Eagle94-A1

In most of the troops I've been in, the Scouts have been the ones who have been doing the teaching, so that isn't new for me. However, I do see the challenge with getting a young troop up to snuff because that is the situation I'm in with my son's troop; less than 5 are First Class or above, everyone else is Scout or Tenderfoot. Folks I think will have hte biggest challenge will be the LDS troops since their 11 year old Scouts do not meet with the 12 and 13 year old Scouts, and at 14 they go Varsity or Venturing.

Don't know why the Sea Scouts and Venturers would be interested in it since the Ranger Award was the reason this award was created. Boy Scout and Varsity Scout leaders in some areas were upset about only Sea Scouts and Venturers being able to earn Ranger, so national created this one. In my son's troop, it's not promoted. Then again, we are not advancement oriented, but program oriented. We have only gotten "First Class" oriented because of Philmont.

Yes it is service hours and should be recorded. Any scout sho needs service hours for a lower rank and help sout should get credit as well. One thing I've found that gets overlooked, but is part of the process and should be included when calculating hours that teh Life Scout has done towards the project is the entire planning process, i.e. talking to folks about the project, writing up the proposal, getting the necessary approvals, etc. Also the follow up, i.e. making the project book, tank you notes, etc should also be considered as part of the project. But as others have mentioned, there is no time requirement. Only the ability to plan, organize, supervise, and execute a project.

Probably because since 1972, neckers have been optional for Boy Scouts, and national Supply is getting out of the necker business as soon as their stock is out. ( don't get me started on that as my son's troop is in the process of voting on their 3rd neckerchief in about 6 years b/c they used national's designs). I admit I wore it to the pool for the pack's aquatics event, but forgot to put it back on for some orienteering work after coming home from the pool. And great SCOTT, I have old freinds coming out of the woodwork on facebook becasue of the post.

I believe it was MOH recipient Col. Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, USMC (ret.) who once said, " Show me a hero and I'll show you a bum." I admit, I am pro-Native American culture in the OA. But I am biased. I did ceremonies as a youth, and have been a dancer since youth. I've done a lot of research, made friends with the Native Community, and know a bit of the history with the OA and native cultures. I've stated that at one time, the OA was a way to help preserve culture because it was illegal to practice it if you were Native. In other posts, I've discussed how Arrowmen have helped local nations in a variety of situations. Sometimes the Arrowman are recognized as such. Most times, folks do not know the OA connection to the historian, ethnologist, archeologist, publisher, etc. BUT, I do see where the OA gets the bad name with the general 'Hollywood Indians" many lodges do.

OA, Micosay (sp), Firecrafter, etc are prominent at camps becasue they are the ones that provide the volunteer manpower to keep the camps running throughout the year. I know my lodge has 3 Ordeals, which are essentially formal work days, to maintain and improve the main camp. The lodge also does 1 informal workday at the other 3 camps. And chapters do their part too. I know my chapter has paid for and build several structures at the local camp, as well as workdays to maintain it. I can't tell how much money they have raised since I moved back to the area, but when I was chapter adviser, in a 4 or 5 year period, we invested about $10,000 in tools, supplies, and an industrial grade lawnmower. I have not been as active for the past 7 years due to Cub Scouts, but I know that they raised the money for and are almost finished a new shelter at the camp. So I can see why they do some special things at the camps. As for taking up Scout's time, I only know about the OA. And an Arrowman's primary duty is to his unit, whether it's the troop, ship, team, crew, or, as in my case, pack.

Past 2 years it's been 4.5 days. Readyman/ First Responder was chosen because A) everyone in the public thinks first aid and Scouts in my and others' experiences and B) Webelos Woods director is a certified flight nurse. One day is taught teaching/reviewing the skills. We then move into Walkabout Adventure or Map and Compass Belt Loop ( orienteering). 3rd day combines the two into a hike that has first aid scenarios on the trail. Oldest had a blas in 2014 being a victim. 4th day is Cast Iron Chef adventure. The .5 day started in 2014, and was a complete mess because it was announced that Friday would be a 1/2 day the Monday of day camp. So we had to implement a 1/2 day program for those who could not leave after lunch, which was about 1/2 the camp. Lost of ticked of folks about that, especially since I was staff and was dealing with issues when it was announced to everyone. I actually found out on Wednesday. This year was again chaotic. While it was announced that Friday was 1/2 day, the program consisted of parents doing stuff with their kids. Some of the complaints I heard was 1) not everyone was able to have a parent at camp and 2) There was no organization or direction as to what the parents could do.

So August 1st is World Scarf day, any one with any past or present connection to Scouting is asked to wear their neckerchief to promote Scouting. I am assuming August 1st was chosen to commemorate BP's Brownsea Island experiment August 1-8, 1907. Anyway for nosalgia, I posted the patch on my troop growing up necker on FB. WOW the memories and renewing of old friendships all because of posting it..

Crazy Crow is a good source, and depending upon how many you buy, will give you a non profit discount and free shipping. Chilantakoba Lodge 397 bought a bunch for running a tomahawk range back in the day. Current council ran a tomahawk range at council camporee. They used the and assortment of Cold Steel tomahawks: Frontier, Trail, and Pipe. And I second getting extra handles. next time I use SMILE.AMAZON.COM I will be buying extra handles.

I've used the USGS ones fro work and for scouts. No problems.

Activities specific to Webelos Readyman/ First Responder 2 days. first day was learning or practicing skills. 2nd day incorporated a high where stations were set up for them to do first aid scenarios. Walkabout Cast iron Chef

NYLT is "THE" thing to do right now. It's the youth equivalent of WB21C.

In-laws got me 2 of these for my birthday. http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-American-Hickory-Handle/dp/B0014BMBA6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1438285909&sr=8-1&keywords=cold+steel+trail+hawk Jus needed sharpening and I took the protective coating off. And I sue them camping too. Do My in-laws love me or what? I may get a 3rd 'hawk and go with this. http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-Riflemans-American-Hickory/dp/B000Q9BG4Y/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1438285909&sr=8-5&keywords=cold+steel+trail+hawk

No snow. Coldest was about 29-32 degrees F.

Depending upon the camp, Archeology may be a awesome choice. I remember the camp I was working at the year Archeology MB came out. One of our staffers was either an archeology major or grad student, and was able to coordinate with his department college credit for working at the camp. There was a very strong suspicion that the camp was once a Tuscarora town, and the college had an interest in doing excavations at the camp. So the staffer and the Scouts were doing some of the actual work.

Growing up and workign at , Camp V-Bar at Salmen Scout Reservation in Perkinston MS had the last 2 periods for free swimming, boating, and shooting sports. So kids had time for "me." Camp my son has went to for the past 2 years only offered one period of free swim. BUT they had a waterslide. I was told they had some evening sessions of free shooting, but that didn't cover archery. They also had some awesome activities in the evenings: water fest, dodgeball, BMX track, etc.

Depends upon who was the provisional SM. Also depends upon what the camp posted in their guide book. I say that because I know some camps will put their 1st year camper staff as the provisional troop leaders. I was an exception, but that was because 25% of the provo troop were my scouts from the home troop. Some camps have the FYC staff sign off in the books, some have a handout, and some just state "This was worked on and your scout should be able to do." and leave the signing up to the troop. While I'm a big proponent of youth signing off on the T-2-1, and after January 1, 2016 S-T-2-1, ranks. I do have some concerns about youth signing off. 1) Youth leaders can only sign up to their own rank. So a Tenderfoot PL cannot sign off on Second Class requirements. 2) Non-youth leaders APPOINTED by the SPL to teach a skill, are acceptable to sign off.

In my expereince: 1) destruction of property, theft, and assault, or the threat of assalut have been reasons to send someone home. 2) Every unit and camp is different. But usually the camp does need to be notified someone is leaving. 3) Some things I've seen prior sending home are warning, cleaning up something, i.e. bath house, latrines etc.On a few occasions no warning, straight to being sent home. 4) see below about protesting parents. 5) YES! 6) Again units and camps differ. Some of the stories I've witnesses or heard about. One time a troop decided to send home a Scout because he would not listen to anyone, and causing major problems. Parents would not pick up. Leadership tried to deal with it until he tried to assault the ASM. That is when the camp director got involved. I had to pick him up and bring him to the CD while trying to recontact parents for him to be sent home. I do not know what was said to the parents, but he was out of HQ within 3 hours. One of the Sea Scouts in my ship was sent home from Jambo for destruction of property and threatening people. Mom had to fly into DC, get ground transpo to and from jambo, and fly back. This was the 2nd day of jambo. One camp staff was sent home for theft. One camp sent home the entire troop when they caused approx. $30000 worth of damage to the camp. Finally one Scout was causing major problems and troop leadership called parents to pick him up. They said "NO." since they went on a second honeymoon to Disney World while the troop was at camp. That's when the troop's leaders got the camp director involved. He called them, and discussed the situation with them. When they still said no, he informed them that if the Scout was not off the camp by a certain time ( time from Disney to the camp plus an hour to check out, get gas, food, etc) he would call CPS about an abandoned child on the camp's property. They made it with a few minutes to spare.

After a term as PL at 10.5, my son was elected SPL at 11. A lot of srurpised looks from the older Scouts and adults. Including me. Immediate response after the election from the SM was that he will require First Class from then on. Forward 6 months to the next election. The First Class requirement was not in effect. BUT having attended the ILS-T was a requirement. Son was complimented on the job, he did, and surprised the heck out of everyone. Key was training and mentoring, and that goes for any age. As "Green Bar Bill" said: "Train 'em. Trust'em. LET THEM LEAD!"

I prefer these two oldies, but goodies. "OUTING is three-fourths of ScOUTING" and "SCOUTING IS OUTING!" Both by William "Green Bar Bill" Hillcourt

Not only can they work on it, but the Cub can skip working on the Webelos badge altogether and start working on AOL. My son realized that at 10.5, he can earn the AOL and Cross Over. Before the end of the school year, he will be 10.5, and has decided to skip working on the Webelos badge and get to work on AOL. His Webelos pins will be used as electives for the AOL.

What do your Webelos say they would like to do? My Webelos were bored stiff with the normal stuff. So what my camp did was create a 1/2 day WEBELOS WOODS program based upon what THEY wanted to do. 1/2 of the Webelos would be doing your standard day camp stuff: archery, bb guns, and fishing. The other 1/2 of Webelos would be doing Readyman, and outdoor oriented stuff: firebuilding and cooking, orienteering, hiking, etc. Then they flipped flopped. We are the smallest day camp, but as a result of the WEBELOS WOODS, he have the largest percentage of 3 to 5 year returning partiicpants.

With my own son, yes I do limit him. I do not want him taking MBs he can do at home. I told him point blank "no paperpushing MBs for you!" On the plus side, he realizes that and agrees with me. With the exception of Orienteering, he picked every single MB on his own. He asked for another MB to take, and I said 'If you like geocaching, you'll love orienteering since it's old school geocaching." And he did. Problem is that the camp we've been to limits who can take the 2 MBs he really wants to take: Rifle Shooting and Shotgun Shooting.

Very fine line indeed. A trip that we planned 10 months in advance, one that required a 7 hour one way drive turned into a nightmare because of siblings. Long story short, because the siblings were not prepared for the cold, rainy weather we encountered, NO ONE (emphasis) was allowed to do the trail because of the whining and complaining of the siblings being left out of it. To add insult to injury, one of the siblings stopped up a toilet, causing a major overflow at the church we were staying at. That caused the basement to be flooded. As it is right now, I need to hold back my Webelos from taking advantage of the troop's open campout policy for Webelos.

My troop, no matter what national says, has decided to keep the FB group closed. The leadership, both youth and adult, do not want to deal with any problems that open groups have, i.e. spammers, people making crude comments, ad nauseum. Parents are on the page, unit leaders are on the group, those scouts old enough to have FB are on it, as well as the SE and DD. As soon as we get a DE, he will be on it. This is especially relevent after what happened on both the council's FB page as well as a pack's page. On the council's page, one adult leader went crazy, after multiple attempts to go PM, and eventually got slammed by the leader he was critisizing. Same leader a year and a half later went on my pack's website and accused another troop of stealing Cub Scouts. Again adult AND youth leaders discussed this.