jcfiredog

Thanks for all the posts. I know that as a first year camper I had whatever was on sale at K-mart. We could not afford the high dollar Keds. I might have had Jeds... My boy is an agressive hiker. Likes to take the hard way everywhere so I just wanted suggestions for what types. I think we will get him one of each as our troop camps at least once a month in addition to camps. Plus maybe it will make me get out more once it is a bit warmer. One last question. How do you get the boys to change their socks? At our first Webelos camp, which I know was only 3 days, I saw a boy packing to go home. His mom told me she packed 5 pair of clean socks and she took home 5 pair of clean socks... It was 96-99 degrees all three days. I know he rinsed before swimming but by Wednesday I stayed away from that boy. Without parents how does this happen?

In reference to your concern over fire protection. Other than if you have a storage room piled with stuff or really large racks of flamable materials your fire load is relatively low. I am in the fire protection and safety field and I see this every day. Compare what you have in total fire load to an office with cubical walls and mountains of paper. (Please do not look at my desk. It looks messy but if clean I cannot find anything.) The concern with the museums is that we cannot replace these things. I think the best thing in the world is to put fire sprinklers in every building. Chief Brunacini in Phoenix, I believe, requires them everywhere, but with your current state I would say focus on safety. Checking wires and light fixtures. Make sure there are no extension cords run to cabinet lights. Did you know they are not designed for continuous use? Use low voltage lighting and keep combustibles away from heat sources including light bulbs. I know of a company that will lease a fire sprinkler system. But then you still have to pay the bill. Common sense and a person competent with an ABC fire extinguisher within reach is the first line of defense. Fire sprinklers are actually designed to protect the occupants not the stuff. Everything will get wet within 20 feet of the sprinkler that activates. Only where there is enough heat to activate the sprinklers will the heads fuse, and they wet the surrounding area to stop the fire. The high value museums and computer rooms have gone to eco-friendly gas systems. Read that as expensive. Good luck.

In reference to your concern over fire protection. Other than if you have a storage room piled with stuff or really large racks of flamable materials your fire load is relatively low. I am in the fire protection and safety field and I see this every day. Compare what you have in total fire load to an office with cubical walls and mountains of paper. (Please do not look at my desk. It looks messy but if clean I cannot find anything.) The concern with the museums is that we cannot replace these things. I think the best thing in the world is to put fire sprinklers in every building. Chief Brunacini in Phoenix, I believe, requires them everywhere, but with your current state I would say focus on safety. Checking wires and light fixtures. Make sure there are no extension cords run to cabinet lights. Did you know they are not designed for continuous use? Use low voltage lighting and keep combustibles away from heat sources including light bulbs. I know of a company that will lease a fire sprinkler system. But then you still have to pay the bill. Common sense and a person competent with an ABC fire extinguisher within reach is the first line of defense. Fire sprinklers are actually designed to protect the occupants not the stuff. Everything will get wet within 20 feet of the sprinkler that activates. Only where there is enough heat to activate the sprinklers will the heads fuse, and they wet the surrounding area to stop the fire. The high value museums and computer rooms have gone to eco-friendly gas systems. Read that as expensive. Good luck.

OK, I tried to search for boots and shoes and got nothing very useful. I am the former Webelos leader who's son is ate up with the Scouts and going to Camp this summer. As I had a good year last year we plan to allow him to go to two camps this year. One close and one further away. Camp Naish I have been to with him in Webelos but never to Bartle. My quandry is what type of shoes/footwear should he have for camp. I remember having huge blisters when I went back in the 80's so I hope to eliminate this joy for him. Anyone have recommendations? I know I will be buying myself a good pair but my feet are not growing. Thanks in advance. New Purple Chicken Dad

I will have to agree with the majority here, I never got tired of the boys, just the 'job.' I was in charge of the B&G supposively. Until the Cubmaster decided my script had too much of the Webelos in it and not enough CM. Committee arguing about whether we could have Chris Cakes come in and do pancakes. Some kids are not allowed to eat pancakes. What??? It was not the Webelos or the program. I graduated 100% of my boys including a very late addition that worked super hard for his AOL. I think the only thing that kept me going was the boys interest (well 75% of them were) and my own sons urging that he wanted super 20 and to be an Eagle. Whiney stay at home moms who want it to be like a play date and thinks their kid will only eat good food ruins the fun for the rest of us. I will join the troop my son and 5 of the 7 boys that I crossed over, but I am retired until at the earliest, after camp. I do plan to camp with the boys some but no way can I run anything. I also have a 5 year old girl who wants to be a boy scout or a girl scout if she has too.. I have to say it is kinda cute. I just hope the brownies or whatever doesn't make her not like to go camping and doing the fun stuff we like now. Burn out is real. Burn out on kids is rare, the parents and committee I can do without.

Bill paying job: Fire Sprinkler Sales. Used to do fire sprinkler design, always wanted to be a Fireman. I too am a former scout. Wolf to maybe second class before the fumes got to me. Now a former; Bear, Webelos I, and as of tonight former Webelos II leader. Better half is an RN for money and webmaster, advancement chair for our pack here in Kansas. We are both retiring (at least for a while) from Boy Scouts. Let the others take over for a while. I do have a 5 year old girl so... Maybe brownie scouts.. I do love brownies. JCfiredog

Bill paying job: Fire Sprinkler Sales. Used to do fire sprinkler design, always wanted to be a Fireman. I too am a former scout. Wolf to maybe second class before the fumes got to me. Now a former; Bear, Webelos I, and as of tonight former Webelos II leader. Better half is an RN for money and webmaster, advancement chair for our pack here in Kansas. We are both retiring (at least for a while) from Boy Scouts. Let the others take over for a while. I do have a 5 year old girl so... Maybe brownie scouts.. I do love brownies. JCfiredog

I know the numbers are down here in Kansas as well. However as a proud Webelos II leader (retireing tomorrow) I have 7 boys all who are earning their AOL. Two are earned their twentier patch. I even have one that started Last September. I think the leader makes all the difference. (That seems conceted sorry.) We have 15-20 per den down low but average 5 to 8 crossovers. The boys from the last 4 years, that I knew, are still in scouts. Maybe we weed out those not interested early.