eghiglie

OT, Go for it! There are awards in Venturing that you could plan as a group to earn. Don't think about the failure! As far as full co-ed BSA, I agree, the UK does it well.

Not a great idea Separate nights will have reinforce it better, skill levels are similar but different enough. You may want to try rotating den meeting planning to each of the parents. Good luck, I only have one kid, but in the dens I led many of the parents had boys in different grades.

Anyone know where I can get a simple slide deck to teach EDGE to the youth leadership? Looking for something that won't bore the kids.

The book is great! The best change that I like is that rank advancement sign offs are just in one place.

Teaching the whittling chip does not require special training.

the cleaning of my pack is limited to a washcloth and soap. Its not a red color, the stains show up, but it doesn't quite bother me. Makes people know that I use it.

The pack I was in had 9 pieces of PVC, 6 for the tripod, 3 for the pole. Each piece was 5 foot long, to fit in the bed of a pickup truck. As this was cubbies we didn't do lashings. We overlapped the pipes 18 inches, drilled holes for 3/8 bolts and used wing nuts. It worked well for us. Occasionally a piece would break and would replace it. When I went over to a new troop with my son, our troop does the same thing, except we lash it up.

I'm not skilled at understanding politicians. I went back and read what was said and it doesn't say year round school, I thought he was referring to what Europe does, which is a longer school year in some countries or a longer school day in others.

As I understand it as Webelos can go if they are 10 1/2 years old and have the AoL or are 11 yo or have completed the 5th grade That said though, most bridging ceremonies are memorable and he should stick around for that.

SSScout Great ideas! When we did this as a troop we found Ken Burns creations and it worked out well. We also told the boys to bring in recent history school work.

Every campout the boys have to build a tripod flagpole using a variety of lashings, its required to eat breakfast. The rest we do as a review by making it a game.

To me its how they live the rest of the week. When they brag about detention I ask them why they are so proud of it.

All the suggestions are great. For myself Wilderness First Aid and Leave No Trace Trainer were the two I appreaciated most. Both were eye openers. I'm now looking to take a Wilderness First Responder course.

And made in China is supposed to be helpful..............

Beavh's reply is great!

This has always been a tough subject. We try to balance cost versus the family situtation. Our troop of 7 provides the patches for patrol, rank and merit badges, we also sell the troop numeral patch at cost. We've even gone so far as to provide the rank badge in a small holder that attaches to a button. This doesn't mean they attach any of the stuff on. We only require the uniform shirt up to Star. At Life its expected to have scout pants and socks. For Star, Life and Eagle the sash is expected to be worn for SMC's and BoR's. Two of the boys follow this as best they can, these same kids bring the scout book to every meeting and they wear the uniform when they leave the house. These two advance in rank and have very partial MB's. The rest, well sometimes I wonder. If the boy doesn't have his scout book or uniform shirt at the SMC he is asked to come back OR I'll make arrangements to meet at his house or some other place. One boy came in dressed to the nine's for his SMC for Star, but at the BoR he wore just a troop t-shirt. The TCC cleverly gave the boy a BoR, but told him that the decision would not be offical until he showed up in uniform. The boy didn't wear a uniform for three months, when he finally did wear it he was told he passed as of the new date. This cost the boy a chance to attend an event.

The History Channel recently did some great shows on how these drugs that were once legal have now become a source of most convictions for possession. The state that I live in will now restore civil rights almost automatically for almost any offense (except for violence or sexual). Trying to get the conviction expunged/vacated is a great idea. My neighbor did this and it granted sort of quickly, but he was finally able to sit for the bar exam. He passed at 43 yo. I will never advocate the use of drugs for a cheap thrill. A scout in my troop though told me that the pressure starts in 5th grade. His school is in an upscale area. He got beat up by 3 kids and they forced him to swallow the crap.

I saw one today at someone's house, his dad purchased both versions when they came out and have never been fired. Both are 22LR rimfire. His dad passed on a few years ago and he now has both. I have the 100th anniversary model, and I won't be firing it either, also a 22 rimfire The G2SS still allows 22's but would a Scout Camp ever put one of these on the rifle range?

http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=113479 This link may help if its from the 75th anniversary set.

I learned to say no before Woodbadge. I also planned time before Woodbadge (2006) to keep peace with my family (wife and two sons) We took a long weekend vacation two weeks before, and I missed a few unit meetings to get stuff done around the house. It was a good compromise. I was asked to be on staff in 2008, when I learned what the time committment was I said no. I'd be happy to help one day of one weekend, but didn't want to schedule six months of life around being on the team. Some people thought I was being selfish, but being married 25 years has been great and I want the next 25! The WB SM said a one day worker was not allowed in our Council, so I won't be helping.

uz2bnowl Yes, 2nd that great post. The joining requirements for a Troop seem to be just a touch different than earning the AoL. To be honest most Troop's want the boy to meet the joining requirments because life for the boy will be a better experience. Do not rush, but don't procratinate either, when you get there be active and Eagle will come, before your 18th birthday.

Bevah made some great comments. The recent form change was a good example in my district. All the boys who had the old forms, even with signatures, were told to get the new form and get the signatures redone.

bacchus and eamom I have seen quite a few Eagle scouts earn it because the mom's do much of the work for the boys. They don't call the MBC's but quite often they fill out one copy of the worksheets and then have the boy copy it over in their writing. One time I was reviewing a worksheet and when I asked the boy what this meant or what that meant he just looked at me, I told him that the requirements would get signed off when he could explain them to me. His mom blew a cork. I still wonder if she does all his school homework? The family wants the boy to have Eagle quite often to enter college or join the military with two stripes.

Two ropes of different colors work best. Years ago I saw a den with ropes that were two colors, the den leader acquired some clothes line rope, dyed half of it red. This helped the kids see the intracties of the knot. When I was a DL we did this and it worked out OK.

Gander mountain has a community room, also some restaurants offer these rooms.