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Double Eagle

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Posts posted by Double Eagle

  1. This is sounding like a Wood Badge ticket item of putting together a "Feed-O-Ree" where units can show different levels and methods of meals.  A lot of good ideas out there.  And Scouts could knock out some cooking requirements.  

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  2. I may be missing something on this.  I would describe the Eagle advisor as someone in the troop that focuses on the Life Scouts (like an ASM) to teach, coach, and mentor them to complete what they want and started.  

    I think the project part is bigger than the advisor's role.  Most projects takes troops(s), organizations, packet write up, resources, etc.  I know of district and council folks that nit-pick a proposal and ok.  As an Eagle advisor, I'd want all the help I can get to get the project approved, executed, and finalized.

    As for the Eagle application, BOR, and records, it could take the committee to track everything if record keeping is shabby.  

    And for those that read to the bottom of the post:  The youngest Eagle Scout was 11yrs old.  Not many 11yr olds have the skills, knowledge, and attitude to complete Eagle projects, BOR, and application. 

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  3. A lot of good advice already.  Boy did you ask for it.  And I'm gunna ruffle feathers too. 

    1.  Keep it at the patrol level.  Every scout should be able to do it and maybe check off some advancement needs.

    2.  Avoid troop cooking where the adults helicopter the whole time.  

    3.  Teach them to actually cook from basic ingredients.  Adults should not handle a utensil, unless preparing their own food.

    4.  Have the adults on the same budget or ingredients and show what is possible.

    5.  Eggs?  Omelets in a bag are quick, easy clean up, and cater to each scout.

    6.  Plan meals based on activities.  Short prep and cooking when they are crunched for time (lunch or opening).  Long elaborate meals when you have the time.

    7.  Dutch oven dessert every night.

    8.  Stay away from the hotdogs, poptarts, donuts (unless making them), etc.

    9.  Challenge older scouts to cook like eggs in an orange peel, caveman steak, bacon in a bag, etc.  

    10. Keep it fun.  

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  4. On 3/17/2023 at 3:23 PM, 5thGenTexan said:

    Feb camp was cancelled due to lack of adults.  

     

    This just touched a nerve with me.  This is terrible to tell or have the Scouts know this is what cancelled their outing.   I try to let units know if they have to cancel an event due to lack of adults, let their commissioner staff know asap and see if they can help get it covered.  Lack of adults participating is different than having enough trained adults attending.  

     For the well-seasoned adults, some of us remember filing trip plans/reports for council approval before you could go.  Some did it, some just went.  I can't imagine withholding outing information from parents or scouts.  The more notice, but better.  And, some may just come for the site location.

  5. May tick off a few folks on this one.  Kudos to all the volunteers that support and make our programs run.  Without them at the unit, district, and council, the BSA would shut down.  Years back they merged "of like" knots, did away with some (Tiger Den Leader Coach, Orange and Black)).  There was some good and bad in the changes.

    Here's what I recommend to units:  Have a rotation (no more than 3yrs) in any one position.  New ideas, opportunities, and positions can keep a fresh program.  Most leaders can complete requirements for their position in that 3yrs.  Also, have someone on the unit committee track "adult advancement" like someone does for Scouts.  We put a lot on our volunteer's plates, at least we can recognize them through BSA practices.  The Scouts like to see their leaders get awards too.

     

  6. Here's more a question for those familiar with Summitt. I am taking a short drive as a guest visitor to the reserve during the Jamboree.

    Need some help identifying the "must see" portions of the reserve/jamboree.  I've attended jamborees at A.P. Hill, but I'm sure it's just not the same.

    I have a 6hr pass and want to see the best of the site.

  7. I seem to remember using the neckerchief for SM minutes with the 3 edges as 3 parts of the scout oath and 12 rolls for the scout law.  Also, as the last uniform item put on, the scout oath and law are the last part of the uniform.  This is a really reduced SM minute and roll tight as 12 is a lot with smaller neckers.

  8. Sadly, I think there is a slow death happening.  Cubs has taken a drastic membership decline.  Competing programs like GS or TL are getting more participation for the simple pricetag.  The latest selling of camps for restitution, increased membership fees, and decades of fundraising emphasis like FOS/popcorn just kills our reputation. 

    As a lifelong scout/scouter, I miss the days where any youth could join with just a few bucks from grass cutting.  Gear and uniforms were passed to new scouts, and almost every family could afford to send a scout to summer camp.  Emphasis was on camp skills and outings, even if the same camp every month.  

    You just don't hear a lot from the non-scouting world about the importance of being an Eagle Scout.  It is mirrored in the OA where you have:  Sash and dash, brotherhood and bounce, vigil and vanish.  

    Holding my breath, the program survives, but needs a 911 call for life support in almost all areas.   

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  9. Yup, upstate NY was a great scout stomping grounds for me and my sons.  Camp Portaferry near the Watertown area was the bomb.  A lot of good info so far.  I may have missed it, but don't neglect ground insulation for tents.  You can put interlocking foam matting (gym type) inside your tents to add a great deal of insulation while sleeping.  You will need to look at the footprint and maybe cut some vs overlapping excess.  

    The other method I used as a scout in Michigan in the 70s with floorless canvas scout tents was spreading loose bales of straw as an insulation floor.  This was pretty cheap and readily available.  A few things to note on this method: NO flames in tents!  A ground tarp/cloth between the ground and straw may help.  Small items can easily be lost in the loose straw.  When departing, do a good a sift through the straw for knives and things.  A campmaster may direct you how they want the excess straw disposed or reused.

    Back to your OP, if you will seldomly camp with those temps, avoid the high price of new wool products.  The earlier posts have the best advice for this.

         

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  10. Based on the initial question about mandatory participation, you answered the question by asking it.  If you have to wonder about a unit, avoid it.  They should be selling their program to you, so you join their unit.  As a commissioner, I had to get involved with a unit that decided to have "try outs" by performing woodcraft-type skills.  Imagine that, try outs to join where you would learn such things. 

    I don't know of any unit that has 100% participation by scouts in every event.  It is really unimaginable.   If that unit has that as an enforced guideline, that is one unit that needs help from district and/or council.

     

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  11. With all the badge experience, what a great time to flood the room with reading material for an eagle-type project (not just a one-time deal) and start getting ideas on that.  If an OA member, how about starting a "where to go camping" guide for new units with information gathered from her network.  This is an opportunity to draft a scouting event/program for those confined to a room or bed.  Turn this into a learning opportunity and get others involved so she is not alone in this endeavor.

  12. Not sure just how much pioneering is going to be used, but please don't skip the event.  They scouts will get something out of it no matter the outcome.  You have a ton or resources to help your inexperienced unit.  Reach out any commissioner or OA member to assist.  If there are eagle scouts in the area that may help grab them up.  If you have a district roundtable (from the district/council calendar) bring this up as a need.  

     From your original post, its uncertain whether you have to build a sled from pioneering material, or this is just a station at the derby.  

    Bottom line:  reach to local resources around you.  You are never alone in scouting.

  13. This is going to touch a nerve (pun intended), are we still cutting corners from Totin Chips?  As a longtime scouter from the 70s until now, I think that practice really doesn't make sense anymore.  We don't burn corners from Fireman chit that I know of.  I think cutting corners is the only thing I've seen in Scouting where this type of result happens from being "unsafe".  Just some posted comments mention how common injuries are.  I think we need an azimuth check whether this is still a necessary practice.

    Confusing like this example:  At one camp, scouts were not allowed fixed blade knives.  This intent was for pocket type knives without any specifics given.  But, every chef kit had a paring knife and 8" carving knife.  Doesn't really make sense to me.  Also, there was no size limit on the folding knives.  We won't even mention how machetes in Panama were carried by about every scout.  Crazy standards/rules sometimes.

  14. The question is whether you wish to wear it inside or outside your uniform.  If worn inside your shirt (concealed) you can do it without worry, unless there is a safety issue, like rope course, etc.  If you wish to wear it visibly, I would think you can as long as it isn't offensive and you can explain the meaning.  I wear a religious necklace 24/7 and not an issue under my uniform.  If you have to visually display an item, I would have to ask whether the display is for your reasons or to advertise to others.  Either way, I don't think too many people will have a problem with it, unless it is so big or ornate that it takes away from the uniform.

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  15. At that point on the trail to Eagle, your SM conference can almost be reversed as the Scout can do much of the conference about the program and person experiences.  And, the SM conference is not just a one-time requirement, but when ever the SM has a conference type tone, if there such a thing.  Most often I focus on the board prep to relieve some anxiety.  My follow-up, post-board conference is probably the most in-depth conversation I had from SM to Scout.  

    At that final board point of the trail, I like to stress how the Scout can share their Scouting experience with the board that may not know them.  

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  16. As a long-time knife lover, I always found giving a knife or other useful daily-use-tool was a great way to say thank you.  After giving away a couple dozen over the years, many of the recipients still mention their gift.  A couple of times, we even had a special dinner, get together, or public event to show how that Scout went above and beyond.  

        When a Scout does something that earns an official BSA medal, that process should be followed...in addition to another knife.

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  17. After reading the recent threads on this, I just have to mention how advancement posters and handbooks will have to be changed again.  They just changed the Wolf colors to red a couple years ago.  To think they had a team/staff work on this Cub revision.  As CS handbooks go for $17 off the scoutshop site, have to be replaced each year with rank advancement, what are they thinking.  I know we've had CS rank handbooks from my time in the 70's until now, but may be a time to go away from hardcopy books as a whole.  Just make them a free download with a completed registration form.  Please don't mention scoutbook just yet until that site gets into detail on requirements/electives like a handbook.

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  18. To keep this short...every previous post is spot on.  Some of us older folks are cyber-immigrants that had to learn that language and use.  Scouts today are cyber-natives that had cyber-use before they could make a sentence.  One great example is an app that once you take a photo of a leaf, it tells the name of the plant.  The other example is quick ID of anything live or dangerous.  

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  19. Boy will this get some responses.  Most who reply can write books on just summer camp.  To focus on your questions, you have a few options.  Letting scouts choose would be my first choice, let them decide as it is their program.  You can also rotate tent mates half way if they want.  I would be cautious of any special needs, I had a scout that wet the bed nightly and found out on the first night.  Parents failed to let us know.   It also took me working with the camp staff for laundering help.  

    Two other must do's for me:

    1.  Any homesick scouts can make for long days and nights.  Speak with parents to decide if nightly calls, at a set time, are needed to keep them in camp.  For those that wish, parent pre-written, daily-mail envelops for a scout handed out each day to the scout works too. Both methods tend to lighten and motivate. 

    2.  Scouts will buy every licky-chewy at the camp trading post.  Some run out of cash on day two.  To offset this, my units bought snacks at the big-box stores and we had them in daily sacks for daily issue.  We stressed to spend money on camp items, MB items, and other than $1.50 slim jims.

    One more thing:

    Keep the adults from being that Cub Den Leader that drives everything and all over the scouts.  Train them, trust them, and let the lead. 

     

       

     

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  20. Sounds like a much better eagle project than a bench or ga-ga ball pit.  Everything in that sounds like a scout-skill-heavy opportunity.  In addition to posting trail signs, often unknown or forgotten landmarks are visible in the burnt areas.  I often travel controlled burn areas for landmarks, shed hunting, and historical features to share.  What a way to show what Scouting can do and partner with local Forestry officials.

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