SSScout

This isn't ROCKet science, or is it? Lets skip over the obvious, delve deep beyond the surface and toss some ideas out to see what splashes we can elicit from the big pool of world opinion..... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_skipping Is there a danger of filling up the reservoirs of the world and advancing, needlessly, the erosion of our river banks ? Is there a future dearth of appropriately shaped missiles? Do we need to ration the tendency of our yooooth to fling? Oh the humanity.... Or mineralology....

If you Google this unfortunate episode, you will find many explications. Most repeat the original Wash Post info (go to the original source ) , and then give it their own particular twist on things. The folks that read any particular webfeed will be of that relative type of person, usually, but not always (thankfully, "we" are not very homogenous still) If you want a more varied sample of the human response to a particular event, go to other webpages and look on with a smile as those with lots of extra time on their hands and keyboard (like us??) give vent.

"Aye, they be more like guidelines...." Bylaws are often the results of previously poorly handled interpersonal relations. If the Scout does not follow the Scout Promise and Law successfully and does not understand the results of his choices of action, perhaps a more definitely defined set of results would be helpful? If the Scout does XX then YY will result... If he doesn't do ZZ then QQ will not happen. These things often sound reasonable and obvious "to the most casual observer" (as my physics professor used to say), but sometimes it helps to spell it out . Sometimes the Bylaws are not needed for the whole Troop, but a behavior contract for a particular Scout may be warranted. See your local Unit Committee and DE for more information. I favor the Scout Promise and Law as the definition of Good Scout Behavior and Inter Personal Relations. That and the Golden Rule (translatable into just about every faith on Earth).

"My father was a wanderer, and so it's in my blood, ,,,,," http://www.mdvolks.org/freestate/Lyrics%20to%20Our%20Theme%20Song.pdf

Larger story, pictures, still sad. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/two-boy-scout-camp-employees-say-there-were-fired-for-rescuing-an-injured-bald-eagle/2016/07/11/5542b3b6-4481-11e6-8856-f26de2537a9d_story.html

Why do we always concentrate on differences? Why can't we think about our similarities? "a rising tide lifts all boats" "whatever floats your boat" "You can't get to heaven in a red rowboat". "Away All Boats". One is long and skinny, and if you stand up in it, you tip over. The other is wider, more stable, heavier to carry. One used by Voyageurs, the other by John Wesley Powell. Paddles vs oars. Biremes vs triremes vs waka tapu waua. Good to know J-stroke and sculling and feathering. "Now reach, ye lubbers! Put yer backs into it!"

"Please put your Pokémon away" at the Holocaust Museum... at the Arlington National Cemetery... http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/07/12/485759308/holocaust-museum-arlington-national-cemetery-plead-no-pokemon

Wouldn't be the first time some BSA folks got bad press for acting in haste. I would be interested in where these young Scouters call home. NCAC camp,

This is obviously an electric radio spectrum scavenger hunt. Who "hides" the pokeys? How would one find one? Are there clues? Why wouldn't they "hide" them next to a Hooters, to encourage one to come in and have lunch? Or next to an Apple store , so as to make it easy to upgrade your Ipad? Pokey lil' pony? Pokey Mon, sounds Scottish. A slow Scot. How would the Pokeys get hid next to the Smithsonian, or The Titanic Memorial or the Unknown Scout Memorial so as to improve the cultural education of the Seeker? It does sound like a means to gather sellable info. "follow the money", eh?

These Scouters have left their mark and will live on in the lives of the Scouts they touched.

There is a need for reminding folks of the "Basics", and the need to remind folks who really, really, really want to help that they can help. One fellow attending our IOLS admitted that 1) his son had just joined Scouts (Webelos) and he (the dad) really wanted to encourage him, 2) he had never been a Scout or done anything resembling camping 3) his hiking boots were new last week 4) the tent ("Can you help me set this thing up? I just got it at a yard sale last month") was a nice old style Eureka with the poles on the outside, but IT HAD NO RAIN FLY! ("Oh? Is that necessary? I thought you were suppose to enjoy the stars thru that screening".). We loaned him a tarp for the cover. 5) he had never learned to tie shoes, so the boots were a challenge which we helped with. (slip ons always) or Velcro closers), string and rope were a new concept to him (!). 6) He was the most involved man there. Questions, hands trying everything. I am sorry to say he was from a distant district, so I don't know how he faired afterward.

Geocache? Orienteering? Stampbox? Letterbox? Scavenger hunt? Poker Hike/Run? Autocross for Bikes? Fantasy vs reality? Real world vs cartoon? Batteries vs feet? Perhaps this is another symptom of the downfall of the empire. More entertainment, more gladiators and the serfs won't notice the lack of bread.....

And this relates to our "other" ultimate leadership training called WOODBADGE how? And when was the last time a Scout Leader needed a 3 1/2 star hotel (!) for accommodation when training? There will be "room" for over 380 participants? That's a lot of tent platforms. And nylon That's a lot of "resources" that could be used to sponsor some inner city kids to attend the White Water Rafting Summit camp . Yeah, it's nice that the Philmont Training courses may be heading east, but it doesn't sound like it. What sort of accommodations do the Philmont attendees have? I've not heard from anyone who has attended. It is nice Irving is thinking of utilizing New Hope Center year round. Oh, maybe it is going to be the new Greenbriar Hotel....

If you build it, and promote it, and publicize it and make it convenient, they will come. IOLS is an INTRODUCTION to Outdoor Leader Skills. It is intended as the bare minimum, the example of how a Scout might (might!) earn First Class, only that. The idea of offering more advanced training for Scouters to encourage them to train THEIR boys is laudable and done in some Councils. Powder Horn comes to mind. The idea of a Troop developing their own "High Adventure Trip " is a goal way beyond many volunteer leaders, but still a goal. My Yearly Meeting (Quaker speak for Diocese thing) sponsors a summer camp program that would challenge any Scout. Third graders go out of camp on backpacking trips, they hike and carry their gear , accompanied by older counselors. This coming week is the "Ten Day Trip" for teens graduating out of the program: 4 days on the Shenandoah canoeing, four days on the AT hiking/camping, and one day service project and one "solo" night, out alone. It is a challenge my Scoutson compared favorably with Philmont (no Mt. Baldy). The kids train at the hands of their counselors, who take Rock Climbing cert course, NOLS courses, and such. It is a lot. If you would find the IOLS course less than an Intro, then I'm not sure what to do.

He sounds like a very nice young man. I wish him and you smooth trails and sunny skies. To get Irish: "May the road rise up to meet ye, the wind be ever at yer back, the sun over yer shoulder and the rain fall gently on yer fields, and may ye be in yer grave for an hour afore the deevil knows yer dead."

Stosh, me hearty, Tis an easy one. Aye, of the Alphabet, if he be literate, his favorite letter be 'ARRRRRRRRRRRRR". What be his favorite type of foot covering?

There you go. If the restauranteurs had only worn the camp uniform, there would have been no problem. Were they there as extra Camp staff, or as Hooter people?

Here in our District, last time my "Yoda" and I decided to make sure we covered the "Official" curriculum, but kept much of the old curriculum, too. We explained what we were doing, it was fairly obvious from the included materials. We have always jncluded "added value" (""now how much would you pay?"") . We opened as usual early Saturday morning, and said goodbye as usual about 3pm Sunday. No complaints. Our plan is to run the course as a Troop campout, Patrols do classes, have some friendly competition, and gain awards for their flags. The goal is to go thru the Scout to First Class requirements. Patrols are formed at the indoor part of the course, and thru email discussions. Seems to work. Our "old timers" concur that the watered down course was done in response to complaints that the "old course" was too long and not adult enough. We treat our nascent SMs as Scouts, and haven't had any problems. Too long? Maybe that is a reflection of the reality that today's Troops seem to HAVE to get home sunday before 1pm...... Might be we were doing it right all along....

Welcome and greetings from Murlin, across the Potomac. Lexington's a pretty , old city. Driven through there many times.

""My son wants to have a ECOH with his buddy he went through scouts with when he Eagle's soon and have it less formal and more religious because that is just how he rolls. As long as he invites the people who helped him I am OK with that. My other son is in OA and I think an OA style would appeal to him as well."" Well, there it is. I like the idea of a multi-Scout CoH. What a concept. One of the most memorable ECoH I ever attended was for three Scouts who grew up together in Scouting. They opted for a campout at one of the Scout's grandparents farm back woodlot. Folks had to park and walk back several hundred yards to the site. Held in the late fall, there was a campfire for the hotdogs, folks brought the potatoe salad and three bean salad. Candles, quiet crickets, it was great. After the ceremonial stuff, and the parents and relatives and other folk had (finally!) gone home, just the die hard Troop Scout campers were left to sit around the campfire to share more stories. It can be done, including the old Scout friends, the proud relatives, the Troop to show the other Scouts "how it's done". It can be meaningful, memorable, and short too. See you on the trail....

"Did they serve pizza to the crew"?

Llama, llama, llama, llama, llama, llama. LLAMA.

Buccaneer = expensive corn. Privateer = Nobody bother my corn. Lavalier = smokin' hot hearing appendage.

""But Hooters was not staffing the camp they were sponsoring it and providing an opportunity for their employees to volunteer to help with the program they sponsored."" But it was a Scout Camp, and they were "helping" with the Scout camp, and the restaurant gave some money (?) to support the Scout camp, should not the Staff helpers dress the part? They were not Staffing the restaurant. Promotion, perhaps, but we always said thanks to our sponsors/supporters with mention in our CampNotes and such, not by allowing folks to not be "in uniform". Unless they were doing their thing especially. Firemen, model airplane fliers, Walmart trucker, homing pigeon demo, State Police helicopter, state park Scales and Tales come to mind. All these folks were there to promote THEIR thing FOR the Cubs. These restauranteurs were there, I perceived, to BE CSDC staff helpers. There's the difference. If a Playboy bunny came to staff the Nature Pavilion, and she was not dressed in her "work" clothes (!), but appropriate to a CSDC Staffer, and was knowledgeable about the subject , where's the problem ? The CSDC Scout folks here allowed the Hooter girls to be restaurant promoters rather than Camp Staff, it now seems to me.

"""By the way, how many WB Owls do we have in the audience?"""" Whoooooo wants to know?