Troop185

It has been a few years, but I have backpacked at Sylvania, the Porkies, Picture Rock, and Isle Royale. Because of the 'bugs', the later in the summer you go, the better. Isle Royale is most crowded the last two weeks of July, and the 1st week of August (after that, everyone has to get back to school; and then, it is not so bad.) I do not care for the boat ride over (15' waves the last time I did it, 1999). Everyone was sea sick! If you are willing to drive about 3 hours past Picture Rock, and wait through Customs, I would highly recommend the Coastal Trail in Lake Superior Provincial Par

One of our Assistant Scoutmaster, send out this "test", to remind the scouts and Webelos, of what to bring to a recreation outing, at the University of Toledo: ~~Test for Scouts going to Toledo 1. At 8:00 a.m. tomorrow morning, I should be: a. Sleeping in my bed. b. Eating my breakfast. c. Walking the dog. d. At Our Lady of the Lakes parking lot! 2. I should: a. Wear my snow suit. b. Wear my gym clothing. c. Wear my swim suit. d. Wear my uniform! 3. I should bring: a. $9.00, plus money for dinner at the Golden Corral b. Troop Permission Form, U of T Rele

My daughter and my grandson, participate in a indoor triathlon, at a local college, two or three times a year. They swim in a pool, ride a stationary bike, and then a treadmill for 20 minutes each. One of the activities I do, to keep myself in shape, is to swim a half mile, 3 times a week. So, I was very surprise two years ago, when my grandson, then 8 years old, and a Wolf Scout did his first triathlon. He swam more laps in 20 minutes in the pool, than I can do in the same time!

I invite the 1st yr. Boy Scouts up to my cabin every summer. The cabin is on 18 acres on the Pere Marquette River in Michigan. We kayak, canoe, tube the river, plus backpack out for a night, at the Sand Dunes next to Lake Michigan. I have a low ropes course, bb’s guns, and archery, at the cabin. We do a lot in three days. We do a kayak practice, on a lake at home, before we leave for the trip. This summer, a new scout show up for kayak practice, with a boy they were babysitting. This boy had been in Webelos, but his mother did not want him to go on to Boy Scouts. She had been a swi

~~What are some other reccomendation for games that can be fun for both boy scouts, and webelos to play. Our scouts and Webelos love Capture the Flag. You can play it with any age scouts.

I can tell you what we do: We have a large troop, and have Tenderfoot Weekend around the 1st weekend in May every year. It is at a local park, and we had 16 new scouts, and about 25 older scouts attend this year. About 5 years ago, we started invited the Webelos to join us, Saturday afternoon until 9:30 a.m. the next morning. One or two older scouts, some Eagle Rank, are assign to work with each Webelos Den. They go over the Outdoorsman Requirements with the Webelos, plus prepare a skit with them, for the evening campfire. The fringe benefits for the troop, is that the Webelos (

I spend the winters in Florida, but got a Michigan BSA license plate last winter. They send me 3 plates, before they got it right, with 185 on it. I put the other two plates on my wife's golf cart. Last Friday, I was crossing the border, from Ontario into Michigan with the scouts. I was pulling a canoe trailer, and the security guard ask me what my van license plate was. He got out of his booth, to go look at my plate!

~~Hey T-185, we do the Bruce Peninsula every other Memorial Day, beautiful. Do you make the trip in one evening? We usually stop at Camp Atawandaron on Friday. Hoping not to steal this threat: Years ago, Camp Atawandaron had a Can/Am Campout. My son (who is 38 now) attended for two years, and really enjoy the scouts from Ontario. One year, they would give the troop a nice campsite, the next, a poor one (low area with lots of bugs). Our troop was due to get the poor campsite, the year I finally talked them into going to the Bruce. We have been going to the Bruce since then. The 1

We look for 3 day weekend, so we have time to go into Ontario. We are going to the Bruce Peninsula this weekend, and it is 300 miles for us (from Michigan). It is not a holiday in Canada, and the campgrounds are not crowded there. Our main problem is going through customs, when we return on Monday - it takes a least an hour. Even though everyone can not go, we always find, that Ontario is worth the trip! We try to go, every two - three years.

~~a rock concert! Another reason to hate Camporee.

I have never understood Boy Scout Camp. Taps at 11:00 p.m, up at 7:00 a.m. Many years ago, when my son was a 1st yr. scout, he went to Boy Scout Camp for 6 days. I picked him up at camp on Saturday, and he talked my ear off for about 10 minutes. He slept the rest of the way back home. He was exhausted! Scouts, especially young scouts, need a lot more sleep than 8 hours. Our troop decided about 10 years ago, that taps would be at 10, not at 11:00. Scouts are not dumb; they know they need their sleep. Several years ago, I was a Provisional Scoutmaster for 40 scouts in a Boy Sco

When my son became a Boy Scout (1985), I had a lump in my throat. I thought "He is no longer a little guy!"

When I first got involved with our troop (about 30 years ago), they never went to any place they could not drive into. They had a large hot water heater, that rode on the tongue of the troop trailer. Two men had to carry it empty. They would keep a fire going under it all day. When you needed hot water, you pore cold water in the top, and hot water would come out on the side. If was really, kind of neat. The first campout I went on with the troop, all they did was eat and wash dishes. They would get the last scout done washing his mess kit, and then, start cooking the next meal. Af

They have some spoof patches here: I do not know if they have anything for a Cub Master wife? http://www.boyscoutstore.com/patches/spoof-patches/

I had a lump in my throat when my son (my youngest) cross over to Boy Scouts. I thought, "Well he is not a little guy anymore!" Three years later, when he had his Eagle Ceremony, I was happy but not emotional. His grandfather had come up from Florida to talk at the ceremony. His wife, my mother had died, and listening to my dad, I felt like she was still there with us. But Eagle was just another step into my son development as a fine, young man.

I am still trying to get over a pack campout at Fort Wilderness! Wow! I wish I was in your pack.

When my son was a first year scout, he did the mile swim at summer camp, in a lake, doing the Doggie Paddle the entire way. Took him a long time, but he did it.

We would count any activity offer by the troop, or a patrol; beside the regular troop meeting. Both examples given would be acceptable.

Qwazse wrote in another forums: " But, any boy with an opportunity to camp with another troop is in a win-win situation. He gets to learn how other patrols do things and maybe that will inform on what he expects from his patrol (whichever one that winds up being)." Two years ago, one of my favorite Webelos, Matthew join another troop. He had moved into our Feeder Pack in 4th grade, and had been on a couple of trips with me. His best friend had two brothers in the other troop, and he decided to join them. His buddy and him were the only two new scouts in the other troop, that year.

I use to take small groups of scouts (up to 8 people) to the Porcupine Mountains years ago. We would rent the few 8 person cabins they had (most were 6 or 4 person), and backpack from one to another, over two or three days. It was nice. You did not have to carry any tents, cooking pots, etc. I stop going because I liked Ontario better. I think 4 people limit is too small for scout groups. Most place I been, have a limit of 8 or 9 in the interior. Two years ago, I took a scout group backpacking over Labor Day Weekend, to the Coastal Trail in Lake Superior Provincial Park, in Northern

Several years ago, I had a small group of 10 years old Webelos, up at Pukaskwa National Park, in Northern Ontario. Very, very demanding terrain. We day hiked into the interior, and back to the campground in one day. [Now days, we backpack in about 2 1/2 miles to a super wilderness campsite on Lake Superior, day hike the next day, and backpack out the 3rd day.] The day hike with the Webelos was probably about 15 miles. I was so tired, I could hardly move when we got back to the campsite. After we cooked dinner, the other dad and I sat down for the rest of the evening. The Webelos played ta

You do not have to worry about the government shutting down. The President and the Congressmen are still going to get their salary!

Yes, our Troop and Pack require it (plus Youth Protection Training). I feel bad for the leaders, especially the ones that our not Catholic, but the diocese require it. And a lot of us, enjoy being sponsor by a Catholic Church / School. I just hope they do not decide that after 10 years of so, we all have to take it again!

I agree with two, no more than three in a tent. Everyone will sleep better! However, several years ago, I had a large group of scouts (about 50) up at the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario. We were short of tents, but had a 6 man, adult tent available. We had a real good group of 2nd year Webelos with us. I was not their Den Leader, but had camp with all of them before. I did not think I would have any trouble with any of them. After threating them with death, if they were not quiet, I put 5 of them in the one large tent. They spend 3 nights together, and had a great time. They were

We use heavy duty, 4 ML plastic sheeting, both inside and outside the tent. You can buy it at Home Depot, Lowes, etc. It does not weight much, once it is cut. We use black for the outside, and cut it to the size of the tent, so it does not stick out. It help protect the tent floor from rocks, roots, etc. Since it is about the same size as the tent floor, it give you a good idea of how level the ground is going to be under the tent, and if you have room there for the tent. I am also a believer in what Cliff Jacobson says. We use clear plastic sheeting for the inside, and it is cu