eghiglie

I was faced with the same dilema about six months ago. I was not able to find a canned solution in the area, most of the other Troops solved it at Summer Camp. I went to our local wilderness center that has an intricate set of marked and unmarked trails. Located a starting point on one marked trail. The trails had a number of landmarks that we used. The route took them through a number of the trails and they had to pick up a token at 8 places to complete it. I didn't go on the trail with them, waited at the end point to wait for them. The route was not intentionally confusing but it did include one circle. Two other brand new ASM's were with them. It was a bit of work to lay it out, but it was worth it. The 1 mile course took about 1 hour to complete. They got lost once, but they found there error and corrected it. They boys and myself had a radio in case they were totally lost. They used it to ask some questions. The biggest problem they had was keeping the pace steady and doing the math to convert the measurements into paces.

Thanks for all the inputs. When I went to training I was told one thing that "only the boy should fill out the blue card" and present his own work. I guess the training content varies widely from council to council. In our troop a few parents insist on filling out the blue cards. When I went based on the training I pushed back. I realize now that pushing back on who fills it out is not a good use of my time. If I could just get the parents to stop doing there work, which is another battle. All of a sudden I have 10 boys in the troop (out of 12 ) who don't know how to write or type.

I know this query might seem laughable to some but this topic has taken on some major implications. Who is supposed to fill out the merit badge card for a boy? I'm referring to just the application part here. Is it the Boy? Scoutmaster? Parent? Who should fill out the worksheet?

Being a small and new troop the t-shirt costs were going to be high. With only 9 boys and a few adults the cost was about $20 a t-shirt shop for a 2 color screen. Even 1 color was $17. We were supplying the screens, but it was such a low run so the labor was high. The boys had made a cool design and the colors were required to make it look good. There is no logo on the shirt and the word Boy Scout do not appear. Basically its just our troop number, charter org and a campfire. Our troop includes one t-shirt a year with the annual troop recharter fees so we're not selling shirts and dealing with collecting money. A local craft shop was selling a cotton/poly blend shirts at 5 for $11. We then bought some dark color ink jet transfers, in bulk they cost about $1.15 each. We use OEM ink on the printer which saves a lot of money. So we printed out 14 transfers, ironed them on and passed them out. The other nice thing is that we don't have to deal with a minimum order and we can print as needed. So nothing to store. I would not recommend this for a large order or big troop but for us this fit us well.

OldGreyEagle Funny you mention that. The utensils in our patrol box are mainly cast offs from families, and the two kitchen knives we have are 7 and 8 inches of blade. During a dinner demo last night at our troop meeting one new scout did ask that to the SPL. The SPL said that "Because as the SPL I say its OK". The boys took him seriously. Bit my tounge to not laugh. Ten minutes later the ASM took the last corner off his Totin Chip. The SPL took the kitchen knife and handed it to another scout blade first. His exscuse was that he didn't want to get his hands dirty, he also argued that Totin chips are just for pocket knives. All I said was that I would see him in the next Totin chip class. Laughed all the way home.

I think the answer is something near 1 adult to 1 boy. The role of the SM and ASM has changed over the years. The Committe chair can't do all the stuff such as contact campsites, track advancements and merit badges for the COH, balance the checkbook, make sure the dues are correctly recorded and on and on. In many cases the adults take a "permanent job" in the Troop such as advancement chair while the Troop leadership (boys) rotate every six months. Many times the new boy in the job such as scribe is really taught by the Newsletter Editor how to write (just an example). I don't remember the good old days, but I know that the time I spend with my son now, he is 11, can never be recreated and will be the basis for memories when I'll be talking to his kids, God willing that I live to see it. I don't know how one SM can be a real mentor to all of the kids for the duration of the weekly troop meeting. The parents are really the backbone because without them the kids would not be encouraged to stay on. Our Troop could not survive without the parents encouraging the kids and the parents are very helpful to the Troop from the smallest job to the hardest!

Just to change the subject a little. So what are some models to recommend that have a locking blade? My own choice to carry most of the time is the Victorinox Rucksak, it has a locking blade (with a slide button to release the blade, its safe enough if you pay attention), plus it has a little saw, screwdrivers, can openers and punch. My son prefers the Victorinox Picknicker, same as above but no saw. I also have three of Victorinox Workchamps, one for each car and my desk at work. What are some other types that you all prefer?

Thanks for all these great responses. I didn't challenge the ASM in front of the boys because that wouldn't be right (its bad enough the boys challenge each other all day long). I asked him at our Troop meeting today and what he told me was that he heard it up at the local scout shop. Seems the new knves at the scout shop are locking blades. He didn't hear this from a scout shop employee, just some other person that was buying one of the new scout knives. However, some of the boys from the trip did ask about this issue and we told them about some of the models available.

While on a camping trip this past weekend we had planned to do the Totin Chip for 2 new boys in the Troop. The ASM of the Troop made a statement that the "BSA now requires only lockblades and that the Scout Shops no longer are allowed to sell the old ones". He felt that the boys should not be allowed to earn the Totin chip because they had the wrong type of knife. These two boys had just purchased knives as they just joined the Troop. They both bought the classic boy scout knife at the scout shop about two weeks ago. So as SM I decided that I would loan the 2 boys my knife (to share) to learn on. My knife is a lockblade, so they earned the chip. This way the ASM was happy and if the boys had to return the knives they had bought they could do so as the knife had never been used. So yesterday and today I did some research and I can find no such official rule about this. Just to be aware though I happen to prefer lockblades and both my son and I have those. They are much safer for lots of different uses. Basically my question is: Is there a new policy or is this just recommended?

In my sons old troop this was a major problem. There was one kid who was bullied by almost everyone and to be accepted by the whole group no one could be nice to him. This boy crossed over and one year later he was still just at the Scout badge level. My son was usually paired with him as his "buddy" because he was the new kid in the troop. My son liked the kid a lot, he is actually pretty cool, but does sometimes does weird things like all kids. My son who typically is accepting of everyone started avoiding this kid. Just so he could be liked. He never picked on him but never supported him or hung around with him. He also hated being this kids buddy. This kid was picked on and also physically hit. At one campout one of the scouts in another patrol, the Patrol Leader in fact, used this kid as target practice for a slingshot he invented. When he told the SM the SM told him that he didn't see anything so its his word against 10 others. He also had a coconut tossed at him another time. Even when the boys parents complained nothing would get resolved because "no adult saw it happen". This troop also never stated the scout oath and law at a meeting so the boys forgot about all the stuff. So my point is to start getting it resolved by having a conference with all the boys. You might even have to go so far as to require parents of all the boys to attend outings and what not. In my son's case we decided to drop out of the troop and look for another. We wound up forming a new troop and the boy from the old troop that was bullied came to join us.

Thanks vickie for adding that no dryer tip for others. We don't use dryers here but I imagine lots of other people do. At summer camp this past year we dried most of our the shirts and pants we had that were made of nylon in the sun. Cotton was rotten as it never dried!

I learned the other day that the material used supplex has skinnier fibers than regular nylon so there are more threads per square inch than regular nylon. This makes the pants softer. Because there are more threads that are smaller, there is also more air-space which makes them fast drying. The care recommendation that was suggested was to put them in a mesh laundry bag and then wash the bag (with the pants inside) in the gentle cycle. Also, to cut back on the detergent used. I'm going to try this out for the next few washings and see if it makes a difference.

Thanks very much for all these suggestions. I printed these out and when I saw the SPL and ASPL earlier we chatted about this. When we take out the 3 boy leaders (SPL, ASPL and TG) we are down to 6 boys. We're expecting a few Webelos in Feb to cross over so at that point we'll figure out a method to split the boys then. 2 younger brothers are coming over along with another boy. The two second class boys just have to visit with the local mayor in Jan to complete 1st class and then they will will ready to each lead a patrol. So the timing will be right to make the changes after the new boys come in. Part of this is to let the two younger brothers have some space of their own.

I know that boys are hard on clothes! In our small Troop the boys and the leaders all gravitated to the nylon switchbacks when they came out and although they are comfortable and dry FAST, they don't wear well. Most of the pants started pilling recently and they really are not that old. Does anyone have any care tips to make them last?

As I learned you are allowed to wear what you have earned as long as it looks nice. So even a district commish can wear a Webelos Den Leader knot. I was a cub and a boy scout as a youth, have an AoL and made it to 1st class. After being a pack committe memer, den leader, earning an adult religous award and founding a Troop I managed to have earned 6 knots plus a set of beads. When I became a SM I made one shirt with all the knots (a dress shirt) and another without. Most of the time I wear the shirt with no knots and leave the beads home. I'd rather just do the best I can then to live up to what's on the shirt. I also have another shirt for just campouts that is "plain". Besides being in a new Troop all the other leaders have no knots so I don't want to "boast". For CoH and other special events I wear the shirt that has all the knots, service pins, Natl Camping School patch and beads. The only optional thing that I added to all the shirts is a Bobwhite patrol patch as I'm really proud of that critter! I found some red and black bobwhites and wear those. I am proud of my two little beads but I've worked around machinery and other mechanisms all my life that necklaces and jewelry bother me as I worry if the things will get caught in something. For this reason I don't even like to wear hanging patches.

So far attendance has been 8 or 9 boys at the weekly Troop meetings, campouts have averaged 6 to 7 boys. The reason the SPL would like to get to 2 patrols is that he is very close to 17 and wants to make sure that a few boys can run for SPL next April. The 17 year old Troop Guide ages out in March and is then headed to college out of the country. The two second class have started teaching the younger boys but they both would rather teach smaller groups.

Hello, I tried to look some previous posts but didn't find any information. I'm the SM of a small Troop of 9 boys, right now, there is the following spread of Scouts 17 year old Life Scout, Troop Guide 16 year old Star Scout, SPL 12 year old 2nd class, ASPL 11 year old 2nd class, PL 13 year old, Tenderfoot 12 year old, Tenderfoot Three 12 year old Scouts, all new to Scouting The 16 and 17 year old will remain in those jobs, they are doing great at it and the boys have come a long way with them. The two 2nd class boys have been in Scouting over a year and are former cubbies. So they are doing well at learning to lead even though they are younger. They will soon be 1st Class with just a few more items. The SPL is looking at splitting the Troop into 2 patrols as soon as they make 1st class in a the next month or so. Its a great idea but the "how to split" is tricky. The SPL was suggesting a running race and splitting the boys wether they placed odd or even? Sadly some kids don't run at all! Any suggestions on how to best split the boys up? Should it be a lottery? Should it be Rock, Paper, Scissors? Guess a number? The last thing we want is for the adults to pick the names out but the adults want a fair system for doing this. Meaning, not a popularity contest.

We're a brand new troop with 6 boys but the leaders all came from other Troops and devised this plan. Our scout shop sells the rank badges (except Eagle) without any documentation so we bought the next rank for each boy in advance. We even let the boy know that we have the badge for him to give him an incentive to earn it. Meaining we have so much confidence he will earn it we bought it in advance. At the troop meeting we present the badge, after the BOR of course. All BOR's occur right after the Troop meeting opens so they are finished in plenty of time. Merit badges are similar, we know what boys are going for what when we give out the blank blue cards. At the next store visit we get what we need in advance and hold it in reserve. The 4403 is sent in monthly, either hand carried or mailed in. Right now, the troop has 1 life scout working on 3 MB's - MB's in stock, Eagle kit will be obtained when earned 1 star scout working on MB's - MB's in stock, life badge in stock 2 2nd class and working on MB's - MB's in stock, 1st class in stock 2 TF's and working on MB's - MB's in stock, 2nd class in stock The actual cards for rank and MB's are presented at the COH. The only card we give back immeaditly is the blue card reciept when they give us the card back from the counselor.

This might be a tricky question as I can''t find a written policy or approach for this situation. Our Troop is only about three months old. Three of the boys came from another Troop in town, one of the boys came to the troop because he was pretty much the punching bag kid by a few of the other troop members. The other two boys never picked on the kid. The adult leaders at the old troop claimed that they never saw anything so they couldn''t do anything about it. Ironically, the kids of these adults are the perpertators of the behaviour. The adults that came from the old troop were aware of the bullying issue, but didn''t have any authority to solve it. The boy has been a Scout for over a year, and was struggling to make TF. The kid who used to be bullied is now very happy, worked very hard to make TF and accomplished it. The new Troop and kid is running along happy. One day, two of the bullies and dad (the two boys are 1 year apart and are brothers) come to the new Troop wanting to join. The now happy TF told me that he will not stay in the new Troop if they join. These kids in particular were the worst as they made a slingshot and used him as the target, but the SM never saw it. Knowing that the kids are bullies I don''t want them either. The SPL also said that the new kids are too much trouble as he remembers them. So what is the best way to deny boys joining the Troop and also denying the adult from being a member of the Committee? We thought about having the PLC vote on the their membership and then having the Troop Committee validate the PLC vote. Is this a good plan?

This has been a great topic and gave a lot of good information for use in our small troop of 5 boys in one patrol. Our troop is about 1 month old and we just finished our 1st Troop campout. We own one patrol box, that was stocked with some items. The troop owns coleman two burner stove. The trip consisted of 5 boys and 2 adults. We had one campsite that had one picnic bench. It was basically simpler for everyone to eat together and eat the same food, the only difference was that adults could have coffee. The boys cooked for the adults, but everyone cleaned there own mess kit. Two boys had to cook for themselves for certain requirements. As we grow into more patrols we will add some of the other techniques here.

The Vestry of the Church I belong to has voted to sponsor a new Boy Scout Troop and this was with support of the Vicar who earned 1st Class as a youth (still uses many of the knots he learned). After a few weeks of recruiting boys and adults we finally have the 5 boys and 5 adults who turned in applications. We also 'lucked out' in that one boy is a 16 yr old Star Scout who has demonstrated great abilites to teach skills to the other 4 boys who are brand new Scouts and has already been to JYLT. He has already started to put together a PLC plan! I'm looking for a press release template that I could use to announce in local newspapers about our new Troop. Any links that I could be pointed to?

david.self The Youth Religious Square knot can be transferred from Cubs to Boys Scouts to Adult Leader shirts. The Scout Shop even has small devices for sale to indicate at what level they earned the award. Not every Troop is aware of this and they just have to be told. So few boys earn this, only 3% of all scouts, and I guess thats why its allowed to be visible.

Sort of related I hope A short time ago, I had been approved by my parish Rector to be the God and Family Counselor for two of the boys in the Den my son was in during 4th grade. Just before I started the Rector asked if I would also add the parishes Girl Scout troop in for the same class. I agreed as it was the same material, the church pays for everything and he is really a great guy and I was helping him out. The two boys and five girls all finished up on time with very little problem. The Girl Scout Troop leader than put me in for the Praypub St Georges award and the Rector and Bishop approved it. The Rector also gave me the Adult Religous Square knot. This was done via the GSA not the BSA, yet it was administered via Praypub. Someone at the BSA district level told me that its really a Girl scout award and therefore the square knot could not be worn on a BSA uniform. Is this accurate?

Well I admit that the Troop meetings I see are different, but I don't call them boring. The boys (meaning the scouts) run the meeting for the most part with an opening flag, training, patrol meeting, game time, closing flag. The boys are learning skills that they need in a classroom. There is no perfect Troop yet, as all the folks in the Troop leaders and youth usually PAY MONEY to be there. Training is training unless the boys are profesinal trainers there is little that they know how to jazz it up. Then after the training is over the student usually has to demonstrate that they can do the item taught. Imagine trying to jazz up totin chip by throwing axes!!!! Patrol meetings are collecting dues, discussing menus and activities and boys get intrested in that becuse its what they are going to eat and who they get to bunk with in the tents. But Lisabob is right, cub leaders deserve quite a bit of respect, although cut and paste seems childish to older boys in a troops its really a needed activity in cubs because the motor skills are not developed yet. Those cut and paste skills develop those motor skills so that the kids can make rope when they get older. Even a year makes a difference on having the boy properly whip a rope from a 9 year old to a 10 year old. Lots of times its the blue tab leader getting the kids ready for red tab world as best as possible in 1 hour a week. Also, its the Cub leaders making the arrangements to visit troops because they want the kids treated right. Having finished with cubs we, the leaders, did have more work to keep there attention with different things every meeting. But I've also seen quite a number of boy scouts that can't tie the knot once they pass the scoutmaster conference for the rank.

For some reason I don't like the things at all and neither do my sons. They need a bit of maintenance also. I don't know why they aren't banned but should be. The comparison that could be used is would a Pack allow bicycles, skateboards and roller blades at meetings. Maybe they don't want to be hard on people. The troop (older son) has a written rule. The church doesn't permit them either.