croushorn

In our Troop, camping is a major part of our program. We balance it with mainly tent and only two cabin campouts so that a Scout cant get away with that. Maybe you all need to cut back some on your cabin camping to head that off? Its lots cheaper too!

I would assume this is an older Scout? I wouldnt worry about a younger one too much unless hes trying to shortcut some of his advancement requirements. But as he gets up there in rank he needs to be active to perform his POR and part of that would include tent camping. One leads into another. (OA eligibility, Camping MB.) The next time he steps up for a POR, a meeting between him, SPL & SM/ASM, would be warranted to make sure he realizes this commitment. If he grins and bears it and does what is expected, so be it. If he wont then he needs replaced and advancement stops until he changes his mind. His decision.

>> Joe Biden but at least I believe he has enough experience to draw upon that he wouldn't be in way over his head if something happened and he had to step into the job.

SMT224: please tell us this is tongue in cheek? You really think the GOP is condoning teen pregnancies?

>> Well, it isn't often possible to conclusively disprove an Internet rumor, but I guess Governor Palin did it.

Lisa If Palin were the Republican nominee for President your comparisons would be dead on.

>>forcing him to clarify and further develop his understanding and views on issues.

Talk to the SM or CC of your Troop. With allowing only one adult nomination per year, it can be a tough choice as to who gets that one nomination. They may already have one or two people in mind for the upcoming year. Its a tough decision, we struggle with it annually.

Please note I said nomination. There is a committee within the lodge that selects the adults to be tapped out from the list of nominees. Each lodge handles this differently - it may be a rubber stamp to all nominees or they only select a number of the best nominees.

No way go along with this! If you want to stay in the Pack, explain why and that you'll join the group on Friday eve and be leaving Sunday.

Are the leaders able to schedule their work around this schedule? That would knock out a majority of my leaders, parents and drivers...

That is not the norm in any way for a program to run.

Sheeze, a lot of us wore those shorts and grew up just fine.... at least I think so....

We separate lodge adults and youth to prevent the helicopters from going into mode. Not afraid to step up and point this out to them either. Most will respect that action instead of talking behind the back, like how you heard about it. I would ask your source if anyone had the stones to say anything to him? Shame on them for not. Dont let gossip taint a great organization, there may be more to the story than either of you know.

At an ordeal a bunch of youth members didnt get up in time for breakfast. By the time they rolled in to the dining hall they werent happy about it. Had a father get in my grill about it. I said they wont make that mistake again, will they? And they didnt. Simple cause and effect lessons.

Another ordeal I was Elangomat for our adult candidates. At a period where we were taking a break from our silence requirement, I was talking to them about the bigger picture lessons and the approach we adults take in our lodge. One started complaining about the disorganization of the weekend and how things should be done. Had it already all figured out. Reminders about being boy lead, then offered to introduce him to the Ordeal master so that he could help plan future ordeals. Invited him to join us at the next LEC where we adults arent allowed to talk unless the Chief has us on his agenda. He started getting it after that and has been a great advisor since.

If taking part in Indian ceremonies doesnt appeal to you, dont assume it wont to the boys. Its our best recruiting tool and when done right, there isnt much better. (Not sure how much more fire we can put into our ceremonies!). Dont relegate their importance and possible benefit to the youth.

There are things in Scouting that Im not so keen on either, but as a leader encourage the boys to make their own decisions with an open mind. Attitudes are infectious, both good and bad. Ours went from one extreme to the other within a few short years just because some of us adults decided it would. Give it a chance and make your own opinion. If it isnt what you think it should be, like everything else, help to make it better.

Another testament:

Elected in 1978, somewhat active in the OA. Was a young Eagle that lost the interest in Scouts after the challenge was gone. A great fellowship, a lot of fun, a lot of gratifying work, a lot of friends. But regretfully ignored numerous invitations to join the executive committee. Instead dedicated my year round time to a sport that in the end only left me with damaged shoulders and broken dreams of scholarships. Uncle Sam was my way to college, and that effective ended my involvement with Scouting right after HS.

Fast forward 15 years when my Cub is approaching Webs. I get back in the Scouting side and am shocked to find that I don't even recognize my old lodge, flat and no fun anymore. I almost give up on the OA again, but a new lodge advisor comes in, invigorates us and it all opens up again. Some of my dearest friends from childhood come back, plus many new ones that are spreading the excitement. Ive been able to work with some of the most incredible young men; those that had nothing left in Scouting to prove, but they wanted to work on camp staff, they wanted to be in ceremonies, they want to go to Conclaves and NOAC, they wanted to go to ArrowCorps5, community work days, camp work days, camp projects we helped them. We have guys staying active that are long past their Eagle and would otherwise be long gone onto girls and jobs. Guys Ive been blessed to know that without OA would never have been part of my Scouting experience.

My son was more interested in playing his three sports than he was Scouts. It was all I could do to get him to hang on until he was voted into the OA. Even after a year of prodding him to get involved and run for an office was still being no fruit until one night the Chief asked him to be on one of the ceremonial teams. Then it all changed. He has made close friends from rival schools, has worked harder than ever, played even harder, has been surrounded with some of the most incredible young men and role models Ive ever seen. He has learned about applying leadership in ways he never could when he was SPL. He has more fun and more challenges than he ever could have gotten with the troop. He deals regularly with many great Scouters he never wouldve known otherwise. He will finally finish his Eagle project this winter almost as an afterthought. He wants to finish it just to get it out of the way (!). Hes lined up to do more camp staff next summer and the following already. He loves camp staff and he loves ceremonies, looking to NOAC, Jambo, and OAOA. For a kid that didnt like talking in front of his troop, he now bellows out Allowats lines with pride and emotion that cant be missed. He will probably run for Chief next year. He wants to go to college in a couple years nearby so that he can stay involved. He said an interesting me to me this summer. He said that he loves the Lodge because we treat them like adults, let them see the outcome of their decisions. There they can get a break from the 11 & 12 year olds. The values and actions are consistent with the law, they get the respect and responsibility in the OA that unfortunately a lot of troops wont trust them with. He was a little disappointed at ArrowCorps when unknown adult leaders tried to treat them like young Scouts again.

I cant say enough about what the OA has done for my son, he has gone so much further than I ever couldve imagined. We have more Vigil selections from our troop over the past three years than we had in the prior 50. These guys flourish to the OA long after the Troop has become routine. I keep telling them there is so much more to Scouting than what happens within our Troop, they just need to open their eyes and go try something. Its working because of things like the OA as a stepping stone to those further adventures. I think those that are not in the OA are missing a major part of the Scouting lessons.

(This message has been edited by Ursus Snorous Roarus)

The ECOH is still a Troop function, regardless of where it is held. I cant believe any reasonable parent wouldnt understand this premise. If a separate celebration is to be held, then it needs to be separate. On the announcement or invitation list the start and end time for the ECOH. Then the private party can ensue afterwards. But I think you all are asking for trouble here and would encourage all leaders to leave at the appropriate time.

Right, its not about me. Its about my son, 16, who is up and coming in the lodge. Hes considering running for Chief next year. He loves the OA and has taken on many great things Scouting has made available to him as an older Scout. Im hoping I can take at least one more Arrowman as well to spread the experience. I guess Im looking for some fodder to help justify the cost, the drive, the weekend away from the family. Juggling the troops camping schedule to accommodate. Its the usual issues, the wife wonders where my priorities are!

Found this post in the archives. It was passed onto me and I did it for one of my 'special' Eagles last summer. It is a beautiful knife and would highly recommend it.

>>Do you think there's a conservative mother who might want to adopt Trig?

I do wonder if they'll kick him out.

Good thing our CC doesn't keep our trailer at his house; more than once he'd be upset at me digging around at odd hours!

Don't forget these arrangements need to be convenient for all and sustainable after your CC moves on. I think we've talked about this before: try and find a local storage yard that will give you a space for the write-off or in trade for an annual good turn project.

I really like the idea of NLD - wheel lock or find something unmovable to chain it to, maybe both! We park ours in front of our storage barn at our Church, plain view for all from a nearby state highway. We only use a latch paddlock and a tounge padlock though. I am reconsidering burying some kind of concrete anchor for ours.

Interesting how much even THIS part differs from troop to troop:

Had a Scout ask me after opening Tuesday night if I could sit with him to review his proposal. After closing, the CC and I sat down, listened to the Scout explain what he wants to do and we threw a few questions at him while we were reading his proposal write up. We both signed. Now hes off and running. Only took about 20 minutes, no big effort. I guess I can see some benefits to having the presentation come before the full committee, and I'm all for maximizing the learning process on a kid's trail to Eagle.

Is the committee way more prevalent than what I just described? The more I think on it, I like the idea.

I'll probably get pasted for this, but here's how I'd handle it:

If he's just coming for the evening, no problem.

If he's going to stay for all or most of the two days, then he needs to register with both.

A cat and mouse game. Creative folks find creative ways to continue honoring their members.

Fantastic! What a challenge you have taken on - and thank you doing it!

I've got one - why did national do away with individual honors? Oh yeah... we're all Arrowmen... we're all equal, aren't we... kumbya....

>> Some folks just won't camp without massive amounts of gear

We are actually trying to resurrect the patch trading in our lodge, been lost over the years due to past Advisors that didnt do much with it. Speaking of that, starting to see some NOAC fundraisers around

Anytime we can get a kid talking about flaps, he is talking about OA, our lodge, our history. Some kids wear different flaps because they glow in the dark, change colors in the sun, because they just like them. As long as it isnt a spoof and it gets them talking OA & Scouting weve done a good thing, right??

Just out of curiosity, I would ask him why he wants to wear a patch to an event he didnt attend? He may have a very good reason. I wouldnt stop it.

I have guys wearing flaps we issued for last NOAC as a fundraiser, but they didnt attend. Seems a little odd, but its a flap from the lodge. So why not?

Actually I do wear a flap on my shirt from our lodge that was issued before I was tapped out, back in the day. Reason is it was given to me by someone when I finished my Ordeal that I had a great deal of respect for.

Am being encouraged to go to NLS this fall. Anyone have any insight they can provide?