blw2

I agree with you! I can maybe.... just maybe.... agree with the idea of making directions or templates available, if such a thing exists... so that a boy could do the activity on their own if they wanted.... But only if it existed, like say if you had an already typed up and digitized instruction sheet and only if it were possible to share in such a way that doesn't involve further work on your end.... like a quick email or online post maybe.... But nothing wrong with not making it available either..... life's lessons and all....

yeah, I think the key is the "buffering" battery. I'd guess that there are losses this way due to the inefficiencies of charging first the battery, then transferring that charge.... but the practical usability is more what I think we are after.... and then there are the thermo electric ideas, like this http://www.biolitestove.com/?gclid=CjwKEAjwi4yuBRDX_vq07YyF7l8SJAAhm0rpAInzBDc5j5gRiEAqQh81m_mRyr3HJQ68YDHTKFn0BRoCBizw_wcB

I would agree, if it doesn't interest you or what I read is that it actually is worse, it aggravates you... I would say good on you for stepping aside! When I was running meetings, and I could have been wrong in approach on this, but I tended to try and think first and foremost What will be fun for the boys? and of course making sure that it was appropriate.... I didn't always care if it was exactly aligned with scouting's outdoor method, although that would be the goal.... I figured we picked up the scouting themes of the months and other "key" or "prime" lessons scattered through along the journey, so if a meeting every now and then was was solely just about good clean fun, then great! If the boys have fun, they'll want to come back! And while I also disagree with the focus on the STEM "fad" I do recognize that some of those science parlor tricks can be pretty cool for a boy!

The anker unit I have (link above) has large grommets you could easily lash it to your pack, for example, and hike with the sun at your back.....

I have this one from Anker http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E3OL5U8?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage but sadly (or should that be thankfully?) I have never had call to use it

interesting went over to my diocese page to see if they had posted any statements found this, buried in an FAQ document that was posted some time ago as a result of the youth change. Not sure how to interpret it.... 23. Would a similar change to the BSA adult membership standard be in conflict with Catholic teaching? The USCCB, in its document Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination: Guidelines for Pastoral Care (http://www.usccb.org/about/doctrine/publications/upload/ministry-to-persons-of-homosexualiInclination.pdf), has the following statements which should be applied to adults serving as leaders in Catholic-chartered units: • Persons who experience same-sex attraction and yet are living in accord with Church teaching should be encouraged to take an active role in the life of the faith community. However, the Church has a right to deny roles of service to those whose behavior violates her teaching. Such service may seem to condone an immoral lifestyle and may even be an occasion of scandal. • Special care ought to be taken to ensure that those carrying out the ministry of the Church not use their position of leadership to advocate positions or behaviors not in keeping with the teachings of the Church. They must not belong to groups that oppose Church teaching. It is not sufficient for those involved in this ministry to adopt a position of distant neutrality with regard to Church teaching. • For some persons, revealing their homosexual tendencies to certain close friends, family members, a spiritual director, confessor, or members of a Church support group may provide some spiritual and emotional help and aid them in their growth in the Christian life. In the context of parish life, however, general public self-disclosures are not helpful and should not be encouraged. Any changes to the BSA adult membership standard would need to avoid being in conflict with these guidelines if BSA wants to retain the support of the Catholic Church for its programs.

I would even go so far as to argue that it's a mistake. I was CM for our Catholic parish's pack. My daughter's GS leader, who was new to the whole girl scout thing and was very devicive..... well anyway, she once wrote to me saying something about that she thought that the troop should be parish members only, and commented "that's how the pack runs, right?" I made it very clear that this was not the case. I looked at the pack as a ministry for the parish. If we could bring in a family who would not otherwise come to the parish, they might get to know folks here, get exposed to the parish, perhaps get exposed to other ministries of the parish and who know, they may join the church and convert! Why on earth would any ministry of any Christian church want to exclude based on not being Catholic (or baptist, or lutheran, or whatever)???? It's beyond me why it would even be a thought!!!

yes, they do a couple cub family camp weekends fall and spring, and there's some sort of winter blast thing they do for scouts and Webelos between christmas and new years, but I've not been to that one....

.... ah, lets start with the name.... BOY Scouts

I've seen almost the same thing too.... and far too many kits and cars that were clearly dad built. Sometimes I would ask the boy, "did you make that?".... and he'd of course say yes, since he probably did do a bit of sanding or something.... all I could do is shrug and quietly shake my head.... It all depends on your definition of "did" I guess.

I was a cub scout in Iowa, but as an older boy and adult have mostly been in the South.... but I have visited the snow plenty, skiiing and other stuff. I would love to have had the chance to winter camp as a scout (beyond my freezing rain story I told earlier...) I think it would be great to dig a snow cave to sleep in. I remember fondly that quite that you get in the woods during a snow. I think it would be a great experience.

When i was a scout... this would have been early 1980's in eastern NC.... our troop was camping and it came a freezing rain in the night. Woke up to everything in a nice thick clear ice layer.... Everything was soaked..... nobody could start a fire. I just remember eating frozen hot dogs for breakfast and packing up I'd rather camp in snow any day.

I have my old bicentennial necker from when I was a cub scout Like this one (this isn't mine, just an image I found online) and I have my matching liberty bell woggle too, similar to this one I've worn them several times recently, and was surprised that I NEVER had anyone.... cub or adult.... ask about them.

no kidding! We've done a couple single and double blind taste tests in my house. my favorite GS cookie is the somoa. I actually prefer the Keebler Coconut Dream over the somoa my wife says that somoa is better..... regardless, the elves have done well and these cookies are very good indeed!

yep, but whatever you do make it hands on! It's so tempting in the interest of expediency and safety to show them how to make a fire..... let them make one!

Well I'd imagine that things would run better if they do what they are supposed to do. but there's always a danger of them stepping over a grey line into areas where they shouldn't.... but in the case of being involved in recruiting leaders and making sure that we have the facilities and resources we need.... they should be doing their job.

Mine is a catholic unit. Keep in mind, this linked web site looks to be just one guy spitballing a proposal. It's not anything official from the church.

I have such mixed feelings, but I'd guess 5 years sounds about right Stosh! On one hand I see the need for the separation..... an opportunity for the boys to be boys. But I suspect that girls might bring in a "special interest" to make scouting a bit more interesting for the older boys.... and as a father of a WEBELOS scout with two younger sisters coming up behind.... I'd like to see a better option for my girls than the GSUSA. I've had very little involvement with my Daisy Scout, now Brownie.... as I am not made to feel all that welcome..... at least not nearly so as the moms are in the pack and troop. Overall, I would welcome coed I think.... but I strongly think it needs to be done with separation.... such as girl dens and boy dens, not coed.... and likely the same separation with patrols. Separate, but come together as one unit.....

yes so true..... but the elves are already knocking that line of goods off the pedestal! https://www.keebler.com/en_US/cookies-and-more/fudge-shoppe/coconut-dreams-cookies.html and https://www.keebler.com/en_US/cookies-and-more/fudge-shoppe/grasshopper-cookies.html

we've had more than a few cases of lost applications at least a time or two by council, but it's hard to say if some of them were lost in the unit shuffle. I forgot how many times i filled out the app for my 1st volunteer position with the pack before I finally got registered. More than a few! Then how many times I've filled out the same stupid thing again for position changes, and additional lost apps.... it really is insanity!

I found myself in almost the exact same situation. I agree, keep doing the one job you want to, and let the other fall. Make it clear to everyone that you aren't quitting, but that it's time other pick up some of the pieces. And assuming you are, let it be clear that you are willing to help them get started..... or that you are willing to get out of the way. The way I figured it, if I couldn't do it.... and nobody else stepped up, then it just didn't get done.... and for the most part it wasn't missed. Couple things I wish that I would have done was push harder for the inactive CC to get the completely hands off CO rep in the loop on the situation.... and contacted the district folks to work with the CC & CO earlier and the other thing I would do if I had it to do over again set the expectation early and clear to the entire pack, that every family is expected to do something.

Even if it were clear that it was supposed to be not worked on by a 1st year cub.....I would ask myself, what are the ramifications of a cub scout or scouter going outside of that area of the program? Who will care next year?.... or who will care when the boy goes for 1st class.... or eagle? The answer is that it does not matter. it does not affect anyone and nobody will remember it past next week. SO, if it means that the boys would have fun working on it, then do it..... just by humble and sour opinion.

so right!

oh the pencil whipping.... Gives me heartburn.... & i think the boys do know it.... well a good many do. My son sees it.... but it could I suppose be me subconsciously helping him to.... It just boils down to lazy is as lazy does, and lazy will pass along to those that are his (in my opinion)

I never understood the non-rank things as a boy how is it different requirement done = patch rank, ok not a rank, what do ya mean, er... who cares. the Bobcat thing in cubs the same way.... It just propagates confusion and adds to all the nonsense language in these requirements. Personally, i like the consistency in calling it a rank.