SSScout

I did not see anything on page 26 about BSA fraternization, either pro or con AND on page 27, it states "" Respect the mission of Girl Scouts of West Central Florida (GSWCF)."" which makes this sound like a "council" document, not the National policy? Did I miss something? But in any event, "all Scouting is local".... I have spoken to some GS leaders who told me they want to have their members (girls ! ) participate in a training we are holding, even after I told them that anyone participating had to "join" the BSA to participate ! Application and dues and all !

I am saddened to see the way the necker has fallen from favor. World wide, it is the recognized symbol of the Scout, whatever gender. In the less fortunate areas, the Scout may have a special t-shirt and neckerchief, that's his uniform, but he will have the neckerchief. The Troop of my yoooth had designed it's own neckerchief, a big one, 30" on a side, bright red, with a custom patch that read "Troop 759 Always On The Go ! " with a pair of disembodied boots kicking up a cloud of dust. Us Scouts and our parents made sure of the truth of that motto. That necker is much faded now, with some holes and mended rips from being used in signal flag (wig wag?) and first aid practice, it is brought out to show at CoH's and such. The ESL necker of the 70's was a mistake, relegating it to the duty of fashion statement rather than proud symbol and practical emergency tool. I once found a Troop necker on the side of the road, discarded by a passing car, I believed, from it's location, not by accident. I took it home , cleaned it up and added it to my collection. Since it was a "Standard" issue BSA Scoutshop item, there was no way to trace it's source. I once worked at our church camp as the Handyman. I once came back to my cabin to find a Scout necker draped on the doorknob, "Troop 1, Lewes Delaware" on the peak. When I researched it, I could not find such a Troop. Another addition to my collection. People give me such things, items of curiousity . "It's dorky, it's uncomfortable, no one wears them, why do I have to, what's it for, I keep losing the slide, can I just leave it home,, , , , " is that what we hear? Or perhaps, thru the woods, we can hear the waving of wig wag Morse code?

Amicus Curiae anyone?

Now there is a really good Idea !

Just came upon this thread. Allergies and asthma are very personal and troublesome. Medical science can help the sufferer only so much. When I was very young, (1950's) my folks moved us into a new old house. Presto ! we could now have a pet dog or cat ! Presto, when the puppy arrived, I couldn't breath. Several doctors and tests later, I was shown to be allergic (to one degree or another) to ANYTHING that had feathers, fur (hair!) or pollen. I underwent a desensitasation regimen of shots for three years. I went on the Cub Scout hay ride in the cab of the truck. This did help lead my mom to quit smoking (she had a two pack a day habit) as I was allergic to that too. When the cat (from my grandmother's dirt basement, it had never seen a grass lawn) arrived, I was able to pet it and we got along fine so long as it lived outside. Wood smoke? yep, some affect. By the time I became a Scout, I was able to sit around the campfire and cook and tell jokes with the best of the kids. Dust mask is recommended. It will help. I am convinced there is some psychosomatic effect, but this can never be proven. Kids will, however , react to what mom/dad react to. If mom/dad are calm, Scout will be calmer, that sort of thing. When loving wife asked for a "kitty", I reminded her of my allergies and insisted that the house would need to be vacuumed regularly and well. It helps, but I was always glad to go to work in the mornings. Yes, clean clothing, wash face (and for me, beard !) to be rid of dust and pollen and dander. I am much better now than when a child, but the allergies are still there to some degree. Will your Scout "grow out of it?" Maybe. But not 100%. A complete allergen testing is to my mind recommended. Your Scout will none the less, find his way in Scouting, I have no doubt. See you on the trail.

Thor's Hammer pin ? https://www.etsy.com/market/thor's_hammer_pin Marvel or True Rune ? The mythology inherent in the Norwegian/Scandinavian Valhalla is an interesting study, but not really appropriate in the religious sense, else we would have Scouts of Egyptian heritage espousing Ra and Thoth. I had a Scout at summer camp who had to be reminded of the importance of his Scout Uniform, because he didn't bring one! He had brought a junior size Marine BDU camo suit. He had expected to be able to wear it thru camp ("it's just like my dad's") , but we had to say no. Was he a Marine or a Scout? When he was old enough to join and be a Marine, wear the appropriate uniform. We ended up borrowing enough Scout "Field Uniform" parts from elsewhere to outfit him for the week. When his dad (who indeed had been a Marine, but was no longer) found out, he was surprised, disappointed and proud . The Scout later became a well uniformed SPL a few months later.

That is exactly what's needed. Forget the advanced "Advancement" of Merit Badges. They can come later. Work with the parents you have, do not make it all on yourself, but with your obvious enthusiasm and experience, it will work. Get the kids out and about. Train the older, most enthusiastic ones, make them your SPL and PLs and instructors. One Scout invites another... Give them the opportunities. As they get on, and read the Scout Manual, the advanced advancements will come. Try and view the videos (available online and in DVD) " Troop 491, the Muddy Lions," https://www.troop491-movie.com/ and " 759 the Boy Scouts of Harlem " https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/759:_Boy_Scouts_of_Harlem for ideas and inspiration. Good Scouting to you, see you on the trail....

I would ask your Council Scout Executive. He gives permission for "special " emblem use within the Council (state flag? ).

"A Scout is Trustworthy". The adult faith award is permanent, stays with you thru your career in Scouting. No reason you should not wear it, to my mind. USUALLY (usually), the knot comes with a certificate. The XYZ Committee on Scouting for your faith would have been the official awarder (?word?) of the knot/certificate, so perhaps the local diocese Scout Committee might/could/should/oughta have record of this. 14 years? Not too long for records. Won't hurt to do a little asking..... We have a piece of paper that says we are a "nation" that is over 240 years old (math was not my best subject), still got that piece of paper, not an email copy...... Thank you for your service to our future . . . Did you meet any future State Senators? 😀

"" 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 ….