buffalo2

Our Crew went rappelling last weekend; had a great time. Stayed in a cabin to make it easy on our less than experienced campers. We went out for a single overnight and got back Saturday evening to allow the kids some time for homework etc. A great trip!

Thank you Dave

echo - sorry(This message has been edited by buffalo2)

BSABRIT - welcome aboard!

Not to be tiresome but answers to these and lots of other questions are in the Venture Leaders Manual. As your Crew goes along you're going to need to have the answers at your fingertips and helps to have a reference thats based in reality. Excuse one other tiresome thought but find a VLST training and get your adults on the same page and up to speed. Find a trainer to do one just for your local Crews; they're out there and willing to help!

This Crew to Troop thing seems to go all over the place; in the beginning I think that its best to remain separate as much as possible and let the boys sort their schedules out as best they can while encouraging them to maintain a multiple presence... As a courtesy you probably should avoid direct conflicts with the Troop schedule.

Go to the trouble to find other local Crews; they're struggling just as you are and you need to develop your own unique resources.

There is a lot to be gained on both sides of this but 'twill take a while for your SM to see and understand this. Take the high road and ride it out, when he eventually discovers that the threat is more perceived than real things will get easier - but don't be surprised if it takes a while. Good luck!

Do it - for all of the reasons above, and for all of the reasons that are soon to appear below, and for some unique reasons that you'll create on your own...

And maybe you'll get to be a Buffalo!

Coed Crews are the only way to go - raises things to a whole new level. With that said, finding female Advisors can be a struggle and incorporating youth new to the Scouting program as teens will make you work as well. But all the good things that you're working for in Scouting are in Venturing as well, and on a larger scale!

47 puts me in pretty good company I think

Um Jamie that's a big request - there's a lot of experience out here but we need to know where to start. What so you need the worst?

Thank you Cary for your effort at maintaining a respectful tone today

and BTW congratulations

3 yrs in the US Army 74-77 makes me more appreciative every day of those who are out on the line, while the media makes it seem like business as usual while struggling for sensational gory pictures.

And our boys grow closer and closer to taking their turns...

Gotta put the PLCs choice first for this one, but with that said doesn't mean that some of your adult leaders couldn't support that District function for the day. This could work out as a nice opportunity for some of your less-experienced leaders to gain some perspective...

Program support takes many forms; not all are direct.

Talk about mountains from molehills...

On the stocking stuffer side: get the poor kid a stuff sack for his sleeping bag that doesn't require the use of a hydraulic press. Maybe some straps to hold his sleeping bag etc to his pack/frame. Or go all

out and find some smaller stuff sacks in different colors. How about a backpacking pillow or one of those fleece-lined stuff sacks? Some polypro;ylene liner gloves; cheap and weightless. And last but not

least a handful of cordlocks for whatever

Small stuff to be sure but makes the lad that much more the master of his environment!

2Cub - I think that you're beginning to get a little closer to the truth. Locally saw our Council summer camp staff formed as a Crew and that seemed to make sense; but then saw our Cub Day Camp (1 week duration and by District) staff organized as a new Crew and had to wonder about

the purpose. Easy enough to throw stones I guess but still...

Would have to wonder if those dwindling #s are a signal to go to alternate years and to crank up another program supplement?

How about an extension to Outdoor Leader Skills Instruction? Try 2 half-day sessions at your local camp; staff it with Merit Badge counselers and sharp Scouts...

jmb: I believe that this anchor standard applies to any Scout climbing/rappelling activity, regardless of the site. Makes you think a little harder on your anchoring setups, and build them that much better! Understand that it can get a bit subjective once you're off the Tower and on real rocks...

Again you should look in the BSA Standard for Climbing/Rappelling and read for yourself, there is still plenty of room for your interpretation and I've heard several... The Standard should be available from Council or talk to folks on your local camp staff.

Recently encountered some flat webbing used by Yates to make sewn slings and the like, don't know what the material is but was 1" wide and rated at 6000# Had sort of a corrugated surface and looked like it would knot well - better than the Spectra stuff. Does anybody know anything about this? Listed in their catalog but not in bulk.

le voy: I believe that this 5000# number comes from derating and dynamic loads and absolute worst case; haven't seen the thinking behind the numbers but perhaps the mass-production environment at some of the camp facilities is behind it?

Would be interested in seeing a sketch or whatever you'd be willing to share on your anchor system, use the PM feature?

Be careful out there!

Our Council has managed to roll the PowWow into UofS and it seems to be working pretty well. Perhaps a bit of a lag as the word gets around, but overall an excellent program. Well worth the effort! Doesn't hurt to hold it in January either; 'tis a slow time for lots of us.

I've found that our DEs are mortal

And respond to the environment in which they find themsleves

We've been fortunate, and are grateful

Good luck

Thanks guys, for putting into words those feelings that are so hard to nail down - we are fortunate indeed!

What Dave said

In between all of this sniping are a few pearls, albeit singed around the edges - be nice to see the signal to noise ratio improve a bit. Just because the actions of 11 year old Scouts are the topic of discussion doesn't mean that we're required to emulate their behavior. Thanks again to those that care enough to stay on the topic...

Must admit that I agree with Bob on this one; but it must also be said that none of this occurs overnight - a point that gets through to one Scout will be completely ignored by another that requires a different approach.

Training your Scouts is a constant challenge; they WILL get it eventually and use their learnings in ways to make you proud (although they will always add their own flavor to the mix) We must constantly work at these lessons in the most difficult way possible - by our example... Not to continue to make the effort is the major that I see with this process!

In a similar vein, is anybody seeing focused skill sessions for adults? Something that goes beyond the SM Fundamentals OLSI exposure. I'm thinking of a Saturday session that would run hands-on Pioneering or Orienteering sessions for a half-day? Maybe use the Merit Badge requirements as a syllabus if no other; and open it up Council-wide to draw sufficient interest and staffing talent.

If you could get it past the Not-Invented-Here club, I'd bet it would go

In an effort to maintain a mature tone (sorry but this is important) SPLT15

you may not read this between the lines of some of the above responses...

The young ladies that remain with your Crew will bring a unique balance of strengths and weaknesses, skills and needs, assets and liabilities - kind of like every other youth (and adult) that comes into the organization. Embrace these differences and learn to appreciate the perspective that they will bring to your Crew. Best of luck!

We did mac&cheese once, stirred in (originally) frozen ground beef and some peas. Nonstandard to be sure but interesting idea and I don't take those lightly...

Pretty good stuff but a challenge to clean it up! Maybe try it in a turkey bag next time for easier cleanup? Anybody trying out reflector ovens? What happens when you make it a challenge by removing freeze-dried packages from the choices???

I must agree with the 2CubDad idea... Good luck!