akela

ditdo!

How can you be a non-camping troop?

Our troop camps every month except May and December, and then we have troop day out, and go to the BIG CITY and do things. Several months we have weekenders that are 2 nights out. These non-camping troops are cheating the boys.

Man have I got one. Our son was setting for Star, he went in, started his board of review and then the door opened. He had that look on his face, as his mother, I know it well, something was wrong. A BOR member came over to me to explain that he had not met the req to advance, that he had the correct amount of merit badges, but they were not the correct one. I tried to hold my calm, but I could feel the explosion incide coming up and on it's way out. Then the SM came over to me to explain that he had overlooked the fact that he had completed all ER MB,except for a couple, and that he needed one more that was not ER to advance. He was told he had too many ER Merit badges. I asked this man to repeat himself, that we were telling this boy, who happens to be my son that he had too many ER MB's. Then it struck them, what they were saying. The called our DE, talked to two other Troop Comm members, and then decided after my son was in the car crying ready to quit scouts, that it just was not worth it any more, that they were wrong. By now he is upset, we left. He had his BOR a month later, because his SM was not going to do BOr but once a month, and he did not have another one scheduled until the following month. Needless to say, he passed to Star, and is waiting on time to pass for Life, all MB are done, and other req met. And No he never received an apology. I also made them tell him why they would not pass him, they kept telling me what the problem was, not the Scout. It was his BOR, I was just waiting to take him home.

Can anyone give me some feedback on good tents. We have recently bought a few and already having problems. Troop Comm says we are sending them back, but that is going to put us in a crunch for tent space. What is everyone else using and what do you like. I kinda like the Coleman Sundome 8X8 or 10X10 - we have a few tall boys. HELP!

KS what an excellent SM minute

You must always to remember to look at what you are doing through the eyes of a child. Then you will know if you are truely having a good time or a rotten time.

I'm sure you will make a great addition to the council and the troop.

good luck

supermom

very well put and it needed to be said!

My head is spinning from this thread! LOL

So what happens when the program is altered and the current SM is not likey to correct the problem? Do you leave for a better run troop?

supermom

We had the same problem at summer camp. This young man did not pass his swimmers test. He would go to free swim, but would not work on his skills. So I notice this was going on, had a talk with the pool director and explained his concern with the water. The older staff got together and became a cheerleading team everyday he showed up to swim. The last day we had discussed it at camp he and his buddy head off to the pool. He had decieded to take the swimmers test one last time. The other boys in our troop deceided that it was important that he pass the test, they skiped there regularly scheduled class, went to the pool, climbed in and became sideswimming cheerleaders. you have seen his face when everyone all 20 showed up at the pool to cheer him on. It was a kodak moment and when he got the job done it was like a big party atmosphere. His face was smiling from ear to ear, the staff let us swim for a while longer and all the boys just keep on congratulating him. Maybe you should talk with the SPL and get a litle postive peer pressure going . It might just do the trick, it did in out case.

working with these boys I think and hear more belchers than talk about the bleachers! LOL

I tried to delete the second message and it deleted both! So I retyped it and will ask a computer guru that I know. I only hit the post button once and when I hit enter it just moves me down a line.

CLR(This message has been edited by supermom)(This message has been edited by supermom)

We have done the following or I have been involved in the following scout projects. We have several historical military sites, that are let go and every 5 to 7 years we clean them, cut brush and get presentable again. Also we have painted a huge retaining wall in our town that tends to collect grafite, we have planted trees, we have reconstructed an Indian that is made of cement that stands in a historical park( seems that the rivial town continues to beat him up) We have most recently rebuilt belchers at a little league baseball field. I have also known of one scout that built wood duck houses and put them out at the local lake. We also had a scout do a control burn at this place that we camp. It was a great idea and helped us get rid of the old grass and underbrush so that the area would be safer and not get out of control should it begin to burn by wildfire. We also readily help at our local Girl Scout camp to clean, remove dead wood, etc.

Are you judging these kids? This is not our job. We are teaching valuable life skills, with or without earrings, noserings, or other rings, etc.

We all have somthing the may not be the "norm". So do not look down your noses at these that do not follow the "norm" instead learn something from them. you may be enriched!

supermom

It seems to me from the original post that the wagon was brought and borrowed by the adults. Did the boys ask to borrow the wagon? or was it available for their use? Either way, I agree with Laura take it as a tax right off and mark this one up as a lesson learned..

We have the 3 ton trailer (2 of them) and the 100 pound chuck box. When I was a kid camping with family we had a chuck box made out of old milk cartes. I'll have to ask mother what ever happened to that thing. but it had a part of almost half of the old back door screen on it, I think Dad cut the top of the screen door off, because the bottom had a hole and they attached it to the milk crates and we had a light weight chuck box, with handy compartments Oh the MEMORIES. If I can locate a pattern, I will let you know, it was something that Dad just whipped up. I'm sure of.

There are pros and cons to both. I prefer to hike in a short distance, This way if you have to get someone out in a hurry you can do so.

But we have several greene horns who are still carrying the suitcase! My son carries my old Kelty back pack from when I was a kid, he has done some real changes on packing, because you can only fit so much. The last campout, a weekended he only took his cot(it is in a bag) and a change of clothes, that was it. So he traveled much eaiser than everyone who packed the whole house.

supermom

I tend to agree with Scouter Paul. 4 would be more the min. in our troop. Murphy tends to follow our troop around like a lost puppy. We have had several instances where we need that other adlut and yes WE all packed up and left, due to lack of leadership.

Plus limiting adult/parent participation you maybe missing the next SM that is just needing a couple of great outings to get them to raise their hand for training the next go around.

It seems to me that some of you/ your troops have never been leader/adult needy, as we have, and any one that is a parent/guardian is ask to go until one says yes, so that we can provide a weekend of scouting. You will never know how much you appreciate to many adults until you don't have them.

Supermom

Ihave to first agree with Venturer2002, that some of you need to look at the Scout Law a little closer before making your post!

I would not know of a time in OUR Troop that we would ever want to limit adults. In this day and time as stated before, I want to know the parents of the boys my child is around and know what type of people they are. Some of you are looking at the negative side of parents on outings. If they are in the way, give them tasks to do. Assign them things to keep them busy and out of the fun of the boys. take along a knot book and tell them to learn how to tie knots, that will keep them busy and out of the way.

Lighten up!

supermom(This message has been edited by supermom)

I have to agree with redfeather, that the best place for all adults is in there chair with a cup of coffee participating by observance. LOL

I know in the winter, We need additional adults to go so that if someone need to go to admin or someplace else, the other adults can take turns keeping the chairs warm. LOL.

In all seriousness, It appears to be dangerous only with two adults. We average 12 to 19 boys per outing and seem to always have 3 leaders, sometimes 4 ( if we can let #4 be in charge of the coffee pot.)LOL

I think BW said that if you only have two and one leaves for a meeting or other business, that leaves ONE! no two deep but ONE!

I agree the more the merrier. Plus it is a real advantage to get to know the other parents/guardians of the boys that your own son may be growing up with. Plus some of these adults are really FUN!

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

maybe this is your blessing, they won't come back, can you get that lucky. Just take the BSA motto and " Be Prepared" when they do!

Good luck

Supermom

I went to round table last night to find out that our re-charter stuff was back from council, (yes it took 6 months) and noticed that all the men listed in our troop except for the SM and one ASM have never been trained. I was shocked. I will be signing up for SM training and Wood badge for this fall. Pray for good weather. I appreciate all the comments on this thread, it makes me feel better that I am not alone in this endeaver, as a woman.

rlculver45, I have tried to stand back, because I am like you on one comment I do not want to smother my older son, but on the other had, I want to go camping as much as he does. My husband is a motel 6 camper LOL.

I always tell him when we go camping, I am not his Mom and sometimes he will giggle as he addressed me and MRS. .... We laugh about it at home. but knows that he is not to address me as Mom. If he does I tell him your Mother is not here! But if I can assist you I will, my name is Mrs....

denver4under, you make me laugh. I would have loved the long camping trip and sounds like you have a very active troop I have been talking via email with troop 839 (denver) about there new unipen tents. Thanks for your comments, as sctmom said our bunch is not the push up bunch, but we have been talking discipline, so I will take note of the National policy. Is there anything listed about duck tape. LOL*** just a troop joke.

Just making memories!

supermom(This message has been edited by supermom)

Thanks for your input eisely and BW.

Lucky for me I am the Mom of two very active scouts. The older 11 JAR (going on 16) is in the BSa trrop and the other, my 8 year old JKR is a wolf this year. There have been times in our troop that had I not gone on the scout outing, they would have not been able to go. Our SM has a webelo that will join the troop in Feb 03, he has gone on several outings as his two older brothers are BSA. But thoes two older brothers strongly object when he does go.

In our case, i always as JAR is he minds if JKR goes with us on the campout, day out or whatever. I would never take JKR on an outing that was longer than a weekend. No summer camp.

It seems to work okay for our Troop. I think you have to look at the pros and cons of each situation. Our trrop is volunteer needed. So some times, even if we did not want to take sibilings, we have to to be able to go on our outings so that the older boys can make progress. When they are told that siblings are attending due to the volunteer situation they don't seem to mind. But we always adivse of SPL of the situation and then he brings the information before the troop.

We have two younger boys (wolf) that attend our troop meetings on occasion and last week the boys were playing a game and asked them to play with them, you should have seen their little faces, they asked permission from the SPL and their Parents( leaders) and went for the gusto, and they had a great time and good fellowhip with the older boys. It was a win win situation for both parties, the older boys needed another player, so they teamed up the little boys as one player and the game went on.

Supermom

We have 1 adult for every 5 to 6 boys. But always have two ( of course) we have had as many as 5 at summer camp before. I think that the more camping together the adults do with their son will only enhance the relationship.

Never turn away a parent willing to help. Get them trained, if they want to attend campouts and activities.

I must agree with Bob White that Scouting is a family event. We have often had siblings come on outings before, because we needed another adult and that was our way of getting them for the weekend a 2 for 1 deal.

You may be cheating the boys by limiting the adult participation and missing out on some good late night campfires with new friends.

Cheryl

shew!!! I feel a little better. thanks for all the great comments, I look forward to more. Plus I will lay back until i get the "Scout pox" I am looking at taking the ACM position this should fill my void!

P.S. If anyone can tell me why my messages post twice I would appreciate it. I have emailed scouter and they don't know why? Send me a private email if you would.

Thanks Cheryl

Here's a question for a more seasoned scouter. How can I do a board of review on a scout that his father(also SM) planned and helped carry out the scout eagle project, and instructed all the helpers on what to do and when to be there and so on? Then when the project was not completed, had two other sons go and complete the project with the eagle canidate.

Before I dig a big hole, I would like to hear about some of your experiences making the transition from Cub(Webelo) in to your BSA troop. It has been a difficult row for me (us) me and a co-leader) to hoe, but I think we are making progress. We at first were asked to join the troop, then when we did, we were treated like outcast for a while, then when we started going on the weekend trips, because no other leaders were available, I think we are being appreciated more. Our offical is troop comm members, not ASM. Just wondering if anyone else had had the same experiences. We just tried to stand in the shadows, until the SM and ASM see how valuable we can be.

Thanks for your input.

Cheryl

Hey Laura17:

I'm with you as the GSA program is what the leaders make of it. I was in a VERY activity troop as a young girl. We went camping every single month, and not like some of the BSA. We went primative camping, take the shovel and everything. I remember the day I explained to my 5 webelos what primative camping was, they all blushed. They thought that all camping areas came with latrines. SURPRISE. Of course we had only been camping to our council areas, I had not ventured them out to far, as they seemed sheltered a bit, but they have all been thriving in the new troop- after a bit of sticker shock from the older boys.

But I vote No to combine. The girls need to convey to their leaders what they expect. My boss is a girl scout leader of 20 8yr old girls and she spent a week with them at a primative camp. So they are getting good experiences.

Cheryl