Eagle94-A1

I've met some good Eagles, and I've met some "need some work" Eagles. With the "need some work" group, just because they are Eagle doesn't mean you can't mentor and work with them still. And notice I didn't say "young" or "old."

Well we've had yet ANOTHER plumbing problem last nite. Thankfully plumber came out htis morning and fixed it. HOPEFULLY that will solve all the plumbing problems now. Looks like he's stuck with ALICE a little longer, and my dividend is going down the drain, literally.

If memory serves, the letter you received does give you instructions to appeal the decision. But that is a long tedious process

Getting back on track. I'm a REI member, and their sale start tomorrow. Since the Oldest, who is 12 and still growing like a weed I might add, I'm thinking about getting this pack for him: https://www.rei.com/product/895597/osprey-volt-75-pack What do you guys think? I like the weight, and really like how the torso fit goes up to 23". And yes, he's at 17" already!

So how is anyone supposed to get through the Tenderfoot requirements without a patrol flag? It must mean it just gets pencil whipped? The first step in patrol method is patrol identity. Regardless of the patrol makeup, it needs a patrol identity to even get started. They make a "patrol flag" with the First Year Camper program, and it gets signed off at summer camp. I don't like that, but apparently the SM takes it for what it's worth. And I agree the patrol needs an Identity before getting started. Then they need to build Spirit. That is something the troop does indeed need to work on.

I wish my patrols had flags. Out of the three old patrols, only the NSP had a flag, and that was because one of the Scouts took it upon himself to make it. I have no idea what happened to the older Scout patrol's flag, if they ever had one. My son's patrol had a pillowcase with their emblem drawn on it as a flag. But it was hastily a produced one and it was not taken care of. It got wet, put up wet, and mildewed. A PL was suppose to make a new one, but quit before he ever did. Yes, I admit I am for mixed aged patrols. BUT that is so the older Scouts can train and work with the younger one

Back. I know that. You know that. But for whatever reason some of the other leaders don't know that. That's why I don't like making an announcement that only 1/2 the troop will be able to go. High adventure is one thing, but a monthly camp out needs to be able to include everyone. And if the section of river is too challenging for the bulk of the troop, you get teh PLC to select another section, or even river. Yep, You mix and match your strongest and weakest paddlers so that you get a nice mix, and if anything does happen, the skill level is equitable in all the canoes, so you don

I don't know who first said it as I was not at the leader's meeting when it was discussed, but first person I heard that from was Gunship. Being an aquarat who has done 3 fifty milers afloat, I agree, canoeing is FUN. And yes, pairings is important. Know that first hand when my inexpereinced partner froze. more later

Agree, but I do want them prepared for backpacking before they go. I don't want them showing up with little to no instruction.I want the first time to be fun so as not to discourage them. But I also want them to learn. The backpacking group above, as well as several ASMs want the troop to do more backpacking and "primitive" camping instead of the car camping we have been doing. But two of the Scouts have already commented how they don't want to do backpacking; they want to keep doing "easy camp outs." As for canoe camping, I do not know what happened last year as I was not on the trip. Fro

The canoeing problem reared it's head at the meeting. It caused me to ask the SPL if he got the SPL binder with the monthly themes, calendar, etc. He didn't. He also asked me to help him out, which I'm goingto try and do. I mentioned the situation in a message to the ASM and SM last nite. Reason being, I wanted to send him a copy of the Troop Program Features for him to review, and give him ideas to plan his meetings. Regarding the SPL. First time SPL, has little to no confidence in his abilties. BUT HE IS FREAKING AWESOME! (emphasis, ok a little shouting 'cause he's that good.) He was the

Set back for Boy-run. Hopefully a minor one and easily corrected. Instead of following the schedule that the Scouts created back in December, One of the ASMs convinced the SM to jump 2 months and start working on canoeing to prepare as many Scouts for the August canoe trip as possible. So we are skipping over backpacking instruction, which everyone will be doing in July. Grant you the ones who went backpacking this weekend do not need training, heck they should be TEACHING backpacking, but the younger ones need help. Rationale for the jump is the following: 1) we got 3 weeks where there w

Not necessarily. They still need to earn their Bobcat rank. Plus requirement 1 is the following: "Be active in your Webelos den for at least six months since completing the fourth grade or for at least six months since becoming 10 years old" Grant you, a Cub with a late birthday, say my middle son, could skip over Webelos and start work directly on AOL so that by the end of May, he would meet the 10.5 requirement. An aside. Glad my son decided to stick with his den and cross over in December when he is 11 instead of at 10.5. With the challenges the troop is having (see the other th

Eternal rest grant unto him, oh Lord. And may perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen. Krampus, I am so sorry for your loss.

Good idea about mechanic checking out the brakes. Now I gotta find a new mechanic as mine just closed his shop and retired.

Update from tonite: WOW, you just can't please some people. Gunship was ticked off at me and the trek leader, who I named Frustrated above, because we were 1:30 late, and his stepson was too exhausted to go to school today. We told folks we would be at the church at a certain time, give or take 30 minutes. Yes, we got a late start, but that would put us in the give 30 minutes. Putting out the fire put us beyond 20 minutes that, and as you know that group leaving the fire ticked me off. But I had some car trouble, specifically brake issues, that also caused us to be late. I am not u

5 are in the same patrol, and 2 folks from them were MIA. One was sick and ticked off, the other was being scouted for a baseball scholarship, and had to be at the game. He was not happy about missing out either. Those 7 will be doing some patrol camping in the very near future. 2 are in one patrol, and they will be working with their patrol. Funny thing is, both of them do not consider themselves "experienced" scouts, and hero worship the 5 above. Hopefully between me talking to them, and them hanging with their idols this weekend, They now understand when I tell them, "you ARE experience

if you find the 2 volumes I'm talking about, DO NOT LEND THEM TO ANYBODY!!!! I made that mistake, and I haven't seen them since. And there is a really good section on starting a troop, training them using the patrol method. That section can also be used to revive the patrol method in a troop.

Wanted to give an update. Troop camp out was cancelled because only 4 Scouts would be able to make it. They had a day trip instead, but don't know how it went yet. Find out tonite. As for the group doing the AT and a few others. The trip was AWESOME! (and yes I'm screaming in joy ) The 8 scouts that went did a stellar job for being first time backpackers. They really took care of not only each other, but also us old fogeys. I think they learned a lot. And I think if these guys take charge of some of the things we talked about, the troop will rock. The only thing that ticked me of

Alas no, my family did not decline. Two of middle son's fellow Webelos were in the camper. They and youngest basically had a slumber party. Wife and our friends probably wished they were outside with a all the giggles and talking that occured. I'm cool with it though because all four Cubs just had a campout 2 weeks previously Switching gears a tad. I was told the troop will revert back to NSPs in December instead of keeping mixed aged. Made a comment to the SPL that he needs to keep all of my pack's Scouts in one patrol, even if it's a 5 man patrol, and not mix others into it to keep the

I think I scared off Youngest from backpacking. Don't know what happened between when The family left for their trip, and when I met up with oldest, but he doesn't want to carry everything on his back as it's too heavy. I think he tried oldest's pack on, and at approx. 28# it was heavy. As for middle son, he prefers "glamping" in a camper. One of the other Scouts family did the same thing my family did, leave early and have some family time. But they used a camper. When the temps dropped to near freezing, my family was invited into the camper. Trip went well. Scouts did a great job, a

I must respectfully disagree as I channel KUDU. Reprint the 3rd ed. SMHB volumes 1 and 2. From what I've been told and saw in a later SMHB Green Bar Bill, all his other SMHBs are condensed versions of the 3rd. ed.

Yeah we had a WEBELOS (emphasis) who did 40 miles on the AT with Mom and Dad. While a Scout, he taught classes on backpacking gear and backpacking cooking. Long story short, he was disqualified from the backpacking cooking competition because 'we can't allow professionals." And yes, there was no left overs with his dish Actually SWMBO has loaded their backpacks with some gear and has been hiking them around the neighborhoods with Oldest so that all 4 of them could get ready for this weekend. THANKFULLY I was able to convince Middle Son he did not need his vintage, metal first a

Not YPT, but Hazardous Weather. While I was able to see the certificate, I was unable to print it. I did a screen capture to show I completed it. Regarding MY.SCOUTING.ORG, I will quote the Second Doctor, aka "the Hobo," "You've changed things. HHHMMM, I don't like it." It is not user friendly at all, and trying to get to some of the online training was a pain. Only good thing I can say is the search engine is better that scouting.org's one.

OK understood. Sometimes I'm dense. Well the A.L.I.C.E. I have the son using have been modified. It has the M.O.L.L.E. belt and newer, wider straps. Lot more comfortable than when I used it on a regular basis. I admit I love A.L.I.C.E. but it's been on 2 of my three 50 milers, a NSJ and WSJ, my European Camp Staff adventure, and a host of other campouts. But I do realize it's dated, lots of improvements and tech since it was created 45+ years ago. And after this loading up the car for the wife to go camping with the 3 hoodlums while I slave away at work, I need to start investin

All-purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment specifically the Field Pack - 8465-001-6480 - medium on a frame. I've found the Medium A.L.I.C.E. can do double duty as a weekend backpack and a canoe bag. Especially ones with the quick release straps. They can attach to the thwarts. Some thing I tend to NOT want to remember. On my second backtracking trek, I was overburdened with gear to the point my frame broke, specifically the area where the hip belt was. I made a trump line with rope and necker to help ease some of the weight off the shoulders. it helped.