Buffalo Skipper

While a scout, I was never selected for the OA by my troop. Back in my day, only a X quanity of scouts could be selected in Y sized troop, so this ended up being a popularity vote, despite the scoutmasters' advice to the contrary. I was never the "popular" scout, and was never chosen to be tapped out. After completing Eagle before my 15th birthday, I became less active in the troop; though I continued to serve on summer camp staff and attended the National Jamboree, my focus was at that time was geared toward Sea Explorers, where I had a very positive and motivating scouting experience for

More than a suggestion, that is exactly what is described policy in the Advancement Committee Policies & Procedures guidebook. Any rank or MB begun before a change was officially implemented can be finished under either set of requirements (scout's choice); once the new rank is begun after a change, new requirements apply.

I make woggles for my troop. They are awarded for participation in the our Knotmaster program. Green represents the first level and Black the second level. On one of the bights, I allow some extra cord and tie a 1" "do a good turn daily" knot, which is worn in the front. This sets these knots apart from regular Wood Badge woggles. They are 5-bight woggles.

Yes, you can do it any way you want. But there is a little flip book (like the old pocket spiral note books) which contain only the new requirements in a (miniture) format to be signed off like in the handbook. It sells at the scoutshop for $4.49, I believe. Us experienced scouters need a magnifying glass to read it (and sign initials and date) but it is an easy way to get the new requirements for someone who does not feel the need to buy a whole new book.

I thought I would take a quick poll. How many troops plan to attend more than one camp each summer? (or the same camp more than once) If you do attend more than one camp, what is your reasoning? To include scouts who might miss one camp? To offer a different price tiered camp? To give two levels of experience? Too big to go as a single group? Please provide as many details as you can for the reasoning.

jeff-o, I am one to jump on the band waggon against merit badge classes. However, I see First Aid MB as one of a very few exceptions to this standard. As I see it, BSA intends a MB to be an individual expereince, not something which happens as a group. I also take that expectation further to say that a scout should do the majority of the learning on his own, and the counselor should be there to guide him in his learning. But there are some MBs where this model does not effectively fit in my nice neat box. The first one of these is First Aid, and I put it in a category by itself, f

Brent, Reminds us of "Field of Dreams": build it and they will come. I like to think that the program you are delivering a program similar to where our troop is going, but you are a year ahead of us. We are now up to 22 with as many as 5 prospects still being courted, and next year we are anticipating 15-20 new scouts also. Keep up the good work. Having quality, trained leaders on the same page is certainly the key, but the vision of the Scoutmaster is important as well. Congrats! At one time our troop (1970s through the 1990s) hovered between 50 and 80 scouts. I grew up in

Follow up on the weekend: Pivotal moments and events usually viewed with 20/20 hindsight; rarely does one experience these in the present, observing: "This is the moment in which everything IS changing!" This weekend was that rarest of campouts. Attending the campout were only 2 veteran scouts, 2 one year scouts, 1 scout with three campouts (who was an acting PL)the rest were 12 brand new scouts, camping with the troop for the first time. Like Beavah said, a first campout is one in which should only leave the best of impressions, and did it ever! It started unexpectedly well, wh

Generally speaking, I have found Europeans to be fairly pragmatic. Obviously there are exceptions, but I would put European pastries and pies in the "well balanced" category. They are not as sugar filled as American deserts. Often times they are lighter, have fewer calories and certainly less fat. And my observations are that, unlike many from this country, they do not overindulge in them. Just an opinion based upon my observations.

Of course it is impossible for us to understand in a few sentences exactly what went on or what was going throught the minds of those on the other side of the table. But on the surface it sure looks like everyone here agrees that this looks like a good project, and I agree as well. My my interpretation, "routine maintenance" would be interpretted as something that is regularly done, prehaps by professionals. As an example, lawn service to an existing lawn is routine; re-landscaping a neglected project is another story. Tearing out and replacing a (700') fence following damage from repe

1) Coconut Cream Pie 2) Cherry Pie (my mother's recipe and crust. Really good served hot with sour cream! or cold with homemade whipped cream) 3) Strawberry Pie (my mother-in-law's recipe, rest her soul) 4) Cheesecake pie (my recipe, topped with either cherries or blueberries) 5) Lemon Meringue Pie (again, my mother's recipe and crust) The troop was just given a brand new 10" dutch oven. It is too small for a one-pot meal for an eight-scout patrol (all of our patrols are now full!), so I want to start experimenting with pies or other pastries for the adults. Anyone

Bearshark, Did your CC state that "No, OLS is not required" or "No, they are not sufficiently trained to go"? Committee Members should not be the one's taking the troop camping. This is the responsibility of the SM and ASMs. If they (SM/ASMs) cannot attend, then, along with the committee, the SM should oversee the selection of available leaders to supervise the troop. It is not the committee's job to deliver the outdoor program by circumventing the SM.

BDPT00, I too have a measuring "tool." Jig is really a more appropriate term, and I use it to place my service pins. It a piece of card stock, with 4 wide V cuts across the top. The card is placed aligned along the top edge of my knots; there are hash marks to align the center marks to align . he top of the The point of the V is where the pin is placed through the shirt. As I only wear all my service pins on the most formal occasions, I don't have to use this often. And, though accurate, I really made it as a jig to keep them straight. I like to be very forgiving with scouts

I like the light approach to this thread. That's good, thread--patch, sewn on. Hehehe... I have a leader who is crossing from Cub Scouts. He is a veteran scouter, who eagled with the troop. His dad was WB SM, Silver Beaver and all that good stuff. His collar is armor plated with CS pins and he hangs his Philmont patch on his left pocket and has another temp on his right. I haven't come up with a nice way to tell him to fix it. But you gave me the idea. He is currently re-reading the current SM handbook and his son's BS Handbook. I can always encourage him to pay extra attention t

Ditto for emb021. Several weeks ago. Boys' Life came the same day. My son is always so secretive the day his Boys' Life comes. I think it's because he his trying to hide it so I don't try to read it before him. ;>)

Revisiting this old thread, we are again trying to re-introduce night games with our young troop at our weekend campout. Somehow the excitement of this really dwindled this past year. This is how I really came into my own as a scout. Before these games I was sort of an outcast, but once I started, everyone wanted me to be the captain and be on my team. I still startle people on campouts when even during the day I walk up completely silently. In today's scouting, how do you handle the Buddy System with a group of scouts at night? With 18 scouts, we will be in a fairly "confined" area o

BA, yes, "getting wrapped around the axle" is the exact phrase I used to one of my leaders this morning when talking about my attitude on this. But try to understand my perspective on this (it doesn't make me right, but it does explain why I am reacting this way), which is that we have had a small enough troop that for 8 years (long before my time), we have never had anything but trained and registered leaders on regular campouts. Parents have never butted in (even the mom who went to 6 summer camps was registered and trained, and in fact had been to NCS). So, in a sense, we have been livin

Thanks for the replies. Now a little more background. I have been operating in "HP avoidance mode" for some time. About 2 years ago, one of our recent 18yoASM/Eagle scouts was offered the opportunity to attend summer camp as an adult. He got this glazed look in his eyes, stared into space and replied almost dreamily "Wow. I could actually go to summer camp without my mom? That would be neat...." Our troop has been small, and with the previously described core leaders, little additional parental support has been needed. Suddenly, we have (after years of groundwork) some significant g

Our troop has for years camped with a small group of leaders, not all of whom are also parents. This small corps of trained and experienced leaders, with maybe 2 campouts a year accompanied by a couple of parents. We have had a crossover group of Webelos who now expects that the parents should accompany their scouts on every campout. I know every troop has its policies, and I accept that. But we need to first determine what is actual BSA policy on this before we begin looking at defining "formal" troop policies on this. Yes, there is more to the story than just that, and I will g

cheffy, Here is a great thread from a year ago when I asked almost the exact same question. Many great ideas were presented, and there is quite a bit of variety in the answers here. Good Luck! These are always fun for everyone! http://www.scouter.com/forums/viewThread.asp?threadID=231794#id_232596

BSA has put out a little spiral ringed flip book with nothing in it but the new rank requirements, in a format identical to what is in the handbook. A scout can buy this for less than the cost of a new handbook and "tape" it in his handbook for the new requirements. #34621 (which does not pull up right on the website...) From scoutstuff.org: "Mini Version The Mini Version of the 12th Edition BSA Handbook highlights the rank requirements in an easy-to-use, coil-bound, cargo-pocket-size package. The bilingual version contains both Spanish and English versions of the rank requireme

I also am most concerned about the group that crosses and doesn't really join. Without pointing a finger, I think that may be from den leaders who really miss the opportunity to express that Webelos prepares for Boy Scouts. I (and a co-hort from another pack) delivered that as a strong part of our messages to the Webs, and all our crossovers are active. 100% from the last 2 years have stayed involved (I my wife lead last year's crop). Being a trainer and former Cub Roundtable Staff and Commissioner, I look at leaders a little differently, and sometimes I actually expect them to the deliver

I have over 2 cumulative years as SM (including my time as a 19 year old ASM in Germany when there was no SM). Then I was it, but now, I have a different approach. I do not run the Troop by a Committee of ASMs, but I do seek the guidance of those I trust, not dissimilar to the approach I take here, when asking for advice. I am willing to make the hard decision (on the rare occasion when a SM should need to do so), but I also seek advice on what direction we (including the ASMs) should be guiding the scouts for the long-term growth of the scout and success of the patrols. I have had par

This is all a bit of a tangent, but I see this as reflecting the validity of the organization and structure of our troops and patrols. Accepting this concept may be key to appreciating that it works, and has in the BSA for 100 years, and in other environments for 200 or more years before that. I hate to use military comparisons, as people mistake the analogy as a statement of para-military association, which is not correct. However, Baden Powell was an army officer, and structurally there are some organizational comparisons which are difficult to argue. Allow me to quote from about.com regardi

Per the Advancement Committee Guidebook states clearly (sorry I don't have it on me so I can't quote exactly the current issue) that only the national office has the authority to change a requirement. Regardless of your son's SM's intentions, he is leading your son down the wrong path. I would consider visiting other units and see how they operate. I don't know how much more blunt I can be and still be polite.(This message has been edited by Buffalo Skipper)