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DuctTape

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Everything posted by DuctTape

  1. DuctTape
    Besides helicopter parents; those who hover waiting to swoop in to save, there are also velcro parents who are attached to their childs hip for all activities. They have a difficult time separating their childs activities from their own.
  2. DuctTape
    An adult with no experience can learn along with the boys. The boys have less risk aversion and thus are usually more interested in taking the next step of the adventure continuum if we let them. Too often adults either dont allow the scouts to take the next step or they try to push the scouts to take too big a step which requires the adult to do too much. For the former, I encourage the scouts to take the next step in their adventure by telling stories and asking questions. For the latter, I ask the adult which scout is leading the adventure.
  3. DuctTape
    The main problem is the current use of "teaching", "classes", "universities" when referring to merit badges. Scouting is not supposed to be done as school. When we use school terms to describe the scouting process, it devolves into school. The adults are supposed to be merit badge COUNSELORS not teachers. The point as you said is to inspire, and encourage. I say this as a professional educator. My teaching hat stays at home during scouts.
  4. DuctTape
    Both begin with a premise, and the logical (mathematical) consequences can be derived. If the consequences are not supported by observation, one possibility is the premises were incorrect in part or in full.
  5. DuctTape
    I guess I went off on a tangent if my scouting and didnt stay on topic of the free-range kids. But that was a common theme in the scouts for us. Adults were around, but we didnt see them. We made all our own decisions. In the neighborhood, the kids were often in some group playing somewhere. It was like a neighborhhod patrol, but just not scouts. We played in the woods, rode our bikes. Went fishing. Be home for dinner and tell us where you are going were the only requirements.
  6. DuctTape
    Like others, I grew up camping, canoeing and fishing. It was all with my family. As I got older I remember we (my sister and I) were allowed to ask a friend to join us for the camping trips. These were car plop trips, tons of fun with a buddy along. Fishing and canoeing became a father-son thing and stayed that way until I went away to college. At some point in elem school I came home and said I wanted to join cub scouts. My father was in scouts as was his father, but he didnt want to push me into it. He was happy I chose to do it on my own. He and 3 other adults shared being den leader a
  7. DuctTape
    My wife always has me drive, then complains I am not going fast enough.
  8. DuctTape
    I take a very different approach. One of the benefits I and others who posted gained from scouting had to do with financial management. The way I see it, the isa and even troop accounts done "all legal" far too often take away the opportunities from the patrol and the individual scouts to learn something about money and finances. One troop I volunteered at did great fundraising, it was all organized by the parents. The scouts just showed up to "work". The amt of $ raised was considerable. Every campout (all activities for that matter, even dues) were funded by this event. The only exception wa
  9. DuctTape
    Most of the camping I see troops (not patrols) doing do not need WFA. All is needed is what Stosh says, because sending someone for help can be done easily and help is not far away. In WFA, Horizon is on point. Help is not nearby, and likely days away. Requiring WFA for an organization which promotes front country large group camping will only perpetuate the fear of the deep dark woods in adults. Soon they will be even to scared to camp in the local park because the trees might drop a pinecone on little johny.
  10. DuctTape
    Stosh is right. This is also just another step away from boy led adventures to adult guided trips.
  11. DuctTape
    We used to call them "bean holes", due to using them to cook baked beans.
  12. DuctTape
    “we do not go to the green woods and crystal waters to rough it, we go to smooth it.â€
  13. DuctTape
    Agreed. Sometimes we grill the fish to mix it up.
  14. DuctTape
    I missed your line about tossing a line. We did, and ate lake trout every day.
  15. DuctTape
    We did eat extremely well. Due to mileage per day, we couldnt spend a lot of time cooking, so meals needed to be that which wouldnt take extremely long. I too use specific language, and there is at least one place where we appear to disagree even though I have tried to address it. That being the insistence that freeze dried junk is the only option when backpacking. I may not eat as well on my backpacking trips as I do on other trips, but it doesnt mean I use prepackaged freee dried stuff. There exists a continuum of food options with the freeze dried at the extreme.
  16. DuctTape
    Definitely need to do the math. I think we agree on most things. My last two longer treks this past summer were both 10 days with no resupply. One was canoeing without any portages (Lake Superior) the other was a 135 mile backpack (Adirondack Mtns). Last weekend I did a 2 night plop camp. Different gear and food for all 3 trips. All were great experiences which I wouldnt trade one for the other.
  17. DuctTape
    I dont think anyone would claim that backpacking food is equal to plop camping fare. They are two different activities. But "survival food" is the far end of a very wide spectrum of food options. Of course Stosh, you pointed out the precise reason for one to choose backpacking food, it is so one can go on that activity. If one chooses to only plop camp because the entire focus of the experience is the gastro-delight then they might miss out on other things. But just because the food options and cooking times/techniques are slightly more limited doesnt mean the food must be terrible. Regardless
  18. DuctTape
    I disagree that backpacking cooking is crappy tasting survival food. For some perhaps it is, but it need not be. Like all cooking, it depends on the skill of the cook and the ingredients one brings.
  19. DuctTape
    Could not agree more Stosh.
  20. DuctTape
    Temp control and hots spots is what makes baking (and cooking general) in Al mess kits the challenge. Which is why I said DO cooking was easy. It is relative. I encourage my patrols leaders to have their inexperienced scouts learn to cook for themselves first before making a group meal. Some of the patrols over the years liked it so much they rarely had a patrol cook, they would pair up or cook individually within their patrol. Sometimes it was everyone having the same thing. other times it was completely different. They said they liked to do it their own way, meaning some liked certain i
  21. DuctTape
    Agreed Stosh. I have my grandfathers scout mess kit. The frying pan portion is actually steel. My own personal mess kit isnt a bsa one, but a few items I put together myself which can accomplish the tasks.
  22. DuctTape
  23. DuctTape
    Done it. Easy. Dutch ovens do the work and also keep everything warm, so timing is a non issue. I challenge you to do the same with just a scout mess kitcand an open fire, no charcoal.
  24. DuctTape
    Agreed. If that is the metric used by national, it is no wonder they suck at marketing. Additionally, the scouts can and should move on to adventures farther and farther from their backyard.
  25. DuctTape
    Agreed 100%
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