knottyfox

tcherven, Glad you had so much fun with Wood Badge! Keep one very important thing in mind, "Can't everyone be a Fox!" I do feel for the other critters! BSA Chaplain, I loved what you had to say!! Knotty Fox

I first saw a beading at an adult training course. I asked what it was about and that is what inspired me to attend. I too recieved my beads at the same training session a year or two later. Just my opinion, I feel as though adult recognition should be done in the company of other adults. I don't care for bead ceremonies at court of honors or other youth intended functions. I feel as though it removes the spotlight from them for a moment.

Newbie Den Leader, Take the course! It's great fun! I have had the priviledge of being on staff for the older course and the newer one. By doing so, I have seen the sylibus and no place in it does it state "Wood Badge Elitism and Arrogance"! Yes, I have encountered folks that feel that Woodbadge has set them apart as well as many others that just plain had fun. A set of Woodbadge beads is almost as common as a trained patch. Anyone can take the course, you are not called up from the elite to participate. Elitism and arrogance concerning woodbadge is about the individual and not the course! Go in the spirit of fun and have a great time! Knotty Fox Running Fox Patrol SR-286 Yip, Yip! P.S. Wear your beads! What is wrong with showing your support for a wonderful Boy Scout program?

I took Woodbadge to learn the super secret hand-shake! At the time, I was thirsty for training. What a great time I had as a participant! Had the priviledge of going back twice more to help out.

I believe Trevorum is correct! Knotty Fox

There is a Cubmaster knot available. A two year tenure and quality unit both years and some other stuff. The requirements can be found on the net. Knotty Fox

Atta Boy CA_Scouter! Well put! If it was not aimed at CA_Scouter, who was it aimed at? A family member of CA_Scouter? A family member if mine? No not me, I don't have people in California! Who was the comment directed to I wonder? I know the statement was not spoken out of turn and down grading a fellow American! I don't feel that the comments made are quite what Baden-Powell had in mind. Trustworthy Loyal Helpful Friendly Courteous Kind Obedient Cheerful Thrifty Brave Clean Reverent Remember these words? I am not clear which one applies to the statement that was made about CA_Scouters fellow statesmen. I'll think on it and perhaps I can make one of these words work... Anybody interested in sharing hope and ideas that may better benefit the Scouting program? How about Scouting down South in Louisiana and surrounding states? There are a bunch of great Scouts making a difference in the Hurricane victoms lives? Now these are great topics! By the way, it really feels strange in Town lately! Just today it took about 3 hours to get home from work. I work 33 miles from my house. Traffic was horrible! It concerns me as I witnessed a few examples of Road Rage today! One of which was a fella in an 18-wheeler! Scary! I did neglect to mention that the traffic problems are due to Katrina! In a matter of a few days, Baton Rouge Louisiana became the states largest city by population with the arrival of our friends 60 miles south of us in New Orleans! God bless them! You would not believe what these folks have been through! Watching on TV and listoning on radio from afar does not do justice. One must see with their own eyes the devistation and destruction of life, property and peoples shattered lives. I am here to tell you that there are a bunch of Boy Scouts doing a fine job helping out! I am so proud of these young men and their leaders! Regards, Knotty Fox

I almost didn't log on to Scouter tonight but thought it would be fun and relaxing. Wrong again! Keep in mind that we are supposed to be "Scouters"! Blasting ugly statements about the fine and decent people of New Orleans and Louisianians not to mention the other states that fell victom to Katrina, does not fit any of the Scout Law or Oath that I have read. Perhaps I am reading an outdated Boy Scout Manual... I would like to thank lasteagle83 and Bobwhite for their posts. Your posts better represented reality than others. Thanks! It is so easy to sit and judge from afar. I would like to extend an invitation to the critics to leave everything they have behind and join me in South Louisiana. See what I see, hear what I hear! Please feel free to come over for Dinner then we can walk 2 blocks North of my house or 6 blocks South East of my house and visit first hand with the people you speak so ugly about. They are available to visit, in fact they would love the company. You see these folks are staying in local schools as evacuees. They will offer you a different story than the few you hear and see on the news. Thousands and Thousands of people evacuated! Longest stretch of Parking lot I have ever seen! I10 South bound and West bound were full of people trying to evacuate! Mile after mile. It took folks 6+ hours to drive the 65 miles to get here. I did not evacuate. I was not in an evacuation area. I lost a tree during the storm. Was I stupid for staying or should I have fled for Canada? What about a fellow that lives 10 miles north of here that died when a tree crashed through his house and landed on him? Was he stupid? On my way home today from work, I work 33miles from my house down the Mississippi river towards New Orleans, I was listening to National Public Radio (NPR). I had lots of time to listen as traffic is now so terrible that it takes me between 2 to 2.5 hours to get home!! By the way, did you know that Baton Rouge is now the largest city in Louisiana by population? Baton Rouge's infrastructure was not ready for this! I blame McArthur, Fema, Local/State/Fed authorities for my inconvenience! Any how, the NPR reporter was visiting with a New Orleans Resident via Telephone today asking why they were still there. The Mayor of New Orleans stated today to get out as the flood waters are badly contaminated! Well...The person on the other end of the phone stated that she and her friends were staying put! They are staying in a bar room and have plenty of liquor she was proud to report! She continued with some of the dumbest statements I ever heard! She wrapped up the interview by saying that she had to get off of the phone due to it being a business phone and all! ???????? Can you believe this? What a fool! I believe this person is not wrapped tight! Problem is that so many other folks hear this and stereo type everyone else as a drunken fool in New Orleans! Please don't let the smaller groups depict what you think of the tens of thousands of great people from New Orleans. Please don't dishonor our dead from the statements of a few! When I speak of our dead, I mean our! These fine people were citizens of the greatest country in the world! They were United States citizens! Please feel free to blast away at me and send hate mail. I do ask that you remember we are scouters!! The invitation stands, you are welcome to come and help and be part of the solution! I have room! Knotty Fox

It is so refreshing to see that many of the folks in this forum have 20/20 hindsite vision! How can you folks be so insensitive? "If they chose to stay, let them suffer the consequences!" What a horrible thing to say! What you are saying here is that I chose to wake up this morning and take the chance of driving to work knowing that I could get in a wreck. BAM, got in a wreck! Oh well fella, you are on your own. I live here where the mess is, come and see what I am seeing. Come down and try to work with folks as my family and I have. Come and live with us and get to know the culture, then critique. One of the Parish Presidents stated "I am tired of news conferences! Send us some help!" Well...Any takers? Please don't be so harsh on either the victoms or the officials. Did you liston to what Clinton said? I can't quote directly but the intent was, lets get these folks immediate help and do the best we can then go back and critique. OOPS! New Wood Badge, we don't critique we evaluate! These are good people that are dying here. Don't focus on the bad. Give us a hand....

I am glad to hear of such kindness! That is my God working through his disciples! I can tell you of many stories like this! There are many people in this region that are doing what ever it takes to help out. I can only hope that folks from all around this plentiful country of ours can trully realize what has happened here in South Louisiana. The devistation is vast! I am so glad you took the time to spin off a new thread. I just left the one you speak of. I was not happy with some of the things mentioned in the other thread! Please keep the Folks in this area in your prayers! What you see on the news is not only true but only a small part of what has happened. Southern Hospitality prevails! Knotty Fox

Well...It is disapointing to see folks gripe and complain. Scoutldr, I must say, I am glad you are not my son's leader! This is the first time that I have been on the internet in over a week. I have been pre-ocupied this week with a small event that has taken place here in South Louisiana. Perhaps you folks have heard about it? Katrina! Fuel prices here are soaring and the lines are long. The interstate is backed up due to the long lines at the stations. The reason for the long lines is that there are but a few stations able to pump due to the fact that they are blessed with having electricity. Try living without electricity for a while! As with many, where I work everything is done over the wire. Problem is our wire runs through New Orleans! By the way, did you hear that New Orleans has a small water problem? I just spent the weekend helping out a Scouting friend of mine cut a huge tree out of his house. Along with the small water problem around here, there was a slight wind that passed through. His 2nd class scout son saved his family by informing them (screaming) to get out of the middle of the house and run for a bedroom. The tree poked (crashed) through the room they were in. Before someone says "why were they in the middle of the house anyway". let me tell you why. First of all they live there, second it is the only secure place void of windows. The son was looking out of a hall way door through a window when he saw the decent of the tree. My sons school is full of evacuees and classes have been suspended. Tonight my family and I are expecting a family from New Orleans to come and stay with us. Perhaps for a year or more. My church runnith over! We are trying to be good Methodist and help out. Perhaps, Scoutldr could quit his whining and find a way to South Louisiana and help out. Or, be happy you have an easy access to fuel! Try living without fuel, no home, no paycheck, no clothes, no shower, no food, no bed, no sheets or blankets, no electricity, no hope, loss of loved ones, worry, anquish, frustration, no social services, injury, death, illness, injury and no car or suv to put gas in. Just to name a few things here. Please don't reply to this note. I believe that I have had enough for a while. I am tired, thirsty, hungry, broke, without fuel but have blessings in abundance! I have food and shelter. I am able to help someone else, (remember cheerful service?) I have a loving God who is going to prevail. I am broke helping others but know that I have a job and will eventually recieve my paycheck. Folks, count your blessings, I am counting mine!!! Knotty Fox

Gotta agree with OGE. Thank goodness we continue to research and learn! 100 years ago, people were dying of what is considered today a simple illness that can be treated with a shot. Some of the finest people I know of upstanding character have fought the battle with Alcohol and won! They are not of weak character. Just because I don't understand something does not mean that a good old fashion country butt whoppin is the cure! I have a scout whith chrones desiese. What in the world is that I asked. I soon learned and continue to learn more about this devistating desiese. Should a scout have a defeciency it is our duty as leaders to better understand it. Knotty Fox

It is tough to send a boy home! Never makes one feel as though he is doing the boy any good. It is the right thing to do to ensure the safety and enjoyment of the others. Send em home! Never heard of ODD. Sounds terrible! The Scoutleaders should have been informed about his condition. It is unfair to the boys and leaders not having this information. It should appear at least on his medical. If not, the parents need some counceling. Don't feel bad, you done good! Knotty Fox

Hey! There seems to be some reason coming out and a post worth replying to. Old Gray Eagle has a great suggestion. I like it. Here are my thoughts on the issue, as I understand it. Running the program by the book is a safe, sure and tried method. It works! My concern is folks that I know who do this are so staunch about rules that the spirit of Scouting is lost. I believe the guidelines posted and the timeless vision of BP are so critical to the success of a good program. Knowing how things work and what our guidelines are as Scouters is crucial. I don't know if picking apart a book is exactly what I would call useful. Especially the latest edition of the Scout Manual. Feels as though there is concern in this forum of folks not having fun or being so rigorous that the magic of scouting is lost. I have great fun doing what BP suggested. "A Scoutmaster must be boy like"! I don't recall reading anything that he has written that states to bring the book out and go through it page by page. Perhaps he did, I am not aware of it. His vision as I interpret it is a message of love and nurturing a boy. Setting the example, citizenship, Duty to God, Physical fitness etc. Perhaps...Dare I say...put the book down and find out what the needs of the individual boys are. Easy to say, tough to do. I don't pretend to do everything right. I do profess to attempt to show and have a good time. Question is, how do we instill this in others? Quick answer would be training such as Wood Badge. Well...I have been on both sides of that coin and know that it takes so much more. How do we make change in ourselves in order to better serve our sons? Should you like to pursue analyzing the book, I too would like to participate. I just don't know how many answers are in that for us. Old Gray Eagle, Are you going to Jamboree? If so look me up! I will be in T1504 serving these boys as their Scoutmaster. Knotty Fox of the Running Fox Patrol (we were always running late!) SR-286

So much to do hard to pick a favorite! My son enjoyed the OA presentations as well as the action centers. I too enjoyed the conservation area. I do recomend the area across from Merit Badge midway where there are a bunch of displays such as boys life. Best advice I have for the boys in the troop that I serve is to trade patches while on the go and avoid setting up shop in front of the campsite. Too many boys miss out on the action spending their time sitting in guard of their patches. Send your son my best wishes for a great trip! D.C. is an exciting place to tour!! Knotty Fox Serving Jamboree Troop 1504 as Scoutmaster Yep, right across the way from the Post Office!

Listen to the echo! You should hear what you guys are saying!

Keep reaching for the stars! Perhaps this would increase your height? Folks tell me my head is in the clouds. Did you know that clouds were six feet two inches from the ground? Tee Hee Happy Scouting! Knotty Fox

Keep reaching for the stars! Perhaps this would increase your height? Folks tell me my head is in the clouds. Did you know that clouds were six feet two inches from the ground? Tee Hee Happy Scouting! Knotty Fox

The statement of proper height to weight ratio is a tough pill to swallow! Baden-Powell stated that a Scoutmaster ought to be a model of fitness to the boys. Agreed! I am fortunant enough to be within the proper height to weight ratio. I do however know some of the finest Scoutmasters in the business that would not meet this criteria! I can understand the thought process behind what Baden-Powell said and I can understand why it would be necessary for folks going to Philmont. Philmont is a safety issue. Baden-Powell had a very idealistic view of a Scoutmaster. As he should! I would not prevent my son from being in a Troop with leaders that were over or under weight if they were leading a great troop. My sons favorite Scoutmaster (He had 3) was a bit over the "Proper weight to height ratio". Anyway, the statement/requirement is a tough pill to swallow.

It is so easy to sit in front of our computers in a safe environment and judge the action of others! The horrible thing is that a young life was lost! What can be done to prevent this from ever happening again? How can we console the family? What can we do to help? There is no need to attempt to impress one another on the net with our brilliance and hind site vision!

Better they sit in their own chairs than mine!

All of this sounds like great fun! Knotty Fox will make appearances at Troop 1504 campsite posing as the Scoutmaster. Stop by and say hello!

MERIT BADGE MIDWAY Here is the list of merit badges offered to participants at the 16th National Scout Jamboree: American Heritage Archaeology Archery Architecture Art Astronomy Auto Mechanics Aviation Backpacking Bird Study Camping Canoeing Chemistry Citizenship in the Nation Citizenship in the World Climbing Coin Collecting Collections Computers Cooking Crime Prevention Dentistry Disabilities Awareness Drafting Electricity Electronics Emergency Preparedness Energy Engineering Entrepreneurship Environmental Science Farm Mechanics Fingerprinting Fire Safety First Aid Fish and Wildlife Management Fishing Fly Fishing Forestry Genealogy Geology Hiking Indian Lore Insect Study Landscape Architecture Leatherwork Lifesaving Mammal Study Medicine Metalwork Motorboating Music and Bugling Nature Nuclear Science Oceanography Orienteering Personal Fitness Photography Pioneering Plant Science Plumbing Public Health Pulp and Paper Radio Railroading Reading Reptile and Amphibian Study Rifle Shooting Rowing Shotgun Shooting Small-Boat Sailing Snow Sports Soil and Water Conservation Space Exploration Stamp Collecting Surveying Swimming Traffic Safety Veterinary Medicine Weather Wilderness Survival Wood Carving

MERIT BADGE MIDWAY Here is the list of merit badges offered to participants at the 16th National Scout Jamboree: American Heritage Archaeology Archery Architecture Art Astronomy Auto Mechanics Aviation Backpacking Bird Study Camping Canoeing Chemistry Citizenship in the Nation Citizenship in the World Climbing Coin Collecting Collections Computers Cooking Crime Prevention Dentistry Disabilities Awareness Drafting Electricity Electronics Emergency Preparedness Energy Engineering Entrepreneurship Environmental Science Farm Mechanics Fingerprinting Fire Safety First Aid Fish and Wildlife Management Fishing Fly Fishing Forestry Genealogy Geology Hiking Indian Lore Insect Study Landscape Architecture Leatherwork Lifesaving Mammal Study Medicine Metalwork Motorboating Music and Bugling Nature Nuclear Science Oceanography Orienteering Personal Fitness Photography Pioneering Plant Science Plumbing Public Health Pulp and Paper Radio Railroading Reading Reptile and Amphibian Study Rifle Shooting Rowing Shotgun Shooting Small-Boat Sailing Snow Sports Soil and Water Conservation Space Exploration Stamp Collecting Surveying Swimming Traffic Safety Veterinary Medicine Weather Wilderness Survival Wood Carving

When my older son was in Cub Scouts, I found it very frustrating that he was competing against little Johnny Scouts dad! The 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th years he was a Cub Scout, I made it a point to ensure that all of the parents knew about all of the tricks! Oh boy was I mister popular!! Oh Well! Boys Life did an article years ago suggesting how much help Dad should give at each stage. I am no longer able to find it Years later, my son is an Eagle Scout with 4 palms. I am proud of any Scout who does what it takes to make this happen!