gwd-scouter

Lauwit, congrats on stepping up to SM. I read something you posted over a year ago about being ASM to the Troop (still 6 boys) and that your troop only attended summer camp and other district/council events. Nice to read that you've upped the campouts/outings to 10 a year - one every month except during the summer. Good for you and your boys. Now, it's true that a Troop of six guys is very small. Small does have its advantages, though. And, yes, you can be boy-led even with only a few guys. Our Troop has always been small, having at times as many as 16 scouts and recently as few as nine, but most times somewhere around 10-12. Several years ago, I set about changing the culture of our troop to boy-led, full uniform, outings every month, more adventurous outings, backpacking or at least trailer-less camping, PORs that mean something, advancement when a guy actually knows and does the requirements, etc. etc. You know, implementing the methods. It took time but eventually the guys "got it" and started taking charge of their troop. ASMs and Committee (such as it was) got on board too, although it took a little longer with them. Up until last spring, we had nine scouts. They were a wonderful group of guys that took charge of their troop, their outings, the planning, the meetings. For the most part they got along very well and helped each other. The best part for me was that with so few boys I really had a chance to talk with them individually, get to know them very well - what motivates them, what doesn't. We were a marvelous little troop and rarely did a scout miss a meeting or outing. The guys did operate as one patrol, with a PL, APL and quartermaster (although the guys preferred the title of SPL and used that instead of PL). We also had a JASM who helped teach the PL how to do his job better. Several advantages to a small troop/one patrol. Really easy to go anywhere to camp or backpack. Really easy to get them there. The boys themselves all learn a lot about planning and organization and teamwork because in a small troop they all are doing that - not just a few filling the PORs. One thing I find odd in your post about advancement. You stated it takes your guys over two years to earn First Class. Is that because in the past you hadn't camped very often? Being a small troop ourselves our guys had many more opportunities for advancement. Yep, our little troop of guys bonded very well. So well, in fact, that last spring when we found out we were getting Webelos crossovers from three different packs and growing from 9 to 24 scouts, our guys were worried. Some said, we like our troop. What will all those new guys do to it? It's been a struggle for our guys to take in all these new scouts and for now at least things aren't running as smoothly as they used to. But, I do see improvement and imagine it will all settle down by the time we have new elections in September. You mention you have a pack with Webelos that will cross over in the spring. Don't get complacent about it. Take them camping. Invite them to meetings. Get them involved now with your Troop. Good luck.

You may want to consider getting in touch and meeting with your District's past day camp directors. Ought to be able to help you out a lot.

Hooray, sounds like it was a great trip!

Nicely put, DeanRx

The project was finished beautifully, nice article and pictures in the local paper. Son had his BOR on June 4th and I received his certificate and medal last week. He is working all summer at scout camp so he has no idea yet that his award has come from National. I think he'll be a bit disappointed that his certificate is signed by President Bush. No, he can't vote yet, but he really got into last year's campaigns and the election and was excited about Obama being President. Said it would be cool to have his signature on his Eagle certificate. Oh well.

My sons are more upset that Billy Mays died than about Michael, Farrah and Ed.

My son is aquatics director this year and went to camp school in the spring. He said he was in the water every day, almost all day long. Very intense aquatics training. Not much classroom type instruction, except for CPR certification and going over the standards. Every department in camp has a set of standards it must meet in order to pass inspection. He received his NCS certification before he left.

Camp Old Indian, Blue Ridge Council, SC has a Webelos/Cubs resident camp at the end of the summer, last week after Boy Scout camps. It is run much like trainerlady's description. Programs are designed toward Webelos pins/Cub achievements. Each year has a different theme. Webelos arrive on Wednesday evening, Cubs on Thursday evening, and camp ends on Saturday at noon. Most of the regular staff is kept on. The camp director and program director are volunteers, along with any other volunteers they ask to help. Not sure how it's run now, but back when I was the camp director we ran in essence two different camps at the same time - one for the Webelos and one for the Cubs. All the scouts did many of the same things such as archery, BBs, canoeing/rowing, swimming, but the Webelos got a bit more because they were there for an extra day. Sessions for them varied from year to year but included things to go along with the activity pins - especially the outdoors pins like forester, outdoorsman, naturalist. In the fall, the council also holds Cub/parent weekends for about six weekends. Cub/parent arrives either on Friday afternoon and leaves Saturday noon, or arrives Saturday afternoon and leaves Sunday noon. These have turned out to be very popular and the summer resident camp program has taken a bit of a hit in numbers since.

Good ideas so far. Also ask around at your monthly roundtable meetings. See if any other Cub Packs in your area are willing to donate from their uniform closet. Remind your parents that once their son outgrows his uniform to donate to the Pack for another scout who may need a uniform. Contact your District Executive. He can go through your Council and see about Friends of Scouting money. FOS money collected by your council can be used to help outfit your Cubs. Ours, I know, will provide a uniform shirt and handbook to those in need. We have several scouts in our Troop that benefit from that. In our case they will also cover the annual registration fee. It is truly a shame that you have Cubs dropping out for lack of a uniform. As far as dues, does your Pack hold fundraising events? The profits each scout makes from sales could be put into scout accounts to be used for uniforms, dues, outings, and other things. We use popcorn sales for that. Some of our guys earn enough to go to a week of summer camp for free.

It may be that they simply don't know the correct placement. On the other hand, female Cub Scout Leaders may wear the patch above the right pocket.

Naked hiking? That's just disturbing.

Hi Forum Folks. Just wondering if something in the water, or air, whatever, is causing the sudden influx of interesting forum topics - R rated video games, cubs and pornography, masturbation? Heading out for summer camp in two days. Wonder what interesting reading will be here when I get back.

Just got an email from Blue Ridge Council, Camp Old Indian - the camp we're going to next week. Using the same guidelines as Camp Barstow, i.e., the congestion and cough, along with fever and others. If you have two or more, you're quarantined. Hopefully, my allergies will abate a bit before check-in or else my congestion and slight cough will keep me out.

Indian Waters Council, Columbia South Carolina Boy Scouts of America PRESS RELEASE June 16, 2009 Health and Safety of our Campers To keep an open line of communication and continue to provide helpful information on Scouting, this e-mail is being sent to all members of our Scouting e-mail list: Last week, three cases of H1N1 or swine flu virus were reported at Camp Daniel Boone in North Carolina and an additional seven cases were reported yesterday (Monday) from a troop in Atlanta that attended Camp Daniel Boone last week. It appears the flu came into their camp with campers from Florida. We would like to reassure our constituents that: 1. There have not been any cases of the swine flu virus reported among Scouts or leaders at Camp Barstow or any other programs of the Indian Waters Council, or among any of them visiting other camps. 2. Our camps are operated by certified and extremely well-trained leaders including medical professionals who are on-site at all times. 3. Our highest priority is the health and safety of our campers and good communication is extremely important to us. Therefore, we are taking the following precautionary steps, effective immediately: * We are implementing the pre-screening of all youth and adults participating in activities conducted by the Indian Waters Council, including all activites at Camp Barstow and day camps. The medical officer or appropriate staff member will screen people as they enter camp, even for a visit, and we are asking the assistance of our unit leaders in the implementation of that screening for future campers prior to arrival. That screening is a simple questionnaire developed by Tulane University Medical School and now used by other Boy Scout camps. Here is the questionnaire: "Do you have any of the following symptoms? A. Fever equal to or greater than 100 Degrees Farenheit, or feverishness B. Nasal congestion C. Sore throat D. Cough If the answer is "yes" to two or more of these questions, the camper is immediately quarantined and appropriate arrangements made (further medical attention off-site and/or parent pickup). Future campers (youth and adults coming to camp in the future) with two or more of these symptoms will be asked to stay home and seek medical attention. * We are keeping updates of the health and safety of our campers online at www.indianwaters.org. For their information and assistance, we will also begin contacting leaders and parents of our campers attending future council activities that have not occurred yet to ask their assistance in the pre-screening process. * Our staff is always available to answer any questions or concerns on the health and safety of our campers with the following contacts: Scout Service Center: 803-750-9868 Overall camp programs: Stephen Davis, mobile: 803-261-6764; office: 803-750-9868 ext. 103; stdavis@bsamail.org Scout Executive: Doug Stone: mobile: 803-269-9513 office: 803-750-9868 ext. 101; dstone@bsamail.org Camp Barstow: 864-445-4991 (Larry Parrish, Camp Director) The Indian Waters Council, BSA operates the highest quality Scouting programs in the very safest manner with more than 1,000 youth and adults participating this summer. Thank you for your involvement in Scouting!

Just had our Court of Honor last night. One younger brother was there in uniform along with his Den Leader Mom. Very nice!

I don't know if it's always been that way, but it seems to me there are two kinds of troops that go to camp: those that use camp as a quick and easy way to earn merit badges and those that encourage the boys to do something different, try something new, take a challenge, have fun and adventure. I can't tell you how dismayed I get when I hear a Scoutmaster tell a parent that summer camp is the best way for their son to earn merit badges. Yuck! I am so glad that after years of using camp as a Eagle-merit badge mill our guys are finally seeing the light and doing FUN stuff at camp. Even have three older guys (16 and 17) doing the High Adventure Program - the first time ever for our troop. It may also be parents pushing the whole idea of earning as many merit badges as possible at camp. For some parents, nothing less will do than occupying their child's time with "meaningful" activities. Can't just have fun anymore.

It's been a while, but is serving as a denner a requirement for Bear advancement? I used denners when I was a Bear Leader and just started alphabetically and rotated the guys around every month. Along with things others have said about what the denner can do, ours also helped decide what game we would play for the following week.

Nice one, Gern.

I got the merit badge list for our visiting scout. Good easy fun stuff for his first year. He is signed up for swimming, which sometimes is difficult for our first year campers. Mostly because while they may be proficient swimmers in a pool, they lose it when it comes time to jump in the very cold lake. Have been corresponding with his Mom and he did come visit us for a little bit the other night before going to his own Troop's meeting. I think he will have a good week with us.

I like the idea of combining the citizenship badges and adding cooking as a required badge. Moving the tenderfoot requirements to Arrow of Light is a bad idea though. I wouldn't want to pass a guy off automatically as knowing the buddy system, the Oath and Law, basics of cooking, first aid, etc. just because he earned the AOL. Many guys I've seen over the years who wear an AOL patch don't actually know much about what they were supposed to know to earn it. Eager Webelos Den Leaders, you know.

The scout provided inaccurate information in his letter about the deductibility of donations. Chances are he got that information from his parents or scout leaders who also were incorrect. I wouldn't hold it against the scout and question his trustworthiness.

Wow, poor kid. Mom can't go supervise an OA weekend so he can't go? Any idea why he transferred troops? Did the scout in question show anger or disappointment after the election, or just Mom? Sadly, I think we've all dealt with parents like that. The forum is a great place to vent!

We had that come up a couple of times when I was a Cub Leader. In our case, we moved the boy along with his Den mates. The Cub Scout joining requirements use a grade level, but also the boy's age. When the boy is in Webelos and ready to cross over to a Troop, his age can be the determining factor on whether he meets the joining requirement, not necessarily his grade level. In other words, if by the time he's ready to cross over to Boy Scouts he is 11 years old, or if he has earned the Arrow of Light, it doesn't matter if he is in the fourth grade. The joining requirement for Boy Scouts is be eleven years old OR have completed fifth grade OR have earned the Arrow of Light.

What is the EDGE method and how is it used to teach someone to tie a knot?

I'm always a little skeptical of third (or more) hand information. I would like to think that the adult leaders didn't give such a lame answer to the concerned parents. Then again, I suppose it happens. I would also like to think that one such incident wouldn't be sufficient cause to pull a boy from the troop. But I know that happens, too.