King Ding Dong

The actual percentage your unit receives is determined by the council. I have seen from 30 to 35% back to the unit. Our council lets the unit forgo prizes and receive a higher percentage back. The council does not recommend that approach because they believe the boys are then not as motivated to sell.

But you can't leave him and the clothes he is wearing in the truck. Your COR can certainly do something to protect the CO.

Quoting from Camping MB. I think bunks are just wood platforms. I do not know about electricity, cooking arrangements etc.

Not helpful. I have already made my opinion clear, the committee is disagreement. Read the post. This is the plan of the PLC. Are you proposing I make the PLC plan a more active program with more camping nights ? Force it on the SM, CC and parents ? They don't want to cold weather camp. The plan calls for 10-12 weekend qualifying camping nights. How was your trip BD ? Glad to have you and your positive attitude back.

Joke BD, it was a Joke. See the ? Smile and laugh once in a while, it is good for you.

So our troop is planning a cave camping trip. It is apparently at a location the troop has used in years past and has wood bunks. The parents were divided on if this counded as camping nights, some said it was up to the Scoutmaster. I dont recall a ruling from him. Technically it does not seem to count in my opinion. But then a "snow cave" wouldn't count either. "Sleep each night under the sky or in a tent you have pitched. If the camp provides a tent that has already been pitched, you need not pitch your own tent."

A burner email is just a free email account like gmail, hotmail etc you use for a specific task and then throw away. Like a cheap "burner" prepaid cell phone from the quick shop that are popular amount drug dealers, adulterers, and movie spies. Tossed in the trash when they have lost their utility. http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=burner+phone

Generally age 13 or older. Younger participants may take part in events that match their maturity level as determined by the director. http://meritbadge.org/wiki/images/2/27/2011_Project_COPE_and_Climbing-Rappelling_National_Standards_(No._430-008).pdf

Being SPL sucks.

BP, what is Venturing supposed to be about and where have they gone wrong? I asked a crew chief who was taking IOLS the question "so what do does your crew do ?" And all I ever got from he was "HA". I know they aren't going to Philmont every weekend so what do they DO ? Or is it just a program for rich kids that can take off for HA once a month ?

Google. It seems to be the only really active board and I do not like email lists. Lots of good people here and have learned a lot. It is always good to here different perspectives on subjects. I think I have even made my first "frenemy" here. Just kidding BD, hope your trip is going well.

That's funny. That would be like a troop specializing in one skill and one skill only. We start fires, that's what we do, that's all we do, just start fires. Don't cook with them, just start fires and put them out.

I did not see the paperwork but my CC said she had to sign a document stating we would be in council next year. Maybe they can't require us to stay in council, but maybe they can not allow any elections if we do leave council. I will poke around and see what I find out, I am not in OA so it is all still "mysterious" to me. We have two camps also, but one is only half the size without a lake so it is only used for weekend outings, cubs and STEM camps, training etc. Our big camp runs at least two parallel BS summer programs so technically you can be at a different "camp", it also has a separate Venturing/Explorer Base. I believe OA Is just requiring (encouraging) us to stay in council every other year.

Our council as a big camp at over 5k acres, but the older scouts were getting tired of it and by older I mean 14. The heat the past two summer didn't help. This year we went out of council to a another much smaller dining hall option camp, but was not enough to attract the older scouts. I like the option of going to a different camp each year to keep it fresh even if it means some travel. I don't understand all the details but apparently the OA is requiring us to come back to council camp next year. So looks like we are limited to every other year. They may have valid reasons for their policy, just don't know what they are. Does OA limit anyone else's options ?

Many camps still stick to old minimum age of 13 for COPE. Younger Scouts might not be able to do everything, but they can experience some of it. Fortunately our council has seen the light on this and encourages younger scout participation in climbing/rappelling and cope. I am taking the climbing instructor class next weekend and hopefully the challenge course training in the spring.

Per our council web site Times when a Tour and Activity Plan must be submitted for council review include the following: Trips of 500 miles or more; or Trips outside of council borders (exception: not to your council-owned property); or Trips to Florida Sea Base, Northern Tier, Philmont Scout Ranch, Summit Bechtel Reserve (you will be asked to present a copy of your tour and activity plan upon arrival), national Scout jamboree, National Order of the Arrow Conference, or a regionally sponsored event; or When conducting any of the following activities outside of council or district events: Aquatics activities (swimming, boating, floating, scuba, etc.) Climbing and rappelling Orientation flights (process flying plan) Shooting sports Any activities involving motorized vehicles as part of the program (snowmobiles, boating, etc.); or At a council's request (Contact your local council for additional guidelines or regulations concerning tour and activity plans; many have set guidelines for events or activities within council boundaries such as for Cub Scout overnight camping.) These are the guidelines our council provides. If they had additional restrictions on cub camping they would list them.

Our Council built a 4 post tower at least 30 feet at a camp this summer. It was mostly for demonstration as it was mostly a cub and Webelos camp but did house BS for a STEM camp. I never saw anyone on it I must say. The Council is fairly buttoned on safety rules and they hold pioneering kit training each fall. A tower is a lot different than a monkey bridge so the pg 77 GTSS rule may only apply to rope bridges.

441 those photos are still available.

I think you missed the wink, wink, nod, nod, say no more from jp. Also I would take those photos down of the boys ASAP unless you have permission to post them from each of the parents. There is one in every crowd and you could get burned.

If only Webelos can camp as a den, we messed up. We had a bunch of backyard tiger campouts. Great fun, low drag and really got them comfortable with it.

To start with ask they Scouts what they wanted to do. Two MB tops and the rest adventure like 441 suggests. Would still need to include shooting sports, horses, Scoutcraft activities (pioneering, orienteering etc). boating lessons. Not many 1st years can handle the canoe MB, but they should get practice. Cooking contests.

I especially liked " The military source decided to come forward because of the Boston bombing and the evidence that it was staged by the FBI. " The sad part is this nut is an Eagle. Time for a Mental Health MB.

Wow I feel Deprived now, Since Every place we go we have to stay on the Paved parking Areas..and Our State Parks don't afford Off Roading Experience. Granted Texas does have a few potholes You should get off the beaten path with your scouts more. Our state parks are mostly big RV parking lots, so we don't take the scouts to those except way once in a while. I don't like camping in a big gravel camping area with the sound of generators all around. Dispersed camping areas, national parks, even private land around someone's remote cabin can make for some great scout outings. Most of our forest service roads have no pavement, I didn't think TX had paved over everything!? Someone years ago told me there is no law against nudity on federal lands. What is the story on that ? I am trying to decide what would be more terrifying. Stumbling upon a grizzly or a nude Scouter ?

I would take you up on your offer but I have to work on my BMI limits.

Wow and I thought Glen Beck was nuts.