blw2

I'm with dedkad. I'd go with the cheap one from walmart. I've camped for years in a tent similar to that one but a little bigger my wife bought at Big Lots before we were married. Not as good for cliff side top of mountain gales as my kelty, but easier to set up and it's a little roomier.... and since I'm not setting it up in extreme locations it actually serves a bit better. The Wal-Mart, K-Mart, or similar tents may not last as long, but as an initial tent I think a much smarter move. They'll work..... and even if you only use it a few times to figure out what your real needs are, th

As a youth, I was part of that early 1980's increase. What do the numbers look like since 1986?

I read....er, skimmed.... a story on this linked to from Drudge. maybe the same link referred to here, not sure..... but it said that the scouts were all in a shelter. Just didn't say what sort of shelter.

I'm just going back and reading, or re-reading this thread. You brought up several varied points in your post, but some really make me think.... I would so much rather see a boy leaning against a tree reading, than playing with technology..... but what I see more of is a boy or boys huddled up in a tent with a video game, with other cubs that didn't bring their games or tablet computers huddled around watching and wanting a turn. Our CM's sons are the ones with all of the latest gadgets, and it's usually around their tent where you find this huddle. On a campout, I view this tech as a

you "see" it as three separate events. Do you celebrate them separately? I have to admit I like the "idea" of separating all of it out. I am finding the way our pack does it looses a lot from each individual "event". I'm guessing that logistically splitting into three separate evolutions might be tough though. The way we do it, everything happens at B&G, and we typically do that it January. The whole idea of what B&G is completely lost, replaced with crossover. Before I started trying to teach folks what B&G is, I really don't think any of the leadership or parents even

basementdweller, They may not all be cut from "roll model" cloth, but I'll bet the vast majority of them picked up a few things along the way..... As long as they are good kids, even an average older accomplished boy can be outstanding role models to younger boys.

I was thinking the same thing...... As a cub parent and leader, what do I know about a Scout Master conference. I don't know yet what the WEBE LOS book says, but I can totally imagine me and others thinking that when the ASM spoke to the den for a few minutes during our visit, that it would count towards whatever conference requirement. Most of us are just winging it and not even getting den specific direction form our 'elders' in the pack!

Maple has a much higher density that pine, and is typically much harder and stronger. By my thinking it would offer better design options such as very small cross sections as opposed to pine that may break. Regardless, I think that's one of those rules that's nearly impossible to check for or enforce..... and for most situations won't matter anyway. Regardless, I think it boils down to a scouts honor thing & I think it's a shame with all of the store bought kits, store bought speed axles, etc.... I'm not opposed to dads doing a lot of work on their cars, but for me and my son he is

oh sorry, never mind..... I see that this is a very old thread......

Personally, I sure wouldn't get caught up in counting years and months..... especially for cubs It's not like you pay is based on tenure! For me, I'd figure it based on school grade or "rank" for Cubs 1978-1979.... likely 2nd grade = wolf = year 1 1979-1980..... Bear= year 2 1980-1981..... WEBELOS= year 3 1981-1982..... WEBELOS = year 4 so 4 years in Cubs, assuming of course you were active the whole time..... For scouts, I guess I would just count years based on the calendar, probably rounded by the half year ..... so 6Y 9M would be a 7 year pin...... although by the boo

what new uniform? I haven't heard that there was a change in the mix. When is it expected?

duplicate post.... I'll copy my comment into this thread since it has more replies. maybe the other will be cleaned up: I'm in the same place as ADL, transitioning to Bear. I haven't gotten to that point yet, but apparently it's not required. Good, because it is silly to bore them to tears repeating stuff...... ....but what does it hurt? We have found is that the boys don't really get it when it comes to formal complex things like flag ceremonies. They are boys and are at best only half paying attention. Our new DL took over half way through the wolf year. Something he's be

I'm in the same place as ADL, transitioning to Bear. I haven't gotten to that point yet, but apparently it's not required. Good, because it is silly to bore them to tears repeating stuff...... ....but what does it hurt? We have found is that the boys don't really get it when it comes to formal complex things like flag ceremonies. They are boys and are at best only half paying attention. Our new DL took over half way through the wolf year. Something he's been doing and I have been supporting is doing a flag ceremony at every meeting.... more than just the pledge. We have a small

Honestly, from skimming this thread, I'd say that's the best attitude to take..... I do however think that you can live happy by feeling that your initial thoughts were correct..... perhaps just not the most cheerful approach.... I think many were busting your chops a little hard, since it's clear that they are trying to make up rules and are apparently not even trained. In the end though, if you can teach your boy to cheerfully comply since it's not such a big deal and certainly not going to hurt either of you in any way.....it will be good lesson in going with the flow and reducing stre

Just to stir the pot..... Uniforms may not be required, but from the link that Basement provided.... For these reasons, among others, all parents should emphasize to their Scouts the importance of wearing the correct and complete uniform on all suitable occasions. .....AND..... DO NOT mix uniform parts with non-uniform clothing, such as wearing a uniform cap with other clothing or wearing the uniform shirt with blue jeans. The uniform should be treated as a unitâ€â€worn in its entirety, or not at all.

That's interesting...... Lions rank was removed long ago, but it was above Bear back in the day..... I agree about the missed opportunity with Kindergarten..... It will be good I think if this Lions Scout thing works out.... With one potential problem, and that is of burn-out. I wonder if with the Tiger program, if Cub Scouts is already a bit too long and a bit too broad brush. Maybe, just maybe it could be a better program overall if it were focused a bit more on "high adventure" stuff for the older boys. Maybe more fun and less burn out all around before the boys get into Boy Scouts.

I actually wish that these guidelines would be re-written for clarity, and published for easier access. Not for the lack of trying, but when my some started tigers, I was many many years our of scouting. I just missed the thing about the crest being halfway between the pocket and the shoulder seem, so I sewed it on his shirt close like the diagram shows.... but I got it so close that there's not room for his religious medal knot. By the time I took a leadership role, I had come across this centered "rule" and sewed mine on accordingly..... but if I wear the shirt with no necker unde

Yeah, Cubs for sure aren't old enough.... but I see what you mean. That's why I think it needs to be separate. For me it's really about the program being offered for girls.... with maybe some come together for family trips that we do together anyway in cubs. Too bad your experiment failed. Seems like a good potential solution on the cub level anyway..... But to work, I think it would have to be more official and on-book.

Actually, no King Dong, that's not where I got it from.... but if I had, would it make it any less legitimate? The thing is, Drudge just collects headlines. he doesn't write the stories and he sure doesn't make the news. Fox and Friends, while I haven't seen it in year, isn't any different that any other talking heads static show..... just conservative folks instead of liberal.... and the 700 Club????/ Man, is that still around? Not even exactly sure what that was. I have no idea actually, where I first heard this.... but 10 seconds with google, and here's a clip of a CEO of GSA (o

I'm in Florida. Doesn't get more humid than that!.... well maybe in Viet Nam or the Amazon...... Our district race is run on a wood track. A coworker's Awana club's race is on a wooden track (with no timers) A friend's pack runs on a wooden track I'm sure there are many more..... And they have been running on wood tracks since the beginning.....

Oh, and about the pants not holding up for boys. I bought the size to fit him as close as reasonable as a Tiger, not oversized. I wanted him to be sharp, and not baggy. Anyway, two years now, and he's just outgrown the switchback pants. They've held up fine and he's even wore them some on non-scouting days! & he plays in the dirt with the best of them.... the shirt still looks fine too. I just haven't had the issue with poor quality of the uniforms.....

I just bend the little tabs on the back of it in to tighten it up. If they are doing some horsing around, my son usually brings his necker and woggle to me to put in my pocket. Sometimes I tell him to put it in his pocket! With a homemade woggle, or my old liberty bell woggle, I've done the knot thing and the rubber band. Both good options.

Yeah, It's an interesting potential hurdle.... But by loophole, I really meant a pitfall or potential lost boy. I can imagine a boy who finishes cubs, but for whatever reason didn't earn his AOL. Now he suddenly finds himself without a den half way through the year. If he's restricted from joining a troop, he's in limbo until next year.....I'd say odds are really high that he will be lost from the BSA roles for good. Since I'm active, I'd say odds are low that my son won't push through the AOL. If he's not motivated to finish the AOL, then he's not likely to be interested in continuing

Interesting situation..... I think it better for the boys to not be admitted until the 1st grade..... On a parallel note, I was thinking about something just the other day when I for some reason pulled out my old BS Handbook. At B&G when our pack does it's annual crossover, my son won't technically be old enough for Boy Scouts. Checking the modern standards, per the BSA web site If you're a boy age 11, or at least 10 and have completed the fifth grade, or have earned the Cub Scout Arrow of Light Award, to 17 years old, the time for a real adventure is now. At crossover time, a