Hedgehog

Exactly. There is no need for the boys to do anything as a patrol. I mean, the concept of a patrol is an adult rule. Also, forget the uniforms, that is an adult rule. How about knife safety and getting a Tottin Chip -- more adult nonesense. Oh, and the advancement rules and rank requirements... complete adult claptrap. Give the boy a badge when they think they should get it regardless of the requirements. To quote Baden-Powell, "Scouting is a game for boys under the leadership of boys under the direction of a man." Playing soccer by picking up the ball and running with it is no l

Foil soldiers? http://www.mariescandies.com/foso12lb.html Doesn't seem very healthy.

It is actually interesting to hear the opinions expressed on politics by scouts. At an OA ordeal dinner a couple of political issues came up. Much of what was said clearly mirrored things they have heard -- most likely from parents. My perception was that all of the guys were expressing opinions on the same end of the political spectrum with some opinions being more extreme than others. I asked a bunch of questions that probed their level of understanding of issues and asked questions that made them consider whether a generalization (despite making a good sound bite) would make good policy

So true. I have an REI Air Rail pad: https://www.rei.com/product/845298/rei-airrail-15-self-inflating-sleeping-pad I have back issues and it is very comfortable, doesn't slide out the side and is lightweight.

As we like to say in the legal profession, assuming facts not in evidence. We had someone who had served as a PL and SPL working with the NSP. The only way we could have had more experience and knowledge was to have an adult do it. My point was that B-P used mixed aged patrols that were assigned by the SM and that seems to have worked out pretty well. Some folks use the NSP concept well. I like the idea but realized it didn't work in our Troop. Unlike Stosh, I didn't attribute it to the complete and utter failure of our (very experienced, now Eagle) scout leading the NSP, but to th

@@TAHAWK - I have no doubt if I posted that the SM in our Troop decides on the patrols for summer camp and appoints the PLs and APLs and then provides the names of the patrols and designs their flags like B-P did, our Troop would be firmly derided. The "it wouldn't work" comment was a reference to how folks on this forum seem to think that the minor details can derail the whole program. Obviously, B-P's adult lead experiment did work to generate scouting across the world. As for leadership, leadership can be learned in many environments and through many different methods. It can rang

From a Scout Leader's Guide to Youth Leadership, p. 38: I can only imagine the slings and arrows that B-P would have to endure on this forum for what he did. I can hear the chorus of "adult-led" or "forced patrols" and the predictions of "that is never going to work." I love to quote Richard Covey (the late author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People) when he says seek first to understand and then to be understood. From being on the debate team in college and being a lawyer, I understand that everything cannot be black and white. In reading all of the posts regardi

Compare all that to the look on a scout's face when the SM or ASM quietly says, "Bob, I saw you really stepping it up and helping out your patrol this weekend... keep it up."

I have these two tents: https://www.rei.com/product/862423/rei-quarter-dome-2-tentand https://www.bigagnes.com/Products/Detail/Tent/FlyCreekUL2. My son typically uses the quarter dome for plop camping and I use the Fly Creek. For backpacking, my son and I share the Fly Creek. We're thinking about getting these for our new Troop tents -- sort of a throwback but in a ultralight model: https://www.bigagnes.com/Products/Detail/Tent/scoutul22016 But for a scoutmaster, THIS IS THE TENT: https://www.rei.com/product/897944/big-agnes-super-scout-ul-2-tentall for less than 3 pounds.

I agree that this isn't cause for overreacting but instead is a teaching moment. I would have a talk about being Morally Straight (not using drugs), Mentally Awake (thinking about the effect your actions have on another) and leadership (setting an example). My concern with it being addressed by the PLC is that is an ADULT RESPONSE. If an adult didn't make a big deal about this, the PLC would't care. A simple talk with the boy would let him know not to do that the next time and to consider how he would react if he saw another scout do that (a simple "that's not appropriate in scouting" would

Actually off to REI to get some rain gear for the son for the weekend. Wife keeps feeding him and he keeps growing. Getting him the Mens Large -- so if he outgrows this, at least I can use it.

We typically averaged 3 to 4 out of 8 first year scouts on every campout, probably more for the sea kayaking and COPE / rock climbing. The bicycling was 7th graders and up with the boys who just crossed over meeting them at the campsite. The camping in lean-tos in 15 degrees was all 8th graders. The 50 miler included one guy who just finished 6th grade, two guys who just finished 7th grade, one guy who just finished 9th grade and one who just finished 11th grade. The 250 miles of hiking and backpacking is cumulative over 3 years that I've been in the troop. My son has logged 215 and I'm

When you are there, check out the Granite Gear Blaze : https://www.rei.com/product/824361/granite-gear-blaze-ac-60-pack It is under 3 pounds and adjustable.

I don't mind the rain, I've got a nice Marmot rain jacket and pants.

Enjoy! My son and I are both doing our Ordeals this weekend. I'm hoping the rain stays away until Saturday so we can sleep under the stars on Friday night.

Our mileage does vary. We do a canoing trip down the Delaware river each year. Anyone in the troop is permitted to do the trip. We've done sea kayaking -- anyone in the troop is permitted to do it. Horseback riding, backpacking, winter camping, rock scrambles, mountain biking, etc. - anyone can do it. The older guys watch out for the younger guys naturally. Had a 12, 13 and 14 year old do our 50 miler last summer. See above - nobody in the kiddie pool, our guys jump into the deep end. By putting the younger boys in patrols with the older boys, they are stepping

Yes, but the problem with having all the inexperienced boys in one patrol is that there are no experienced scouts to teach the skills because they are all shooting the rapids. So you have the adults stepping up and teaching the skills to the den... I mean patrol. Also, how is the older scouts deciding to segregate the inexperienced scouts to float in the kiddie pool taking care of your boys? About 10 years ago the boys in our troop made the decision to have mixed age patrols because the boy leaders felt that when they were younger scouts they were ignored and looked down upon by the older s

Well done. Boy-led is a a continuum and your troop is moving in the right direction. I like the "ladder" concept explained here: http://scoutmastercg.com/ladder-of-youth-leadership-infographic/ Our troop is between a 2 and a 3, hopefully moving closer to a 2. The irony is that moving an existing troop to be more boy-led, patrol-method troop does require adult leadership. Your troop's tradition of the "senior" patrol seems contrary to boy-led and patrol method because it is taking boys who are leaders and removing them from the patrol. You were right to discourage that tradtit

Hmmm. Will have to track that down. In developing a leadership training program for our Troop's leaders, I've been reading this Working the Patrol Method and have ordered a copy of GBB's Patrol Leader's Guide.

My thoughts and prayers are with the scouts and their families.

The number is a little off. Going South to North, you start at Penn Mar Road in Pennsylvania which is at 1054.4 from Springer Mountain. You go past Shenandoah River Biridge is at 1012.5 from Springer Mountain which would be 41.9 miles. It is then around 2.4 miles to the Virgina border skirting off on the Loudoun Trail to hit the Virginia border. That makes it 44.3 miles.

Interesting. The progression really isn't a big deal. Most of our guys do a 5 miler the first year at camp. The ones who would go for the badge have done 10 miles a day with packs on. The 20 miler is a little more difficult. It's hard to find a 20 mile stretch of trail around here that doesn't have a lot of PUDS (pointless ups and downs). That makes the 20 miles feel more like 30 miles. But then again. how about doing 42.9 miles across 4 states on the AT in one day: http://www.backpacker.com/trips/maryland/appalachian-trail-four-state-challenge-pa-va/ Maybe two days.

That would be me ranting about the APL not being a position of responsibility. In my son's case, he has been more of the patrol leader than than the PL. Also had served as a PL on outings more than anyone in the troop. I'm working on our training program The first step is doing a leadership campout. The second step was to decide to have the materials printed on 5 x 7 cardboard cards that are connected by two round binder rings (so they can flip through them or tear them out as needed). It will cover the ILST materials PLUS teach real leadership. I'll post the ca

I wouldn't recommend buying a backpack that weighs more than 5 pounds. I have a pack that weights 3 pounds and 14 ounces -- a pound and a half to two pounds lighter than the ALPS packs.. Even better: https://www.rei.com/product/824361/granite-gear-blaze-ac-60-packwhich is 2 pounds 14 ounces. My son has this backpack which weighs 3 pounds and 8 ounces and it works great: https://www.rei.com/product/878460/osprey-ace-75-pack-kids Spending an additional $30 to $40 to save a pound or more is well worth the investment. Although it doesn't sound like a lot of weight, the majority of

I love that idea. I'll share it with my son and see what he thinks of the idea. He's always loved the organized campfires at summer camp and there is probably no better way of signifying HOW he earned Eagle than doing the COH on a campout.