KenDavis500

Our Troop bought a used 72 passenger school bus ~4 years ago. The ISD had received money to replace their fleet. Our bus cost between $3500-5000 (depending on who you talk to). A local paint manufacturer donated paint and a tire company donated a set of tires. Insurance is <$1000/yr (it's lumped in with the insurance for the trailers). In the last 3 years we've had to spend $600 in maintenance. We normally get 7 mpg. The troop pays for adults to get their license. We currently have 5 drivers. 72 passenger is only if there are 3 to a seat which never happens. We've had it pretty stuffed going to summer camp with 40 Scouts, 4 adults & 1 driver. The Scout enjoy the experience as the camp out "starts" when we get on the bus - they get to hang out with their friends. Typically pretty loud on the way to a camp out and dead quiet (everyone asleep) on the way back. It is a drawing point to our troop. We've had 2 LONG trips in it. One to Palo Duro canyon (9 hrs) and the other to Galveston (8 hrs). It does get uncomfortable after a while. My advice - run the numbers - purchase cost, insurance, reasonable maintenance cost, fuel, etc., throw in the intangibles - ease of tour plans, Scout camaraderie, etc. Then decide.

Our patrols are: Dutch Ovens, Fainting Goats, Duct Tape, 5, Cobras, & Snow. The Scouts got creative.

I'm introducing it for this campout. The SiC of the subsequent campouts can decide whether or not to plan their campfires.

How many of you involved in Troops have the Scouts plan out their campfire program? I'm an ASM in the local Troop. Our Troop has recently started using a senior Scout to be the "Scout-in-Charge" of the monthly campouts. They plan the campout with the assistance of the ASM. Our campfires have rarely been planned out in advance. They just happen. We are planning a campfire ceremony for accepting the new crossovers in March. I gave the campfire planning worksheet to the SiC and he had never seen it nor heard of it. It started me thinking. Do you (or your Scouts) plan a campfire out or just let it happen?

Our troop will soon be having a high adventure long term planning session. I'm looking for new location ideas. Our troop mixes between the established BSA national high adventure camps & putting on our own. Where has your troop gone for high adventure besides Philmont, Sea Base, Northern Tier & now Summit?

In my neck of the woods, I have only heard boys say they want to join Scouting so they can camp, fish, canoe, & hike. Camping being the most often mentioned. I have yet to hear a boy say he wanted to join Scouting to go to the movies.

it was packed. A ton of new Scouts and adults buying uniforms, books & pocket knives. A lot of energy and excitement. It started me thinking about the transition from the excited, ready to do everything boy & adult to the blah, this is boring Scout & cynical adult. Are we as adults making good on the implied promises of outdoor adventure and fun associated with Scouting?

I received an email from BSA today for a survey to give to my son. Anyone else?

Based on my observations, the ad program is changing to suit YOUR most recent viewing history. Experiment a little. Google hammocks and go to a few of the sites. Then go to scouter.com. What do you see as an ad?

I ran across these when our troop was looking for plans. http://kanzoutdoors.com/field_kitchen.html Not stainless steel. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Large-Camp-Kitchen-Food-Box-Riley-Stoves-/8830595249?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20e5830b1#ht_1427wt_905

Wow,completely a 180* of the experience I had at Hale last year. They did a good job with the merit badges - the boys actually had to demonstrate the requirement not just attend. The food was decent and plentiful. The staff was good with the boys. (This message has been edited by KenDavis500)

Does the BSA Ready & Prepared award still exist? I've found mention of it several places BUT the scouting.org link does not work and the latest application form date is 2005. Does anyone know and can point me in the right direction? KD Beaver

2" Cabela's brand knock-off of the Thermarest. Got it on sale for $49. Have had it for 6 months with great results. Highly recommend.

Not snow chasing. The idea started with someone saying the MB classes were boring 'cause they were just sitting there. That evolved (in my head) to a base camp with various hikes and MB work in the outdoors. Right now, it's just an idea that I'm trying to flesh out to present to the PLC.

The question is related to long term camping on our own.

The troop normally goes to Winter Camp; just smaller attendance than Summer camp. Last year - 10 boys Winter camp, 44 boys Summer camp.

I'm currently researching the feasibility of putting on a winter camp for our troop. Basically, a 3-5 day campout during Christmas break. Have any of you done this? Any tips/suggestions/words of wisdom you would like to share?

Do you have & use a weather radio when camping? What features do you require on your radio? Which features are useless to you? Is there a radio you recommend?

We have one guy in our district that holds multiple positions. He did the velcro thing. Similar to military patches. I'm not sure where he got it done but I'm guessing a tailor.

A few of them: 1. the first 4 meals, there was trash left on the tables. After that the PLC decided everyone should eat by patrol. That way they could determine the guilty party (or parties). It was also decided that if it happened again, the offending patrol would have latrine duty. For the "carrot"- if there was no issue for the remainder of the week, the SPL, ASPL & I would have latrine duty on our last day. It worked! I gladly did the latrine duty. 2. I had two Scouts that were members of my "20%er Club". As in, 80% of my (or the other adult leaders) time was spent on them. They were consistently behind the rest of the troop when it came to meals. My goal was for them to be in the first group by the end of the week. The last meal they were! Baby steps. 3. The dining hall had a rule of no hats indoors. This was enforced by a few troops - ours was one of them. I had 3 Scouts that would take off their hats when entering but somehow during the course of the meal, they would end up back on their heads. The Scouts didn't realize they were doing it. My goal was for these 3 to be coverless at least one entire meal from the time they entered the dining hall to the time they left. 2nd to last meal - goal! Baby steps.

We just came back from Summer Camp. I was the Summer Camp ASM. I've been talking to the parents and Scouts on how to improve for next year. Here's the list so far: Summer Camp Improvements 2011 1. Bring 2 swim suits. One for lake and one for pool. 2. At pickup, parents to checkout with leader for potential discussion regarding summer camp performance. 3. Bring: a. Ginger ale (stomach aches) b. Gatoraid powder (dehydration) c. Pedometers d. Benadryl ointment & pills e. Vitamin A&D ointment for nose membranes f. First Aid spray g. Knuckle band-aids h. Anti-biotic ointment i. Large band-aids 3x2 j. Large box of corn starch (chafing) k. Chiggerex l. Ivy Dry m. Tecnu (poison ivy soap) 4. Hydrate well starting the day before leaving 5. Topographic map of area 6. Medical forms in 2 weeks in advance for review. No ifs/ands/or buts. 7. Talk directly to Dining Hall Director not Camp Director regarding special diets. 8. Have shake down hike before camp to ensure all boys & adults are physically capable to endure the terrain. 9. Have Scout leadership establish expectations and communicate to boys before hand. 11. Practice mosquito net frame assembly 12. Bring alphabetical list of Scouts 13. Dont over communicate (Mr Davis) 14. Get pre-requisites into the hands of the Scouts sooner. 15. Watermelon or ice cream for half way night? 16. Break down check-in by patrol. 17. Roll fuel cost into Camp cost. 18. Set up account with trading post for merit badge kits & roll cost of kits into camp. 19. Schedule camp in June to beat 100 weather. I removed #10 as it included a Scout's full name.

I'm wanting it to be versatile - car camping & backpacking. The reason I was looking at parachute vs standard tarp was weight. Basic purpose would be sun screen. Later down the road I could water proof it with enough spray on stuff.

Anyone here have experience using a parachute canopy as a shelter? Would you do it again? Or go with one of the specifically designed tarps (i.e. Kelty's Noah Tarp)? I'm currently researching this but I'm still up in the air (no pun intended).

Our last backpacking trip I was the adult grub master. Each adult was provided a bag with everything inside. This allowed them to make a choice on whether to eat lunch A now or lunch B. Our menu: Sat breakfast oatmeal coffee w/mini-moos Sat lunch (lunch A) Pita bread tuna fish packet relish packet mayonnaise packet Snack GORP beef jerky 4 clementine oranges 2 hard boiled eggs peanut butter w/honey packet (just in case they don't like lunch a or b) Supper Mountain house freeze dried variety Sunday breakfast oatmeal coffee w/mini-moos Sun lunch (lunch B) Pita bread chicken packet relish packet mayonnaise packet Everyone ate. They had large zip lock bags to store and pack their trash. Next time I'll be adding some single serve lemonade/gatorade/tea mixes. And not using the Mountain House food.

1 weekend/month (except for summer camp month) + 1 high adventure camp/year So 11 weekends total.