epalmer84

Here in Troop 84: Our older youth leaders are in the Greenbar Patrol, somewhat like the Leadership Corps of two decades ago. They generally camp and cook as a patrol. They can go on patrol campouts. I suppose we could make them a Venture Patrol, but those who are really interested in those activities are in the crew. The Scoutmaster Corps is formed into the Old Viking Patrol. Our emblem is a horned helmet with crossed crutches. During meetings, we are away from the youth and we camp and cook as a patrol. We just have more toys, but we do let others play. We do menus and rosters just like the rest. Any parents that come on a campout are with our patrol. By doing so, we try to set the example for the youth patrols. It seems to work. It also keeps the adults out of the Scouts way. Ed

I think I had the same problem at one point and found something close at a fabric shop. One problem is that the buttons have changed style over the years. I don't know what they look like on the current version, but I have noted the 80s style had rounded buttons and the 90s style had flatter buttons. Ed

Auctions are allowed as money earning projects. Stonewall Jackson Area Council here in Virginia has an annual auction followed by a wild game dinner- this is a major fund-raiser. Anything related to gambling is not allowed. This includes raffle tickets, bingo and cakewalks. Ed

I wonder how Transatlantic Council handled this? They would have been the hardest hit as most of their units were sponsored by the military. Ed

As the only career veteran in the troop, the Scoutmaster calls on me to do some basic drill-style training for ceremonies. When we we practiced last week for the upcoming Scout Sunday, I had the troop practice the Scout Salute and the Scout Sign. We don't harp on it much, but we would like to look sharp on Sunday. I will also be working with the flag ceremony team for an upcoming Eagle Court of Honor. Other than that, I don't care for drill training in Scouting. We have better ways of maintaining discipline within the troop. We had a camp commissioner some years back who insisted on using military style commands for flag ceremonies (present arms, order arms, etc.), among other things. We had a short conversation where I expressed my concerns and he made some very interesting comments about my patriotism (I never brought up that I was a combat veteran). We haven't seen him since. Now, if I could get our youngest assistant Scoutmaster to stop wearing a complete set of BDUs with LBE on campouts... Ed

At the end of each year we have troop elections and shuffle the adult responsibilities. This year I am taking on the newly created position of troop trainer, managing the training of our youth and adults. I'm working on my training notebook now. It will contain: - Charts showing the training progression for youth and adults. - A checklist of who has what training, the date earned and the expiration date. - A calendar of troop, district and council training dates. - Tracking cards for the training award and key. - Information on training and leadership awards outside of Scouting. Ed

Ea. I still haven't figured out Sea Scouting uniforms :-)

"thought it would be a great time to separate the career Exploring component from the outdoor adventure Exploring component." A point of history here: In 1998, the BSA was faced with lawsuits by the ACLU and others relating to government support of Exploring. Most career oriented posts were chartered and supported by a public institution such as rescue squad, fire department, hospital and the like. Due to the BSA's religious principle, this was viewed as a violation of the seperation of church and state. The BSA's solution was to move career Exploring to Learning for Life, which has no religious principle and spin off the non-career posts into Venturing. Ed

Bottom line: You can wear all of your knots on any uniform. I have the same knots on my tan shirt and my green shirt. Ed

From 1976 through 1999 I was a bachelor Scouter. This is my ninth troop as an adult, and I have been a Scoutmaster in five of those (I moved around a lot in my Army days). I married in 1999 to a Scout mom and we split in 2001. I remarried in 2006 and she is now an assistant Scoutmaster and an associate Advisor. Ed

Yes! Ensure they have jobs. Some of the jobs we use: - Youth leader mentor working with the troop guides, quartermaster, scribe, librarian, etc. - Troop trainer, responsible for maintaining records and pushing training for youth and adults Ed

I know the feeling. Last year I took over as the crew Advisor and found it pretty much existed only on paper. I squeaked through recharter. I'm hoping to get revitalized soon. We just changed CO to a large church with an active youth. At least two Girl Scouts in the congregation are interested- both have Gold. I'm going to use Scout Sunday as a springboard. I figure that when the wife and I show up in green shirts, it will get some questions asked. I'm also doing an insert for the bulletin that might help get things going. I'll let you know how it goes. Ed

We usually only troop cook for camporees. We usually have a lot of people including one or two Webelos dens and often some of the staff (our DE started in our troop and she loves our cooking). We have fed up to 60 and could probably feed twice as many. For patrol cooking, we use a menu planning form: http://www.troop497.org/forms/forms.html The SPL approves all patrol menus. The newer patrols have a troop guide to help them. They usually start off with simpler menus and work up. We have had thanksgiving campouts where each patrol prepares an entree for a troop meal. We also sometimes have cooking contests. The PLC has banned pop-tarts and the like, and recently decided to take a stance to limit poagie bait. Adults generally camp and cook as a patrol. All patrols are separated as far practical. Depending on participation, the Greenbars may cook as a patrol or may cook with the Scoutmasters. Ed

I think you want the Fire Service Exploring emblem: http://www.learning-for-life.org/cgi/catalog/catalog.cgi?p=04032A&c=6 If I understand correctly, you are registered in a Boy Scout troop and in an Explorer post. To my knowledge, there are no emblems from the current Exploring program that can be worn on the Boy Scout uniform. There are some knots from the old Exploring program that could be worn by adults who had earned them. The Fire Service emblem would be worn on your Exploring uniform. Having said that, I see no reason why you could not wear an Exploring patch as a temporary insignia on the right pocket, but you should take that up with your PLC and Scoutmaster.

First they are too young, now they are too old. If this young man wants to go for it, then full steam ahead. This is exactly what the recognition programs are for. I hope he makes it and sticks with Scouting or comes back to it after school. BTW: He does not automagically age out at 21. After his 21st birthday, he has until his 22nd birthday or the unit recharter, whichever comes first. Check the fine print on the inside cover of the youth application.

Perhaps it is in the mysterious Camp School Manual? The latest G2SS section on lightning makes no mention of times. http://www.scouting.org/pubs/gss/gss03.html#d From the National Lightning Safety Institute: http://www.lightningsafety.com/nlsi_pls/ploutdoor.htm "Keep a high level of safety awareness for thirty minutes after the last observed lightning or thunder." Ed

I'm one of those who never go to sew the patch on my shirt. I joined Boy Scouting at 14, made Eagle just before my 18th birthday and was an ASM by the time of my COH. At the time I earned it, it was no big deal- it was pretty much more of the same advancement trail. Since then, I find that I look back on my perceived shortcomings as a youth and try to do better. I look at the Eagle Scouts of today and hope they feel the same way later. I know that if I tell someone that I am an Eagle Scout, then they have certain expectations. I have started telling new Eagles: "You don't make Eagle, Eagle makes you." Ed

Camp Shenandoah here bans sheath knives altogether (and fireworks, personal firearms, and so forth). Several, but not all district and council events have a rules list that ban sheath knives. Our troop PLC discussed this and decided that "personal knives are to be of the folding type with a blade no longer than 3 1/2 inches, preferably of the locking type"; and "non-folding knives are only for cooking purposes and should be stowed in a protective sheath or case" (we use duct tape and cardboard sheaths for larger knives, plastic pencil boxes for the smaller). This rule came up after one of our older Scouts had a sheath knife on a campout at Camp Shenandoah about 12 years ago. I simply told him to put it in his gear and don't take it out (he complied with no further issues). It cam up later and we asked the PLC to rule on it. So: What are the unit rules? Are there and district or council specific rules? This should be up to the PLC with the guidance of the Scoutmaster and the approval of the committee. Ed

We don't do rocketry, but I was into it as a youth and ended up as a rocket technician for some years. You can start off with the simple kits from Wal-Mart. If interest takes off, you can contact the NAR (National Association of Rocketry) or the Tripoli Rocket Association. You can find a local group through their websites: http://www.nar.org/ http://www.tripoli.org/ Apogee has a first time flyer kit: http://www.apogeerockets.com/first-time-flyer.asp And don't forget to watch October Sky while you build those kits. Ed

http://www.goodturnforamerica.org About > FAQs > Where does the Good Turn for America patch go? "The Good Turn for America patch qualifies as temporary insignia. Therefore, it should be worn centered on the right pocket. Only one temporary patch may be worn at a time. Female leaders wearing either the traditional yellow Cub Scout leader blouse or the optional tan leader blouse may wear one temporary insignia centered above the Boy Scouts of America strip. Females in Boy Scouting and Venturing place temporary insignia the same as on the men's shirt." Ed

For six years I was part of Alpine District in the Transatlantic Council (TAC). All three of the summer camps we attended used patrol cooking, as none of the camps (Camp Dahn, Camp Freedom and Bayern High Adventure Camp) were on council owned property (I'm not sure that TAC has ever actually owned any) and none had a dining hall. Jackson Scout Reservation in Tennesee Valley Council cooked the meals in a central kitchen and trucked them out to at least two dining pavilions. Camp Shenandoah in Stonewall Jackson Area Council has the traditional central dining hall with attached kitchen. The dining hall has been enlarged twice in the last 30 years and the kitchen was remodeled two years ago. Frankly, I like the patrol cooking concept. Yes, there is more discipline required. The Scouts have to keep a roster, get up early, get meals prepared on time and clean up. The first two days were a bit rough, but they got into the swing quickly. At Shenandoah, we have flags, announcements and a grace, queue up at the doors and wait. We get a plate as we go in and get served. We then move over to our table and sit down and eat. It is hot, crowded and noisy. There is no real comraderie, as no-one can really have a discussion. Upon dismissal, you have to leave so they can clean up. Which of these scenarios teaches planning, discipline and leadership? Ed

Down and Derby was on TV a few weeks ago- it was actually better than I would have thought. By amazing coincidence, there is a Wikipedia article titled "Scouting in popular culture" with TV and movie references to Scouting: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scouting_in_popular_culture Ed

If you are using 5 gallon jugs, you are obviously heavy camping. A 5 gallon water cooler will also keep water from freezing in the winter. The tap may freeze up a bit, but that is easy to fix with a bit of hot water. You can always take it out the top. We use one of those coolers on heavy trips just for hot water. Before we even start cooking, we have hot water on the stove and dump it in the cooler for wash water afterwards so we don't have to wait. Our hot water container is orange so we know which is which and is fitted with a standard faucet that snaps in using a garden hose quick connect (the style that closes when you remove the hose). Ed

>My question is how do you keep your water supply from freezing? Keep them out of the wind and turn them upside down. Water freezes from the top down, so you should have some water when you flip it over in the morning. Ed

I appreciate your position. When I was in Transatlantic Council I never went to any roundtables. The district office was three hours away and we saw other units maybe twice a year. We did have an annual conference that was always a blast. This was pre-internet, so we did not even have e-mail or discussion groups. I don't know of any maps that would show all 306 councils. The offical council locator is at: http://www.scouting.org/councils/ Ed