buffalo2

Our Troop is able to cover the cost of gas for road trips but our drivers aren't anal about it. We adult leaders pay for our share of groceries and costs like everyone else that attends an activity. We split the cost of advanced training for Scouts (ie Council JLT) and Scouters but I've never heard of an adult submitting a receipt.

Re: that Committee members' remark about hobbies; perhaps that's why he serves as a Committee member and we serve as SMs and ASMs. While Committee members are valued and necessary, I'd have a tough time not telling him where to get off on this one...

Folks - this should get you to the BSA Age Appropriate Guidelines

http://www.scouting.org/pubs/gss/ageguides.pdf

Worth looking over

Welcome back OT

We don't see much interest in advancement either - maybe a few young Eagles that are still gung-ho, but otherwise these guys seem to be just out for a good time...

Part of the problem might lie in the external resources required to pursue the individual requirements; different than the more familiar Handbook and MB pamphlets because no convenient references. I see it as a freer way to operate, but fear that the kids (your pardon please) and especially their parents don't get it.

Whats to be done?

Whitewater I think that you hit it on the head when you used the term 'ridiculous'

Find a hobby folks...

Think that the military skirts around this by timing the 'flexed arm hang' (KS got any thoughts on this?) Start off on something that lets the candidate stand with their chin above the bar - time until the arms are fully extended. As that time increases (in response to training of course) improvement is shown

Might be a way to move forward...

Boy wouldn't it be great if we had more than one source available to keep up with local and world events? Perhaps with multiple options in reporting and opinions and analyses, we could arrive at a reasonable sense of what is happening in our world.

BTW does anybody still read out there?

Regardless of where you go, would be nice to find someone a little closer to the GS program to help out. You also might look around for a Venture Crew that has some experience at these local gyms. The Ventures have training requirements in their advancement that your needs address, and many of them are great with the younger ones... They'll probably work for pizza and a chance to get in on the group discount.

Our local climbing gyms are $10-$14 for a visit without shoe rental,

and belayers are extra I think $10/half hour...

Also a separate party room is extra if you need it

I just can't see it...

Rooster - must agree with your thoughts on the media and their choice of news items. Have we forgotten that they're there to sell commercial air time?

And while I listen to NPR a lot, suddenly wondering if an evident bias lies in their selection of programming rather than within the individual pieces? Is anyone noticing the difference between the coverage on John Kerry's campaign and the things that 'Mister' Bush is doing? That is until this prisoner mistreatment scandal came along...

NPR seems to have lost much over the last few years as their Federal funding dries up; some things obvious and others less so

For starters, lets not use the Summer Camp First Year Scout programs to satisfy rank advancement requirements. Then we can consider not using First Aid MB (or any other) in place of rank advancement (can we say prerequisite) Its a quality vs quantity issue...

I'd think that the ASPL would (should) have enough on his plate with his other duties to really do too much damage to the SPLs efforts? Maybe a bit more difficult in a smaller Troop, but all the same he needs to understand that he's the junior partner...

Mercy!

A bit of a sore spot, especially with First Aid learnings. I've seen too many Scouts whiz through the MB (typically at summer camp) and forget it all in a short time and be unable to complete their rank reqts. While not quite ready to go back to 'Finish Tfoot before beginning 2nd Class work' (which would be the death of First Class in the First Year) it did serve to reinforce some of the more important stuff. Ah progress...

Wish our Committee and adult leaders had nothing else to worry about... Kind of a shame - and benefits the boys how again?

Is anyone else of the opinion that our media coverage (on and on and on etc) perhaps had a bit to do with the death of that contractor? Wonder if a more mature attitude of 'this isn't the normal or correct way to treat prisoners of war, and the US will make the results of a complete investigation public as soon as the information can be compiled' would have not offered the idea of a sensational publicized murder?

We are the most open society on the planet, but should demand a more responsible reporting of what is real and what is merely conjecture and guesswork designed to sell advertising time.

All for conservative goals and contingency planning - and is it really the PLC thats proposing this Death March? We find lots of kids that don't necessarily want to just lug a pack around for its own sake but are gung ho to get to a prime fishing spot or a new climbing area... Eventually they'll get around to enjoying their freedom and independence but to strictly focus on mileage doesn't strike me as a good way to build Troop (or even Patrol) integrity

A handy (and yes conservative) rule of thumb for backpacking is 1 mile an hour and an additional 1/2 hour for each 1000 feet in elevation change. Might be worth taking(This message has been edited by buffalo2)

E90: Regarding your lull - While it's not unheard of (some families schedule vacations to hit after summer camp and not conflict) and some school activities crank up in late July (band camp and footbal conditioniing come to mind) almost sounds like you're not meeting weekly during the summer?

I've seen that done by Troops composed primarily of older Scouts (read not attracting youngsters) but not always successfully. While flexibility is important, I think that some continuity in your program is important as well

Thanks Rooster and KS for applying a bit of hard-headed pragmatism to this issue - wish it would get spread around a bit more... I remember the stories from the Hanoi Hilton.

Guess we'll just have to wait patiently until a fresh news story blows in and the television feeding frenzy goes chasing off after the next 'newsworthy' item that the 'people demand to know more about' Give me a break

Sorry ASM1 - I like to be serious too but that WAS funny

But hey drive whatever you like...

Back on topic, anyone have a good reason for the price of gas to go up $.22 overnight? Maybe just because it seemed like a good idea to someone?

My humble understanding is that there's at least a 4 week delay between oil coming out of the well and gas from the pump. Does anyone else get the impression that ust maybe these price spikes are contrived and artificial? Or does it just go without saying and I've not caught up yet?

Someone's got a serious agenda going here...

Kinda scary

Bet you could boil that in a Ziploc TP

Maybe cook the chorizo first?

Yum yum

Sorry if this has come out earlier but NeilLup jogged something loose - Troop level JLT can get just a bit stale after a while, and the experienced Scouts that really can add something to it will stay away in droves.

How about a session on how to spark up the standard Troop JLT offering without losing any of the original value? How might things be different if a COPE course was available? How might some of your Eagles present pieces of this if asked?

Just a thought...

Wonder how we could get the virus merchants to direct their attentions to the Spam generators? Maybe establish a bounty or take up a collection or pay them by the pound? Or perhaps apply for a Federal grant?

By the way guys - if you've got a Bass Pro Shop around they've got a decent pair of RedHead boots Iron Mountain on sale $100 down to $70. These have the GoreTex and a steel shank and come in wide size, the biggest wide that I've encountered. Last pair of RedHeads lasted almost 2 years and a Philmont trip, and these new ones look better and the price is right

One man's observations...

I'm not sure that one of these synthetic materials is superior to another, believe that other factors are more important.

Entering into the debate, I's suggest at least a 20 rating but the variables are many - a 0 bag is probably a better idea or you might want to recommend a fleece liner - avoid down for these new Troops until they're experienced and need it.

Mummy bags are the only way to go for cold-weather camping - some manufacturers (Slumberjack) make multiple sizes. I bought one a size larger than normal (added 3" in height and 4" in width) and it made all the difference for me.

You might want to think sewing up a bedsheet liner for warmer weather usage - recommend the flannel with Star Wars designs(!)

Would hesitate to recommend a rectangular bag and flannel can be tough to find unless you're shopping at WalMart (??)

Agreed with eventually having 2 sleeping bags, but again consider the fleece summer bag and sheet liner combinations - remember that your boys will develop ways that work for them over seasons. Many of them are small for standard sized bags and can get away with things that we adults can't manage.

And a stuff sack should be mandatory - probably one size larger than the one that comes with the bag for ease of use. I've seen way too many new Scouts struggle with a too-small stuff sack, it can ruin their introduction to the outdoor experience. Sounds petty but this is important I believe; also makes setting up their pack much easier. Don't think that compression sacks are necessary for the new troops- but nice if you favor internal frame packs.

Much of this is subjective and YMMV

Lets hear from some others