theysawyoucomin'

Camp Conewago has two buildings: 10 miles from the Battlefield. Nice folks in this council Main Lodge-21 people- 100 bucks Small Cabin --sleeps 10 -- $40 In 1919, the officers of Conewago Council, which then oversaw Scouting in Hanover, Littlestown, New Oxford, Locust Grove, Abbottstown, and East Berlin, saw the need for a Boy Scout camp in their area. Along with the assistance of other civic-minded citizens, the council solicited funds in the area for a camp. On September 13, 1919, they purchased approximately 25 acres of land in Hamilton Township, Adams County, from George T. Gitt. The camp is located at the "Forks" where the Little Conewago enters into the Big Conewago stream. It was formerly at the point of a traders cabin where the collection of furs and trading was done with early settlers and the Conewago Indian Tribes in the area. Today, Camp Conewago is still blessed with many of the original buildings constructed over the years. The Lodge was built in 1920 and has a spacious porch on the front and one side. Inside the building is a large stone fireplace, kitchen and sleeping area equipped with bunk beds. Other sleeping quarters known as Rothrocks were built after the first few years of the camp's operation. The name "Rothrocks" derived from the Chairman of the Department of Forest and Waters, whose name was Rothrock. These buildings were given individual Native American names such as Seneca, Mohawk, Shawnee, Sioux, Delaware and Susquehannock. The Administration Building was dedicated on August 1, 1937 in memory of H. Merle Stokes, Camping Chairman. Camp Conewago, located just off of Dicks Dam Road in New Oxford, PA, is available for rental year-round. The camp is a little more than 10 miles from the Gettysburg area and is an easy drive to the battlefield for groups touring in the area. For more information and current rates, please download and print the current reservation form (PDF; opens in new browser window) or contact the council service center at (717) 843-0901 or (800) 569-5197 (outside York).

There is somebody on the open discussion board that is ruffling feathers again. I don't agree with much he says but he sure causes alot of dialog. I have had a hard time controling my mouth when it comes to some of his points of discussion. I think boys look good in neckers. I hope they like them. Our numbers are up. I want kids to enjoy Scouting as much as I did. I don't apoligize that I have a Rockwellian view of the world. I live in a small town in Upstate New York. There's not much special about it. It's "my" town. Where I'm from and where I'll die. Scouting meant alot to me as a kid. I am still thankful to those who volunteered to run the program in "my" town. Evidently my old Scoutmaster, Bear leader(husband and wife) Cubmaster, Webelos leader feel the same way,they have all lived and died or continue to live in "my" town. When it came time for the beading. I invited the old Scoutmaster and the Bear Leader. The Cubmaster is now the COR so that was easy. Webelos leader had passed away. Wolf leader was in Florida with Parkinson's disease. My mom was still friends with her and visited with her every winter. So I wrote her a letter to thank her. If you'll indulge me here is it: Dear Mrs. Sheedy ( I know thats not your name anymore but that is how I always think of you.) My mother is on her way to see you so I thought Id write a quick note. I remember all the times I saw you; I was playing with your sons, trip the beach with our families and Cathy Michaels and your niece, trip with you the Watervliet arsenal Firehouse so your sons could see where Grandpa worked. All those things were fun, but the thing that stuck with me the most was Scouting. Making candles, skit where I was Abraham Lincoln, pinewood derby, getting promoted. I thank you for taking the time to do all that. Look at the other events that took place because you volunteered your time. My mother is by your bed side right now because of Scouting. That is when the two of you became friends. Your trials and tribulations of working together with the wild bunch we had led to a lifelong friendship. I loved Cub Scouts and earned cub scouting's highest award, the arrow of light. I was not much of a Boy Scout but if I toot my own horn I am a good Scout Leader. With the help of others I have accomplished the following: I taught 90 boys how to ice fish. I exposed boys to a man with a team of sled dogs. I got a river otter expert to speak about Hudson River otters. I planned trips to the Boston aquarium and USS Constitution, Ft. Ticonderoga, Cooperstown and the Baseball hall of Fame. Ive taught 75 leaders how to make a plastic litter bottle of soda into a rocket with a compressor and water. The List goes on.. Because you were there at a point in my road of life, and my mother was there to help, I love Scouting. I have taken the most demanding training, Wood Badge, a course Baden Powell himself first organized. This is a strenuous 6 day course in the woods followed by 18 months of project work. In closing Im thankful most of all because my son is in Scouting. He loves it and is well on his way to earning Cub Scoutings highest award. Long after you and my mother have gone to heaven (only through the grace of Jesus Christ) my Williams grandsons will be in Scouting. Dee, thats quite a big snowball that you started rolling down the hill. It continues to grow. All of that joy in the hearts of young boys, all because you gave a few afternoons of your time. Thank you and God Bless you. My mother hand delivered it, flying to Florida, on a Friday. Trouble was Dee died before she got there. She never got the letter. It was too late to thank her. My beading came the week after. The husband and wife Scoutmaster and Bear leader could not make it. Their eyes are bad and they can't see at night. The person that was supposed to drive them was not available at the last minute. They are said to have been the last silver beaver/silver fawn /husband wife team. Mr. Olivan took his WB at Schiff, Mr Hillcourt was there. Mrs. Olivan passed away about 6 months after the beading. Troop Guide and "Ticket mentor" were the same person. He hung in with me until 8 days before the deadline when I finished. He could not come to the beading because GE sent him to Bombay , India so he could teach people how to work so GE can take jobs away from Americans that make GE wealthy. COR came, my mother was present both were recognized. We had a cake. Had a log and an axe. CD made it very relevent to the boys. He named off the goals and asked the boys to raise their hands if they participated in any of the goal activities. It was a sappy sentimental time. But that's the way we do stuff in "my" town.

Brian, You condemn the old ways that are driving lads away from Scouting. Why would you want to wear beads that date from the Boer War. You'd have better luck finding a unicorn than a lad 11-17, not in Scouting, that could point to where the Boer War was fought. The Taupe necker with the Clan MacLaren(sp?)swatch? You hate neckers and have railed against them on many occasions. Will you look dorky(your words not mine) in yours? I have thought many times that you are an internet troll, here only to bother us. Sometimes you misuse some of the WB lingo. Care to publish your numbers so we may verify you really took the course? The individual number will be on the certificate that you receive right after your 106 +/- year old beads and dorky necker. FWIW, I got my beads at a pack meeting, CD sunk a painted axe in a 12" diameter birch log. The Cubs felt part of it because they and my Den Chief were the focus of 4 of my five "tickets"(your word not mine) Finally I was angriest of all that you say we are backwards old dinosaurs, obsolete, out of touch with reality and those we serve. You still, to this day have never posted any type of solution or helpful hint on how to make the movement better.

why is this on the open forum and not on the Wood Badge Forum?

After all you written and said, why in the world would you ever want to wear anything that dates from the Boer War? Just get a big alarm clock and some silver teeth and lead us into the next century, Flava flav is today's modern hero. By the way, when you get your number be sure to publish it here so we can find out if you are real. You number will be on your WB certificate. On Wednesday we'll be playing Kim's game the boys really like it.

Everytime I read about one of these tragedies I harken back about 150 years. Some folks that went west were city dwellers who knew nothing about living outdoors. OTOH, most were from farm stock that were looking for a better life. Look at the farming folks of that day. Killed and cleaned what they needed. Never had used flush toilets,really knew what tools were for, could judge time by the position of the sun(they had slaved under it all day), for the most part had proper clothing,had women folk that were tough as nails. In general they were a lot closer to the land and all that goes with it. They still died by the bucket loads. Now one ill prepared person goes off and dies and it is national news? The Empire is in serious trouble. You fouled up Mr.Kim, own it. Read about Scott and Amundsen(sp?). Good old Raold's people actually gained weight. Scotts men died like dogs, not like heroes. Amundsen copied the native folk, Scott was pigheaded and thought simply because he was British that would get him through. Average people today are sissies that couldn't survive their way out of a paper bag. I lived in a hole in the Saudi Desert for about 50 days. We were in a static position. Had our chow brought to us. Had our water brought to us, a cup of coffee was a savored luxury. It was tough but NOTHING near as tough as going west was. Somebody said it here it's what's between your ears that counts the most.

Aren't the Scouter.com topics with the most replies the most fun things to discuss. Anybody that gives time to the boys(not money to FOS)cannot be a bad Scouter. Period. I'll agree that a Blue and Gold dinner is not the place to run an FOS pitch. The first time I saw that I did not like it. Let's remember a volunteer asked my DE to be there. I think we'd all agree that it is in the presentation. Some folks will give and some folks won't. Would parents come if we Scouters said. "Hey come to a parnets meeting and part with your cash". So my first plea for help came from our DE at a B&G dinner. I told my DE once that I did not want a patch for FOS, "why do that", I asked. The patches cost about a buck a piece and the Council's position is that people should be thanked. I agree. A patch is a permanent thank you for about a buck. If you know something permanent for less let me know. I think when you do these there has to be a clear need that is shown. I don't think $52 dollars a year for a year long program is a lot of money. Let me clarify that $35 to register.$52 for fair share. $175 for camp. A couple bucks here and there for snow and do, den materials,etc. There is no other year long program that is going to give you all that Scouting does for about a buck a day. If there is please let me know, I'll bet it is subsidized by somebody. To anybody that is mad at the SE's salary and you wish to still give but hate the SE, stipulate that your gift only go to Camp Wattamess(or your favorite). If you don't trust that it will, team up with a couple other people and buy a load of crushed stone for the camp driveway. Let the ranger know it's coming and pay the quarry direct. The ranger will love you. Rangers usaully have a wish list. pick something from there, supply it yourself. That way you will be sure it does not go to shrimp cocktails at executive meetings. Anybody that brings a graph to a meeting to show a unit's FOS count has sucky people skills.

Check out camp conewago same council as Camp Tuckahoe. I think the big building is heated. If you are going to the battlefield check out the electric map. Get reservations at General picketts buffet it is worth the money.

How was your FOS doubled? It is a voluntary contribution. Who told you it was doubled? What was it before ? What is it now?

My Scouting experience is not composed of decades long service. I see folks at the district level being people who are dedicated to the program yet no longer have a son in a unit. They have many years of experience. Front line folks should be just that. They should deal with the things that affect their unit. Especially in new units they should not be coming up with all these solutions for the DE. The district folks don't help run the meetings or help the SPL why should you run the district? I do think that Fair share should be presented by unit folks. You know the parents, you serve the boys and the parents, and the parents are going to react to you better. Training should be done at the district or higher level. There is a free exchange of ideas. Contacts are made thoughout the council or district. Plus this limits the unit doing things "because we've always done it this way". Mandatory training is good. I appreciate my DE more and more as I hear about others that are out there.

The Scouts wear embroidered neckers. And for Brianbuf, neckers don't chase kids away. Sports is our main conflict. The Adults all wear short sleeves. As a Wood Badger I wear just beads most all the time except for more formal stuff. I would wear a Troop necker, however, I'm a fat guy. Fat guys look stupid with short neckers. There needs to be adult sized neckers otherwise adults look silly with a kid sized necker.

Agreed Scoutldr, However in my Disrict, there is a heighten sense of urgency. We are telling people that the status quo has to change. Maybe the next step is to tell people that it is $65 ($11 for national and $53 for Council) to join Scouts. Sure would lower my stress level and time we've spent in TC meetings. Add another $35 for the Troop and we're at $100. Still a tremendous ROE. I think what we're hearing is, if your family income is $90k(nurse at $50k and Police officer at $40k) and you have every electronic gizmo, maybe go on a cruise every other year, that maybe you need to rethink how much Scouting really costs. Many people aren't making that I know, but if you are spending $20-$30 bucks a month on cable then $4.50 for Scouting is not a large amount.If someone cannot spare a buck a week odds are that family is the 1 in 12 that my council gives a campership to. I am going to do what I can to help that kid go to camp. I know actual incomes and mileage may vary.

Saturday, 1935 EDT 12/9 I just called the factory hoping to ask a question and leave a mesage. Mr. Batchelder picked up the phone!!!! I don't have a Scout coat yet but someday when I do I know where I'm going to buy it from!!!!!

CNY, Nobody from our council is asking for multiple donations like that. I would think if you have three Scouting children AND YOU WERE ABLE the Council is asking $156. If you are not able, which is ok, then the Council is asking for whatever you see fit. They would accept $10 per child or even $2. The are asking us to help however we can. Whatever we give, no one is going to ask us idividually what our contribution is, no one is going to deny our kids anything. I will be sure to let all my friends know that the United Way in my liberal area is about $230k shy of what the U.W. gives to similar sized councils across the nation. If we are not going to compromise on our policies than we are going to have to pay our own way. I'm all for paying our own way.

CNY, Nobody from our council is asking for multiple donations like that. I would think if you have three Scouting children AND YOU WERE ABLE the Council is asking $156. If you are not able, which is ok, then the Council is asking for whatever you see fit. They would accept $10 per child or even $2. The are asking us to help however we can. Whatever we give, no one is going to ask us idividually what our contribution is, no one is going to deny our kids anything. I will be sure to let all my friends know that the United Way in my liberal area is about $230k shy of what the U.W. gives to similar sized councils across the nation. If we are not going to compromise on our policies than we are going to have to pay our own way. I'm all for paying our own way.

Reread some of the posts here and I want to clarify something. I used his calling himself a Baptist as an adjective to describe him. I called him a radical Baptist. I met a few Baptist folks in the Marine Corps and even attended a few services. Mr. Phelp's actions do not resemble anything like the folks I met. Nor would they think that Phelps was helping anyone witness God's love for us. If anything, he drives people from the flock. He poisons the minds of his granddaughters. I apoligize for any offense anyone may have taken (or I said)should they have been offended that I was using their faith to describe this diaper load of matter. The freedom of speech that was set forth in the first ammendment was procliamed by people who would have been killed for speaking ill of the monarch. Let him exercise his point of view on the capitol steps. He is quite old, he'll answer for his actions soon enough. The founders would have had this man beaten and they would have done it with their fists. Where's Andrew Jackson when you need him!!!!!

This guy Phelps is a good reason to bring back that age old tradion of dueling. Even if he gets me he won't make it though all those bikers that go to all those funerals for fallen warriors. Problem solved. PS Define irony: An organization that has been branded as homphobic and hate mongering; that gets sued because we require a religon of some sort, is hated by a radical Baptist that hates homsexuals. Who would think the tragic death of a 9 year old boy would be a reason to rally your friends? too bad NH wasn't the "Make sense or die" state instead of the live free or die state.

No Llamas yet. I seem to remember a children's book called "Is your Mama a Llama?" How 'bout Fernado Llamas?

First year as a cub den leader one of the first den meetings I asked a parent for $1 for materials we had used. He said, "Wow, $1 is all you want for watching him all that time", as if I was a babysitter. I wanted to punch him in the teeth. Hard.

I am also in an upstate NY council. FS was proposed at a dollar a week. 52$ a year. About $4.50./ month. We are going to the parents with this now. Eamon, I agree $60 a year is nothing considering my son's ROE. National prohibited our Council from doing that. National's reply was, "It costs $11 in Iowa to be a Scout , it will cost $11 in your council to be a Scout. You get your council funds how ever you must but NO requirement shall be made". You seemed all for it in your early post(12/1) but then posted something different the next day. In 2004 our troop gave five dollars to FOS. Surely the services a council provides are worth more than 22 cents per boy. It seems as though many of you can't stand your council folks. My experience is 180 degrees from that. Unless I'm drinking the kool aid I am pleased with the DE and pleased with how our council works. Did you know that the top salaries from you Council are available on IRS form 990? We plan to see what we get from the parents and then maybe hold a dinner for the balnce but we are going to give it a try. As an active volunteer that spends many hours busting my tail for their kids enjoyment I am hoping the parents feel that $52 per year is not a large amount. Heck my vacation week is spent at summer camp watching their boys, I hope they support the council. Imagine what summer camp would cost if it wasn't done in a BSA camp. Sailing, boating and all the rest plus a trusted hometown adult looking after them. In a private camp it would cost $700 t0 take sailing lesson plus you strangers for camp staff. Why should big business fot the bill for our boys to have fun? Have we all become that brainwashed by the "entitlement generation"? a pack of highly taxed Marlboro 100's per month is a deal for Scouting.

I am also in an upstate NY council. FS was proposed at a dollar a week. 52$ a year. About $4.50./ month. We are going to the parents with this now. Eamon, I agree $60 a year is nothing considering my son's ROE. National prohibited our Council from doing that. National's reply was, "It costs $11 in Iowa to be a Scout , it will cost $11 in your council to be a Scout. You get your council funds how ever you must but NO requirement shall be made". You seemed all for it in your early post(12/1) but then posted something different the next day. In 2004 our troop gave five dollars to FOS. Surely the services a council provides are worth more than 22 cents per boy. It seems as though many of you can't stand your council folks. My experience is 180 degrees from that. Unless I'm drinking the kool aid I am pleased with the DE and pleased with how our council works. Did you know that the top salaries from you Council are available on IRS form 990? We plan to see what we get from the parents and then maybe hold a dinner for the balnce but we are going to give it a try. As an active volunteer that spends many hours busting my tail for their kids enjoyment I am hoping the parents feel that $52 per year is not a large amount. Heck my vacation week is spent at summer camp watching their boys, I hope they support the council. Imagine what summer camp would cost if it wasn't done in a BSA camp. Sailing, boating and all the rest plus a trusted hometown adult looking after them. In a private camp it would cost $700 t0 take sailing lesson plus you strangers for camp staff. Why should big business fot the bill for our boys to have fun? Have we all become that brainwashed by the "entitlement generation"? a pack of highly taxed Marlboro 100's per month is a deal for Scouting.

Update. The young man had his SM conference on Saturday for tenderfoot. He was scared to talk to the SM, but made out fine. Actually lacking only one thing for second class. He made alot of excuses to me about how he remembered none of the requirements. I think alot of his lack of interest was that he genuinely feared the SM conference. Afterwards he said, "That was easy" I said, "Easy? Or did you know your stuff?" Reply was, "Yeah I guess it was easy because I only got one question wrong." I haven't told him about the "dreaded" BOR.

I feel that some of the complaints voiced about the new WB course are valid when you talk about the absence of Scoutcraft. I feel Boy Scout leaders should be at home in the outdoors. I feel that those who are physically able should provide a robust program. I don't feel that a weekend in IOLS is enough. I took the new WB course so I know nothing about the old. Here is the question. What kind of course would you design that gave SM's and ASM's , heck even camping crazy committee members, all the tools necessary to safely give boys the outdoor adventure we all know they crave? How much Scoutcraft was in Wood Badge before they changed it? How long would the "Camping Expert" course take? 6 days like WB? What would your ideal course outline include? What would you call it and how would you identify the attendees? Most of all, (given the fact that some leaders will not complete minimal training for a trained patch)how would you get people to attend? Yes, I would attend it and most of the people here would but what about those that are hard to reach?

Brian, Today I taught 13 Bears how to make a crystal radio. In the Cub book in 1930. Still in the Bear book. Obsolete as can be. They had a good time and can't wait until we finish them next meeting. I don't think those 8 year olds have read how backwards scouting is on your website. Some even wore neckers.

I've said it before I'll say it again. We could not take the old course if we wanted to. I do see some of Gonzo's points about outdoor skills. The level of Knowledge in scout skills is an individual pursuit. Just like religion, fitness, whatever. What you do with the knowledge after you get it is most important. Do you take intro to Outdoor leadership and figure you're done learning? You are a fool. Do you earn your beads as a Den leader(which I did) and think that Boy Scouts is adult led? You are a fool. Do you not abide by the G2SS? You need to be out on your backside. Do you serve as an infantryman for years and think you can take Boy Scouts camping without learning the rules? You are dangerous. I try to continue to learn whatever I can, I can't lash for beans but I'm learning. Are there leaders that took the old course that have nothing to do with Scouting? yes Are there leaders that took the new course that are busting their tail? yes It's not the beads, it's what you continue to do with the heart that's behind them and the bony knob on your shoulders that they hang on, that's what counts