boomerscout

double wow! His name was the only name in the hat. He accepted because there was no-one else. Now he's found someone wanting to step up. Don't see where you're coming from

"I honestly do not want the boys to pay for there parents inability or unwillingness to pay thier ways. It is not the boys fault. But honestly if it cant be done i will accept that and continue to pay out of my pocket to help them."

neither the parents nor you should be paying the boys fees, even if it is commonly done. One of the tenets of Scouting is that a Scout pays his own way as much as possible. If the troop treasury can't cover council camp, then you use a private or state campground or even a friend's farm for summer camp.

Have you used Camperships in the past? What fund-raising do you do?

As to the full uniforms--of course it would be nice. But if the money isn't there, then it isn't there. Which means it's time for focused fund-raising. Having everyone earn Personal Management and Family Life merit badges now may stand the troop in good stead. Helps them learn how to budget and set goals

I'm having trouble picturing 11 year olds getting drunk and shooting up. I realize you are deeply frustrated. What does your wife say since she's done this prety much before?

Are you inner city or deeply rural? If you're needing an emergency donation, I suggest the two of you approach the local Lions, Eagles, Elks, Rotary, Pork Producers Assoc, Cattlemens, United Way...

As to your question about the kid asking for donations for uniforms--that was done as a church activity and not as a troop or council activity. Besides, we can always ask. We're just not supposed to beg. Let them know of the potential benefits of their donation for the long run.

I believe you are looking for information on Scoutreach a program for inner city and rural youth

Do you ever get up to New York City? the public library may still have past issues of Boys Life on microfilm. You can look up the war years.

http://www.scouters.us/mb1942.pdf has the merit badges of 1942 in color

I would take your son on a drive to the ice cream parlor (or wherever)--just the two of you. During the drive remind him that he had a good time in Cubs (?), and now it's his brother's turn to enjoy Cubs. That you never really wanted to be SM, but no one else volunteered, and that you finally found someone who really wants the position. Tell him you'd really like a chance to be Cubmaster, but you'll also try to be one of the troop's adult staff.

google selden philmont

don't register too many up front. You can usually always add; much harder to subtract as to paying fees

am I correct in understanding that $600 for a 12 passenger van includes it just sitting at Blue Ridge most of the week?

You are looking for drop-off and (later) return. Have you contacted various bus companies for a quote? In the Yellow Pages look under Motor Coaches. Don't know if it will be cheaper, but won't cost much to find out.

You need to do fundraising instead of looking for handouts, else these Scouts will remain as poor as their parents when they get older.

Having said that, contact each troop in your council and ask for the donation of no longer needed uniforms. Alternatively, your new Scouts can use a Scout tee-shirt until they earn Tenderfoot. At the Court of Honor they can be presented with a uniform shirt and its patches -- paid for out of troop funds -- as part of the honor. Earning Second gets the trousers.

Your wife sounds like an excellent resource for fundraising

Most of our troop wears jeans, or even cut-offs, when out on our own summer weekends. Jeans are $8.00 when on sale, a sack full from the thrift is $2.00. We also wear jeans when doing car washes. Scout mothers prefer this

Lots of people deeply believe in God, try to follow the Ten Commandments, but want nothing to do with any of the man-made religions that claim God. Would such a person still be religious enough for Scouting?

Lisabob: You could tell him that "so far is that you sit and then stand and then kneel" is part of the church's fitness plan to fight obesity, and that eating fish on friday is to ensure he gets his omega-3 oils. Tell him that he has to go deeper before he can understand the wisdom of the ancients

Selling raffle tickets is not only against BSA policy, but is probably also against your state law. You may, however, used your donated items as door prizes and as items for silent auctions held in conjunction with your event.

If your chartering org happens to be a church (for example) that runs registered weekly bingo, and the profits go into their general fund for all church activities, then any help they want to give the troop would be OK as long as they help their other groups equally well

I used to carry a large, heavy sheath knife (WWII Army Airforce survival knife). It was heavy enough that I didn't need to fetch the hatchet when splitting firewood or chopping tent stakes.

wish they would call a fillet knife a fillet knife instead of "large sheath knife"

OMG! They're not wearing Scout pants!

forgot to add: put down a plastic/vapor barrier ground cover under your bag & mat. that way water frozen in the ground won't give you rising damp when it thaws from body heat

Statement:

No knives over 6 inches. No blade of any knife may be over six inches long No buck knives. No sheath knives.

Fact or Fiction?

Fiction

Comments:

The Guide to Safe Scouting states that knives are part of the program, but that long sheath knives should be avoided. (But even then, there is no statement that they're "banned").

above is from US Scouts. they probably don't want to see any military Bowies

ASM162:

It will help greatly if individuals can reload these gift cards themselves at the grocery

"Yah, I know lots of troops with da no candy or soda thing, eh? Between da caffeine and the sugar "

if that's the reason,then we'd also have to enforce no coffee or tea for anyone, either?

we allow candy as an afternoon energy boost, along with fruit. Not every meal has pop per our meal planning rules. Haven't seen any candy wrapper litter.

as part of our new scout welcome packet, we ask the parents to please teach their son how to cook a hotdog, scramble an egg, open a can and heat it (or anything similar). This helps prevent the frightened look in cooking that first outdoor meal.

why no soda pop?

can you talk to a troop scoutmaster to get the name of the mbc for woodcarving? Many mbc are retired, and will volunteer their time with your Cubs

I guess you'll have to ask him what he means by duty to God. Many who believe in God aren't part of any organized religious sect. He could really be an agnostic or deist, and is using "atheist" incorrectly. Does he believe there is anything greater than himself?

We're from National. We're here to help you.

1) Two Hands and a Knife by W Miller. A young man is stranded for a year in the wilderness with no supplies or kit other than a knife

2) any book explaining the patrol method

3) any AMA recommended book on project management

the shivering is a serious problem, as others have already mentioned. And, as others have mentioned, you want fresh bed clothes.

a layer of foam under the thermarest (or thermarest plus an air mattress) may provide more insulation from the frigid ground. Stop drinking (water or liquids) after supper unless medically needed; no coffee at the nighttime bull session. A rough wool blanket inside your bag may provide more air pockets to retain warmth.

On my first winter camp, I was really worried about waking as a frozen icesicle. I wore quilted booties over a clean pair of gym socks, sweats over waffle-weave underwear, stocking cap, sweat shirt had a hood with drawstring, and I wore a disposable dust mask so I wouldn't need to breathe cold air. Dust mask was the first to be discarded, soon followed by half the rest. Wearing disposable ear plugs actually seemed to help with staying warm