Eagle94-A1

Sorry I can't help, but I do have questions. 1) How is Lions working out for you? 2) What is the program like? 3) What are they allowed to do? Not Do? 4) How is retention?

Parents, especialy the helicopter variety, ARE part of the problem. I've encountered too many parents who only want their sons to Eagle as soon as possible so that is checked off the list of to do things. One year we had a MB weekend instead of a camporee. All of the scouts I talked to hated it, but a lot of the parents loved it. Thankfully we never had a second weekend 'cause word got back to the PTB that the Scouts wanted competition, not classes. And I also put some of the blame on MBCs who aren't trained, and do not know what is actually expected of them. I admit I've done 2 merit badg

Maybe it's the the fact that my son's troop is old school, but he got 18 days of camping in 1 year. Grant you 6 of those was summer camp. And he would have had 21 days if he hadn't of missed 2 camp outs. So 20 days is not tough IMHO. But then again, when only 4 camp outs are needed for Journey to Excellence, I think more OUTING in ScOUTING is needed.

Peri, Youth can also serve as staff for NYLT. You you would need a total of 10 areas. Male Youth Participant <18 Female Youth Participant <18 Male Youth Staff <18 Femail Youth Staff <18 Male Adult Participant 18-20 Female Adult Participant 18-20 Male Adult Staff 18-20 Female Adult Staff 18-20 Male Adult Staff 21+ Female Adult Staff 21+ Me personally, I'd recommend the 18-20 year olds to take Wood Badge as I am told the courses are almost identical. Only difference is the ticket for WB.

Understand completely. "ScOUTING IS OUTING!" Going to play Devil's Advocate on the waterfront MBs. Betcha b/c it's a council level event, they need a n NCS certified aquatics director to run the show. Had our council commissioner approcah me about how many CS packs are using the brand new boating facility at the local camp. He was surprised when I said "None because the Guide to Safe Scouting doesn't let allow boating except at council events with a aquatics director."

After what heppened with my son and one MB he took at a local MBC, I understand why some SMs want to be "gate keepers" and make sure the Scouts are getting quality MB counselors. Son took a MB at a MBC that the MB Counselor not only used out of date requirements, try about 10 years out of date, but the Scouts didn't do all of the old requirements even. As a Scouter, I could do nothing about it, he "earned" the MB because it was signed off as completed. But as his dad, I talked to him, and made him realize why it's important to do all of the requirements. Maybe I was wrong in letting work

Under 18 Male, Under 18 Female, 18-20 Male, 18-20 Female, 21+ male, 21+female for sleeping. Hopefully your camp has individiual bathrooms.

DO NOT GO THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've seen troops in the past, and am seeing one now, that does not use the Patrol Method. This despite the fact that multiple folks tried to smack the SM upside the head [figuratively, not literally (unfortunately ] with the importance of using the Patrol Method.

Lt.Gen. Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller and Gen. James N. "Mad Dog" Mattis come to mind as examples of the former. I cannot think of any well known examples of the later.

I said it then, and I'll say it again. Switching the loops from red to green as well as the unit numbers was the most idiotic thing. And to make it worse, saying Cub Scout Leaders and Webelos wearing weaing the tan and green still need to wear red numbers is pure stupidity. At least the powers that be decided that anyone can wear the tan and green or tan and red trained strip. Although I love how the G2AI has that as the last sentance of the sentance regarding trained strips. FYI, According to the info on the Centennial Uniforms that came out, all uniform items of the ODLs are compatib

I said before, switching districts may be feasible. I just remembered how two little towns got absorbed by my district 30 years ago. The 6 units in the two towns had to go through my district in order to get to the rest of their district, It was just how the road infrastructure was built up. But rarely will councils give up units or territory. Even when it geographically makes sense. The Lake Pontchatrain northshore in LA is more aligned to New Orleans than it is Baton Rouge. But it is in Istrouma, not New Orleans Area Council. And there is a part of New Orleans Area Council that, in orde

Yep had to use the HB to fix records. We had an SE in my old council that had enough of the complaints. he made it his goal to get the records correct. While he wasn't 100% successful, the records problem did abate alot.

I hear ya. Worse part of Scouting is the paperwork.

Having worked for national supply, all stores are suppose to collect paperwork for "restricted items." Part of it is an attempt to control the "rank black market." Part of it is to make sure the Council's records are correct. You don't want to know how many times I've seen the council records messed up. And that is with me hand delivering the paperwork! Someone said it goes into the "circular file" I am betting that is only the CS stuff as Boy Scout, Sea Scout, and Venturing advancement has to get verified whereas the CS ranks don't.

My troop hasn't focused on advancement. We've been trying to get the troop up and running. That's why we still have folks who have been in the troop 2-3 years and still Tenderfoot. However, those guys are now getting motiviated to work on rank. With Philmont requiring First Class to go for Boy Scouts, they now have an incentive.

Moose, Unless things change, when districts get realigned, the stats are reset to incorporate the change. For example, when I was a DE in 1998 and we got an Exploring/Venturing DE, I lost my Explorer Posts/ Venturing Crews to that "district" and my stats and all the other districts that lost Posts and Crews were reset to include previous history without the lost units. And the Exploring/Venturing DE has previous year's stats on all the Explorer Posts from 1997, incuding those that dropped. But losing youth to another council is a whole other ball of wax.

With my troop, my advice is more of the lines, " You scheduled 2 MB at the smae time, you need to pick one," "Sure you don't want a free period for free swimming," or "Livesaving is an extremely hard one. You sure you want to take it? if you get a partial, we have folks to help with after camp." Now with my son, I did lay down the law with him. I told him point blank, "No paperpushing MBs, I want you to have fun." And with the excpetion of one suggestion, he came up with his own schedule. Since he was taking Geocaching, I suggested he also do Orienteering since it's 'Old School Geocachin

I believe sheath knives do have roles to play in Scouting. While I have one sheath knife, it's my "OA Knife" that the ceremomy team uses, I'm looking for a sheath knife that I can use for wilderness survival and other bushcrafts. Debating on getting either a Schrade or a Condor kukri.

So true. I also paid for college, ok I'm still repaying the loans. I did work study, had a part time job or 2, and worked every summer except one to pay for college. That one summer was the European Camp Staff Program, a trip of a lifetime. I worry about my kids paying for college. Nowadays, it is darn near impossible for teens to get jobs.In my neck of the woods, you have adults fighting for them. Heckone ASM we have has 3 part time jobs trying to make ends meet. I told my wife that summer camp staff, while not paying alot, would gain them alot of expereince. She has been hesitant

I do think there should be more than 2 required Eagle MBs, but less than the current number of required.First Aid, Camping, Swimming and Citizenshipin the Nation are definates. I like Cooking, but you can throw those requirements into Camping. Since this did take a turn into college, I mave some mixed emotions on this one. On one hand, I firmly beleive that the students need to take responsibility. So mommy and daddy don't need to be hovering around on every little thing. On the other hand, the ones who are footing the bill, should have access to the records. If there are problems, then i

When I first became an ASM at 18, it was no problem as I was in the troop I gre up in. After a stint as a DE, I went ot work for national supply. I got involved with a unit as I am a Scouting addict. It was interesting at first, but as the leadership got to know me, especially since I was a member of the CO, it got a lot better. Second move with the wife's job and me with supply had the same result: interesting and some apprehension at first. But got better the longer I stayed. 3rd time around was extremely interesting as my church didn't have a troop, and I wanted to serve on the

You could give them the "Quest for the Holy Grail." Give them hints or actual bearings to reach "The Grail." They have to make their map while doing the course. We did it as a "treasure hunt" for the Pirates theme and had Capri Suns or other beverage in a cooler as the treasure.

Does anyone remember the story of the brand new Tiger who was suspended because of the plastic spork that had a cutting edge, so it was classified as a knife? Or about the HS senior, who was slated to be the valedictorian, had a West Point appointment, Eagle scout who left his camp axe with his camping gear in the trunk of his car? Or the story of the story of the girl who broughty a paring knife to cut her apple? Common sense isn't common.

I modified some of BP's artwork to make it American instead of British. We used triangular pennants instead of flags in the areasw with each area director responsible for their flags. It started with Archery in Robin Hood Field, and went all over camp. When the Cubs met what ever designation, i.e. archery and BB guns were bulls eyes, Fishing was catching a fish, etc, the Cubs signed their name to the pennant. SWMBO came out in period garb and did storytelling One day camp in the council had the CD and her husband come out in their SCA regalia, full armour, and they did a demo of melee combat

Please dont' tell me they use a podium with the script on it? The last logde I was in prior to my current one did just that. Very sad state of affairs. I admit when I did ceremonies I used props to help me out with the lines. I borrowed a beaded sash with a legend once to help me with that part. I also admit we used and earpiece and a radio once. District level AOL ceremony and we had so many names at the last minute, we decided to go the earpiece and radio route for the names. Now for the standard ceremonies, Pre-Ordeal, Ordeal, Brotherhood, etc, memorization is VITAL ( emphasi