featherbear

If I put this in the wrong category, my apologies-- Does anyone know how to refurbish old stoves, or where to get parts for them? I've got two 40+-year-old Coleman backpack stoves- the green ones that came with an aluminum box that doubled as a cook kit. They pressurize just fine, but the neck where the element attaches to the can leaks under pressure. I'm really hoping that it's just a matter of old dry seals or gaskets, as these are awesome little stoves- a bit heavy, but don't tip easily at all. I'd love for my son to be able to put them to work in Troop. Thank you in advance for any advice you can pass along!

Aside from Crazy Crow, I would highly recommend Centralia Fur & Hide. http://www.furandhide.com/ They have kits and supplies available, or just the drum frames if you want only that, and they do ship. Their octagonals are dovetail-joined so they are VERY sturdy. I live within driving distance of them, so I was able to go down and buy whole horsehides and cut my own drumheads. It was for a group of Webelos for a drum-making session, so going that route for me saved ample $$.

Jeffrey, may I add yet another to your query? What do Cub Units do when their Council hasn't offered BALOO training in a few years? Such was the case for us. I ended up taking leaders to another Council for the training; fortunately for us that Council's boundaries were within somewhat reasonable driving proximity and we were able to do so, but I think we were one of the very few units willing to do that. Our Council has since rectified that training shortcoming, but still! What do Cub Units do? Should they all grind to a halt on overnightes because they don't have access to the training through their Council?

True, true Packsaddle.... but it might make for a nice (but brief) stop on the way to the trailhead.

I don't know if this would be terribly out of your way, but the southern end of the Appalachian Trail is in Northern GA and a pretty cool place to visit. So's that little German town in the GA mountains that's near the trailhead. http://georgiatrails.com/features/apptrail.html

That's what a neighboring Council near us did last Autumn, Lisabob - and it was resoundingly successful. The classes offered ranged from Leader-Specific training through Tigers, Cubs, Webelos-transitional, Troop, Venturing, high-adventure courses, and on up into district-related and leadership in all arenas. Every class was filled to the brink. They also allowed older Scouts to come and take classes, and quite a few of them did! My own son, an SPL, went back to his Troop just brimming with new ideas. We definitely plan to wander up that way again this year for this event. IMHO, more Councils ought to consider running the full gammut like that, and not limit it to Cub-level powwow.

"Forgotten/dead websites are a favorite pet peeve of mine." I agree wholeheartedly, John. I said as much many months ago to the guy who built the site, who was in charge of the project. For a website to maintain any level of validity, it must receive at least SOME sort of update at least on a monthly basis. Just a little blurb here and there, to let people know what's going on, and to let everyone know that it is an ongoing and current project. To NOT do so destroys credibility and the very purpose the site was built for in the first place. I was involved with that project myself, but I've not heard anything in several months. I was a nonArrowman at the time when I first got involved, and I'm not a member of that Council/Lodge. For one thing, I can tell you they have a DARNED TALENTED Native carver who's restoring the center-pole and the corner poles. He does magnificent work! He had to repair not only years of rot, but it seems that a little woodpecker decided that center pole made for a mighty fine home. I went to Pigott during the summer and I saw the restoration work underway. Even then it was a tremendous difference. I need to journey up there again and see how those poles are looking now. But I agree, all these progressions need to be put on the site. I've beat that drum but it remains unheard.

I have been pretty involved in supporting Scouting in Iraq for a couple of years now, just doing what I can as a regional coordinator. I know there is Scouting in every Iraqi provence now, and 3 of the 4 old Scout camps there are up and running. There's lots that individuals or units can do to help support the effort, first and foremost is through the WFF - also through the Iraqi International Foundation, founded by Chip beck and Mike Bradle. Thank you for posting this, It's great to read more articles written about it! (This message has been edited by featherbear)

Wife, and Mom to two Boy Scouts (in 2 Troops!) - first and foremost. Fine artist as my other occupation. In several galleries, do several shows in the region - and use artwork to support Scouting in my area wherever possible. Assistant Scoutmaster, Cubmaster, Den Leader, and active with the OA chapter... during the rest of my "spare" time. So how do you all stuff 36 hours into a 24-hour time frame? I'm still trying to master that. ;P(This message has been edited by featherbear)

one of the things that really helped me out with badges when I had a Webelos Den was outings - LOTS of outings. We did *at least* one outing per month and often more, and we would look for outings and overnighters in which we could get badge work done. Such as: a local art walk, during which admission to all the galleries and museums are free. Since we visited the state history museum along with that, we knocked out some requirements on two badges. Things that did not get done with badges during outings were incorporated into the weekly meetings.

Sorry for resurrecting a 2-month-old thread. I agree with those above that working through all the Den books, keep 'em active, keep it fun, and working on that AOL definitely made it easier on my guys. In Webelos, however, I took it further. I gradually coaxed my guys into utilizing the Patrol Method, with the Denners eventually becoming PL's and my Den Chief becoming SPL. This was not a sudden thing but a gradual transition with each step being taken as the boys were ready. We kept it fun, highly active, and highly engaging. When it came time to pick Troops, they couldn't wait and all hit the ground running once they crossed. That was almost a year ago and I keep tabs on them because I know the most critical time is that first year - that's when many drop out. Only one did, due to family matters. I'm CM now, along with being ASM - our two current Webelos Dens in the Pack adopted what we did as Webelos and are having considerable success with it. And - the importance of a good Den Chief cannot be overemphasized!! He'll do a world of good in helping the Cubs prepare, and can be great in fielding questions about what it's like in Troop. The boys want to hear it from a youth who's in Troop. To them, he's an authority! Best of luck to you!

Our District suffers the same situation. Our last banquet was painfully vacant. It used to be more active, but there seems to be a rift since the merger of our district with the neighboring district, a "trench" we're trying to fill in. Pertaining to LisaBob's #3, there's a District in another Council whose Roundtable I frequent, that solved that problem with Cub leaders and younger kiddos. One of the Venture Crews, which happens to be largely female, volunteered to run a child care service during Roundtable so that more leaders could attend and get their monthly training. They take the kids in another room for fun and games, juice and cookies, and from what I've seen it's been very effective - they always have a nice-sized group of youngsters. Maybe that's something that could be employed in some fashion at District Awards? Make it more of a family event and more inviting to attend?

I'm on high-speed, and it will load for me.... after an eternal wait.

John-in-KC: "More importantly, because of where I chose to do WB (out of my normal BSA Council network), I broadened my network of Scouters I can learn from, ask for help from, and give help to. " Hear, hear John, me too! And how! I went to the neighboring Council for my WB in which I knew next to nobody, and now I have this big ol' huge network of friends, sources of information, contacts, etc. that I likely never would have had if I hadn't gone up there to WB. It's amazing how many Scouters look down their noses at me when they find out..."Oh. You went up THERE?!? Why wouldn't you take WB here???" Please... Scouting should not be confined to a bubble. But that's opening up a whole new can o' worms, isn't it?

CONGRATS, willhi1979!!