kittle

First I would like to thank everyone for their thoughts. My decision has been made for me and we aren't going to be able to do either. I fell and broke my leg and am therefor going to be off work and have no paycheck. My older son is going to summer camp because we have already paid for it and my middle son is going to go to summer camp if we can find the money for it. The deposit that I put down on Woodbadge is going to be transferred to my older son's Jamboree bill meaning a little less there that I am going to have to pay. Things don't always work how we want them, but they do work.

We got the letter from council today to let my son know that he is going to get to go to Jamboree. Now all we have to do is start making the payments. There are 4 boys from my son's Troop attending and his SM is one of the adults attending. He is excited. If everything works like we are hoping, he will also have his Eagle finished by then.

SR540Beaver, Resource camp is what our council can offer as summer camp. We closed our summer camp down a few years back and all Troops have to go out of council for summer camps. Last year a few adults got together to offer this camp. It is a really good first year camp for younger scouts. My son is wanting to go because the two men running the waterfront are our SM and Venturing crew leader. They worked with him a couple years ago to get his swimming skills strong enough to pass the swimming requirements. Now he wants to take the swimming merit badge and would like to do it with these guys. There a few things that I forgot to mention (probably because I was tired when I posted the message). The SM has also asked if I can attend Resource Camp since he is going to be at the waterfront most of the day. I am one of 2 active assistant SM's in out Troop. The other ASM can't go, but his wife is helping to run the camp. I wanted to attend WB last time it was offered in our council (a little over 2 years ago) but couldn't due to the fact that I was 8 months pregnant). I am in Scouting for the long run, I have three boys and the youngest is only 2 1/2. LisaBob, My son is not the type that needs his mom there or has a problem going long distances without me. He has been to summer camp 4 times, church camp 4 or 5 times, and they just went on a ski trip 12 hours away. He is always doing something without me. He knows that we need another adult and asked me if I could go. His thoughts on it are this: 1) we need another adult and I am ASM. 2) the younger scouts are familiar with me and respond to my leadership, better than throwing an adult in that isn't a leader and the Scouts don't know. 3) he knows that I have wanted to get more active in the camping part of the Troop but haven't been able to because of his dad's work schedule and the younger boys. 4) he also said that there won't be very more chance for me to go as a leader while he is in Scouts and he would like for me to go. He wants to start attending camp as staff next year. Thanks for all the thoughts and shared opinions. My name is on the list for WB, I signed up and put my deposit down before Kenneth decided that he would like to attend resource camp. I can drop if I decide to and they will let someone on the waiting list attend. I am really leaning toward Resource camp, but weill just have to see.

I was wanting to go to Woodbadge this year. But now my son has asked me to go to resource camp with him. I would have to ask off work for both and then the money is also going to be an issue. My son is attending Ransburg summer camp for one week in July with his Troop. But our council is offering a 4 day resource camp and my son wants to go to it also. I want him to because he wants to work on Lifesaving, swimming and other water Merit Badges at our resource camp. He also wants me to attend as an adult leader for out Troop. I am thinking that there will be other chances for Woodbadge, but time is getting short for me and my son to have these chances together. What are your thoughts?

Beavah, You misunderstood my last post. He was not discouraged about MB advancement. He had no problem be asked question and going over what he had already learned from the started MBs. He was stuck on RANK advancement and discouraged about Scouts. Our Troop would not accept partial pull-ups as improvement and he was having serious issue with the pull-ups. It took him til he was 14 to make First class because of the pull-ups. He is now months from being able to go before his Life BOR, PL, and wanting to run for SPL. I want to see boys encouraged instead of discouraged just because it is 'how we have always done things'.

My son put his application in for Jamboree and hopes that he gets to go. Our cost is going to $1650. I took a full-time position when offered to me and my son knows that he has to pick up the slack on babysitting when his dad is working. Last week he had to watch his brothers while I pulled a double shift, but he know that this is how we are able to pay for Scouting stuff and any other 'extras' that we want to do. He has also been offered a summer job by a local gentleman to help pay for Jamboree. We live in the country so it is difficult for him to get to town and do odd jobs. Yes, it is very expensive but we (his father and I) figure how many times is he (or his brothers) going to get an opportunity like this.

Our SM would like to try and introduce the boys to singing songs at campfire. My son has said that if we can find him the music that he will practice them and try to learn some. He (son) only plays chords on the guitar. If someone can point me in the right direction, I would appreciate it.

Thanks everyone for your replies. I will have to ask committee if this policy is only for MBs began at summer camp. Beavah, This is only one of the issues that I have differed in opinion over the committee. I am going to be with this troop for a very long time and would like to help make it the best for the boys who are in it. My son didn't push on these couple of MBs because he was stuck on advancement and very discouraged about scouts all together. He has since became unstuck and would like to finish the things that he as started. Now he is being discouraged because he is going to have to redo work that he has already done once. I do like my son's troop but there is room for improvement in any group.

I know this has probably been asked before, but can someone show me where it says how long a boy has to finish a merit badge? I will need it in print to show our committee. I didn't think there was a time limit (other than 18th birthday). Our troop committee says that the boy only has one year. Please help.

Personally, I am Wolf DL, ASM, and DL coach for another pack. We have another leader in our Pack that is the Tiger leader, Bear leader, Venturing crew leader, and has at least one council level position. I agree that it isn't ideal to have more than opne position. But when other adults won't step up you do what you have to.

I am assuming then that it is being offered to my Pack. When I put in my Pack number, it allowed me to go farther. Plus another leader in out unit is using it. He is the Tiger and Bear leader. I was just trying to make things a little easier for me considering that I am also the ASM for our Troop.

And if so, how did you like it? I am the Wolf leader this year. I have been a Bear leader, Webelos leader and Assistant SM (that is my other position right now. I know that I can plan meetings and get boys where they need to be but I am working again and really don't have the time. I am also acting as a den leader coach to another local Pack right now. I was told about this tonight at the Troop meeting and was wondering how it worked for those of you that have tried it. Any thoughts and recommendations would be appreciated.

If the boy is this allergic, then the boys do need an education in how to handle allergies. There should be NO peanut containing foods allowed on/at Scouting events. Bringing his own food won't be the solution either. As leaders, it would be our responsibility to check snack and make sure that nothing contains peanuts of any kind.

I am not sure that this boy should have to bring his own food. This is a perfect opportunity to teach the others. Food allergies are dealt with at schools and other public facilities every day. Why would this boy's Troop not be able to handle it? If this boys is having to bring his own food, cook his own food and be the only one handling his food. How is he going to learn the patrol mehtod? How will he finish the cooking requirements for first class? And how can he seriously be a part of any patrol? These boys can be taught. In this case maybe it is the responsibility of an adult to step in and theach the boys (and other parents). Otherwise, there is a chance of alienating this boy and driving him from the Troop.

I haven't read all the responses, but wanted to add my 2cents worth as a parent of a child with allergies. My youngest son is allergic to milk (not lactose but milk proteins). If he is still allergic when he crosses over into Boy Scouts, I will work with him and the boys in his patrol. The Troop should work woth the this boy aand not have peanut butter items on the menus. It is not impossible to work around this. Out Troop used to keep peanut butter in the Patrol box in case a boy didn't like what was on the menu, but we don't do that any more. It isn't impossible or really hard to work around a peanut allergy.

The small town that I live near has just decided to transfer to another unit instead of trying to run this one with 6 boys and 3 adults. Neither of my sons are part of this unit. My oldest is a boy scout and the other scout is a Wolf. My oldest joined the Troop that he is with 4 years ago. I signed the other up with the Pack that meets in the same church on the same night (just different times) just so I only had to drive and ask off work one night a week. This was also very important because I am the Wolf leader and ASM. At least this year, I will have an assistant Wolf leader. The other mother from my town has said that she will help me. The parents of at least 3 of the boys have decided to transfer their sons to the Pack that I am associated with. There is a Pack that would be considered our local Pack because it is the only one in our county. The parents don't want to transfer to that one, but I have been told that I was wrong in sharing about this Pack and that the boys should go local. One unit is 12 miles and the other is 18 miles. There thinking is that we are all from the same small town and that the boys already know each other. It would make more since to keep them together than to seperate them. I was also told when we joined this unit that as long as I was willing to transport them it didn't matter what unit I put them in. Which is correct and thank you.

This year, I worked and took care of the younger boys. Next year, I plan on attending as one of the adult leaders. This is my son's 4th year at camp. I am not worried about him and I trust the adults that he is with. I have never drove to the camp (except to deliver boys) and this year they didn't even need an extra driver. I really miss him, but I know he is having a good time. We are going to take him to a movie Saturday when he returns. He is wanting to see Dark Knight. We do have 2 or 3 sets of parents that will drive to see the boys at camp. It is about a 3 hour drive one way. My son has also asked me not to come because it would make him more homesick.

I can see where the wording in the book could be a little confusing. The book reads: Your son should begin earning achievements toward his Wolf badge as soon as he completes the Bobcat requirements. Completing electives for Arrow Points generally should wait until after he has earned his Wolf badge, and he cannot receive Arrow Points until he has been awarded his Wolf badge. He might, however, find some electives that he could be completing before he earns the Wolf badge.... As long as he completes these electives after he has earned his Bobcat, you may credit him for them. ... So, he can work on the electives before he has completed his Wolf badge but not before he finishes his Bobcat. If the boys were Tigers last year, they should have their Bobcat. Take elective 18 f for instance. It says to: Take part in two summertime pack events with your den. He is not going to be able to have his Wolf finished before Fall and by the next summer he will be a Bear. There a couple others that are about gardening and birds that are better done is the early summer that if they have to wait, they would not be able to finish as a Wolf. I would also like to add that even in Boy Scouts, you get to work ahead. You can start working on Merit badges that are required for Life, Star, and Eagle before you make Tenderfoot. You can work on Tenderfoot, 2nd class, and 1st class requirements at the same time. YOu just have to ba awarded them in the correct order. My son, for instance, received them all at once. Katrina

AvidSM Your answer to #3 makes me feal a little bit better about having done the conferences last night. Our SM is having to work 2nd shift temporarily and I am having to fill in. I didn't want the boys to have to wait longer for BOR. I am new to the position (3 months) and am still trying to find my niche. I am going to be with this Troop for up to the next 16 years (I have boys ranging from 14 to 2. As one ages out, I will have another joining. I hope it will be awhile before I have to do another. I worry that my criteria isn't the same as others. I have known these boys since they crossed over and know how much they have grown. I don't know if the SM feels the same. I did learns something about each boy.

OK, I am new to this and am in need of a little help. How do each of you go about a SM conference? Our SM is going to be gone for a little while longer and I a may have to fill in again. I need answers to a few questions and any advice that you can offer. 1. What needs to be covered at a SM conference? 2. Are there any questions that I should be asking? 3. Is there any reason that an ASM cannot do a SM conference if the SM is unavailable? Thanks, Kittle(This message has been edited by kittle)

Can you share some ideas for service hours. My son just made First class and now needs 6 hours of service hours. Our Troop doesn't have very many chances for service hours and he was wanting some ideas that he could present to his SM for approval. We don't live in the same town as the Troop that we are members of. Maybe it could be something that he did for his own community.

Thank you for all the responses. I didn't have a youth application. That give me the information that I need to share with this parent. I put my son in according to age and not grade because grade would have put my Tiger aged son in a Wolf den. I am a homeschooler and my son is at a 2nd/3rd grade level. I am more interested in making sure that he is the right age when he crosses over into Boy Scouts. I didn't want him to be to young and immature. But, also, if my son had been held back a year I would put him in a den according to age and not grade. I wouldn't want him to crossover and have a year less to work on the advancements. Thanks again for all the answers.

I know that a Tiger is supposed to be 7 or in the First grade. But do they have to be 7 before the year starts or turn 7 during the program year. I have had another parent ask me. There son will turn 7 next Jan and he wants to start Scouts. Second part of the question: is it better to go age based or grade based? I have my opinion on this, but I am wondering what others think. Thanks, kittle

I don't wear any neckware. I am considering buying a bolo but haven't decided. I am ASM and Wolf leader so half the time I'm not even in the right uniform. I have my uniform fixed for Boy Scouts instead of Cubs. Our last SM (that was female) wore a neckerchief like the boys. I've never paid attention to the other female leaders.

My son had his BOR tonight. He will be getting all three ranks at next weeks COH. He is excited and I am proud. Now he can take on more responsibility in the Troop. He said the whole board laughed when one of the members asked him what the hardest part of Tenderfoot was (the pull-ups of course). He said that he didn't have a chance to answer before everyone had a smile on their face. Kittle