83Eagle

I had a feeling that would get spun off...I regret ever bringing it up... Speaking about Cub Scouts, all I can tell you is what I get from the BSA itself: "Wearing uniforms has been a method of the Scouting movement from the beginning. Decades of experience show uniforming to have many benefits, including these: ■Equality. The uniform represents a democratic ideal of equality. Boys from various cultures and different economic levels wear the same uniform and cooperate as equals. ■Identification. The uniform identifies a boy as a member of the Cub Scouts. Badges on the unif

Listen everyone, I fear I may have conveyed an impression that I am standing in front of the room with a whip and a maginifying glass while the little brown shirts march past me under the light of a single bare bulb. In reality everyone who shows up with his blue shirt for an announced-in-advance "inspection" gets a patch, and everyone does have a uniform because either the parents buy one retail or from our cub closet for a few bucks, or because we provide the scout one. I don't think that's too egregious and it follows the BSA literature but that's just me. The question actually or

Send a few boys home who don't have their uniform on, I bet in a couple of weeks your Pack will get smaller and smaller and smaller.......... And I said this...where??? I specifically stressed the opposite in my response above. Please do me the courtesy of reading what I actually write, and not assigning statements to me that I did not say. I am experienced (not as much as some here) and trained (not as much as some here) but I do not claim to know it all. Which is why I ask questions. I also know that the BSA emphasizes the importance of uniforms and, in fact, uses the same sports

Good ideas on the various reward systems. I do like the ticket idea for every "part" you have. Yes, I get that the uniform is not the be-all-end-all of scouting. That is not why I asked this question. But the fact is that Cub Scouting does have a uniform along with its own officical BSA "Cub Scout Uniform Inspection Sheet," form number 34282. Our parents are told to buy one (and I hardly think our Pack is unique in that regard). So clearly "we" are saying "this is important." And if it's important, the natural question follows of whether it should have a consequence if it is not followe

I guess we are already doing occasional rewards for proper uniforming. If you have your uniform on for the announced inspection, you earn the patch. You're right that a consequence doesn't have to be a punishment, just the lack of a reward.

We maintain a cub closet that is regularly stocked with donations as scouts grow up. Between that and regular retail purchases, all our scouts have uniforms. So a lack of uniforms is not the issue. The issue is that Billy and Johnny both have uniforms, because they wear them to a meeting. At the next meeting Billy does not have his uniform on because "It's dirty." Mom says, "sorry we didn't get around to doing laundry." At the following meeting Billy does not have his uniform on because "I can't find it." Mom says, "yes, Billy's room is a real mess." At the following meet

Do those come in the spaghetti-strap version like the model is wearing?

Fiskars and Great Neck both make hand drills. Cheap at about $10 apiece. Look in your local craft store or online. I would consider these very light duty drills but adequate for what the cubbies will build and easy to use. I do have an antique hand drill that I picked up, but to be honest it looks more dangerous than your average power tool. We've also let the boys use battery powered cordless drills with adult supervision. [i'm going to duck now...](This message has been edited by 83eagle)

I am putting this in the CS forum because I want CS-specific replies. We talk to the boys about the uniform and relate it to sports, which everyone understands. Teams have uniforms, we're a team, be proud of it, etc. They get that. They also know that if you're on a sports team and you show up without your jersey, you don't play. That's just a given. But at any given scout meeting, there's usually a boy or two who for whatever reason isn't wearing the uniform that he has. But, if you show up without your CS uniform, you...??? What are the practices out there?

Every time I log onto this site, the first ad that shows up on the right hand banner is from "Bad Idea" T-shirts. The model in it is...well if you get the same ad you know what I mean. It's just funny that this ad shows up on this site. Unless this is the demographic being targeted?

Our Tiger den is also 2 scouts this year. I ran the first Tiger meeting and from now on the parents will handle it. I guess my strategy was to deemphasize the den meetings and stress the Pack experience. Before someone jumps all over me, let me say that I didn't say the den meetings weren't important, but I emphasized the pack events and outings, for which there is a full calendar. I felt the key was to sell the den meetings as a fun get-together once a month plus one outing "just for your den," with the Pack meetings being the special event where we all get together for more fun and you

For what it's worth: Marshmallow shooter: made with PVC piping. Relatively cheap, just complex enough requiring a variety of hand tools, and lots of fun. Definitely do this one. Paracord bracelet: made with paracord (obviously) and plastic clasps that you can buy. You can also do a button or tie closure. This craft was a HUGE hit because these are so popular right now. The added bonus is the knots in the bracelet are essentially square knots, over and over. "Mexican lantern." Found this one in an old Baloo's Bugle and it looked good. Would not do it again. It's not complicated

Scoutfish, he wants to join the troop and I have no reservations in terms of his maturity to do so. But, he is still a little torn about it which is understandable. He's not being pushed and it's good that he's thinking it through. The den chief idea came up but that hasn't been presented to anyone at the troop. Before I opined on the subject myself I just thought I would get some input.

You'll note I didn't say whose idea it was... The responses so far are kinda what I figured, but there's no rule in the Big Book O' Scouting as far as I've found, so I need an answer based on the experience of those more experienced than I...thanks.

There's a fourth grade Webelos in our Pack who has an older brother in a Boy Scout troop. The 4th grader has long been excited about moving up. He will easily earn his AOL this year and, with an earlier birthday, he will be older than 10 1/2 next spring. So, he's considering joining the troop by summer 2012. On the other hand he's a bit reluctant to leave his buddies behind, if only for a year until they catch up. What are thoughts on having him be a den chief for the 5th grade den next year?

There are no rules, only guidelines and good ideas. How old are the boys? That makes a huge difference. You might also have success with one big den for some activities, but then utilize two patrols...er, sorry, "named dens," for small group activities. Have them pick a name based on the patrol patches...er, sorry, "den emblems" you can buy at the scout shop and sew them on the right sleeve.

That's a lot of different questions... The Tiger Den does have a leader and is chartered as such--there's a uniform sleeve patch, etc. The Tiger Den leader should also complete the required position-specific training either online or with the pack trainer, and can earn the TDL training knot for the uniform as well. BUT, every adult partner is expected to "lead" the den by organizing activities, etc., with his/her scout. Therefore, the duties of the Tiger leader should be much more of a coordinator than a leader. As to the beginning of the season, what I typically do is a

It beats the usual rants! My instruction for kids is WHEN your marshmallow catches on fire...not IF but WHEN...do not frantically wave your stick around trying to put out the fire...

I am not being critical of either the GSUSA or BSA programs, but when you have a girl go through scouts first, then you have a son go through, it seems a bit odd. Going to sound sexist here but the boys are the ones who are made of snips and snails and puppy dog tails. As always a lot comes down to local leadership. My daughter has been doing the equivalent of den camping (because as you know girl scouts do not operate as a multi age troop for the most part) since her first year because my wife was the leader and a lot of the moms liked to camp...and threre is no prohibition against it wi

1:1 is not required in our district. It may just be your district. But yes, DD has been going to resident girl scout camp by herself since she was in first grade. And her troop, which is essentially a den, has been troop camping since kindergarten. I always wonder why cubs are allowed so much less independence by comparison but that's the way the G2SS reads i guess...

The OT dealt with the expanding leagal definition of hazing and I have no comment on that. My comments only relate to the cavalier attitude on the expanded issues that came up.

We have two resident camps, one for all cubs and one just for webs. Each are $115 a person, scout or adult, and both are very popular. Did you have a question?

This discussion is not "diluted to the point if being irrational." humiliation by definition is based on how someone feels and is therefore completely dependent on the person being humiliated. The victim, not the perpetrators, are the judge of that. Beavah talks about balance, but you cannot know the right balance if you do not know the person, and the whole issue of knowing the person was NEVER a part of this discussion, which started with what defines hazing in a legal sense, and which made blanket statements about singing and other things. So if you are only concerned with a

Got a boy with asbergers...you wouldn't know it if you didn't know him well. If he is new to a troop... Stage-shy is an understatement. If he were forced to sing it would be devastating to him. You people who think this is no big deal need to get your head out of the sand or whatever dark place you have it in.

Hazing can have a lifelong impact. Beavah I believe you are totally missing the mark here. This isn't about character building or team building or even toughening somebody up. OGE's experience, as I read it, is about singling somebody out for a particular prank, and laughing not WITH him, but AT him. If that were to happen to OGE today I suspect his response would be quite different. But as a boy it is also quite different. I was the first kid in my class to reach 100 pounds. I endured hazing as a youth because of my weight even though looking back I was not fat by any means. Ye