Khaliela

I think the biggest problem is that we have taken learning out of schools and replaced it by activities. They want kids to be proficient in more things sooner, as a result they don't have time to actually teach something or take the time to make sure the kid learned it. Kids don't garden at home anymore, so all our schools include a garden that the students are required to work in an hour a week. When I was in high school I had genetics and worked on Mendelsohn's Peas. (I hope I've got that spelled right.) My own kids had to cover genetics in 5th grade and were covering the same

I teach at a local University and see a lot of this. The problem seems to be that the kids don't realize they are cheating. If they are paying someone else to do their HW or take their test for them, they see that as effective management of resources. If you catch them and give them an F you get a call from their parents (Yes, I'm still talking about college students here) saying that clearly the child has "Management Potential" and as the instructor I'm not seeing the "big picture," because managers don't actually do the work of peons, they hire peons to do the work of peons!

Yes- I know the 50 miler will take a week, not a weekend. My point is the questions are the same. All adults are supposed to be trained and registered or they don't go.

I think frustration is that everyone who wants to go on a weekend campout with their kid now has to be trained. When we filled out the trip permit for the 50 miler the question were "Do all adults have Youth Protection?" and "Do all adults have Swim Defense & Safety Afloat?" Not everyone wants to be a leader or has time to be leader. I have no problem with BSA requiring training of it's leaders, but we have had parents would have been happy to attend a weekend event change their minds when they realized they would have to put in 2 or 3 hours of training first.

It depends entirely on where you are camping. If you are camping in a developed campground in a state or national park, or even some of the NFS camp grounds, then it doesn't matter what you use. Feel free to smell as fruity as you like because the kid in the next campsite who fell asleep with marshmallow in his hair and evidence of s'mores on his face is going to be far more tantalizing than any smell your shampoo gives off. If you are using undeveloped campsites on state, federal, or BLM land, it probably doesn't matter much there either as long as you are using the usual bear precauti

Qwazse: The Aryan Nation is a white, Christian, separatist religious organization that was based in Hayden Lake, Idaho and is part of the Christian Identity organization; Church of Jesus Christ–Christian. The compound was dismantled and so was the original church they preached in, but more churches continue to spring up around the area. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aryan_Nation Recently, an avowed white supremacist ran for sheriff in Bonner County, Idaho; That same year another ran for sheriff in Latah County, Idaho. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/19/shaun-winkler-wh

Summer camp this year sucked, but being in council we expected that. By the time they rolled around to our week many of the staff members had already quit. They were down to just 3 life guards so swim checks took forever and all the classes were moved around to accommodate the missing staff. We didn't get the Camp T-shirts we ordered and the camp said they have no record of the order, so we have to send someone to the council office to find out what happened. The main topic of discussion among the boys was how FAT the camp staff were, several were over 300 pounds. (We thought

I wouldn't worry about it. A boy doesn't need to advance in rank in order to be in Scouts. When he is 11 or in the 6th grade he can join Boy Scouts, he doesn't need to earn the Arrow of Light. When he is a Boy Scout he won't need to earn rank advancements in order to attend meetings or hang out with the other guys. He can still have an enjoyable experience sans all the do-dads.

I've worked as Camp Staff, and peen to a number of camps around the Northwest; most places don't even read them. Check to see the boys names match the roster and that's it. If he's worried about HIPPA have him put it in the middle of the pile, it will come back in the middle of the pile and no one will have seen or read, (or remotely cared about) his information.

I would recommend camping in the off season, you are more likely to get your reservations then. National Parks are Grand Central Station all summer long, so you will have a better experience in the off season too. Splitting the pack and troop so the older boys get some backpacking experience is a good idea too. Depending on how many boys you have per patrol you might look into getting two permits, each for a different trail in the backcountry; most places only allow 8 to 11 people on a Backcountry permit anyway. The most important thing is to book as early as you can, otherwise your pe

I was going to say the same thing. The only time the boys "do dishes" is when we are car camping, otherwise they just use their tongue! LOL! (Check your local area for regulations, some areas do not allow soap, even the biodegradable camp kind.)

Some of Monty Python's Flying Circus stuff might work--it would even keep the boys entertained.

Nothing--and everyone will be getting thank you notes as well. However, he had several people go above and beyond. In his project he stated that even though it would be more expensive he wished to purchase all materials locally rather than drive 100 miles to use Lowes or Home Depot and get one of their $100 Eagle Project Scholarships. He wanted the money to stay in the community. Most of the businesses were willing to give him a discount to help keep cost down, but some really did more. He tore down an old fence and built a new one for the library, then had to pour a concrete pad to bui

Basementdweller: The trip was in the Grand Canyon. There are a plethora of rules and regulations to follow. If you've never done a serious back country trip you might be aware of the permitting requirements. Once below the rim you are required to use leave-no-tace, and yes, we have poop tubes. If the boys choose pizza because they don't know how to cook or because cooking is "women's work" there is a problem. The requirements for rank advancement state that the boys must cook their meals. I won't sign off that requirement for any boy who says he met the requirement by having pizza del

My point is that National recruits boys that don’t want to go outside unless their “outside†activities resemble a “shoot-um up†video game. The council sponsors two recruiting events each year; one is a Wii & Xbox tournament, the other is watching a Spokane Chief Hockey game. The Scouts that used ATV’s to destroy waterfowl nesting habitat should have been kicked out; the unit should have been disbanded. Instead they got funds to help pay the fines (and legal fees because they were dumb enough to contest them) all because council didn’t want to

I know this is off topic, but around here swimming is considered a great 1st year MB. Lifesaving is generally for older scouts. Where are camping???

I like this. It's way better than handing them a plant or something equally useless at the ECOH.

KDD: Last year at Melita we used our backpacking tents because their camp does not supply tents. Our tents are 3.5X6 and sleeps 2 if they put their gear under the rain fly. Camp Staff told us if we put up a dining fly all would be well, so that's what we did. Cots??? Scouts do not use cots. LOL! (At least not in our troop.)

jblake47: I am left wondering if you actually bothered to read my post? Is shooting road signs full of holes chivalrous? I don't think so. Is using your ATV to tear up recently restored habitat and destroying a waterfowl nesting area chivalrous? I'm still not buying it.

My son has received a tremendous amount of help in both time and donations while working on his Eagle Project. (Crossing my fingers and hoping it will be complete this weekend.) What are some appropriate “thank you†gift ideas for those who have gone the extra mile? We had one company donate all the lumber for the project. Another donated the concrete and even came out and helped him pour it. Somehow a thank you note just doesn’t seem like enough. What about hosting a “Thank You Event?†I'd appreciate any ideas.

When I was a CM my rule was that the boys in the most complete uniform got to do the flag ceremony. After that it was a competition to be the best dressed. Question: are your adults wearing their uniforms? If not you may have found your problem. If the leaders wear the uniform without complaint so will the boys. I've even had cubs insist on wearing their uniforms to school for picture day. LOL!

Why not throw 3 boys in one tent? If your camp uses the big green canvas tents there is plent of room and I'm sure you've got a set of boys who would be happy to be the Three Musketeers!

The 30 sq foot requirement is just covered space, not tent space. If your tents are small (we use backpacking tents that are tiny) you just put up a rain fly, and presto, you're meeting your sq ft. requirement.

You're right that rain will not melt the Scouts. Here is a question: Do you really want to cater to families who are fair weather only Scouters? We camp in the rain. We camp in the snow. (We prefer camping in the snow!) If you have a good attitude, the boys will be fine; attitude is contagious. The big problem here is that you have to camp with parents since you've got cubs and their attitudes can be less than stellar. I say go ahead and camp and let the families weed themselves out. Re: Canceling Make sure the people in charge of the camp out know if it's candled. Once upo

IMHO, this is a horrible idea. Just too young. It's not for the boys; it's for the parents. Far to many of them get sucked into the activity trap.