Dizzy ona cliff

Teacher: Tommy there are two words that I would like for you to stop using. One is swell and the other is lousy.

Tommy: Well, okay, what are the words?

If you get it wrong, then a fellow resident of Gilwell will provide correction, but of course the cost of such correction may depend on the sense of humor of that peculiar resident.

If you get it wrong and no one of Gilwell is present, then no one will not know the difference, but you will retain that lingering feeling of self doubt.

Oh, and congratulations.

Jeff

Most new scouts seem to have big fluffy bags so this would not work unless the bag is compact, but I keep my sleeping bag in the bottom of the top compartment of my external pack. On the bottom of the frame is where I have my tent and ground pack, and this method has my pack well adjusted for weight balance. Since my sleeping bag is under such things as the crew gear and food in addition to the waterproof bag for my sleeping bag, the food and gear are also in a leakproof bag just in case. Although it does not work for many the point is that there can be many options for placement provided that it is balanced, not floppy, you can find your stuff and get to your rain gear quickly.

Most new scouts seem to have big fluffy bags so this would not work unless the bag is compact, but I keep my sleeping bag in the bottom of the top compartment of my external pack. On the bottom of the frame is where I have my tent and ground pack, and this method has my pack well adjusted for weight balance. Since my sleeping bag is under such things as the crew gear and food in addition to the waterproof bag for my sleeping bag, the food and gear are also in a leakproof bag just in case. Although it does not work for many the point is that there can be many options for placement provided that it is balanced, not floppy, you can find your stuff and get to your rain gear quickly.

This last summer was a good example of the purpose and intent of the OA. The story in video and in the words of the media can be found in the following links.

http://oa-bsa.org/events/arrowcorps5/index.php?p=onsite/siteinreview

http://event.oa-bsa.org/events/arrowcorps5/index.php?p=media

But would you not lose appreciation for a good speech if not exposed to those that are boring? And of course the label of boring would also vary according to the listener, and so I suppose that some folks would be bored if the speaker was not talking specifically about them, what they did and what badges they earned this past summer.

Just remember to spread out the boring speeches in between the more interesting stuff.

Late at night around the embers of the dying fire

Reflections on joys and frustration in effort to inspire

Thoughts and faces of today and days now past

May what we do today point a bearing that will last

Like those who on their way have planted a tree

The result of this good turn you may never see

What of those you guided though the dust, rain and hail

No obvious reward is yours except the life you grew along the trail

A helicopter parent is one that hovers over their child to make sure that they do things correctly, and if not then they will do it for them so that they do not make mistakes. For example you could wonder why the mother of the one scout said that he needs to focus on Eagle since she is probably doing the work for him.

It seems like the concept of being a brother to all (not just those that meet your standards) and engaging in work that is irksome for the benefit of someone other than yourself is not something that will develop in the isolation of an exclusive troop, but at least you now have one and that is a start.

In regard to the connections between the scouts of the super unit and the OA, does the troop attend the council summer camp, or other camps where the lodge is active? Are any members of the troop on camp staff with the council, or participate in service for the benefit of council property? What about other adult leaders (ASMs) in the troop?

In regard to the parents to whom you spoke it is possible that you just got lucky, or maybe what you found is typical and the whole troop is suffering from helicopter parent syndrome. I am no sociologist, but I have seen helicopter parents that start out by selecting the right children for play dates, the right soccer team, and basically herd them down the right path (including picking their college classes) so that they get the right degree, marry the right spouse, yaddah yaddah. I am just making a wild guess that maybe the helicopter parents of the troop consider the lodge or its members to be undesirable and so they want their boys to remain isolated.

I have used the worksheets such as those used on meritbadge.com as a discussion prompter, since it has not been common for me to have a scout that can discuss all the various points, ideas and sides off the top of their head. I will send them home with the worksheet and then at our next meeting we will discuss what they found and thought, and so far I have found that the process of putting stuff down on paper usually helps with the digestion and makes for a much more thoughtful regurgitation during discussion.

Ditto the remarks above, and in addition it would be good for the family to figure out that scouting is not a contest to see who can get done first. If this boy turns 18 but still has three months worth of work left to do on his Eagle Project then maybe he can blame the DL for holding him back those many years before.

Yes the Tioga can accommodate a lot of stuff because it is expandable, and so I can volunteer to take and internally carry that 8qt cooking pot that weighs nothing while the other guys load up on the food. I will admit that I have also used it to haul more than my share of water up a dry ridge so I am not a complete lazy bum, but it does take some discipline to know that it does not need to be full.

I see that Packsaddle did not get the solar powered helmet mounted limb wacker attachment. What a goober!

When I first started backpacking with my son I used my 20 year old pack with straps that dug into my shoulders and squeaked. On one hike I tried on the Kelty Super Tioga that was being used by an older youth, and it felt really really good even though he had it loaded with more stuff. So I got the regular Kelty Tioga and so the pack and I have become one. It fits like a glove, and it is organized so that I can find my stuff in the dark. It can slosh a bit when scrambling over rocks, but such trails are rare for me.

Although the quality does not seem to be as good as the video on the national site, the week in review for GW&J is out on youtube now.

Whoops I meant to post this news link with some good video

http://www.wdbj7.com/Global/story.asp?S=8544477

The new stories from Mark Twain, Manti La-Sal & GW&T all describe a tremendous accomplishment, and I am also proud. Here is another for Virginia http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/167330

The hope these youth, our future leaders, will have a concern for others, appreciation for nature and a desire for peace on earth.

From what I have witnessed those that are not eager to participate in service and follow the traditions tend to weed themselves out fairly quickly. So on one hand money may have been wasted on a flap, sash and book that will never be used, but on the other hand that person may eventually mature to the point that the understand and so become a benefit. Sometimes scattering seed is a gamble on the soil.

You never know when you may need a sub, and your older guys are a rare asset. Does one have the ability to do multiple parts well? Can the schedule be organized in advance so that one can take the part when the other is not free?

I ordered the new CD by the Tobasco Donkeys from their website and it arrived this last Saturday. The song about the leg loving dog made me laugh and the song August Day made me cry. Good stuff.

Since he had no desire to keep the sash as a science experiment, or in memory of the summer of more rain than sun, the bleach was the only option other than buying a new sash. Which is just as well since a couple of months later he kept the vigil and the lodge honored him with a new sash.

After persistent rain at summer camp last year the greenish gray mildew growing on my son's sash was so bad that I sprayed the whole thing, including the red, with bleach water, and then washed it in cold water using regular laundry detergent. The sash came out fine and the red was not affected.

Here among the pines majestic

adventures full and free

we are on the trail of scouting here at Circle B

From the tribes of old Shoshone comes our ancient lore

we will follow their traditions

scouts forevermore