blw2

yeah, I would think doing it with scouts would add another logistic challenge, and that is the shuttle ride.... with even a patrol sized group it gets tougher to station a car at the ending trail head..... not impossible, but maybe more common for it to be an out and back hike, back tracking for the return....

we tried surveys a couple of times, but it was more about ranking places to go..... finding where the most interest is. I can't say that it really helped all that much..... most of our folks don't read emails or participate in stuff like that much. and beside this would steer it to be to/from adults too much I might suggest a 5 minute or less open discussion at a pack meeting, focusing on input from the scouts but to a lessor degree involving the parents in the discussion too....ending with an open invitation to approach any scouter with additional comments/feedback/emails....

I'm not a fan of lanterns rank them right up there with loud boom-boxes but a lot of guys in our troop are using those inflatable solar lanterns. like this one https://www.rei.com/product/100705/mpowerd-luci-original-inflatable-solar-lantern except the ones with frosted balloons are better for light dispersion As lanterns go, I like 'em.... not so blinding to those of us nearby that aren't in need of the general task lighting...

yeah, running 45-50 miles per day on average..... he wasn't packing much, if anything at all. That took a logistics team to support for sure!

or class "A"

I'm not intimately familiar with everything in our trailer but based on what I have seen, the things that are in there that could likely be left behind include several large LP tanks with trees and lanterns (my personal opinion these are not necessary) large inventory of extra sleeping bags and I think tents. ( a spare or maybe two would be following the motto, more than that are not likely needed.) a stock of tarps i bought last summer camp since the wall tents were riddled with holes and lots of rain was forecast (one or two might be a good idea, but no need to bring them all every trip out) dutch ovens (when they aren't planning to be used) huge camp kitchen table set-ups (my personal opinion these are not necessary) large dinning canopy ez-up tents (maybe only when rain is forecast?) Some of this stuff, like tarps for instance, I can see coming into unplanned use just for instructional purposes..... a tarp perhaps when teaching a scout rope work, might be useful to show practical applications .... so I can see where although not necessary, it's nice to be able to have them along. and a trailer allows options for things like that.... and the trailer is useful for having a spare sleeping bag or two on hand and supplies such as trash bags and wood tools without having to load before a trip and unload and store after it....

I'm not even really sure what triggered it, but I've really become curious or interested in the trail. Something about it really appeals to me. I have long thought that I would love to gear up and take my son for a short section hike.... just a night or two perhaps. Lately, I've been thinking about what it would be like to do more. I've recently streamed a few videos flip flop flippin Southbounders (which turned out to be fiction, but still...) A Walk in The Woods Beauty Beneath the Dirt ....and a few others and I've read a few trail journals online.... A couple years ago I watched a really nicely done film Mile....Mile and a Half About a group that did the Muir trail I have been thinking.... and this is all me dreaming....but Maybe, just maybe, if I can spur on enough interest in my son and others, we might consider doing a section with the troop, or as a patrol. Personally, I'd bet they would get more out of doing that then a week in a traditional summer camp. Anyway, just thinking there's likely to be folks here that have done it, or part of it.....or that ther's folks here like me that would like to..... Hoping to spur on some stories, etc....

The thing I remember about using liquid fuels is the mess and trouble of dealing with it. LP (or isobutane) is just clean, never get your hands dirty, never worry about spilling, funnels, etc.... I have been thinking of playing around with the idea of alcohol stoves on my own, considering lightening the load.... but i understand it wouldn't really be a troop thing.

I have one of these http://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/new-us-military-m1950-gas-stove?a=459602 My dad picked it up someplace and gave it to me years ago. I love the versatility, and it works great....but frankly I'm a bit scared of it. One of these days I might tear it down and give the seals a good look-see.

isn't white gas a bit harder to find these days?

this is something I have been thinking of these last few days Our troop trailer was damaged by a falling tree during the recent tropical storm So we're figuring out how best to move forward. I haven't voiced it to the troop yet, just because i know it would be an unpopular belief, but I wonder if a smaller trailer wouldn't be better. Ours was a rather large enclosed dual axle trailer. I figure that when loaded, it was probably too heavy for my half ton silverado. There just isn't any sense in that, IMHO.

This question came up with us just yesterday. Our standing "grub/camp" fee is $20/head I don't know where this came from....it was before my time. Anyway, a few of us were discussing this and it was asked/mentioned about the idea of a multi-scout discount I just said well IF $20 is what it costs per person, then how will it be any less that $40 for two scouts? That being said, I realize that the $20 is based on some empirical average to cover stuff. Personally, I'm in favor of moving to an "actual-cost" basis. Something that as treasurer I intend to look at more closely as I'm able to collect data on actual costs over several events.

our pack and troop has always done one version or another of a marching ceremony script, where the color guard marches the unit and US flags forward, crosses, and posts the 'colors' Then They always cross and return! ugh! it drives me nuts that they don't get the whole deal about the US flag always being to it's own right At the den level, starting around bear I think, we really focused hard on practicing it Then as CM I made several attempts at really teaching this concept at the pack meetings. The scouts I find really don't seem to care, and maybe even more so they are just confused by the whole script thing and I see this carried up to the troop. I think a few of the scouts kindof almost get it, but they of course falter when the older scouts direct them to do it the right way. Anyway, we never did den flags, except in the den meetings, and then it took the place of the pack flag in the posting ceremony. I always imaged though, that in a pack meeting the den flags would be posted at the den tables during pack meetings.

Our pack would always just poll the leaders in attendance..... with the derby chairman being the deciding vote in case of tie..... but seriously it was not a high pressure serious thing, and usually unanimous. Personally, I'd be in favor of setting it up so that the scouts themselves decide. Make up ballot lists and ask the scouts to write down the number of the car that gets "best in show", "most patriotic", or whatever your classifications are. Then task a parent from the audience to tally them up while you run another heat.

Love it! I have dropped lots of hints to my son about the possibility of doing such things as a "patrol" outing. Even though he's PL, he's still more in the follow along and ride the bus mode. Hopefully in a year or two it'll catch on. I would love to be able to witness this sort of thing! (a big reason I'd prefer to be ASM than treasurer)

maybe so, but that has nothing to do with being thrifty. Responsible perhaps, but thrifty....or any other point in the law.... not so much.

Just yesterday, my son says to me that he didn't think he wanted to go to summer camp next year. I forget now how exactly it came up.... the PLC was yesterday evening so maybe we were talking about that upcoming meeting..... but it was out of the blue. Anyway, i asked why, of course? and he mumbled something about "being too busy", or some such thing.... now this was out of the blue, not me bringing it up or prodding in any way at all! and he continued....."and besides, you probably won't be there so he wasn't all that interested." He's not an overtly homesick kinda kid, but he is young.... so that whole thing is part of it.... I had told him previously that i went this year as Committee Member, but that I probably wouldn't get to go again... but his primary reason seems to be more about too much structure last summer, and not enough fun. I of course thought of this thread so i'm happy to see it still active. Well we had a little chat about the whole thing and I put a bug in his ear about the idea of just signing up for a minimum number of MB classes so that he could enjoy more free time And this also reminds me of a comment he made right after summer camp, or maybe even on the way home, about it being too far away (the troop had elected to go 550 miles). It seems that the adults mostly steer it towards places at a higher elevation because it's too hot here in FL, seem to be pushing to go about the same next summer.

yeah, the way I see it is that sometime a long time ago somebody was looking for a point in the law to help steer a scout to raise funds so.... since thrifty is really the only point that has anything directly to do with money, that's the meaning they twisted to work for them. Thrifty, like the other points, is a character trait to strive for.... but in my understanding of the English language, it really does not have anything to do with paying your own way. don't take my word for it: http://www.dictionary.com/browse/thrifty http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thrifty https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/thrifty http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/thrifty http://www.thefreedictionary.com/thrifty http://www.yourdictionary.com/thrifty

something enroute, or are you flying in down there and only looking for something close, in the Keys?

does thrifty = paying your own way? no way.... thrifty means thriving, prosperous, successful.... being careful and wise with your money.... and I can see extending that to equipment and other stuff. I can see a stretch using the modern twist to the meaning, for it to also mean something like not wasteful, doing a lot with a little. I can't get to paying your own way in any of that.

Off topic of fundraising, but related me thinks..... As treasurer, I have been trying to work with the scribe, making effort to give that scout something more to do than just wear the patch for 6 months.... Since I'm treasurer, I'm looking at ways to get the scout involved with collecting money and such, and at the same time thinking of ways to try to get the parents out of it more, and let the scouts bring in their own money... Anyway, a couple weeks back I was participating in a chat over at ScoutmasterCG. Clarke suggested that maybe it's a good idea to get the scouts completely out of the money thing, and let them focus on the fun and learning part of the program. His point more or less if I understood it correctly, was that there really isn't a lot of value in it for the scouts that they don't already get elsewhere.... and that it's more of a distraction really. To let them do the outdoor stuff that they might only get in scouting. I'm not really writing it all very well, but that was the overall gist. Not a bad point I think. I mean think about it.... Fundraising (or collecting and tracking who paid and who didn't) is really a whole lot of papershuffle. Take things to an extreme and say it this way..... if we were to make scouts 80%, 90%, 100% paper work and admin, then where's the fun in that? Not too many scouts are gonna stick around to get the good stuff that Scouts offers..... don't get me wrong, i see the points about practicing responsibility, learning about working with money, etc... but i do think this counterpoint has some merit.

I've gotta chuckle. In my case it was/is a constant tiptoe. Mom often thinks that I am spending too much time and energy on Son, while not reciprocating with the girls and her. It's a tiptoe along the highwire thing.... and don't expect much thanks in return.....

I agree with others.... good to maintain some cushion as others have said. I'll add that you need enough to start the year with too. You sorta answered that yourself with the $1,000 worth of reservations. There could be some inventory you need to cover for fundraising events as well.... I'm rolling into the start of my first year as treasurer, but I saw a similar thing with the pack, too. We had enough in the bank to cover those initial reservations, + a boatload of patches and awards earned since the last COH + a few things related to summer camp that came up and a few other things like you mentioned with trailer repair/maintenance.... My other comment is to suggest you look into this practice of crediting ISA's, and make sure this is something you want to continue doing. My 1st duty in transitioning to the treasurer job was some lengthy research and discussions on this topic. I honestly think that like you, we are also running too big of a balance. Instead of suggesting the corn maze though like you did, I plan on suggesting we let the scouts come up with something for the excess.... once I have a bit better handle on what our budget really is....

yeah, but I think you need to remember this is not he first time you would have been asked/told Seems like you might be an auditory person. This idea....It's just a visual aid to come at it from another angle for the visual types. Perhaps to offer a little paradigm shift for folks.... to help put things into perspective. I'm sure you would already be wearing the shirt, based on the first several verbal &/or written attempts that @ tigerfoot made asking for help. The props might come out for those that aren't you. Don't be so quick to poo poo on it for them....

I found this script someplace, maybe here on this forum.... I used it but unfortunately I think it was too late to get much impact..... the night I did it was a very poor turn-out and so I made the same point but just abbreviated it.... I don't know, I thought it was impact-full, to think about how little time we have to be influential with our kids.... and it might wake some folks up. The script says cash register tape.... I used just a long measuring tape, 50 ft or 100 ft.... “Start with a cash register tape that is very long-the longer the better. Use this tape to represent the lifeline of a Cub Scout in your pack-no need to name someone. Place highly visible marking at equal intervals across the tape, numbered from 0-90. Have a Scout hold on end of the tape and another Scout hold the other end so the entire tape is visible to your audience. You’re ready to deliver your message….†“Folks this tape represents the lifeline of one of our Scouts. I would like to spend a moment to a moment to explore the times in there lives when as adults; we can make the highest impact in their lives that they will remember†Walk from the low numbers to the high numbers of the tape, saying “At the far end of the tape-we can all acknowledge that it is out hope that as adults, our kids outlive usâ€. Tear off any of the tape beyond the number 65, and allow the scout to let it drop to the floor as he now hold the tape at the number 65 Walk back towards the low numbers on the tape and share, “of course-who among us can truly recall those early years when out parents fed us, changed our diapers and taught us how to talk?†Tear off any of the tape before the age of 6, and allow the scout to let it drop to the floor as he now holds the tape up at the number 7. Next say “Once our kids reach college age-they tent to move out for school or careers. We really don’t get to see them nearly as often from this point on-as we do now†Tear off an of the tape beyond the number 18, and allow the scout to let it drop to the floor as he now holds the tape at the number 18. “In some families, once kids reach their teenage years-it can be challenging to find ways to stay connected with our kids. They develop relationships out of the home, explore new interests-in short, it may no longer be as cool to hang with mom or dad or the family.†Tear off any of the tape beyond the number 12, take both ends of the remaining tape from the scouts and raise it up for the audience to see. “As you can see-it turns out that that years your son is in Cub Scouts are the ones that they will be the most receptive for you to make and impact in their lives that they will remember. Out pack can use your help on a task or two to make this experience memorable and impactful for all out kids. Please see us right after the meeting and we can tell you how “