trainerlady

Our Cucni runs a 3 day/2 night Cub winter camp every year between Christmas and New Year's. We use the Council's camp that has lots of cabins, some with plumbing, for the event. We also allow siblings to come, so I guess it's actually a Family camp program. We are going in to our third year. The first year we had about 70 people. Last year we had almost 200. It's a great time. The kids work on belt loops and go to the shooting sports ranges. We have done sledding and ice fishing demos on one of our lakes. This year we are actually going to coordinate the belt loop program with the Girl Scout requirements so that sisters can earn stuff too. When you compare requirements there isn't really that much difference between GSUSA and BSA. We have a movie night and the other night is a campfire in our dining hall's stone fireplace. There's indoor s'mores and hot chocolate for cracker barrel. Boy Scouts come up to work with the kids and act as Den Chiefs. It's a blast. Every Council should have one.

To the best of my knowledge as a National Scout Shop employee, NDC is not phasing out sewing on patches. The diamond holders are being offered as a convenience to our patrons. I see them as no different than the Badge Magic sheets we sell. Some people just won't sew to save their butts. Others don't want the patches washed, they claim that they fade. I know of one customer that dry cleans her son's uniform after every wearing(wish I had that kind of cash). She freaked when she found out that he'd have to wear it daily at camp for meals without a cleaning in between uses. Another customer has a Boy Scout and triplet Cubs. She uses the patch holders because she says she just doesn't have time to keep 4 kid uniforms and a leader uniform current if she sews. We also sell hanges in circles, ovals, squares and rectangles. They are for temporary patches. Maybe my son won't lose his temp patches now when the button loops break It's differet strokes for different folks.

I had a couple of boys over my 3 years of Cubs to date in this situation. One was a family that couldn't afford the stuff (had twins in the den, and unemployed Dad)and one whose parents refused to buy the stuff. For the family with low funds we hooked them up with used shirts and pants from the Pack closet and the school's uniform closet. I had the boys split a book and the parents record the info for one boy in blue and for the other boy in red. The pack supplied neckers too, boys made a slide at a den meeting. The other boy's parents who could afford it(and then some) were told point blank that Cubs/Boy Scouts is a uniformed organization and as such the uniforms were required as were the necessary books for the program. They were asked if they'd buy a hockey or football uniform if their son played on those teams. They were offered the services of a "personal shopper" (a Scout store employee and den leader). In the end they left the Pack - "Scouting wasn't for them." They were also the drop and run parents, had to get to coffee with friends, yoga class, the store, etc. No involvement in the den/pack. No fundraising, didn't pay dues, no work done at home, skipped the meeting when they were supposed to bring snack. You get the picture. It was too bad the kid was a good kid that wanted to be there. But the parents could have cared less. Were a cheap, safe, wholesome babysitting service. They lasted 3 months.

HI all, Blue loops are for all Cub related members - Webelos in tan uniform, leaders and roundtable staff. Forest green loops ae for all Boy Scout related memebers. Theses replaced the red loops in August 2008. Kelly/emerald/bright green loops are for Venturing related members. Orange/blaze loops are for Varsity Scouting related members. Silver loops are for all members that serve in Distict and Council related positions and for use when on "duty" in that capacity. A Den leader that is also a UC would not wear silver to a Cub event. Not a restricted item (at least not in my store) Gold is for National employees and national commitee members to wear while serving in that capacity. These are resticted sale items.

I too had several teeny boppers in my class. My Patrol has a just turned 21 year old that just switched roles in his crew from member to adviser. He joined Venturing at 18 years old in order to go on a backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon. He brought 3 other youngins with him. There were also a couple of 18-19 year old aged out Eagle Scouts too. Their gung ho attitudes were a little much for some of us (especially at 6:00 AM). You can tell that they have no real responsibility yet (family, job, bills, etc). Our patrol member was ticked off that we couldn't meet 3-4 times during the daytime between sessions. Evening meetings would crimp his social life. He didn't get that day meetings would crimp our employment status. I'm all for a minimum age limit and experience level for the course.

GK - glad you're having fun with your course. Wish we had gotten past the first round of Jeopardy, but one of the dozen or so technical glitches ended the game after just 1 round. The movie for us was one glitch after another. The main scene of importance was lost due to yet another glitch. Perhaps relying on computers for everything in a camp setting isn't a wise programming move. Eamonn - I hadn't really thought about searching out the cirriculum on the web before class. In my council WB is held as some great secret sacred experience. Just hearing them discussing the WB reunion breakfasts and events, the singing of "Back to Gilwell" as if were a sacred hymn. I jokingly told a 4 beader (from the earlier course) that if I heard that song again I thought my head would explode.Then I got a 10 minute lecture (while at work)about how special it was to be in WB and be greatful for the opportunity. No one including current and past staffers of the event will tell you anything about the course. It's as if you'll be de-beaded for telling about the class. "What happens at WB stays at WB" was one of the first comments made to our class. It was restated over and over again. "Your friends and family just won't understand" was the line that followed. Our council always has problems filling their courses and this economy hasn't helped. I can now see why. I spoke with several of my classmates today, only one in my patrol. Also with one of the QM's too. Got a lot off my chest and feel a bit better. Still think I'm wasting my time,but at least the QM assured me that the next session will be minimal butt time. One of my classmates pretty much summed his and I guess my motives to some point for taking the class. Acceptance by the Scouting world of our existance and brains. In our coucnil you are considered to know nothing until you have least 2 beads. Once you get 2 beads you're worth listening to. 3 beads gets you really good credibility and 4 beads you're a God to scouting. Just ask the grey haired, or n haired 4 beaders and they tell you so. If nothing else the conservation project next session will count toward my A Year of Celebration ribbons. Trying to make lemonade out of the lemons.

a good seat cushion or a lightwieght folding chair. Picnic benches are painful to old, bad hipped butts.

Just finished my first weekend of WB. We were subjected to endless hours in our camp's dining hall. Only a couple of fresh air breaks each day. Ususally for a quick game or a patrol meeting under a dining fly a few feet from the hall while sitting on a picnic table again, just like the ones indoors. The experience was terrible. I found myself driving the 80 miles home last night thinking why did I waste my time, money and inconvience my family for this course. I have 30+ years of teaching experience in various settings - several different sports, college level courses, CPR and swimming courses. I've been using EDGE in one form or another for my entire career. Despite our instrcutors comments, this is not a new concept. See one, do one, teach one has been a staple of medical education for centuries. It's how most things are taught. I have also done LNT classes locally and at PTC. I could have done a better presentation than what we got. I had seen October Sky twice before this class (good flick, but not in a sunlit dining hall). I did learn a couple of cool tidbits about BP and after much frustration got my woggle made. Technical gliches and poor speakers plagued the course. The rockets were the best part. I realize that not everyone comes to the table with the same background and experiences. But knowing what I know now about WB, I can't recommend it to many of my friends (they are teachers in various subjects with 25-35 years of experience). Our instructors have decided that they want us to have a backpacking experience not a camping experience. One cooler limit, prefer no coolers, no equipment drop offs, you gotta carry it in. Smallest tents possible, comfort be damned. No camp stoves, fires and backpacking stoves only. This is not a way to convinvce us Cub leaders to keep on going in the program. Nor is iti a way to get new leaders to come to the course. If WB wasn't so %^&^$# secretive maybe more people would sign up and the right people could take the class. Right now I think I'm 10-15 years too late for what i wanted out of the class. I'm not seeing this as a pinnicale in my Scouting education or a life changing experience. So far it's been an exercise in boredom, exhaustion and financial loss. Not sure if I'll be bothered going back. Too many hassles setting up kid care and 5-6 other events that weekend that sound a whole lot more appealing. This is not what I signed up for, nor am I getting out of it what I wanted. I wanted a deeper understanding of Scouting and it's processes and procedures. I wanted to learn/build my outdoor skills. WB isn't the place fo that.

I've used my own form of Fast Tracks since stating as a leader 4 years ago. It became very apparent very quickly to me as a new leader that if I didn't cover the material in Den it wasn't going to get done. No advancement, no boys. Boys want fun, parents want achievement/results not fridge art, parents will pick that show results. I went to the PTC last year for Cub Scout Extravaganza and they gave us a heads up that these changes were coming. I used the Fast Tracks program last year for Bear and it worked just fine. I probably won't be using it this year with the Webelos I as there are so many local museums, science centers and parks that offer Webelos pins. Anything can be fun! It's up to us as the leaders to make it fun. If we have a bad attitude about the program it rubs off to the kids. One leader in my community centered her whole Bear year around poop. It was a subject her boys were into (gross, but it worked and she gained boys over the year!) They carved poop shapes for knife skills advancement, mixed colors together (add them all together you get poop brown not black), talked about dinouar poop (geology), hiked in the woods and looked for animal poop or puke, and so on. A little creativity is all a leader really needs. Add in some proper prior planning and you've got a great Cub year. If you know the requirements you can substitute on the fly if your first activity flops. ex - switch from flag folding to fitness items if the boys are too wound up that night. You always need a plan A, B, C and for somethings a plan D. Also remember that just because the format is laid out do this, that and the other thing in session one and 3 different things in session two doesn't mean you have to do it that way. If you need do to item 6e this week because it falls into your schedule now and not in 6 sessions when it's scheduled to occur, do it now. ex - Not every Tiger Den can visit the firehall in session 6 as directed, so skip session 6 go to 7 and go to the fire hall when it's good for you and the firefighters. Unless you're part of a rigid trial/pilot group where you must follow the program letter for letter, then the program guides oar just that a guide. Use them, tweek them, throw them out - the choice is yours. As for themes IMHO they were a waste of time. Our Pack didn't use them or follow them except for cheers at Pack meeting. They got in the way of what needed to be done. They were hokey at best and down right stupid at other times. I'm gad they're going the way of the dinosuars. Using the core values of Scouting is more relavent to the program. The books and programs will change. If for nothing else to acknowledge the new belt loops and pins coming on line. The achievements will change some if Lions is brought to the mainstream too. I glad the changes are coming. Too bad I'll be a Webelos II leader when it happens.

I got mine hot off the truck at the Scout Shop I work at. It's great except that with the ribbon trim it's very hard to roll and too thick when rolled to fit through the rubber slide that goes with it (sold separately of course). Anyone have any ideas on how to roll it so it fits the slide?. I don't want to ask 2-3 people to get it on every time I want to wear it. I'm not impressed with it being on a dog either.

My daughter's Junior Troop is composed of mostly soon to be 6th graders, she is a soon to be 5th grader. There are 5-6 other girls that will be entering 5th grade too. The leaders are going to Cadettes with the 10-12 older girls this fall. They have invited my daughter to join them a year early. The leaders have actually asked the Council if they can take her up early. They don't want any of the other younger girls, only my daughter. My daughter is a GS in the USA and a Girl Guide in Canada (we live in a border area and I'm Canadian and was a Guide myself). Long story on how this happened, but she enjoys both programs. Her leaders think this is neat and my daughter has lots of GS/GG knowledge and experience. She's the only girl in the troop that has been to resident camp (3 years worth) and she has lots of Pack family camping experience with brother's Cub Pack. My daughter is torn. She wants to hang with the big girls, but wants to do her Bronze award too. There will probably be no Junior Troop in the fall. No parents have stepped up to run the unit. (Don't suggest that I do it, I Cub Scout with my son, serve on District/Council Committees and assist with daycamp and now I'm woking 60 hours week due to my husband's job loss. I will actually have to curtail a lot of my involvement due to work) My daughter doesn't want Mommy to be her leader either. She wants her time alone. My questions: Do I allow her to move up early? How do I draw the line on activities that she isn't ready for when the rest of the Cadettes do an event? Will she be able to keep up with the requiements (she has a learning disability)? She can't do a lot of Cadette Council events due to her age, so is going up ealy going to be a sore point rather than a benefit? Please help, I know Cub Scouts and Girl Guides, I don't know Girl Scouts. Thanks a Confused Mom in Michigan

We gathered items for a soldier in Iraq. We sent left over Halloween candy for the soldiers to give the kids there. We also sent baby wipes, beef jerky, playing cards, drink crystal packets, Girl Scout cookies, popcorn, hand made Christmas ornaments, Valentine hearts and Easter eggs. The Cubs wrote notes or made cards every 4-6 weeks for the year our soldier was there. The kidergarten classes at our CO raise butterflies from cacoons each year so we planted flowers the butterflies liked near the school. This keep the butterflies in the area.

Our Pack camps regularly (2 times a year). We are fortunate to be in a Council with one of the biggest indoor camping programs in the country. Our camp has 30 cabins to use on weekends thoughout the year. We don't have tents or dining flies but we have accumulated 10 large tote boxes of cooking equipment, towels, dishes and silverware. We rent a U-Haul for each camp to the tune of $75 a trip ($150 per year). We finally have a Webelos I den and a Bear den that will do the campout option for their Outdoorsman badges when the time comes instead of the easy out of going for a hike. The camping equiment will probably now get 3 outings a year, adding another $75 to the camping costs for the year. Our camping families have paid for the equipment and split the cost of the trailer rental. It has increased the cost of camps a bit. But our big brother troop doesn't lend anything. They offered to rent us stuff to the tune of $10-20 per person per weekend. It was cheaper for us to to the dollar store and get cooking equipment and linens. We didn't even ask about using one of their trailers (they have 2). Although a trailer would be nice and a great place to store the camping equipment (instead of my garage and basement)I agree it's a huge expense for most Packs. Just because the current families camp doesn't mean the ones in 5 years will. Our Pack is already comtemplating what will happen to the equipment when the current campers leave the Pack. I can't imagine trying to justify a trailer expenses to a group of non campers. I hope our Pack keep camping after I'm gone, but it could be a rough go. The Webelos II don't camp, it's a 4 letter swear word, Webelos I and Bears camp, Wolves don't camp. My only hope is the new Tigers will camp. They have a camping DL. Hopefully he can keep the pattern alive. On the whole a trailer is a nice extra but not worth the expense. Use your money and take all the kids to the District day camp or Coucnil resident camp for free. Go on a cool overnighter at a museum for free. Or in true Scouting spirit help some less fortunate kids to Scout in your Pack or help them start their own Pack.

So far my Webelos 1 den has done the mocassins and the woven camp stool from our local National Scout Shop. Both were age appropriate in my opinion. Although the stool takes about 2.5-3 hours to complete. Some of the boys were losing interest in the project, but it wasn't hard, just repetitive. We are also planning to make handprint napkin holders for Christmas. Trace each of the boys hands on wood, cut out and nail/screw together with a thin piece of wood between the wrists. It can look like praying hands or with the fingers spread out. I suspect that the praying style will be easier to cut. I have to try mock ups of both. A den a few years ago did them but the boys didn't cut the hands out. A leader did it on a jigsaw. I don't agree with that, it's supposed to be a project fo the boys. We are also planning to make pictue frames out of wood moulding. The boys will cut the piece with a miter box and hand saw and nail together, and finish. Hope these ideas help.

If you look closely at the plaid you'll find it is blue and gold and green and red. These are the colors of Cub Scouting and Boy Scouting (albeit the old ones). Since Webelos is the bridge between the 2 programs it is very fitting that the necker and hat have the colors of both programs on them. Although plaid isn't my favorite (I proudly wear a Webelos Leader necker), it beats the alternatives - stripes, polka dots, or camo print. As for new hat styles, BSA is updating the Boy Scout and Venturing uniforms for the centennial, it was only a matter of time before they got to the Cubs. Unfortunately, my boys all bought hats for crossover and paid full price 2 months ago.

I too have found that kids these days have very little fine motor control and dexterity. I do Cubs and Girl Scouts and none of them can tie knots, cut well with good scissors, or sew a simple running stitch even with instruction. My assessment of the problem is today's parents want it done now and done right so when the kid takes too long the parent takes over and does it for the kid. The kid never learns to manipulate anything. Video games and computers are no help either. Instead of giving kids real paper and paint or crayons they let the kid draw on the computer. Velcro shoes, slip on shoes and slip fastner instead of button pants don't teach kids anything but they're easy for parents and teachers to deal with. I too just finished day camp. The biggest frustration point for our staff - parents doing the projects for the kids or tucking the project away and saying we'll do it at home so you don't get dirty here. I know those projects we staffers work so hard to create aren't being done at home. Best line from a parent at camp to one of my fellow staffers "How dare you let Junior paint an ugly picture. I demand that he gets another chance to make something pretty." The kid was working on his Webelos artist badge - the part about mixing colors. I know Junior will never forget that when you mix all the colors of paint on the table you end up with an ugly shade of brown. Mom mentioned it every half hour for 3 days.

Scouter1960 I've heard some really nasty things about Camp Gerber on this side of the state. I'm assuming by your report these may not be true. Perhaps it's just protectionist drivel as many people in my aera are growing tired of the same old things at camp run by the unchaging "dinosaurs". And the "dinosuars" are trying to keep their jobs. I'd love to hear more about the program and the camp. Thanks To All, Thanks for all the great sharing. Lisabob you are a master googler. I've tried to find things and haven't had much luck.

eisely could you tell me where your Council is please. My Council has run Cub and Webelos resident camps for years. Cubs camp 3 days/2 nights and Webelos camp 4 days/3 nights. Camp offers swimming, shooting sports, scoutcraft, some academic belt loops (map and compass, geography, misic, art), Eco Con is a great draw too. Advancement is available at all ranks from Wolf up. Webelos can work on 4-6 pins per camp, mostly outdoor type pins. Camps aren't well attended less than 10% of eligible Cubs/Webelos attend each year. The biggest problem in our camps is they have gotten stale. The same things year after year, in the same routine. On another thread I've asked about longer camps for Webelos or motivated Cubs. I really think if the kids are into it they should be able to go for a longer duration. I too have seen a correlation between Cub/Webelos resident campers and a positive transition into Boy Scouts. The boys in our area that camp at Cub/Webelos summer camps tend to go into and STAY in Boy Scouts. In the past 3 years in my Pack only 1 (out ot a possible 12) Webelos scout has gone to a troop and stayed. While he didn't resident camp he camped with older brothers and an ASM dad. The other kids never camped, in fact it was a bad word in our Pack before my Den arrived and wanted to camp as Tigers. Our Council also has day camps that are run at the District level. There is a common theme and each District creates it's own program. Twilight seesions are available at 2-3 out of 7 Districts. These Districts also run day sessions. In our District we've found that twilight parents are involved and motivated while day parents expect babysitting service. We'd love to have twilgiht only camp but with nealy 400 kids to serve we can't accomodate everyone in the evening. Getting the kids outside is the important thing. Getting them used to the Coucnil camp is a bonus. I have no wories that my son will OK in 2 summers at his first Boy Scout camp. He's comfortable there.

The new Cub Sports and Academic book should be out in the fall of 2009 with all the new belt loop and pins. I work for BSA National Supply and that's what we've been told. There will be 11 in all. The new ones if you want the names are listed in the Insignia Guide at the bottom of the page with belt oops and pins on it. Will post a note when I hear of a due date for the book's release.

Hi, I'm the mother and den leader of a very active Webelos I scout. He has gone to summer resident camp at our Council camp for 3 years (counting the one in a couple of weeks)now. He has become bored with only getting to camp for 3 days and 2 nights. This year we are staying for 2 sessions (back to back)in an effort to give him more of what he wants at camp. Our local camp is very set in it's ways, not much variation from year to year. They are dead set against extending session lengths. "It's been this way for years and it's always worked." The only problem is it's not working. Cubs numbers are dropping. I serve on the camping committee and have tried to change things, but I'm beating my head against a brick wall. He has been to a local YMCA camp for a week and to the PTC day camp at Philmont. He has also done day camp in our District for 4 years. His statement to me this year when we registered fo camp was "why does my sister the Girl Scout get to go to camp for a week and I only get 3 days?" Does anyone have suggestions of longer Cub camps in their Councils we can look at for next year? We're in SE Michigan. I don't have a problem driving for 6-10 hours to get to somewhere my son will enjoy. We drive almost 2 to our Council camp as it is now. Other Councils in our area also use the 2-3 days of camp model too. Thanks for the help!

I have used denners for both Wolf and Bears and will use them next school year in Webelos I recommend drawing names from a hat. The first month we did it we voted, secret ballot style. At the end of meeting there were 3 boys crying because their friends didn't vote them denner or assistant denner. My boys collected dues, took attendence and recorded uniform status. They were also paper passers/collectors, and generally the den gophers. Eveyone got a turn being either a denner or assistant denner. Yes Bear Cubs can use denner or assistant denner as a leadership role for advancement in 24b.