joys complete. These all have died that you might live: Yours now the high prerogative To loose their long captivities, And through these new activities A wider life to give. Kneel always when you light a fire! Kneel reverently, And grateful be For God’s unfailing charity.

I might refer folks to a previous hashing of the nomenclature a few months ago: What's in a name? The same issue arises.... what to call the middle age group.... Cubs, Webelos, (???), Venturers, Explorers, Seascouts,,,,,,,, We can call them all SCOUTS without fear of remorse. OR... we could just DROP the last name in the other sections, and use... Cubs, Webelos, SCOUTS, Venturers, Explorers, Seas,,,,,,,

Coffee's getting cold....

Howdy, KLB. Thank you for seeing the problem and being able to define it so well. Here is the idea: "The Work Is Done By Whoever Shows Up" and sometime in the past, your COR /CO showed up when few (if anyone ) else showed up. Good Scouting is a cooperative effort, not a dictatorial effort. Experience and tradition count large amounts, but when only one "allows" themselves to be "everyone" ("because no one else knows how to best do it !!!"), eventually the Scouts lose. Now, if you would save your unit from bleeding Scouts( a poor metaphor , to be sure, but I think you know what I mean), you must gather your other parents and go to your IH and arrange to meet with him/her and the COR/CO and confront the reality with them. Deal with ONLY the facts and actual activities. Call no names, avoid emotionality, The COR/CO will do one of two things: 1) See the need to step back and allow others to HELP, or, 2) claim "you ungrateful wretches" have ruined everything and leave.... ( pity the poor Troop she is associated with). In the mean time, smile and wave as you go by

Aside from my son's own (another time), the best/most memorable ECoH was done thusly: Two brothers, each earned and passed the EBoR separately, but the earlier waited for his brother. The Troop had camped on the back acreage of these Scouts' grandparents farm. They had their ECoH back there. Folks had to park and walk in about 500 yards, bring their own camp chair. The Patrol/Troop cooked camp food, and served it up back there after the "official" ceremony and pinning the Eagle and speeches etc. , all done out in the woods next to a campfire. When the festivities were done, the crowd departed, the Scouts , nascent Eagles and buds, stayed and camped one last time..... ItsBrian, don't forget the cole slaw with your BBQ....

Ach du lieber…. apologies for too many ppppps...

Activities? Volunteering at the County Park Archeology site? Helping at the Animal Shelter? Acolyte at the Cathedral? Candy Stripper(do we still have that?) ? Key Club? Circle R? Lions? Food Pantry? Scouts? What defines an "activity". I would argue that video games of ANY type are not an "activity".

Fred8033 says it best... As a MBCounselor (Bugling mostly), I always list the correctly completed elements, and note the "Incomplete" areas. The Scouts that can't even make a noise on their horn often are chagrined but nod in acknowledgement at this. I give them my cards and contact info and SOMETIMES they call back to complete it with me. Once they leave my company, I have no control over what they do about the incompleteness of that card. Could someone else sign off on the rest of the requirements? Absolutely. "A Scout is Trustworthy". A MBC should be also.... "" Needs #4"" to me means the Scout has fulfilled everything else, he needs #4. If the Scout came to me, I would certainly review the other requirements, but he needs #4.

Fire stories.... OA is in charge of the Camporee campfire and program.... The campfire site is a nice one, open field, slight hillside for folks to sit on... The OA Scouts decide that this will be a "memorable " event, and manage to collect enough cargo pallets (seasoned oak) to amass and pile up two (2) pyres, each about twelve (12) feet tall and twelve feet across, 50 feet apart. The intention is the "stage" for the skits will be WELL LIT between the two fires. ( if not well baked). When I walk by about 3pm, I see this and smell the evocative aroma of JP4... and note NO water buckets or tools present. I have an "AH NO ! " moment and go to seek the Camporee SM. When he views the scene, he nods and says to me, " I was expecting this." He knew the OA Chapter Chief. By 6pm, one pile is torn completely down and hauled away to the parking lot. The other pile is brought down to about 5 feet tall and only one pallet wide... Each Troop at the Camporee is required to provide one 5 gallon water supply, cooler jug or otherwise, so we end up with twenty or so jugs/buckets behind the campfire.... It was a nice campfire....