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Tampa Turtle

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Everything posted by Tampa Turtle

  1. I would encourage you to visit different Troops. While there is never a guarantee Scouts can be excellent for Boys with disabilities. My older son had APD and sensory issues. While he would get confused by instructions and miss parts his brain seemed to compensate--he had the best eyes in the Troop for spotting stuff and an excellent sense of smell (he can smell a storm coming even if it looks clear). When he was young his Patrol Leader would have to use more hand signals with him. All the boys are different and all have areas of weakness and areas of strength--a good Troop will emphasise this
  2. I'd have a problem on the trash talking behind someone's back and would have called him on it--even if I agreed. Hard enough as it is without starting range wars.
  3. I have over-heard the boys discuss this issue. I heard a agnostic/atheist say he would never admit it because he wants his Eagle. When I talk to the boys I always urge them to work their faith in everyday life and keeping searching. Leads to some good discussion which is the point.
  4. We are starting to de-empasize popcorn in lieu of other Troop fund raising activities--annual Spagetti dinner, food and parking at parades, and selling a few lower priced items.
  5. If Mike Levin is for t I will not even waste my time reading it.
  6. I think my boys usually seem glad; they have asked me to go on a few I skipped to give them more room. They occasionally check up on me to make sure I am OK. I think they see that their are some perks...yeah the arrive earlier and leave later and have to clean up more BUT they get higher priority on capped lists and it is the main father-son thing we all do. Also they enjoy whipping the old man in as many ways they can.
  7. The South Florida Council has Camp Sawyer in the Keys near Sea Base. It has recently been refurbished and the cost is pretty reasonable. I think $4 per boy per day. Pretty primative. You could try a DIY trip. We are going in Marchhere is an article: http://keysnews.com/node/4571
  8. Private camps always seem pretty expensive as are High Adventure. We go to Summer Camp up in the Georgia/N. Carolina mountains and typically pay $450-$500 per scout per week all inclusive (except for some craft supplies for a few MBs). This includes rental of a bus for transport.
  9. As for the SMC 1-on-1 Our SM does them in a corner of a room in plain sight or outside in the front yard on a public street. As for the manhunt I do not see it as a big deal as long as the boy leadership is keeping an eye on problems. Adults were nearby. We had a game of manhunt without flashlights on a backpacking trip and except for one boy running his face into a pine trunk it went fine. Of course the next morning we saw the adjacent bluff with the 80 foot drop to the river....
  10. For #7 We had a VERY hard time finding an opportunity and I worked with the local Emergency Operations Center. FEMA funding for drills has been cut back so there were less opportunity. We did one but also had a lot of fun doing several Troop exercises at campouts. We simulated several scouts who were missing and hurt. Then the other scouts had to organize themselves, set up a search grid, and do a search, traige, and litter back. They had fun. For #8 some of our boys did an "email tree" and would run a test. They seemed to get a lot of family discussion on the family kit,
  11. "How do you award points at a Council Camporee?" With a Flourish! "I give three points to Gryffindor" I'd add some competitions that may test accuracy and agility (like an obstacle course with some tight spots) that might help the young guys. Should they learn some Clan history? Or a competition that requires a group to work together... Seems like the High School football conundrum...bigger schools have a bigger talent pool.
  12. Are you a collector? I can no longer keep track. All I know all the changes provides me opportunities for clearance items. Still the old made in USA items I have still going strong...
  13. I gotta agree. Why shouldn't they change their oath to include republicans who don't believe in the Queen? Their violating their conscience too. Why not just skip the oath and appeal to the broadest number of boys and girls?
  14. christeneka, you do not need to optimize every activity to count as an accomplishment. The main thing is they need to have FUN. They don't always need instruction or to have a finished product, We have had fun activities that were just a lot of games and making a "candy fire". Then eating the candy fire.
  15. Nice article. But he ALMOST earned the Eagle Scout Rank. Darn paperwork! Don't want to be like a PHD ABD (PHD All But Dissertation -- did the work but not the last bit). Still nice story.
  16. I agree. There are a lot of boys who drop out of cubbing because they though it would be more like Boy Scouts and may be ripe for some adventure.
  17. Planning a trip in early '16. Tried their website. Wondering if anyone knows anybody...especially Jerusalem.
  18. Agree some parents say they want leadership but really want easily managed and dependant children. "shake its dust from your feet as you leave. "
  19. I don't think any of these were deal breakers but signs of, at best, a mediocre program. True all units have off nights but it is best to trust your instincts and move on as you did. Better then "making do" and then having your boy drop out because it is not challenging enough.
  20. We have some physically beat up old Scouters use an air mattress or cot for base-camping but they are usually 50+ Boys who try it are usually widely mocked.
  21. Ours for reasons unknown imploded last year. Our Troop had so-so interest until they said Girl Scouts were going too. Then a bunch of 13+ age boys hands shot up "were in!".
  22. We had a Scoutmaster who finished a campfire minute on being wise with your money with this story ( I may missed a few details): "When I was 19 I was in the Merchant Marine on a freighter. I was a 3rd mate in Engineering and it was my first watch. At the end of my watch it was job to go down to the cabin of the 1st engineers mate and tell him he was to go to the bridge. I went down to his deck and knocked on the door. He said "It's open". I stepped in to total darkness. All I saw was the red tip of a cigarette he was smoking in the dark. He says: "Sonny (long draw on cigarette),
  23. I was a guest at one Troop who was really into campfire programs. They had a tradition of finding the song the SM disliked the most (American Pie in this case) and some boys would memorize EVERY word, and sing it a cappella. They dedicated it to him and sang it at every campfire. All 8 minutes of it. On occasion they would have a sign language interpreter. Following this all newcomers were expected to stand on a log and sing a rock song a capella as well. After a verse or two someone would take pity on them and join them. They also would have the youngest scout do a scary story--whi
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