Double Eagle

Bob, look back at your first posting here. 6-8 ok and now this last one about 7 needing scouts. Also, the last part of your first posting about 2 scouts is ok? As for lone scouting, look on pg437 in the BS handbook. Even without the patrol method, a scout can still be prepared. It works for the right situation.

BW, how does a "lone scout" use the patrol method. I understand its purpose. I've checked and can't find how a lone scout uses it. Its a good practice/method but not inclusive to all situations. Failure can be a better teacher than success. It seems like it with Eagledad's example.

And you thought I was crazy to combine patrols. See, here's my point. It may not be the "Norman Rockwell" painting of a patrol method, but I bet that scout would have had a better time combining the eagle and beaver patrols for an event, like teaching woodbadge and being a critter. He could have been a "Beagle", at least the Eagle part would have saved him.

Did the patrol of one eat as a patrol?, duty roster, patrol equipment carry, skit or run on? I'm just trying to figure out how one scout could participate in an outing without other patrol support and still have fun, or a sense of belonging.

How well did the patrol of one do on the buddy system, tenting, and interpatrol activity. Hmmm?

For BOB, Pro teams do combine to make teams, Probowl? All-star game? Getting "all stars" together for a good cause is like staffing a district, camp, or training team. I've taken provisional scouts to summer camp and they fit in well. Based on your input, they shouldn't have been allowed? They were part of OUR group. My group is the BSA and everyone's welcome.(This message has been edited by Double Eagle)

Cont. OA trail crews come from all over the country to work and scout together. They bond over the event, and don't cast off their lodge, troop, or council. Many of us scouters have been asked to help with council/section stuff and answered the call. I'm sure your base unit was proud of the involvement and didn't see it as being disloyal.(This message has been edited by Double Eagle)

Cont. Patrols may only be intact until another election. Councils make National Jamboree troops from throughout the council, it works. I would not have a bit of a problem camping or being in a temp patrol with anyone from my woodbadge troop. We would still have loyalty to our critters, but not abandon each other.(This message has been edited by Double Eagle)

The patrol loyalty is good but don't forget they are part of a bigger unit, troop. Each scout has something to gain from others. Sharing info, systems, and experiences with other patrols is not bad. A patrol method of 3 or 4 is a bad thing when it comes to menu, duty roster, equipment responsibility. You're saying it is better to overburden a few for the sake of patrol loyalty?

Nothing is gained in it. What if the scout refuses, do you keep the item. How about public praise for the honesty in the scout finding the item and asking for the owner. Maybe the owner can be the "lost and found" scout on the next activity. Singing is for fun not punishment.

For training purposes, 8 is the number. Size and rank mix depends on what works for your troop. In the meantime, I encourage you to have a "this campout only patrol" made up of campout participants. Also, your committee can have an adult patrol and help role model how a patrol works. An adult patrol should have a flag, name, and yell. You can also make up an adult-type new scouter requirements li(This message has been edited by Double Eagle)

Philmont Rangers leave a crew on the 4th morning by themselves. They travel to a designated pickup point. This is a solo trip. The BSA accepts this. The risk is assessed and measures taken to reduce them. That's a bit far from one scout sleeping in a tent near other tents. Its hard to get some adults to be quiet, let alone teenagers. Privacy has its place and is not a curse or takes away from any program.

(woodbadge) or meditate (OA) by yourself is what is needed.

Side note: Help, my replies keep getting cutoff. Devine intervention?

Arrrrgh! I'm still getting messages cut off>

Cont. from my last post: wetting the bag. Most of us sleep through the night regardless whether we have a partner or not.

My wife slept alone several times when she was the only woman scouter on campouts. This did not cause a problem.

If the doubled up rule works for you, ok. How does sleeping under the stars stack up? Solo or group? Sometimes a time to reflect (woodb

There's not a problem with your rule of noone sleeps alone. Outdoor magazines are filled with survival situations that have lone travelers (car, boat, and hike)that found themselves alone against the elements. Wilderness survival is still a popular merit badge due to the reliance on yourself to be prepared.

I don't recall when any scout or scouter woke up the troop in the middle of the night to check for hypothermia, frostbite, or wetting the(This message has been edited by Double Eagle)

Having camped in -35 in upstate NY, things are needed for staying warm. Cover your head with fleece, intake high calories before bed, have a DRY layer for sleeping. If it really geets cold, a naglene bottle filled with hot water in the sleeping has kept my wife toasty until dawn. Just make sure the lid is screwed on tight. Winter camping is fun but not alot here in TX.

If you need some helpful hints, I'll send more.(This message has been edited by Double Eagle)

Philmont has a policy, from their 2004 guidebook, that says scouts/scouters may sleep alone in a tent if there is an odd number in the crew. Coming from the training base, I would go with this as a good policy. Many adults outside the BSA camp/hike solo. BTW, many adults enjoy the added room of a solo sleep in a 2 man tent. Common sense has to be applied on who, when, and why.

I've been using a Magellan 315 for the past 8 years. Although older and hard to find now, its pretty user friendly and can be found for under $100.00 on Ebay. I've used mine in Canada, Egypt, Israel, Kuwait, Iraq, Panama, Germany, and Switzerland. I really get around and don't go anywhere without it. A useful toy when not desperately traveling.

What did the SPL and patrol leaders council decide would be done for infractions like these. In the boy-led program, they should get first crack at fixing the problem. If it goes beyond them or is a safety issue adults should intervene immediately. Having a SM on the PLC side is the leverage to get some to conform. If the SPL is expected to lead in fun times, he has to lead during rough times too. You weren't too tough.

OGE, that's the one. One of my favorites.

Bob, Scout on scout, scouter on scout, scouter on scouter; The interaction of youth to adult can be merged with all participating. Several previous posts suggest coming up with the mythical object. With the help of the adults, many scouts have turned the tables and surprised the jokesters.

BTW, can anyone help me with the problem of getting my replies cut off and only post what I can see in the message box?

Humor has a place in scouting. "An hour a week" is a prime example. The intent of hazing has no place in scouting, agreed. Joking without harming feelings can be difficult. Some of the songs at camp are gross, ie "sausage machine". I like the song even though it is talks of grinding cats and dogs. Lets not label all jokes as hazing, good judgement calls by scouters role model and instill good judgement in scouts(This message has been edited by Double Eagle)

With the information provided, it sounds like the boys would be better in another pack and let the pack fold. This should not be the concern of the DE or unit commissioner. For the sake of the boys and helping to deliver a promise, their scouting experience outweighs any loyalty to keeping an unsupported/unresourced pack around. I hope another pack is near enough to take care of the scouts.

Eamonn does give you a reference about use of liguid fuel, pages 33 & 34. Not prohibited but guidance is given. This is similiar to sheath knifes in myth. Not prohibited by national but careful consideration is needed, page 43; "Avoid large sheath knives...". Some councils put additional restrictions on items outlined as ok by the GTSS.

Check with home depot or Lowes. They usually cut wood to order and have a lot. Just take your bag or bucket and fill up.