Cutter

Eamonn,

I was the first one done with the ticket in my course, by about 2 weeks, and when I wrote the ticket I thought it would take at least a year to complete. There was some luck involved and things/opportunities came a long to finish faster than anticipated. Also, I took a long time to recover from some surgery and was able to work on my ticket a lot more than others. Having that extra time really helped with the ticket but I'm not sure I would recommend it a method for completion. BTW the injury occurred on a scouting backpacking trip. I'm pretty sure I put enough thought into my vision and mission. Anyway, there are a lot of factors that go into completing the ticket other than how many months it takes to finish.

Congratulations, now it's time to apply what you've learned. I recieved mine in February, C-33-04 was my course. I used to be an Owl.

Cutter

I am having trouble getting in too. Is it case sensetive or is there a trick. I have tried various ways of typing the admonition.

Congratualtions

Having worked with both LDS and non-LDS troops, I think you need to get all of your leadership (youth and adult) through basic training.

If you are in the new Northern Star Council, they are offering an LDS frindly, no Sunday camping, Wood Badge course this fall, for those that qualify, and offered an NYLT course that was LDS friendly last summer and may do so again next year.

Check with your Bishop and stake on fund raising. What is permitted seems to vary by Ward or Stake. There may be some stake or ward money devoted to setting up a troop since this is the young men's program. In fact, a good discussion with the Bishop may help avoid some issues in the future. Some seem to want to have a lot of involvement and control and others may let the troop function more on their own.

When I first became a commissioner and had some LDS troops, I read as much as I could about how the church works with scouts. Check this website LDSScouting.org and the church literature on scouting. It is fairly well written and, though a little vague at times, is fairly useful.

Good luck

I am registered at the District and Troop level but I only get one card (if I am lucky and keep asking for it). I was told that you get a card for your primary position, district, and that the troop would not be sent one to distribute.

From a practical standpoint the neckerchief has few really good uses. It is hot in the summer, gets in the way, woggles are always getting lost and it gets in the food at meals. Some of them are too small to be used for bandages as shown in the handbook. Really, the only thing it has going for it is tradition. I have a whole bunch of them dating back to my youth. The only one I wear is my Wood Badge one with the leather woggle and I don't wear it too often.

I think that cell phones have a use on scouting activities for safety reasons but that the adult leaders are the only ones that should have them. Last year, our troop was on a backpacking trip and I slipped crossing a stream and shatterd my knee and broke the tibia too. One leader had a cell phone and was able to contact search and rescue. While I was prepared to stay on the trail for a couple of days while the troop hiked out, getting a hold of search and rescue was better. This is what the phone was used for and it is a proper use. This summer, I was on NYLT staff and we had a few cell phones for the staff. We used them to call parents for illness reasons and to communicate with the council office about logistical issues (missing T-shirts, certificates, etc.) The phones mostly stayed in the cars until needed. When participants asked me to use the phone, I would tell them it was back at the parking lot and they did not want to walk to the car to get it.

As far as other entertainment electronics like Gameboys, I don't think they belong in Scout camp. When they first came out I remember listening to one most of the night on a campout. A radio with the leaders to get weather reports is OK but that's about it in my book.

I think that cell phones have a use on scouting activities for safety reasons but that the adult leaders are the only ones that should have them. Last year, our troop was on a backpacking trip and I slipped crossing a stream and shatterd my knee and broke the tibia too. One leader had a cell phone and was able to contact search and rescue. While I was prepared to stay on the trail for a couple of days while the troop hiked out, getting a hold of search and rescue was better. This is what the phone was used for and it is a proper use. This summer, I was on NYLT staff and we had a few cell phones for the staff. We used them to call parents for illness reasons and to communicate with the council office about logistical issues (missing T-shirts, certificates, etc.) The phones mostly stayed in the cars until needed. When participants asked me to use the phone, I would tell them it was back at the parking lot and they did not want to walk to the car to get it.

As far as other entertainment electronics like Gameboys, I don't think they belong in Scout camp. When they first came out I remember listening to one most of the night on a campout. A radio with the leaders to get weather reports is OK but that's about it in my book.

When I was a scout we lashed a cross and hung the netting over it. Some even did two, one for each end of the bed. You might even call it a useful camp gadget.

Have fun in camp next week. I spent part of the day on Tuesday at Tomahawk near Rice Lake, WI. It was hot and humid with a few bugs. Be sure to have the scouts drink a lot of water.

I'm schedule to go to Many Points in northern MN in a few weeks with the troop. This will be the first time in about 30 years, since I was on staff at Northwoods Reservation in Lupton, MI, that I will spend more than a few days at a summer camp. I'm looking foreward to it.

I was on a NYLT staff earlier this summer and it is not too much to expect that your son should be able to run a meeting. That is covered in the course along with a lot of other leadership material. It may take awhile to implement in a troop particularly if it has a history of being adult run. I believe that adults could get a lot out of the NYLT course too. The course works well with Wood Badge and covers a lot of the same type of material. If you have been through Wood Badge for the 21st Century, the course would be very familiar. The youth staff in our course were fantastic and I highl recommend the course to the troops I work with.

I'm going to summer camp for the whole week this year for the first time since I was a scout not including when I was on camp staff while in college. I've gone a few times for part of the week but our troop usually has enough adults for coverage. I'm looking forward to it and going with my middle son for his first year.

I just received an email from a buddy that I grew up with and he mentioned the first year we were at camp at Northwoods Reservation in MI. It rained much of the time, which, I did not remember. We were Eagle scouts together, he made it before me and we keep in touch by email now. It reminded me that summer camp is a special place for the scouts. It is a chance for them to grow and learn and for the adults to let them do so. I was on staff at NYLT camp a couple of weeks ago. I think this will be good prepartion to ease back into summer camp. The trick is to let the boy's lead and stand back and watch. It's hard to do but necessary.

I believe the Stake may issue callings too. Our district has an ADC that is LDS and works with LDS troops. He has some calling in the young mens organization and his predecessor also had the same position in the Church. Recruitment of LDS unit commissioners is difficult. I tried to recruit some when our district had an open house to recruit unit commissioners and had no luck. One wood badge trained adult told me he would do it if called to. He subsequently was called to a unit leadership position. Over the years I've worked with a number of LDS and Non-LDS leaders and troops. There are clearly some differences but more similarities. Leaders in LDS troops tend to have less tenure and training but not always. Scouts tend to have less camping experiences in LDS troops. Eagles tend to be fairly young in LDS troops because the Church pushes youth to become Eagles and they graduate to Varsity and Venturing with other emphasis at 14 and 16, I think. Also, youth and adult leadership positions are called position and sometimes result in poor leaders that are not interested in scouting or have poor attendance. I've also seen LDS troops get around BSA guidlines for safe scouting by calling the activity a young man's activity and not a scouting activity. Could this contribute to the problem?

I think privately owned tents work best but some troop equipment is needed. Patrol boxes, stoves, cooking kit, cutlery kit, water coolers, ice chests, dish washing tubs,lanterns, shovels, first aid kits, twine, ax, saw and dining fly would be good for group equipment. Tents just seem to last longer if owned by an individual.

I think if you are car camping they are fine if you have the room. I don't take one personally but I don't have a problem with them if they are willing to carry and take care of them. Backpacking and canoeing are another matter. Again if they can carry them and their share of the gear, I think that is fine but if they after make more portage trips or don't have room for their share of the the equipment it is another story. I personally like to pack light and only take what is needed for the outing.

First, congratulations to you. I think you should, if you haven't already done so, run the troop junior leader training program for all of the scout leaders in your troop. It will give the boy's a feel for how a troop could be run. Send the adult leaders to Basic Leader training and if possible Wood Badge. Send the SPL to NYLT. I think if you do these things it should fall into place. Oh yeah, you have to learn to stand back and let them do it. This is the hard part. Good luck.

The troop I grew up in had several Eagle Scouts (myself included) and we typically were JASM's and part of the Senior Patrol which included the adults. We functioned as a patrol on campouts sort of setting the example. At troop meetings we often were used to help teach skill classes or do demonstrations during the meetings. On occassion we would fill in when a PL and APL were missing in patrol meetings. We also participated in the High Adventure trips during the summer where we formed a patrol/crew out of all of the patrols. The troop went to Philmont, Region 7 Canoe base, the Wind Rivers and Isle Royal as I recall although I only went to the first 2 with the troop and served as boy leader at Philmont. One of the troops I work with now has their 2 Eagles serve as JASM too and I have them teaching the new scouts this week Tenderfoot 1st aid and plan to use them in the future for other teaching assignments.

I had mine presented at the Wood Badge breakfast along with one other member of my patrol and a lot of people from the prior years course. I thought this was a good idea because I did not have to take up time at another meeting and it was already scheduled so it added about 15 seconds to the meeting. I think this is a personal choice much like an Eagle ceremony. Some are elaborate and others less so. It is really up to you.

The outward appearances of Patrol Flags and patches are not as important as the functioning of the patrol. I think it is important the the Patrol meet for 15-30 minutes at each troop meeting. The troop should conduct the troop leadership training course at least once a year for youth. PLC meetings are essential at least monthly. I think it is OK to combine patrols on outings especially on High Adventure type outing but they still should have a patrol leader on those outings to help ensure that it is boy run. Also, sending the SPL or someone to NYLT is a good idea. Wood Badge for adults is good too but the basics of the patrol method should be covered in Basic Leader training. One of the troops I currently am working with is struggling with this issue too. The resistance is more with the adults than with the boys. Adults that are untrained seem to cause a lot of the problem. I'm WB trained and a Eagle Scout and it is sometimes hard to let the boy's run the patrols/troop. One troop I worked with had a Senior Patrol with the adult leaders and boy leaders as members. The SPL acted as patrol leader and the patrol was run as a youth patrol should be. This was a good example to the scouts, kept us from getting too involved in other patrol operations and we ate better and on time. Just some thoughts.

When I went to Philmont in the 60's they issued 10X10 canvas tarps. These worked pretty well but were heavy. In college, I used to backpack on the Bruce Trail in Ontario and we used a similar size clear plastic tarp for 2 people. We carried tent stakes but not poles. The clear plastic let you see the stars at night and worked pretty well. Each person carried their own plastic ground cloth. Black flies and mosquitoes eventually drove me into a Eureka 2 man timberline after a few years.

With the troops I have worked with, I tell them that cooking implies the applicatin of heat and that is needed at every meal. With the new scout patrol, that I am currently working with, I have let them plan the menue and shop with them. I don't always like what they pick but as long as they are cooking it and they use the food pyramid it's OK. I expect them to get better before they join the next patrol. I try to have them make 1st class within a year and be adequate campers in that time so by the the time they move on they can focus on merit badges.

With the troops I have worked with, I tell them that cooking implies the applicatin of heat and that is needed at every meal. With the new scout patrol, that I am currently working with, I have let them plan the menue and shop with them. I don't always like what they pick but as long as they are cooking it and they use the food pyramid it's OK. I expect them to get better before they join the next patrol. I try to have them make 1st class within a year and be adequate campers in that time so by the the time they move on they can focus on merit badges.

I'm 53 and while age is a factor, the bigger issue is that last year while backpacking with the troop I shattered my knee crossing a river. As a result I now have a plate, 6 screws and a lot less mobility which is compenstated for by more pain. This has caused me to re-think my scouting activities. The conclusions I have come to are:

I am no longer the pack mule on trips and am getting the weight down in my pack.

Three to 4 day backpacking trips are about the limit now and nothing too rugged.

I am focused more on the new scout patrol because they do more car camping type stuff.

I will be at scout camp and NYLT rather than the Boundary Waters this year unless they really need another adult.

I am also becoming more involved in district activities than I used to be.

I think it may be time to let the younger leaders take over although if the accident did not happen, I think I would have continued to do High Adventure type stuff for another few years.

Our troop is going to the Boundary Waters for 6 days in July. I'm down as a backup but since I'm still recovering from the shattered knee obtained while crossing a stream during last years HA trip in the Black Hills, I'd rather not go this time. By next year maybe the pain will be gone and it will be more stable. I've canoed in the Boundary Waters a few times so missing it is not a big loss. Since I'm scheduled for scout camp and on staff at NYLT I should get my fill of long term camping. I also will try to get a week of flyfishing/bacpacking in WY and a trip to the Porcupines Mtn biking in before the end of summer.

I just bought a pair of Hi-Tec boots for my youngest son. They were $20 at Sportsmans Warehouse. They aren't gortex and are leather/synthetic uppers but fit him and the soles seem to be pretty good. He is a cub scout so will most likely not be doing too much hiking. I also bought a pair of REI boots for about 4-5X's as much for my oldest son going to Philmont a couple of months ago. I think boots are not a place to skimp. I have several pairs (2 Danners, Cabelas, Red Wing and Pivettas) of hiking boots not to mention Pacs, ditch boots and wading boots. Getting the fit right can be tricky and pay attention to the soles. I like a fairly aggessive sole but soles that look similar can be quite different in performance. I think it has to do with the rubber. Last summer I shattered a knee backpacking when the boots I was wearing slipped on a wet surface. The tread was fine on dry stuff but wading rivers it was real slippery. I'm not sure if another pair of boots would have prevented it but it's something to think about. Also, be sure to try them on under the load you will be carrying and in the socks you will wear. I have another pair of boots that worked fine backpacking in the Big Horns but I had terrible blisters on a 20 mile hike with no load although I think it was due to the wrong socks.