Eagle92

Sometimes those "scripted shows" are a benefit. My old troop developed a "wilderness survival" campout for the Webelos overnite campout out. Got the 'rents out of the way and with the other adults. Then we split the Webs into the 3 patrols, so that the Scouts and Webs got to know one another, and the scouts could help make that first campout not only memorable, but a comfortable one. taught the Webs lashings to build shelters, and each patrol built their own shelter, with the webelos helpingout. This insured that everyone had a shelter to sleep in, those Webs without the proper gear could get help from the scouts (our scouts did bring extras if possible)and we had a goood old time. This was so successful, that it became an annual event.

I beleive the official name for that pocket is "technology pocket"

Thanks for the replys. I know that the summer camps I've worked at have had the staff sign off on the MBs, whatever the age.

Stosh, do you have any den chief's working with the Webelos? I've found that DCs make a BIG difference in recruiting. When I graduated, my den was the only one with a DC and all of us joined his troop. the other two dens dropped out after CSs. Also the troop i spent the most time in used DCs whenever we could, especially during the time we did not have a direct feeder pack. That saved our troop.

Not trying to be a pain in the buttocks, but if a MBC has to be 18, then why are we letting 15-17 Y O scouts sign off on MBs at summer camp? or is it technically the director of each area certifying the scouts earned the MBs, with the staff teaching the classes for him? Yeah I've worked camp and been to camp school, but i worked in the trading post, camp commissioner, and COPE. My experience with teaching a class at camp came about when 1) I was taking BSA Lifeguard, 2)I had 2 50 milers afloat under my belt,so I had lots of experience in a canoe 3) the canoeing MBC was fired, and 4) I was an 18 yo ASM who was also a certified YMCA Lifeguard instructor so alot of the BSA Lifeguard instruction was a review. Grant you I was an adult at the time, but another BSA Lifeguard candidate in the class, was a YMCA lifeguard, 16 YO, and had plenty of sailing experience, had to take over that class since the small boat sailing instructor was also fired. He signed all the paperwork and everything.

Depending upon the scout and his qualifications, I'ld allow it. for example if the Scout is a BSA Lifeguard, I'ld trust him teaching any aquatics MB. if the scout worked SC, then the I'ld let them continue to teach those MB's.

Have you tried everything else yet? This is a big decision and you will need to do a few things. I can tell you from my limited experience that this is a unit matter and the DE and UC will not get involved until after the unit does their part. When a unit did this while I was a DE, I had to counsel the dismissed party about them having to find another unit. 1) make sure the Committee Chair, Charter Organizational Rep, and Institutional Head all know what is going on and agree with the decision. As Voyageur said, it's their charter. 2) make sure your Unit commissioner and DE know about it in advance. That's a courtesy as I'm sure the DE will be catching all types of grief over this matter. Been there and done that, didn't like the 2AM phone call 3) make sure you have a copy of all the scouts records, and that they are up to date. I would go so far as to get an advancement report from council on the scouts. MAKE COPIES AND GIVE THE COPIES TO THE PARENTS, KEEPING THE ORIGINALS. 4) Fill out the transfer form on the scouts and MAKE A COPY FOR YOUR UNIT. 5) Get a copy of the leader's history with the unit, again I'ld go so far as to get a copy of his Training report from council MAKE COPIES AND GIVE THE COPIES TO THE LEADER, KEEPING THE ORIGINALS. 6)Fill out the transfer form on the LEADER and MAKE A COPY FOR YOUR UNIT. 7)Give prorated reimbursement of unit dues,and a check for the scout's account if they have one. 8) Have a letter signed by the Committee Chair, Charter Organizational Rep, and Institutional Head saying that their services are no longer needed. Hand it to them in person with witnesses, preferably the CC, COR, and IH doing the handing and talking. 9) Send a copy of the letter given to the dismissed parties, as well as a letter explaining the decion to the council so that it can be noted with the unit's charter and records. This is vital is the leader had any access to money at the council office 10) If this individual had access to the unit banking account CHANGE IT IMMEDIATELY!

At one time, nationla had the 'Ventruning ,BSA" strips available for free. You may find them on EBAY and place them on the old Exploring uniform. Or do what I reccommend, renmove the Exploring strip, and get them embroidered, that way the you won't have the problem of the shirt being one color, but the Venturing strip being anopther.

One tradition was the Scout Investure for new scouts. Yes we recognized them at Crossover, but we felt that it was the packs ceremony. Way it worked was once a new Scout was ready to get the Scout badge, instead of a normal ending for the meeting, we did the investure. The new Scout(s)were led out of the room by the SPL, the candles came out, and all the 'old" scouts would form a half circle around the SM, with an opening opposite the SM. SPL would escort the new Scout(s)with a single candle and they would stop and answer a series of questions until they came to the center of the semicircle. At the center the SM would have PL come forward with the patrol flag and have them repeat the Scoutu Oath and Law, with the SPL lighting the candles with each point of the law. SM would then give a spiel abotu the Oath and Law. The new Scout(s) then received three articles from the SM: troop necker, troop 2 strand woggle, and troop totem. Once he received everything, he joined the semicircle,a nd we ended with Scout Benediction. Another tradition was the two strand woggle was for all scouts and leaders, three strand was for Eagles only. Finally we had a tree stump that was brought out for our COHs that was used as the 'Spirit of Scouting." It was from the troop's first summer camp, and covered with 25+ years of wax from all the candles.

Ships' Stores is the one I got my white knots from, and some other stuff. THEY ROCK! I had an order for knots, buckle, and sea scout strips. They usually take a few weeks to ship, and I had planned to have everything for the district banquet, trying to promote sea scouts and my old sea base. I was able to get the order in time to not only p[romote at the dis. banquet, but also do sea base promotion for oneof the new programs at RT. GREAT FOLKS!

Buffalo Skipper said "You might take Scouting too seriously if.... You have a separate closet filled with scout uniforms....." I didn't know you've been talking to my wife

Yeah I bought a set of white knots for the sea scout uniform I have. GREAT quality, but are slightly larger than issued knots. Again only slightly larger, so it's not a big deal. Only way I was able to tell is that I have a youth religious award knot that was a tad bit smaller.

Yeah I get ya on the sewing, I'm still trying to sew my discom key knot from last year on all my uniforms. 2 down, 5 to go.

Buffalo Skipper, Good Script! gotta add it to the database, just gotta replace that flute music with the DRUM Jet, I've never seen adults recognized for moving into Scout leader roles. Not saying it's wrong, just saying that's a new one for me. everyone Yep my chapter does a bunch of AOL/Crossover Ceremonies 9 times out of 10 those who receive the AOL do Crossover. However I've had a three instances to date where we had AOL recipients not move into BS. I've also had the case where 1 or 2 Webelos were Crossing Over without AOL. Unless all AOL recipients are also Crossing Over, it is one continuous ceremony. In those instance where that is not the case, We do the AOL ceremony first, and then have everyone sit down. once all seated, we do the crossover portion.

Unless Supply has changed their policy, their policy is "satisfaction guaranteed," and they give a Lifetime warranty for stuff. When I was working in supply, we had a guy who had a 1960s pack that needed a new frame, one that was discontinued. My boss called her boss for advice, and we replaced the entire thing with a comparable backpack. Also had one guy come in with 4 pairs of knee socks that he bought just before summer camp, and after summer camp he returned all four for new ones sicne they all faded after 1 wash. moral of the story is, if the new shirts have stuff coming off, return them.

In reference to the type of hats, CS don't have many options, i.e. they wear the CS ball cap for their group, i.e. all Blue Bear hat, Orange and Blue TC, etc. Also according to the new uniform inspection sheet found here http://www.boyscouttrail.com/external_frame.asp?goto=/docs/uniform_male.pdf CS Leaders don't have many options. I wonder about why they don't allow the various hats like the CS Leader's Boonie hat, the various Stetsons (including several CS varieties), the expedition, or the Smokey. tell you what I'm willing to lose the 5 points to the 'uniform police" for wearing my Smokey next year, since I earned that hat back in the day. In reference to the original question, From the Insignia Control Guide found here http://www.scouting.org/media/insigniaguide/03.aspx Headgear Regulations Official headgear may be worn while the unit or individual is participating in an indoor formal ceremony or service duty, except in religious institutions where custom forbids. Typical indoor activities of this type are flag ceremonies, inspections, orderly duty, or ushering service. In any informal indoor activity where no official ceremony is involved, the headgear is removed as when in street clothes. The Scouter dress uniform is always worn without headgear. Pins may be worn on the jamboree hat but only while at the jamboree, and Webelos activity badges may be worn on the Webelos cap. As part of the First Class Emphasis, the large standard metal pin, No. 00017, has been reinstated as an option to the cloth First Class rank badge. The large pin also may be worn only by boys on the front of the campaign hat, No. 501, and the expedition hat, No. 637. Adults may wear the adult universal hat pin, No. 50150, on the campaign hat and the expedition hat. No other pins may be worn on official headgear of the BSA.

My neck of the woods was suffering even before the recession, and it's getting worse. I know I will have cut back on my FOS pledge this year as #1 I got another mouth to feed and #2 oldest will be a TC next year and I am saving up for some of the new programs my council will be offering. On the two occasions that I have heard our new SE talk, he's talked about how less than half our scouts are going to any summer camp, and the reason is finances. He wants the OA to raise more camperships so that more people can go to camp, and I think he wants to expand it to CS Resident camp as well, at least that is the impression I'm getting. I'll be doing my part at the patch auctions trying to get some CS uniforms as they appear (yep they appear form time to time at OA auctions)!

Pamlico Sea Base is an accredited High adventure base that the East Carolina Council has. It's about 1.5 hours off of I-95. here is there website http://www.pamlicoseabase.org/

Eamonn What if the PL and/or SPL sent the out of uniform scout home to get the uniform for a trip? My old troop had expectations. We also told folks of consequences. And everything was explained to the scouts by the SPL or PL. Parents were told the same thing via the troop committee. You show up out of uniform, you better have it on a hanger to change into, or you will be sent home to get it. You show up late at the departure point, you are on your own to get to the camping trip (an aside the troop always stopped at a particular gas station near the departure point and late scouts had until we finshed gassing up and left the gas station. We occasionaly had a scout "meet" us there. After seeing. having this occur once, we didn't have problems for a few years.). See in out troop, we taught responsibility by having them suffer the consequences. We made some allowances for uniforms, i.e. new scouts had a grace period where the troop T-shirt was OK until they got their uniform, non scout green pants OK as long as it wasn't obvious, black socks Ok, etc, but we were uniformed in appearance. Also we encouraged folks to turn in their "experienced" uniforms and sold them to scouts as needed.

By the number of adults sitting around their campfire, drinking coffee, and keeping out of the SPL and Pl's ways

Oh heck yeah you need to take care of the cook crew. One thing I liked about the first camp I worked at: cook crew got one nite off per week. All the directors come in to cook and clean one nite per week. Also the cook crew got out before the rest of camp, usually friday after campfire. Any staff member who complained got assigned to the dining hall for a week, and usually there were no complaints afterwards

The youth not listening to youth is the reason why I liked it that my old troop 1)had youth sign off on requirements up to First Class i.e. PL, LC, ASPL, SPL and 2)a youth leader also sat on the BoR, again up til First Class. Usually this a Leadership Corps member you was not teaching that nite.

In addition to the normal form, I always write a letter that goes into greater detail on the services of the individual, especially if they transfer into the council.

A 4:3 ratio is a little overboard. Here are my suggestions. 1) Venture patrol discuss the problem of too many adults at their meeting and bring it to their adviser's attention. That way if the troop isn't youth run, as it sounds, the Venture ASM (is that still a specific POR?), can make bring the problem to the committee and rectify it there. If the troop is youth run, I would also bring it up to the PLC, so that it is noted and rectified properly. 2) When they plan their next activity make a more detailed plan/schedule, including timing and pace if possible. That way if adults do come along, the scouts can complain about the adults not keeping to the schedule if they are too slow. Also the adults can judge of themselves if they can keep the pace or not. 3) Limit the number of adults!!! This is where the Venture ASM needs to take a firm stand if need be. have the youth invite the adults they want, and make sure that the adults understand that they are GUESTS of the Venture patrol and that the PL is in Charge and no one else. yes it's hard giving them their freedom, but you got to do it or the older ones will lose interest.

Actually the PRC does have the Hong Kong Scout Association, at least for next 40+ years that the treaty between them and UK signed. Heck they even tried to host a WSJ, but Japan won the bid.