dg98adams

I was at Barnes & Nobels bookstore 2 days before christmas and there were 2 Boy Scouts, 2 sisters (GS Cadets) and 2 moms that had a "free gift wrapping station". A donation jar was out, but no direct solicitation for the donation. The boys swapped in & out from singing carols to wrapping books (as the line allowed). As an ASM in a Troop in a nearby town I was interested, and I wanted as closer look. It also turned out I wanted to get some books I bought wrapped. The boys were raising $ for them to go to Philmont and had a small poster next to the donation jar. From the line I would say they were fairly successful. I observed: #1 - Good fund raiser as the estimated $ of wrapping paper used per customer was significantly less than the amount I saw donated per customer and the need they filled wrapping gifts was appreciated. I had 3 books wrapped and I dropped a $5 in the jar, guessing ~75% profit. #2 - the boys were warm and secure. #3 Any unused paper/tape could be shelved for next year.

I have a green/black one the same as this one. (This message has been edited by dg98adams)

A DC position is an excellent way for a new Scout (at least Tenderfoot rank) to start a "leadership toolbox", especially if he took to it like you describe. I would encourage him to extend that toolbox, instead of reusing it. Maybe he should take on the POR as Instructor, and help one of the newly minted Scouts with becoming a replacement Den Chief while he finishes his year of DC service earning the DC award. If the DC position gets too comfortable, the other Scouts won't be likely see his accomplishments and elect him for other positions.

Condolences. Remember in Scouting, you never walk the PATH alone. There are: those that have trod where you now trod, those that will follow your trail, And those that walk beside us LNT, except in our heart. And as a Dad....let me help keep his spirit for you. Son, button your shirt pocket...& XYZPDQ No we aren't there yet, keep climbing... yes, I have an extra necker slide... And yeah, that was a good campfire. Yours in Scouting DG (This message has been edited by dg98adams)(This message has been edited by dg98adams)

I have accepted descriptives, pictures, shed snake skins, parts of frogs (yech), small animal bones/skull, gnawed acorns. Pictures of local animals where the scout described somethin about where they can be found, what they eat, tracks, etc.... I will not accept just the names of the animals and the "deer in the headlight look" when I ask them about the "list".

Active? If they are registered...fine. Really I'd like to see more units hold the SCOUTS in the Troop to the POR they hold. Can't do the job = removal & loss of any further credit to POR. If they can prepare & inform an assistant who will be there and follow-up after, seems reasonable they can fulfill the POR. Might not work if that continues to be the "norm", then the assistant should get credit and the actual should be removed. If they aren't active they won't likely do outings, campouts, etc... and may have to look elsewhere to pickup the opportunity for advancement. If they don't fulfill the role of the POR they certainly can't pass STAR/LIFE. If they were active, and fulfill the POR and come back as a "deathbed Eagle" with a project or a final MB to complete shortly before 18, the phrase "the lack of planning on your part is NOT an emergency on my part" comes to mind. I would provide reasonable assistance like I would to any Scout, but I would not cut any corners or "push" anything thru.

When my son was younger Scout he was not likely to wear his Scout stuff to school...I always said to him if he got razzed, was to ask the razzer "when was the last time you ever took an canoe trip, went hiking on the Appalachian trail or went white water rafting"..........it must work to shut a razzer up. He is a Computer geek-gamer. He's a seasoned Star Scout now, and I see him wearing the Merit Badge Trail Drive T-shirt to school a lot. I designed it, and borrowed heavily from a cool buffalo design with a concert-style list on the back. He has the 1-off sample. He also wears the Venturing T-shirt as well. Both are subdued, but obviously "Scouting". I think those that know him know he is a Scout and those that don't he is not too worried about. It helps that he is hitting his growth spurt (size 12 shoes and grew 5-6 inched this year in height). It's interesting in how it all is working out.

Is there a list of members/moderators and didn't the site require profile info a while back?(This message has been edited by dg98adams)

We listened to it in our District RT meeting. Eh! We did pick up 3 AT&T & 3 IPOD advert/endorsements! :~) Other than that, I was not really impressed listening to an audio broadcast on an Internet connection. We might as well have been using a transistor radio for crying out loud. I would have rather seen video segments of past Jamborees on Youtube with the audio in the background. I bet hardly any scout would sit still to "listen" to it.

IMHO Webelos shouldn't be doing "homework". That's what school is for. Webelos should be doing stuff in the den, but if you send homework home, that's where "Akela" (at least for tiger to bear was). The AWDL/WDL needed to start focusing on Webelos-centric activities with other Webelos and the Webelos Den Leader at the beginning of the Webelos I program not at the end of the Webelos II program. Does the AWDL/WDL understand the transition program?(This message has been edited by dg98adams)

In the Troop I serve, unformed leaders also pay their own way, that's just the nature of the game, and it is a game. Dues just went from $50 per year to $65 because of the new BSA hike.

I'm kinda infamous with sarcasm, sometimes I tone it down..... but sometimes it is accompanied by a "deer-in-the-headlight-look". Mom: Is he supposed to wear his Cub Scout/Troop shirt when you go camping? CM/ASM: We have a policy on naked Scouts. Mom: Should he take his uniform off to have the badges sewn on? CM/ASM: ??? (Deer-in-the-headlight-look) Mom: Won't his uniform get dirty? CM/ASM: Only if he has a good time. Mom: What about Raccoons and skunks? CM/ASM: They are not on the menu, is he allergic or just a picky eater? Mom: Will he shower at camp? CM/ASM: Yes mam, just as much as they all do.

In my experience as ADL & CM, the Cub Oath, Law and Motto was done so often, the Cubs knew it. I may have to prompt a Tiger, but by the time they were Bears 99% had it solid. So, repetition (see it, read it, say it, talk about it, play games with it) is the key when they are in the early ranks.

In the Troop I serve, they do a little of both. An ASM is responsible for Troop Master, and he prints reports which are given to the PLC (SPL/Patrol Members ~monthly). The SPL/PL are responsible for planning the program, so they make opportunities available on outings as needed. An ASM is around for each Patrol leader (when newly elected) to answer questions related to this report. It is the Scout who wants to complete advancement to tell the PL (or Troop guide/PL when NSP) when he is in need of opportunity. The NSP gets a little more direction than the other Patrols. Usually, when the Scout requests a SM conference, he has swung by the advancement ASM to match-up/update the Troop Master record of his current hand book to the Troop record. This ASM also uses Troop Master to record MB start and completions. The SM gets a report (when there is changes or before COH) that shows Troop advancement in rank from Troop Master. Lost books are not much of an issue, when it's only 1 ranks worth of advancement. It's the Scouts that come in to the Troop and complete advancement in T-2-1 but don't get the 1-2 requirements for T or 2 that loose their hand book that can be an issue. The advancement ASM watches for those outlier Scouts and periodically asks them to swing by and get Troop Master up to date.

When I was DL, then later became CM, up to now as an ASM the Flag was a big part of all ceremonies I have been involved in. I also a retired Disabled Veteran. One tip I give to leaders when working with Cubs on retiring flags is to explain "we aren't burning the flag" we are "honoring it by retiring it". This will avoid (as much as possible) the most often heard "we burned flags at camp"! from the Cub. Ask me how I know to stress this! (This message has been edited by dg98adams)

The Troop I serve (ASM) has volunteered to represent the "past" for the 2010 Council Camporee. We have a couple traditional Scout event-type activities. My question is uniforming. Can anyone suggest a way to depict a "Scouting in the past" with the current uniform? Most of the Scouts in the Troop have the non-centennial short sleeve Scout shirt & Troop necker (2 styles). I know we plan to not have any propane out, sticking with just cooking over an open fire with cast iron. Canvas tarps for tents, no poly tarps or nylon tents, wood poles no aluminum.

Sounds more like you should be asking for him to "step up" his Scout-behavior well before he is ready for advancement or ask him to find another Troop. Certainly likely-hood for removal of PL sounds needed. This can remove his POR credit, putting off Life advancement. Just don't wait till the last minute as that's not fair to anyone. Even if you create some sort of "30 day plan" and see improvement...do you want a Life Scout with this history of un-Scout-like behavior...because once he is Life, then it's not that far from signing his Eagle Scout Spirit, Eagle SM conference, and Eagle Project....what will you do then? (This message has been edited by dg98adams)

How about Sensational Scouts of America? Or is "SSA" just backward thinking? Hmmmmm

I was a WB TG this summer and they used "Da Bears" and "don't forget to feed the bears". Went so far as to leave a "pik-a-nic basket" at the door to the dining hall. When I was a participant of of WB my patrol was the Buffalos, and we had a couple. Buffalos come in 2 sizes, "Dig" and "Deal with it". The other was "a deep gutteral barking sound while we made horns with our hands".

I use this FREE site to to make Scout Certificates and print them out. They look great. http://www.cyberbasetradingpost.com/docs/create-a-certificate1.cfm

I am the ASM in our Troop that does the Aquatic skills to include Swimming/Lifesaving MB as well as swim instruction. I am a YMCA Lifeguard and have been an advanced swim instructor/competitive swimmer. I don't think the Swim requirement for rank needs revised at all. I offer access to the Y for Scouts to do the water skills without cost. Several Troops in the area will send 1-2 Scouts my way that either did not get swimming at camp, skipped camp, or joined in the winter. Even with all this you cannot force a Scout to work on the Rank requirement... but you can help them work thru it with a little patience, that summer camp staff usually can't provide.

I am the ASM in our Troop that does the Aquatic skills to include Swimming/Lifesaving MB as well as swim instruction. I am a YMCA Lifeguard and have been an advanced swim instructor/competitive swimmer. I don't think the Swim requirement for rank needs revised at all. I offer access to the Y for Scouts to do the water skills without cost. Several Troops in the area will send 1-2 Scouts my way that either did not get swimming at camp, skipped camp, or joined in the winter. Even with all this you cannot force a Scout to work on the Rank requirement... but you can help them work thru it with a little patience, that summer camp staff usually can't provide.

My son has seen the last 3 Eagle ceremonies in our Troop done in the CO, but pretty much run the same way. As a full tenure Life Scout and had completed his POR he knows the 2 Eagle MB & Eagle Project is likley to be completed by end of summer 2010. We both have made the observation an Eagle ceremony held outside at our local camp around a bon fire would be different & cool. We'll see what he wants come summer/fall if his Eagle Project is done by then.

If he is not causing disruption, I would not loose any sleep over it. As an Disabled Veteran (amputee) & BSA ASM sometimes I stand, sometimes I don't.

The Scouts in our Troop have done what we call the "Survivor Outing" weekend. No one went hungry or got stranded on a desert island! The PLC picked several skills from the T-2-1st Class to be made into events. About the only event the adults added was 'Hawk Throwing, which also had a "blanket event". The blanket event required any that want to play to contribute a small item to the blanket (pen knife, whistle, flash light, marbles, compass, etc). After 6 throws points awarded by sticking in the center (+2), other sticks not in center (+1). Winners in order of Score got to choose an item from the blanket. A "single throw off" settled ties. This blanket event was rerun 3-4 times, with items changing hands more than once. We had 2 targets and 9 'Hawks (of various sizes). The winner Patrol overall got Pizza for dinner (local Pizzeria), 2nd got sodas & chips, and 3rd got out of doing breakfast dishes. We have done this twice, and the scouts already started planning the next one come Spring.