mrkstvns

I would revise the G2SS to eliminate as many prohibitions as possible, and may even make many of them into REQUIREMENTS.

For example, G2SS says that scouts under age 18 should not use power tools.

In today's world, we use power tools. A man won't be a competent family man and homeowner if he can't do basic work around the house. A scout should:

• Demonstrate how to safely and appropriately use 3 different power saws: such as a jigsaw, a circular saw, and a table saw
• Demonstrate how to safely use 3 different power tools used to maintain landscaping: such as a lawnmower, chainsaw, or hedge trimmers
• Show how to safely and appropriately use a power drill to: a) drill a small hole, b) use a hole cutter attachment to drill a hole large enough for a door knob or deadbolt lock, c) use a screw driver bit (standard or phillips) to build a wall frame or install drywall or fence boards

A few months back, MattR suggested tagging topics as a way to cope with the inability of the Forum to easily implement new sub-forums.

I've been trying to be better about tagging content, but it's often frustrating to me because there are MANY cases where I would love to add some tags to a new topic, but the option to add tags is simply not there.

Why is it that sometimes you can add tags, but often you can not?  Is there some rubric that would help the poor Forum user to predict when tagging might be supported and when it won't?  Is it only available for some Forums, but not others?  

Wish somebody could help me understand this because if I scratch my head any more, I'm going to be balder than Steve Harvey.

1 minute ago, qwazse said:

Sounds like the scout's doing it right ...

I admire any scout who shuns insta-palms, recruits, and helps a DL manage his/her den.

Yes.  I hope he keep up the positive attitude.  He's got over 5 years of potential leadership ahead of him.  Lots of opportunity to earn some of those "above and beyond" awards, staff summer camp, do OA treks, and all the other opportunities that are too often overlooked.

I wish him well.

But "Bacon Ninja Warriors"??? ?

12 hours ago, bsaggcmom said:

We used so much of the stuff we actually buy it in bulk at the local feed store. A quart of the concentrate used for livestock and a pressurized 1 gallon sprayer cost me less than 2 containers of the cut down stuff at REI or the scout shop. It only took us a couple of minutes to do the math to get the dilution right. Got 2 summers out of my quart. Just make sure you don't use it full strength, it will ruin your material.

That's a great idea!  I'm going to have to make a trip over to the local feed store to see what kind of bulk concentrates they sell.  I sure do hate getting bitten like a pincushion!

Very sad news today about an adult who died while rafting on the Arkansas River with a group from Rocky Mountain High Adventure Base. The adult was a 42-year old scouter from the Capitol Area Council in Austin TX.  

Story:
https://www.9news.com/article/sports/outdoors/man-on-boy-scout-rafting-trip-dies-after-falling-in-river/73-b975d955-f69b-40dc-805d-17179c4d9f40 

A 12-year old scout in Maryland earned his Eagle rank...
https://www.carrollcountytimes.com/news/local/ph-cc-daugherty-eagle-scout-20160311-story.html 

Hmmm.

22 hours ago, NealOnWheels said:

Exit the tent first then apply.  Not a good idea to get repellents on the tent fabric.  Especially DEET which will attack the nylon. 

That does seem to be the consensus --- avoid spraying DEET on tent, sleeping bag, mosquito netting etc. as it damages synthetic materials.

I found an interesting article on the REI website. It discusses most of the issues we've been talking about, plus it introduces another approach that I omitted:  the idea of fogging an area (you could do this with a can of backyard repellant, or use one of the devices sold by REI to set up a "skeeter-free zone" in your campsite).  

Info:  https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/insect-repellents.html 

BSA has been busy rolling out changes to its STEM-NOVA Award program, and that includes new awards for Venturing as well.

In 2018, the new "Wade" award let scouts explore the wet and wild world of water, from the basics of the hydrologic cycle and water state changes, to the technology powering modern water treatment facilities, this award explores the science of water and the engineering needed to satisfy a thirsty world.

In early 2019, three more NOVA awards rolled out:

• What a Life - Just about any aspect of life sciences is fair game for this award, including macrobiotic or microbiotic life, genetics, or perhaps medical advances.
• Execute - Computer programming is an indispensible skill for next generation scientists and generalists alike. Delve into the technology and techniques of coding applications for the 21st century and beyond.
• Something from Nothing - 3D printing technology promises to change the way everything we touch is manufactured and delivered. 

Venturing's version of the STEM-NOVA awards program now contains a total of 8 NOVA awards and 3 Supernova awards.  Plenty of opportunities for a technically minded young person to explore their STEM world for fun and advancement potential...

Official info about STEM-NOVA awards for Venturing and Sea Scouts is here:
https://www.scouting.org/stem-nova-awards/awards/venturer/ 

Don't matter to me if the tick is tiny or huge, I just really don't want to touch the gross little blood-suckers.

Give me the tweezers or the tick-yanker tool any day of the summer camp!

6 minutes ago, qwazse said:

I agree with @fred8033, that sometimes folks read the wrong thing into their titles.

Any CC/SM who sees themselves as "gatekeeper" also needs to be very aware of the competition. Using different words, TL/USA is positioning itself as able to deliver on the promise of scouting to boys in ways that they claim BSA can't. My relatives are having a grand old time because they hear more "yes" from their TL/USA adults than they did from their former SM.

I suspect some of that will change as the organization grows, and lawyers see the cash value of that target.

What is "TL/USA"?    Never heard of it...

5 minutes ago, fred8033 said:

I often wonder if this has to do with the terms we use.  Scoutmaster implies "master" as in-charge.  Committee chair infers "overseeing".  But the scoutmaster is more a coach or even a friendly mentor.  He is only "master" when safety is the issue.  Committee chair implies focal point OVER the SM and scouts.  But in reality, the CC is more a logistics focal point.  He's not in charge of any scout, the SM or any ASM.

Hmmm.  I never thought of it as "in-charge". 

I always thought the term Scoutmaster implied one who had mastery of the skills and wisdom needed to successfully navigate the outdoor and advancement program.  More along the lines of a teacher or mentor than an authoritarian figure. 

Like a young padawan following the teachings of the Jedi master....(but without light sabers, since those are not allowed by G2SS).

Generations of scouters have included tweezers in their first aid kits. It's a good general purpose gadget, and at this time of year, is often put to use removing ticks from scout or scouter alike.

The only problem with the tweezers is that it's easy to oversqueeze or to pull too quickly, leaving the tick's head embedded under the skin. Small, inexpensive gadgets are available to make tick extraction easier and less prone to leaving head parts behind.

See:
https://www.amazon.com/Tick-Twister-Remover-Small-Large/dp/B00X7072HY/

Girl Scouts in Georgia are collecting used plastic shopping bags and weaving them into beds that they then give to the homeless.

Helps people. Helps the environment.

The story is here:
http://www.fox5atlanta.com/good-day/georgia-girl-scout-troop-recycle-bags-in-beds-for-homeless 

Looking for service project ideas?  How about negotiating with terrorists to release a hostage?  Or maybe tracking down cases of the deadly Ebola virus?

Such things might not be approved activities in BSA, but according to this story about how scouting helps hold together the country in Central Africa, its par for the course in some parts of the world...

See:
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/07/big-in-peacekeeping-boy-scouts/590614/ 

21 minutes ago, Terasec said:

prefer to keep chemicals to a minimum, especially when kids are involved

there are also natural repellents one should consider, eucalyptus and peppermint oils as an example

Yep. Lots of natural repellants around.  Some better than others.

Interestingly, I saw a report that compared natural repellants to chemicals like DEET.  They found that Cutter Lemon Eucalyptus was almost as effective as DEET.  Report is here:  https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151029101456.htm

As an aside, they also found that Victoria Secret Bombshell perfume repels mosquitos ...

1 hour ago, qwazse said:

Language note: where Mrs Q comes from rolled cabbage was called pigs in blankets. No idea what they called the hot dog treat, but the essential brand for the region has become Smith's. My father-law (God rest him) insisted that there be no grilling without them. They eventually made their way south to Pittsburgh, which made our lives much easier.

Well, if Mrs Q is going to hijack the "Pigs in Blankets" moniker for her cabbage rolls, I hope she will at least have the decency to skewer them and cook them over a campfire like any self-respecting Boy Scout would...

One way to build tighter bonds between the pack and troop is to involve more Boy Scouts as Den Chiefs for the cubs.  Encourage Den Leaders to have a Den Chief and let the Scoutmaster know that your pack wants more Den Chiefs. Because scouts need positions of responsibility for rank advancement, it's usually easy to enlist them. They then become de facto emissaries between the pack and the troop...

Cub Scouts (and even some Boy Scouts) love sticking things in the fire. Instead of constantly admonishing them to stop playing around the fire, give them something useful to do --- like cook their own dinner.  Nothing is easier to do on a campfire than roasting hot dogs and it's no big deal to up the game just slightly by making pigs in blankets!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 package of good quality hot dogs (Boars Head, Hebrew National, or maybe Johnsonville Bedda Chedda)
• 1 tube Pillsbury Crescent Roll dough
• Ketchup and mustard to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Separate the triangles of crescent roll dough.
2. Wrap a triangle of dough around a hot dog.
3. Skewer the hot dog on a long-handled skewer.
4. Let each scout roast his own pig in a blanket.  This works best by keeping the pig a bit away from the flames so that it browns without burning.  When the bread dough is nicely brown, you're ready to eat!

23 minutes ago, Thunderbird said:

@mrkstvns  Does permethrin also repel spiders?

Yes.  Spiders (all varieties) can be controlled using permethrin.

Info about permethrin, its uses, and precautions can be found here:  http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/PermGen.html 

Nobody likes mosquitos. They bite, they annoy, and they can spread disease. They are also a persistent problem for scouts and anybody else who enjoys summer camping. Mosquitos are a part of the natural ecosystem and there's no way to completely avoid them. But there are ways to keep them off yourself. 
Here are a few strategies that scouts and scouters can use to help keep the mosquitos at bay this summer:

1. Repellant / Bug Spray.  Spray on mosquito repellant before you leave your tent in the morning and re-apply several times during the day because it will wear off as you sweat. Also be sure to re-apply after swimming. Repellants that contain Deet (such as Deep Woods Off) are good choices for summer camp because they are more effective. Some people recommend natural, organic repellants, such as those containing citronella, cedar, eucalyptus, and similar ingredients. These may be effective, but most scouts will do well to keep some Deet as a backup because there is continuing evidence that the organic products are less effective. 
2.  Permethrin:  Permethrin is different than most repellants because you don't spray it on yourself, you spray it on your tent, your clothes, and any other equipment.  Permethrin not only repels mosquitos, it repels ticks, chiggers and other painful pests. An application of Permethrin provides protection for up to 6 weeks.
3. Citronella lamps, torches, or candles:  Outdoor stores sell citronella oil and citronella candles. These don't kill any mosquitos, but they do overpower some of the natural scents of humans and other animals that mosquitos hone in on, helping to reduce the number of mosquitos coming into the campsite.
4. Have a campfire.  Where there's smoke, there's fewer bugs.  Mosquitos don't like smoke, so having a campfire can be a good way to reduce the bug bites. If you have a bumper crop of herbs, you might be able to scent that smoke for even greater bug repellant power. Rosemary, catnip, and sage are among the herbs with reputed bug repellant power. 
5. Smell bad. Most scouts don't believe in showering while camping. Believe it or not, mosquitos find the smell of a sweaty, dirty scout almost as repellant as moms do!  When bathing is unavoidable, using unscented soaps can be a better choice than those with floral or fruit scents. 
6. Use mosquito netting. Sleeping will be much more comfortable if you're not waking up every few minutes to swat at a fresh mosquito bite. Enclose your entire sleeping area in a mosquito net and you'll sleep bite free. Just remember to spray on the Deet before you get out of your tent in the morning.
7. Avoid lanterns. A sure way to attract bugs into your camp site is to set up a big, bright propane lantern. Even the battery-powered LED lanterns will attract flying insects.  Lower the light and lower the number of mosquitos and other flying pests buzzing around your camp site.
8. Long sleeves and long pants:  Let's face it, you don't want to overdress when the mercury climbs, but if you are at higher elevation or in an area with cool evenings and mornings, then it might be practical to put on a long-sleeve shirt and some long pants. Less exposed skin area means less bites.  It's not always practical for summer camping, but it's worth keeping an extra tool in mind for when it might work.

Hope these help keep you bite-free and itch-free this summer!  See you on the trail!
 

3 hours ago, ianwilkins said:

Of course, the text of loads of old scout books are on the fantastic resource The Dump.

Thank you, Ian!

I had never heard of "The Dump" before reading your post.  Googled it and found LOTS of interesting historical references around scouting.  It's going to take me quite a while to peruse the collection.

If other folks are also unfamiliar with the site, you can find it here:  http://www.thedump.scoutscan.com/ 

Boy Scouts spending the night in a Polynesian temple (called a "marae") were forced to run for their lives when the building went up in flames.  Investigators say it was arson.

The story:
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2019/06/boy-scouts-forced-to-run-for-their-lives-after-fire-at-wellington-marae.html 

Low unit numbers are cool.  They imply permanence and solid roots. The low number says you have identity, while the high number says you're just another cog in the machine.

I was reading a post about Wood Badge and it occurred to me that patrols today are not quite like the patrols of yesteryear.  

In Wood Badge, traditional animals are used for the patrol name and emblem. Owls, Bears, Eagles, Beavers....these are the things of patrol names for Wood Badge (which allegedly takes its inspiration from B-P, Brownsea, and the earliest days of scouting).

When I was a scout, things had changed only slightly. In the 70s, we still had a lot of animal name patrols, but I suspect it's because that was what the scout shop stocked for patches. My first troop mixed up the ages in a patrol, and we had a 17-year old Eagle scout as our patrol leader. He must have been reading Lewis Carroll because he named us the "Jabberwocky" patrol and our emblem was a blank patch. After a year, he aged out, we elected a younger patrol leader, and our first official act as a boy-led patrol was to change our name to the "Undertakers". The good thing was that we kept the blank patch, but got a marker and drew a gravestone with "RIP" on it.

Today, as an adult leader in a large troop with 7 patrols, I don't see a single traditional animal name.  When animals are used as the mascot, they invariably have an adjective preceding their name. "Toxic Kangaroos", "Nuclear Lobos"....you get the picture.

As I browse through the patrol patches on web sites like ClassB, I see two classes of patrol names that seem to dominate (presumably across the scouting world):  1) Mutant Animals, and 2) Whimsical Whatever.   Here's a few amusing examples of real patches that are in stock and ready for you to order today:

MUTANT ANIMALS:

• Angry Owl
• Angry Squirrel
• Bad Cat
• Cosmic Cardinal
• Dab Cat
• Evil Blue Bunny
• Flaming Chicken
• Killer Panda

WHIMSICAL WHATEVER:

• Amish Electrician
• Bag of Mulch
• Bozo
• Chaos
• Dancing Mummy
• Flaming Sock
• Loose Screw
• Man in Blue Shirt
• Bitten Donut
• Cat Herder
• Dancing Banana

Do you miss the innocent animal patrol names of yore?  Think Wood Badge should update their patrol for 21st century scouting?

Wow!  I had no idea it went on so long either.

Guess I'll end up being one of those people Saltface describes, mumbling everything beyond "Day is done, gone the sun".

Cheers!