Chisos

We also "kinda sorta" keep track of it online.  But it's never really worked well.  Especially when scouts only partially participate in something (like if they come to a campout on Saturday due a Friday evening conflict, or can only participate for 3 hours of a 6-hour service project).  Plus, some younger scouts are not online (i.e, don't have parent's permission to be online) so using an online tool doesn't work for them.

Having something accessible for each scout really makes them the responsible ones for keeping track of stuff.

Yes.  We expect them to fill it in to keep up with camping nights and service hours.

On 4/13/2018 at 2:21 PM, Scoutmaster Teddy said:

I get grief from parents also. Their "beef" comes from canceling and rescheduling campouts because I have 7 ASMs for 18 Scouts and I'm often the only adult who registers. I end up begging for their help or reaching out to retired Scoutmasters and current committee members. I need ASMs who can camp. I understand people are busy, but some of them resist anything after 5 pm Friday.

That's crazy.  If they're not willing to camp then they shouldn't be registered as ASM's.  If they want a registered position they need to be troop committee or  unit scouter reserve.  I get it that folks have other commitments too, and life happens, but they ought to look at the annual calendar and each commit to at least a few campouts.

I say what you're doing sounds just fine.  Especially to prevent "Webelos 3".  If one's serious about being an ASM, give them a year to be a parent, and tell them they have to take SM training and IOLS before they sign on...I bet that would filter out some.

31 minutes ago, TMSM said:

Were you refering to Nikwax Down Proof? or just Down Wash. The Down Proof adds water resitance to the down itself

 

Nikwax Down Proof™ has been specifically designed and optimised for down filled gear. It adds Durable Water Repellency (DWR), which protects against rain and condensation, improving the natural insulating properties of down.
 
Nikwax Down Proof™ prolongs the effective life of your down gear. It leaves a flexible water repellent treatment on individual down filaments and fabric fibres allowing moisture vapour to pass through, maintaining breathability and optimising performance in cold and damp conditions.

Nikwax Down Proof™ is a safe, easy to use product for down filled gear. It is quick to apply in a washing machine and ensures that the treatment goes right through the item, treating both the outer fabric and the down fill. The DWR of Nikwax Down Proof™ develops on air drying. However, tumble drying is recommended to ensure that the down is dried thoroughly and as quickly as possible. Leaving down wet or damp can ruin it completely.

Mostly interested in the Down Proof, that treats the individual down fibers.  Just curious as to how well it works.

Ouch.  Maybe they should have a Powertool Chit for the grownups.  They could take a corner off that.

You could only earn Powertool Chit after completing IOLS and Nap on Safely.

33 minutes ago, my_three_sons said:

If an adult is registered as a meritbadge counselor and takes that new YP are they good to attend summer camp with the Troop or do they need to register for a position within the Troop?

I don't know.  If you find an answer of yes somewhere, I'd be sure it's in writing and acceptable to the camp your attending.

I will be bringing a copy of our roster from ScoutNET, as well as YPT certifications for all adults to summer camp, so there's no issue.

I saw the following in the leader guide for Camp Daniel Boone.  It's not where we're going this year, but could be typical of what camps will expect:

Quote

To document this requirement has been met, please bring a copy of your official unit ROSTER with names of ALL ADULT CAMP ATTENDEES clearly identified.  This can no longer be a simple written list of camp attendees, it must be the official unit roster.

I'm assuming "official unit roster" is the one you can get from ScoutNET via Internet Advancement, or from your council registrar.

A MBC wouldn't be on your unit roster since MBC is a district position.

I'd assume if you had an adult registered with a different unit also going with you, you'd need a copy of their roster as well.

Wow.  If I were the Chapter Adviser in either of the situations described by @Eagle94-A1 or @Oldscout448 there'd be a phone call in to discuss the issue with the COR and/or IH.

Like for Indian Lore type projects?  I've used Crazy Crow for stuff like that...

www.crazycrow.com .

Anyone have experience with the Nikwax treatment on a down sleeping bag?  I'm thinking about getting down bag, but concerned with the "what if it gets wet" problem.  (I know the solution is "don't let it get wet" but I'm thinking along the lines of Be Prepared...)

Any thoughts pro/con?  For anyone who's used it how well does it work?  Can you see a difference in how a bag performs/feels/etc. before and after treatment?

1 hour ago, Scoutmaster Teddy said:

I couldn't sleep for a few days. A Scout is Trustworthy, right? That should go for adult scouts also.

Yup.  I'd even hold the adults to a higher standard.  I'd honestly consider having them dropped from the troop charter.  Or at the least, not have them go through Ordeal, and make sure it was a long while before they might be considered again.

36 minutes ago, Scoutmaster Teddy said:

 I even delayed my Troop's election for two weeks after I found that someone "edited" the camping nights on our Troop Web Host site for an adult and their scout. 

Wow.  You mean they went in and added some nights so they'd qualify to be on the ballot?  I'd be livid at that!

Yeah, that's fun.  Our SM/ASM's started not talking to parents about which MB's scouts take at summer camp.  Parents can discuss it with their scouts (or not), but we take MB requests from the scouts not the parents.  I made that mistake once--phrases like "he needs to take at least 4 eagle required badges!" and "we need to get our money's worth out of summer camp!".

The OA Guide to Unit Elections is available online; it details the process.  From your numbers, I assume either 21 or 22 ballots were turned in, so 11 votes needed to elect...if the scout didn't meet that threshold, then he was not elected.  The Guide to Unit Elections doesn't mention any other way to be elected (i.e. appointed/nominated by SM, etc.).  I don't ever remember a way to for a scout to get in the OA other than election.

23 minutes ago, RememberSchiff said:

 

Adults accompanying units on activities who are present at the activity for 72 hours or more, must take YPT2.  The 72 hours need not be consecutive. ( The Chicago Tribune reported that these adults , leaders or not, will also require a background checks but I have not been able to confirm. - RS)

 

This comes from the new policy that adults attending events over 72 hrs in duration have to be registered leaders (so they would have the background check).  I've seen this in a couple of leader guides for this summer's summer camp season.  New policy is in effect June 1 (so, starting this summer camp season).

1 hour ago, ItsBrian said:

I had around 2-3 free periods two years ago at camp. I never expected it to feel so good to just relax. 

I advise the scouts in my troop to schedule at least one free period, to just relax, roam around, whatever.

Register with the lodge associated with the council where you are now.  It was the same for me (new lodge as an adult)--I just got my old OA records from my old lodge, gave them to the new one and paid my dues.

Ditto what @HelpfulTracks said.  You'd be nominated by your troop committee, and the assistance you would be providing would be facilitating participation in OA by the youth in your troop.  (See the "Adult Nomination Form" in the document that @Col. Flagg linked).

5 hours ago, Eagle94-A1 said:

From a high level national volunteer on facebook, BSA is now reconsidering a separate all girls program, and is now looking at separate girls patrols in existing troops.

 

Ever since this all came out I've always felt this was the only possible solution...the only way to reconcile "girls are in" with "same opportunities and equal program."

1 hour ago, Eagle94-A1 said:

That is correct.

 

Ouch.  That's one of the biggest mis-steps a "leader" can do...

So, the PLC is being asked for input *after* the decision was made?

I wouldn't put it on there, at least until you've completed all requirements except your BoR.  Here's why--how will you explain it if asked?  If a prospective employer asks about it, and you say you've done all the requirements, your project's done and approved, and you're just waiting on the adults to get together for your BoR, that would sound good.  But if you replied with, well, I still have a couple of merit badges and a project to do, an employer would probably see it as "resume padding"...you want the word "Eagle" on your resume, but you haven't done all the work yet.

1 hour ago, NJCubScouter said:

.  And I think it is THAT - the availability and popularity of other activities for youth - that is one of the main culprits in the decline in interest in Scouting.

And, how many activities that used to be seasonal are now year round--with the demand that if you don't participate year round, you won't play/start/etc.

Most of ours tend to be in state/national forests, usually in a designated "group campground" or something similar.  These range from free, to a couple of bucks per night per person.  We camp at our council camp for events, like camporees and such.

Private property camping is pretty rare for us.  I guess it's a function of knowing people who have land available.

The troop I grew up in camped on private property a lot more often.  But, we had several leaders/parents who either had property, or knew someone who did and let us camp there.

3 hours ago, David CO said:

I knew James Fenimore Cooper. Jim Cooper was a friend of mine. You guys in OA are no Jim Cooper.

Lloyd Bentsen is smiling.