SSScout

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....

Ditto what Col. Flagg said. I would add: You mentioned TWO different Troops. Make sure to include the Scoutmasters in the ceremonies. Ask around to other parents (make a call to the District Eagle Coordinator) about possible scenarios. Who makes the speeches? Who leads? Who MC's? Eagle Charge? What version (there are several). I personally do not see a problem with wearing the uniform (if they can still fit into it !) for the ceremony and evening festivities and photos. Congratulations to your Scouts. When they are ready, they will "come back" to Scouting. Give them a nice send off into adulthood. See you on the trail...

Courtesy Seneca District, NCAC: ""Funeral services for Artem Ziberov are scheduled to be held at Neelsville Presbyterian Church this Saturday, June 10, 2017 with visitation from 3-6pm and the Memorial Service at 6:00. 20701 Frederick Rd. Germantown, MD 20876 Scouts and Leaders are asked to wear their dress uniforms. Matthew Beyers Chair, Seneca District National Capital Area Council [email protected]""

For our BALOO courses , there is a pocket pin http://www.scoutstuff.org/bsa/uniforms-insignia/insignia-metal/pins/cub-scout-hat-pins.html#.WTnoWzE2zIU It is official, nice to have. I still have mine, on my "pin" ribbon.

Stosh: Well, yeah, I agree , when the ego gets in the way of the Scouting , the SM needs an attitude adjustment. But sometimes, sometimes, the SM is the boss. In setting the example, in encouraging good Scouting, in saying "hey, I don't think throwing THAT into the campfire is a good idea." and like I said, when the SM decides that BSA established policy (he had the training, yes?) is not his way of doing things, maybe he does need to be taken aside and , as we say in the Quakers, "Eldered" a bit .

PirateLou: Sit ye down and welcome to the virtual crackerbarrel. There you have true family history. Obviously very important to your grandfather. As has been said, there are FB and online groups for BSA patches and badges . If they appear to be (or you know ) mainly from NC , contact the local BSA Councils . I daresay you will find folks that can give you some info about the provenance (love that word) of your items. Camps that have been closed and sold, events , awards, items given to your Gfather by friends and folks he passed on the trail of his life. Scrapbooking? Display boards? Family reunions? Scout reunions?

Ditto all the above. Sometimes the king must be reminded of the agreement given in Magna Carta. Scoutmasters are "A" boss, but might not be 'THE" boss of the Troop. "it depends...." Why do what should be done? We have BSA policy, well established and published and TRAINED ? We have a Troop Committee and lots of tradition (cue Fiddler on the Roof music) which is very important, but sometimes gets in the way of being "fair " and in the boy's best interest. We have the "Boy Led" aspect, which should always be considered first, except when BSA standards are involved (rank requirements? Safe Scouting? Scout Promise and Law? ) It is always embarrassing when a Scout (or his parents?) brings a BSA book to show the Scoutmaster (or Committee Chair or Advancement Chair or...) something that does not jibe with what has just been said or declared (" you must do it THIS way"). Talk over the seeming disagreement between what is "read" and what is "heard" with others in the Troop community , then ask the Scoumaster to meet with you after the meeting, in the hallway, over a cuppa in Fourbucks and politely ask about this mismatch between his way and the BSA way.... Give him an "out". Try not to back him into a corner, but allow that his heart is in the right place, just maybe not how he wants to guarantee the best program for the Scouts. See you on the trail.

Kitchen duty: Fancy apron, or two. Or three! Silly hat. Sunglasses. Promote the same from the rest of the crew. If it ain't fun, the quality of the food will suffer, even more ! Make sure everything is CLEAN , every day. Sing a cleaning song....

SSF: What you say is true, but remember, it is PATROL competition (I HOPE !!), not individual Scout...

Mzkelly Welcome to the forums. And thank you, Robert12, nice catch... "Et tu, Scoutmaster?" I knew we had seen this sort of thing before. "search function is your friend".... go to http://scouter.com/index.php/topic/28731-i-lost-blue-cards/ on another browser page and come back here to rant some more The Scout needs : 1) a caring, knowledgeable MBCounselor. 2) to follow the instructions on the Blue Card (one part to the MBCounselor, one to the Troop, one part to the Scout ). 3) The name of the Troop's Advancement Chair/secretary/registrar. 4) As the Scout progresses in Scouting, he needs to record EVERYTHING in his BSManual. Dates, names, places. And keep that manual safe. I knew a Scout who had TWO BSManuals: One in his desk at home, one in his hike haversack. He also had a baseball card plastic page three ring binder to keep all the MBCards and Training Cards etc. He was glad he had these records when he had to appeal his Eagle application. 5) Not a bad idea to periodically check the Troop's records against the Scout's, against the Council's (Troop does utilize the internet registration, yes? ) 6) Buy the MBBook. It is a good (nay, excellent) source of information about the topic. It makes a good Middle School curriculum for homeschooling . If Scout READS it, he will probably not need any "worksheet". All the "answers" are there, in the MBBook (surprise !) . Even Bugling and music ! See you on the trail....