Buggie

Regarding spiders (and other bugs), I recommend Sansbug . Won't stop them from being in the tent, but will stop pests from disturbing your sleep as long as you don't let them in. They can be a pain to refold until you get the trick. And they are bulky (wider than a backpack), so not great for hiking in to a campsite.

I realize this is not quick and very probably late. For me it isn't so much that toes are covered, but the heels have to be covered too. Shower shoes are worn in the showers. Aquatic shoes at the aquatics area. Other than that, snakes prefer that you don't wear things that might stop them. Exposed heels are a target that gets them achievement points and bragging rights. Especially when you're stepping off of a platform. Who knows what evil lurks under those platforms. The Shadow knows. Not saying that if you wear good shoes/boots covering your total foot you won't always escape inj

I can tell you that my son often had many different fundraisers going on in the same month or same season. He had to pick and choose which group to support so that he didn't overwhelm/burnout his customer base. Where did he sell? Neighborhood, Church, and Family/Friends. My son found out that our Church was a goldmine for some groups he was in because he was the only kid his age who regularly attended. He even worked out quotas and stopped selling when he met them, focusing on the next group instead. So yes, some years he was the top seller for scouts. Other years, he only hit those who

AWESOME! Tis the way it should be. Scouts having fun and being scouty. And yes, ever vigilance is needed for the road ahead. While there shouldn't be issues as most people aren't into doing bad things, there are those who don't think the things they do are bad and need a course correction. And of course, those that really do have an axe to grind in the most inappropriate manner. Back at Texas A&M when women were first allowed in the band (fall of 85) (I wasn't around for the time when women were first allowed in the Corps of Cadets or the University, both also full of contentio

Oh the glamping is the ruination of our scouts! But yah, um, Scout leaders take rugs, Scouts take rugs, and this isn't the military. I like to put out a small, old crappy tarp in front of my tent. Now if the scout's underwear was hanging out of the tent, I'd be asking the scouts to please take care of their stuff better. There's no safety risk here. At worse if it rains the rugs outside will get a little wet and could act as a wick and pull moisture into the tent. Might pull in some bugs, but what doesn't pull bugs in?

Yah, it's hard to determine the propriety on the concept of smelling something sweet on the breath. Especially since it was determined by one ASM who told the SM. There's lots of things that can lend such a smell. Course here's where I must state that I have no idea of how things smell as I am anosmic (can't perceive any odor i.e. I don't smell anything). What is Fruity to one might be something else sweet to the other. I'm always thinking of diabetic ketoacidosis when someone talks about fruity breath smells. That or candy, breath mints etc. Still, you have to also consider if the scout

Saw on the news this last week that a mountain lion was seen (photographed even) in far eastern Oklahoma. News says that its been a few years since one was confirmed, but they are starting to come back into the state there. Same way with bears. Reports are starting to pop up now and then about their reappearance. Either they are repopulating or they are being squeezed into view as humans push further into their areas.

Need gloves too. Gas mask might be prudent as well.

At camp it's difficult enough for the coffee truck to make its way to all the campsites in the morning early enough before the flag ceremony. Oh lord, nothing worse than adults crying bout not getting their coffee. I get it, but sometimes things happen. You can get your coffee at breakfast. Deal with it. I like coffee too. Stop complaining! Someone get this scouter their coffee so we can get some relative peace here!

The two troops I've been associated with have never searched anything of a scouts, not even their tents, unless there was just cause and even then it was done without advertising it in an open manner following a procedure that is pretty generally accepted. In other words, more than one adult in attendance and unless it was an emergency. Also the scout present as well, again unless it was an emergency. In fact, I've only been present one time when it was done and that was for a scout in an emergency situation. Generally though, if there is something the scout has that they really shouldn't

I'm going to repeat in a reiterative way something that has been said before in various fashions. *whew, that was a fun sentence* 1) You know your scout the best. 2) You are the first judge of whether your scout needs a helpful push into uncomfortable situations or when they need .... (see 3 & 4) 3) A consultation with your scout to ask what they want out of things. Sometimes they want to drive on. Sometimes they want to back away. The most difficult part is knowing when to rein them in or nudge them forward. 4) Second independent judge. Never be afraid to ask for ad

My son signed up to earn this badge at summer camp the first year it was offered there. I don't know how they handled that particular requirement, but I strongly suggest if you have the chance to do so, sit with your scout to hear an old timer talk about times long ago. It's a kick watching scouts hear the tales and honestly, it was super entertaining for me too. We had the luxury of having a great ASM who had been with the troop since his kids were in it in the 70s. He had served in various capacities (SM, ASM, CC etc) throughout all those decades and is still serving today. He got to rolling

On a related question, one of the things I hear about is where a case is dragged on through the courts, in the hopes that the other side will finally cave or reach settlement in order to stop the constant drain due to the costs of keeping the litigation alive. Is this a frequent thing for cases we might face in the BSA?

I don't have the link, but there's a scout trek in the Big Bend area of Texas that has a week long adventure riding horses and camping. My son's old troop is attending this year.

I can't speak for your council, however my council filters that through the process it follows up the chain and it will be added as time goes on. Your council will control the speed of that initially. Either it will be there as fast as paper can travel, somewhere in between, or you're going to tie with a sloth carrying a turtle.

Just bunching them down? I can see that, I think. Not sure though. Any idea how it helps keep away the dirt and chiggers? Really curious as I love new things that work and I like to know how it does it.

our troop sports 3 shirts in different colors: red, grey, and blue. Grey being near white, but not quiet there... for that patriotic affect. Also recently branched into hoodies. I feel it is a bit overkill.

Yah, the troop I'm with has a designated necker. However I'm nearly certain that this is because adults decided it at some point. That's a whole other issue with adults mouthing the words scout lead while doing the opposite. Something I hope to change course on with assistance in the future. I've no problem with the necker, per se. I don't like that it's so small on my adult frame, but that's the situation with being adult size. I don't care for the slide, but I can make a woggle if I so wish, so I'll do that some day. In this troop, nearly all of the adults wear the approved necker when

The uniform is not required. Not even when in front of the Eagle Board. It serves a purpose and we want our scouts and ourselves to be in the appropriate uniform to the best of our ability. But again, not required.

My son's troop has a small trailer. That along with a pickup for when needed ensures they have everything they need. I'm all on board the idea of small trailers. My troop (different from my son's) had their trailer stolen a few years ago. There was a rash of trailers being stolen in the region (which I share with another poster here), and a lot of scout troops were suddenly missing not only their trailer, but they also stored all their gear in them. My troop has a storage room, so most of their gear was in there. Unfortunately, they had also recently returned from a camping trip, so not

Similar to what we have here in Oklahoma City. A large enough lake and good wind. Oh and a star to sail by.

Good idea on that backing packing point. Having it readily available is important.

We had our spring ordeal a few weeks back. All the under 18 girl candidates were put into their own clan. Adult women were embedded in the various clans the same as everyone else from Venture Crews, Scout Troops, and Scurvy Sea Scout... whatever their unit names are matey. LOL Arggghhh. I can honestly say I didn't hear any negative comments anywhere about girls who were candidates. Could have been because we were going through the ordeal and couldn't talk.... But honestly, there just weren't any folks who were expressing negative attitudes. If they had them, they probably weren't th

I have a hand me down cot from Bass Pro Shops. It's alright, but the plastic feet have a habit of wandering off. I'd like to get something better someday, but one can't knock a free and serviceable cot. I saw this somewhere out there in the internet world and I do it for my cots when I put them on a tarp or in a tent. Luckily I know some folks who play tennis and have a lot of cast off tennis balls. Take a tennis ball, cut it open to make a little pac-man for each cot foot/leg. (watch that blood circle! I had scouts trying to get close enough to see what I was doing.) Place the foo

$400.....for a cot....that's like, aluminum poles and a piece of canvas. And that's $400? I could buy 10 regular cots for that. Of course, then I'd need a bigger tent....(and some more friends)... It is cheaper now. Around $250 or so, with alternative brands available. Not something I'll get soon, as I've got other gear I want first. Specifically a tent of my own other than the family giganto tent.