mashmaster

I feel your pain, held my last den meeting tonight. 5 great years with these boys since they were 6....I tried to make it special and grown up by teaching them wilderness survival techniques and fire making techniques..... Was very hard to have them walk out of the door of my house knowing that I will only see them at Blue and Gold for half of them that are going to a different troop. I was their den leader, cub master, committee chair, and friend....

Awesome!

Mine was the eighth edition, man I feel old. I like how my book had all the requirements for all the merit badges in the back.

action must be done for the correct thing to do not the good for the masses. Sometimes the right thing to do is a bitter pill but it is still the right thing. I can think of many times in history that the masses where wrong and the right thing to do was seen as something to be the good of a few. I don't agree that the decisions are causiing great changes in membership. I have seen boys that in the need for great help turned away by the people that should support them most. We are here as leaders to help support the boys and help them on their journey to become fine young men.

It is so sad

I had my den look at all the options on patchtown to pick the Patrol name. We did this on a patrol campout and they worked together to pick the name, make a patrol flag, and come up with a yell. Later we got shirts, they loved that they picked out the name. Just retain the right to veto the name. Some of the names are just not good.

LOL, ok...... is there an election coming up?

My boys that are about to cross over got me a scouting campaign hat as a thank you. I am so grateful for it, what a nice gesture. Are there rules on the etiquette for wearing it? I intend on wearing it at the official cross over ceremony.

Just back from camp and the plan worked well. We never got to build a shelter though. It was pouring so we learned how important garbage bags are for make panchos and a ton of other uses of the bag. They of course loved making fire, cooking, making survival kits.

I might swing by the local harbor freight to see if they have their cheapy fire starters. I wonder if the manager would be willing to help out.

I need them by the 26th... of course

OK, a discussion with the camp director about what is OK to put in the survival kit that they go home with. I want to provide them a striker and flint rod, but the concern is if that is ok for a Webelos to have, What are your thoughts? Any additons or things I should omit? This is the kit I was thinking of having them build and go home with: · Bag for survival kit gallon ziplock bag o Flint (something like this http://www.amazon.com/Ferrocerium-Starter-Survival-Magnesium-lighter/dp/B00T8VD79I/ref=sr_1_9?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1450065235&sr=1-9&keywords=Ferrocerium+Rod&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011 ) o piece of hacksaw blade for a striker o Hand sanitizer (optional, I have some expired bottles about 75 of them, 3 oz size) o Cotton ball – smeared with petroleum jelly in baggy o Signal mirror (CD) o Fishing line, hooks o Dental floss o Mini-compass o Bandaids o Antibiotic cream o Garbage bag o Duct tape 16 inches o Aluminum foil o Safety pins o Small pencil o Paper o Paracord o Whistle

Thanks

That seems odd to me

I agree, plenty of time to get Eagle. I like that Scout is a Rank. versus a checkbox

Our boys have been visiting several troop meetings and camped with 3 troops so far with another 2 on the schedule. We are lucky that we have an abundance of good troops within a 10 mile radius. So only a couple have "decided" which troops they are going to, The new requirements for the new Scout Rank are much more than the old joining requirements. I don't think they are necessarly all that hard except there are three knots and repeating the outdoor code. Previously, you filled out the application and you earned the scout patch. Now that it is a proper rank there are requirements that need to be met. From usscouts, if a scout begins working on the scout requirement prior to 2016, they go by the old requirements.

Thanks, that is what I thought.

I have some scouts that have earned their Arrow of Light and are waiting for crossover to happen. They are still picking a troop. When can they begin working on the Scout Rank? Is it once they choose the troop?

OK, I am putting together a plan for Castaway. What do you think of this? We will prepare to embark on our quest from the Hobbit Shire...on our question to survive the ultimate challenge of the wilderness.... We will first assemble at the embarking point and discuss our quest Begin our hike to our outpost What's in our pack? Dump it for all to see We need to survive! Fire is survival lets make fire..... Gather wood, tinder, kindling Make fire with flint, steel, and char cloth.... Whew that is hard. Let's make some magic We will use a 9V battery and steel wool, cotton balls with petroleum jelly, hand sanitizer​ out of our day pack. (requirement 1a) It's time for our second breakfast... Let's make woofems (if allergic to gluten, then have an alternative) (requirement 1b, step 1) Open a can of diced peaches cook a biscuit on a woofem stick spoon the peach into the bread and eat it. Show them a cope game, crossing the river I'm bored, let's invent a game that can be played without using electricity and using minimal equipment or simple items (requirement 2c) What's the name your game? write down the rules once you have decided on them, then play the game(requirement 2d part 1) Head back On the hike; Make a list of four qualities you think a leader should have in an emergency and why they are important to have. Pick two of them and act them out for your den. Describe how each relates to a point of the Scout Law. Describe how working on this adventure gave you a better understanding of the Boy Scout motto. (requirement 2h) Day 2 Have them arrive at the outpost Fire is going. I bet you are thirsty, I'm out of water....(requirement 2f) Purify water : (Can I collect water from the lake?) Boil it in the can from the peaches Aquamira tablets Demonstrate distilling water While the water cools I'm hungry...(requirement 1b, step 2) Put an apple in foil and cut it up. Put red hots on it, Place it next to the fire. Bake the apple. Show them a hunters packet (Or we can make one :-) ) Let's make a shelter (requirement 1c) Play the game again. (requirement 2d part 2) Discuss what to do if you become lost in the woods. Tell what the letters “S-T-O-P†stand for. Tell what the universal emergency signal is. Describe three ways to signal for help. Demonstrate one of them. Describe what you can do you do to help rescuers find you. (requirement 2g) Have Scout brainstorm scenarios in which they might become lost in the woods and how they would respond. Make sure to emphasize the S-T-O-P system in the Webelos Handbook: Stop, Think, Observe, Plan. Cover the ways a Scout might signal to help rescuers find him: Shout three times in a row, or make three blasts on a whistle. Start a campfire to create a bright light at night or smoke in the daytime; tossing grass or green leaves on the flames will provide even more smoke. Spread your rain gear, sleeping bag, and bright-colored equipment in the open to catch a rescue pilot’s eye, or flash a mirror in the direction of aircraft. Other priorities include maintaining body temperature (cool in hot weather, warm in cool weather), finding adequate shelter, and drinking plenty of water. (Don’t worry as much about food. While being hungry is not pleasant, it’s also not a high priority. Unless you are an expert in plants and properly preparing animals to eat, it’s best to save the energy and concentrate on other matters.) Talk about the power of a plastic garbage bag. Make panchos. go through a collection of stuff and let the pick our the correct items that should be in a survival pack. (requirement 2a) Have them make a survival box/bag When we get back teach parents the game and play it (requirement 2e)

Thanks for the feedback! I'll come up with a scenario. When I come up with the plan, I will post it here for more feedback.

For our Webelos Winter Camp, I am in charge of getting the boys through the Castaway Adventure pin. I will have 2 1-hour sessions to get through as much of the pin as I can. I am looking for some feedback on the plan. Requirements for the Castaway Webelos/AOL Adventure Do two of these: With the help of an adult, demonstrate one way to light a fire without using matches. ​​I am going to teach them how to make a fire with flint (or churt) and steel with char cloth. Teach them how to make char cloth On a campout with your den or family, cook two different recipes that do not require pots and pans. Each session, we can make something that doesn't require pots or pans. maybe woofem's over a file or trail mix. Any other suggestions (I think I won't have much budget) Using tree limbs or branches that have already fallen or been cut, build a shelter that will protect you overnight. I'd like to do this but they won't be sleeping in them. Is that cheating to build it and not sleep in it? I'd prefer to do this than the cooking one. Do all of these: Make a list of items that should be in an outdoor survival kit that you can carry in a small bag or box that easily fits in a day pack. Record the most important items in your Webelos Handbook. I was thinking of bringing a day pack and a garbage bag full of good and bad stuff. let them pack the day pack and show them a properly pack day pack. Show you can live “off the grid†by minimizing your use of electricity for one week. Keep a log of what you did. Discuss with your den members how you adjusted to this lifestyle. This will have to be an at home activity that they can start. might be hard since this is right after xmas. With your den, invent a game that can be played without using electricity and using minimal equipment or simple items. I will demonstrate a cope game and then let them design a new one. Name your game, write down the rules once you have decided on them, then play the game at two different den meetings or outings. They can play it at this camp during each session. Is that cheating? Teach your game to the members of your pack or other Scouts if you have the opportunity. They can teach it to others and play it again at the end of camp? With your Webelos den, demonstrate two different ways to treat drinking water to remove impurities. We can go over several method for filtering water. Heck it gives me an excuse to buy one of those cool new UV sterilizers :-) filter, iodine, what other methods are easy? Discuss what to do if you become lost in the woods. Tell what the letters “S-T-O-P†stand for. Tell what the universal emergency signal is. Describe three ways to signal for help. Demonstrate one of them. Describe what you can do you do to help rescuers find you. Talking, and demonstrate. I'll try to not make this boring by letting them practice. Make a list of four qualities you think a leader should have in an emergency and why they are important to have. Pick two of them and act them out for your den. Describe how each relates to a point of the Scout Law. Describe how working on this adventure gave you a better understanding of the Boy Scout motto. Yawn.....

I don't see this as churn, In my experience as long as the program doesn't change to accomadate girls specifically then we should allow them to join. I have a few girls at cub level that are more into scouting than their brothers. Girls in Venture Crews seem to work out quite well.

Yes the hikerdirect (scoutdirect) program still works. The prices are great, the shipping cost is steep though.

Ours is from 6:30-7:30 and we end it on time. By the time 7:30 hits the boys are pretty tired and done. If I had the ability to, I would move the start time of the meeting to 6:00 but we can't get in the school until 6:30 because the after school program has it until then. Heck even my 5th graders are pretty wiped by 7:30 and they usually still have more homework to complete that night. I don't think of it as a maturity thing and they are just plain tired or tarred as my grandpa would say.

Little victories.... You just got to do it for the kids that need it and appreciate it. Unfortunately, no good deed goes unpunished. I would talk to the parent privately and tell them that you love their passion for camping and the pack really needs passionate people planning the campout. Tell them when the next BALOO training is and sign them up. Tell them the boys in the pack really need your leadership, maybe they will realize it is for all the boys not just their own. Thanks for everything YOU are doing for the BOYS! Just in case you don't hear that from your parents.