MikeS72

The MSR Sweetwater Microfilter states that it does heavy metals. $200 I carry a Katdyn Hiker, which has a carbon core that is very good at removing taste and smell issues. It easily handles bacteria and protozoa, as well as chemicals. One one of our regular backpacking/kayaking routes there is a small camp with a non-potable faucet. The katdyn filter completely removed the strong sulfur smell and taste that a Sawyer filter did not. No need for drops as well, although I also carry a SteriPen.

Congratulations

All too often, traditional means building a bench or picnic table, or something similar that will be around for a few years and then end up being dismantled after it wears out. I think I might have encouraged him to see how he could work it so that he did show leadership and get others involved in the effort. If he is sharp enough to come up with an idea like he did, I am sure that with a little more outside the box thinking he could make it work. I would love to see more Eagle candidates think about how their project can have a lasting impact on their community.

I thought about that, but based on his doctor, it will be several years before we have to worry about much in the way of outgrowing anything. Plus, in the year and a half since crossover, it has gone from 1 MB sewn on to 16, with 2 more to be added by the end of the month. Once he does hit that inevitable growth spurt, he will have more than enough to hone his sewing skills, either by hand (as I did more than half a century ago) or on the sewing machine.

I bought my Scout his sash on our first trip to the Scout Shop after crossover last February, (had to buy the smallest available) and as soon as he had earned his first MB, it was sewn on.

Until I see that it has been entered in Scoutbook.

I will plead guilty to being one of those who does keep my copy of every blue card. Most of what I sign are for scouts in my troop, and I know that there is always that scout who will come up to me weeks later, after having lost the rest of the card before thinking about turning it in to our advancement chair.

When you are on the my.scouting front page click on the Menu option, and select My Dashboard. Click on the 3 horizontal lines on the left side of the blue bar, then select My Profile. Click on your email address; that will open a box showing your current email. You can highlight and type over the email address in the pop up box, click save and you should be good to go.

We do a week at our council camp in June, followed by an out of council camp in July. Pretty much every out of council camp requires us to bring a copy of our council's proof of insurance. Not a big deal.

As we emphasis in our required bullying training at work (school system), it is important to remember that repetition does not have to involve the same victim each time. The student who exhibits bullying behavior toward multiple other students is just a guilty of being a bully as the one who only has one target. We also find, and you may as well after this is (hopefully) resolved, that a high percentage of children who bully are mirroring either what they see at home or what they have experienced themselves.

There are 4 relatively recent optional YPT modules, one of which specifically addresses bullying. All 4 are good, the bullying segment should be mandatory.

Not sure about wrist bands, but I know I have seen drawstring bags and water bottles on classb.com.

State Farm khakis.

Our council camp has a shower house with 2 each of individual locking showers, toilets, and urinals in each campsite. Usually a bit of a wait, but not too bad. We just did an out of council camp where we had a permanent 2 seat outhouse in each campsite, and 2 sets of shower houses with 18 individual shower rooms. I did not have to wait for one all week, but it was about a half mile from our campsite.

Unless they are brand new Tigers (just finished Lion). They still require an adult with them at all activities, so if they do not have a parent/guardian/adult sibling willing and able to take off a week of work, they do not attend. This is why some years we have 4 - 5 dens of Webelos, and only one of Tigers.

The low cut uniform socks are very comfortable. I also wear them most days. When camping/backpacking, etc., it is always the Thorlos wool socks.

Six sittings & the two of you may well have enough energy to wash dishes for the entire US contingent!

Ah, the standard Wednesday summer camp question: "Have you showered or changed clothes yet this week?"; followed by the Friday night declaration: "Anyone who expects to get in my car tomorrow MUST shower tonight!" Please tell me you do not plan on losing that many cups while at WSJ! 😂

We were at our local camp last month. Changing a MB class had to be done via the camp office, and only prior to noon on Monday. We were at our second camp of the summer last week (Daniel Boone in NC) and at the Sunday SM meeting we were told that they have an open enrollment policy. Once camp starts if a Scout decides he does not want something he is signed up for, he just tells the instructor he is dropping, picks something else that fits his time schedule, and tells the new MB counselor that he is joining the class. No muss, no fuss. I had a couple of boys who said they were put i

My reading of the elections comment was that this would determine eligibility for OA elections. That is correct. Only 5 nights from long term camping, the other 10 must come from short term (3 or less nights total in the event). You cannot do 2 summer camps and count 5 nights from one and 3 nights from the second. (We are headed out for our second summer camp of the year tomorrow. In the past year and a half my nephew will have 54 nights of camping, with 27 of them long term, and 27 short term.)

Precisely. You would hope that by the time they are elected ASPL the Scouts in the troop would be aware who has those innate leadership skills, and who does not, but that is not always the case. In one situation it was readily apparent to me that this was the case, and it should have been dealt with early on. It was not, and this particular SPL was constantly going to the SM asking what he should do, even something as simple as opening the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. Kept hoping we would see some growth. Not so much.

When we came into our current troop, after crossing over from the affiliated pack, we found that this is what they do as well. I was told that it was done to provide the troop with a more experienced SPL, as he had just spent 6 months as an understudy, stepping in whenever the SPL was missing. I can see that way of viewing things, but have also seen the Scout who is elected ASPL for the first time, does nothing with it, and then becomes the SPL who really cannot not function on his own.

I am in Central Florida Council, and we were discussing this at Cub Scout Day Camp on Monday. I have been here for 30 years, and amazed at how badly people drive. Speed limits are non existent; I use my cruise control on the interstate, and at 70 mph I get passed like I am standing still. Red lights and stop signs are mere suggestions. We had an ASM pulling the troop trailer on the way to summer camp who had to go off of the road to avoid one of our less than stellar Fla. drivers a few weeks back. Looking at the pictures of the scout vehicles, it is amazing anyone survived at all.

If we refer to a patch, that is often a temporary patch, like camporee, summer camp, etc; and goes on the right pocket. It might also be a patrol patch, trained strip, or something of that type. When I am referring to a badge on the uniform, I am specifically referring to rank, worn only by youth, and only on the left pocket. Some also refer to a badge of office, for POR insignia. I am less concerned with the terminology someone uses, and just hope that they are only wearing what has a) been earned, and b) is actually authorized for wear on the uniform and is in the correct location.

Scouters do not (should not) wear patrol patches, just as they do not (should not) wear rank patches. Those items are reserved for use by youth members. My guess is that some of the Scouters you have seen with patrol patches are still wearing patrol patches from Wood Badge. Technically those should come off after the course has ended, many Wood Badgers wear them all of the time. It is pretty easy to tell if that is what the patch is from, as it will be one of the standard WB 'critter' patches. That is different than the folks who wear 'spoof' patches, which IMHO should never be