Eliza

That's great! I am so glad hour son is enjoying it.

A number of years ago, SM asked me to get a list from Council so he could see if Council advancement records matched pack records. I was handed a list that included all registered adults and their ages. Also, isn't there a blank spot for age on some trip forms? For comparison, in Girl Scouts, adults are asked their birth dates, but the computer will not kick out the registration if you input 1/1/1900. Girls Scout adults who are applying as leaders get a code, which they then use when contacting a commercial background checking agency; all the GS Council gets re age is something like: '21-50', 'over 50.' So the Council simply does not have age info to give out.

Yes, exactly.

There was an article in the most recent edition of Chess Life (the publication of the United States Chess Federation, or USCF), about a parent in Virginia who organized a chess weekend for Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts. She did not do the actual teaching, but got experienced adults and scouts to help. I can't link to the actual article, because access is for USCF members only, but perhaps USCF would send you a copy if you asked nicely. It should have some good ideas. I believe (but not sure) that Cub awards and mb were earned, but I don't remember the logistics of how that was done. And here is an article about two scouts who organized a successful chess tournament at a local library. http://hasbrouckheights.patch.com/gr...ate-leadership If you haven't seen the 'Recommendations for Chess Merit Badge Counselors' from merit badge.org, you might want to check it out, just for background info. http://meritbadge.org/wiki/images/5/...counselors.pdf Good luck!

Do You Ask to see every parents Medical records prior to Letting your scout ride with them. I highly doubt every who Snores admits to a Sleeping Disorder...Every One who snores has sleep apnea which cause Drowsiness. My CPAP keeps me breathing allowing me to get full rest...I do Teach Merit Badges by the Way... Nature, Pets, and Reptile and Amphibian Study for Now may do more later. It is just an Idea... just like building a BBQ Rig with a Chuck Box or A Trailer with a Small Cabin and the BBQ Rig with Chuck Box just like Building a Nature Center at our Camp just like trying to get an OA Lodge Built and OA Call out Area or a Climbing Tower at Camp My apologies again about the CPAP. I was obviously mistaken about what it's used for. No, something that helps someone get a good night's rest would NOT be a concern.

KDD My mistake about the CPAP. I read that something was plugged in.... Obviously, I am not as familiar as I should be. Sorry to OP!

As a parent, I would be extremely hesitant about putting my son on bus that was not owned and run by a professional bus company. I would make up some excuse, like being in the area, no trouble to drop son off, etc. Or skip the trip entirely. Have you got a sense of whether people in your troop would actually want to use your bus? Also, I noticed you mentioned a CPAP. If this were an indication of medical issues that might impact driving, I would run, not walk, away. I am sorry if this sounds harsh. It sounds as though you have a lot of energy and commitment. Are there merit badges that you could be a counselor for, instead of doing the bus thing?

Your search brings back memories. I remember trying to find a new pack for my son. (We were in one that did very little.) I spoke with one of the District Executives -- BSA Councils are divided into smaller geographic Districts, and the District Executive should be familiar with the troops in his district. I asked about packs fairly near me that were active -- the DE told me what packs went to the fishing derby, Klondikes, summer camps, etc. He was also surprisingly frank in telling me what packs did nothing. I doubt that I would have got any of this info in an email! One thing I would be careful of is a pack that draws from a delimited group. For example, a school pack from a school your son does not attend. The DE might not have this info -- you would have to ask the pack. Another way that you might ("might") get more info is on the Council website. They may show what packs have done well in the Klondike (a winter competition that Webelos scouts can go on), or other info. Or the Council website may have nothing -- BSA is just plain weird technologically speaking. Agreeing with others that summer is a down time for many packs, but everything starts up again with the new school year. Packs are supposed to let the District/Council know when their recruiting night is -- so calling Council?District again in the fall might get you info about packs near you. Adding: In my town, the pack that recruited the most was the do-nothing pack. The 'good' pack didn't recruit much because they drew kids from a wide geographic areas and the recruitment flyers never seemed to get to all the schools. When you visit a pack, ask them what they did last year -- better indicator, imo, than what they *plan* to do this year. Another question to ask is if the pack sends its scouts to a particular Boy Scout troop, especially as your son is pretty close to transitioning (usually middle of 5th grade).

Definitely, the lunch menu looked the worst -- deli bites, squeezable foods. I had to google to find out what this stuff was. I'm glad for your Scout that the dinners were good. At least one satisfying meal a day! Peaches are a big crop in VW, I think -- it would have been nice to see BSA using some local foods.

At least you had enough to eat! It was hard to tell from the menu how much food there was. I read something about the canadian Jamboree, where it seems that Scouts were actually weak from lack of food, at least to hear some tell it. I was hoping that kids (and adults) who walked 10 miles a day got enough to eat. As for the processed/packaged food -- I never saw so much on one menu in my life. The Los Angeles school system serves 650,000 meals/day and uses fresh, locally sourced produce; of course, they have permanent kitchens, so there is a big difference there..

Thank you! I realized that the girls were a new addition, but I had not known that it was the first Jambo for Venturers. And the pictures of the aquatic facilities looked wonderful. So, the Day of Service is new also -- knowing it comes from the World Jamboree puts it in a better light. I was surprised, too, not to see more in the news about the Jamboree; most mainstream articles I saw focussed on weight limits. Sad. Thanks again!

I have heard the phrase, "a Jamboree like no other." For those of us who have followed this Jamboree, but don't know much (well, anything) about previous ones, would anyone care to comment? What does make this one different?

The Jamboree menu sounds a bit skimpy, at least from looking at the online version. I'm curious about what it was like IRL -- was the food decent? https://summit.scouting.org/en/Jamboree2013/Documents/Jamboree_Menus_2013.pdf

I like this 'Sportsman's Blanket.' An Eagle Scout who gave a winter camping presentation to our troop suggested it. It's compact and lightweight, with one reflective side that can be faced up in cold weather and down in warmer weather. It is only 5' x 7', but it works well with the right sized tent. http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/CAMOmnifindQueryCmd?storeId=226&catalogId=40000000226&langId=-1&searchCategory=&ip_state=&ip_constrain=&ip_navtype=search&pageSize=24&currentPage=&ip_sortBy=&searchKeywords=sportsmans+blanket Color: Blue This grommeted, all-season, weather-proofed blanket, offers reflective warmth against cold and wetness. Constructed with a stronger multi-directional reinforcement layer which provides additional tensile and burst strength. Opens to 5'x7'. Folded size: 4" x 5" x 1.5". Two-sided-metalized polyethylene on one side, colored polyethylene on the other side. Wt. 13oz.

Basketry -- from one of the BSA kits Beading -- marginally useful, but ties in with Native American study Weaving -- this can be really calming and sort of addictive Soap or candles from a kit Fleece throw with one of the giant 4-5" Webelos patches sewn on (look on internet for no-sew throw) Handsewn books/booklets -- many you tube videos on this and love those survival bracelets!