ItsBrian

UPDATE:

An ASM from my troop had explained to me that on a hot day that they had *stopped* selling ALL sugary drinks (soda, slushees, etc.) and only sold water.

Agreed to all above. I would also say that the individual registration was sadly, a complete failure. I would rather have the deal with the pack registration because it guarantees more scouts. Also, if they show up the day of not registered charge a late fee or don’t even allow them! It’s the CUBMASTERS fault, not yours.

Do you have yearly themes?

So, tonight was our Pack's major back-to-school night sign up before Join Scouting Night next week. My husband is the Cubmaster. We have one AOL scout and one Tiger this year. We also have two daughters. My daughters and I just quit a girl's scouting organization due to frustrations with the program and political leanings we can't live with. The plan was to have A Cub sibs program alongside the Pack until/unless the BSA membership policy changes.

Over the course of the evening, we had inquiries for girls....from all-girl families. In one, the dad was a scout during his youth. Looking at the Pack slideshow, he remarked, "that is what I want for m girls...not selling cookies." I told him I couldn't agree more.

We know that another Pack in our area was actively soliciting girls at their recruiting event last week. We've heard that other Councils are holding meetings and focus groups, but only silence from our Council.

Are others receiving such inquiries? What are you telling these families, or are you simply turning them away?

Great idea, but would you’re Council be unhappy if you did this officially? The girls wouldn’t be covered by BSA insurance or anything as they wouldn’t be actual members.

I think at the WEBELOS age especially...but really for all ages..... they act up when they are bored

....Idle hands, and all of that.....

 

You said the webelos are disrupting when other dens are getting awards?

    one solution might be to involve the webelos den in the award presentation....  they are, after all the older scouts that the younger ones would hopefully be looking up to.  Give them a chance to be that role model we hope they are.

 

Something I tried to do some of when I was CubMastering, was to involve the scouts more....and to get them out of their seats.  Sadly, I didn't do it enough and wasn't all that good at it....  I tried to use the scouts, especially the old

er scouts, to do things like pick teams, pass things out... But I wish that I had done more.

 

After getting pushed away from pack life and looking more into troop life, I benefited from hind site and realized that embracing the patrol method....even down at the wolf or bear level.... really could have been a game changer.  Let the scouts make decisions of what to do and how, let them DO a lot more.

 

I see that a huge amount of the issues in the cub days could have been at least partially resolved.  The whole program, and how we presented it, involves all together too much sitting, too much inside, too much getting talked to.

 

I feel your pain though.  Something I always struggled with was the kid acting up when his parent was sitting in the back of the room.  I never wanted to attack it head on because I felt it was that parent's job to deal with it....they rarely did.

 

But in the context of scouts, instead of attacking, I feel the better approach much of the time anyway, might be to call that kid to the front and give him a task....

but it can't be a task for task sake.....but instead something fun, and preferably something that gives that scout some responsibility and authority to learn from.

I agree with you! Webelos are at that age to where they know everything, and can do whatever they want. I noticed at the camp I had worked at, the wolves were better behaved than the webelos!

Thanks Brian.  Luckily, all of the ASMs are trained.  I'm "the rookie" ... still have some training classes to take.  ASM's will be out-of-pocket initially (class B's, flags, website, etc.) to get the troop up and running.  We'll reimburse ourselves as dues come in.  1st troop meeting is scheduled for 9/18, 1st campout is scheduled for weekend of 9/30.  Exciting stuff!  Thanks again...

This is my opinion, but I personally wouldn’t have my troop camping about a WEEK (emphasis) after the first meeting. You’ll be pulling gear and getting ready the 2nd meeting (assuming they’ll be weekly), doesn’t sound so exciting. I would personally teach them how to pack first, how to camp, spend the first few weeks learning... most new scouts probably haven’t camped before and have no idea what will be going on.

Again, this is my opinion.

If there was already a PLC for new year, a good SPL, you shouldn’t be worried! It’ll be a piece of cake, the SPL should be running most of the meeting! Did you take SM training online for information?

When I took over as SM the ASMs gave me the "banned food list". I asked who put it together. It was the adults. I went to the PLC and gave it to them. I said they could ratify it or tear it up. At first they tore it up and went back to poor menu choices. Within two camp outs they realized they needed better food. Rather than create a list of banned foods (adult solution) they created a series of meetings where nutritionists, dietitians and three chefs came it to talk about food choices and cooking. It became a regular thing they do once a year now.

Have had a need to "ban" anything since. It's been 9 years. Train them, trust them, let them lead. Worked great...and best of all the ASMs that supported banning learned something too.

My troop doesn’t ban anything because they know what they should eat. Closest thing to banning someone was not making the same meal for three campouts in a row! Haha.

Interesting, so you are actually going further to get there than our troop would be, and you are coming from out of council. So there must be something there that some troops find attractive (including patrol cooking.) I am not surprised to hear that the summer has been getting shorter there; that's usually the point at which councils start talking about closing an "extra" camp, especially when there is a developer waving piles of cash at them.

@@NJCubScouter

I talked to a friend today about this! He works at Allamuchy, so he’s pretty reliable not just a random guy. Apparently the director for sabattis was promoted to run all the summer camps, so therefore I guess they can’t find a good enough replacement or something.

@all of you

So here’s a little bio about myself.

Currently 15, enrolled in a Vocational school for Nursing. Currently SPL (2nd term) for my troop. Worked at a day camp all summer, first job ever. I help plan & run most of my troops fundraisers (flea markets, breakfasts, and now clothing drives this year!)

Yeah...well different strokes.

We train them and trust them. If they mess up they will learn their lesson. Allergies are one thing. Not approving because they have pop tarts instead of whole wheat toast robs them of the learning experience and youth leadership opportunity IMHO.

Ok, we don’t go that extreme to where they need whole wheat. Just like instead of getting potato chips, get baked ones, but they taste just as good. We want the food to taste good.

Yeah...well different strokes.

We train them and trust them. If they mess up they will learn their lesson. Allergies are one thing. Not approving because they have pop tarts instead of whole wheat toast robs them of the learning experience and youth leadership opportunity IMHO.

Ok, we don’t go that extreme to where they need whole wheat. Just like instead of getting potato chips, get baked ones, but they taste just as good. We want the food to taste good.

Qwazse, what are your thoughts on the POR that require a lot less work and leadership like (Webmaster, Librarian, Historian, Bugler)?   I know they qualify for ranks but how do you get them to do work that really shows leadership for Star, Life

They don’t. I never had any requirement signed off for any of those no Leadership less work positions. I wouldn’t allow the troop to do that.

Qwazse, what are your thoughts on the POR that require a lot less work and leadership like (Webmaster, Librarian, Historian, Bugler)?   I know they qualify for ranks but how do you get them to do work that really shows leadership for Star, Life

They don’t. I never had any requirement signed off for any of those no Leadership less work positions. I wouldn’t allow the troop to do that.

And the meals were well-balanced.

Haha.

Absolutely, we check them and follow the nutritional guidelines stated in their handbooks.  Otherwise,  what is the point in teaching nutrition and cooking if they are not meeting our expectations. We have an ASM who approves menus and another who is available to assist in shopping within the patrol budget, less some Scout thought buying food at Whole Paycheck was a good idea.

 

Same for my troop, we always make sure to follow the nutrition guidelines. It still may not be the best food for you to eat, but it’s netter then having a pound of bacon. Example, we do scrambled eggs, toast, and a piece or two of porkroll (if not from NJ might not know what this is). And we never make too much like some troops do, which causes Scouts to get seconds 5 times.

And the converse is also true: You can show them what you want at camp, but if it ain't continued at home your basically wasting your time. We agree it's about educating youth we disagree that forcing a kid to make these choice, as well as limiting his choices, is wrong.

So places like Whole Foods are not allowed to sell healthy food then if that’s what you’re implying? What if that’s the closest store to me? They’re forcing me to buy stuff...

Just a thought

Had weeknight meetings but was a challenge due to school and work/life balancing for parents. Decided to have the first part of the meeting be dinner. Parents rotated making/bringing dinner. The boys would take 20 mins to eat and watch something Scouting-related. Used to call it "dinner and some learning". Very popular. By the time the kids were Webelos it was practically a banquet.

I like that idea!

We are talking carbs, not saturated fats.

Not al carbs are the same. Heart disease is genetic and life-style induced. Eliminating carbs is not the answer to curing heart disease. If it were we'd have eradicated it years ago. Don't throw up a straw man. It's a complex issue that dictating choices won't work. Educating folks on the balance while giving a full (not limited) range of choices is the key. The biggest issue is being able to read your body and how it reacts to various foods. The wholesale elimination of "bad carbs" is very 1990s. Science has moved on from this notion. Read the APOE genomic research.

Carbs, anything can put you at risk for diabetes, heart disease, etc. Diabetes and a heart disease are *not* always heredity. I have studied it as a nursing student and if a parent doesn’t help show how they should eat at home, and continue at camp, then they’ll be just as bad. BUT, if they are educated at home, then come to camp and eat whatever, they probably won’t eat as healthy anymore before camp.

@@NJCubScouter I didn’t know you were in Patriots Path!

Yeah, Glen Gray was basically a heroic save since they made a separate company for the camp. It’s a beautiful camp and I love camping there!

Have you ever been to Alpine scout reservation? My troop is planning on going there this year, I’ve never been there.

EXACTLY! The Scouts know who do the jobs and who don't better than the adults do.  Me personally, I wish the troop my boys are in would allow reelections.  After 6 months, they have to step down and either A) run for a different position or B) wait until the next election to get back in.

Really?? 6 months is not a long term to gain experience or make a difference in the troop. My troop has them yearly, and it’s usually suggested don’t run again after two terms, not a rule though just kinda so others step up.

Carbs don't put you at risk for heart disease.

The point is that the Sugar Nazis don't have to manage what kids eat. Offer up healthy choice in the mess hall? Fine. Manage kids with limited snacking options in the TP is too much. Let kids be kids. If they're Scouts they get the food choices beat in to them in MBs and rank Advancement. The last thing they need is someone pushing carrots on them instead of slushes in the TP.

Science says otherwise... see links below.

https://www.livescience.com/48969-heart-disease-diabetes-risks-carbohydrate-saturated-fat.html

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/in-depth/carbs-higher-risk-heart-disease-states-leading-cardiologist-dr-salim-yusuf/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2844943/Why-fry-isn-t-bad-thought-Carbohydrates-risk-diabetes-heart-disease-saturated-fat.html

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2015/03/how-carbohydrates-can-affect-your-heart-health/

And that’s only a few articles.

Basically some of you are talking about PERSONAL experience. Not everyone is the same right?

Those who attended that camp may feel differently. They should have been made aware their Council wants to close it and be given a chance to speak before a decision is made.

 

Or...is it just another lost cause Mr. Paine?

Thing is, they don't know if it's even true! Only a rumor.

Not shocked. Patriots Path is my Council, and everyone I know says the camp is underfunded and horrible. Apparently the Cub Scout day camps get more funding, but can’t confirm that.

It’s agaisnt BSA policy? Anything, raffle, 5050, etc.

 

GAMBLING

 

Rules and Regulations of the Boy Scouts of America,

 

Article XI, Section 1, Clause 1: (e) Gambling.

 

Any fund-raising project designated to benefit chartered organization units, districts, local council, or on a national basis which involves games of chance, lotteries, sale of raffle tickets, bingo, or could be construed as a gambling activity, is not permitted.