Aardvark

Our Troop use's galvanised wash tubs (about 2 foot in diameter) and a propane fired turkey cooker to heat the water.

They rest on a log, stup or the ground.

Heat up water in one of the tubs and pour into other 3 (Wash, Rinse and Sterilazation)

A tip-we used to use bleach to sterilize the dishes; messy to say the least! I run a Home Brew shop and sell a powder that is used for sterizeing the brew equipment, Called "C-Brite", comes in a 2 oz packet and makes a 2 gallon solution. I donated a case to the Troop (sells for 30 cents a packet at most home brew shops).

Less mess, and CLEAN dishes!

No more trips to the latrine due to dirty dishes (but still some from the Scouts Cooking!)

My 3 or 4 cents:

Game of Life/WIn all you can. I'm one of those dense types; couldn't understand what the Heck was going on. Got realy upset, almost walked out when I couldn't get a staright anwser to what was going on. Still don't completly understand! To have a "Game" which, to me, goes completly against the Scout LAw amazes me!

The manangement techiques were a rehash for me (I'm a 20 year Military Veteran-got these taught (or beat into me) during my career). Still, probaly useful to those who haven't been so exposed.

The movies were wasted on me. Seen them before (and they are good!) but "October Sky" was shown on Sunday afternoon on a wet, hot Georgia day, in a room with little ventliation, after a long weekend. WHay happens then, especially if your'e tired and just had Lunch. Yep, Naptime!

The comradeship is what made the weekend for me. Meeting and getting to other Scouters, getting exposed to new ideas and thinking.

Final stages of my ticket-hoping to receive Beads at Troops next Court of Honour.

SR-542

IS there a Beaver in the House?

Hasn't been trained...

How many times has that been the cause of problems?!

Leadership isn't a natural skill; some pick up the principles easy, some struggle their whole lifes.

Get him trained and have a chat with him is a good start.

We have a new Scout patrol, my partners Son was selected as the Patrol Leader. He had problems with the patrol members resenting him as an outsider trying to lead and teach them. I had a chat with him, got him a copy of the Patrol Leaders Manual and had a chat with all thepatrol. Things are turning around-slowly!

But, on another thing!

"This last weekend, our campout was called short due to rain"

WHAT!

If it didn't rain on one of our campouts, we are amazed!

It's been said that if Troop 566 is present, rain will come!

It amazes me what Scouts will do if you don't watch them!

At out monthly campout this last weekend, all patrols were to cook supper with Dutch Ovens. One partol brought precooked chicken patties and were "Cooking" them in the Dutch oven! Surprising how many were up at the "Old Goat" Patrol later trying to beg some of our cabbage and saugages and chili made from scratch followed by two different cobblers!

It's policy that breakfast's are cooked. Imagine my surprise when wandering through camp after my eggs, bacon and blueberry flapjacks to see a patrol "cooking" pop tarts in a frying pan!

"Proper" cooking was discussed at the Troop Meeting last night!

And back to the original post: no ice chests?

Sure, we "packed in" (about 200 yards from our cars), but the Staff provided ice for coolers twice a day. The "Backpacking" is just an exercise to demonstrate the principles; no need to be anal about it! (after I "Backpacked" my stuff in, went back to my truck and carried my cot in!)

My two cents, etc!(This message has been edited by Aardvark)

As a Scouter (and 52!) I'm a little old to be earning Merit Badges, but I do have my personal copies for the ones I counsel-and the ones for things that interest me.

Good source for info, and at $4.50 cheap!

Isn't Librarian a Posistion of Repsonisbily and don't most troops have a MB Book Library?

At the camp we go to (Camp Rainey Mountain, NE GA Council), lots of stuff for Adults.

Friday breakfast is a buffet for the adults (SHow up with the Scouts, have a cup of coffee, release then to the SPL, then dig in!). Wenesday Supper is a steak dinner (same procedure as Friday)

Also have a Scoutmaster Clay shoot, horseshows, golf and SM vs Staff volleyball (Old Farts kicked butt last year)

Also an Award to earn; requirements such as checking your email, visiting the camp website, properly using the rocking chairs on dining hall and admin porches for 30 minutes (your's truly got his picture taken "Testing his eyelids for light leaks"!-which was displayed for all to see at the COH afterwards!)

I'm sure I've missed a few things!

Our Troop enjoys going there!

Granted it is not an Adult Uniform Item, but from wearing a Beaver Patrol Patch (for yes, there is a Beaver in the House!) has helped me getting my point across on Patrol Spirit (my ticket)

I have a "Beaver Crossing" sign on my tent or hammock at campouts, my Beaver stuffed puppet will make an appearence at the campfire. The lads are starting to take notice, and are starting to do the same (One of the Scorpion patrol found some plastic scorpions will are arranged on there Patrol Table).

I'll gladly write "Back to Gillwell" 100 times if it helps!

Why Not!

Your Cubs will be sure to ask you about it-good way of teaching them about the history of Scouting!

I'm Old School also- in my past, the Sccoutmaster always wore the "Smokey" hat!

My two cents:

The Adult leader was wrong; he was letting his personal standards take over.

The Scout and Parent were wrong. What about getting the Adult in a discussion and letting him explain why he/she did what he/she did?

Personally, I think ear-rings and the such are out of bounds. Maybe I'm "Old School", but only Pirates, Gypsys and, how shall I put it, Men with limp wrists(?) wear them, But I don't project my feelings on others. If they want to be pirates ETC, that's their lookout!

Now as for skirts!

Could be the answer to Hunts Crusade about Pants! A kilt in Boy Scout Green! Cool in the summer (if worn in true Scot fashion). Or if a Wood BAdger, could be in the Maclaren Tarten! Or at least, the spooran (read fanny pack) in Maclaren!)

Got to look better or some than the shorts!

Ny pardners kids call me "Uncle" Art; he wanted them to show me some respect as there elder, "Mr" was just too much!

The Scouts in my Troop call me "Mr. Art" or "Mr. Bitterman"; all depends on how close we are.

Have gotten a few "Hey You"; those are tactfully ignored!

Had a young Scout who had "Lost" his Totenchip and firemchip before the last campout.

As luck would have it, we had a new Partol of Scouts needing training on these cards; quess who taught them and re-earned his!

Bet he will keep better track of them in the future!

I run into the one-on-one situation every campout!

I drive an old Land Rover; only two seats. Every campout, one of the Scouts wants to ride back with "Mr. Art" in his "English Jeep",

And, everytime I have to explain I can't let them!

Try and phrase it so the peodophelia flag isn't raised; explain I have another stop on the way home, or it's a long trip, the Land Rover isn't fast, so we'll be an hour later getting back (which is a great excuse for getting out of unpacking the Troop trailer and clean-up!)

I'd like to have one of the lads along; I'm proud of my old car. But my reputation is more important!

"Why 4 o clock"?

Beats me!

Thats when it was done!

As for "Retired" or "Retreated"; the ceremony, I believe is Retreat, but the Colors were Retired for the night.

Military word usage can be strange at times!

OOOPS!

Maybe I was thinking too hard about what I was reading!

AS I said, have no Boys of my own (although I'm my partners two boys "Uncle"!)

Enjoy going out and trying to relive my Scouting days; and think the Scouts appreciate "Mr Art's" help.

Sorry if ruffled any feathers!

I seem to detect a hint of disaproval about a guy with no sons wanting to be a Scouter.

I'm single and an ASM (and Roundtable Commisioner). Never been married and no kids; does that make me a danger or somewhat suspect (or am I reading between the lines too much?)?

I too used to be a bugler (as well as the SPL and Quartermaster for my (small) troop!)

Out troop used to form up for Retreat at the small Army post we were at up in Alaska once a month. Trying to keep your mouthpiec warm at 40 below in the middle of the winter is a chore!

Anyway, we have a Scout who tries his best in our Troop, although "Mr. Art" wants to grab the bugle and try and do it at times after the second or third sour note!

Lad needs to practice a tad more!

I spent 13 years in England while in the AIr Force. Every day at 1600 (4 o clock for you civilians!), the colors were retired.

It was a RAF base (although the only RAF stationed there was a Group Leader-the RAF Commander) so "God Save the Queen" and the "Star Spangled BAnner were played.

Protocol was to stand at attention and salute.

I had no qualms saluting during the Brit Anthem; we were guests after all.

Same goes, I would think up in Canada. Stand at attention and pay respect. You are not pledging alleigence to the goverment, just respecting them.

My two cents....

I smoke a pipe.

On campouts, I take a short walk into the woods away from the Scouts and have a pipefull.

it's funny though, My main memories of my Scoutmaster when I was a lad was him smoking his pipe; and how he would turn it upside down when it was raining!

Bad influence?

I hope not!

Maybe it's due to the 20 years I spent in the Air Force, but when I'm in Uniform I try to look sharp-and expect others to do so also.

I know that people look at me with a special interest when in Uniform in public, and I am setting an example for the Scouts.

Have tried to explain this to my Scouts, and have had mixed results...

Still also trying to get them to assume the proper stance of "Attention" at Flag Ceromonies; hands out of pockets, stand up straight and Proud; also an uphill battle!

Don't think I'm asking too much, do you?

My partner (who also attended Wood Badge at the same time as me) was in England on a business trip and visited Gilwell Park. He bought Beads there for us all in our troop who attended the course. When we finish our tickets (Soon I hope!) we will get "Real" Gilwell Beads.

Might be the same as the BSA ones, but will be "Special"

Was 3 merit badges short from my Eagle, one of which was swimming.

Was in Alaska at the time; sorta hard to go swimming (even in the summer!)

And a lack of ambition...

Now I moan the fact I didn't apply myself to the task...

Somewhat along these lines, back in September my Troop went camping at an abandoned campground here in our Council (Pine Lake, Central Georgia Council).

Turns out, it was the "Black" summer camp (Camp Ben Hawkins was for the White Scouts). What really hit home for us, the Scoutmaster of the other troop campping that weekend spent his youth at this camp.

Made for an interesting discussion at our joint campfire that night!

Kraut-

Maybe there should have been a smilie after "Uniform Nazi" !

Hey!

I'm currently serving as an ASM and just volunteered (or was it shanghaied?!) to be the District Roundtable commisioner.

Seeing as how this is two different positions with two different patches, I was thinking of using Velcro to attach them to my uniform; swap patches and tabs and I'm ready to go!

How much grief would the Unifom Nazi's give me? Anybody else do this?

The Hennesy Hammocks do come with web straps that gto around the tree's then you tie the ropes to them-tree savers. Seem to work!

As for cold-a pad under your bag is needed; not for comfort, but insulation. Your body weight will compress your bag, loosing the insulation. A thin foam pad is all that is needed depending on chill, some people use the windshield sunshades.

I'm sold on my Hennessy; best sleep I had camping for a long time!