Eagle94-A1

I admit, with the exception of the 3 mile trek earlier this month, it's been 19 years since i last did serious backpacking. Yes I did old school stuff 2 weeks ago, but seeing some of the latest greatest meals, and the instant coffee, well I've seen the light. While I know there will be no way I'll be an ultralight camper ( gear is way outta my price range) I am willing to cut back on weight. I saw the light. I'm not carrying my French press backpacking, and then having to carry out the used grounds. I don't want to have to worry about KP water. So I'm looking at some of those backpacking meals

Again the troop missing camporee the past 3 years, and then showing up not knowing anything is not my troop, but the one that is chartered with the Cub Scout pack I'm with. And it's my understanding that the only reason they showed up this year was because the CM, who has a Webelos, begged the SM to go so the Webelos could camp there and see them in action. That troop is now very adult lead, yes worse than mine is, to the point that ALL leaders are appointed by the SM so that " the same Scouts don't keep getting elected over and over again," and " everyone gets a chance to be a leader." F

I was taught the "3 Layer System" for water activities; individual ziplocs for specific items ( bag for clothes, bag for cook gear, etc) which is waterproof layer 3, a garbage bag liner that is goosenecked for waterproof layer 2, and a the tough, protective layer of your pack as layer 1,which can be waterproof. We had Scouts flip and gear was floating way that wasn't lashed. Those layers do indeed trap enough air to make them float.

Council is not doing anything special. In fact they are handing the package to me at RT. Haven't told the SPL or PLC yet because A) I just literally found out today and B) by the time the package is handed to me, we will have a new PLC. I did tell the SM and #1ASM because we were all waiting. Some ideas instead of waiting for the COH, is to present it at a church service saying we wanted to do a formal charter presentation. We'd tell the COR/CC what's really up, but leave the pastor out of the loop since he's getting the award.. Then surprise him with the award in front of the congrega

As the title says, I FFFFEEEELLLLL GOOD! Got the email from my DE that the guy who pulled me out of the water not only got approved for the Medal of Merit, but it was in fact sitting on the DE's desk. I so cannot wait fro the next troop Court of Honor. Now the question is who should do the actual presentation, Victim #1, the Scout who I went in to assist but was assisted by the surfer, or me, Victim #2?

Don't know if it was the Scout's decision, or the adults, but that troop having the parents and SM coach them didn't come back to a district camporee for 3 years. Except one year some of the Scouts came only for the campfire because of the OA Call Out. I know one of the PLs was ticked off when they came to last year's district camporee, because they had no information on any of the events or what to do. SM said he never received any camporee book, yet it was emailed to him, posted on the district FB group of which he is a member, and was posted on the council website.PL was furious that th

Or they may just surprise the heck out of you. First year oldest was competing at camporee, his patrol qualified for a blue ribbon, and only 20 points separated them from the "experienced" patrol But I admit, I there are a few times where I just gotta watch the patrols in action. Last year, and hopefully this year too, I'll get the chance to watch them do tomahawk throwing again. Unfortunately they won't make the last year's mistake and let the Cub Scouts throw. I know there was some complaints in Oldest son's troop when they found out his younger brother nailed 4/5 tomahawks in the target

@@Stosh First aid story reminds me of one of the Scouts I signed off on First Aid MB. All he had left was show me his personal first aid kit. On the camping trip, I ask him about it, he goes to his tent to get the kit out of his backpack, and it's one of these hard plastic,patrol size kits. Now I thought he trying to pull one over on me, was using this kit because I asked him to show me the personal first aid kit on the camp out. I said no a personal one. and he tells me that is his personal one. I told the kit needed to fit in a pocket. His reply was "oh my survival kit's first aid

Once the national BSA's branding department got involved, a lot of changes to council websites were made to insure a degree of uniformity to keep "the brand" Council I was in as a youth had an excellent website, easy to navigate, informative, etc. The same webdesigners who did the council website also did the local lodge's website. And yes, he and his sons ( also technogeeks) volunteered their time and server space for these websites. It was a labor of love for them. And the OA website DID win some webdesign awards. But then national stepped in, created templates for councils to use, and m

You reminded me of two things, one funny and one not so much. I was at one camporee where not only were the parents following their sons' patrol, but was even coaching from the sidelines. Walking in front of the offending parents with my entire den, blocking the Scouts' view of their parents' miming helped. Firebuilding was a bit tougher as the SM used my den as a means of relaying instructions to his Scouts. Yep the SM was talking loud enough where the patrol could hear what he was telling the Cub Scouts. And he was telling the Cubs how to build a fire. Thankfully the judges noted the inte

As others have said, it may be possible for this gentleman to still be in Scouting as a "youth." It will require contacting the council and using Scouting resources on the topic. here are some I was able to find: http://www.scouting.org/disabilitiesawareness.aspx Website devoted to disabilities awareness and links to supporting literature http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/GuideToAdvancement/SpecialNeeds/RegisterQualifiedMembers.aspx How to register special needs Scouts http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/512-935_WB.pdf Request for Registration Beyond the Age of

Stosh, You wouldn't have happened to read any William "Green Bar Bill" Hillcourt by any chance? I could swear he wrote your idea almost verbatim!

My DE stated he would rather be shot in the head with a shotgun than do the online training again. My district training chair heard that comment, went online to attempt it, and said he's doing a live class instead.

As far as I'm concerened, they are OK. We had a mom picking up son from day camp wearing flip flops. Between the car and the pick up area, about 75-100 feet, she fell and ripped a toenail. Having closed toe shoes would have helped. Grant you I looking into some water shoes for an upcoming backpackign trip with some water crossings. But normally when dealing with water, it's ALTAMA brand jungle boots. They were the USGI manufacturer. Don't recommend ROTHCO jungle boots. About 10 days old Rothco boots had the sole come out when I was doing a portage on a practice trip. Git stuck in the m

To my cheerleaders, heck everyone THANK YOU! This is a long, time consuming, and at times, very frustrating process. I need all the encouragement I can at times. Regarding the mixed backgrounds, some new Scouts are capable of functioning without adult intervention because that is how they were trained.. Some won't do a thing without an adult telling them to do something. You can have however many scouts tell them, they will ignore them. Some are capable of doing things, some do not want to even try to do something. They want the adults to do it for them. Or if they are to be taught, they w

On paper I'm a committee member, but in performance I'm an ASM. I'm working on that because I've been doing ASM work, since June 1st, except a brief spell when injured.. I would like to add a fourth reason why NSPs do not work: lack of cohesion, homogeneity, whatever you want to call it. What do I mean by that? The NSP came from 5 different dens in 3 different packs over a 6 month period. Each pack and den did things differently, and began the transition to Boy Scouts differently. Different sets of expectations of Boy Scouts, different sets of readiness for Boy Scouts. One reason

I admit, the troop has a long way to go still. In fact, one of my friends suggested looking for another troop already. But from where we've been, to last nite, IS a giant step in the right direction IMHO. (FYI, all caps will be emphasis and not shouting.) We are going with the traditional, pre-1989, mixed aged patrol, so TGs are not going to be a POR. Game plan is to put more responsibility AND authority on the PLs. As mentioned, the patrol method IS contrary to our society's expectations. Let's face it, we are treating 26 year old adults as children still, and unfortunatley they are a

A bit of an update. Leader's Meeting There was a leader's meeting last night prior to the Court of Honor. I was only able to attend a few minutes as I had to sit on Boards of Review (don't ask, I've been in a SA position, but still registered as MC). Anyway from the outline the SM created, and basically told the other adults "this is how we are doing it," this is what will be happening effective May 2nd. 1) Each patrol will be assigned an ASM as patrol counselor, and that PC's job is to train, mentor, and advise the PL. Other PCs, as well as ALL of the leaders' jobs will be to keep

I had a Scout teach portions of IOLS, because he had the knowledge, skills, and abilities to do it.. Great instructor. When be turned 18, the new district training chairman, who worked with the individual on the IOLS course, refused to sign him off until he completed the course. Sometimes it sucks to be the "leader's kid," having to worry about the leaders showing favoritism. And yes, once he completed IOLS, dad did sign him off.

I don't know who used the term Parour Scout first, but an audio recording from the 1920s has BP using the terrm. Going off on a tangent, when has that NOT happened , But wife got me a book called LEFT OF BANG about the USMC hunter-scout program. Not very far into it, but a lot of it so far is observing and being aware of your surroundings to ID threats.o reminds me of BP's yarns in the original BSHB.

I admit I volunteer for my own selfish reasons. One is I want my boys to have the same opportunities for adventure that I had. Another is that I am a Scouting and outdoor addict, to the point where during Cubs, the wife kicked me out of the house to go camping wiht the OA or a troop because I was going through camping withdrawl. Finallly I feel an obligation to pay back to the leaders I had by continuing their legacy. As for Eagles being unlearning what they have learned, I agree. I say the most difficult transition was from Boy Scout to Scouter as opposed to Cub Scout Leader to Boy Scout

When the heck did they add the 2 year thing? Grant you I'm glad that a brother and sister can share the same tent now, we have a set backpacking, and they are a backpacking buddies.

Well, we had to adapt for teh weekend trip, couldn;'t get the enough permits to do the area we wanted. Plan B is national forest, and we definatley want the spray. Wife, dad, and friend were hiking a trail in the area, and encountered bear,.

Just wait until you try to find info on the website, and I'm a librarian who can make most databases dance on a dime. I think one of my Cubs could do a better job doing the coding for that website.

Wanted to give a quick update. Looks like the police report will be useless for documentation. Apparently someone else claimed to jump in and do CPR on the victim. I'm not happy, wife could care less, but my friend with the police department is TICKED OFF (both emphasis and shouting on his part). He's madder than a hornet's nest because A) the people who deserve the credit are not getting it and B) it's falsifying a police report. But because it's not anything major ( EMS was able to revive him and send him to a hospital) it's not worth the time or energy to correct it.