Krampus

As I understand the report and where the approved camp site locations (they reference #12) were this summer, it was in the field between the stream bed and the building. If I recall the report correctly, the surge picked the building there up off its foundation. Looking at the topo and hearing that information, it sounds like it is pretty flat from the creek bed to the building.

Thankfully our unit reimburses us for advanced "required" training. After giving up our paid leave and paying for the opportunity to staff a high adventure crew, paying for the required training seems nonsensical.

Getting a full stress echo and test, as well as calcium scoring, is a good way to know where you are at on the heart disease spectrum. Do that every three to five years after 45. Before Obamacare my insurance covered nearly all of it, now just a fraction. However I do it anyway and I'm in the pink. All men should have that done if they are going to hang with the big dogs on high adventure.

What I inferred from the article was that HQ had radios. Some (not all) staff in the field had radios. Some crews (but not the troop in question) had radios....though I must say no crew I have ever sent or been on has been given a radio or frequency to monitor by Philmont staff. The staff at this site seemed unclear on where the unit was located or able to get them advanced warning. The crew itself did not seem to have a two-way (or even one-way) device to get/give position location, get weather data or warnings. There did not seem to be any type of auditory warning system (siren, canon, etc.)

Agree @@Stosh. And if all that is the case then you don't allow weekend warriors who are 6'3" and over 250lbs (and way off the BMI index) to lead a group of slightly-trained kids into the back country. Make WFA mandatory. Make advanced storm spotter training mandatory. Actually turn down adults who have not had an EKG and full stress test done recently. Make advanced orienteering and map reading a requirement, as well as LNT advanced training. If this is to be the pinnacle experience for scouts and adults, we should make the training and requirements for it match that; not allow anyone who

Our scout leaders use text messages. They think email is for old people (over 20). The school system asks students to use email and text messages so they know to check both, but they check texts faster than email. We don't have mailing lists for non-members, nor do we allow non-member adults to audit scout text communications (they use Remind).

We are talking in another thread about the rumor of making wilderness first aid mandatory. IMHO I think advanced storm spotter training is just as important. The ability to read the sky is exceptionally important. Next, I think a warning system between HQ and the various bases is needed. I'd also recommend equipping the crews in the field with a method to get/give updates on the weather. Lastly, looking at a topo of the area where the tragedy happened, There don't appear to be any decent camping areas that are NOT in the creek bed. We did high adventure this summer and had our crews (alwa

Our unit has found that the link between uniformity of dress (e.g., Class A, Class B, etc,...and yes I know the terms don't exist in any handbook) and unit spirit, and esprit de corps is high. We used to be one of those troops that wore the shirt but pants and socks were anything goes. MB sashes were worn in the belt when wearing OA sashes, hats were anything goes too. Summer camp was like YMCA camp, not Boy Scouts. Changed our uniform guidelines to adhere to BSA standards and it was amazing how things changed literally overnight. I wonder how many folks who are at ease with less stringent

Could you imagine BSA making this mandatory for adults in scouting? I can't find a class now as it is without extreme difficulty. In my area we'd have to train or hire dozens of groups to offer this course to meet the demand. I suspect the same is true with everyone else's districts. I totally agree that this is a great course and solely needed, but I agree with whoever it was who said it should be just as much for the scouts as the adults. We sent three crews to Philmont in 2013 the last week it was open. During that time two adults (not in our crews) died as a result of heart-related iss

Exactly why during recruiting we are very clear on such issues. We let the parents know flat out how we will transition them and their kids from the hands-on, nose-ring approach of cubs, to the more autonomous, boy-led approach we use in scouts. We have a few parent meetings during the spring to walk them through stuff while the boys are in their first year program. This has helped reduce the shock. It has actually lead to us getting more parents camping because they know they won't have to follow Timmy around everywhere. Parents who find it hard to cope with this transition will pick a tr

So it is okay to pick and choose what things from BSA we will follow?

We were south of Dallas last weekend and the fish were biting fine.

I knew that. Plus I can see what Stosh is doing now.

Partially. Let's just say the folks I work for know all about you. Everything.

Can't say for whom or where I work. Can say it is for a large company that does work for a national government. I work in areas that don't have light switches (hint, hint).

LOL...I wish. Since we were talking adult gear I figured I would put out my A list choice. Nice and light, If you are on the trail for two weeks and want something flexible, compact and light, that's a great buy. Expensive? Sure. When I am at Philmont I simply take my sierra cup and splork, pocket knife to cut anything. I will say that last time we took this instead of the Philmont gear. Took up much less weight and space.

Or, what happens in the real world is that Billy and Tommy start wearing ANY pin or patch they want to ANYWHERE on their uniform. Why? First, because they saw Mr. Addinsell doing it. Second, they don't know (or care) about what is an official patch versus and unofficial patch. Third, they don't understand (or care) about why Mr. Addinsell is wearing a patch/pin in the wrong place, they assume because he simply wants to. What other rules or policies would you like to pick and choose to obey? This is like the people who walk their dogs without leashes in cities with leash laws because their

@@blw2 depends. I'd say the BSA kit if that's what your scouts use and you do a ton of patrol camping. Always good to show the scouts that you use what they use. If you do a bunch of backpacking I have tried a few dozen systems and found this to be the best value for the weight and price. Depending on what you're doing you can pick and choose what to bring. Of course a sierra cup and splork will do you fine, but I like to have the ability to do a bit more and the Microdualist works great.

Wait until you read the Camping and Cooking MB requirements. Camping is basically a repeat of first class reqs. The old pre-2014 cooking requirements has a scout cooking three times: patrol camping, hiking and home cooking. For the latter when they cook for family I encourage them to cook all three meals in one day so they get a feel for what mom and dad do for them.

I don't get "one and done". The requirements are written are clearly progressive against a boy's abilities coming in from Cubs. I think they fit perfectly in to the patrol method. Who is to say that a scout completes the requirement just by doing any of this once. Maybe he does not fully complete a requirement. Tenderfoot: [PL Method Link: The new scout learns how to assist in all aspects of patrol cooking and clean up. He is taught by his peers and learns how to set-up, prepare, cook, eat and clean as a unit. All boy-led]On the campout, assist in preparing and cooking one of your patrol’s

If a hat or neckerchief are optional they should still conform to the standard if worn, IMHO.

Sorry, our troop has one cook per patrol per camp out for this very reason. It is much easier to track/manage who does what from a PLs perspective. Instructors in our troop sign off on requirements but they must be documented. A scout must come to the instructor with a copy of his menu and his PL's signature that he cooked and supervised. All cooking requirements are on the menu template just as reminders.

In Texas we use them. We have to be careful because those things heat up fast under the Texas sky. Cook times are REAL fast. Baking can get done in no time.

You see, that's the point exactly. If it is not on the guide, it goes on the brag vest/jacket. If it does not show up on the guide one should not assume they can put it where they want. That's just looking for an excuse in my opinion. When the uniform and insignia guide gets so prescriptive as to tell you how many inches a service star is from your knots, that's by design, just as omission of where to put this pin or that pin is by design. There's the temp patch area. That's it.

I fully understand the sentimentality of having something unofficial being given to an adult leader. Over the years I have collected by fair share of baubles and such which mean something to me and the person who gave them to me. In Cubs, I wore them on my adult brag vest. That is the appropriate place for them. In Boy Scouts I wear them on my red wool jacket. That is the appropriate place for them. Given that kids learn best by example, what example do we set when we break rules and then later try to get them to conform to a higher standard or guideline? We can serve two masters here. We