Eagle94-A1

Mozart, You'd be surprised at what councils allow and how BSA publications contradict each other. Look at the Guide to Safe Scouting. There is no mention of Cubs being able to do archery. Only that : "Archery, and Knife and Tomahawk Throwing These are approved activities for Boy Scouts and Venturers following the Sweet 16 of BSA Safety." So some lawyer could probably argue that Archery shouldn't be done by Cub Scouts at all since there is no mention of Cubs being allowed to do archery in. BUT as we all know, there is an Archery Belt Loop that will be around for approximately 3 more weeks. Plus it's taught at CS NCS programs as a viable activity. PLUS the current 2015 printing of the Shooting Sports Manual states Archery can be done at the Cub Level. So another lawyer could coutner claim it is allowed. As for tomahawks, my Cubs were doing it this weekend at a council event. I didn't have a May 1, 2015 copy of the G2SS available, so I thought that too changed. I know my Middle son ticked off my Oldest son's entire troop. He got 4/5 tomahawks on the target, with 2 bulls eyes, and would have gotten the 5th one in the target if he did't try and do a "Robin Hood." His 5th throw hit the handle of one of the bull's eyes and bounced off. He scored more points than the three patrols combined. Youngest and Oldest didn't do too shabby either. Both got 3/5 in the target, and Oldest did have a bull's eye. Ok, gotta find directions to make a tomahawk target for the backyard. I now have 2 tomahawks to throw, and the kids told me they'd rather throw tomahawks than go fishing!

Archery was restricted to district/council events since for as long as I could remember. And I don't remember Cubs being able to do tomahawks at all.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE CUB SCOUTS AND AQUATICS CHANGES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ( And yes that is me shouting with glee at you! ) When I first heard about the new Cub Scout Aquatics electives, I was stating that under the present G2SS policies, there would be no way that they could be earned except at those councils that provide the opportunity, which mine doesn't.

When I polled my Cubs, these were the overall ratings. 1) Fishing by a landslide. In fact the first year we did the Webelos Woods program, it didn't include fishing. THERE WAS A MUTINY! (emphasis.) They rather fish than do water games. 2) Archery. 3) BB Guns. Archery and BB Guns were close. Some of the boys own their own .22s so the bb guns aren't a big deal. AndI used a 3 man staff for each areas. 1, preferably 2, RSOs a 2nd adult with firearm expereince if I didn't have 2 RSOs ( we got a lot of cops in my district, ) and an older scout to help out.. That's in addition to any Adults working with the dens. We tried to have 5 stations going at a time.

I met one Sea Scout whose goal was to be a "Triple Eagle" by eanring Eagle, Quartermaster, and Silver. While he was registered in both a ship and a crew, the bulk of his work for Silver was done with his ship as the crew was the summer camp staff. I honestly do not know what to think.

Boy Scout leaders tend to look as me funny when I say being a Cub Scout leader is the hardest volunteer position I ever had. I've been a Cub leader for 6 years now, and I am burned out. I admit, part of it is my fault. In addition to being a DL, I've been day camp PD three times, day camp staffer an additional 3 times, and CS RT commissioner for 3 years. Part of it is the fact that Cub Scouts IS adult leader intensive. We do just about everything for the Cubs. And whereas Boy Scouts serves terms of office as PL, SPL, etc, Cub Scout leaders tend to be there until their sosn age out or quit. But part of the burn out is my district. There are two major district events, Cubmobile and Pinewood Derby. And for the past 3 or 4 years, the activities chair has kept changing the dates for these events. Once upon a time, the dates were written in stone: first Sunday in November for Cubmobile, last Saturday in January for PWD. Cubmobile keeps getting pushed further and further up to the point that this year it was originally scheduled BEFORE all the round ups were finished. We got them to push back the date, but there was a conflict with another district activity that same weekend that affected 2/5s of the Cubs. As for PWD, while we have asked to move back the dates to take advantage of the LOwe's Workshops ( the local store always wondered why they never had Cub Scouts attending the workshops, because they were done AFTER the PWD). we can live with the last weekend in January. BUT when you move up the PWD so far into January that A) the packs are just getting back from Christmas break, and B) the college students that work the event are not even nack in school, there are issues. Me and other pack leaders have felt like idiots because we plan stuff and then have to change at the last minute in order to participate with these traditional activities. On a positive note, I think the pack's leadership has finally come to the conclusion to "do their own thing" because of the new program. Because everything needs to be coordinated and a set pattern of 2 meetings, 1 Go See It, and 1 pack meeting are required for 7 months to earn rank, we will be ignoring district events unless it coincied with what we are doing. And my pack is not the only one. Sorry for the rant, but it was good to vent.

In all honesty, it depends. When I went to NCS, my camp was a dysfunctional one, despite having a CD for 20 years. While I had a lot fo expereince from summer camp staffing and assisting with day camps in the past, I learned a heck of a lot. Yes I read the books etc, etc. Some of the books were common sense. BUT some of the stuff was down right complicated and legalistic. The staff helped with that stuff. BUT the networking, exchanging of ideas, etc was the real benefit. Since I was the program director, I brought my rough draft of the program for camp for review and improvements. Again, my camp was dysfunctional, and I revamped it entirely.

Capotes and matchcoats?

I hemmed my oldest son's pants high when he became a Webelos I and sold his old uniform to his brother. I've had to hem them thrice in the past 3 years. And they need hemming again! Kid isn't even 12 yet.

I remember sitting on BORs as aScout way back in the day. We didn't the word about the no youth on BORs until about 1992, three years after the switch. Fred, Don't know why national changed the policy. In my troop PLs and membes of the Leadership Corps sat on them up to First Class. After that adults only. I personally thinkit was a good idea because as a PL, I got ideas to improve and what not to do. As an LC member, I got to here where the problems were, and get ideas from the Scouts to improve. Stosh, Me personally I disagree with the PL sitting in, or even the SM, sitting on BORs. But I'm use to other PLs and/or LC members being the chairman of the BORs. Just as it can sometimes be an issue to criticise the SM with him in the room, it can be uncomfortable with the PL inthe room. Then again, I knowof one Eagle who told off his SM at the SM Conference, then told his EBOR how the SM is causing the troop to implode with the SM in the room. Wish the BOR would have listened.

Fehler, That's how Tigers initially started in August 1982. It was suppose to be a separate program for 2nd Graders that did their own meetings and Go-See-Its. Tigers initially had their own promise and motto,uniform, and when you completed the program you first wore a square "Tiger Cub Graduate" patch as temp insignia, and later a Tiger Cub Graduate strip. Heck you can still see an occasional Scouter with an service star with an orange backing for their one year in Tigers. No matter what you try to do, it will end up with a Den-Pack meeting focus.

Thank you for the info. To use an infamous quoe in the Star Wars universe, "I've got a bad feeling about this." Why do I have a feeling that national is going to unveil Lions next month or August 1, 2015 when they traditionally come out with new programs. In regards to burn out, as most know I'm a Scouting addict with 32 years in as both youth and adult. After 6 years of Cub Scouts (3 years with oldest, 2 years with middle, and 1 year with youngest sons) I AM BURNT OUT ON CUB SCOUTS! I've already sent in my notice that May 25th will be my last event as a DL, and I'm switching over to pack committee. June 8th will be my first troop meeting as an ASM, adn I cannot wait!

William "Green Bar Bill" Hillcourt said it best about Scouting with the two following quotes: "OUTING is three-fourths of ScOUTING." 3rd ed. hanbook ( emphasis is mine. Ever sicne the current HB misqouted GBB, I Bold OUTING to show the math.) "ScOUTING IS OUTING!" New Orlean Area Council Scout Show, circa 1990 ( memory is getting to me and can't remember exact yearand emphasis is in original speech.) My son's troop a has tripled in size in the past 16 months. Why? I would like to think we are a "Hiking and Camping Troop." We are far from perfect, heck we "killed" one patient when doing last first aid scenarios last campout among other "challenges." And "Organized Chaos" is describing the troop very politely. A "Charley Foxtrot" would be a better description. But we go camping every month save January. Because of we traditionally get the bulk of our new Scouts in December Cross overs, we have a lock in instead to get the new guys up to spead with gear needed for cold weather camping. We do rock climbing at a wall, and either first aid or ILST during the lock in. We've had transfers from another troop that, by JTE standards, is a better troop than us. We don't focus on advancement, we focus on the outdoors and FUN. That is what the Scouts want, and that is what we try to give them. Have we lost Scouts, yep. I know two Scouts who were in my son's patrol on the first camp out left shortly thereafter because they didn't like having to do the work at camp, i.e. cooking, cleaning, etc. But we've gotten more who do want to camp, than those 2.

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 badge colleges, and a daylong Indian Lore MB Seminar as a fundraiser. In both cases unless work was done prior to the event, you got a partial.

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 on the old requirements, but officially he had already earned it. Besides he had fun doing the rest of the requirements anyway.

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 compatible with the CUs. So red loops and numbers with the CUs is acceptable. As for me, Only CU shirt I got is my CS leader one. So I still have red loops.

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 order to get to the council office, they have to drive through the other council in order to use the bridge that crosses the Mississippi River.