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Tampa Turtle

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Everything posted by Tampa Turtle

  1. You have a uniform! Ha ha. I am so cheap once I bought the $28 BSA shirt I kept on leading to get my monies worth. Yeah 5-10 minutes. I used to prepare enough material for 90-120 minutes of an hour meeting. Some nights I went right through it all, most of the time I rolled it over. I remember a Tiger just amazed at our compass demonstration--it always pointed north? Wow, it was an epiphany to him. A "hike" around the block was an adventure--if you hammed it up. Going to the Fire Station--awesome. I became a minor local celebrity at the grocery store--boys would come up to me as
  2. Barry, We aint there yet but yes we are at a decision point. Make or break time for me in the next few months. I took it as a good sign at the PLC that the new middle-scout PL's forcefully made the case that the younger scouts are still complaining about bullying. It takes some guts to take on the SM and shows some real leadership for his Patrol mates. So that is a good sign that we are changing the culture. The middle-scouts are rising to leadership; some of the older scouts are checking out for various reasons (the usual distractions, lack of more ambitious adventures, and not buyi
  3. SMY224 Great story! One patrol swapped out their "crummy" campstove for the shiny one on the shelf...which was on the shelf because it didn't work. Couldn't cook their frozen pizza rolls (I know, I know) which they discovered were edible if you let them warm up in their mouth. One experiment Peanut Butter and Steak Fajitas was a hit. Another Spaghetti-O's and grits not so much.
  4. Always a hard call. I wonder if parents realize how much we agonize over these things. Yes I did get my SM attention and now I am the official "bad cop". The lad needs his POR and I am training the ASPL on managing the POR's so I can reinforce the oath and law. I hope we can turn this kid around but more importantly I will work to set up and reinforce all our boys living the oath and law and calling out the ones who don't. One thing I did learn from this is to listen, really listen, to the boys more. Boys told us over and over what was going on and we just didn't want to see it.
  5. The above is correct and we followed a similar schedule. I did two years as Tiger Leader and when I retire would consider doing it again. Yes the kids are little but never again will they be so earnest and cute. Some of the Tiger requirements are dull; they require some pumping up. And you do a good number of "Go See Its" or field trips. Those were really interesting for myself--those you should try to delegate as much as possible to the parents. Yes adult led and not a whole lot of camping. I would suggest: - At the least be an Assistant Den Leader and get the uniform. - Divide up t
  6. This weekend got the edge of the Tropical storm. Gusts to 35-40 for an hour and we were right by the water. Pure squally weather. Couldn't bug out as that would have taken too long so we hunkered down. Expected some clucking by newbie parents when we got back as boys discussed their "hurricane weekend". One newbie parent just smiled and said "Welcome to Boy Scouts, you just got your first lesson in adversity". Gotta love it.
  7. Got a new SPL. He's a good guy he will catch on quick.
  8. I think I have gravitated to the bad cop job and go out my way to appear impartial and really, really try to be fair. Our SM, who really is a good guy, is no doormat but is a real optimist who mostly only sees the good in each boy--I think there is a real upside to that. He has done a great job. I agree that good cop-bad cop works pretty well. I talked to my SM today and we are going to have a ASM meeting with the CC about this and few other bullying issues to make sure we are all in agreement on our approach. Bullying keeps coming up at the PLC's. I do not think I will try to recor
  9. Ok LisaBob I see your point. United front. If it blows up because I am stupid it may damage my sons. This is the part I hate.
  10. We have a very good CC and things are firing well there--fundraising, advancement chair, treasurer, Life to Eagle, etc. Takes a lot of hands but real pleasure. The Scouter pipeline is a problem. We had a lot of older Scouters who founded the Troop and their boys aged or are aging out. They did things more adult led and did not support the boy-led transition. They are more active in the support positions. My generation is the parents of the middle aged scouts and we were a small group to begin with. We had a few guys leaving so the same Scouters gotta keep going most every campout to
  11. Good advice and much appreciated Brother and Sister Scouters.
  12. You know I counseled a boy right out of scouts. It really wasn't his thing he was really into Hockey (in Florida, yeah) and he was good. I said stand up to your parents and follow your passion. I miss him--he was one of my cubs--but he hated camping. It has been 3 years and he is happy as heck. Now if a boy was just kinda drifting I might give him a helpful nudge to get it finished. Regrets and all that.
  13. PapaDaddy I read that loud and clear. I am an ASM..though I guess a "senior" one. I doubt I have the temperament yet for SM or I am just not ready. I was told that this weekend and pretty much agree. But I am deeply involved. Next infraction I am circumventing our kind-hearted SM and talking to the parents. I will talk, tactfully, to the other Adult leaders.
  14. Tigers and Wolves are the proudest to wear the uniform so poor uniforming is not a good start. They really enjoy it. We brought our Class A's to campouts for opening and closing and awards. We wore our Pack T-shirts the rest of the time. A leader who does not wear the uniform sets a very bad example--that he thinks it does not matter or he is "too cool" to uniform. Come on I did it and I weighed almost 280 pounds and looked like a dang fool...but I did it and my stature in their eyes grew.
  15. Well we stopped the consequences for lost stuff and sure enough the lost stuff is getting left behind. I get so tired of picking up old water bottles, etc from the same kids over and over. Webelos 3 indeeed. And some of them are going for Life.
  16. I really need some input here. Including cubs I have been a Scouter 8 years. I bet I have worked with 100+ boys over that time. I have had my share of "problem children", whiners, mischef makers, and hot headed boys quick to anger. But I got one that is new to me. 12 years old, with the face of a choir boy, a sweet smile, and not even a tenderfoot. He appears to be a master manipulator--all the adults think he is charming and a growing group of boys say he says nasty things to the other boys, sets them against each other, and instigates fights though he never touches anyone. I have
  17. Beavah, yes, yes, yes! (I bet it was a long time since you heard that. I was saying those words yesterday on the way back from a campout. You play football, you are in band--you sure wear the uniform , go to practices, and attend games or else. But scouts you can go AWOL and still expect credit for your POR. I am fighting that fight now. I don't mind an otherwise engaged boy being in our Troop but don't expect to advance as fast and don't expect to fill a leadership slot unless you make it a priority. It is just unfair to the other boys and undermines the whole boy-led thing. In HS
  18. After this weekend...I would still say Scoutmaster. We are having a hard time finding a replacement. Almost had to resort to the "everyone keeps drinking until we wake up the next morning with one" method.
  19. For backpacking I use a compression bag. The bulk is an issue and the compression bags makes it easier to carry. After a campout I fluff the bags on real low in the dryer to restore the loft and hang in the closet. I have a HUGE 20 degree Coleman I use for plop camping. I just use a garbage bag.
  20. I'm with ScoutFish! I have been passed over many times--even if it was unfair. That is life.
  21. EagleDad, Agree but we have had Dad's go because they their son had special needs and they went to provide more labor to make up for the extra effort their boy required. A few went because we were shorthanded or it was a drop-dead requirement from mom. The "dad's in residence" but not really ASM's usually didn't work out. We have since made it clear that you make the trip you are expected to work. We made the adult encampment "officer's country" and boys were not allowed to enter unless given permission. Usually just the SPL or a boy requesting a BOR. But sometimes a newbie Dad wo
  22. My son also has fine motor problems and this has been a major issue for him until age 13. Had Occupational Therapy for it and we refused to get him velcro shoes. But he needed help sometimes. Yet he was great with rope--maybe a knot savant--one of best in Troop. Go figure.
  23. Some new Hammock tips (they seem obvious AFTER the fact) Troop went camping on the barrier island on the East Coast of Florida this past weekend a little too close to Tropical Storm Beryl. What I learned: -The Hennessy Hammock stock rain fly will keep a lot of rain out when rigged correctly even at 30+mph with 30 degree rain. -That those darn Australian Pines they planted as windbreaks back in the 1930's (and are invasive and are being removed)are excellent as...windbreaks. My son moved his Hammock from near the water to a grove of pines 30 feet away and did fine. -Do not p
  24. Their plan for the boys are to use them for PR! That's why we have the model release on the medical form. Got to protect and promote the brand, my boy.!
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