SSScout

Glad to see the Scouter is back up and running. I concur with the seeming consensus here. A) What does the Scout want to do? B) One ceremony a year seems to limit the options unnecessarily. C) I also believe less is often more. D) I also am feeling the Troop sounds less Scout led, more Adult led. What does that mean for the Eaglets (!)? To elaborate: A) & B) Every Scout is different and will appreciate brou-ha-ha to differing degrees. Balance out the fellow who wants to go home and watch Wii with the one who will listen to 12 people extolling his virtues and fun gaffs. One of the best Eagle ceremonies I ever attended was a campout in the back of the Eagle's grandparents' farm. Attendees had to hikeback a couple hundred yards into the woods, BBQ and picnic potluck (over an open fire that the Scouts tended!) candle ceremony on a fold up table. Due ritual, pinning on medals by mom and pop, many Scouts in attendance. Very Scouty , to my mind. My Scoutson opted for receiving his at the regular CoH (Troop does it every 3 months) with a catered BBQ (friend brought in his smoker) picnic after. No one ever said tradition can't be adjusted... D) Who controls the content of the CoH? Who plans it, ultimately? The SPL and PLC or the ASM in Charge of CoH? And, too, you can have the "official" CoH and then your own celebration elsewhere with the Troop et al invited.... "Well done" and congratulations to your Eaglet....

Ryobi rechargeable area lantern. Li-Ion 18V battery, good and reliable. Cold weather makes the batteries less effective, but very good for what it is. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIplfp1ZViE

Depends on the tribe. I am not any where near Native American and not active (physically) OA, but my membership dues are paid. The local tribe(s) here'bouts like the interest in their tribal history and culture and cultivate it when the OA or any Scout unit approaches them about it. Our District had a fall Camporee at the Piscataway Museum awhile back, and even though it was more than an hour drive to the site, the boys had a good time. The indian cultural connection to OA is tenuous, to be sure, but the connection for honor and service is very useful . And if it helps our Scouts to realize local history , so much the better.

Then why do what we do? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrC1VMh7lnc Skip the ad, it pays the bills.

From the BSA Media Guide/Glossary: quote: recharter Avoid the use of this term; use "to renew a charter." See "charter."

"" Chartered organizations must utilize the Scouting program to accomplish specific objectives related to one or more of the following: Youth character development Career skill development Community service Patriotism and military and veteran recognition Faith-based youth ministry "" Don't tell the Scouts we're trying to teach them "character development ", they might quit. I need to go camping and hiking more often.... """methods of Scouting The eight methods are the ideals (Scout Oath, Scout Law, Scout motto, and Scout slogan), patrol method, outdoors, advancement, association with adults, personal growth, leadership development, and the uniform. """

Ya, Raignis, welcome. Remember the Cub Mantra: KiS MiF, KiS MiF..... Keep it simple , make it fun, and you won't go far wrong. Cub Scouting should do two things: Teach stuff that the Cub can use (remembering his limitations of age and size) that you can couch in fun but is still worth his effort,and (two) having fun with his "gang", his Den. Ideally, the Den should be the gang he likes to hang out with, go and do stuff with. You, his parent and Den Leader see to that. Learning how to throw a rescue rope. Tying knots and using them (how to really tie your shoe so it won't come undone) How to hike safely and effectively (what to carry, what to see and do along the way). Visits to the model train club, the airport, dad's work place, stuff they don't teach or do in school should be your prime objective. Build bird houses and feeders, Finding out that yeah, they really can hike 4 miles (or more!). Contact the local Boy Scout Troop and elicit the services of a Den Chief. This young man, with your coaching , can be the best thing ever for a Cub Den. He probably has been a Cub Scout and can coach YOU on how to be a successful Den Leader. Use the Cub Themes, go to RoundTable, look up "BALOO'S Bugle" online , or perhaps someone nearby ("old timer") has an old print copy to share or pass on. Your boy is only 8 years old once. Make the most of it, and he won't regret it.

I also remember a Fieldbook recipe of coating the egg with mud, then placing in hot coals and rotating every few minutes.

""(Personally, I think OA would be miles ahead if it would dump all the Indian stuff.)"" And replace it with what?

He's your son. He knows you saw and appreciated what he did. Was it at risk of his own safety? By your description, I would say no. Did he do what he knows was right? Absolutely. Would he do the same for someone not kin? Probably. He has had the training, the example and the opportunity. Take him to his favorite Barbecue place for a dinner, just him and you and let it go at that.

Check with the "local" military district. Contact the Army Corps of Engineers. They came out to our CSDC and ran a pavilion on building and structures and structure testing. It was a hit. They brought in some heavy duty crane trucks and such that the Cubs ooo'ed and aaaah'd over. Structures built with ice cream sticks, bridges tested to destruction, lots of fun and we didn't have to do a thing except make a lot of phone calls.

Came in late, but to summarize the good advice I've heard here and on other threads: 1) Not every Disruptive Scout can be "saved". Think of the safety and success of the Troop first. 2) Keep to the Scout Promise and Law and use that as the standard to hold the Scout to, and to point out to him as to his problem areas. 2A) Include the parent(s) in all your considerations. Often the parent has no idea what is going on with their urchin. 2B) Get agreement with the other Scout Leaders. Make sure they also see what you see. 2C) Include the SPL and other boy leaders (if they haven't come to you first) in your considerations. Often they see things you will never see. 3) When it comes time to say "no more", you notify the Scout, his parents, the COR and the DE and include the reasons, be specific. 4) If you learn the Scout wants to transfer to another Troop, and you have the opportunity to speak to that Troop, you might want to do that. 5) We are not mental health counselors, but sometimes we can be the shelter/sanctuary that troubled Scout might need. That said, protect yourself and your Troop. 6) Remember the "Youth Protection" guidelines. The evidence of child abuse takes many forms. In your desire to help that troubled Scout, you just might need to make a report to Child Protective Services. 6A) That said, remember to protect yourself from unwarranted accusations. 7) As Bob the Tomato said, "it's for the kids". You need to be there for the Scouts that can use you. See you on the trail....

Gee , it's nice to see the topic covered in the Faith and Chaplaincy forum. Oh, wait.... Seriously, it can be a good thing or a bad thing , depending on how one views our Constitutionally guaranteed freedom to believe (or not) as we are led . There is, in this new (or not so new) requirement, no requirement for the Scout to justify or defend whatever his faith requires of him/her or how he/she has fulfilled that faith. He/she only need to voice some connection between his/her faith and her/his actions. I like the previous "I follow the Scout promise/oath and Law" response. Very appropriate.

Julie Seton , Ernest's granddaughter, recently spoke at our District RoundTable. She just happened to "be in the neighborhood" and our RT Asst. Commish met her at another BSA presentation, and she graciously came to our RT. She has republished some of her grandfather's books, among them his autobiography , Trail of an Artist-Naturalist: the autobiography of Ernest Thompson Seton You can contact her thru LinkedIn.

If Scouting is important to YOU, as an adult (regardless of being your son's parent) consider taking the training for ASM (two pieces, indoor and IOLS), besides the YPT. With that, you will have the imprimatur to participate fully in all parts of Scouting. Next, maybe Woodbadge, and then (perhaps) serve as a Commissioner. Your boy will be doing his thing with his gang (Patrol) and advancing as he will (I sense he will!). You, on the other hand , will be fully occupied and will be able to stay out of his way, but be able to support his (and the other Scouts!) efforts. See you on the trail!

I like the previous comment about "getting out of the one and done mentality". In a successful Boy Scout Troop, there are activities scheduled every month, if not every weekend. The Scout (and his family?) always have the option of attending or not. Hikes, campouts, movie nights with the Patrol, etc. it is up to the boys to plan and the adults to support. The Webelos Den is intended to be an introduction to this "boy led" culture ("you mean I can do that?"), but it doesn't always happen. One three mile hike and no more? Surely there is more than one park or neighborhood trail they can explore. Schedule them, with input from the parents (school calendar?). Let the boys decide if it would be fun, and let them convince the parent that it is a good thing to put on the calendar. Find another creek to pull crawdads from, another museum/zoo/historic ship to visit. Get a good tree ID book for yourself, or from the library, or enlist an uncle who can talk about how trees are important (?Scout Troop?) and point out that hickory or white ash (baseball bats!) along the trail. Scout Leaders are about OPPORTUNITY, not NECESSITY. All you can do is OFFER, and teach: By example, and instruction. What they miss is their lose, . Don't blame yourself too much. Oh, and go to RoundTable in your District. You will find sympathetic Scouters there, both successful (you define!) and trying hard to be. Learn from each other, enjoy each other's company. See you on the trail!

Any Council Camps up for sale?

On you it looks good. See you on the trail!.

Good to see the old gang back again... "Ya gotta have Heart!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry8CpIg2fvU

Wow, the lengths some will go to meet girls....

"BSA Breaks Ground on New Welcome Center for Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve" http://scoutingnewsroom.org/press-releases/bsa-breaks-ground-on-new-welcome-center-for-summit-bechtel-family-national-scout-reserve/ Thank you, Ruby family....

And likewise my congrats to the nascent Eagle. Does he sew on his own patches? :-)

Councils ARE the CORs. How would National justify that change? Council mergers are orchestrated by National, but the Councils are by definition (so I thought) separate corporate entities, incorporated in each particular state, yes? That is where Chicago and Owasippe got in to trouble, with National coming in and insisting that the Council Execs be replaced to National's satisfaction and trying to force the sale of the camp. How's Nantucket doing?

"Zealous Parenting , and its Fallout" /Emma Brown, Washington Post, Monday 19 October 2015 "Julie Lython-Halms noticed a disturbing trend during her decade as a dean of freshmen at Stanford University. Incoming students were brilliant and accomplished and virtually flawless , on paper. But with each year, more of them seemed incapable of taking care of themselves." http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/former-stanford-dean-explains-why-helicopter-parenting-is-ruining-a-generation-of-children/ar-AAfyij9 "MOMMY! That professor won't PASS me !!"

The Summit is one more opportunity. Ya pays yer money and ya takes yer cherce, as the carny barker said. Brings up the problem visited in other threads: Promotion and use of Scout properties. If BSA had the membership to truly utilize the properties we have available (Philmont, Council camps, Owasippe, Bayport, etc. ) we might not have the problem of sell offs. Then again, if BSA promoted itself as the young person's outdoor adventure outfit, rather than the good citizen education outfit, we might have a chance to BE the GCE outfit by means of being the YPOA outfit.