CCbytrickery

While we haven't been down for summer camp yet (DH's boys get to start going this year as Webelos), we have been to Shands for our Cuboree and other council events. It is a really nice place. There isn't much around, though--it's not a quick trip to the corner store kind of place.

Our scouts, in the pack,that went the last two for Webelos said they had fun, and stayed busy, but it wasn't the "hurry up, we have to go now now now" that they get at Cuboree.

They don't have their Cub/Webelos information posted up yet, but you can get the BS guide on here.

http://www.campshands.org/

We carry a first aid kit with us, in addition to the one the Pack has.

The Pack one is small, red with white cross on it, and I keep it stocked with our personal supplies. It hangs in the trailer by the door, so it is accessable.

Ours is in a plastic tackle box (bought new).

(The husband does home hemodialysis and we get sent a massive amount of tape, gauze, alcohol pads, iodine pads, gloves, masks, etc---more than we could use in a month. The company won't send us less than the full order unless I get the clinic nurse to sign off on it, and the position has spent more time empty than full.)

I usually carry: iodine/alcohol pads; gauze (2x2, 4x4, wrap); paper tape; Bactine; anti-itch cream; ibuprofen (adult and child); benadryl; non latex gloves; masks; non latex bandaids; moleskin; scissors; nail clippers; tweezers; cold medicine (adult and child); pepto; blue chuks; ankle wrap; instant ice packs; Tegaderms (2 sizes); safety pins and thermometer. Probably more stuff than that, I'd have to check, but the hubby has it in the car right now.

Dean

Airsoft should NOT be allowed to anyone under 16 and in protective gear. Some of those guns can leave a pretty nasty mark. Airsoft guns at Walmart are the bottom of the barrel, but can still leave a good welt. Paint the orange tips on them, and they look real.

My husband was in an Airsoft league for a few years---grown men out in the desert and swamps (NV and FL), playing war. He had the top of his head split open by a single BB. One guy in DH's league had his...sac...ruptured by a hit. They wear a lot of protective gear---goggles are the minimum, face masks are better; body armor is the norm for a lot of these guys (mostly current or former military or police).

No toys at campouts outside of tents--except for younger siblings. No guns or knives (real or fake) at campouts ever--except if you have your whittlin' chit. That solves a lot of our problems before they start.

BTW, I don't have a problem with guns, real or fake. We own 5 rifles/handguns/shotguns (DS has his own .22 rifle); DH has 6 or 7 different Airsoft guns (and they all look real--no orange tips on these); DS has a Daisy BB gun (hasn't put his eye out yet), 5 or 6 Nerf guns and 3 water guns. My favorite Nerf gun shoots the green disks--DH will be sitting in his chair in the living room, and DS will shoot the green disk Nerf down the hall, bounce it off two walls and then it will hit DH. I don't care, at home, if DS is playing cowboys and Indians with his buddies, as long as they aren't using anything with a projectile (nerf/water being the exception).

We require a medical form for each person attending any portion of a campout or event. Adult, sibling, scout....all need a form.

Our pack holds a Pinewood Derby workshop on a Saturday. We have 3 or 4 parents with woodworking tools--they bring them up to our meeting place. They run the electric saws/drills/etc. The boys decide on their designs, the adults cut them out. The boys can then sand them and paint them at home.

It's not required, it's just something we like to do for those who have non-handy parents (like my son, haha).

(Don't take this as an attack. Just my angry opinion)

I wonder..do those adults that are coming up to you thanking God for Boy Scouts because of the gay leader issue....are they at all upset or angry or worried about the PEDOPHILE issue? Ya know, the guys who were molesting boys.....not the gay men, who are in commited relationships with other adults, but the guys who like to diddle kids? Or are they all just "OH MY GOD< TEH GAYS ARE HERE!!!"

I wonder if any of them stepped up to voice their support for the boy in school coerced into a relationship with his teacher or the girl whose father was raping her? Or are they just concerned with the morality of a gay man/woman? Does it really matter to you what someone else does in their bedroom, as long as they with another consenting ADULT? Why should it matter to them?

People seem to have this misconception that being gay means you'll do anything.

As long as they (by they, I mean anyone--even you BD) aren't having sex in front of me or my kids, I couldn't give a rats bottom for what anyone does in the privacy of their own home with another adult--gay or straight.

I have several gay/lesbian friends...and their relationships are more honest than many of the "straight" married people we know. Less cheating, more open affection. I'd rather my child see a loving, honest relationship between two men or women than the marriage between a man and woman that involves cheating, schemeing, lying, anger, abuse. (Not saying those don't happen in gay relationships either, but as I said, the majority of our gay friends have better relationships than the straight ones.)

(Ok, I'm done now. I was going to say I hope I didn't make anyone angry, but truthfully, I hope I made someone angry about the discrimination gay/lesbian people face. People being hypocrites bothers me, and for all the talk of love thy neighbor, a lot of people act like it's love thy neighbor unless he is gay.)

It bothers us also. "We don't have the time" when asked to help with knot-tying, but they can sit at the meeting and spend that same amount of time playing on their cell phones.

Our den dues are $1 a week. Last year, it went to snack and we just used the supplies that we had bought when DS was a Tiger the year before that. (I spent probably $100 on supplies for the group the first year.) Out of 24 boys, 14 brought dues this week.

My husband is on the kidney transplant list, and we drive a falling apart 2000 minivan. We do have cable but that is our only vice--no drinking/smoking or vacations. They complain about not having enough to get their nails done (or they get their nails done and complain about not having food).

We pay our dues and camping fees and everything else because we want our son to understand that bills and obligations come first. And we have parents who complain that our dues are too high, but won't do the popcorn sales to help fatten the coffers so that we can subsidize their costs. Responsibility...it's a dying art.

At the beginning of this scout year (Bear), DH's den lost a boy due to his dad's change of station; one boy to sports; and one boy who didn't really want to be there or follow instructions, so he and his mom bailed. (from last years Wolves)

He started with 17-18 Tigers. Lost 5 or 6 by Wolf start, added a few more, and is now sitting on 28 Bears. We'll lose at least 4 of those this week (signed up and paid but never showed).

We've lost them because of parents (being involved/not being involved/bringing in boyfriends that despise scouting). There has been only one boy that my husband wishes he could have kept (well, two, but one came back this year), and he left because mom was bouncing back to ex-husband #2 (not his dad) in another state. Still breaks my heart when I think about him.

All our thoughts and prayers to his family and troop.

I believe our pack is striving to do so, and our dens mostly do.

There is a bit too much bookwork, IMO. DH is having to decide if he wants to teach them fiances or how to write a letter--not really what we envisioned we said "let's send son to Scouts".

But, at our pack meeting on Tuesday, we had the reptile guy come, with turtles, monitors, skinks, a small gator, and lots of snakes. Made me /shudder but the kids ate it up! We have a one night campout coming up, to teach parents/scouts who have never camped before (or never scout camped) how we do things. Then we have Cuboree and 2 more campouts planned, then our big meeting at the USS Midway. Doing the big meeting once a year, my goal is to set places our boys may never go without their families--I'm resisting the parent's urges to go to Disney or SeaWorld...

SP: We charge $65 for the Webelos, as they are earning both belt loops/pins and badges (or whatever they are called at the Web level). Also pays for their AoL stuff. They attend Day, aquatics and Webs camps, so they can earn a lot of things.

We charge $45 for the Tigers, because their parents are coming in needing to buy uniforms for the first time--and every little bit helps. Most will not attend day camp (as the hours are not conducive for working parents) so their belt loops/pins will be lower.

We charge $55 for the Wolves/Bears because we figure they will be earning more belt loops/pin than the Tigers. This is where they start hitting their stride at day and aquatics camps.

BD: It's no harder to track than what level they are. We use PackLedger and can assign what is due at what level. Easy peasy.

The dens do not receive craft items from the pack. They must be purchased or given by the parents/den leaders. That's why most of our dens have dues. The Tigers do a craft a week, it seems. The Wolves do fewer, but the Bears start back up, with the more expensive things. My husband's Bears this year are doing: bird houses, tool boxes, electric motors, crystal radios (we hope), weather stations, plus carvings from soap and florist foam.

(This message has been edited by ccbytrickery)

We charge the full amount for Web 2s. $55. They do not pay the advancement fee, however--they don't need another new book, necker/slide or set of colors.

In addition to their getting the belt loops and pins for a 2nd time, they also get their badges (or whatever they are called at this level). Plus their Arrow of Light stuff.

We have a core group of parents that just always help out. However, this year, they are gone (moved to BS last March) and the support is lacking.

We've relied on the den leaders to lead things. This year, we can't--the Web2 DL has a daughter whose a senior in high school this year--lots of college trips and other events. My husband (Bear DL) was just placed on the transplant list for a kidney, so we cannot commit to leading anything for the next few years...when the call comes in, we have to drop everything for 6-8 weeks. We have made it clear to the parents that if they DO NOT step up, then activities will be cancelled.

Basically, I try to get to know the people before I need them--find out what they are interested in or what they are good at. Then I simply take the sign up form with me and flat out ask. I have the DLs ask (two do so with no problems, and I think this year Tigers dens are going to step up, they were asking all kinds of questions and stepping right in). If all else fails, I send in the CM. No one says no when he asks.

Our pack dues:

Tiger 45

Wolf/Bear 55

Web 65

This is IN ADDITION to the fees from BSA.

All get a book and pack tshirt. Webelos also get their colors. Rank, belt loops/awards, pack meeting activities, PWD car and Christmas gifts. Also, we are able to take care of part of every campout (except our big May Event---that is full cost)...so a campout that can cost $25 a person is only costing them $10. Also, we purchase supplies that we need, such as a new coffee maker for campouts or a dining fly.

There are extra den shirts available to purchase at $10 each. We make a $3 profit after shirts and printing.

For returning boys, they pay the above fees plus a $10 advancement fee. This gets them the necker, slide and book.

Dens can have den dues to cover their costs or they can have parents supply the items needed. I found it easier to have the dues and get what you need all at once--then you know you have it and it's all the same.

We've always had a parent or two step up for Tigers. Until they are on their feet and running, a council member (CC, AC, or secretary usually) helps get things rolling.

We usually just add the new boys in with the old boys. Only if it grows too big, will we split them...and then it's lottery to see who goes in what den. Usually a parent or two steps up for this as well.

Our council puts on:

Frog Jog twice a year (camping)

Cuboree

University of Scouting

First aid training (various levels including wilderness)

Multiple camps, including Winter and Summer camps for Webelos, aquatics camp and day/twilight camps.PWD (district and council)

Various Shooting days (so boys get more time with archery/bbs)on Saturdays during the year

District dinner

Fall shooting day (for all, including siblings/adults--that's a mess!)

Various BS events (not involved there yet, so don't know what all they do)

Roundups at the schools

More that I'm forgetting, I'm sure!

Busy yes.

My thought is I don't care how many events they do, I just want them to do the events that they do right.

Example: Council did a Scout Safari at the zoo. There were 4 classes, with 14 or 15 spots per class, and if you didn't attend for a class, you didn't get the patch. Our district is the biggest in our area--our Cuboree last year was over 2000 people, if I remember correctly; the next closest district had 500 attend. The council has a large area, and they get a lot of participation from our district. It would have made sense to add more classes.

They had sign ups for the classes and check in for the classes if you had signed up early outside the zoo, but no clear direction on which line was what. If you didn't check in early, you lost your spot--even if it wasn't your fault--the lines were very slow. They had bouncy houses in the zoo, in the big clearing--but wouldn't allow the zoo to staff the bouncy houses (since they weren't YPL trained)...but didn't provide anyone to staff them either. That was mass chaos. My husband and a few other leaders tried to help while they were there, but there were bigger scouts pushing around little scouts and climbing and jumping from the tops of the slides, etc.

Example: Day camp 2 years ago. The camp director and camp admin are married. He spent the training session we had the day before camp started talking about their marriage and his daughter (who was about 4 and cute as a button, and was monopolizing his attention, while we were waiting to learn what we were supposed to be doing over the next 5 days!) The next day---mass chaos. No one had assigned dens. People still registering. People still paying. No drop off point. No one watching scouts/siblings just dropped in the parking lot--I put myself by the lake and sent off dozens of kids away from there! Nothing was set up, no water or coolers or tent shades.

During the week, the director rode his horse around camp. Yes. He rode his horse. Kids would dart in front of the horse, try to touch the horse--saw it kick out and rear up more than once. Not to mention the poop left everywhere. When he wasn't on his horse, they were riding around in their golf cart, ignoring their venture scout volunteers (they were venture leaders) and harping on the other volunteers. My daughter came to help us out, and had tied her sleeves up on her shoulders with string. She was informed that was not the correct uniform and to take them down--meanwhile, their daughter and her friends were wearing cut off shorts and midriff tops without a word.

After both of these debacles (and a few others), both DH and myself told the council that if they needed help with anything, to call. He has handled big events before--over 500 people--and I am the organizer. Only one phone call so far, and that was from the woman who was thrown into the day camp admin position this year, because the other two that usually ran the daycamps up and quit the month before--with nothing done on them.

I think the council likes being in charge, even if they have no idea what they are doing. DH is trying to get in, so he can help more, but if you don't have Eagle or WB, you are pretty much out of the loop.

Who picks them up at the store and puts them on the pack credit card? the AC or CM.

Who pays for them? Our dues, popcorn sales, and camp card sales help to cover. We don't restrict awarding them--if a boy earns 5 belt loops in one month, then he earns 5 belt loops.

We have dues and an advancement fee. The dues are dependent on the den level ($45 for Tigers, $55 for W/B, $65 for Webs). Advancement fee is optional--they get a necker, slide and book for $10 for T/W/B and add colors to Webs ($15).

Too many to name, so here is our calendar for this year:

Aug: welcome back meeting--dens bring assigned sides/desserts/etc, pack does main course. all summer awards (loops/etc) are awarded. We do a slideshow of photos.

Sept: Reptile man at p.m. (pack meeting); also doing popcorn kickoff. (Not too many acitivites here, dont' want to panic the new parents!)

Oct: One night campout, to introduce the new parents to our scout camping ways. Hold a Bobcat den to get the new boys their Bobcats (Webelos run it). PM: ambulance is coming to visit--the EMTs will talk about their jobs and show off all their toys.

Nov: Cuboree! PM: Either our local weatherman or Mad Science will come visit.

Dec: Caroling at two local nursing homes. PM: Santa comes with a present for all the kids (scout or sibling).

Jan: PWD clinic--come and use woodworking tools to make your car! Campout--a full weekend in cabins! PM: We are trying to get NASA to send us an engineer or astonaut (oooooohhhhh) to come with displays and to talk up science/engineering/technology for the STEM projects. If not, I'm not sure what we'll be doing.

Feb: PWD; B&G (we advance our T/B/W/W1 here); Battle of Oleuste (spelling?); remote control airplane Show; PM: Whichever didn't come in November--weatherman or Mad Science.

Mar: Camping for a full weekend--we hold Crossover for the Web 2s at the campout and the newly annointed Boy Scouts get to cook breakfast Sunday morning! PM: ??

April: Frog Jog; PM: ??

May: Campout on the USS Yorktown! PM: Cake Bake--bake a cake, toss/share/take home, bring canned goods for the local food bank.

June: Sleepout at the local baseball field.

July: movie and a picnic!

We do most woodworking/going to zoos or museums/etc on a den by den basis. Also, we have had the now Bear/Wolf dens get together to work on sports belt loops together. We promote the council events very rarely--only Cubaree and camps. Council events here are usually poorly run--overcrowded, underplanned (for example, not having items avialable like port a potties, items for actiivites at summer camp, etc).

http://www.nfsmi.org/documentlibraryfiles/PDF/20120713093708.pdf

Step 1 is scrape. Step 2 is wash in hot soapy water. Step 3 is rinse in clean hot water (we use warm, because we usually don't have enough hot to do wash and rinse all at once). Step 4 is bleach in cool water, 1TBLS unscented bleach per gallon of water. Step 5 is air dry.

Bleach should be between 100-200 PPM. Get a test strip kit.

Yes--three tubs. One with hot soapy water, one to rinse with warm water, and one to sanitize (cool with bleach).

Of course, we have the parents doing the wash up, as cub scouts aren't allowed in the kitchen area. And it's usually just cooking utensils and pots and pans; we haven't gotten the pack to go "green" yet--still using paper plates/plastic utensils and styrofoam cups for those who forget their plastic ones and for hot chocolate.

Our ACM is also our Webelos 2 den leader this year (moved up in ranks with his son) and he is also the troop CC. He is a total scouter, having stayed involved his whole life--even the time between his Eagle and his own son joining a pack.

He is planning on staying as our ACM, but not as a DL after his son transitions. If it's not him, they will give us someone else--it helps us out as well as them.

We combine most of of our pack meetings/activities. We always do flag ceremonies/skits/awards/announcments/etc and have some sort of activity there as well.

We've had the zoo come with animals, the reptile farm, a firetruck, police helicopter, coast guard boats, Mad Science, 501st Squadron, a magician, Santa, etc.

We do family campouts. The parents are told the siblings are under their direction and that the DLs will not be watching them--they can participate in some activties, but only if there is space/materials. The Tiger parents must also have one parent with their Tiger during these times. During Open time--that is the parent's time to watch their scouts. The DLs have the boys during loops, den time and when the parents are cooking. We just signed 51 new boys last night--that puts us over 100 in the pack! Time to find bigger campsites!

We have a base rotation for our campouts: Friday night, everyone is on their own for dinner, Web 2 parents make cobblers. Small campfire, with songs and fun. Saturday--one den has breakfast, another lunch, another dinner (Bears, Wolves, Web 1). The Tigers usually get Sunday breakfast for the first two campouts--pastries, leftovers, and fruit. During the day, the schedule rotates between belt loops (one or two), hikes (sometimes with a ranger or guide), den time and open time. During den time, the boys work on a skit for the campfire, and whatever other skills they need (last year, the Wolves did knots). Open time is just that---open, as long as they are following basic rules, we let them be. Saturday night are big campfires, skits and songs.

Our Webelos camp as frequently as they wish. The last two years, our Webs camped once a month with a troop, and once a month as a den, and then could attend the pack campouts. This year, I am sure the Web 2's will follow this, but I'm not sure about the Web 1's. The parents usually start on the first one or two campouts, but then they go away--relieved they only have to go for our pack campouts!

In October, we do a one night campout. Introduces the new parents to "our" style of camping. The Webelos run a Bobcat Den, so that all the new boys can receive their Bobcats at the Saturday night campfire. (they will have been working for a month or more on them in their dens)

In November, we have Cuboree. My husband does have the boys skip a portion of the planned activities, to have down time. Otherwise it's go go go all day long. Each pack runs a game, depending on the theme for the year. Two years ago it was recycling, last year, Pirates!

In January, we do cabin camping up in Georgia. Two years ago, it was 28 degrees out at Saturday breakfast; last year, we had tornados Saturday night--if we have any "unnatural" events happen, I am scrapping our visits to this particular campsite!

March--last year we camped at Camp Blanding, and visited the museum there. We usually do our Crossover at this event---we invite the troops the boys are joining to Saturday dinner, and do a big show for them. /sniffles

May, we do our "big event". Two years ago, we went to the MOSH in Orlando and slept under the dinosaurs. Last year, it was an overnighter at the Central FL zoo. This year--the USS Yorktown!

We do try to rotate camps. October stays the same, as it is the closest camp to us and it's free. Cuboree is always in the same place, and January has been for the last few years. March and May are open, though.

We did a lot of crafty stuff with my husband's den when they were Tigers.

At Christmas, we had a round of crafts at one meeting. They painted inside ball ornaments, made little cub scout figures out of wooden Ts...2 or 3 more things like that. We made rock buddies--they drew face and glued google eyes on rocks.

They made a tree with leaves with family member names on them.

Things like that.

For his Wolf year, we did foam Christmas items (found kits at Walmart)--made snowmen, ornaments, etc. we also made catapults (no kits).

this year, less "crafts" more "practicality". Electric motors (batteries and paperclips), birdhouse and tool box, doing soap carvings (knife skills)...

Each year, my husband (our son's DL) does something special for his boys. Last year, he handed out slides he made from paracord at Christmas, and for their welcome back in August, he made leather water bottle holders and personalized them.

This year, he made them bear claw necklaces for their welcome back. Not sure what he's doing for Christmas yet.