SSScout

Awhile back, one of us listed a whole lot of "maginal" kids. Kids to be "dealt with". Some years ago, (not too many, really) some of those "types" of kids (boy or girl, however defined) would have been shunned, avoided, denied friendship, education, looked on as "strange" and perhaps even suitable for institutionalization . In a certain European country, not so long ago, these kids might have been tagged for extermination. Humane extermination, for the good of society, for the good of the "race". What was it I heard, somewhere, that a person (age limit?) should be judged by their "character" and not by some accident of birth. Is it really necessary to demand a kid be as we would like them to be, to the exclusion of any other "thing"? I sub teach. Occasionally, I am called to sub in the "special ed" section. Something made these kids the way they are. They did not pick out their parents, or genetic make up or whatever accident of birth led them to the way they are. My job, as a teacher, is to try to give these kids the best opportunity to obtain access to the world around them. Some of them will never read Tom Sawyer or even dress themselves. But they can be allowed to be the best that they can be. Now, where did I hear that motto? Be all that they can be. Ummmm. Can a child choose their gender? Perhaps the genetics is incomplete , somehow. How are we to judge? Is it possible to "sense" what one should be, rather than what one is ? I can't say, having never felt forced to make that choice . True story: In January of 1965 (working on my stegosaurus husbandry merit badge), my Troop went camping , in the snow, in freezing temperatures, with another Troop. When we set up our fire place (rocks, bricks) to cook on, the fire eventually melted the frozen ground beneath such that the fire place fell in on itself. We had, early on, in our planning, decided to share the duties. Fire wood, water hauling, cooking , campfire skits, etc., all were split up between us Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts in the other Troop. That's right. Learned a lot from them. They actually had women who camped and knew our Troop leaders. I have never seen or heard of the like since. When we went back to school the next week, we did smile and nod to each other. Why did our leaders arrange this? Were we boys supposed to learn from them girls? Vice versa? I don't remember at this distance any such reasoning. I suspect it was the boy leaders who decided. I do know now, that such outdoors girl scouting is rather rare, at least nowadays. If a girl would want that experience, they might well desire to join Boy Scouts. I sympathize with the idea that BSA has suffered from a "bait and switch" problem. Kids join for the image they have heard and thought about and are, instead of camping, hiking, rock climbing, canoeing, are given classroom stuff, "character building" stuff and "sit down and listen" stuff. See you on the trail?

Outdoor Girl Scouts, what a concept. Yes, it is entirely up to the GSTroop leader(s). There was no set training for such when I investigated the situation umpteen years ago. GSing did not like the idea of male GS leaders, among other things, even with a female co-leader. My daughter did not want to do tea parties and fashion shows. I have a friend, Ted, who with his wife founded a GS Troop of Daisies when his daughter was about that age. He was a died in the wool Scouter (he now has a Webelos son) and he led those Daisies thru creeks and trails. They got dirty and caught crawdads. His wife pretty much let him do what he wanted and stood back to let them go, with her blessing. The other mothers thought it was great, "we would never know how to do that", was a comment Ted and I heard . those eight or ten girls got the Scout experience. Pursue it, by all means, CMPete, prove those GS people wrong and let your girls gain thereby.

13 year old Daughter: I'm going to have some friends over tonite, okay? Me: Sure. How many are "some"? Who are they? Daughter: Well, ten. Do you REALLY need all their names? Me: (D knows we have a school directory with names and phone numbers, etc.) I'm sure their parents would like to know who we are, where their urchins are tonite... Daughter: Urchins? Me: Kids. Children. And... do we need any snacks? D: I'll take care of that . Thanks dad. (later) D has ten or twelve kids in her room, "male and female made he them". Music and festive sounds come from within. It is NOT that big a room.... I came over and crack the door open. D: Could you close the door, dad? Me: (over the music) No, I like the music... Looks like a nice party! D: (over the music) Yeah, dad, and it would be even BETTER with the door closed ! Me: I'm sure it might. Leave the door open. (smiles and giggles from the kids I see thru the door) D: Oh, okay....

"Eagle Out" yep. "Age Out" yep. "Fumes" "Time involved" yep. I have known not a few Scouts who Eagled (hate that term) because of rewards offered by parent/grandparent. Hand the boy the medal, pfffft he's gone. Older Scouts stay because A) they like the program, camping, climbing, canoeing etc. B) they like the idea of being a leader (a mixed blessing that) often because they are not leaders anywhere else. C) They like the idea of being an "older brother" to the younger Scouts, and can teach/pass on skills and traditions. History remembered? Even in Boy Led Troops, these ideas can be helped along. #A is dependant on the adult leadership suggesting, supporting and getting out of the way. #B is also dependent on the adults setting up the system and then getting out of the way. If the boys want to go bowling, well, that's a start. #C is lost on a lot of boys, because, frankly, we have smaller families(single kids?) and lost the idea of extended family, (uncle Arthur isn't there very often to take the boy fishing). We have professional teachers to tell our kids what's what. If the Scout hasn't had the idea of BEING a leader to other kids (big sister? Big brother? ) modeled, or is LET ( by his parents?) to be the big brother, how would he know that's what he should be doing? If the SM doesn't set things up so the "Instructor" instructs, how would the Scout know that's what he does? I have a photo a friend took, it is one of my favorites. It shows Scoutson seated on a stump, axe and file in hand, with a younger Scout leaning over , as if he is asking a question. I have had other Scouters tell me that is how they remember Scoutson in the Troop, modeling and instructing. He got that way because of how we let him do things at home, and encouraged him to do things at Scouts. The older Scouts need the Venturing program. They need the peer group. But they also need to realize they have (can have) a connection to the younger boys. The skills I have are really the skills I learned from older Scouts. And maybe Bob, and Lee and Kenny and Chip are out there, som'ers, letting other Scoutsons 'Eagle".

You will find in Scout policy that "Once a Scout uniform, always a Scout uniform". Your Council patch is A-OK to wear as long as thou canst...... Vintage is no obstacle, only appropriateness. The only limitation is that adults may not wear youth awards (totin' chip, Eagle patches, Patrol patches) (save your square knots) and youth may not wear adult awards (adult square knots, SM patches). But then, these things "be more like guidelines, ye-arrr", and I doubt if the Uniform Police would object. I know a well respected SM that wears his Totin' Chip, Fireman's Chit and OA flash on top of each other. He smiled when I mentioned it. And , too, when I did Wood Tools for IOLS, there was/is the IOLS director who wanted to know if the attendees had "earned" the Totin' Chip so she could "award" the patch to them....

I believe that someone failed to learn the Truckers Knot.

Was he properly vetted? How tall is that wall?

Yeah, Stosh, "uphill in both directions." I know what you're driving at, tho, I think it comes from lots more of society being done by "others". Even grass watering is automatic, now. That was a "job" for the boy back then. The kid learned about being trusted to do a job to the satisfaction of his "boss" at an early age. Where is a kid to learn about the success/reward of his efforts? Mom and dad are away from home and then are often too dragged out to pay attention to Jr.'s activities (Scouts?) so he learns his societal lessons from the Wii. The kids around the area here'bouts often got to go to the County for job training and "Teen Career" opportunities. Can't just go down to the local store and ask about sweeping up, or collecting pop bottles for the deposit (what's that, dad?) I made a nice bit cleaning out my dad's trucks every afternoon. Not possible now. But there are notable exceptions.... Since we knew a local custom farmer, and were able to buy haybales from him for CSDC and borrow tractors for "Wonderful Wheels", Scoutson met him early on. Farmer told him, "See me when you're 16, you'll have a job!" Scoutson earned his Class B, and has worked for the farmer or his partner ever since. At 22, he is the operations manager in everything but title, and puts more money in the bank than his mom and dad combined. (We pay the mortgage, so not much goes into the bank!) . Scoutson comes home with stories about the "good ole boys" and "college kids" and "old timers" and "nouveau riche" he has come across in his farm travels. He is getting an education in life, might even write the novel some day....

Shall we discuss how emoticons are a de-evolvement back to pictograms? Are we loosing the alphabet to cuneiform?

In the planning/approval stage, the Scout should be talking to his "guides": his Eagle Mentor, the Troop committee, the beneficiary, the County Permitting Office, the neighbors, the Park Naturalist.... any and all who might give counsel about what his possible project SHOULD include, and what it SHOULD look like when done.. Once the planned project is given the go-ahead (see above), then when the beneficiary signs off and says "thank you", the project is done and the Scout is on his way to finish the Personal Management Merit Badge he should have started last year....

Fried ice cream,, baked Alaska, "Death by Chocolate", deep fried Oreo Cookies, Yeah, I'd say we had a pattern there, even a defined 'Murkun cuisine. Camb, you can go to any county fair here in Merlin (that's dialect for "Maryland") and find fried ANYTHING (pickles, Snickers bars, hotdogs wrapped in cornpone, cashews.....) and I would venture that there is your "American" folk cuisine.... Now, I would get argument from SWMBO. The epitome of MARYLAND cuisine must be the Blue Crab of the Chesapeake Bay, steamed with a smattering of Old Bay Spice. Chocolate, after all, did come from South America.

Magnets ? Ha ! Let's get serious in our PWD cheat ! ANTI- GRAVITY ! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkNrNFAU4So

Dissappearing skills: *Hand lettering a poster. * Photo paste up for publication. *Hand write a Thank You letter to Grandma . Or Uncle. Or aunt. As a grown up, not pestered into it by a parent, who doesn't remember why to do it, much less how. *Paint brush cleaning, just go buy a new one, right? *Saw blade (hand and circular) sharpening. (can your Scout actually sharpen that knife or axe?) * Manual Transmission shifting/driving. Unless your semi has a clutch brake, then it is an art.... Double clutch? * Driving at all! * "Showing your work" on a test. "It's in my hand-held". * *Slide rule operation.

""Can Senior Patrol Leaders re-run? If they can't is there some Scout book that states it? Thanks!"" 1) "It Depends". How big is your Troop? Can any boy who would like a try at Leading get that opportunity? Patrol Leader is the best leadership position , IMHO. Should the SPL serve a short term if he needs to be reminded of his "Duty"? absolutely. Long Term? Why not, if the Troop needs his good example, if the boys approve, if the SM is sure of his own "Boy Led" philosophy. AND... it is a real sign of maturity for a leader to be able to step down when it is "time" for the next to step up. 2) No, there is no Scout Book that speaks to this point Not in the SM Handbook, not to my knowledge. SPL is elected, SM counsels, reminds, guides, judges (signs off?) on the good result. No time limit, except by Troop tradition, or "need". 3) You're welcome. While we're on the subject, let's talk some more about this observed need to "make work" for Scouts that need a POR for advancement. In essence, rotate boys thru the PORs purely to get them that requirement done. The BSA defines several PORs , for which there are shoulder patches. I once heard a Scouter say that those patches define the PORs that a Scout ONLY may use for his rank advancement. Again, "Show me the page", there is none. You will, however, see a paragraph about Assigning a Scout to a "special" task, in order to fulfill that POR requirement. The clever , creative SM will use this assignment to help advance the whole unit. Plan and organize a special trek, service project, training opportunity, often over several months (any Wood Badgers out there? Sound familiar?) . Give the Scout a patch , if you like, ("Instructor" might be appropriate). Here, the SM will truly 'earn his pay', I think, if it is done well. See you on the trail.....

"Out of the shadows and into the light". Come on in and sit aspell. Sometimes this virtual campfire (flame is bad for electronics) gets alittle warm, but have no fear, the Scout Promise and Law apply here to all things. Don't they, fellas?

Books? You mean those things that flap in the wind and soak up water and don't need batteries and aren't connected to the internet? Those things that need independent thinking and maybe experimentation to try out the ideas promulgated therein ? Those things?

No chance for rebuttal on Mashable. I don' tweet. It is telling that only negative tweets are quoted. There are only two choices here: One, be a good citizen and participate in the process. Speak your truth to power. Point fingers when the emperor has no clothes. Remind folks when lies are said, histories ignored or forgotten. Proclaim your standards and live up to them. Demonstrate peacefully about things of importance. Two, resign from society, accept things as they are and do little of consequence. Point your finger but do nothing to correct the problems or the source of the problem. Is Mr. Trump seen as a failed human? It is unfortunate that one's history is correctly used to predict one's future. The College Board can agree with that. Mr. Trump said and did some disagreeable things. He has even admitted to some of them. And he was elected President. Now, we must make sure he lives up to our expectations of what a President should do and be. March in the parade, remind America what our young women will be by observing what they are now.... Hoo ray for GSUSA.

Take your PLC aside and ask them what's important to THEM in a CoH. What should be impressed on the audience and award recipients? Is it too long? Do the participants treat it too casually? Too seriously? Not enough candles? Should the SM be more involved? Is he/she TOO involved? I dare say there are many sample CoH scripts to be found on the Net. Our Troop used to do a real nice candle CoH. Darken the room. Twelve candles on a tree branch candlelabra, three (We decided it should be four) separate, one alone. The one alone is the "Spirit of Scouting" . The three (four) are the parts of the Scout Promise/Oath, the twelve are the Scout Law. Our script says appropriate things about the Spirit of Scouting, living on, lighting our way since 1908, etc. Light the Scout Promise, the Scout Law, say appropriate things about each. At the end of the CoH, (the candles stay lit thruout), the candles are extinguished slowly, appropriate things are said thruout. But the last candle stays lit , in our hearts, etc. and it leaves the room before the flags are retrieved. Fortunately, this is done maybe every three or four months, so it does not get stale. The Scouts doing the reading and lighting only need to be reminded to be alittle solemn. Is it important to them? That's the secret.

"INTRODUCING THE LATEST IN INFORMATION TRANSFER!" Portable, easily readable in low light, needs no outside power source. Permanent file creation without fear of inadvertent erasure. Sharable with friends thru 'pass thru' and 'pass to' . Can be used by neophyte and advanced skilled people. Rugged, altho not waterproof or fireproof unless specially equipped. Files can be corrected and edited with handheld tools. Files and essays can be multiply copied and sent to friends thru government guaranteed service. Presenting..... the BOOK!

Here is where it really started: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWJrvT9sTPk Even has original commercials. You can get it on DVD, too. STEM movie night? A double feature ! DESTINATION MOON: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3m1lrf and IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9d9-pHZzIE Scouts have their own popcorn, right?

Our District has one Cub Pack chartered to family owned hardware store. I have never heard of any issue there. They sign the papers, the Pack does it's thing, meets in a church basement.

Yeah, it is hard to "wow" the kids today. Transformers seem more real to some kids than real space missions, with real humans. Pictures of a comet, or the surface of Pluto? So what? My mother talked about watching the dirigible Hindenburg fly over Boston on its way to Lakehurst, NJ. She(and my dad) lived to see the creation of the modern automobile, transpacific airliners, humans walking on the moon ( I stayed up late to watch that happen on REAL TV . Thank you, Mr. Cronkite). Can we talk to our kids (my youngest is 22) about what we watched? What we witnessed? Make an impression? Can we help them learn from our mistakes, not to make them again? And again?

"I saw the light, I saw the light, no more darkness, no more night. Now I 'm so happy, no sorrow in sight, PRAISE the Lord, I saw the light!"

http://www.slateridgescouts.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Spencers-Pinewood.jpg

As a Commissioner, I am inevitably on the check in table. I make it a point to talk to the Cub, not the adult. I ask him, do you want to add weight, or shave this off, or what is the cars name. If the adult answers, I politely ignore them and ask the Cub again. I get some good answers, even get the car re-assigned to the adult class!