blw2

So the NRA trining will apply to BSA camp ranges? Good to know for future reference..... More to the title of this thread, I was poking around online just the other day and stumbled accross a page that listed the duration of most of the on-line training (leader specific, safety afloat, etc...) that I've taken. I think it was ALL two years. I do see value in refresher training, but as previously mentioned, if avolunteer has to take significant time to go some distance to a physical class to refresh on something that they already know, than that is a big negative. Seems like they

Interesting topic. I am a strong I. I have considered that to be one reason I didn't excel in scouting as a boy, although I did/do enjoy it. (I went through Cubs, but scout only for a short while before I left it) Sometimes it's hard for the shy kids to shine when there in a groupl of E's. Something for us leaders to remember, and help to encourage the I's without shining too bright of a spotlight on them that makes them uncomfortable.... when that happens, they would rather be anyplace else but there....

"... I now look back at the pictures of my son in the early years of cub scouts and webelos and just giggle a bit at how large his shirt was." I'm not sure, but I think I sort of remember doing that as a kid. Uncomforatable and not sharp looking. You're right though.... worth a giggle and in some ways it's 'cute'. Last year at the start of Tiger, The lady at our scout store and my wife were both suggesting I buy big. I specifically didn't want him to be wearing a shirt two sizes too big.... I understand the importance of pride in the uniform, and I wanted my son to feel that... a

Spun this off an interesting thread re SM. I know that a lot of what has been mentioned in the previous thread applies, but since I'm envolved in Cub Scouting just wondering what comments might come out specific to Cubbing.

I am registered as Assistant Den Leader. Our new CM has asked me to step into the Assistant CM role. Do I need to submit a new application, or can I just call the council office?

Re. Tigers being "boring".... to a point i agree, but it has a lot to do with the leader me thinks. That's an area where our DL did a nice job. For the regular old in the classroom meetings, she brought some fun games and stuff.... some from her days as GS leader, but she tried to keep that under wraps from the boys! It's tough finding fun things to do that don't take a lot of money, time, or preperation to get going.... for 5-10 minutes wirth of fun. Agreed about the fun progressing to more and more adventure as the boys get older. i haven't been exposed to the rest of the program y

Interesting variations here..... I just felt like we were struggling as a Tiger Den. Nobody had experience with it so we were figuring it out as we went. Those of you that have the leaders tagged in advance have a huge advantage in that the new upcoming leaders have time to prepare. I really hope to have the opportunity to help out new Tiger DL get started when we find one. I just hope it's not at the Cub roundup like before..... no time to prepare. As I think I mentioned, we have several more senior folks that have boys in older dens with the younger brothers coming up. It almost

I have been thinking as I have been reading posts lately, that there seems to be a high number of Scouters taht have tenure in their positions.... meaning that they have served for more than one yer in a given position. In my pack, it seems that the leaders follow the ranks with their kid. Tiger DL this year, Wolf DL next year, etc... The exception being that they tend to follow their oldest boy through, and the little brothers trail behind... if that makes sense. To me this makes sense.... I want to be with my son, not stay in Tigers when he moves up.... But at the same time, it seems

I'm not aware of any 'policy' for our pack, but I know taht we try to avoid some holidays for pack trips. The question as I see it, is which holidays? Poses a problem for blanket rules.... - Some holidays are perfect, becuase that's when you have a three day weekend. - Some holidays just aren't all that important to most folks. - Other holidays are important to most, but not all.... - Some holidays are popular for family outings -kids out of school, AND the parents have off - Other holidays not so much.... the kids have off but parents don't... I think it woould be too har

Ohanadad I'm in a similar boat.... although I'm not CM. I still like the idea of changing to be a uniformed pack. I plan to start wearing my full uniform to every meeting. I hope my son will want do the same. I'm hoping I will encourage it by wearing mine, but i also realize that he'll see the other boys in T-shirts and he won't want to wear it. I'm a believer in picking battles, and don't think that this is one to push too hard on. I've heard and read most all of the arguments. Honestly.... with the exception of a unit in a very poor area, they are all 'bunk' IMHO. Like wa

I think it was ZScout5 that said, "...but don't beat yourself up over things you can't control (other people's priorities and response) and just plan a great program for your son and the other scouts who show up." The problem I see is dealing with those that "show up", but didn't bother to let you know.... Several good suggestions followed that relate. I especially like the patch or gift package only for boys that confirmed. I was doing den emails last year for our den, trying to get responses as to who had done what acheivments so we could get caught up on the beads, plan for

I understand and agree with the OP's premise..... But I also sort of get the parent's position. I haven't run into this yet, but I can imagine a kid... he's content doing whatever at home. The parent just wants him or her to try something different to see if he likes it....something to change the pattern, expend his/her horizons, etc... The kid has no interest, but it really how does he/she know if they've nevered tried it?.... So a parent would have to force, bribe, or otherwise scheme.... Not the most noble thing, but it might be well intentioned.

I guess I'm dense, because I continue to be amazed at this issue. I just don't get it. Email seems like such a perfect tool for something like scouts. It is very easy to read and give short respoinses, especially with smart phones now.... and it's a great way to sumarize things.... lists of questions, etc... if written well, outline form, etc... I think I can excuse those folks that get hundreds of emails a day for their job. Sometimes less critical scout stuff might get missed or pushed aside.... I can also understand folks that don't have smart phones. If I didn't, I w

"Read your son's Tiger Handbook from cover to cover, and have FUN! " Great tip! I read it all. It doesn't take long, and I read through most of it with my son..... not all in one sitting of course....

This opens an interesting issue. There's a couple that are long standing good family friends.... a family that has baby sat for my kids for years, long before any of us were in scouting.... He's the Godfather of one of my daughters, His wife has known my wife longer than I have. We have baby sat their kids, visited each other in the hospital when all of our kids were born..... shared his kids' and my kids' birthdays. We've eaten Thankgiving dinner together....you've got the idea..... Well, now he's our CM. I'm an Assistant DL. I understand the 'official capacity and liability', &

"I was more worried about the parents in a "too many cooks spoil the broth" type way." Based on my highly limited experience, if you set the tone early, that won't be an issue. Make the schedule so that each parent knows which meeting(s) or Go-See-Its they are responsible for, and they get it going. Even if you or others help, I doubt if there would be too many parents trying to control enough to muck up the works.....

We are just coming out of our Tiger year. It only takes as much time as you want to put into it as a parent, and as DL more, but still only what you want to put in.... and not that much time more if done right.... My advice, let him join. If you don't want to be a leader then don't right away. If you think you might, do it and just make time for it. I doubt if you would be sorry. Get in touch with the Cub Master, and maybe even the former Tiger Leader, to feel it out if you are on the fence. I too was apprehensive, so I didn't step forward when the CM asked us new tiger pare

Agreed that it may be a little better on the trip..... but come on, I agree with the OP.... really? Next thing you know, everyone gets perfect attendance awards, even if they didn't show up. Wouldn't want them to be left out!.....and Eagles for everyone!!! Can we have a group hug now?!?

I agree with JoeBob.... Most folks don't have a clue about all of these awards. As a new leader, i have been trying to dig into it.... but there's your problem! Why should one have to dig? Most folks aren't as gung ho, and really don't bother to dig. I saw a similar thing happening with beltloops. Younger boys and their parent patners don't know what a beltloop is, but they see the older boys getting them at the first pack meeting so they say, well bobby played xyz sport over the summer, so sign him up for that! I was asking before our last pack meeting of the year, for our Tige

I just googled it. According to Wikipedia The BSA had an enrolment in 2011 of 3,770,907 registerd adults and youth. I really can't belive that the money couldn't be found in whatever budget they are already carrying to maintain the web sites on national and council levels, as well as the roster/advancement database .... but based on the registration numbers, if dues were increased by $0.25/head they would increase revenue $942,726.75 per year. Come on..... Add to that, all the money that individual units are spending now, on web sites, tracking and advancement programs, etc.....

From my perspective, this isn't something that should be addressed locally so much, only for sake of uniformity. Most of the "rank & rule" already exists on a national level, BSA web site, BSA publications (scout manuals, leader's guides, etc...). I assume that membership rosters and advancement are more on a council level, but that shouldn't be too hard as they should in theory at least already be uniform... As has been mentioned, a lot of these issues have already been addressed on the open market, with programs such as Scout Manage, Packmaster, Troop Master, etc.... No sen

Yeah, we put a man on the moon with a slide rule...... this aint that hard.....

I agree with the OP..... I'm new as a scouter, but so far I've gotta say I'm surprised..... no, shocked...... at the lack of continuity and support with almost everything digital, or that could be digital. - lack of tools for tracking and logging - lack of web site continuity for packs or troops to use - lack of mobile / cloud based tools - I'm finding it very difficult to find local in person training to supplement the on-line stuff, and for training such as BALOO - I have really had to dig to find out basic info., and then often find contridictory rules and guidance. - lack

I disagree about cheap LED lights. I have one of those harbor freight or similar that I really should throw out. As soon as I can find my good ones I 'lost' in the camper, I will. It reminds me of the flashlights we used to have when i was a kid.... those old cheap 2D Ray-O-Vac or whatever..... you know the one..... turn it on, nothing. Now I know these batteries are good.... Give it a slap, flickers on, then off. Give it another slap. It comes on but super dim. Slap it harder than before, bright until you get it aimed where you want it, then dim...... hold your tongue just right

I think like the OP, but also recognize that even as gung ho as I am as a new cub dad, I'm a little burned out. Also, I agree with the old guard that families and scouts have team sports and other things in the summer that keep them hopping, so I can kind of see the logic of shutting down for the summer, but I do wish that my pack would do one or maybe two things just to keep it 'alive'... One of our committee members suggested a survey before our last pack meeting. We brainstrormed, and she put it together. I think the pack meeting was too busy and so proper attention couldn't be