Troop185

Our PLC and Adult Committee Meetings are the same night. PLC 6:30 - 7:30; Committee Meeting 7:30 - 9:00. Our SPL attends the Committee Meeting; is first on the agenda, and gives a report to the Committee on what the PLC has just decided; and then leaves.

Our older scouts do the program as part of the campfire at Tenderfoot Weekend.

Our troop always camp at Camp Greilick; however, one of our Assistant Scoutmaster move up to Boyne 2 1/2 years ago (he is still semi-active with our troop). He works for Boyne Mountain Ski Co, and he should be able to help you out. Send me a PM, and I will send you his e-mail.

Square feet requirements has to do with long term resident camp. Troops doing weekend camping, and trips where you are moving every day [backpacking/canoeing/etc.]; do not have to worry about it. Troops that do their own summer camp, or use their own tents at a summer camp; could be require to have so many square feet per camper. However, unless you get an order from your state health department; I would not be concern about it.

I agree, this is great for the older scouts and gives the younger scouts something to look forward to.

I do not think it would be a problem with the tour permit. You are all going to the same area, and you do have two adults names to put on the permit. Just list the total numbers of scouts. [i would make sure the older scouts had a way to contact and check in with the adults.]

What the rush?

Have the den leader schedule a field trip to the local pool. [When I was a Webelos Den Leader - we went swimming all the time!] The scouts can show off to their Webelos Leader.

We run a separate program for the Webelos, in the same area - so they can observe what is going on with Tenderfoot Weekend. They can see the scouts working in the ax yard, etc. The Boy Scouts come in on Friday after dinner, and the Webelos come in at 1:00 on Saturday. Everyone leaves by 9:30 a.m. on Sunday(Mother Day).

I assign one or two older scouts that volunteers (usually Eagle or Life rank), to be the Den Guide for each Webelos Den. They help the Webelos set up their tents, and then will work on Outdoorsman Activity Badge or other activities badges with the den, if the Den Leader request it. We also, set up a swinging rope (Acid Pit) and a blindfold maze just for the Webelos. They really enjoy both of them. Their guide also make sure they have a skit for the campfire that night. After dinner, the adults were having Scoutmaster Conferences and Board of Reviews with the new Boy Scouts, that had completed all the requirements for Tenderfoot; and I notice that the Webelos Guides were just having fun with the Webelos - playing tag, etc.

I send out a brochure (with pictures) on the Webelos Campout to all the packs in November. I send out the same information, with a Registration Form, the first of April. I encourage them to drop off the Registration Form at one of our troop meeting, but most people mail them to my house. Our 30 Webelos came from 5 different packs this year. (Our feeder pack had 11 Webelos by themselfs.) Our 23 new Boy Scouts this year, came from 7 different packs.

Our troop has been around 75 scouts for the last several years. For years, we were around 30. About 15 years ago (for 3 years in a row), our District combined the Fall Camporee with (what they called) a Show-O-Ree for the Webelos. The Webelos came out and visited the troops that were camp there. I am a low ropes instructor, and set up a couple of mazes and the Acid Pit for the Webelos. We also cooked cookies in a cardboard box for them. The Webelos voted our troop #1 for the first two years at the Camporee. Our troop then jump to about 50 with the the new scouts. I ask several of them, why they joined our troop. The #1 reason was, they liked our games! About 3 years later, we arrived at about 75.

One more thing: I always send out e-mails to the pack if the troop is doing anything that the Webelos could join us in (going to a college recreation center, archery night, judges for patrol's cookoffs, etc.) Over Memorial Weekend, the troop is going to the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario (about 300 miles). 4 Webelos and their dads are joining us! I am sure they would not be interested, if they had not already camped with the troop.

We have a large troop, about 75 scouts. In 2005, thanks to the idea we got from this web site, we started our first ever, Tenderfoot Weekend. We have it in May in the youth area of a real nice, local, county park. It has been a great success! In 05, we had 19 new scouts attend, with only 7 leadership scouts. The past two years, we have had over 25 leadership scouts to help the new scouts. Our new scouts have a good time, and are encouraged to reach 1st Class in a year, so they can work at next year's Tenderfoot Weekend.

Last year, we started our first ever, Webelos Campout. We have it the same weekend as Tenderfoot Weekend. The reason we decided to do it in May with our Tenderfoot Weekend was: Our troop does not do very many local campouts besides Tenderfoot Weekend (we travel a lot); we thought it would be priceless for the Webelos (and their parents) to see our older scouts working with our new Boy Scouts; and we would have contact information on all the Webelos that come, while they are still 1st year Webelos.

Last year, 9 Webelos were registered, only 5 show up (the weather was bad), but the 5 had a good time. 4 of the 5 have since joined our troop (the other one has droped out of scouts). This year, we had 30 Webelos registered, and 27 show up (again the weather was bad). Everyone had a good time, but it really stretch our troop facilities to the limit.

We used all the scout's tent for the new Boy Scouts and the Webelos (plus 5 of my own tents). The leadership scouts slept in their own tents. The park provides six platform tents with 2 bunks (4 beds)in each. Most of the adult men slept in these. Some, and one mother, slept in their own tents.

Cooking stations were a problem afer the Webelos arrived at 1:00 on Saturday. The Webelos group count was 50 (Webelos, parents, & Boy Scouts working with the Webelos). The Grub Master for the Webelos pre-cooked the meat the day before, and we had the Webelos cook (warm up) in aluminum folds over coals; to leave the stoves for the Boy Scouts. We had about 12 dutch overs going to feed everyone after the campfire (around 135 people). We gave out our troop's neckerchiefs at the campfire to the new Boy Scouts, and have a lot of visiting, new parents come out.

All in all, it was a great success despite the bad weather, and a good problem to have. We are going to try, but wonder if we can continue to do both in the future. I can only see it growing bigger and bigger!

I have a canoeing story too!

It was a neat experience for me because I found out that my son had the determination to be a success in life. I knew he was smart (I didn't know how smart), but I didn't know until the canoeing trip, if he had the determination to go on when things got tough.

My son was 11 yrs. old and we were on our first trip to Northern Ontario with another leader and three other young scouts. We found ourselfs on a large lake with the wind blowing in, waves, etc. We had three canoes for the six of us. My son being the best canoeist of the scouts, was in the back of the third canoe, with his buddy in the front.

The wind was so bad, you had to keep paddling or you were going backwards. It started to rain and we could not take the time to pull our rainsuits out of our backpacks, or we would have been blow backward. My son was extra frustrated because his buddy was trying to talk to him in the canoe, and he could not hear him because of the wind. We were heading for a island on the lake to try and cut down the wind.

Somehow, I manage to get my canoe over by my son and ask him how it was going. He had tears in his eyes, He said, "I been watching that rock [over on the shore] for the last 15 minutes, and we haven't moved a foot!" I told him he was doing great, but thinking to myself, he was probably right!

Somehow, we all made it to the island where we got to rest. I knew in my heart, this kid is going to do OK in life. MY son is a Eagle scout and an ER Doctor now!

Several years ago, we caravan with a big group 300 miles, from Michigan to Hocking Hills in Ohio. Three of the drivers were women. Every stop (for rest room, gas, etc.) was at least 1/2 hours. We got to the youth camping area two hours after the time I would have arrived if we did not caravan.

Now I give all the drivers a map, my cell number, and tell them I will meet them there.

On our troop's calendar last summer, we had five one week trips: Chicago Boy Scout Camp, Detroil Boy Scout Camp, Florida Sea Base, Minn. Boundary Water, and Northern Ontario; and we had three four days trips: Lime Island in the Upper Penisula of Michigan, White Water Rafting in Penn., and a backpacking/cabin trip for the new scouts in upper Michigan. The only two troop meetings we had were for the scouts the week before they went to summer camp.

Summer is for camping, not troop's meeting.

In 1981 our Cub Scout Pack was started. I was the Webelos leader. We had one Webelos meeting and then went camping to the Boy Scouts Fall Camporee. [Webelos was a one year program in thoes days, and Webelos were encourage to camp at the Camporees.)

We took 12 Webelos and 11 adults. We found out how unorganized the Boy Scouts were. It snow that weekend. Everyone had a good time!

They gave everyone a patch for the Camporee. I put that patch on my right pocket and it is still there 28 years later.

Some people just do not like camporee!

The last one I camp at (I often go out for part of the day and visit when our troop is there) was over 20 years ago. They gave us a small rope off area in a field, to set up in. There were other troops all around us. There were all kinds of rules, such as quiet time from 11:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m. which no one seem to paid attention too. Our troop turned in at 10:00 and they were quiet. However, no one could sleep with hundreds of other scouts running around.

The topper for me was the out-houses. They had them from a rental company all line up. The scouts went in a out of them all day, peeing all over the seats. Of course is got below freezing at night, and guess who had to go sit on one in the morning.

I guess I am just too old. I do not like crowds. I love wilderness camping with a small group.

The sad fact is, if your 6 year old son has been out backpacking with you, he already has more camping experiences than some of our Eagle scouts!

Many years ago, when Webelos was a one year program,(and we did not have all the safe scouting rules for cub scouts) we took the Webelos canoeing down a local river for their first den meeting of the year. We were on the river for less than two hours, and then stop to cook dinner. One of the Webelos said "This sure beat making things out of macaroni!"

I have been the Webelos Coach for the last 20 years or so for our feeder pack. I really enjoy the Webelos, and I think you will too. Cut back on Den Meeting, have lots of field trip. Take them swimming, camping with the Boy Scouts, get a Den Chief. Have fun and the scouts will too!

Our pack have the scouts go outside with the Webelos Coach (me) and the Assistant Den Leaders, and the Den Chiefs. We play Capture the Flag. I usually tell everyone to get a buddy from their den. Then I have one buddy on one team, and the other on the other team. It is a fast way to make up teams. The Tiger Scouts do not really know what they are doing, but have fun running around. I have the Den Chiefs look after them.

Everyone seems to have fun and it is a game that 1st graders can play with 5th graders.

I look at it as a opportunity, as part of the trip experiences, rather than a burden. We have a similar troop, except we are co-sponsor by a Catholic Church. About half of our scouts our Catholic. Everyone know we are going to Mass if the trip is on a weekend. At communion, the non Catholics can stay in the pew, or go up with cross arms for a blessing.

Last week, I had a group of 1st year Boy Scouts up to my cabin for two nights, and one night backpacking out to the sand dunes next to Lake Michigan. We schedule the trip to go home Saturday night, with a stop to attend Mass with Fr. Joe. We did not have to stop, but I wanted to, and put it on the schedule. (I only get to see Fr. Joe once or twice a year.) I can not tell you how welcome everyone was to us. Everyone is always glad to see the Boy Scouts, and Fr. Joe is very special. It was one of the highlight of the trip for the scouts.

I am planning a wilderness trip in August to Northern Ontario for a week. Saturday night we are going to drive 50 miles south of Wawa, Ontario to make camp. We are going to canoe to island, set up camp, and then canoe back to the van and drive back to Wawa for 7:00 p.m. Mass. Years ago, we would have driven to Indian River, Michigan Sunday morning on the way home(largest crucifix in the world and outdoor Mass), but not knowing how long the border crossing is going to take, we will attend Mass in Wawa Saturday night - and everyone will be happy to see the scouts in uniforms. And it will be part of the experience for the scouts - part English, part French.

One year we went to a Mass at a church share with a Protestant denominations. The Catholic have Mass on Saturday, the Protestant have their service on Sunday. The scouts went into the church and came back out quickly. "There is a dead women in there!" It seem that there were no funeral homes in the small town, and when someone died, they laid them out in the church. Mass was cancel that weekend, but what stories the scouts had to tell when they got home.

In True Believer troop, I would not find any objections in dropping scouts off at a Presbyterian Church, with no adults. I would think I could trust them to represent our troop.

We took our troop there this past Easter,from Michigan (about our 10th time.) We went mid week and had the youth area to ourselfs (it is usually crowded on the weekend.) First night we did Ash Cave. The next day we did Cedar Falls and hiked over (about 3 miles) to Old Man Cave, eating lunch on the trail. The water level was up, and about every turn, there was another waterfall. From Old Man Cave we drove up to Rock House, and then to Conkles Hollow before we ran out of time.

Our scouts love Hocking Hills!

Two years ago, our Committee Chairman had a break down on a scout trip. He had the scouts (in full uniform) out of his vehicle and along side of the road. He said he could not believe how many people stop and offer help. One person, a mechanic, even fix his car for him!

We always travel in full uniform!

We have a outdoor Court of Honor at out Tenderfoot Weekend in May. One of the older scouts working on Communication M.B., M.C. the Saturday night campfire. The leadership group elect a SPL for the weekend. He gives out the rank advancements (unually it is not only Tenderfoot ranks, but one of two of the leadership scouts will advance in rank that night.)

The campout is held in our local area. Committee members and extra Assistant Scoutmasters are invited out for dinner and the campfire, and to do scoutmaster conferences and Board of Reviews before the campfire.

We usually have a lot of first time scout parents camping with us for the weekend. But all the parents are invited out for the campfire. The adult grup master has four dutch ovens going to give everyone a snack after the campfire. Every new scout receives a Troop nerchiefs that night.

We have used a branch on a tree!

Have the scouts get into a circle. Everyone places their hands inside the circle and grap the hands from two different people. They can not grap the hand of anyone standing next to them. The object is to get untangled and end up in one big circle, still holding hands.

I like the idea of patrol camping without adults. However, one story I want to share happened about 20 years ago. Our troop was camping in a old girl scouts camp for the weekend in April. The older scouts were giving permission to camp by themselves - no adults. They move downstream along a river, about 1/2 mile from where the rest of the troop was camp at. The next day, the older scouts discovered a old refrigerator along the shore of the river with its door missing. They put the smallest of the scouts that were with them, inside the refrigerator and attempted to float him down the river. Unfortunately for the scout, the refrigerator did not make a very good boat. It filled with water and he got soak. The water was very, very cold. The scout got sick and this was how the adults learned of the adventure.

I was never in Cub Scouting, but join Boy Scouts when I was 12. I completed everything for 1st Class but swimming. Back in thoes days, you could not work on merit badges until you were 1st class. There was not much for me to do at the meetings, but I did enjoy playing dodge ball the last half hour of each meeting. We meet in a elementary school gym and always played dodge ball. I quit scouts in 9th grade at the beginning of basketball season. The basketball practice was in the evening, and instead of going inactive until the season was over, I just quit.

In college I was coaching at a Catholic High School and became a merit badge counselor for their Boy Scout Troop. One summer, I even spend a couple of nights at summer camp with them. I continue as a merit badge counselor, on and off, after graduation and I became a physical education teacher.

About 26 years ago, the Catholic school that my kids were attending, decided to start a Cub Scout pack. I became the Webelos den leader. We had 12 - 5th grade Webelos (1 yr. program). We had one den meeting before going to the Boy Scouts Fall Camporee. Despite the fact that it snow that weekend, and we found out how unorganized the Boy Scouts were, we had a good time. Every scout had their dad with them except for one of the scout that came from a family of 12, and one scout who mother was due to have a baby any day.

I continue as the Webelos leader for several more years before becoming an assistant scoutmaster and Webelos coach. One year the scoutmaster had a younger son in Webelos. The scoutmaster became my assistant Webelos leader. The two of us had Boy Scout meetings on Tuesday, 5th grade Webelos on Wednesday, and 4th grade Webelos on Thursday.

This is one of my pet peeves (the other is Trading Posts)with Boy Scout Camps and activities like Camporee. Their schedule is always lights out at 11:00 p.m., up at 7:00 a.m., unless you are a cook, than you have to get up earlier. They always have a adult schedule - 8 hours. Scouts need 9 - 10 hours of sleep.

Several years back, our troop went to a 10:00 p.m. curfew. If the adults want to stay up and talk quietly around the fire, they can. But everyone else (including me) is in bed.

On high adventure, the mosquitoes usually drive everyone into their tents at dusk. We always get 9 - 11 hours of sleep. I have had several adults tell me, the only time they get any sleep, is when they go on a scout camping trip!