Fuzzy Bear

My first knee jerk reaction, one of many, to year round school and the summer camp dilemma was to chip in, "they still get time off". My second thought was, "yes, but the summer camp staff cannot be gathered during changing schedules to meet the times that the schools are out". My third reaction was, "well, they can all go to High Adventure bases" but I stopped myself before I nose dived directly into Mother Earth. Then, "Eureka!, we may have to change Summer Camp altogether and make it unit based with specific programs and instructors rather than the old Ford has a better idea assembly line approach to MBs". Camp would be a series of camps throughout the year. Some MB's that were done at S.C. would now be done back at home and visa-versa. Various Councils would stage one or two week specialty camps. Councils and Districts might "resource up" a company that would pay for a special program for a week. I can think of lots of ways that the program would be made richer and would bring into focus ways of doing things that might be more along the lines of the 21st century. Example: What about partnering with a school for a two week Science Camp with Science Teachers as the instructors, the Scouts providing the camp and a supplemental aquatic program with staff from the student body and Science based companies picking up the bill and providing literature and projects? The curriculum could include the Science MBs and school required subject matter, as well as providing current demonstrations from the real world. There could be a Science fair and/or a related competition that would bring it all to a conclusion. This would, of course, include girls and possibly Ducks but parents could be brought in to help supervise the whole operation. I hope I didnt explode upon impact. FB

trlarue, "Why" is an indefintite question promoting creative responses. So I'll share an earlier related column with you. This same interesting question was bantered about regarding Duck Scouts. What reason for the belt-up uniforms? All it accomplished was for several of our beloved Forum members in getting down on each other and raising their hackles and getting their feathers ruffled. Most of us already know that when it comes to the uniform that pants are required even if they are unofficial, not so for our fine featherd friends. I hope this helps. (* a little Homer goes a long way:) FB

fs, As I see it from my own experience, any time person, place or time is changed, so goes boys and or leaders. The more continuity that a group achieves, the stronger is overall attendance, thus making it important to have a well planned yearly program. FB

OGE, ( I have thought about your question for awhile.) When Andy doesnt show you his hands, you dont blow his britches off with a gun. Can anyone remember the WACO incident where people had guns and were holed up in their own home? The Law decided to make sure that the gun laws were not being broken. So, up on the house top they went and began firing down the chimney. In the aftermath, a big argument ensued about who fired first and what kind of weapons were used and who was right and who was wrong and to this day there are big black marks against the Law for their lack of forethought. The point was that nobody and I mean nobody thought that there was any other way than to blow the britches off of the bad guys. Had someone thought about it for one minute, the leader, David K., could have been quietly arrested downtown and the followers would have dutifully marched in to defend their leader and then the rest could have been quickly and quietly jailed. People would not have to have died and the Law would have looked like they knew what they were doing. I realize there would have no heroes but there would have been a world of respect given to those in the legal profession for having more than one weapon in their arsenal. Being the richest and mightiest nation on earth means, we should also use our brains on occasion instead of our big stick. And now the rest of the story: As for Andy, the DL looks him straight in the eye and tells him that you no longer want whatever he has behind his back. The DL continues to speak directly to Andy while the ADL moves the other Scouts quickly outside. The ADL is given the cell phone with Andys Mothers number on speed dial. She is rung up and told to come and pick Andy up as soon as she can. Andy is then told that his Mother wants to speak to him. Andy is given the cell phone to speak to his Mother. His Mother is told to continue speaking to Andy until she picks him up from the Den meeting. Andy is not to be threatened or punished anytime during this episode. Once the knife is released AND the Mother arrives, then a discussion can be held regarding Andys future being permanently supervised at all Scout related activities. And now for the 1% solution: Our Vice President has offered us the1% solution. He has told the press that if there is 1% possibility that Iraq had WOMD, then it was worth it even if we were wrong. The problem with the 1% solution: Where do we stop and can we stop because everyone meets the criteria. We are much smarter than what is being offered. It is my sincere prayer that we use our brains for awhile. FB

Ducks have never been known to return fire one time in all of the years of being shot at and missed. I am guessing that they are eternal optimists. FB

It is your destiny, Luke, to be a Presbyterian.

If Darth Vader is GM, that makes the BSA, Luke Skywalker and the motto is, May the Force be with you. Bum bum, nothing but Star Wars, nothing but Star Wars bum, bum bum bum

I don't want to belabor niceness but I have something that bothers me; I call it "Echo". Echo is the same thing being said again but in different words. Now, when it is done once, it is an understandable mistake. When it is done two or more times in the same column, it is annoying. It makes me wonder if people actually read anything but the last response before pounding away at the keyboard. I think of it as a form of rudeness but then repetition is the way we remember things, so it could be viewed as being Helpful. I suppose some days the glass is half empty. FB

fgoodwin, You underestimate my response. I like what you bring to the Forum. You are thoughtful and you stir things up. The ignore button does little to change one's perception. FB

Since around the 1940 somethings, the rule has been that adults do not work on or wear Scout patches. FB

As I floated through this article, all that came to my mind was, "edit". I suppose that for many of us, we would not get the news if it were not for fgoodwin. My sentiments go right along side of young Felix, age 13. FB

Did anyone note that General Motors is in trouble? (*Note-the American orginal(s) post) FB

The placement is on the left side, three inches above the end of the leg and two inches to the right of the sideseam, unless it is a thong and then it can be sewn directly onto the skin and used as a kind of a tatoo. (Disclaimer: Joke, it might go off in your gut.) FB

The Question: Let's say that a Scouter came in from out of nowhere and he looked the part but he was holding in his "hands" an envelope. He mutters something about having the only complete and satisfying answer to the camp food question in the universe. He places the envelope on the head table in the dining hall and then he disappears. All of the Summer Camp Decision Makers are present for this performance. They walk slowly up to the table and read what is written on the outside of the envelope. It says, "If you open and read this all of your problems will be solved regarding Camp Food." What decision would they make regarding the Answer and if they did read it, what would be their motivation? FB

As a Scout, I once ate a whole box of curlews at Summer Camp. Ducks wear a belt without pants because it is the thought that counts. Think and Scratch your heads: Is a Loon or a Coot a Duck? Why is the word Duck funny? Does a quacking Duck make an echo? The world's funniest Joke: A couple of New Jersey hunters are out in the woods Duck hunting when one of them falls to the ground. He doesn't seem to be breathing, his eyes are rolled back in his head. The other guy whips out his cell phone and calls the emergency services. He gasps to the operator: "My friend is dead! What can I do?" The operator, in a calm soothing voice says: "Just take it easy. I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead. A couple of New Jersey hunters are out in the woods Duck hunting when one of them falls to the ground. He doesn't seem to be breathing, his eyes are rolled back in his head. The other guy whips out his cell phone and calls the emergency services. He gasps to the operator: "My friend is dead! What can I do?" The operator, in a calm soothing voice says: "Just take it easy. I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead." There is a silence, then a shot is heard. A couple of New Jersey hunters are out in the woods Duck hunting when one of them falls to the ground. He doesn't seem to be breathing, his eyes are rolled back in his head. The other guy whips out his cell phone and calls the emergency services. He gasps to the operator: "My friend is dead! What can I do?" The operator, in a calm soothing voice says: "Just take it easy. I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead." There is a silence, then a shot is heard. The guy's voice comes back on the line. He says: "OK, now what?" FB

I had never thought about it before. tlhfckoctbcr That is obviously not going to work very well. One might break it into groupings. tlh fck oct bcr Not much better. Since you are trying to learn it or teach it, I will share with you the way I learned it. I joined Boy Scouting in 1960. Prior to this time, there was a requirement that a person had to repeat the Scout Law and memorize the definitions. I got out my brother's old handbook and began reading the Law and the definitions over and over. I did this for several weeks. When I went in to take the test, the memorization of the definitions requirement had been changed to simply explaining the definitions of each one. This was something I had not anticipated in the new handbook, which I had but didn't read. I was relieved but also disappointed. I felt like something important had been taken away but I also had learned something that would help me later on. I struggled in school when it came to memory work. Unlike other students that could remember easily, I would take several times longer to do the same work. Sometimes I was just lazy and didn't have the same motivation/reasons to learn the way I had learned the Scout Law. Jump ahead several years to being a Webelos Leader. I had a diverse group, one that high to low end achievers. I vowed that each Scout would learn the Law. I put up a poster with the 12 points on one wall. Each week a different wall was used for the same poster. The Scouts were allowed to change directions if they wanted or needed help to remember it. After four weeks, the poster was turned 90 degrees to the floor with a different wall each week. Then it was placed upside down for the last four weeks. Each week we talked about the definitions of the Scout Law for a few minutes. One Scout was resistant, so I made a home visit. His parents and his Eagle Scout brother decided to help Greg repeat the Law several times over each day. Greg passed and the entire Den received their Arrow of Light at the same time. Greg was the proudest one there. FB

Could Ducks be considered to be Sea Scouts by association and if so, would they be charged a fee for swimming in and around the marina as well? This policy might reach much further than first thought. FB

The Duck Patrol yell: Let's have a D. Let's have a U. Let's have a C. Let's have a K. What does it spell? What does it spell? What does it spell? KCUD yea!

My brother dreamed he ate his pillow last night. When he got up this morning and told me about it, I could see that he was still a little down in the mouth. ( M. Poppins) If we really wanted Ducks in Scouting, we would allow them into activities other than just our sleeping bags. Since Ducks fly down South in the winter, where do they stay in the fall? Answer: the ground. How many Ducks does it take to screw in a light bulb? Answer: Nobody can Teal you. Daffy Duck is Quackers. I now realize how much Ducks are a part of our everyday lives. So, I will duck out of here. FB

According to Donalds bio, he has more than one issue. Donald is a Duck with a short fuse. His good intentions are generally his second or third ones but by the time he reaches them, he is off chasing his less nobler goals. He is not a quitter but a profound loser. Daisy has stood by his side for years without going to the alter. He also has some nephews that we have always wondered about. He never has understood why things go so well for Mickey and Goofy. If Donald signed up with the BSA, he might not pass the background check. Let's hope he hasn't given Ducks a bad name. FB

Eamonn, Please share your instructions for proper care of the hat plume. I would be interested in keeping mine in ship shape condition, since it has been around for a while. Thanks, FB

Eamonn makes a good point about the outright exclusion of Ducks from Scouting as well as other warm blooded animals. He didn't even mention cold blooded ones but I won't lower myself. As he said, Ducks didn't even make the Cigarette Cards in the 50's, so Duck Discrimination (D.D.) was up in smoke years ago. FScouter's defense of the BSA is well worn but just because the literature doesn't use the D. word doesn't mean that they haven't been targeted. Onehour has suggested the he has eaten a Peeking Duck and I feel sure that he feels that it was justafried. grampye, there is so much indigestion about Ducks that if one were to sit for an Eagle BOR everyone would just take aim. Even the President is known as a lame duck during his last year. Its libels like that that give Ducks a bad rap. FB

I just realized that we had not had a good round of girls, gays, or God in a long time. To rouse the troops, I thought I would lead the way with the Duck question. Is there anybody madly against Ducks being in Scouting? The BSA policy is strictly against them. I find this to be blatant discrimination. I am sure that there is a silent movement out there trying to bring them in to the fold but they have been in the "closet", kind of. I know that a boy or adult cannot sleep in the same tent with one, see GTSS. This question has been around for a long time and everyone has been tiptoeing all around it. It is like the proverbial elephant in the living room and everyone has ignored it. I could go on but I won't. I expect there to be allot of rudeness over this issue but go ahead and let it out. We have been quiet much too long! FB

Internet Search I watched the streaming conversations, misspellings and endless nonsense in one Chat Room for about 10 minutes once, so I pressed on. I found this. It seemed like a good place to land, so I stayed. I also entered a Haiku forum for a while but left. I think a few were using it to fix their writer's block. I compare this Forum to my first trip to Philmont for one of the Adult Training sessions. In the evenings, I would sit with my wife talking to a group of Scouters about Scouting. I would get up and go to the bathroom. On my return, I would invariably overhear another conversation and enter in with some other group. I would remember my mission and before I would take a few steps the same thing would happen all over again. Some bathroom visits lasted three hours. When I finally got back, I just slipped right back into the conversation. Someone would say something to my wife and she would just smile or laugh. FB

E-Bay, Businesses that sell Scout Collectables, Boy Scout Trade-orees, and Scout Memorabilia Collectors. If you have been through basic SM training and/or Wood Badge training, you probably already know one or more Scouters that could help you find one. Many also have seconds that they are willing to trade or sell. FB