cheffy

I too am very saddened by the closing. From what I understand this was the oldest camp in the country. We visited just to get a historical feel for what camp was like before we all had to get so comfy and soft. Our Council owns one of the other oldest camps around. Sure it's not all modern and it need some repair but it is one of the favorite camps on the boys list of places to go. It's a dark day when money talks and the future experiences of many of our youth have to take a backseat.

OE

shoot me an E mail and I'll give you all the details and hints that we found handy that they don't tell yopu about.

I went for "strictly fo rScoutmasters" last year and got a ton out of it. Well presented and great info you can take back to your troop and council. The family programs are excellent also. Stuff for the boys and wife. mine wants to go back

Help me settle an arguement. One of our adults once told the boys(before my time) that they could not wear a merit badge sash unless they had 10 badges.

I say you can wear it with one. Who's Right?

The best mommie story I ever experienced..

We were sitting at my sons Blue and Gold, 30 min. from crossing over. The hype type A gotta do it all mom looks up and asks "what is Boy Scouts like?" They had never gone to a Scout meeting it sounded like. We explained a typical meeting and campout.

The next word out of her mouth were priceless. " who will cook for him and who will lay out his pajamas." We explained that they are lucky if they change their underwearand how 4 way shorts work. We had to tell her that no one ever starved and most boys like the freedom for cook for themselves. She joined a troop that was run like the military. They lasted 1 year becaues she woldn't cut the apron strings.

Hop's

I'm also going as staff. My contact person sent us a long list of suggested items and how to store/transport them. I'm sure there is a way to get you a copy if you would like.

Anybody from Michigan/norther Ohio going that wants to share a ride out?

I have to oadmit that our bugler isn't the greatest but is working on it. He started with a trumpet that he already played and we are in the process of getting a bugle. We started him off slow, making sure he could blow Taps. For the morning "wake up call" he played his school fight song until he learned reville. At camporees it seems that other troops play their local fight song also so it's now a challenge to see who gets up first to start the show.

fotoscout

Thanks for the info. Checked out the web site and found just what we were looking for. the added bonus is that they are only about 40 min from us.

The guy there is great to work with and we are going to drive down at some point, try a few out and then decide which one to get.

Thanks again.

WE finally got a bugler for our troop. He can do the call/songs on his trumpet but we are looking for a bugle. We don't want to drop an arm and leg. Any suggestions?

Thanks for the info, that's kind of what I'm getting from the parents. The strange part is that they "discovered" that as JW they couldn't belong after they had been in the troop for 2 years and in Cubs for 3years. Go figure!

I don't want to offend anyone here but this came up at a recent meeting.

WE had a Scout who had missed several meetings. His patrol leader called to see if he needed a ride or if there was something else going on at the same time,etc.

the boy said that he could not be a Scout anymore because his family was Jehovahs witness and they did not believe in patroitism and the Pledge. Mind you this family have been in the Troop for several years and "just found this out." There is no way this kid is coming back but we are all just curious about if this is true about their beliefs. Any insights would help.

John in KC

Thanks for the web link. It looks great and has tons of info. I'll pass it along.

We have a Scout who would like to be the Chapains Aid. I don't have a problem with it as I'm sure he will do a great job and be very responsible. The problem is, is that our Troop Chaplain just moved and no one wants to take over the spot. So can we have a Chaplains Aid without a Troop Chaplain?

Thanks

we should just start a new topic just for these kind of events.

Our guys did someting simular in a large cardboard box usually used for garbage. they used the table top grill and took the grate off and used that to hold the turkey about 18' off the coals.

used the bottom for the caols and put the chips in a #10 can in the center for the smoke. Best turkey I've had in years.

IKA= Internationale Kochlunst Ausstellung

AKA. the Culinary Olympics

10 pts for taste

10pts for originality

10 for presentation

10 for sanitation/teamwork

We then break those catagories down as in Sanitation. Did the patrol handle the food properly? Did all Patrol members have a job and work together?

Originality is fairly straight forward. Did they try something new and push themselves? Not just the usual Mac and Cheese.

HTH

Our troop made some years ago(before we joined) I have them in my garage right now. They are 1/2" elec. conduit bolted and welded together after bending. For the webbing they bought it from Iversons in Norhtern Michigan. The binding are slices of innertube. I would search for iversons snowshows and see if they have plans also. They work good since we just got 8" of the white stuff last night I tryed them out for a short walk.

our NSP starts in late Feb. The boys have a cooking challenge campout in April. It's no holds barred compettion. As long as you can cook it over an open fire or on a camp stove it's game. Past menus included dutch oven duck with glazed apples, A full blown mid eastern meal, leg of lamb and a smoked turkey. Since the boys do all the cooking it's a great chance for the adults to hang out and show the new parents how things work.

There are prizes for all sorts of things from best overall meal to best clean up.

We use a modified IKA 40 point system.

I usually meet withthe individual patrols and help them throughthe finer points of their menu and techniques.

The famous line is "if you are going ot make a mistake, let me know first so I can stop you."

I do however like your idea of a seperate cooking campout for the NSP. It seems the troop can cook high end but just can't seem to get pancakes right.

I have to jump in on this one. Being a professional Chef the temptation to cook is great. I was told early on to just step away and come cook with the adult patrol. IT was a little hard to break away but I learned quick. Now I will just walk by when the boys are cooking and give the a quick lesson on proper method etc. I can smell a burnt pancake from 100 yards out. we infoem the parents at their orientation meeting that the boys do it all and it's hands off. Adults camp together and eat together except once a year when the boys cook for us and we cook for them.

WE just did Scout night at the Minor league hockey game this weekend.

Considering there is no hockey we had a great turnout and a good time. the fans were under control and there was only one fight by the players in the 1st.

We invited our local Webelos to come along. Made a great recruiting tool since we picked up the ticket for the Webelos.

I don't think we would go to a Major league game however due to cost and fans being out of control.

We want to get our troop trailer repainted. We found someone who will do it for a great price. Only issue is he wants to put a small thing like "painted by Joe's body shop" on the corner of the trailer. I don't have a problem but someone thought there my be issue with BSA policy. If there is someone let me know.

Thanks

I've got one now but would be interested in a second if the price was right and in an extra large

I thought it was when your plans for remodeling the bathroom was mainly composed of digging a deeper hole?

Isn't that a Jeff Foxworthy joke?

here's a few ideas.

First avoid treated chips and dust.

Try your local lumber yard and I mean lumber yard not big box store. if they cut alot of wood that's non treated they should have a pile by the table saw. Also if they do mill work.

other ideas.

Local schools wood shop

furniture makers(we got chips from one near us that were all mahogany)

check with adults who are into wood working.

BTW if you get chips froma jointer,planer or router they are better than sawdust.

HTH

Out of habit I put up the Scout sign at a noisy staff meeting one day. About half the people knew what to do. the others figured it out. Now we use it to start every meeting. Freaks out the area director when he visits since he is the only one who doesn't get it.

there is an O/A Ordeal coming up soon and several of the Scouts in our Troop are going. I have gotten calls from several parents saying they heard there was a certain amount of hazing involved. I have tried to assure them that there is no such thing and hazing would not be tolerated. They site the quote by one of the older O/A members who said "you're going to it when I see you at Ordeal."

What to do, if anything. BTW I'm going along to help with the projects.