SSScout

""" throw it all in the Nalgene """" ? ? ? Whose Nalgene are you going to mess up? And how do you cook in a Nalgene water bottle?? Or is there another kind ? Or has Coleman really come out with a campfire microwave oven ?

Pass the pie ? We have some pecan over here..... Café americano ? Con leche? See you on the trail. (deedeedumdee dum…) We hear you're leaving, that's okay.... I thought our wild little time had... just begun. I guess you sort of scared someone, they turned and run. But if you have a change of heart...…. "Tampa don't lose that URL, it's the only one you need, send it off in an email to yourself.... Tampa don't lose that URL, it's the only one you need, you might use it when you feel better,,,, when you get home.....

Petula Clark.... Downtown.... When you're a Scout and life's is getting you down , just come to - SCOUT CAMP..... etc. Make up your own words.... Whistle Colonel Bogie March.... (Bridge on the River Kwai theme)

Facebook, eCalendar, Troop googledocs, all good tools. But many do not readily use these well. For these folks I would recommend the Scout Law , and print things out on paper for their review. They seem to be non-electronic, I know I myself prefer a "hard copy" to a "schmart phone". When the dad wants to discuss TODAY, make sure you discuss TODAY, and not yesterday. Help him to keep on topic and task. If necessary, and sometimes it is, keep a small notebook with you and when giving times/directions/instructions, write it down and "courteously", "kindly", "friendly" hand it to the Scout. Smile a lot. Remember that they are NOT trying to prove you inept, uncooperative, uninformed and/or deceptively trying to embarrass them. No, they are not trying to prove you guilty of these things, because , in their eyes, you already are (as is most of the rest of the world). You must play their game better than they can, and you can, since you now know the rules, and have described it so well. "Special Needs"? Absolutely. Can you supply those "needs" ? Absolutely. The Scout has learned much of his coping skills and manipulative techniques , it would seem, from his dad (is the mom involved? ) . I would concentrate on the Scout. The dad is on his own here. See you on the trail....

Kayak/canoe flotation, bug juice dispenser, seat cushion (tape multiple together), boat/dock bumpers, ,,,,

Not necessary. Order the "Box of Joe" from Dunkin. After the 'Joe' is drunk, disassemble the box. Recycle the cardboard, the coffee bladder is a triple layer , VERY tough bag. Rinse well, you have a collapsible water bag, swim support, punching bag, silver surfer support, pillow, etc. etc. Free.....

Scarlet Johansson as Ilsa. Now who for Louis....

Some years ago, the theme was "Land of the Pharaohs" and the Egypt Embassy DONATED 200 clay pyramids (from Egypt !) that the Cubs could carve hieroglyphics on.

I'm waiting for the remake of "Casablanca " with Johnny Depp as Rick.

Sad but true. Parents? Only as necessary. Talk to, deal with the Scout. It is his rank to earn, not the parent(s). The Scout may need to deal with "dad". I have been in some meetings where the dad/mom did all the asking, and we had to keep directing the questions/answers to the Scout, and effectively ignore the parent. Safety issues? Direct the Scout to the County Building permit office. If the structure is on the CO's land, they do not want to have to deal with "after effects" if it is wrongly done. Scoutson wanted a "barn" for his 4H rabbit projects. We included him in all the planning, permitting (this is not a SHED, it is a 30 by 12 BARN) , costs, reviews, inspections... An education for all of us, especially him . Deal with the Scout. Let him deal with the parent.

" Let's eat granma !" "Let's eat, (comma) granma !" Boys' life,,,, Boy's Life Scout Life , , , , Scouts' Life , , , Scout's Life , , , When the first Scout Handbook (" Scouting for Boys" was it?) was published by Mr. Baden-Powell, why did the idea take off? Why did boys (and girls don't forget ! ) flock to the idea of an organization that encouraged, taught, idealized woodsy skills, self reliance, patriotism, world brotherhood (sisterhood?) . . . a hundred plus years ago, if B-P hadn't told his wife that she could start a female equivalent, but COULD NOT call it "Scouting", where might we be now ? Perhaps this is all about doing right what should 've been done all along ? I favor putting that comma/apostrophe in it's right place. Make it Scouts' Life. Write the letter/email.

Everyone in this morass, ideally, presumably, is a Scout. A Scout is trustworthy. We made it clear to our Scoutson and, indeed, to any Scout I've had dealings with that A Scout Should Say What He/she Means, because they will be believed. If a Scout said to me, "my parents are gonna kill me if I lose this sleeping bag." I would ask him , do you REALLY mean that? If so, we have other problems to deal with than an empty threat (empty?) If your Scout said what he is accused of saying , and was interpreted as making a threat to the other , younger Scout, rather than a hyperbolic expression of his own anxiety, then both these young men need to be counseled as to the impact of what they say AND how they interpret what they hear.... A Scout is Courteous, and Kind.... be polite and insistent. Find out who said what to whom. Who made what decision vis a vis your Scout. Pass the inquiry up the line as necessary. The Scoutmaster, the Committee Chair, the Charter Org Rep, perhaps the Institution Head. Perhaps on to your District Exec and Council Scout Exec . If it was me, I would ask and insist on a meeting between the two boys , you and the other's parents, and the Scoutmaster first. Ask them who said what to whom....

No, No, No . . . What you are speaking of and doing is called a "Legacy". Whether those that come after you will appreciate it or not depends on THEM and YOU. When you teach the Cubs (and their parents !) pride of craft and respect for tools, it has to trickle down some. No guarantee, but some. I learned both (Pride of Craft and Respect for Tools) ,no doubt, from my dad. My son has picked it up, and is now , at 24, the manager for a multi county farm operation. When I was in high school, I organized and set up the Stage Crew , it's storage bins and racks. Years After I graduated, the theater was rebuilt to professional standards and named after my Drama teacher, and the first PAID stage manager was... my buddy and assistant Stage Crew Chief ! He still said he used my system for organizing stuff , said "it works", but now had multiple thousands of dollars of stuff to utilize. When many folks use the same tools, it pays for all to agree that all need to keep it in good shape. Respect the tool, respect the other fellow who has to use it. What you speak of is very much like a Wood Badge Ticket. NOW, you only need four more, and a week's camping with some other WB buddies, and you're in !

Home Depot: four "Crab Mallets" about $10. Go see the store. . .https://www.homedepot.com/p/Southern-Homewares-Wooden-Crab-Mallet-4-Pack-SH-10188-S4/303867504?cm_mmc=Shopping|THD|DigitalDecor|google||_pkw__pmt__product_303867504&mid=s8wpE6CQK|dc_mtid_8903yuu57254_pcrid_228370069355_pkw__pmt__product_303867504_slid_&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqZiVhuGh2wIVgUGGCh31GgUqEAQYAyABEgKAr_D_BwE&dclid=CMXZlI3hodsCFU61swodxE8CtQ

By gad, sir, you are a wonder. Every so often, somebody sees a problem and actually solves it. My Scout Hat off to you . Many Scout Leaders will be grateful, but they may not even know for what. But you will know. Some years ago, I was an active Archery Range Safety Officer for CSDC. We held camp in the same locale many years, and others did too. I taught my Scout Assistants to "Walk The Range", in both directions, to retrieve arrows and check conditions. I mention this to set the stage for my story. One year, as we set things up, I opened up the supplies that Council had provided. We anticipated 25 or so Cubs each rotation, set up 12 targets. Officially, the list showed we had 60 arrows, 30 bows of various sizes, and some replacement strings and "stuff". We went thru the arrows: 15 were defective, bad fledging, no point, loose nocks, splintered shafts. We actually counted 48 "good" arrows, actual. The bows we fixed. Targets were set up. Council said they would "try" to get us some more arrows, which they did. Some... We opened camp with (counted twice) 52 good arrows. Broke some, repaired some, but the end of the story is, by closely "Walking the Range", we closed camp and returned to Council 78 arrows! We had found and pulled out of the grass, more than 20 usable arrows , that no one in the previous years had found ! And we returned all the defects, some of which, I was told , were repaired for the Council Scout camp . "The Work Is Done By Whoever Shows Up."

Anyone have the link to the news about the Summit being the ONLY venue to profit from the WVa law concerning the tax exemption for Music Festivals or such? Something like that.... ? And what ever happened to the Summit being used for the Ultra Marathon thingy that usually hands out free beer after the race? Did that transpire? Oh, and some forth hand rumor mongering.... anyone know how many Jambo Staff (youth or adult) were removed for such moral transgressions as has been discussed here abouts? Scout staffer in my ken came home with stories of Scouts and Scouters being removed home for pot smoking and "other things".

a Firestone has stated the difference between a "stick" and a "stave" (or "staff). The first is a whacker, the second is a tool. What I try to instill in the Scouts I work with is the "respect" shown tool. If your stave is carved, polished, used, hiked with, used for balance, as a tentpole or joined with another pole for a flag waver/signal flag, then that Scout will not see it first as a weapon. Yeah, it can be a weapon, but that is not it's first or second or even third use. And if the Scouter uses a hiking stave, what example does he/she set? Give the Scouts opportunities. Good opportunities.....

In the other events, they mention "gaining skills and knowledge to enrich your Scout Council " etc. etc. Then they have the "Spouse Program".... but I see no mention of gaining knowledge and skills.... gotta love it.....

Let us consider the hypothetical (for our purposes) case of a Scouter, loyal and hard working in many a Scout endeavor. Let us presume him to be an Eagle Scout, Wood Badger, etc. etc. Let us further presume he has lived in the same house for , oh , say thirty years, and thru the wonders of BSA bureaucracy has been assigned to no fewer than five (5) Scout Districts, each with a different name , slightly different area and eventual leadership. Now then. I put to you the case that this Scouter was recognized for his efforts early on (and his good wife!) with more than one, differently named "service" awards. He has proudly worn them on his uni and hung them on his walls for many years. Let us further assume he has continued his appreciated efforts. Now, I further put to you that the present PTB intend to present this worthy with the same "service " award, stipulating that it is from a "Different District" (in name!) then the first one. How say you? Does the worthy wear TWO awards on his uni? Or perhaps refuse the award , urging it to be presented to some one equally worthy? Or perhaps gracefully accept it and (ducktape?) mount it on his office wall with the other?

" Not to worry. If we go out with ten Scouts, we have never failed to return with at least ten Scouts. Sometimes eleven, but never less than ten...."

Yep. Times and opportunities change. At age twelve, I was driving a Ford 8N with a scraper blade on the highway to my dad's landscape job..... Nice Saturday morning, ducks, birds, folks expected farm traffic. Wait for the horn, now... and no twelve year olds driving those combines and tractors around Beltwayland now.

The three words no SM wants to hear: "HEY ! WATCH THIS !" But maybe they should....

.... Oh wait, the Chaplain and Faith Forum was created how many years ago because of the multitude of discussions of faith and religion and ....

Boy, am I coming into this late. 21 pages? Discussion (?) of reasons why LDS is developing it's own youth program rather than adapting the BSA to it's purpose? Do I have those things right? Morality and sin and God's approval or not discerned? Wow. Our Jewish and Muslim and Hindu and Taoist brothers and sisters must be enjoying this. Anybody want a BLT for lunch? Left hand Scout Handshake? Working on your Karma account? Does the CO still define it's membership? Leadership? Is that still in the Charter Agreement? "Enquiring minds (if we still have any) want to know".

Samoa? Camping on Samoa? Was Dr. Margaret Mead a Girl Scout? I'd go....