Cutter

Congratulations I used to be an Owl

There seems to be a lot of confusion about this but the Handbook is quite clear. Neckerchief, cap or campaign hats are optional,pp 12-13. I was in the local scout shop and was told the "Indiana Jones" style hat with the BSA pin is considered offical but I don't think it is. They want the staff of a training to wear them so I needed to buy one.

I can't argue too much with the scout knife. It is a classic and I use mine all the time. But when weight becomes an issue backpacking I take the tinkerer. Car camping or on weekend trips the BSA knife is great. Also the Swiss Army is red which makes it easy to find although the Scout Utility knife is too. I bought one for my middle son and he seems to like it.

I've heard that the flame on alchol stoves is hard to see particularly in the daylight. A friend of mine suggested putting something in it, copper sulfate I think, to make the flame more visable. I know a guy that uses alchol stoves when he ultra light backpacks and thinks they work great. I use an old SVEA 123 most of the time but recently purchased an MSR pocket rocket after seeing one in action on a cold rain soaked backpacking trip last summer. It may become my stove of choice for scouts since it is so easy to operate. My son has a Whisperlight which is OK but takes a lot of tinkering

I think this is a fairly common practice around where I live. I am doing a version of it with my son that lacks one required merit badge and is 16. He has the project done. I've not seen it to be very effective in getting him going but I think he will eventurally finish. He has enough merit badges but needs physical fitness. We live about 2 blocks from the high school and within walking distance to shopping, etc. so he does not need to drive. I occassionally ask him how it is going and he always says "I'm working on it" but I've been hearing this for over a year so I don't think much is

While I like my BSA Ulster knife purchased as a scout, I think the most useful knife I own is the Victronix Tinkerer (either version) and BSA sells one too. This knife has all the tools you usually need and is lighter than the standard BSA knife for backpacking. It can often be found for about $20 in the standard model. While scissors are nice my experience is that they don't hold up too well. I agree that sheath knifes are not very useful in scouting. Hunting/fishing different stories although I tend to use a pocket knife then too.

When I was a scout in the 60's, they had the jac-shirt and a red poplin jacket that were official. The jacket was (in my opinion) more practical than the jack-shirt. I am on my second jac-shirt. The first one I got after going to Philmont and I had the Bull, OA back patch and Region 7 Canoe Base patches on it. It came with an Explorer patch for the pocket not a BSA patch. The current one if void of any patches but I may put the Bull on it at some point. I also had an official poncho that I took to Philmont but I think I got it before I went. It was dark green rubberized cloth as I r

I live in Minnesota and I think the 20 degree recommendation and a mummy style bag makes a lot of sense. I just went through this with my youngest son and spent about $80 on a Slumberjack Ultimate(?)which would fit the criteria. We now have 4 Slumberjacks in the family and they seem to work well. I have a Sierra Design and a North Face that is about 30 years old and still works but is a little heavy compared to current models. I would go with an adult size. The 20 degree models work well here most of the year except for about 8-10 weeks when it can get really cold then you need a second s

Congratualtion I recieved mine a couple of weeks ago. I was told I was the first in my class but one of the other in my patrol got his at the same ceremony and was a couple of weeks behind me. We received ours at the WB breakfast and the others were from prior classes. Cutter Owl C-33-04

Yes, I think I am. I am not the most active member. I attend the Conclave and maybe another meeting and that is about it. My son was troop rep for awhile and he goes to the monthly district meetings most months even though he is no longer the troop rep. It is at the same time and place as the roundtable, which I attend. I am the only active adult member in the troop so I go to the Ordeals to be an adult for the candidates from our troop.

I recently received my beads. I think you will really enjoy the experience. I would suggest getting busy on your ticket items as soon as you finish the course. I would develop a plan for completing the items and then work the plan to get finished. I find that what I learned in the course is useful in my job too. Have fun in the course above all,

Congratulations

Congratulations It sounds like a nice ceremony. Cutter

I really think it is up to you when you wear it. It is my understanding that you can wear the Gillwell tartan or your troop neckerchief until you are beaded. Wearing the Gillwell tartan is supposed to remind you to finish the ticket. I wore mine a few times but our troop does not wear neckerchiefs so I really only wore it at district or council events and to my beading ceremony. Now what do I do with it?

I had one of those dard green ponchos when I was a scout in the 60's. They did not hold up very well and were heavy. Mine eventually tore. I used it on a couple of Philmont trips though. I retired it for a lighter nylon Poncho. I also had one of those Jac-Shirts for awhile but they also made a red cloth jacket that was popular. The leggings/spats were still available when I started scouts and my handbook had a picture of a scout with them on. I think some troops must have used them. I think when they redisgned the uniform they were eliminated about that time but I don't know fo

We will be Backpacking in the Black Hills in June for a few days and maybe do a trip on the Superior Hiking Trail in August too.