SSScout

Does this mean we shouldn't plan when we tour :-) ???

So far, the one thing we humans seem to have in common, around the world, is our inability to learn from our mistakes. Now, that is assuming we all admit to being human....

"EMERGENCY< EMERGENCY... Everybody to get from street........" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TszIJX-F4U

Thank you NJ and Vclose. Perhaps the blood's use is a "lasting" effect, for sure. I realize the official guide assures us that the Eagle Service Project need not be "permanent" in nature. I am only trying to suggest that the Scout be shown the possibility that his well organized and publicized and promoted Blood Donation Drive COULD be more than just one Saturday afternoon.

It is the "lasting impact" that should be considered. Is it a "once-and-done" blood drive or the creation of the realization of the ongoing need for blood collection, that the venue (church, community center, service club ) will do this again, as the Scout showed them the way?

It comes when the SM , in his role as a "suggester" and "coach" insists on WAITING for an answer when he asks the SPL , "well, what do you want to do?" My favorite quote , ever, was from a nascent SPL who, at his first PLC, asked the SM, "you mean I can decide that?"

"JASMTech". Sounds like a Second Assistant Quarter Master to me. Don't get me wrong, there are "no small parts, only small actors". You may well be the fellow that knows where the fuse box is.... I was an AQM, and had a good time. I had to know where anything was, in what box, on what shelf, AND tag along with the CD as the Bugler....

Our council has a Tour Plan Coordinator. He name is Helen Weight. That is who we tell folks to go to.

Yep, another example of my #1 adage, "the work is done by whoever shows up". The most one can do is point to the BSA printed requirements. Proposal? Plan? If the Troop Committee/Eagle Mentor/Eagle Advisory Board/DAChair/ reads and hears the Eagle candidate explain his idea, they/he/she can advise (more word HERE, more duct tape HERE) and point out (will you have a first aid kit on site?) and question (is it really wise to back fill before you lay the pipe? ) . If the DAC is a problem to some folks, maybe the District Committee and District Chair (they showed up, right?) should be approached.

Great Allegheny Passage : (it's all down hill !) hike or bike. 280 plus miles.... https://gaptrail.org/ lots of history. hostels and campgrounds along the way. Go off trail to replenish. Appalachian Trail: Maine to Georgia, take your pick. http://www.appalachiantrail.org/ use their maps, the best. 90% in the woods. And you might want to see "A Walk In The Woods" and the AT in 5 minutes: The Green Tunnel = https://vimeo.com/20218520 Real Adventure? Habla espaniol? Look to the Camino de Santiago in northern Spain. Canoe/kayak/ the Allagash in Maine http://www.maine.gov/dacf/parks/water_activities/aww-river-conditions.shtml Or closer to home: Little Miami comes to mind: http://www.ohio.org/blogs/2014/06/paddle-ohio-the-top-five-places-to-kayak-and-canoe Like the man said, don't TAKE the scouts, let them LEAD YOU to the adventure !

Well, when you get right down to it .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nDhzrSFef4 I forgive the enterer for her spelling problems and lyric transposing.

Well, when you come right down to it ..... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nDhzrSFef4

"Glorified plumber, sez the surgeon. Give them both Scout salute.

" A Scout(er) is Trustworthy." If a responsible adult signs up (fills in the three pieces of paper, turns them in to the Unit Commish or District Adv Chair somehow, registers thereby and gets a BSA ID number, takes the online YPT and maybe the MBCounselor online course) as a MBC, makes sure he/she is on the District/Council MBC listing, and answers his/her phone when the Scout (not the parent??) calls , we have a going concern. The number of possible MBCs should be cumulative and inclusive. For comparison, When I wanted a Aviation MBC, back in the days of Lilienthal gliders (!), I had to call the Council office, they gave me the names of the two (!!) in the entire Council and both were over the river in Virginia, maybe an hour drive from me. I called one, was interviewed by him extensively over the phone. Later, my dad took me over to his house, and I remember being his sole interest for maybe three hours, him and me and my "exhibits". Today, we can find a half dozen Aviation MBC in our District, if we know who to call to get the list. That is the secret here, finding the listing. The man I met way back when was a retired airline pilot. Most of the MBC nowadays are "interested parents", who may/may not have a career/history in Aviation. But they should, if the Scout is lucky, require the Scout to fulfill the requirements in the most fulfilling way. Could a responsible mother fill the role of a MBC for Nuclear Science? I can't say from this distance. "It Depends". Same with any MB. It depends.....

I bought a Texsport tent several years ago and have been quite pleased with it. Labeled "3 man", it is very commodious for 1 large Scouter, or two Scouts. Sealed the seams (expected_) and it has served well in many storms. They even sent , gratis, a broken hook for the rain fly.

Some years ago, a local Scout (Eagle project) developed a peer training program to help identify and help friends "at risk". It was done with the assistance of pro counselors and was a small success. His project was hooked into some national programs, but I can't remember which ones. Perhaps this one: http://www.suicidology.org/ncpys . Yes, video is dated , but hey, use what you can. Invite the discussion. Ask a local counselor to help. Like the Scout says, "be prepared" BEFORE you need the skills and tools.

"It depends". Reporting service hours is keeping score. The hours worked SHOULD be counted, it just matters how... 1) Consider: Did the first project actually accomplish something worthwhile, despite having to be "abandoned" ? Was it a total waste of time? Did somebody benefit from the effort? Anybody? 2) Hereabouts , we have a school requirement for "Student Service Hours", whereby the student is expected to do some volunteer work in the community. Soup kitchen, church, Cub Scout Day Camp, litter pick-up, lots of possible possibilities. The requirement is that it must fulfill some need from an "approved" agency, not just on the student or family, say, say-so. Can the workers on the first project use those hours, still? The school systems give awards and recognition for mucho hours or creative projects. Even Eagle service projects can be counted. 3) I must agree with Col.Flagg here. As was reported above, the Scout planned and managed a project with some obvious success. If the hours were worked 'in good faith" for a previously approved project, and , as has been said, it had to be "abandoned" thru no fault of the Scout or his supporters (wow !), report the hours. I would separate them out from the "successful" project, but definitely report the effort expended. Report them for the Eagle BoR, report them to "Good Turn for America (or whatever it is called now). Report them for the units JTE. 4) After all is finished and in the can, I might be persuaded to take this story to the local media and explore exactly what and why it happened. Some bias perhaps? Some unforeseen licensing/permitting problem? It would be educational for the next Scout who might have a similar idea. Perhaps the City/County needs to see what happened, not just the Scout and his supporters. Talk it up amongst the Scout intelligentsia of the area. 5) Lastly, at the Scout's ECoH, I would give him the "Stick -To -It -tiveness" Award (a nice mahogany plaque with his name and date and a tube of Cryacrilic attached ). See YOU on the trail.

"Special Neckerchief"? Eagle, Woodbadge, souvenir of Jamboree/Philmont/Camp Whosis... I have a "Smokey Bear" Forestry service necker in my collection. And an Amangemet Wipet (OA) award necker. And a Chaplain necker. And a District Leader Award necker. I have never heard anyone complain about any Scout necker as being inappropriate or "not allowed".

Now here's where "one shirt fits all". All First Class Scouts. Seal in plastic? Showcase it on the wall? I'm thinking it is a neat idea for encouragement, but this shirt is, I think, going to have more wear and tear than an ordinary shirt.

Yes to all the above. ** The Pack budget and checkbook should be open to all interested parents. Come to the Committee meetings and raise your hand. ** Likewise, the Pack Committee and leadership should be available to all, not only to those "registered" people. Then too, why not just fill out that piece of paper and be counted? "The work is done by whoever shows up." In our neck of the woods, anyone showing up for the Committee meeting is on the Committee ! ** Any fundraiser should be for the UNIT, not the individual (another discussion, another thread). This does not mean the Scout can't receive an "award" for his efforts, hence the Airhogs, and Starwars and even pocket knives (has he earned his Whittlin' Chip?) given out . I suppose the parents could ENCOURAGE the Scouts to donate their award to the Pack, but I have not heard of REQUIRING such sales numbers be pooled for the purpose of garnering a Pack prize. I suspect the Council would frown on such things, but you never know. ** Such "pooling" might be a deterrent to some parents, if not the Scout. "Why should I do work if I don't get credit for it?" But that is part of the lesson to learn. Even the record popcorn seller in our Council ($26,000. gross !) didn't make any issue of the fact that his Pack used their portion for a new PWD track, entrance fees for some trips for ALL the Scouts and other "group" items. He was recognized for his record efforts with a certificate, applause and some toys. I know a Troop that bought a new trailer. The Scouts that pooled their "campbucks" for it knew they couldn't take it with them when they graduated from the Troop, so they bought the trailer, signed their names on the INSIDE for bragging rights. Off to adulthood they went.....

Welcome (back) to camp ! Pull up a stump and pass the chili and chips...... If you listen to any 10 of us here, you'll soon hear 12 opinions...

1953 Brit First Class Scout Test: http://www.thedump.scoutscan.com/firsttests.pdf Can't find a web copy of the BSA First class requirements from , oh, say 1960's when Morse Code and signaling was still required. Seems to my poor fevered memory there was more "campcraft" stuff required. Time required between ranks, must be First Class to begin earning MBs, ummmm.

First , you need a sympathetic DE. He would "probably " be signing the charter on behalf of the BSA. Like most things BSA, "it depends". You need the charter org, the interested boys, the responsible adults. And a desire to have fun with your kids (you have no idea how many parents I have met who have no conception of that last thing). Doesn't hurt to have a really really Scout Gung Ho person to shepherd things along. This person would need to "be there" most of the time to help answer questions, point out possible problems, possible blessings and hold hands of the new leaders. Sounds like a "Commissioner" to me. An old Eagle Scout might fit that bill. Traditions will be started. Ceremonies designed and held. Awards sought and made. Patches sewn on. Trips to Cub friendly places pursued. Cub Scout Day Camp signed up for (preposition?). Knots tied. Crawfish found. Hikes trod. Songs sung. Cheers cheered. KiS, MiF..... See YOU on the trail.

Yeah, RivetSmasher, I keep telling these ol' boys and girls that fire is not a good thing around electronics. A virtual crackerbarrel is much better. The cheese and crackers are even more lo-cal that way. I bet you have some good stories to tell. We'll see you on the trail...

Six plus pages about the Scout Neckerchief. Not Handkerchief. Not Kerchief. Wow. Find/order/read "Matching Mountains With the Boy Scout Uniform" from 1929. https://www.amazon.com/Matching-Mountains-Boy-Scout-Uniform/dp/143256918X I was lucky to find a copy in an second hand thrift shop. Look to page 87 chapter "The Necessary Neckerchief" . It talks (at length !) about the symbolism, practicality, and "necessity" of the BIG neckerchief. They list no fewer than 50 (!) uses. Signaling, horse harness, first aid, boat rigging, game team ID, sun protection, dust mask, all kinds of things the Scout might be expected to "Be Prepared" to whip off his 'necker and do. Oh, he was in Uniform at all times, right? So , us Concerned People are concerned concerning why Scouts don't like wearing the uniform, don't like wearing the neckerchief, don't like wearing a ""Scout"" hat, (shudder) don't like being identified as a "Scout"? Am I hearing a pattern developing here? My favorite response to the peer query " Oh , you're a Boy Scout? Woo Hoo !" was "Yeah, I went to Philmont and hiked a hundred miles in the Rockies last summer, What did you do ?"