gwd-scouter

Realizing this will probably open a big debate, why can't a scout show his duty to God without being a member of an organized church or religion? The Scout Oath says Duty to God, it does not say Duty to Church or Duty to (insert brand of religion here). And, while we're on the subject, I've always wanted to ask if anyone puts as much emphasis on the "and My Country" part of the Oath. How do you verify that a Scout has done his duty to his Country? What is the measurable criteria for a teenager to do his duty to his country?(This message has been edited by gwd-scouter)

OK. I must be the only scouter on the planet that doesn't know what the second story window song is. Been a scouter for 14 years, Cubs and Boys, and I'm clueless. Somebody help me... OneHour, congratulations on such fun times with your Tigers.

I am told that the pulling the underwear over the head-type wedgie is called an atomic wedgie.

Wait until your father gets home. Because I said so. How many times do I have to tell you, don't.... (found out early that answering "three" got me in more trouble!) And, of course, my favoriate - When I was your age...

Many years ago our District Camporees had a variety of troop competitions during Saturday. Unfortunately, many of the scouts and troops started to become disenchanted with the competitions because one troop in our District won everything, consistently, year-after-year. They were the largest troop - at least four times more scouts than the next largest troop. So, by consequence, they could and did always enter their best, strongest, largest, heaviest, etc. etc., scout. Small troops and/or those with only young inexperienced scouts just couldn't, and therefore didn't, compete. Things have begun to change though. I've noticed that the really big troop is now about average sized and several other troops have grown in size and experience. Last fall's camporee had a few competitions during Saturday afternoon and our little troop actually won a few events! They scouts sure were proud that they "actually beat Troop xxx at something." Also, we seem to have a bit more comaraderie between the troops these days so I am hoping that we could put on a Scout Olympics type Camporee. Sounds like fun.

A while back I started a thread about getting the guys to "unlock their inner silliness." It's working too! The troop is preparing for the District Camporee in October - theme is Highland games. Last Monday, the guys designed a troop flag for the event. Everyone had a different idea and they eventually made a sort of coat of arms that includes all the different pictures. They plan to start painting it at next Monday's meeting. Also, they are making plaid sashes and plan to paint their faces to match. I also overhead them discussing coming up with some kind of chant or cheer. Interesting plan they have for affixing the bottoms of the sashes - they were practicing to see how well a stapler works. One of our new adult leaders asked me (we thought out of ear shot of the boys) about them wearing the sashes during flag ceremonies when we are all being asked to wear full uniform. I said, why not? We can wear our full uniform with the sashes and still be respectful while raising the flags, can't we? After all, it is a themed weekend. Now, realizing some of you out there may not agree with that, the scouts overheard our conversation and thought it was very cool. Oh yes, the silliness is growing and I'm loving every minute of it.

I've tried machine sewing in the past. A largish needle and more of a basting stitch are best. But, I've never really liked the effort it took to constantly turn the shirt to sew on a small round patch (think merit badges). I don't like the way the badge bond and glue leave residues on the shirts either, so I still hand sew everything. You can use a slip stitch just pulling the needle through the underside of the edge of the patches. It will catch the threads on the border and won't be at all visible on the top. Also, much easier than trying to force the needle through and whole patch. To keep the patches straight, I make a stitch at the top, run the thread behind the patch to the bottom, and make another stitch. Then it will stay in place while I slip stitch all the way around.

I was told that 100% Boys Life meant it was reaching 100% of Boys homes. So, only one copy going to the home even if more than one scout.

Similar situation in our area - nothing scheduled (hopefully) for the weekend of the Clemson-Carolina game.

fgoodwin, A couple of troops in my area that I know of require training for PORs. They say it is mandatory and if the scout does not attend (without a REALLY good reason) then his POR is removed. Of course, these same troops also make attendance percentages mandatory, finish merit badges within a year or start over, and other stuff like that. Pretty severe in my mind. I don't know of any national policy that makes the junior leader training a requirement. Only what is stated that a scout may wear the trained strip if he has been to Troop Junior Leader Training for his POR.

So now we have to determine a man's political views before we decide if he is an exemplary Eagle Scout?

Oh well, so much for the excitement over my new troop committe folks. My new CC and Treasurer went to training last weekend. I heard from the District Training Chair that they spent a good deal of time during the training stating that they only joined out committee to help their son make Eagle. Their son will turn 18 in about 8 months. Still has to complete his POR and a few merit badges and his project. He's been absent from the troop for almost 3 years since turing life. I talked to his mother (our new Treasurer) and she made no apologies for only joining to help her son get through. He won't make it. I told her that. He isn't one ounce of commited to the Troop. He shows up about once or twice a year all full of fire about serving in a POR. Then, gone again. Looks like I have a troop with no committee, no help or interest at all from our Chartered Organization. Well, at least the scouts had a great planning weekend and we are looking forward to the next 12 months of adventures.

have signed in to the chat room. hope to catch some of you tongiht.

The recognition kits are not just for cub scouts. The Boy Scout version is leather and has three thongs to hold beads for individual requirements for Tenderfoot, 2nd Class and 1st Class. It is meant to be worn on the belt. I saw them in our local shop the other day and looked it up. Apparently, you give out a bead to the scout each time he passes an individual rank requirements (T-1st class). Seems like it would be a good idea for those young guys. May take them a while to finish a rank and an immediate recognition for a requirement might be nice. You know, "Joe Scout just completed his (insert requirement here), so he has earned a bead." I completely agree to the immediate recognition of a scout after he has completed a rank. But, I seek the wisdom of the forum. I will also check with the PLC and see what they think about it.

Today, my younger son and a friend have been down at the creek throwing rocks, building dams, tearing down dams, and generally getting wet and muddy. Been at it for several hours now. They are 13. I sit on the back deck and can hear their laughter in the distance. I know they are having a good time. Yes, they, like most of their friends, spend many hours playing video and computer games, but mostly when then are alone and no one is around to hang out with. The boys just popped in to say they were hiking down the lake. "Be back in a couple hours for dinner," I said.

I don't know if it is the same in all Councils, but in our Council a scouter must be fully trained for his/her current position in order to take Woodbadge. That means, that everyone must take the New Leader Essentials (a few hours) and Position Specific Training (1/2 days for Cubs, 1/2 day for Committee Members, full day for SM, ASM). Then, SM and ASM must take the Outdoor Leader Skills for a weekend. My question is why do the SM and ASM have to take more training that Cub Leaders and Committee Members to attend Woodbadge? I have not attended Woodbadge yet, but I gather there is no difference in the training received whether one is a Cub Scout Leader or a Boy Scout Leader. Please don't take this as a complaint, just wondering.

Welcome to the Forum, Mike. Great place for answers and ideas. Your post reminds me of a man and son who showed up for a cub scout roundup many years ago. I was CM then and he walked in the door with his son, he had a clipboard in his hand, and he said, "I've been waiting for this since my son was born." Have a great time with your son!

I believe the correct spelling is forty, not fourty. Well, at least that was how we spelled it fourty, er, forty years ago.

Don't need to make a new MB for TV jingles, just change the requirements for music MB. Actually, I don't remember anything in the music MB that describes the type of music you must sing or play or describe. So, I guess we already have a video game tune/TV theme song area covered. Instead of TV, cell phone, video game merit badges, let's just update the electronics merit badge. :-)

Does anyone use the Boy Scout immediate recognitions (Tenderfoot to 1st Class)? I remember the boys in Cub Scouts really liked getting their beads, but are they looked down on by the Boy Scout aged guys?

Welcome Jeff. Being a Tiger Den Leader was one of the most fun adult leader positions for me. Always nice to hear the scouting tradition continues and I hope you and your son enjoy your time together.

We are an unapologetic scouting family. We've been doing this for 14 years since our older son was in 1st grade. We have accumulated an entire dresser, dedicated only to scouting apparel, full of shorts, pants, belts, socks and too-many-to-count scout-related T-shirts. My sons have never had any problem wearing a Scout T-shirt to school. Good grief, after all these years they have more of them than regular T-shirts. Sure, both my sons would have never worn their full uniform to school (at least not after Cub Scouts), but no one ever asked them to do that. They have and do wear them at appropriate times during meetings and on outings. And, yes, I have over the years had to push them a bit to wear their "class A" - the whole deal, you know, socks and all - they are currently or were teenagers. Anyone with a teenager knows that almost everything we ask them to do as parents is up for negotiation. I will say that both of my sons would actually stand at a school assembly if asked to do so because they are Boy Scouts. I will also say that they are more than likely an exception. I have known other scouts through the years that wouldn't be "caught dead" in a scout uniform if they didn't HAVE to wear it." The biggest difference I've seen in these scouts - those that admit to being a scout and those that won't - is that those that admit to being a scout, even if a bit embarrased by it, are those that actually get what this program is all about. A few months shy of two years ago I stepped into the SM role for our troop. Our troop was a waist up uniform at best and no uniform at all at worst. In two years we are becoming a scout-led troop, adults model the uniform method fully and consistently, we take a trip somewhere EVERY month, and a sense of pride has begun to build in the boys and the troop. The scout uniform debate will go on forever. I actually like the uniform and never thought there was such a huge problem until I joined these forums. But, I can without a doubt say that decreasing numbers in Scouting has nothing to do with the uniform. Of course, that is just my opinion.

Our Council always has SFF drive first two weekends in February.

Interesting point, Chippewa - "When asked why, he said that Scouts took up enough time so that it was a burden, but not enough time to really make it a commitment." That's a new perspective I had not thought about. I have noticed that the troops in our area with an active program - going somewhere AT LEAST once a month and interesting activities during weekly meetings - those are the troops that are doing well with recruitment and retention.

Hey Semper - good point there about Napoleon Dynamite. After that movie came out, I heard so many scouts in our troop saying "I got skills" I had to take the time to actually watch it. Stupid movie in my opinion, but I certainly can see its appeal to the boys. Interesting how much they enjoyed watching the "nerds" and "dorks" and have taken to imitating sayings from the film. As usual, so many forum members have posted wonderful insights into what may be causing a decline in membership in scouting. Most are based on the poster's opinion, personal observances and experiences, or direct communications (interviews) with scouts and adults. I, too, have spent many years discussing declining memberships - not only in scouts, but in many different youth groups: little league, YMCA, 4-H, and even decreasing tryouts for middle and high school sports teams. And, while I do not have hard and fast facts nor an interest website link to show any statistics, I feel confident in what I hear from the other fine folks in my community that are trying to reach out to our youth. So, based on my own communications and observance, I think it comes down to this. Changing the uniform, mottos, merit badges, mascots, etc. will not reverse the course of declining membership. Children today are offered so many activities from which to chose. Add to that the many parents that are driven to produce perfect, well-rounded, multitalented children with resumes full of activities and memberships. There just isn't time to do everything. This topic and others about improving Scouting have also been posted on another scouting forum by Brian. Most of the responses are the same as those here. Finally, Brian, while you may have good itentions in wanting to improve the Scouting program, I find it difficult to think that you really like anything about it when you post: "Friends don't let friends be dorks."