Eagle94-A1

Let me tell you about the differences between Cub Scout camping and Boy Scout camping Seriously, as others have said Cub Scout camping is designed more for families that do not camp or do very little. Object is to get them comfortable in the outdoors and HAVE FUN! ( and yes I am screaming HAVE FUN! ) It may get a little more 'adventorous" as a Webelos as he will be preparing for Boy Scouts. The fun in the outdoors really starts as a Boy Scout when they do thinggs on your own without adults meddling about. And you can do stuff on your own. We have one dad and lad who are

THANK YOU EVERYONE, the comments and recommendations have been very helpful and needed.. One update as an FYI. My son's first camp out as SPL was suppose to be tomorrow. He started feeling sick this afternoon and has a low grade fever. So he missed out on a cooking competition tonight, and will be missing the camp out tomorrow. I remember the last time a sick kid went camping and infected the entire camp! Anyway, we were talking, and he feels bad about missing out, like he is letting down his troop. I told him I would contact the SM for him, and not to worry about it. We talked some

Don't know. Ebay may be a source for everything together. What my son's troop did was go to the dollar store and get plastic plates and cups. We don't have the old mess kits either, but they adapted.

In my 30+ years in Scouting, 1've only met 1 Varsity Scout, and he was going to jambo in 2010.

If I may offer some perspective? Now I am going assume, and you know what can happen when you assume , that JP has been a leader in Scouting no earlier than 1989 as that is when the concept of an NSP, one big AOL Ceremony (although many packs were doing it that way, it wasn't intended to from my readings), and the concept of First Class, First Year ( or OPERATION FIRST CLASS as it was called) all came about in BSA literature. So for many folks, the way JP states is the only way they know. Not saying that is correct, and I am not saying it is not. More on that in a bit. Now I am

Calico, I hear ya. That's why once he did his first PLC, I dropped the matter. I also told him that I am very proud he got elected, and also jealous as I was never SPL of my troop, only the JLT troop. That put a smile on his face. He likes to one up the old man As for the ASPL, one of the reasons why I like the former SPL who is up for ASPL or TG is because he will offer suggestions, and then follow and support the SPL's decision. Saw this several times on trips and summer camp. He knows what it is like to be thrown into a POR ( when the troop first got restarted, he was first the

Stosh, By balance and adult led, I think I need to clarify. Balance refers to me doing my job as his dad by showing him how to do things, helping him, and allowing him to be successful, BUT also doing my job as a leader and not helping him too much and actually doing things for him. I want him to do things on his own and the help and advice I give him not be considered commands from dad.That is my biggest fear, him thinking any advice I give him are commands. As you can imagine, in working with youth on the Scout level, I've never dealt with my own son before. Never had had to d

Ken, Yes, both of us. But son is still a little nervous about doing so. Something he needs to work on. The challenge with the SM, and one he readily admits, is that someone younger, with more energy and time, needs to be SM. Also we need some ASMs who can commit more time. Currently every ASM, save one, is also involved in Cub Scouts. And the one who is not is involved in shift work, so he cannot get off to help every single meeting. So he is a bit overwhelmed first trying to get the troop running, then keeping it going. Quazse, ISLT is one thing that wasn't planned. And it

OK, I need some help and advice to make sure I'm not going off base. My son's troop just had unit elections. As you know they are a young troop, so there were no rank and/or expereince requirements for SPL. I do not think the scout elected SPL should have been elected since A) he hasn't been in the troop a year yet, B) Is only a Tenderfoot, and C) has only 6 months as PL of the new scout patrol. Yes, my son got elected SPL on the second ballot. Long story short, the adult leadership is stretched thin, and training hasn't really been done. This is recognized and the goal is to send 2

Interesting question. While for a very brief period it the late 1980s to early 1990s it was OK to wear OA sashes at COHs and other formal occasions, if i can find my OAHB from the time I'll post the relevant pages, prior to that time and currently it is not. OA sashes for OA events or doing OA duties, i.e. camp promotions, unit elections, etc. What may be an idea to spark interest in the OA, as well as get folks pumped up for summer camp, is to have the local OA chapter or lodge do a summer camp promotion at the COH. And if anyone is eligible for the OA do the election, and possibly

As I have mentioned elsewhere, my pack does the AOL and Cross Over Ceremonies in December. Why that early? For a variety of reasons. 1) Since we have an active year round program, most Webelos IIs are waiting on the "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), and earn the Webelos badge. " in order to earn the award, i.e. 6 months from June 1st is December 1st. 2)And since our Cubs are chomping at the bit to become Boy Scouts, as soon as they meet the joining requirements: "Meet the

This is my interpretation of the topic of CS Advancement. If you read the pack and meeting den planning book, as you do the meetings, the Cubs automatically get whatever bead they have earned at the end of the meeting. For example after this weeks meeting, if i was going by the book I would have awarded the 2 Tigers beads they earned that nite. Then you record it on the den advancement report to give to the advancment person in the pack. No need to sign off in the book.

If the cases I'm familiar with are the norm, it will backfire on the parents. In one case the Life Scout only needed to do his service project as he had everything else done, and would have enough time to earn several palms. Incentive was driver's license and car.

For several reasons, my pack now crosses over in December. Reasons include the following: 1) December 1 is the earliest they can cross over with the 6 months since completing 4th grade requirement. 2) Because we do have an active Webelos program, and do year round activities, they are chomping at the bit to become Boy Scouts. 3) We recharter in January, so by Crossing Over in December, we avoid recharter headaches 4) Most troops are preparing for summer camp in the Jan-Feb time frame, and we want those new Scouts to be able to go to summer camp. 5) It gives the new scouts, and mo

Stout, The ones issed to me by my then council were government surplus ones, not official ones. I did buy the BSA leather chin strap for the "nice" cover, but my "used" cover still has a bootlace for the chin strap. I've replaced the bootlace once since 1988. As for the leather hat band, you can buy them from national. But both of mine are British ones from BP House and have been branded at one of the camps I worked at. I also picked up some plumes while I was over there. So unless you look really close at my "nice" hat, you can't tell it is not the official BSA one. And with t

I mostly wear one of the two campaign hat I have. The one I earned for completing Brownsea 22 back in the day has been through hurricanes, numerous camp outs, and shot at by German Scouts (don't ask ) is what I mostly wear as it has been "used and abused." Plus it's a great reminder for me when I do archery and bb guns with Cubs. The one I received for staffing JLT is in a hat press and pristine condition, so it' used for ceremonies. I also wear on occasion the expedition hat, aka "Indiana Jones" becasue it is as good as the smokey, and is crushable, making it easier to wear when I play

I have to agree with Stosh, if you wait any period of time before transferring, disillusionment occurs and they quit. While I waited 6 months before transferring to a new troop way back in the day, I knew about my cousins' troop, and attended some functions before transferring. But out of my Oldest son's Webelos Den, 1 Scout quit within 3 monthsof joining; 1 who was a camping addict quit within 4 months of joining; and 1 transferred, and that was only because dad was a scout and knew his old ASM was now SM of the troop the son joined. In retrospect, I'm wondering if I am allowin

Sidney, Correct, I am with Pack A and Troop B. There is also a Pack B, which everyone at CO B keeps trying to get me to transfer to but understand why I don't. Pack and Troop B have a great relationship, CM and WDL are ASMs with the troop. While the MCs may be different, the CC is the same person and is active. There have been several instances of Cubs doing activities with us. As for trying to help Troop A out, there several reasons for that. One reason is that I helped start that unit and have assisted them through the years. In fact the troop was the reason why we looked at t

SP, I was assigned to them temporarily as their UC when the UC assigned to my pack and the troop passed away. Their meetings were on a bad nite for me, so I couldn't visit like I wanted to. The few times I did try to help, I was essentially told I don't what I'm talking about. So the unit leadership and the parents still with the unit (don't ask) don't really want me around. But I do think I will encourage the CM and the 4th grade WDL to contact the troop to try and get them involved. Hopefully they won't have to beg to be invited to things.

How do you get a troop involved in the Webelos-to-Scout Transition? OK, some of you may remember the stories about my pack's CO's troop when I could post as Eagle92. Last year there was some interaction with the pack in that they did invite the Webelos to a camp out and a meeting. But this year there has been nothing, absolutely NOTHING (emphasis). We've asked for den chiefs, and the ones we got were more like Cubs than Scouts. They have not attended the last 3 district and council camporees, which have Webelos can attend. And the last one they did attend, I had to beg them to invite Web

HMM I'm mixed on this. On one hand, you got friends together, but if even with a TG, it is challenging at times to teach them. My troop growing up tried the NSP twice: once when National was trying out the process with some units prior to 1989, and once when a brand new troop asked to hang with us until they got on their feet. In the first instance, after 6 months we went to mixed aged patrols, and in the second instance within a year, the two troops merged and we went to the mixed aged patrol. Now my son's troop has 2 patrols: NSP and "expereinced" Scouts. Since has only recently o

Replace the Jambo patch with an award that represents the true pinnacle scouting experience: e.g., a constellation patch with star devices for patrol/crew overnights independent of adults. Unfortunately BSA took away the ability of patrols to camp independently from adults a few years back.

LeCastor, Back in our day, it did mean something to get elected. It was harder to get it, and it might take 2, 3, even 4 years to get in because of the formula used for electing youth at the time: You may only vote for 1/2 of those eligible, and they must get 50% of the votes. Usually 1/2 those eligible would be elected. So it meant something when you did finally get in (third time was the charm for me ) Now you can vote for everyone eligible. Heck even the troop trouble maker can get in because peers feel sorry for him if he gets left behind.

Interesting topic. I can see where for some, American Indian Affairs (AIA for short, what it was called when I was very active) takes over and they lose the sense of service. I've seen that happen with one lodge's AIA group, to the point that many do not want to associate with them. But I also know how folks involved in AIA over the years HAVE (emphasis) provided service not only to Scouting, but also to the Native American Community. When I was active, both as a youth and adult, I was involved in AIA, and we did lots of Cub Scout ceremonies, as well as demonstrations, dances, etc I

I was told that the old CS WB course was designed for trainers, CS RT Commissioners, and other folks who were involved with the development of CS Leaders, not neccessarily direct contact with Cubs. I would need to talk to one of my friends who did that one, as well as the old BS one.