CA_Scouter

REI will give you a 10% discount if you register on their 800 number. Usually you have to order thru there but if you ask nicely sometimes they will do it at the store. AND they will give you the discount even on sales items. Campor does a 10% also, but its a more formal process, i.e. letterhead, a voided check, your first born, etc... Alps Mountaineering gives up to 40% discounts to register scouters and their gear is very good quality. www.alpsmountaineering.com I've also read, but not confirmed, that military bases will let Scout groups stay overnight while traveling... do

"and therefore I do not think that government funds should be going to such a group." What funds?

"Of course, some here think the BSA should be supported even as they denigrate gays and atheists. " At least 403 do. Out of the 411 who voted.

Scoutingmomma, Yes, sorry, forgot that its a members only sale to get them at the $109 price. Also forgot to mention that you can register your troop with REI ( call their 800 number ) and they will give you an additional 10%, even off the sale price.

Regarding the equipment... go with the lightweight stuff. You can always use the lightweight stuff if you go car camping but you can't use the car camping stuff when you go backpacking. Can't comment on the VP stuff, sorry, no experience.. :-(

Ditto the comments on Alps Mountaineering. My son has one of their tents and is very happy with it.. I have an REI Half Dome that's 6 years old and holding up extremely well, and that's with camping/backing nearly every month of the year. FYI - REI currently has the Half Dome on sale thru May 11 at $109...

If you don't want to be shot at, stop presenting yourself as a target.

Someone has a very high opinion of himself!

Eamonn, what a great analogy. So elegantly stated and so well presented. I am still trying to overcome my upbringing though, as my parents always use to tell me to put on my shoes and socks but they never told me in which order to do so. :-(

We hosted camporee last year, doing a mix of scout-run and adult run events. The scouts, however, chose all the competitions, came up with the scoring sheets, and compiled the results after the events were completed. ( They planned the campfire program also but the dam broke that night and washed it out. ) We had two of our three patrols compete with the third running a couple of events. We asked for adults from other troops to run/score the events. This would mitigate some of Jblakes concerns about the judging. We also had more timed events, rather than judged events ( pancake to

I agree with HERMS. Boorah! Regarding terms, I refer to all the troop youth as 'scouts', not 'boys' or 'kids'. I like to believe it sets a level of expection on their attitude and behavior. But boy, I could be kidding myself. Who knows.. :-)

We'll be in Yellowstone with the troop in August. Where ya going Big Guy? We'll have three crews roaming around Shoshone Lake. Got another week backpack trip planned with my buddies in Canada in Sept. We finally got a slip at the local lake for the boat after being on the waiting list for 7 years. Woohoo!

...and I've been lurking rather than posting recently... Yea, right on Gunny. Me too. I come here for learned responses from fellow scouters, not for criticism and admonishments. Things changed a few months back and there is a lot less courteous and kind around here. Granted there are only a few that cause this problem, but it just goes to show how a select few can negatively impact the entire space. Kinda sad. This used to be a really good resource, now I find myself looking elsewhere.

A Scout is also Thrifty. I just lost a cap to my dry-erase marker the other day. What luck that you posted this! ( SctDad - anyone offended by this post deserves to be offended. Don't apologize when you've done nothing wrong. )

Lisabob, Excellent report. We have 3 backpacking trips planned this year, including a week in Yellowstone... and may squeeze in another 2 short ones... Also watch out for Big Agnes stuff... really awesome tents, sleeping pads, bags,... ooooooooooooooooo < eyes glazing over, going into a trance >

Ditto Eagle... We go lightweight all the time now, even if we do a car camping trip. Less stuff to haul around, we don't need large vehicles to carry gear, we reinforce Leave No Trace principles, we don't need 4 pickup trucks for 10 scouts, etc... I disagree on the lightweight tent being less durable statement. Been in the same REI Halfdome for 5 years running now and no signs of replacing it anytime soon. Lightweight tents are engineered for durability these days, which is of course reflected in the price. I do agree with the stove stability issue. We have the old GAZ type

Wow. Incredible arrogance. I could only wish to be that perfect.

Sorry for the minor hijack...but... What LisaBob said... is right on the money. Ed's follow up is equally accurate. I've been on the receiving end of this attitude also - I tire of the constant implications that everything is the adult's fault. I dare say this is contrary to Scout Spirit i.e.. "...but rather by how he helps bring out the best in others as a reflection of his own character and attitude in his daily life". In my travels, I've found that ticking people off is not a good motivational technique. How about bringing out the best in others, rather than put us on th

A correction on Purcelce recipe: (I go with three scoops of coffeefor 12 cups) s/b (I go with three scoops of coffeefor 1-2 cups) Got the french/freedom press down pretty good. A couple of floating grounds but a couple of taps on the side of the cup sends most of 'em down. We had a guy ( who is an executive CHEF ) bring his own 'condensed' coffee - just add water. What he did was to boil down his leftover coffee from home so they could make quick on-the-run stuff in the microwave. Talk about nasty! He is now the guy we put with the apple on his head when we do ou

Suggestion: put your First Aid station right next to this event. When we have done firebuilding as a camporee event, we give the scouts all the time they want to build fuzz sticks, chop kindling, etc. We only put them on the clock for the actual building of the fire. Perhaps you can re-structure your event with that philosophy in mind....

Yea, I got my compact flourescents in a box in the garage for now, I figured the mercury might be an issue. Along these lines though... Any studies on airborne contaminants generated by smelly socks after a long hike? What about after 3 days of heavy carbs on the trail ( or are those considered greenhouse gases ) ? :-)

I heard a radio report this morning indicationg a 12 year old scout fell to his death from the Yosemite Falls trail. The report indicated he wandered away from his group. I have not seen any postings yet of this info on the local media web sites, so information is sketchy at this time. :-( UPDATE, found info: Modesto Boy Scout, 12, dies hiking in Yosemite A 12-year-old Boy Scout from Modesto died when he wandered away from his group hiking toward Upper Yosemite Fall and fell about 300 feet, a National Park Service spokeswoman said Monday. The name of the boy wasn't rele

One of my Life scouts has been searching for what to do for his Eagle project, so he calls up the county fairgrounds and asks them if they might have any service projects. The lady tells him, "well we have several areas where we would like some help, but what we really need is a bar - complete with barstools. Do you think you might be able to get this done by June?" After our initial laughter, we thought up of all kind of accoutrements, such as fleur-de-lys on the beer taps, pictures of the scouts on the barstools, etc. Not to mention the 'this drinking establishment brought to you by

Yes, Backpacker is high end stuff. It sucks you in an bleeds you dry. :-) I look at this stuff and wonder.. If I won the Lotto.... REI, North Face, Marmot, ArcTeryx and others have top quality gear that as Bob says, you can't afford until you are in your thirties, but if you shop carefully, you'll find that the gear reviews give you a hint on what is going to start showing up on the closeout web sites in the coming months. Last year I picked up a 'last years model' fleece from Mountain Hardwear for half the original retail price. Couple of years ago I got an REI HalfDome closeout

We are planning to go to Yellowstone this year. Dreaming... Alaska or Canada would be nice. Vancouver Island looks pretty exciting and waaaay out there...