Eagle92

In my council, usually $3/head plus any facilities being used and people to staff, i.e. climbing tower, rifle and archery ranges, row boats, etc.

NCS certification cost various by location. I know the CSDC cert, now good for 5 years, was approx. $400, and they sent 4 or 5 of us to that one, and 2 others to a different one that may have been more or less expensive. And while I plan on being at CSDC for the next 8 years, I know I got looks of shock when I mentioned that I will not be PD in 2012. So the council will have to send someone for my district either this year or next. Now they want to send another person to NCS to get BSA Aquatics Director cert as we need that to use the rowboats at the council family campout. That one aint cheep as it's a week long course. Again there are a lot of expenses that folks don't realize.

A good wrapping technique can be found here http://www.nocbay.com/learningcircle/pdfs/66_BustleSpikes.pdf Another technique I've used is the Whipping technique in the BSHB, and it's also in the Wolf HB. As for the unworthy arrow, I don't know how it started but it's need around a very long time, at least 19 years. Again the key is the ceremony team needs to ASK THE PACK LEADERS if they want it done or not. i've found that it does a few things 1) Really scares the heck out of the parents, esp. your troublesome ones 2) makes the Cubs realize that the award does mean something and that it is possible to not get it. 3) really impresses the cubs receiving the AOL.

Roadkill, That form is so new, that MANY folks don't know about the changes, including the pros. I had to tell my SE and CSDC staff adviser about them. And at District Committee training there were some moans form the audience when I mentioned the new forms.

one thing that helped with late registration, a large lATE fee to cover the 2AM run to walmart to buy extra food and making folks cram into campsotes based upontheir preregistration numbers

One thing that helps with the "free flow method of activities" when you have a specific activity, say bowling, that has a limited number of spots for an hour, but you have a line a mile along; TICKETS! At Sctdad and my council's regional jamboree and Cub Scout family camp out, Bowling and Swimming has very long lines. After letting the first X amount of folks in, they handed out tickets that said be at the bowling alley at Y time. Whoever thought of that was a GENIIUS!

Krier, A few things. 1) I am just repeating what the literature says. 2) I wish EVERY COR was 1/2 as involved as you are. Unfortnately my exopereince with 95% of CORs is that they are in name only. By all means STAY ACTIVE WITH ALL OF YOUR UNITS (caps for emphasis because the few CORS I have met tend to have fun with their troop and/or crew, but not with the pack. 4)If the COR is active on the district level, then they are also eligible for the DISTRICT COMMITTEE KEY, just cannot double dip on tenure. While we may disagree on semantics, one thing we both agree on is that YOU ARE ACTIVE which is GREAT!

Another thing, and this is a bit of a pet peeve, if at all possible, if a FA course is offered by another volunteer, TAKE IT! I offered and got no takers. I would have held it for just 1 adult, or 2 youth.

Having staffed district and council ones, with one council having at one time 12K+ Cubs, family members, and staff, here are my ideas. 1) RECRUIT STAFF, RECRUIT STAFF, RECRUIT STAFF! Did I mention recurit staff? Sources can be OA, WBers working on a ticket, CSDC staff, summer camp staff, troops, ships, and crews. And think outside the box. Withone council, the 4th Marine Division provided some support in the form of Marines and equipment. 2) Use the Family Camp national standards. 3)Site visit to figure out where you going to place everything. 4)Recruit more staff as you can never have enough. 5)better to have too many activities than not enough. 6) recruit more staff ( do you see a pattern ) 7) get information out there ASAP and PROMOTE PROMOTE PROMOTE. 8) Guide books are great. here is a link to one I stole, I mean used as a model for one event. http://www.ohmer.org/pack401/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/FallEncampment2010GuideBook.pdf http://www.ohmer.org/pack401/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/FallEncampment2010RegForm.pdf 9) camping as packs is good, but camping by districts also work. Good luck and more later as I think abotu it.

HECK YEAH THE PACK SHOULD HELP OUT! ( yes i'm screaming, but in a polite way ) Find out details, and get together with leader to see what the pack can do. remember: to help other people!

Ok my $.02 worth. I know my OA chapter uses arrows for the AOL ceremony. Depending upon the pack and or event the arrows may be simply decorated, i.e. name and pack number (some packs and at Webeloree) to really elaborate ones that cannot be put in the Mighty Chief's quiver, but must be handed to him. Why we do this, it's pretty cool to have the Mighty Chief draw an arrow and read the name. Plus it looks better than reading thenames form a sheet of paper, or memorizing them. Although the radio and earpiece does work. Plus if the pack allows us, we do the UNWORTHY arrow, and listen tot he collective gasps of adults. Gotta be careful with that though, and get approval to do it.

I just did a quick review of Lifesaving MB requirements, and IMHO some of them seem tougher than some of ARC Lifeguard Requirements back in the day. Heck some of the MB requirements are harder than YMCA requirements I taught back in the day. Not going to comment about that any futher as it will lead to a rant That said, I would go with Peri's recommendation of making it Lifesaving OR Wilderness FA. There are some scouts that i would not want taking Lifesaving as they would probably end up being a victim, resulting in a double drowning.

Well I can tell you, running the BSA is not cheap. Yeah you got to pay pro's salaries. But I can tell you from expereince, it doesn't cut it. I know folks who left BSA to go to the private sector, and with their KSAs from working with the BSA they have doubled, and in one case tripled, their salary. I know my boss is sometimes amazed at some of the stuff I did as a DE. But the biggest expenditure if memory serves was on the council camps. Those are not cheap. Insurance also come into play, as well as recruiting supplies, program promotion etc. Also sometimes events do go over budget. I know that I did go overbudget with CSDC, not much thankfully, but I did. Another camp had to help chip in for me in the big picture. But it may not be another CSDC that helps balence the council day camp budget, it may be a camporee, or a training, etc etc. Now one thing I did do, and it's why I went $4.19 over budget, is that I did go ahead and buy one supply item for this year's camp last year. it's an Item I need much sooner than the rest of supplies, and I will keep buying it in advance b/c I need it as soon as day camp is over to prep for the next year. So if you haev money and need supplies for the next year, do it. Just make sure to keep trackof it and not use it during the year. I also know that we had some supplies left over, not much but a few,and those are being saved for another year. Just make sure the CSDC stuff is marked separately form other supplies.

My thoughts, 1) get either an ARC First Aid course, or AHA Hearsaver First aid at a minimum. Local ARC chapter can get info for them, and try the local hospital or med school for AHA. 2)In reference to first aid kits, I can't answer that as the pack had an EMT or paramedic instructor as CM who always kept his duffle bag in the car. EDITED: the joke was that he had so much gear in it that he could perform surgery if he had to. It was big and only good for car camping or storing at a base camp. What I have a an approx 12x12" FA kit from ARC that was a gift. EDITED: my kit is the Large Pillow pit found here http://www.waco.redcross.org/index.php?pr=Buy_First_Aid_Kits But what I am doing is taking the WFA first aird kit recommendations, and will be creating a new kit to supplement mine. rather have too much than not enough. I will also talk to my ADL as he is a EMT about what else to put into the kit. I do know REI has a sale on FA kits at REI Outlet as I almost bought one last nite. This FL case is getting to me, and with the EMT instructor moving up, I know the pack, as well as CSDC, will need resources. I originally had the Mountaineering FA book in my kit, but now have the more compact BSA WFA book that has been referenced in another thread. it's a bout $6, fits in a cargo pocket, and was written by the guy who created WMI. Any professional rescuers want to chip in?(This message has been edited by eagle92)(This message has been edited by eagle92)

The proper patch is the FDL patch that came with it. That said I know that some folks will get a non-supply jacket and have it embroidered. I also know one troop that awards outstanding adults the red windbreaker, but with the troop patch instead. Not many of those are awarded, and I wish I had not lost mine in the moves.

Despite me being a YMCA Lifeguard instructor, I can relate to the scout as I WAS terrified of water. I did drown, had EMS revive me etc, etc. While I like to play in the shallow end, I would not go near the deep end. When the time came to join Boy Scouts, Mom gave me a choice: learn to swim or get out. I had swim lessons that summer after joining and after a summer of swim lessons I was comfortable enough togo in the deep end. And I got a little cocky in regards to swimming b/c I start going through the YMCA levels really fast and caught up with my peers. While I didn't pass the test the next summer in time to take Swimming MB, I did take instructional swim at summer camp and passed the swimmers test by mid week. It can be done, but you need patience and access to a pool. I have worked with kids like me and it can be done.

90% the adults who cannot play well with others. 10% it is a disruptive youth who is forced to be in scouting.

In my council the goal is to budget 10% for profit/"just in case." With my BALOO training, we were spot on, using everything budgeted and the 10%. Gotta remember, one training course may have money left over, and another goes over. Seen that happen. The old CS leader basic training I went through (although taking the course, I was a DE and had to deal with the budget)had a nice profit b/c more people showed up than anticipated, and there was a generous donor for supplies. BUT the IOLS training we put on a month or two later was way over budget b/c we did not have the number of participants needed to break even. I think overall the district went over in training expenses.

NJ, You are correct in that they are listed on the charter, and the fee is part of the unit charter, unless paid by another one of their unit's. But for whatever reason, national classifies them as council level scouters, not unit scouters.

UC and BSA, the COR is not, repeat NOT, considered a unit leader position, but a council level position. The chartered organization representative is the direct contact between the pack and the chartered organization. This individual is also the organization's contact with the district committee and the local council. The chartered organization representative may become a member of the district committee and is a voting member of the council. If the chartered organization has more than one unit, one representative serves them all all bold is my emphasis. http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/AboutCubScouts/ThePack/chorr.aspx Also if you look under Council and District Badges of Office you will see that Chartered organization representative, No. 00490, council Scouter, left sleeve, position 3. again bold is my emphasis. http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Media/InsigniaGuide/10B.aspx So there is no conflict with J2E.

I hate to say it, but in today's sue happy society I'm going by the book by the book.

I too like the scenarios. I've first encountered them with my FA MB claass way back when, and when doign skills instructors have used them. I always give a quick scenario, i.e. you're in the mall and see someone on the ground, you're at Mardi Gras and walking to the car you see some one on the ground, etc. when doing the skills check off

One of the problems as I see it is Epi pens. They are considered a prescription, and when I did CSDC training, I was told the cub has to do it himself. We can help him, bu the cub must do it. I know my first encounter with with epi pen training was with the Eckerd Foundation, and their FA training. BUT we had a set of standing orders that had to be kept with us at all times and followed to the letter.

Ditto what Beavah said 100% esp. the stacked district and council comments Been there, seen that.

The three ARC WFA instructors I know are either Boy Scout leaders or Venturing leaders.