SSScout

Hoo boy, are you in deep. Welcome to the Forums. Lion Cub eh? Remember the Cub Mantra: Kis Mif, Kis Mif, Kis Mif...... Keep it simple, Make it fun. See you on the trail....

"A Scout is Trustworthy, loyal, helpful, courteous, kind, etc. " It sounds like the Troopleadership (adults?) are holding to MOST of that list, but maybe not all. If the records are correct, and the Scout has earned the MB/rank correctly, that's good. If the actual BADGE has not yet been presented because the Scout could not (for whatever reason) attend the CoH, then some adjustment should be made. Has the Troopleadership made effort to find out WHY the Scout did not attend the CoH? We still have telephones. Knock on his door. Is he still a registered member? On the Charter list? Then he is a Scout still. Either (1) wait for the next CoH ( phone him and remind him !) or (2) Make some other arrangement (present it to him at his hospital bed?) or (3) Mail it to him. Include a letter (what a concept !) to congratulate him, remind him he is still welcome in the Troop) and wish him well. If he is no longer an "active" member (it is known he quit, moved, family is down on Scouting, ) mail the awards to him and wish him well in his future activities. When our Cub Pack fizzled out and de-chartered, I found a box of awards (ranks, Den Leader Knots, craft kits paid for/assigned/never done...) in the detritus. I made it a personal goal to find and give these out. It took some research, but oh, the surprised looks when I knocked on their door and presented the badges, sometimes more than a year late. But the person who EARNED it, received it.

A prediction: "... a really, really, great organization...."

I know some of you have "done" Philmont, done Northern Tier, done the AT for some distance. I few years ago, I was invited to walk the Camino de Santiago with a friend. He had some large changes in his life and wanted to get away, to have a different perspective for awhile. He called me his "lifeguard". I took that as a very big compliment. And so we mostly walked, carrying most of our material needs on our backs for several weeks. What is it that makes these events, call them "expeditions". so memorable , so important to a person's life? Such treks are "lived simply", taking only what we can carry. Yes, we often depend on a lot of modern technology (whatever that technology is at the time. Compass? topo map? GPS?), but it is what we carry on our back. That's all we really need, isn't it? On my Camino trek, I had my friend and many new friends met and walked with along the way. People helped us and we helped many when we needed the help. Clean Water and places to rest on our way. How complicated do we really need to make our life? We are constantly bombarded with messages about what other people think we "need". Vitamins? Shingles? Types of tea or water purification systems? Detergents? shampoo? Potatoe chips? What do we really NEED in our backpacks?

Haven't seen that here in NCAC. This is to be an "in person" meeting, not online or phone conference? ? Town Meeting? Including who? The CORs ? Anyone labeled "Scouter"? Sounds interesting to me....

A letter? What's that? When I was asked to Scoutmaster the Troop to Summer camp one year, I brought along a pack of Post Cards and stamps. One afternoon (I think it was Tuesday), I sat the Scouts down , passed out the cards and said "today we are writing home about camp". Duh.... "what should I write?" " Do I have to"? "My folks know where I am..." I wrote one myself. They were put in the camp Post office box that afternoon, they arrived home on Monday and Tuesday the next week... Would you believe , out of ten Scouts (they were 12 and up), TWO did not know their address? Pull out the record book.....

Back in 2013, the Consol bridge was a really neat design. It copies the design of Millenium Bridge in London. It was discovered that it had a possibly(!) fatal flaw, in that if too many people cross at the same time (it's a tourist attraction!) a harmonic swaying is set up. They don't even have to "march" in step to set it up. Many good documentaries about this on line... The supports of the bridge swayed many meters over the center line, actually throwing people off their feet. The Consol Bridge has the same basic design. On opening day, all of A & B camps tried to cross at the same time (it is the shortest route to the center of Jambo). Scouts ,10 across, all eager to get there, packed the bridge, walking across. As the bridge started to sway, left and right, the walkers would sidestep to catch themselves from falling, and correct the sway , but this actually reinforces it. Another Scouter and I (he turned out to be a civil engineer !) watched in amazement as the top of the vertical supports deflected almost 3 feet left and right ! We spoke with another Scouter and we closed the bridge until the bridge was empty and the sway settled down. He took some pictures. We both wrote a report about it. After the bridge stilled, we allowed one third of the "gate" of the bridge to allow Scouts across. That seemed to be okay. The bridge rattled and bounced, but did not start the back and forth . Hence my comment about "rocking" the bridge..... The Millenium Bridge was retrofitted with "dampers" and stiffeners. I have not heard if the Consol Bridge was ever "fixed". I was told it was built strong enough and wide enough to permit a small ambulance/Jeep to cross it, but that was then.

There is "Caravaning" And "Convoying". The Convoy idea is not necessary and can lead to taking chances unwarranted. "I havta keep up with the leader!". No, you don't. You have to drive safe and get there in one piece. The army may "convoy", but we ain't the army. The POTUS may drive thru DC in convoy, but we ain't him. We do not have that purpose or permission. To "caravan" implies the same idea, but to me, it means knowing the route, having some idea of a realistic schedule, and having "meet-up" places along the way, if the destination is some distance away. It does NOT mean keeping each other's car within eye shot. It DOES mean driving safely and legally. My old Dodge Caravan (four cylinders, 5 speed, 30mpg) could (and did!) carry 5 Scouts and all their gear to summer camp many times, but it could not (physically!) do over 60mph. At least not uphill.... I told folks I'd meet them there, depend on it, but I wasn't about to feel bad about not getting there earlier....

In my physiology class, right after the candle wick trimming workshop, I remember being taught that the human body had three main functions: thinking, muscle use and digestion. They said that the circulatory system usually had enough blood and exerted it's effort in supporting any two of those functions, the third would be , shall we say, toned down, put on a back burner, not be at high efficiency. Therefore, after a big meal, your thinking may be slow(er), your running/swimming/log splitting might not be at their best. Therefore, do not engage in life supporting events (mile swim? Scuba? Free Rock climbing? ) or heavy thinking (debate team? Presidential elections? Wifely discussions?) right after fried chicken picnics. Coffee, tea, a donut might not be as handicapping. But mama's pot roast, dumplings and celery sage gravy, stay on the deck for awhile before demonstrating that Olympic Butterfly. Not so much "cramps" as "lack of ability"....

Roby: Sad. Point to note: Council should have records noting that : The Charter Org should have named (1) the Institutional Head, as described by Q above. and (2) a Charter Org Representative, as noted by many above. Any money earned belongs to the Charter Org, because the units belong to the Charter Org. The IH and the COR should have an interest in that. The person being discussed here is not only defaming the name of BSA, they are cheating the boys, the are stealing from the Charter Org. Lots of unhappy folks in that list. Pursue it. Make lists and enlist the news media.

B G: If it is not too late, perhaps a Native American traditional story, such as "How Bear Lost His Tail (and why the Big Bear in the heavens still has his )". (( **Practice with appropriate motions and sounds....)) Oh, my beloved:: Hear now the story as was told to me by one much wiser than I. Long ago, when the animal people would speak as you and I , Bear had a long and beautiful tail. He knew that, but set no store by it, being not as vain as some. Fox, on the other hand, also had a tail of some beauty and was not shy in telling of it. Indeed, Fox grew jealous of Bear's tail and decided he must rid himself of this (to him) unfair competition. And so this is what happened.... In the late fall of the year, when Fox knew Bear would be always hungry, before his long winter nap, Fox caught a nice fat Trout and sat himself by the trail where he knew Bear must travel. Sure enough , along comes Bear. "Hello, brother Fox", said Bear. " What is that you have there? A fine dinner, I see !" "Yes" Fox replied between bites, "It is my dinner." "And where did you catch such a fish? I might like to catch such for myself !" said Bear. "Over on the lake shore" said Fox. Now Bear knew such Trout were usually caught in a fast stream, and not in a lake, so he was doubtful, and said: "Oh, I find that hard to believe. What bait did you use?" "My TAIL !" munched Fox. "Tail?? How so tail? " said Bear. "Why, I can show you. Follow me to the Lake." so the two walked off down the trail to the lake shore. Fox indicated a rock by the water's edge and said to Bear " See? This is where you sit. Stick your tail into the water and swish it around. When the fish bite on to it, pull out your tail and there you are ! Fish Dinner !" Bear was eager to have such a fine trout to eat, so he sat down and stuck his tail in the water and swished it around. "Like this?" He asked. "Exactly !" said Fox, who started to walk away. "But how long do I sit here?" asked the trusting Bear. "Until you catch the fish, silly!" said Fox, who smiled and ran off, very pleased with himself. Well, soon Bear grew drowsy. The sun was setting and soon Bear had fallen asleep, pleased with himself that he would soon have a fine fish for eating. When Bear woke up, it was next morning, and lo ! The lake had frozen over in the night ! Bear found his tail was frozen solid in the lake ice, and he knew the cruel trick Fox had played on him. The only thing he could do was tear his tail off as he sat up and had to go down the trail , sad at this turn of events. Now, the Great Spirit Manitou had seen all this and took pity on Bear. In his dream that night, the Great Spirit came to Bear and said, " I cannot give you back your tail, but here is what I will do: I will make a picture in the sky so that all may see how long and beautiful your tail was, you and your cub. And henceforth, Fox will never again wave his tail high and proud in the air, but will carry it low to the ground. So shall it be. " And so it has been. So the Bear in the sky has the long, wavy tail, the Bear you see in the woods has a short stubby tail, and the Fox you see along the trail will not wave his tail in the air. Remember, and tell your Cubs , so they may be as wise as YOU !

I concur. Make up at least two unis. You will want to rinse out one almost everyday, which makes three sound nice, but not a requirement. Dust and sweat will make their mark. Dress them up as you would any uni, local patches, CSPs, etc. As much or as little bling as you think necessary. Conversation starters ! Bring extra CSPs for trading/awarding. If you have any extra hats, neckers, etc. you can do without, you will find a new friend to award them to ! I made a good friend at my first Jambo and found I HAD to give him my extra Campmaster hat... You will find opportunities for ad lib awards (2010, the "Dixie Cup" award.... ) You should get the Jamboree patches and a name tag, I would think. Your Department may have a special "hanger" or name plate. Or hat. Or you might suggest to them such. Good Jambo (the unofficial greeting) to you !

Play the "what if" game. What if I get thirsty. What if I get hungry. What if it rains (you get wet). You will leave your camp after breakfast and probably not get back before dinner time. Cook crew needs to plan that way, if they are out at the Barrels, and due back at ACamp for dinner duty, leave with enough time ! Use the map. (frinstance) It is a 90 (!) minute hike from Acamp to the Barrels or BMX. "But I heard there will be a bus shuttle". With 35,000 Scouts, how's that going to work? Use the "Good Jambo" greeting to everyone... It is appropriate and hey, let's start a new tradition. Boots /wool socks for walking, sandals for around camp. Clean socks. DO NOT depend on the cell phone service. There will never be enough charging stations. Bring another towel. Set up laundry drying lines. Rinse out early, dry for tomorrow. Yes, the Scout Shop will have what you need.... at almost twice what wallymart might charge. Hats, sunglasses. Holy book. Cards for "Hearts". Control your desire to make the Consol Bridge rock. Review the Takoma Narrows bridge film. If you are invited to visit FCamp, be advised it is the highest point in Jamboree other than the Dead Lot for parking.... Visit the "Duty to God and Country " pavilion. Accept that you will NOT be able to do "everything", but you will do "a lot", and you will never forget (most of) it ! Good Jambo !

Batteries, clip connectors, wire, bulbs, voltmeter... wheatstone bridge, nails, board, ,,,, Too bad RadioShack is drying up... I miss Heath Kit. Try Edmonds Scientific: http://www.edmundscientific.com/ and https://www.sciplus.com/

My old time family doctor always said that you could do two things to a Poison Ivy rash: If you washed it well, as soon as possible with warm water and Octogon soap, the rash would heal in ten days to two weeks. If you treated it with Calomine lotion, it would heal in a week and a half to 14 days.

My favorite is the J. C. Higgins stove my dad in law gave me. Bought a propane conversion kit at Dick's for $15. and voila ! Fires up, cooks, boils, I figure that steel cased suitcase must have left the factory in , oh, maybe 1950..... It has two moving parts: A lever to shift the gas from the first burner to the second, and (on the propane converter) a turn valve. No use for the liquid gasoline tank, the leather gaskets dried out a long time ago. Hurricane insurance....

Do not give the Cubs homework . Give the PARENTS the homework. Kids read because they love to read. Parents who read to their kids regularly, every day , at bedtime, at lunch, from the newspaper comics, from "Treasure Island", from "Good Night Moon", from Donald Duck comics, from the school text books, they have kids that love reading, and get something out of a book. My folks read to me even up into the 4th and 5th grade. We read to each other. I watched my folks read. I watched (and copied !) my folks writing, letters, reports, news articles. Perhaps the Den Leader reading from Gary Paulsen's "Hatchet", Charles Lindbergh's Biography "WE" might get their Cubs interested in the Bear Book by comparison. Is the Bear /Wolf/Tiger book too much like a Arithmetic book from school to be worthy of their attention at Scouts? Is it possible we lost something else when TPTB eliminated the "Jungle Book " references from Cub Scouting? Yes, the Cubs need to be active, but they also need to see the relationship, the success and fun inherent in the book they pick up. How to do things without being TOLD to do it. They can do it themselves, by READING about it.

It's hard ain't it hard.... I teach IOLS, my usual topic is "Woods Tools". Knife and axe and saw. My home District has some reputation for doing a good job on IOLS, I like to think I have something to do with that. I teach the Scouters HOW to teach and pass on the Whitlin' Chip (knife... what a neat way to recruit Cubs than with a Big Brother Boy Scout teaching safe knife handling? ), then into Totin' Chip (axes and saws, oh my). I was asked to help in a neighboring Districts IOLS, and of course I said yes. Brought all my gear and "toys", set up my Axe Yard, and the Course Leader came up and said, "Here are the Totin Chip Patches for you to award your students when you're done" and handed me a baggie of TC patches ! I said, I can't award these, she said of course you can, they will earn them here right? I said noooo, they are ADULTS, they can't earn a youth award, she said but we always give them out and they are sooo proud to wear them, I said Not from me. I said these adults will learn what is necessary for a Scout to earn it. In passing, if they follow my lead, if I do a good job of instructing, they may indeed do the things to earn it, but no, they will NOT be asked to wear a Youth Award . She was flummoxed, to say the least. I think for the first time, that District did not pass out youth awards to Adult Scouters. Eagle medal? Wear it on your civvie suit coat. . Scouter uniform? Wear the knot. Keep the Eagle Medal in your dresser drawer until you can pin yours on your grandson's uni.

Telephonic communication is hard for some teens, true. Face to face communication is hard. As a sub teacher, I noticed that in the Mid School folks I sub taught. Even back in MY day, I remember how hard it was to raise my hand and TALK out loud. Then there was that girl in French class.... Our District Eagle Coordinators REQUIRE candidates to telephone them for appointments. They will not accept emails or texts. They politely respond, "here is/are my phone numbers, please call me." Leaving a message is even harder. I have had Scouts call me and leave a message on the line of " Mr. Ssscout, please call me about.... Thanks. Bye. " and not leave a name or number or even WHY .... TG for caller ID. Encouragement? Instruction? Example? If we teach (?) Nuclear Science at Summer Camp, why not Verbal Communication. I encourage kids to read the Hornblower novels to learn how to communicate EXACTLY. Nothing like British naval officers to example how to pass on information and instruction.

?? Why would ANYONE want to prohibit a Scout from camping with his family? YP issues aside (always consider them !) , I can't think of a better reason for "crossed over" Scout to come home and camp with his old Pack. Big Brother Scout, show off some new responsibilities, newly acquired skills (or not!). Another excuse to go camping. This is Scouting ! Go Camping ! Money earned thru Popcorn sales are the Units anyway, not a consideration for the Scout.

My Scoutmaster Handbook from 1970 sez, under Star Scout requirements: "While a First Class Scout, take part in at least one service project helpful to your church or synagogue, school or community". It goes on to explain: "It is important to distinguish between a Good Turn and a service project as related to this requirement. A GOOD TURN is a simple act undertaken to help someone else. A different Good Turn is expected of a Scout every day. A service project is also a Good Turn, but it is of such a nature that it is beyond the normal daily Good Turn in both scope and in duration. If, for example, a boy were to serve as a substitute on the school traffic patrol it would be a Good Turn; but , if he served regularly day in and day out for a period of time, it would be in the nature of a service project." In the present Scout Handbook, the First Class Requirement sez: ""Participate in three hours of service through one or more service projects approved by your Scoutmaster. The project(s) must not be the same service project(s) used for Tenderfoot requirement 7b and Second Class requirement 8e. Explain how your service to others relates to the Scout Law."" If your Scout Troop does a regular duty (mowing the grass, sweeping the sidewalks, taking out the trash, washing the windows...) for your Charter Org, every month or week say, is that a "service project"? Or is it "free labor"? Do modern Troops do "regular duties" anymore? Does your Troop SEEK OUT things to do for others? If your family House of Worship holds a Pancake Supper, can your Scout use busing tables as his S/P ? Must the Scout HAVE to plan and pursue the S/P himself? Can he not just "help" as he is directed? When does the "Good Turn" turn into a "Project" that earns "Hours"? How do your Scouts fulfill these requirements? How to "keep score" ?

Oldisnewagain: You do not define the work as a "service project". The Scout District, the Troop approves a project as a "service project". In your described idea, I do not think that would qualify. Perhaps the contractor would consider helping with the trail construction project in the State Park?

1) If the CD was informed, a report should have been made to the Council after investigation as to who, how, what etc. This is a MAJOR accident, could have resulted in human injury (thank the Lord it did not ?) . Ask for a copy of the report. FORMALLY, ask for a copy. 2) Yes, the Council Insurance should kick in. No "pro" on site? then they will depend on the report from the CD. If it was not forthcoming IMMEDIATELY, it must be pursued NOW. 3) Contact the "tempo" DE for your District. There should be one named, they are probably overworked , assigned to more than one, or the Senior Regional Executive (BSA makes up lots of titles for responsible Scouters) of that group of Districts. Also, contact the Council Scout Executive. Email is NOT sufficient. Write a "real" letter, detailing EVERYTHING you know about the event. 4) Who designed/approved the shooting range? Who was the Range Safety Officer? Did they make a report, sign off on the CD's report? All appropriate stuff to pursue. Something went wrong. No BB should ever leave the range. Same for arrows, slingshot pellets, rockets, throwing knives, hatchets, .22bullets, rocks.... 5) Yes, "things happen". I have stories too, having been a CSDC RSO many times, but responsibility must be taken and by figuring out the lapse in attention (?), perhaps (perhaps !) this type of event can be avoided in the future. Your efforts, dd, can help make this true. I hope this poor accident does not sour you to Scouting in the future. See you on the trail.

"A Scout is helpful." Since when did we start asking folks NOT to ask us for help? Back when I was working on my Chariot Maintenance Merit Badge, our Troop often would ask (especially to our Charter Org) what needed to be done. Indeed, each Patrol was expected to DO something every month: cut the church grass, shovel snow, prune shrubs, help at the pancake supper, usher at service, something.. But I do not remember getting "points" for it. It was just expected and we did it. Things did change when the Eagle Service Project was included. My Eagle needed "evidence" of doing service, "Good Turns", active in school, etc. but nothing like a defined, individual >project< . Free labor? Well, just what is a "service project (either Unit, District or Eagle)" if not that ? Scoutson's was the renovation of the Rabbit Barn siding/trim/eaves at the County Fair Grounds. They provided the materials, we provided the "labor". It would not have been done, save for Scoutson's desire and organizing of his Four H, school and Scout friends and their construction experienced dads and moms.

Such a tragedy, both for the families of the assassinated young men, and the families of the assassins . I attended the Saturday viewing for awhile, but could not stay for the whole funeral service, owing to another previous commitment I was struck by the great involvement of all. Artem's family is Russian Orthodox. Shadi's family Muslim. ( I would have attended the Muslim service but was unaware of it's timing). Artem's Troop is chartered by the Presbyterian Church where Artem's viewing and Funeral service was held. The Troop's Scouts did a grand job , ushering, directing traffic, helping everywhere. I was told some of the Troop's Scouts were Buddhist, as there were also Buddhist monks in attendance. Interfaith co-operation? What better example: One's loss Is a loss to all. When I sought out the family to express my condolences, it was unfortunately easy to identify the mother. She was the one dressed in black, surrounded by men dressed in black, but she wore the "mom's ribbon" layered with all the Scout Rank Symbols (Silver Eagle topmost) on it. I had some good conversation with some Muslim attenders, we spoke of Scouting (one lady said she was a Cub Scout and Girl Scout leader). We exchanged business cards, her son spoke up incredulously: "mommy, YOU have a CARD??" It is unfortunate that the more frequent deaths by gunfire in other places often do not seem to merit the same attention, or the same analysis. Any human life is still important in God's view. See you on the trail....