Eagle92

Even if you went to a CO's choice option, you would lose scouts and COs. When Dale was still to be heard by SCOTUS, I had one CO adamant that they did not want anything to do with the BSA if it allowed homosexuals in. Their concerns were that even if they selected heterosexual leaders, other COs could select homosexual ones, and it went against their beliefs and values. So even though Dale hadn't been heard, they dropped the pack and didn't start the troop they were going to start. And after Dale was decided in the BSA's favor, Scouting for All turned out to be the council I was in best recruiter. They staged a protest outside the council offices, which was visible from the interstate. The council got lots of phone calls from folks who thought BSA lost the case, saw S2A protesting, and called to get their sons registered.

Let me tell you the Tale of Two Eagles. If I bore you, just skip over it. There were once two scouts who made it a goal to get Eagle, and they both completed the journey. Now the first Eagle had a lot of pressure from daddy b/c daddy had both the Eagle and the Exploring Silver Award, hence a "Double Eagle" as he put it. He blazed through the journey like a laser, getting each rank with the minimum time needed at got Eagle at 13. Yes he went camping and hiking, knew the outdoors a bit, but left Scouting as soon as he got Eagle, returning years later as a leader when his son became a Cub Scout. Now the second Eagle was the first one's cousin, so he too was under pressure from Uncle Double Eagle. He enjoyed Scouting, and raced through the ranks, earning First Class within 13 months, and was Life at 13 and had his Eagle project set up to go so that he could get Eagle at 14 once he finished some MBs. However a few things happened once he turned 14. First he was invited to attend the council's training course for Scouts, Brownsea 22. He had both good and bad moments with it, but overall was glad for the expereince. The Second Eagle also got elected into the OA, and ended up being a Brotherhood Member before getting Eagle. At 15 the Second Eagle got to go to the jamboree and on a canoe expedition in the Canadian wilderness, spending 2 full years preparing for those trips by working his butt off to raise money. While the "Fumes" ( perFume and car Fumes) did come into the picture at 16 and 17, he was still active because he was having FUN. Finally the SM had to give him a swift kick to the butt and remind him he had less than 7 months to get the last 2 MBs needed to get Eagle, and one of them required 3 months of work! As I said he did get his Eagle, having his EBOR 1 month and 4 days after his 18th birthday. So who do you think had more fun in Scouting, my cousin who got Eagle at 13, or me at 18?

Not to be a PITB, but if Bobcat and Scout are "badges," and not ranks, then why does national have them listed as ranks and they are restricted items? http://www.scoutstuff.org/boy-scout-rank-emblem.html http://www.scoutstuff.org/bobcat-rank-emblem.html Back on topic. In my troop growing up, usually folks got First class in the first 12-18 months, and it was the time requirements for T-2-1 at the time that held folks up.

The number is 3, and don't worry about it. I got a friend on the job already. According to the Den Mother's Handbook it was red. I think the 1940s had the blue and gold numbers.

My wife DESPISES, and the caps are for emphasis, the tan and green uniform. When she was registered with a crew, I got her the green and gray uniform, and she loved it. When we were planning on her being a DL, I got her a vintage 1950s Den Mother uniform, complete with Den Mother patch, City and State strips, and ladies' yellow tie. Missing one fully embroidered number. Unfortunately times have changed and that is no longer the plan.

BP, I wish we had the cooperation you did. Trust me I beg and pleaded, telling them that I have a bunch of girls interested, and that we should work together. Didn't happen. I know that in the councils I've been in, neither the GSUSA or BSA units would use each other's facilties, I was amazed at how many Girl Guide units went to the two Scout Association camps I worked at in the UK.

Depending upon who was running for SPL, it was the current SPL, or the SM who held the SPL elections. We did have requirements for SPL though: First Class or Higher and had to be a PL at some point. PL elections were usually moderated by a Leadership Corps member. Yep SPL, with advice from the SM, will appoint those.

Been a very long time, but I think we used Sharpies instead of paint to label tents.

Every program is different, but for themost part, unfortunately folks are correct, do it one time and get it signed off. One reason why I like small class sizes at camp. One thing is this,if it is signed off already, my understanding is that you cannot "unsign" it. What you can do is explain the situation to the scout, ask him to work on the skills he should know, and then approach for a BOR when he can do it. But that is me. Question, how many First Year Camper programs take those new Scouts out of the main camp for a day or two? I remember atmy old camp, the program took them out to the wilderness area one afternoon, and they didn't come back until the next afternoon. Staff and extra adults went with them to supervise, but they pretty much had to work by patrols to get things done if memory serves.

Sorry about bolding the end, that was an accident and I didn't catch it until after I was unable to edit. Actually I've met a few female Venturers in uniform. Grant you most are camp staff and required to have one.

From the Uniform Inspection Sheet for Scouters found here: http://www.scoutstuff.org/retail/docs/uniform-inspection-sheets Right Pocket Boy Scouts of America strip is centered above the pocket. Order of the Arrow lodge insignia is worn on the pocket flap. Current national Scout jamboree insignia is centered above the BSA strip and any other items above the pocket. Optional insignia, if worn, is placed in the following order, from the BSA strip upward: interpreter strip, Venture or Varsity strip, name plate. The name plate may be worn on the pocket flap if no lodge insignia is worn. Temporary insignia, including one current world Scout jamboree patch, centered on pocket. Only one temporary insignia may be worn at a time, and they are not required for correct uniforming. Cub Scout leaders and female leaders wearing the official uniform shirt or blouse may wear one temporary insignia centered above the Boy Scouts of America strip (emphasis mine). Notes Left Pocket World Crest emblem is centered between the left shoulder seam and the top of the left pocket. Embroidered square knots are centered above the pocket in rows of three. Service stars are centered above the pocket, 3⁄4 inch from top point to top point and 3⁄8 inch from either the pocket or embroidered knots. So the right pocket IS the place for temp insignia. However as I noted above in the quote, All CS leaders, as well as all female leaders, can wear 1 temporary patch above the right pocket INSTEAD OF on the right pocket. I didn't make the rule, national did. Now I can understand the ladies having the option, but not male Cub Scout leaders. Also why don't female Venturers have the option?

Hate to say it, but I don't see it happening. I know when I was a DE, I begged, yep begged, the local GSUSA organization to partner with me in doing the round ups. Never happened. Long history of dislike and distrust between the two organizations IMHO.

Nike, I agree, having SOPs helps continuity. CD doesn't do it, and in developing the program last year, was little to no help. Heck I couldn't even get an inventory of what we had and did not have, resulting in me pruchasing about $300 worth of stuff that we didn't need to get. Luckily it was returnable, and we only went over budget $3.76. This year's program was based upon the surveys done last year. Again little to no input from CD. Program side was good, learned that more detailed back up plans need to be thought out in advance of camp, putting out to many fires, but the admistrative side was a challenge. Some of the forms I created were not used, and information was not diseminated. Good news is that almost all of it is on computer and uptodate, and what isn't uptodate onthe computer can be in a few short minutes. As for the Staff Domino Lanyards, it is something I picked up from my home summer camp, and have modified for CSDC use. If you spend all 5 days at camp, you get one. Long story short, it is to remind the staff that Scouting is a "game with a purpose" and shouldn't be taken to seriously or corrupted into an advancement factory, staff are the foundation that holds camp together, and if one member breaks, the entire camp can fall apart (seen it happen with a summer camp), and to recognize the staff's service, I modified it to include both weeklong events ( WB staff, CSDC, NYLT staff, etc) and summer long staffing,i.e. summer camp, HA staff, etc.

Actually the "District Cub Scout Day Camp Chairman" is me . That was done so I could get the invite to the CD's meetings. Our CD hasn't gone to one in years because of scheduling conflicts with her church. One time we changed nights and I offered to drive her to the meeting, she said yes, then the night before changed her mind. As much as I would love to be the CD, heck I'm already doing the bulk of the work already, there are family concerns. As we all know there is a lot of stress with the job, and it can affect the family. My mom-in-law has some major health issues, and those issues, combined with CSDC stress have caused major problems at home. June was not fun for me. Plus middle son will be a TC, and I will need to be with him next year as the other half will be home with youngest. As for the don't share the secrets comment, I know where that 30+ year veteran scouter is coming from to a degree. I've seen the CD take all the credit for things that she had little to no part in. She's not one to say "thank you," or ask, but rather dictate and command. Heck I had a fight with her last year about giving the staff t-shirts as a thank you b/c she said the t-shirts should be for the kids, not the adults! Luckily A) I did the budget last year and had staff t-shirts in it, and B) I was finally able to convince her it's a security feature to know who is in camp since we had 38 cubs and more staff than we ever had (and we still needed more). Luckily the T-shirts were not an issue this year, now was the staff dominoe lanyards. Heck I even had folks who were not on staff asking for them! Anyway please keep the ideas coming. (This message has been edited by eagle92)

problem is then you run into some possible legal issues since BSA owns those images, and trust me will go after folks.

Again please keep the ideas coming, especially now. I am in the process of closing 2011 CSDC: finalizing the budget, contacting folks with lost and found items, returning borrowed equipment, doing after action reports, etc, etc. My goal is to pass along as much information as possible to the CD, DE, and to my successor as PD. Got my eye on one, but there are some minor reservations, mostly dealing with his job. Something that most places do, but not here for whatever reason, is an after camp report. Trying to take in the Cubs surveys, Parents surveys if I get any back, and the staff surveys ( giving them some time to decompress and then email). had a very good debriefing Friday, and the info here combined with the surveys should make some good improvements. What's interesting is that when I have told several folks what I plan to do, i.e. create a plan for next year giving every idea and minutia on camp operations to both the current CD and whomever replaces me, I was told either not to do it or don't give away all my secrets as "no one gave you any information and why should they get all the credit for your hard work." But the thing of the matter is, day camp is too big a deal for it to be a one man show. One person cannot do everything. Information, ideas, and responsibilities need to be shared amongst the staff so that if something happens to one member, it can be picked up by others. It needs to be collaborative, not dictatorial. Sorry for the ramble, just keep those ideas coming.

Thanks all for the suggestions, and please keep them coming. I just finished up, doing some last minute after camp cleaning up and bringing home supplies. Will be inventorying this week and returning to camp to finish up one clean up item that we couldn't do today. Long story short we are in rebuilding mode. Although the CD has been doing this for awhile, it's been in automode with her. Our current DE with major CS experience brought about some minor changes, he was too new to a lot of changes, and I've picked up the torch since he's been at summer camp the past two years. As I said we are growing fast. To answer the safety question, we have two building at camp that we would use, splitting the camp in half. But I see a point in the future that we may outgrow the camp. In reference to notebooks, I actually gave each Cub a Guide Book. not many parents or Cubs looked at the book, including my own son. Biggest challenge I see is that the CD is very set in her ways, and doesn't like change.

I admit I didn't read all the suggestions,I automatically came to SCOUTER.COM after checking the weather forecast and started reading before remembering I need to get ready fro Day camp, but the tagalong comment hit something. We have no tagalong, tot lot, kiddie corral, whatever you want to call it for youngersters, and I turned around 1 lady willing to help but had to bring her 3 year old daughter with her. More tonite and keep the ideas coming.

My philosophy is to work with them until they start causing problems for others to the point other folks are leaving en masse because of one scout. And I don't mean your typical minor league problem but serious ones. As for the 9 year old double murder, can go there. But I can tell you about the 11 yo drug dealer who shot the cop while resisting arrest. Trust me not pretty, and left a job over it.

Thanks and please keep the ideas coming. Some info on our camp. 1) Times are 8AM to 5PM Monday through Friday. However we are having a lot of parents pick them up early. Seem like 1/3 are gone by 4:45 Flag Ceremony. 2)We are at the local council camp in my district. 3) We have a history of 1 or 2 packs supplying leaders and not every pack coming to day camp. This year is the first time in years that every pack in the district except three SCOUTREACH have at least 2 kids at camp. We tried to get them to come, but they do a non-BSA program camp. 4) I wish I could pay or give a discount to our staffers. Fee is $55 on time/$70 Late and only half of that is going to specific camp budgets. Council's half pays for training, mail outs, patches, insurance, etc. Our 1/2 pays for rental fees, t-shirts (don't ask), and program supplies.So putting on a program for $.50/ hour can be challenging. Now here's another question for you: Do you have all the dens meet together as one group prior to assembly, eat together as one group, etc or do you have them dived up all over your camps? I ask because for the past 3 years, the dens all meet under one shelter prior to assembly, for lunch, for the afternoon break, and for dismissal. At 55 campers, the shelter is to small. One idea is to add a tarp to increase the area. another is to have the Dens meet in campsites, i.e. All Wolf Dens meet in Campsite A, All Bear Dens meet in Campsite B, etc. the campsite would be their home for the week, as well as a program area.

Ok folks as you know I am involved in day camp this week and we are having some "challenges and opportunities." Publicly I am telling folks it's "growing pains" as we have rapidly expanded from 18 Cubs in camp in 2008 to 55 this year. I want to see how others handle the situations I am encountering. 1) What do you do at orientation and how do you do it? Here the orientation consists of parents showing up within a two hour span, picking up their cub's t-shirt, and this year book with all the information for the week, and checking with the CD that all the paperwork is in. No discussion of what's going to happen. No discussion of the activities they are invited to, nada. I was thinking about setting up sessions for the different groups: 2PM all the tigers and wolves, 2:30 wolves, 3:00 bears, 3:30 Webelos. Actually talk to the parents, let them know what is happening, answer any questions they have, and then turn them over to the CD to verify paperwork. Or better yet, work on a list shows what paperwork is missing, so that the DL can tell them see the CD. 2) How do you handle check ins? I remember as a DC way back in the day that each den had a list of scouts that parents checked in and out of. But the CD is adamant on her checking in and out the Cubs as she likes to personally see the parents. While thsi is great with 18-25 folks, it was getting rough with 38 last year, and we are getting seom frustrated looks with parents today. 3) How do you handle early arrivals? Now I can understand the staffer bringing their kids or carpool to camp early, but I've been told that parents are dropping off their kids 45-50 minutes early. I get there 30 minutes before camp starts, and I thought they were part of the CD's pack that she was carpooling, but apparently the parents are just dropping them off. 4) What are some ideas to let folks know that we really need their kids there at starting time, and that they really should wait until after the evening flag ceremony to leave with their kids?

it's one that has been in the warehouse for a while then.

What's a cub scout round table? Seriously we have not had a commissioner for a while, and it's not happening.

As someone who has worked with at risk you, both professionally and as a volunteer, I have mixed emotions. One one side I have seen youth "play the game" trying to gain respectability, and in the case I am very well acquainted with, fool a bunch of folks into thinking he was reformed, only to get arrested a month after release from the program he was in. Yep I was his "chief" and he even fooled me. Worst part is that one of the other folks released from the program, and who was in the same group as the first gentlemen, was also arrested with him. Apparently they developed a real good friendship in the program and decided to try working together in crime when both got out. Luckily they were caught and sent to Boot Camp, maybe that will help. BUT, I've also seen one young man who was with a wild group, and he enjoyed scouting. Yes he got sent home from camp, the entire group was kicked out, but he was actually invited back as staff for the next year. The key IMHO is you have to give them a chance, but when it start hurting others, then it's time to give them an ultimatum, or even dismissal.

Forgot this one advancement situation. Knew one council where the registrar didn't put in the date the awards was earned, but the date she entered it into the records at the council office. Me personally, I advise units, especially packs, to get a small "war chest" of ranks because I know first hand, both as a former Scout Shop employee as well as a unit leader, that there are runs on advancement during certain times of the year, and advancement may not be availble. Having been one of those Cubs who as unable to get his rank when he was suppose to, not having rank to hand out is a pet peeve of mine.