starwolfmom

One of my first acts as new Cubmaster was to promote the Scouting for Food drive, that was held in our council on March 25 (was it March 25 everywhere?) We handed out the blue tags we got from council already stapled to grocery sacks (donated by a local grocery store). Each Scout got 10 sacks and we explained the process. Out of 30 boys in the pack, we had eight boys participate, bringing in nearly 400 items for the Red Cross Food Distribution Center. It wasn't quite the participation I had hoped for, but it was our first time doing it and I'm proud of the Scouts that did take p

Just a question for context: the original poster wrote: "He usually ends up on the receiving end of being picked on/bullied by some of the other scouts his age." Are these "other scouts" being held back for advancement because of their behavior? Is the Scoutmaster conferencing with them because of THEIR un-Scoutlike behavior? As the parent of a boy on the autism spectrum (not a Scout, although our troop does have an autistic Scout), I can tell you that often, kids on the spectrum pick up their social cues from those around them. If this Scout is picked on and bullied by other Scouts

MArkS--That "having fun at pack meetings" comment made me laugh. In our pack, for the past two years, our dens have done NOTHING as individual dens at pack meetings other than taking turns with the opening flag ceremony (totally uninspired ceremonies--they're always the same). Here's what our schedule has looked like so far this year: September--opening meeting. boys ran around while Cubmaster made announcements to the parents. Then each den met in a corner so parents could meet the den leaders and get information about when den meetings were, and uniform info. October--hayride

Many of you have heard me complain about our pack's do-nothing cubmaster, who even admitted in front of a crowd of new Cubs and parents in September that he "just read the announcements" and that the real work was done by one of the other leaders (who is Webelos leader, treasurer, assistant Cubmaster, etc.). Back in the fall, I wasn't sure whether I should volunteer to be committee chair (we don't actually HAVE a committee, much less a chair) or Cubmaster. Well, at our January pack meeting (which was our Pinewood Derby), it was announced that the do-nothing Cubmaster had started a new j

My oldest son (Life, SPL) got a tent for Christmas. It was the top item on his Christmas list. And, while not a Christmas present, my youngest son will begin working on his Pinewood Derby car during this week of winter break from school. His dad's office is also closed this week, so he'll be able to supervise and make sure that my Cub doesn't cut any fingers off. (Unlike some cars, Dad has very little to do with our boys' PW cars. In fact, last year, Greg won "Judge's Choice" award, which I found out--after discreet inquiry--meant the car that looked most like the boy had done all th

Actually, Troop 111 in Lansing, MI, wears the red berets during our summer service tour at Mackinac Island. The only time the boys (who include boys from other troops who join our fellows to make up the service contingent of 54) wear the berets is up at Mackinac, where they serve as the Governor's Honor Guard for a week. I have no idea where we get the berets from, but I think they look really sharp. Elizabeth

Northwoods Scout Reservation in Michigan has the "Tribe of Mangons" and the boys get a patch and then quarter-circle pieces that go around the outside of the round patch as they move up in rank within the "Tribe." The patches are given for service projects done at camp. Elizabeth

My son often wears a long-sleeved shirt under his short-sleeved Scout shirt. He has two: one is a dark green the same color as his Scout pants, the other is red, the color of his epaulets and neckerchief. I think either one looks good. Elizabeth

Thanks, all. I'm thinking that committee chair is the way to go. Now I just have to break the news to my husband, and then get going. How do I find out who our unit commissioner is? I've never seen or heard tell of any such person for our pack. Elizabeth

Well, our second pack meeting was a little better, but not much. We went on a hayride that took us out to a campfire set up, where the boys and families roasted hot dogs, made s'mores, and ran around for an hour or so, then the wagons came back and we rode back (nice meandering path through the woods and trails). The only announcements were to keep selling popcorn, when/where to turn in money/unsold popcorn, and when the next pack meeting is. I asked if our pack would be participating in the Council's Cub Scout Healthy Hike day, and was told that the Tigers were, but not anyone else, u

Madkins asked if I was satisfied during my son's Bear year. Well, actually, no I wasn't, but it was the CM's first year and I was willing to cut him some slack. But after reading on this board what good pack meetings can be like, I just got more and more frustrated. When the pack had a meeting at the local laser tag emporium, and I pointed out before the meeting that this violated the G2SS, I was brushed off and told that the council had approved the tour permit, so it must be okay. I'm involved in my older son's troop as a committee member and part of the Webelos-to-Scout transit

Last night was our pack's first pack meeting of the year, held one week after Cub Scout registration night at our school. If I were the parent of a new boy, instead of a first year Webelos Scout, I probably would be thinking twice about having my son in this pack. Our Webelos 1 den leader, who is also the treasurer (and probably our COR, too, since she's president of the PTO), was signing up new Scouts, taking money, and handing out information packets. Boys were running around--most of them not in uniform (I could see the new guys not having their uniforms yet, but only three or four o

Our troop from Lansing, Michigan will be going to the War of 1812 re-enactment at Fort George, Niagara on the Lake, Canada, the weekend of September 16-18. Our Scouts went for the first time last year and had a great time. I know that the event draws Scouts from Canada, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, so I was curious whether any of the good folks on this forum participate in this weekend. Thanks. Elizabeth

One of our Scouts, a boy with autism and mental retardation, for his Eagle project, built a receptacle that is located on the property of a local car wash, where people can deposit their worn-out flags. The troop then collects them and retires them when we go up to Mackinac Island in the summer for our Governor's Honor Guard service. We also retire them at spring and fall camporees. Today, several members of our troop were at the local mall (at their invitation) for a Flag Day presentation. The Scout who built the flag depository spoke about his project (with help from our SPL). The

This year, the adult leader who was coordinating summer camp provided each Scout with a note listing pre-requisites (if any) for the MBs he had chosen to pursue at camp. For instance, my son chose Environmental Science, so this week, he is researching and writing his report on an endangered species so that he can take it with him to camp. Most of our guys select MBs like riflery, archery, swimming, sailing, etc., that will be fun and keep them outside. Elizabeth

I can't pass up a trivia contest to save my life! I got 15 of 17 correct. Thanks for posting this link. Elizabeth

In our troop, if there is money left in a Scout's account when he leaves the troop (either by aging out or not rechartering), the first step is to put the remaining funds into a younger sibling's account (if there is one), and then, if not, the money goes into the troop's campership fund. Elizabeth

that's my guys' favorite part, too! (the whole "war games" section, in fact). They're 14, 12, and 9. My husband thinks the movie is kind of hokey, but I love it, and so do the boys. In fact, my Life Scout said, "I'd love to be part of that troop!" Elizabeth

My wonderful husband got me the DVD of "Follow Me Boys" for Valentine's Day (after not getting it for me for Christmas--he may be slow, but he comes through in the end!). Well, I didn't want to watch it until my 14 yo Life Scout son could watch it, too. Finally, this weekend, we did. He LOVES it! (So do his younger brothers). For the rest of the weekend, you could hear him singing or whistling "Follow Me, Boys" until his dad told him to stop. We haven't had a chance to watch the special feature, "Looking back with Lem's boys," but we want to, and then I'm sure he'll want to

The Cub Scout to Boy Scout transition can be tough on micromanaging parents. When my son was a Cub, the Cubmaster (and father of a boy in my son's den) was an utter control freak. His meetings started at 6:30 p.m. on the dot, and ended at 8 p.m. on the dot. He brooked no nonsense from the boys, and everything in the pack ran like a well-oiled machine. At crossover, 8 of the 9 boys in my son's den crossed over to the same troop. The troop practices boy-led programming and the patrol method (not always very well, but as everyone has pointed out, young lads are a work in progress). The

I don't know if our pack really follows the "Ideal Year of Scouting" plan, but fall popcorn is our one and only fundraiser. With about 30-35 boys in the pack, we sold about $16,000 in popcorn this year. (We were fifth in the council.) I don't know what our new Cubmaster's policy is, but the old cubmaster always gave folks the option that if they didn't want to sell popcorn, they could write a check for (x dollars) and be covered for the year's activities. (and don't get on my case that it wasn't the cubmaster's place to make policy--in our pack, the CM is also the CC and the committee

Our troop dramatically increased attendance at PLC meetings when we moved them to an hour and 15 minutes before the first meeting of the months, and included pizza and pop for all the boys who attend. The boys don't need to plan for another meeting (Monday is already reserved for Scouts) and pizza and teenage boys is a natural attraction. Elizabeth

There is an incredible website with tons of information, called Working with Scouts with DisAbilities. It's part of the Marin council's web site. The address is: www.boyscouts-marin.org/wwswd/index.htm You'll find lots of articles, information and links there regarding a variety of disabilities. Elizabeth

Judy -- I was a Girl Scout, too, but my oldest Scouting memory wasn't from Girl Scouts. I have a brother 7 years older than I am, and he was a Boy Scout extraordinaire. I adored him. Two of my memories include watching him dance around a campfire in Indian regalia and being amazed that THAT was my brother! And second, going to pick him up from (I think) a jamboree, and being overwhelmed by the seeming "millions" of Scouts, and watching some of them go across a kind of a rope bridge strung between two trees. Fuzzy, distant memories, but still there. Now, I watch my oldest son in

Child Care -- I know in our troop, quite a few of the boys have much younger siblings and are getting experience that they can put to good use some day when they become fathers. Elizabeth