Twocubdad

Electronics on campouts are like an incurable, chronic disease which we must endure and manage as best we can. The pocket knife analogy is lame. Sure both are useful tools in their place, but I've not seed a Scout spend a weekend whittling to the exclusion of any other activity or interaction. I'd be curious where Mr. Butler would draw the line. My guess he would be agreeable with just about anything if he thought it would bring in more money and members.

You should tell him what you and your wife would have done differently. Explain to him your techniques for getting a bunch of teenage boys to go to sleep when they don't want to. Maybe you can share your thoughts for fund raising opportunities so the troop can afford for all the boys can have single-occupancy rooms. Personally, I'd like to know what you would have done about the weather. End the conversation by handing him your and your wife's adult leader applications and offering to attend all future campouts. We're often accused of being tough on first-time posters here, so let me apol

Actually, they collected the spores of running cedar in the late fall and used that for the same purpose. The spores are highly flammable and a pinch tossed in a fire has the same effect Stosh describes as a pinch of iron shavings.

A huge percentage of my sons' friends attend community colleges. I know of one who has transferred on schedule to a four-year college and one other who is actually completing a vocational program (welding). For the rest, community college just seems like a place to hang our while you and your parents get accustomed to the idea that you're not going to college.

I've tried twice to respond. But my log-in keep expiring (or something) which requires me to log out, log back in, navigate back to the thread and try to pick up my post again. I'm tired of trying.

Somewhat of an outlier question, but we're updating our policy on financial assistance and someone asked. If a Scout is going to camp on a scholarship from the troop but for whatever reason cancels, who gets the refund money? In the real world, the person or entity which made the original payment gets the refund. But here, while the troop is required to collect camp fees and write one check to the camp, parents individually apply for refunds and receive them. While that normally is a good thing (I don't want to take the time to chase down a refund for you), in the situation of a Scou

None of the above. This isn't the military. The chain of command isn't that precisely defined. As LVAllen wrote, go by leadership positions -- PL, APL, Quartermaster and/or Scribe . (And I don't know there is a precise pecking order between QM is before Scribe, other than I've always seen them listed in that order.) Absent an elected Asst SPL or Asst. PL, I would have gotten the boys together and asked them to designate a leader for the activity. And not necessarily one of the two Tenderfoots. The boys could have selected anyone of the six. I'll also add that given the youth and ine

Merlyn! I've never known you to comment on a topic other than religion. Attaboy!

Yet your troop policy is making 'criminals' out of all these guys. Please see 18th Amendment. What your troop is settling into is what our troop's "appropriate use" policy states. If everyone is comfortable with the behavior, the policy should change to meet the behavior.

Gill -- don't know what to say about #1. The cell phone is the least of the issues in that story. #2 and #3 are covered by our troop's appropriate use policy and training. I'd have a difficult time not laughing in the face of parents in #2. No, check that, I would make a point to laugh in the face of parent's #2. For #3 our policy specifically states that the troop is not responsible for loss or damage to any personal electronics for any reason, including instances where the device was confiscated by troop leaders and the loss or damage occurs while it was in our possession. Think t

I disagree. That decision was the Scout's to make, not the district.

Gotta love that we're now getting Disney pop-up ads in the margin. Watch out Terry, they're going to want those advertising dollars back!

I really don't get this. Does anyone seriously think there needs to be a national policy on this? How about this: Act like adults, both in terms of being a bully and dealing with them. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. After years of rescuing kids from all life's little insults and refusing to allow them to deal with their own problems we eventually get adults with the same expectations.

Whether or not he has time to complete the project is the Scout's problem, and shouldn't be grounds for disapproval. Bad call. While completing the project before his birthday has a nice ring to it, but I would be careful about starting the project without some sort of written approval from the higher ups. Beginning work on a project before receiving all the proper approvals is a no-no. Don't give them that rope. Since this is a district board, I'd start with the council advancement chairman. The Scout has the right to appeal, but I would go with the council AC's advice on proceeding

So the PC crowd got to write the last one, apparently the lawyers wrote this. Here's hoping the folks who are actually responsible for taking care of the boys get a turn soon. But in fairness, I much prefer the lawyer's version to that of the PC folks. So you have a kid on the ground having a seizure and turning blue. After basic first aid you grab his medical form because, A) you want to be sure his parents signed the liability waiver (page 1); B) You want to make sure his creepy uncle doesn't try to check him out from camp (also page 1); C) You need to contact his folks and let th

I don't care if you go to sleep or not. Just be quiet so those who want to may.

A few years ago one of the older Scouts decided my camp chair was the place for a nap -- and it was, if you were me. So I painted his toe nails pink -- with the leather dye out of the crafts box. It finally wore off by the end of the summer, about the time his job as a lifeguard wrapped up. His father still cracks up laughing anytime anyone mentions it. The kid not so much so.

I disagree with your premise that scouts need more programs offered to them, either from the staff or the unit leadership. What most camps fail to provide is free time boys can take advantage of the camp on their own. Our camp leaves a 90 minute open period in the afternoon. By the time boys get our of their last MB class, head back to the campsite, find their buddies, decide what they want to do and walk to the activity, there is hardly enough time left to actually do anything. Plus, most of the "good" open period activities are reserved by troops. So if you and your mates decide to tak

Entertaining guests at every meal is what we call a restaurant. If your family is having guests at every meal you're not having family meals, you're entertaining the guest. Same for patrols. And after three meals they better be washing dishes.

Meal times are for patrols to have their own "family" meals, just like your family does (or should). They work together to cook and clean up, say grace together then spend the time talking. Plopping an adult in the middle completely changes the dynamic. Our adults lead by example and conduct our "patrol" meals the same way.

I think you will find most boys are quite compassionate and will to their best to remember your sons needs and accommodate him. But there are twits in every group. We have a scout in our troop with a Down's related disability. When one Scout started bullying him, some of the other guys let it be know the behavior wouldn't be tolerated. Okay, they told him they would kick his butt if he didn't quit. While we had a discussion about technique, you have to appreciate the thought.

I've got a new membership chairman cut from the same cloth. Isn't it nice when that happens?

Next time you speak, ask him how much TL budgets to maintain their local camps. Right.

Depends on the MB. The only value I see in these district- or council-wide MB classes is for very narrow or technical MBs which would be difficult for Scouts to earn on their own. Nuclear Science, Oceanography, etc. The resources for these MB -- both expertise and facilities -- are frequently limited. Offering these MBs as in a group setting may be the only opportunity for Scouts to take them and I think is a reasonable accommodation. HOWEVER, under no circumstance would I participate in one of these sessions to teach a merit badge which is commonly available. That includes all the Eagle

I learned today my Scoutmaster passed away early this morning. I've been asked to speak at his funeral. Thank you for posting this, SSS. It is perfect. TwoCubDad