SSScout

Ovaltine.... And a sheath knife on the belt.... and a hike by your lonesome, with a kid size pack frame tied with a diamond hitch. Youda thought Joey would know where the old abandoned wells were on his dad's ranch. AH, the days of yore.... Thanks, Bud.

As the Unit Commish, I get to sit in on many Troop Committee Eagle Project reviews. Often, not always, the parent is there, too. Sometimes, not often, the Eagle candidate has a Troop Scouter as a parent. I have always counseled the committee to ALWAYS address their questions and comments to the Scout. If the parent says something, we ask the Scout about it. Occasionally, I have been moved to ask the Scout, with the parent right there almost next to me, "Pete, will you be able to tell your dad to bug off when he begins to tell you how things should be done? This is, after all, YOUR project." Usually, but not always, everybody smiles in recognition. But sometimes, they don't..... SM, MBCs, need to gently remind mom that it is "Boy Scouts of America", not "Parents of Boy Scouts of America."

"picking up tidbits...." Hey, this is a LNT website. We don't leave any tidbits laying around. The very idea..... Now you just might get some good ideas and WE might profit from YOUR experience , too! Now THAT'S a good Idea! Welcome to the virtual crackerbarrel!

Yep, "Pooh Sticks". Just the thing for Cubbies. Check with the Park people. Back when my daughter was small (4? 5?) we took a vacation trip down along the Blue Ridge Parkway. There is a site, I think Mabry Mill, that had a working water driven grist mill. It had a Loooooong mill race to feed the wheel. When we arrived, we decided to have a little picnic. The race had a bulge in it, creating a small pool. We took our shoes and socks off and cooled our tootsies in the water there. Daughter discovers, much to her joy, that her sneakers float! And just then, the mill called for more water to push the wheel 'round! Off go the shoes! Daddy had to ask the nice Park Ranger to help him retrieve the shoes from the downstream side of the mill wheel! Daughter didn't mind being barefooted a while.....

Boy, for a group as "old Fashioned" as this bunch usually sounds (Boy Led, 300feet, BP was right, GBBill is not forgotten, where's my SMCoffee? ) I was expecting some ideas, some experiences, some .... games, competitions. The older books I have been perusing have PAGES of different skill games. As it happens, our DCamporee is coming up, and when the PTB asked for a Troop/Leader to organize it some months ago, we were surprised when the fella (call him "Bob") came back with a Troop of Scouts that wanted some Patrol Competitions. So that's what we have coming up. Scouts must sign up as Patrols, of 6 to 8, NOT by Troop. They will go thru the Skills competitions by Patrol. They camp in separate campsites by Patrol. Adults escorting the Scouts may NOT camp in the same site. Each Troop has so many assigned sites for each Patrol, and ONE for adults. Maybe not so surprisingly, sign up has been rather low. But, as Bob said at last RT, "it is an experiment". We have a full set of Saturday competitions, everything from No Match Fire building, to Cooking Tasting, to Pioneering Tower construction (only one level), to BIG US flag folding (it will take a Patrol to handle it). We shall see.....

As the RoundTable Commisher, I try to run the RTs as a small Troop meeting. We have an opening, and announcements (groan) and then a program presentation or two. The RT Guidelines talk about "Big Rocks" and "Break Out Sessions" and sometimes do we will split into "Interest Groups", (Patrols?), but mostly we are one big group of 20 to 30 folks each night. I feel I have succeeded when an old Scouter comes up and tells me he had a "good time, for a change". For closure, I try to have a "ScoutMaster's Minute" (Commisher's Minute, really) with which to send folks out into the night and therefor go to many references for inspiration. Sometimes I read a passage from an old "Scoutmaster's Handbook" I bought at a second hand book shop., circa 1970, or another I have, circa 1950. This has led me to read the WHOLE book. In the back are listings of games and competitions, to help teach Skills. Knots, cooking, pioneering, axmanship... Anyone out there still use Patrol Competition to help teach skills, encourage group loyalty, cooperation? I can't remember the last time I saw, on a Troop level (sure, camporees...) Patrol competitions. "Axmanship. (Active. Outdoor) "equipment: for each patrol: 1 hatchet, 1 board 12" long and at least 6" wide, 1 chopping block "Patrols in relay formation, opposite equipment. On signal #1 runs up and splits one piece off board, runs back and touches off next player, and so on. The idea is to find out which patrol can split the greatest number of full lengthpieces from the board." Wow, the ideas in these sections for activities....

Recruiting: "Boy Scouts? Do they still exist?" "Mom? Jeff at school came in wearing his Cub Scout t-shirt/uniform/hat/backpack/lunch box/ . He says its neat/fun/awesome/adventurous thing! He invited me to come to his Den meeting Friday. Can I go? He gave me this card/flyer/phone number/website for you to see." "Hey, Janet, I was passing that Methodist/Catholic/Baptist/Volunteer Fire Department and they put up a new sign that says they sponsor a Cub Scout Pack/Boy Scout Troop. I used to be a Cub Scout. Think Petey might enjoy it?"

" Mr. Scoutmaster, a couple of my friends and I are going camping this weekend at the Muddy Glen State Park. Can I use that for camping time credit?" " Is this your Rusty Moose Patrol, Johnny?" "No sir, just some of the guys. I guess Steve is going, but no, not the whole Patrol." " Any parents going along?" "No sir, just us friends, my dad said it was OK, and the other guys all have their parents ok, too. Jake goes hunting with his dad, and Steve and I went to Philmont last year. And Mitch said he went to his church camp last year up in the Adirondacks. It's all ok with their folks." " Well, that's nice, but I can't let it be used for Scout camping time. It isn't a Scout event, is it?" "I guess not. So it has to be a Scout camp out?" "Yep, that's the rule." "Okay. Well, shucks, Just thought I'd ask. Thanks any way." "Sure, Good. And you will be using your Scout training to set a good example, right? Leave No Trace and like that? " "Oh, absolutely. We're not 'that kind' of camper. No sir!" "Okay. Then have a good time and we'll see you next Troop meeting, right? Maybe invite your buddies to join the VCrew, eh?" "Hey, yeah, hadn't thought about that. Well thanks again. " "Good night, John." "G'night, sir."

Tahawk! That's it! It was meant to be a mixture! A camp potpourri!

Back in prehistory, my Eagle Patrol collected a buck each week. Patrol Treasurer kept the little pipe tobacco zippered bag and had to account for each meeting. I was Patrol Treasurer for awhile, I remember having upwards of $30 or $40. in it at times. We would then use this to buy supplies to make our flag, take everybody to a movie, buy plywood to build a box, even amortize the cost of our camp food or buy another Patrol Cook kit after the big pot on ours was lost down a big hill on a hike. The official Scout Dues were collected also by the Patrol Treasurer and given to the Troop Treasurer, parent check, cash etc. the Patrol Treasurer wrote out a receipt, as I remember doing. Boy led? Boy follow?

In our area, we have several choices of IOLS. Sabbath Friendly , some with more physical "challenge" , some not so. Depends on the head trainer. Ask around for the reputations available. That being said,... You can take the IOLS, which is for Boy Scout Leaders, and with the advance knowledge of your Trainer, get credit for BALOO, too. The IOLS is BALOO with more stuff. Lots more stuff. The trainer, if he/she is knowledgeable, can give you the "Cub Philosophy" part, too, and presto! Double credit! BALOO and IOLS for later in your Scout career! Come "Prepared" to camp. And take notes. And participate, not just sit back!

Honey will, believe it or not, come in flavors , depending on the source of the nectar/pollen the bees gather. Barley is a VERY strong flavor. Ask about the choices, if you can, if you find a local source for honey, outside of the big grocery stores! Clover, apple, pear, wild flower, poplar, orange blossom (that's osage orange), among others. Used to be a "Bee Keeping " MB . I am told by one who should know, that this was discontinued because (1) Not too many given out and (2) Irving did not want to consider legal issues from Scouts getting stung and (3) That is why no hives at several Scout Camps/reservations, despite possible apiarists on staff. Wait for it.....

Check with a Scout friendly electrical contractor. They use pipe/conduit that may be adaptable to your use.

(see previous post) We were also told that we should refer to these "young Lions" as Lion Scouts, not Lion Cubs. It was to be "officially" a separate program, held under a BSA Cub Pack , but some weird sign up arrangement. No one in the room pushed the issue with the pro. "Training for adult leaders TBD. "

Back in pre history, my OA always had a "Salamagundi", which was touted as a campout to show off your camp skills. Awards were made, medals and trophies handed out. Camp gadgets, neatness, campfire building (not how big, but how), displays, camp gateways, street names, cooking tastings, emergency readiness (fire stand? first aid station?), home made tents, creative tarp use. Lots of things. judged. Haven't heard of anything like that in many a moon.

As I read thru the above, I note the following: 1) Keep good records of who said what to whom, when. 2) Scoutson has one merit badge to finish. Therefore, the Eagle Application can not be signed and then presented to Council in any event. Finish the Merit Badge. 3) Scoutson is within his rights to go to Council and request a review of his advancement record. Make sure everything is complete and in order there. Council would do this when the EAp is submitted in any event. 4) The National standards are as presented above. Scoutson cannot be denied a Scoutmaster Conference, it sounds like he already had one if he knows that SM wants "more proof" of Scoutson's exemplary Scout Spirit. If SM declares that the absolute number of camping days/nights is indicative of Scout Spirit and nothing else to his mind will do, get "in writing" what that number is, and how it compares to the actual number. As stated above, he cannot declare such a requirement unless it was declared to the Scout way before now, and this standard/requirement must be applied equally, fairly to all. Is there any indication it has or has not? 5) It sounds like we have not heard "the whole story" and it sounds like there may well be some underlying bias involved. Proving such is very difficult. 6) In all your dealings, encourage Scoutson to be , in all things, polite, cheerful, honest and non-accusatory. Stick to the facts. 7) If there are others who might share your feelings of unfair treatment, certainly discuss with them, but KEEP TO THE FACTS. 8) If there are other examples of Scoutson's Scout Spirit (adhering to the Scout Promise and Law, demonstrating the Scout Motto and Slogan) both in and outside of Scouting, such as OA, Camporee events, Unit leadership, school activities, House of Worship activities, family duties and participation, other service to community, etc., be prepared (there's that phrase) to document these with dates and whatever. 9) Make it easy for the people involved to Do The Right Thing. Backing them into a corner and grabbing them by the scruff of the neck is the very last thing you want to do. After you have all the facts in hand (Advancement record complete, Service Project complete and signed off by the accepting agency, camp nights numbers declared and done, other examples of Scout Spirit detailed, EAp otherwise all complete, ), then you might want to go to the Committee Chair, then the Charter Org Rep, and /or the Institution Head about your experience with the SM. That is when you bring forth the National Standards and compare Scoutson's record to the treatment you have experienced with the SM. Follow the chain of command. 10) If you have already complained to Council about your experience,("they are investigating") you have, in my opinion, jumped some steps. After all is said and done, you can always appeal thru Council and thru National, but then you will have to document your experience as I have outlined above. And you will most likely win the appeal, but at what cost? Again, go slow and steady, and give them the chance to Do The Right Thing themselves. It may take a Higher Up (COR? IH? DE? Council SE?) to convince SM and CCh to do this, but it is "nicer" in the long run. See you on the trail.

Offer to organize a "Scout Leadership Weekend" and model it after the National program: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/training/pdf/ILST%20FINALS%202011%20-%20Item%20Number%20511-016.pdf It is official BSA, the PTB may have a hard time not allowing it. You might even promote it as making THEIR job easier! and/or promote your local Council NAYLE program, assuming they have one like NCAC's : http://www.ncacbsa.org/training/national-youth-leadership-training/ which comes from: http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/Resources/NAYLE.aspx If the adults don't see the benefit of "Train'em, Trust'em, Let'em Lead"..... then perhaps by encouraging the boys to improve it on their own, or by their realization of what they are missing out on, things can change , a little at a time. Having fun in Scouts is important, but seeing the boys make the fun themselves is better.

Camp advice: Play the "What if " game, and then decide what you can do without for the time you are away from mama's kitchen. When Scoutson "bridged" over, we said in celebration, we would buy him anything he wanted from either the Scout Shop, REI , or Sunny's Surplus. WE walked thru Sunny's , Scoutson picked out a 5 Dcell Maglight. Okaaaay... He carried it ONCE on a Troop camping trip (mostly, I think to impress his friends with the bright light). Next time, he took a 2AA cell pocket LED light. He took a 60L. ... ? began with an "M" 8 years ago to Philmont. He outgrew it, gave it to another Scout. , and bought a new on last year, a Gregory. I took a Deuter to Spain, et al, and am very happy with it. That , and my 30 year old REI frame pack. Strap almost anything to it.

I like Calico's idea. Ask the CSDC people , they might have some "Special" awards you could make up with the Cub Bling. We have done such before. Also, your RoundTable Commisher might like them for the same purpose. Some plywood, varnish (or poly eurothane) a few stick on letters, presto! "Star of the Pack" , " Compass to Follow" ....

Forwarded this to our Troop Treasurer for consideration.

At a recent Council Commish meeting, we were told that our Council: 1) Will have the Lion program available for "testing". 2) That a Pack may "ask" to be allowed to do the Lion program when the details are announced , end of May, perhaps, that if the Pack was deemed a solid pack, (this was not explained, only they did not want a "troubled" Pack to try a new program , if they had other problems), Council would work with them.... 3) "Wait for details, to come".............

"The Work Is Done By Whoever Shows Up." Thoughts: 1) The OA was originally intended as an AWARD, not something that could be directly EARNED or CAMPAIGNED for. The boys of the Troop/Post/Ship were supposed to elect the fellows that DESERVED the recognition. Is this still understood, has that expectation changed, or have the ADULTS somehow forgotten to explain this to the Scouts? 2) Thru its own events/program/training/stuff, the OA encouraged the ideas of Cheerful Service To Others, that such service was it's own reward, "without thought of recompence". Or has "what's in it for me" gotten the upper hand here? 3) The OA members ("Arrowmen". Never heard that term until I was an adult. I was " OA", that was all.) were , as recognized, duty bound to help the younger Scouts along the way they themselves had traversed. Camping, hiking, nature study, conservation, service to the Charter Org. This was explained , to me, by the older OA, and by the adult advisors. Set expectations? Express disappointment? Who does that any more.... 4) Ya gotta make choices. Scouting, OA, school band, Xbox, football, traveling softball league, camporee, Philmont, Summit, family lawn mowing, college visits, uncle's fishing trip, Kids know about this, and sometimes the choices do not sit well with the adults. Sometimes the kids don't realize the results of their choice until years later (what, no pro baseball contract?) . 5) Youngsters tend to learn (remember waaaay back when?) by the EXAMPLE of their elders. Elder adults, elder kids, elder TV shows, elder politicians. What happens when you act a certain way? Do others appreciate it? Is the action appreciated? Does it really matter who fixed the hinge on the door if it helps folks going in and out? 6) When kids go to camp, do they really think about who set up the tent for them on that platform? It might matter to them that the last Troop before them retied all the ropes neat, and cleaned up the site and put up some firewood , but not who initially set things up. It would be the leadership of the previous Troop that reminded their Scouts how the site looked when they arrived. 7) That's all. Now I have to go down to my wife's office and fix their restroom faucet. See you on the trail....

Well the Jamboree is coming up. Our Committee just received word about the Faith and Belief Pavilion. That is where every faith sets up a display for folks to stop by and compare theological notes.... Seems this time around, BSA wants to charge per floor footage . For the smallest area, 10' x 10', they will provide the big tent, a wood floor, electric hook-up, a table and two chairs, and some other amenities. Charging $1450. This, in addition to normal Staff Charge, etc. Seems that the BSA Jamboree wants to "cover expenses", by also charge (?how?) Merit Badge areas. Well, corporate, commercial exhibitors, yeah, but the faiths? Rumor has it that the OA is also to be "charged"? Last time around, no charge. Faith is as ever, a large part of Scouting. However, now, it is a defined requirement in each rank. Does this now make it part of the "Program"? The letter we received is labeled a "Draft", which implies this charge is yet to be firmly determined . Might cause some smaller faiths some problems, stretching of small budgets, reconsideration of their attendance or at least presence in the Faith and Belief Tent. Ummmmm.... I came to think of the Jamboree as a working vacation, that the Staff charge was , if not cheap, at least almost reasonable for the entertainment and fun stuff included. ** How'bout knocking a hundred off the charge.... I don't need another duffle bag, this one is still good!

I really will eventually (eventually) have made and sell a bumper sticker that reads "Will Work For Colorful Scraps Of Cloth", with a Scout fleur de lis in the corner. U of Scouting can be inspirational, informative, fun, useful, meaningful and tiring, uneventful, worthless, boring and waste of time. "It Depends". Patches are what you want them to be, and the Uniform Police will counsel those that need to be reminded of the importance of "Patches" :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvfsfS6NVUc&nohtml5=False U of S patch looks good on my red Jacshirt, just under the right front pocket.

The problem boils down to the need of (many) adults to "Get Things Done". There are some who have no patience in letting kids /Scouts get things done in their own time and way. How, exactly , did the ADULTS learn to do it? I will refer you to our well known training consultants, Mssrs. Bob and Ray: "Wait for it". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktYwuw9Mnjo