F-P

We usually did one night, and started right around lunch time and told everyone to bring their own lunch.  For dinner, easiest option is do stuff on the grill and have families bring sides for dinner.  The omelet in the bag is a good idea for breakfast. 

You can always order pizzas, but not very "camping" oriented.

If you need a large area to camp, check the state parks - many have areas set aside for youth group camping.

Good luck!

Any chance your just jumping to conclusions here without knowing what is going on? Exactly how much money do you think has been spent? Some of those fundraisers dont amount to much money going to the pack.

If you already talked to the leaders and you still don't know how they do things, I think it's time to move along.  If they wanted to tell you exactly what they are doing, it sounds like they have had the opportunity.

Do you not understand what this topic is about?

I understand the topic. Just not following how boycotting a council camp shows your dissatisfaction with a national rule. Kind of runs counter to your assertion that you want local units to thrive.

It depends on which numbers you're looking at.

 

My unit hasn't had any significant change in registration numbers due to the decision, but we have changed where we go camping.  We don't go to BSA council camps anymore.

 

The council camps were hurting before this decision.  I wonder how they are going to do now?

 

I have personally had a major change of attitude in regard to the rash of campground closings we have seen in recent years.  I was previously very much opposed to closing the camps.  I was very vocal about it.

 

Now that we won't be using them anymore, why should I even care?

Please excuse the ignorance but why will you not use council camps any longer?

Found that with a quick google search. Internet is littered with guides like that. So far I think I have done a good job with son's transition to Boy Scouts. Joined troop in March and just made Scout earlier this month so I'm definitely not pushing him or anyone else. Been hanging back and letting the scouts do their thing - not always 300 feet away but as far as I can.

Not the new requirements, but should give you a start: http://www.pioneeringprojects.org/NCS/staff/1stYear1stClassREVISED2006.pdf

I set mine up more like the kid at the back of krampus' picture. 4 pvc poles with tennis balls on top and zip tied them to the base of the cot. Also allowed me to lower one side so it would fit under sloped roof.

Our pack is a little different when it comes to cross over successes and failures. I've been Cubmaster for a couple of years. Our previous Cubmaster was great. Well liked for good reason, and her business skills made for a well run pack. She admittedly wasn't super into the outdoors and or well versed in Scouting as a whole. Anyway, we have 100% cross over every year. Mostly because until recently the two Webelos years weren't any different than, say, Bears. The Webelos weren't getting a taste of making their own decisions. They weren't ramping up towards Scouting. They showed up for Blue & Gold because they were told to and they crossed over to a troop because they were told to previously pick one. Anyway, the downside to our 100% cross over rate was a significant drop out rate. Our cross over is no longer at Blue & gold, but that's besides the point. I am also the Webelos den leader and try to gently influence the Arrow of Light den leader (I get the idea he's generally not my biggest fan). The new Webelos hear a lot about Boy Scouts and how they are getting ready for a much bigger adventure. They hear a lot about how the Scouts run the troop. As a pack, we get outdoors a lot more. I don't doubt we'll still cross over 100%, but hopefully we'll have a lot fewer drop out due to culture shock.

Have your guys not crossed over yet?

I started Fall of 2015 with 10 Webelos.  I had them act as two patrols, and they were on course to be done with their AOL by December.  I got them involved in the schedule, let them pick activities, etc. - as much Boy Scout experience as I could offer.  I gave them the option of crossing over when they were finished or after B&G so they could do that and the pinewood derby one more time - they voted to stay through B&G.  I set up activities and meetings in the fall with 3 of the 6 troops in town.  1st event campout - 3 scouts showed up.  2nd campout was two scouts and third was one scout (my son).  Meetings were slightly better attended.  Total fail by the parents.  Every excuse you could think of, and honestly I was a little put off.

Anyway, I had two who did not register for cubs in 2016 because they knew they didn't want to join Boy Scouts.  Of the 8 that remained, they all crossed over to troops - three troops in total.  Six are active, and I just heard that the other two have not been going to many meetings.

Totally agree with the comment about active parents means active scouts.

I can't even think of somewhere in my town where we would be able to meet if a unit was that size.

Anyone else notice the Webelos scout with the bow and arrow in the jeep commercial last night? It was a close up but it looked like they got the hat and shoulder loops correct.

I wonder if they filmed it at a council event haha.

I had my guys split into 2 patrols this year and let them come up with names and patrol mates.  Also let them vote on whether they wanted patrol patches or webelos colors - they voted for patches.  Been trying since last year to let them be more involved in deciding what we do.  I hope it makes the transition a little easier, but it was also to keep it a little more interesting.  Also, it allowed me to break them up at meetings, and made games/activities easier as there were natural teams.  I think it's important to make sure each patrol has enough active kids - but that's another thread that I'm sure I have seen on here!

That attitude would turn me off and you would have one less boy in your troop. Why would I leave him with someone that doesn't respect me - so he can pick up that attitude? And I wouldn't want to volunteer my time to be associated with someone that projects that attitude either.

I get that parents can present issues, but your speech is a complete turnoff. But you're young and hopefully you will learn.

Good luck.

I like the Luci inflatable solar lanterns.  Not sure how they would hold up with scouts operating them, but I have not had any issues with them.  Of course, they can not match the brightness of the fuel powered lanterns.

Woe to the troop that inherits this problem.

Well said.

I didn't say it was a good excuse! I think his take on it was that you have to plan the meetings, learn the stuff your doing, etc. Coaching he already knows - although he's not the most organized guy I know. Coaching is fun and scouts is work. They don't do scouts anymore. Chose to focus on sports and 4h instead, so I agree with your comment about not being interested, but I think there is something to the idea that the admin side of scouting is a ton of work. As a coach, you dont have to recruit, sign up the kids, get medical forms or arrange for an activity. Its all done for you.

It boils down to finding men that want to be leaders in scouts.  I don't see many female coaches for the baseball, football, soccer and lacrosse teams in my town.  One guy I know who coaches year round flat out told me that scouts was too much work, and he volunteers for everything.  The main problem I see with this would be finding even more leaders to help out.

Maybe I missed this - why can't she lay out what she wants to discuss in the email?  Should be pretty simple to just write back that the principles of the program are to encourage boys to advance at their own rate, etc.

^Kevin,

^{Not sure what council you are in, but check out this calendar for ideas: http://www.ctrivers.org/Calendar.}

^{New England Air Museum looks good, but I have never been.  There's also CT Science Center, Boston Museum of Science, Battleship Cove. Mystic Seaport, Mystic Aquarium, etc.}

^{Lots of ideas at the calendar.}

If it's a Cub Scout event and you aren't wearing a uniform, it's still a Cub Scout event, and you already advertised it as such. And you're probably paying for it with Pack money, so not sure how you would get away with making it a non-pack event.

Besides, do you really want to be teaching your kids that skirting the law is the proper way to interpret rules that you don't agree with, or that don't fit your needs?

"Horizontal" means bouldering, as in going up five feet and then across sideways. I would assume that commercial means that they provide their own insurance.

It's been a while since I last tried, but I was finally able to log in! I think I first registered in February.