trainerlady

Basementdweller, You aren't the only one who had a ROTTEN WB class. Mine was awful too. In my Council its beads that count to get anywhere or do anything. Its a cult-like atmosphere here. The haves run everything and the have nots know nothing.

Melissa, You have several online/computer options open to you. Your pack can purchase PackMaster a great program that lets you track each boy, his achievements, vital stats, fundraising goals, on and on. My pack has used it for years. It links to the national data base and lets you upload your advancement. Another option is to speak with your DE or someone at your Council service center and have them help you set up a ScoutNet account. It's free and relatively easy to use. Your info goes right on to the National database. It even gives you a shopping list to take to your local

Basement - I'm curious how your boys went to BS at 10 years and 4 months and didn't do any WII at all? The requirements for AoL are 10-1/2 years old, or 6 months after 4th grade graduation and 10 years old, and you must be a Webelos den member for 6 months, along with everything else. AoL requirements are not the same as the BS joining requirements. Also I'm not trying to hold the kids back, I wish we could have gone over in June. I just want them to follow the rules and really do the work. They had at least 8 other opportunities over a 8 month period to go to outdoor events but chose

As many of you have assumed there are several boys with parents on the committee - out going CM, incoming CM, treasurer, advancement chair, AWDL, and special events chair. All of these families passed on the outdoor events due to sports or other classes, and due to the drive. I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels the way I do. For years (maybe a decade or more)the WII have taken the easiest way out of AoL and all requirements. I'm the first in anyone's memory that has pushed for full and complete advancement. We were the first campers in over 10 years. Last year's WII counted

A quick of history - there are 9 boys in my WII den, 3 have completed all 20 pins, and all their AoL requirements and are waiting for their 6 months past 4th grade graduation. 6 boys are at various levels of completion of AoL and all have 9-16 pins. 3 boys played CYO sports for their school this fall, they have yet to attend a meeting (3 den, 1 pack and a troop visit so far). Many outdoor troop visits have been offered to the group (this fall and last spring/fall) to fulfill the AoL requirement of attending an outdoor Scouting activity with a troop. All events this fall have fallen on game

oldsm is right National Supply's block numbers are a very good value in more than 1 way. And I'm not saying this because I work for Supply. 2 digits blocks are $1.99 each, for 2 individual numbers it's $2.40 3 digit blocks are $2.99 each, for 3 individual numbers it's $3.60 4 digit blocks are $3.99 each, for 4 individual number it's $4.80 Veteran bars can also be inserted for an additional amount, about a $1.50 I think. Blocks are SO much EASIER to sew on too. I've done it both ways and I'll wait for the Pack to get its order every time.

I tell my customers to do 2 things - put the kids name on it (laundry marker, name tape, Sharpie, etc) and buy the long sash. Junior will grow and the short sash will become too small very fast. Use a sash pin to help it fit.

Novice, Welcome back, even if it is just for a short stay. My guess and it is just a guess, is all you'll need to do is fill out an application for the pack as a Scoutparent or committee memeber at large and have a current YPT card and you should be OK. You'll need the current YPT card before your app can be turned in. A permission slip signed by the parents for the DL saying that Junior is OK to be with you probably wouldn't hurt either. My Pack is in an area that has a lot of swing shift workers, as a result we have a lot of kids that need to attend meeting/outings with someone

Welcome to the herd. We are a fairly rare breed in my area. We don't usually get enough students to get to an antelope patrol around here. Enjoy weekend 2.

Eagle92, Took care of the advancement items in June and August. I hate getting caught with my pants down. For the little bit of extra time it'll take to count them at inventory, it'll be worth it to hve them there when needed. You're right BSA doesn't say thank you enough to any of its volunteer. Somrthing we need to work on.

ghermanno, an idea were kicking around in my district is mass emailing all the registered Scout families with information about upcoming events. It has worked well for our day camp program at the Cub level. It takes time to build the list, and people can elect to be dropped at any time. What we found, especially at the Cub level, is that if the unit leader isn't interested in an event he/she doesn't pass the information on to the rest of the den/pack/troop/etc. Some families will attend an event solo if they know about it. Others won't go even if you give them free admittance, a ride

The Den & Pack Resource Guide is just that a resource guide. A VERY, VERY highly recommended resource, but a resource none the less. The purpose of the book as presented to me at the Philmont Training Center and in webinairs is to serve as guide to insure advancement and some level of uniformity across the country in program deleivery. Remember that Bears have options, so do Webelos, in what is covered. As long as you cover the required number of achievements from each section you're fine. You can substitute a family for a family, a country for a country, etc. If you look at the "req

My pack doesn't really theme its family camps. We have done one that centered around the farm that was at the Metropark we were at and we just had a Webelos outdoorsman weekend (it's only the Webelos den that camps anyway, everyone was invited to come). One pack in the area has a pinewood derby camp. Go to camp get your kit, cut it, paint it, tweak it all you want, then they impound the cars. The race is later that week at the meeting hall. Great way to make sure the boys make their cars. That's all I'ver heard of for themes in this area.

If the badge is indeed "live" the scouts still won't get a badge for it until Fall 2011. They aren't even available for order until then per Supply's last coming items list (August 2010). Until the requirements show up in a Requirements Book (released annually) or a Merit Badge Pamphlet comes out I wouldn't trust anything I read online. We had the same problems with the 13 new Cub Scout belt loops and pins earlier this year. "Requirements" were all over the web months before they were official and parents were irrate because Junior had "done it" even before they were officially annou

Per the memos from National Supply to all National stores, Geocaching won't be released officially until fall of 2011. There are no OFFICIAL requirements at this time. Anything you see on any websites other than www.scouting.org is merely a guess as to what the requirements will be. MBPs are still being developed and printed. They too won't be in stores until next fall. Robotics is scheduled for release this winter - February sometime.

I haven't heard about national doing away with the traditional cub blue uniform. I have heard about the trial in Baltimore with the UnderArmor - don't know where that'll lead. Some high level people from Baltimore that I have spoken with said they don't think the UA is going over that well either. It certainly won't be any cheaper. I just priced some of it for my son for football season. NO WAY.

Supply has already roled out the "lovely" new pants. The $60 zelcro at the ankle rip stop nylon ones. Who ever thought them up doesn't go into the field very often. No plans for more "wonderful" stuff at this time. They are too busy finding ways to undermine the uniform of cub scouts with cheap blue jeans and rank t-shirts in the stores.

Eagle92 - It's not supply with the problem, it's the stores that wait too long to order their supplies. There are thousands of rank emblems in stock (2010 and regular) at the warehouse right now. A good store manager will be ordering his/her supply of ranks for CS within the next month. After the initial fall round up is completed the manager should be talking to their council and finding out how many kids there are at each level and order accordingly. I have personally ordered this fall's bobcat supply for my store (got them in June). Nothing worse than diappointing a new kid to the prog

Jet - IMHO you have joining and registering confused. An application is for registration with the BSA it truly has nothing to do with joining a troop or becoming a scout. It is a tracking and financial document. Once a AoL recipient (or any 11+ year old boy joining) pays his $1 transfer/intial fee to the BSA with the accompanying form he is a Boy Scout in the eyes of the BSA. He hasn't completed his joining (basically initiation) requirements, but he is considerd a Boy Scout for intents and purposes. He may never earn the level of Scout but he can still attend camps and events as a

ParkMan, I think they are doing both. They site is being built in the middle of the woods from the ground up vs. an equipped military base. There is NOTHING repeat NOTHING there. The BSA has to build it ALL. That said I wouildn't be surprised to see the focus of the event change too. At least for the next Jambo. More basics and less flash. just my $0.02. Also with less infrastucture in place I would expect it to have a lower attendence limit too. One other thing noted at the discussions at Philmont is that rail/Amtrak lines go right by the border of our property. There are

Speedy, They come in boxes of 200 for fiber tags and 500 for cardboard tags. They are pretty expensive compared to some of the other options listed. IM me if you really want the tags. I think I have a couple of boxes in my store.

Having been at Philmont earlier this summer and having some very high ranking Texas folks there, here's what we were told. The Summit will be the new Jambo site. It will run a summer camp style program after it's first Jambo (we'll be lucky to have it completed by then). It will also run a high adventure base featuring mountain bikin, whitewater rafting/canoeing, and rock climbing/repelling, backpaking will also probably be available. Facilities (campsites, trails) have to be built in the state/national forest next to the Summit to support the summer programs. A training center like P

I agree that we need woodcraft/scoutcraft training for adult leaders. I grew up in Girl Guides and have been an avid car camper my entire life. But I DON'T feel prepared to teach my boys some of the needed skills - knots, whittling/axe/saws/etc, lashings, back country anything, etc. I can kick butt in first aid, swimming/lifesaving, scout history, event planning. But I can't teach basic scout skills - I've NEVER learned them. I've been exposed to them in IOLS, BALOO, Webelos Outdoor Skills, but never had a chance to do them for more than 10-30 minutes (at most in most classes it was just w

Beads, smeads. I had a rotten WB class and could care less about completing a ticket and getting the dumb wood bits. I learned very little and spent money the family didn't have to go to the class. I went to learn to be a better leader, didn't get anything in the class that I hadn't learned from the Red Cross, Royal Lifesaving Society or Girl Guides as a youth, add in a couple of team/staff development courses various employers brought in and you have WB 21st Century. If you really want to get a higher level of training visit the Philmont Training Center or one of the National sponsor

There are lots of opportunities in my area for girls to be outside and have adventures. However that doesn't mean that they do it. My daughter's troop considers an overnighter at the mall or an indoor waterpark as camping. They went to a weekend camp last year for a day and a half and you'd have thought they had stayed out for weeks. My daughter loves summer camps, so she goes on her own each year. We have used Southeast Michigan camps and Heart of Michigan camps (that's this year). Go to www.gssem.org and www.gshom.org to check out the camps.