dg98adams

This is not a new problem, and I agree with Shortridge, but one I think you can work out, but it's a little painful in the beginning.

IMO, when the Scouts (not kids) have a task that is within their skill level, assuming a more experienced Scout (not adult Scouter) is guiding them (and not doing it for them), do not let anyone else "do the task" for them to "just get it done, so we can go to the next thing".

The entire Patrol may have to "sit and wait" for them to complete the task. If this impacts the Patrol participation activity, then so be it.

These Scouts have figured out (or manipulated the others) that if they don't expend the effort, some one else will eventually do it for them.

I call it the "little brother syndrome" - my little brother was a Master and I facilitated it because I would do it for him to keep him and me out of trouble.

In fact, the more this happens (and works for them) the less they are willing to do.

If you hold to this idea in Troop/Patrol meetings and any outing, the "less than motivated" Scouts will get the idea they can't just wait for some one else to do it. And will either get with the program or seek happiness elsewhere.

Missing the next thing (or fun thing) because not doing the current task has to be a consequence.(This message has been edited by dg98adams)(This message has been edited by dg98adams)

Been there, done that, got the T-shirt to prove it.

Canceling is part of the problem.

Last minute participants with or without registration is part of the problem.

Scheduling training against other council events is a problem.

Here's some things our council does.

NEVER Cancel Training - 1 participant "it's on". Might have to mod food/instructors (if part of the program).

Go out to units for training days (smaller but experienced training staff)- target IOWLS/IOLS/BALOO/YPT/LEADER SPECIFIC

Lump training in 2 weekends a year (still separate courses) - IOLS/IOWLS/BALOO(I personally think this does not work well).

And most important get training dates out on the council calender early and leverage Unit Commissioners to deliver the training opportunities/message constantly.

I chair our councils Northern Tier Merit Badge Trail Drive and here's my take on how I manage the drives portion of the same process. Additions marked with **.

Scout has interest.

Scout gets counselor contact info from scoutmaster.

** Scouts choose MB's/(MBC is fixed) from offered session/schedule

Scout contacts counselor.

Scout goes to first meeting with counselor and buddy.

** Scout attends 3 sessions (2 weeks apart) with ~10-15 other Scouts

**MBC's collect that sessions Blue Cards.

Scout does work.

Scout shows his completed work to counselor.

** all work is still done on individual basis, full participation in discussion where it says "discuss with..." is required or no credit is extended - I ask the MBC to keep track)

Counselor signs off blue card.

** if completed

Counselor gets part of blue card,

** if completed

** the unit leader gets a print out of all that unit individual Merit Badge requirements (completed or not) for every session of every Scout in the unit that attended. And Scouts get back all cards (or 2 parts of a 3 part completed card).

** a record of the entire event is saved for future reports if needed (and has been).

..scout gets part of blue card, unit gets part of blue card.

** if completed otherwise Scout gets entire card.

Unit records the completion, gets patch, presents to scout.

Repeat 20 more times...(This message has been edited by dg98adams)

Why not keep it simple.

Take a tent/personal gear and you and your son stay and camp.

Most any Troop would invite you over to share a campsite or fire.

I would keep it low key and not try to stage a coup or make a fuss.

But I don't think I could resist getting the gear out and setting up my tent when I got there and answering all questions with "my son and I are staying to camp".

Are you asking as a Merit Badge Counselor and Parent or not?

The reason I ask, is that's the only people that can make the call.

To complete Req. #7 and #8 as long as the program spans 12 weeks, and is APPROVED by the COUNSELOR/PARENTS any stops/starts would become integral to the analyzed portion and could possibly effect the meaning and benefit of said program and mark no improvement (which reads to be show improvement), but IMO there is nothing there that says it invalidates it or the Scout must do it consecutively.

For reference only....

#7 Outline a comprehensive 12-week physical fitness program using the results of your fitness tests. Be sure your program incorporates the endurance, intensity, and warm-up guidelines discussed in the Personal Fitness merit badge pamphlet. Before beginning your exercises, have the program approved by your counselor and parents.

#8 Complete the physical fitness program you outlined in requirement 7. Keep a log of your fitness program activity (how long you exercised; how far you ran, swam, or biked; how many exercise repetitions you completed; your exercise heart rate; etc.). Repeat the aerobic fitness, muscular strength, and flexibility tests every two weeks and record your results. After the 12th week, repeat all four tests, record your results, and show improvement in each one. Compare and analyze your preprogram and postprogram body composition measurements. Discuss the meaning and benefit of your experience, and describe your long-term plans regarding your personal fitness.

That's a no, otherwise it would be, "feel free to use as many weeks of long-term camp"....

Okay that's snarky, and I apologize.

But really. whatever camping done long term (i.e. week long of summer camp, Jambo, hi-adventure, etc...), the most days/nights you could possibly read into that would be 7, since a week is 7 days long.

This has been rehashed several times.

When it was done in the Pack when I was Cub Master, we used paper plates and hand-full sized pile of whipped cream... several "pies" per can if I remember.

In fact, the smaller 5" "cake plates" work good for the small cub hands anyway.

I'm sure we could buy a BB gun and a bow and arrow. Of course, is exactly what my Tiger Cub wants me to do, and he's even pointed out how they could be used in self-defense for the inevitable bigfoot attack.

Sure you could do that, and I did for my son (he has 2 .22 rifles and NRA sharpshooter at 50 feet, before he was 10) ... but you can only earn BB and Archery belt loops at a BSA Camp event where accepted Safety Range officers conduct the activity. Packs are not authorized to run ANY shooting event on their own.

And Cubs usually go to "Day Camp", Resident camp usually means day and night and can involve a more defined Medical form (Doctor) if it exceeds 72 continuous hours.

I'd like to see what you put together.. please.

83Eagle

I experienced the same thing when I was CM several years ago with my vapor-like, UC. Now, I am a UC for a couple Troops, a Crew and a Pack, and now the UC is being utilized more. The UC assigned to my old pack tried to hang on and keep doing (which was nothing) what he was thought he was supposed to be doing, and the old DC let him. The new DC increased the UC staff, helped the liven UC involvement in RT and the units. I believe all the units are better for it and appreciate the "friend to the unit" at more than just recharter time.

Roles the Commissioner Plays

A commissioner plays several roles, including friend, representative, unit "doctor," teacher, and counselor.

The commissioner is a friend of the unit. Of all their roles, this one is the most important. It springs from the attitude, "I care, I am here to help,what can I do for you?"

The commissioner is a representative of the BSA, and your local council, but he's on there for your unit first.

The commissioner is a unit "doctor." When problems arise, and they will even in the best unit, they act quickly. They observe symptoms, diagnose the real ailment, prescribe a remedy, and follow up on the patient. They don't dictate... and waiting till called about a problem is often too late.

The commissioner is a teacher. Where it counts mostas an immediate response to a need to know. That is the best adult learning situation since the lesson is instantly reinforced by practical application of the new knowledge.

The commissioner is a counselor. As a Scouting counselor, they will help units solve their own problems. Everyone can use help from time to time, even experienced leaders.

I usually get a Den meeting, Leader meeting, Committee Meeting, Troop meeting or Crew Meeting in for each unit once a month and log that visit via Unit Visit Tracking.

dg98adams

(This message has been edited by dg98adams)(This message has been edited by dg98adams)

My ASM patch fits fine on my Centennial shirt sleeve pocket.. my Unit Commissioner patches are on the previous style shirts. I just measured the Unit Commissioner patch and they are the same size.

As an aside... and outside the scope of the intention of the question... but stood out.

POR = Position of Responsibility refers to a youth leadership position... Unit Commissioner is an adult position.

It's not cheap but my kids had a blast. My inlaws live near there.

I think there's a Scout camp down close to Homosassa.

http://www.weekiwachee.com/

I'm feeling "philosophical" this morning (a good $5 word my mom used to say).

Good thing about Scouting, Scout leaders don't have to make change happen, just lay the logs and show someone how to light the fire.

Sometimes the fire starts right away and burns bright, and sometimes all you get is embers, and just as often as not it can't be made to burn.

I'd say it's reasonable to say many will never know how long that bright fire burns, or if that ember ever caught fire or the unlit fire stayed out.

Best recommendation is to enjoy the warmth of the fires you helped create and keep your matches dry.

This one is 5 Gallon... but not orange...

But this one is 10 Gallon and IS orange..

http://www.partycentral.org/images/rentals/cooler.jpg

But buying concentrated drink mix in the 1 gallon container (1:5 mix with water) is what the Troop and pack buy.(This message has been edited by dg98adams)

In my limited experience, the units led like that or similar to that with husband/wife (CM/CC/COR/TREASURER, SM/CC/COR/TREASURER) that I know, have problems keeping both Adults and youth involved most times because they have too much control and it throttles any changes (or perceived threats) to the regime.

If the Parents get it documented it is a medical/psychological issue, then you can go from there... until then, I don't believe there's anything to pursue with council.

If you are taking other Webelos (likely), then I would (and did).

We give up sales because of Food Allergies/diabetes/etc/ ... is there a non-food object that can be sold/offered at the same time? First Aid kit/Flag/??

Ask about credit card readers/phones. A couple local packs made 25-30% extra this tear using them (trial use).

(This message has been edited by dg98adams)

Unless the US Army is training recruits to use

air rifle and archery targets

I'd image that's a MWR range on/off the base for non-military use.

The other

building two obstacles for the Military Police working dogs

Jill,

Don't know what you were expecting.... Recruiter Patch in Cub Scouting != something too complicated.

John has the right idea... except maybe to get the "new Cub" up there too. Maybe use that opportunity to show the Pack, how this Cub is "Helping the Pack Go"... you could even have the Cub receiving the patch launch into the cub Scout Promise....

(This message has been edited by dg98adams)

Our Troop went WW Rafting a couple years ago.

We only took swimmers and worked it into the Canoeing Mb and the Kayak award.

1st time for many. Awesome memories, good luck.

There is a Merit Badge Requirements app as well as a Scout-1st Class ranks tracker...

I use the calender and Notes a lot for Scout info... & keeping track of who went and what got done.

I can't keep track of anything written down.... once it's on the Ipod, & it gets snyced, I can manage it.

I made a Pioneer-stlye fringed cover to "disguise it" on our primitive outings.

French Toast ingredients... 3-4 eggs (powdered if you want), bread (who cares if it freezes), powdered milk, pepper, bottle of water + baggie to mix the coating.

Personally, I would go with powdered eggs/milk in the gallon size baggie. All you gotta do is add water, squish it, drop sliced pieces of the bread in the mixing bag.

Syrup if so inclined... personally I like Jelly.

I'm a CPAP user and an ASM in my son's Troop. Skinny guys use 'em too (I'm not in that category).

I can do with or without it. Although, without I can snore the roof, er... top of the tent off.

There are some CPAPS with batteries or if you are a hard core, you can lug a 12v battery/power charger-thingy.

I saw a Scouter lug his to the dining hall to recharge it after 4 days at summer camp.

I look for these items for a GP Scout knife.

Locking blade if over 2"

High-impact plastic/wood handle

No outer screws (they always come loose), just pins or rivets.

A 1/8" hole at the rear for some kind of cord/ring. If they get used to attaching the cord to the belt loop, it's not as easy to loose.

Spend no more than you are comfortable loosing, but get the best quality at that price range.

I carry 3 knives. A leatherman multi tool (used the most), a buck 3-1/2 folder probably too big for real use but i like the Buffalo horn handle), and a small Victory 2 blade pen knife.... best one to whittle fine detail.

I also put a shine on an old Scout fixed blade knife (~4-1/2 inch blade) that I have a fringed neck sheath for.

I probably paid $4 for it years ago. It's not stainless steel but holds an edge.