blw2

yeah, I understood that it used to be the standard...... by troop tradition I meant that they chose to not switch....... Personally, I like consistency and would like to just move everyone over to the green (unless they are wearing a historic uniform where the red would be appropriate.... Scoutnuts idea of new scouts sticking to the new standard and letting the red phase out is more or less what we are doing...... still, I just thought it interesting

I'm with Stosh..... seems like you are over thinking this whole thing.

OK uniform police..... Historically troop has always worn red numbers and red epaulette loops. Came up as discussion point recently because you can't buy red loops at the shop any more. ....So they decided that the troop standard would be either red numbers and red loops or green numbers and green loops Personally. I think it better to conform to standard, and just wear the current national std of green and green and if the boys want to show unit pride in customization, do that by way of neckers. thoughts?

granted, it's not the best..... especially for scouting..... hence my question. but it Shutterfly's defense.....has been functioning for them for some number of years now. On Shutterfly it's just one big email group, so an email goes out to everyone.... boys, parents, leaders, and committee..... or whomever is in the group anyway. It logs the posts and conversations which I think can be useful. And as far as taking days to set it up - she must have manually entered a whole bunch of stuff making quite a nice site!!! My first time ever using it, I set up a page for my daughter's soccer team a couple years ago. Took me maybe 10- 15 minutes. I noticed then that it has a calendar function and some other tools that I didn't get into at all Seems to me that it's not really all that bad of a tool for something like a soccer team or a smaller group that doesn't have a need for levels of structure in communication. We still haven't had a chance to meet again to put this issue to bed.....I've seen troopwebhost mentioned a few times. I need to take a closer look at that soon. & I don't think I've come across mytroop. I'll look for that one too. (edit - I see that it's SOAR My Troop. I have seen that one) Thanks all!

At our recent scout religious medals ceremony in our diocese, there were a few of the older Girl Scouts with vests literally quilted with overlapping patches on the back. with no free space anywhere! Their set-up is very different for sure.....

One of the inherent flaws in the dying academics and sports program..... and in the BSA uniform..... in my opinion There's no really good "official" way for a boy to show off his collection of patches and pins. And to me it can start looking really bad when folks start sticking extra pins and patches on the uniforms, especially when something goes in the wrong place!

sheesh people!...... yeah, I can change clothes under a bath towel if I want....... but I don't want..... especially with a bunch of boys running around!

paper/disposable for cub packs I'm a fan of every boy having their own kit..... I think we should almost always camp as if we are really camping.... that means that you can carry your stuff on your back (or in a canoe, etc...). Depending on the menu, but a flatware set or spork + a plastic bowl from the dollar store usually can get the job done. Maybe add a plastic plate form the dollar store if needed. The only problem I see with it is that, as Jblake pointed out, these can't double as cook ware..... but for me most of my camping food is dehydrated, and I use the pot on my jetboil for the water. Otherwise, it'll almost always be something that we're grilling, tin soldiers, etc.... That being said, I just splurged and bought my Bear son a mess kit.... one of those plastic odd shaped Light my Fire ones. He saw a Boy Scout at the recent WEBELOS AKELA weekend with one and thought it was the best thing ever. He especially wanted the 2-ended spork with a knife built on the edge of the fork end. I tried to explain that he can't hold his food with his fork while cutting with the thing, but that didn't matter. The important thing is he thinks it special and values it. It's his to take care of and his to keep up with.

recently camped (as a cub dad) with the troop at our WEBELOS Akela weekend. We were all sort of mixed together in an area..... adults and boys. Some of the boys were chattering in their tent making noise. Didn't take long before another boy chimed in..."would you guys please be quiet?!!!". They settled right down. Sort of self policed.... seems like the way it should be. Personally, I'm in agreement.... they can stay up all night if they want. My only worry is boys getting up and roaming about in the night and getting into trouble or getting hurt.

+1 on the bites.... and that old canvas was hot too! Interesting point on the netting and poncho..... If it weren't for the lack of privacy for changing clothes, etc..... netting + a tarp shelter (Kelty Noah's tarp or similar) might make for a nice lightweight set-up.

funny.... I've been researching going in the opposite direction. Thinking of getting one of those ultralight tents for myself. I was talking with our troop's ASM the other week, and I mentioned that I like the idea of the boys kitting up as if they are backpacking for every camping trip..... Still bring the trailer and the troop kitchen for many camps, and other stuff maybe for weeklong camps, but going lightweight and minimal a lot would serve as good practice I think..... I do have fond memories of that old canvas though.....

Sounds like you have a strong base in your unit. Good job!

Sorry, I can't offer any sage advice..... but it makes me think of the recent episode of "The Middle" Dad was recruited to be the "Assistant Soccer Coach" for his daughter's team. The coach didn't tell him, but it was all a grand plan for Coach's immediate exit. Very funny..... and very applicable to Scout Leadership.

Hey, thanks. very helpful answers. Tim in NJ.... I can assure you I wouldn't be discouraged if my phone wasn't ringing off the hook. I'm not in it for that. In fact, having this take too much time is one of my big concerns. I'm busy enough in my scouter roles. I just want to help where I can. If I can help 1 boy in the troop by filling a hole of experience that nobody else in the unit has, that's good. My other big concern.... I'm just trying to figure out if I qualify or if I should offer it or not. I just want to be helpful if I can be.... To my question of qualifications...... I'm thinking your statement "Its up to you to decide if you want to share your experiences about the hobbies that you are no longer actively involved in though." points to what I was wondering, but I'm not sure I'm understanding what you meant by that. to that point I haven't been active in let's say both flying and SCUBA for a number of years, not from a lack of interest but from a lack of time and money.... I still have the interest and knowledge....still read about it all the time..... so, maybe to be a good mentor for a boy, but I'm not going out doing these things every weekend, so does that preclude me from fulfilling the need of the boy? In a MBC, do they need just a voice of experience, a mentor, or do they need someone that can say, "hey, I'm going out next weekend to do X. Grab a friend and come along."?

Hey, some people like the bling. It's all good. Personally, I chuckle a little to myself when I see a Scouter with more than maybe 3 or 4 knots, but that's just me. I do admit to being perhaps a bit more humble, with zero knots on my shirt so far and not really all that motivated to pursue it.... BUT.... Actually I do buy into the idea of leading by example and it does seem like a good idea to be working towards something just like the boys are. Same idea really. I actually think there should be more things available for adults to work on.... simpler and maybe a little more achievable stuff too, just for doing the job......not so that we can get more bling, but so that we can show the boys that we too are working towards something.... wanting to earn something.... wanting to improve ourselves. I've looked through this stuff in the past, and in fact recently..... nothing really available for ADL's and the like..... not much for the other committee members either. Some of them require JTE, Summertime awards, etc..... so if a leader happens to be in a unit that doesn't pursue those things, those are out..... So we're back to the OP..... he's led a successful den year, he's done more than just show up. IMHO, he should have some simple award that the pack can give him, just for that alone! just like the boys.... and FOR the boys sake. Not a made up award, but an official something.

I'm a Pack leader, recently also recruited to be the CC for our CO's troop. I have little to no memory of the few MB's I earned as a boy, most were done at summer camp..... and since I'm new with the troop, I really don't know what's involved. The committee has recently surveyed parents for talents and MB's willing to help with. I was thinking of offering to help too. So, I understand required qualifications might differ a bit, but generally I'm assuming either professional experience, education, or a hobby that you know about. Is that right? Then, what is involved exactly? I saw another thread today discussing MBC's and a lot of talk about "classes". I was imagining an individual takes an interest in a given MB. He somehow tracks me down because I'm listed as available for it. Then I help the lad, get him pointed in the direction, maybe walk through the requirements with him, maybe just be available for a phone call or two with questions.... So, what's this about a class? Is it up to the MBC to usher the boy(s) through every step of the requirements? What sort of time commitment is it? For discussion, some of the badges I might be able to help with include: SCUBA - I'm not active, but I'm an assistant instructor / divemaster with trimix cert engineering and drafting - degrees in both pulp and paper - worked in that industry for 16 years before I was lucky enough to get out kayaking - used to do it as a hobby aviation - I'm not active, but I'm a licensed private pilot maybe hiking, home repair, boating, surveying, and a few others.....

Is anyone out there using Google Groups for your troop? Any tips on how you have set it up? Many settings & I'm not sure which way to turn..... Do you have multiple groups or just one for the whole troop? I'm thinking perhaps a group for the committee + Leaders another for the Leaders + Patrol Leaders another for the whole troop + parents My troop currently using shutterfly for pictures and one big email group for the whole troop and parents. we use a combination of dropbox and google docs/google drive for committee agenda and other files. Using Troopmaster to track advancement, but it's email group thing is clunky. Probably not a lot of interest in changing away form this right now, so I'm really just looking for email group solutions...... although interested in other ideas too.

Google Groups looks promising. I've been wanting to play with it more, just haven't had time. My "wants" are similar to yours, except I also want file sharing.... which google offers with Drive Oh, and I'm fairly sure that there are ways to work around the requirement you seem to have found that gmail addresses are needed. If push came to shove I cold even imagine setting up a free gmail address for everyone that doesn't have one, and then setting up a forward mail to their active address.....I'm pretty sure you wouldn't have to go that far though.

couldn't you really achieve the same thing in any backpacking pot...... just as described with the pie plate in a Dutch oven?

some excellent ideas. These are along the lines of what I have always thought a DE'S job SHOULD be...... these are the things we need to put on a better program.... that would in turn build recruitment numbers, etc....

how about setting up a ham radio relay with a leader or parent that isn't on the trip? The boys can send Morse code messages home so mom knows they are ok. it's a novelty they might learn something.

yep, but I agree it's probably not a bad idea..... too bad it was stated as a "rule" though. I'm thinking of trying to kick off next year with a parent meeting mainly the goal is to lay out the expectations, how the pack operates, etc..... primary goal is to foster more parents helping and stepping up.... help them to have some ownership.... this might be a great opportunity to run through YPT for the whole group at once.

well yours sounds just like ours..... quite honestly no real incentive for the rest of the pack to show up. It should be the WEBELOS 2 Den Banquet! I think I'm a typical dad.....As much as I want to feel a desire to support the boys in the W2 den and share in their "accomplishment" of sticking it out..... It's not nearly as strong as my want to see my son (not a W2) have some fun, maybe get some awards, and celebrate the pack's birthday.

My son just received a mailer 2 days ago from our Council (North Florida) all about the various Cub Camps day camps, twilight camps, and I was surprised to see Resident Camps for Cubs

what's the project?