kraut-60

I bought a LED flashlight from Gander MT. last year to use at Philmont. I cant tell you the manufacturer or the name its sold under(cause I dont have it here in front of me), but it doesnt need batteries as it uses the wind-up gizmo-deally. I believe it has a capacitor inside to store the electrical energy generated by winding the thing up. I am well pleased with the performance this light has, minimal winding was required to get and maintain adequate light. The button on-off switch also gives the user a choice of a single LED being lit, or all 3 LEDs. The crank handle detaches and can be used as the handle for 6 bits carried in the body of the light...3 philips, 3 flat tip. The only cons I found with it is the weight...I would estimate it weighs at least 1/2 lb. You cant clip it to anything...its not free standing. The pros are that you dont need batteries...you can read by its light(maybe winding it up every 30 minutes or so), and it will hold a charge for a very long time...when I bought it I wound it up and put it away for 2 weeks...was just as bright as when I stashed it.

If you are considering a new tent, I would suggest the Isis2 from Eureka. It weighs in at under 3lbs and is very weather tight due to its well designed rainfly with vestibule. I got mine late this spring and the first time out it rained...well, deluge would also describe the weather that weekend. Stayed nice and dry inside, and the tent body has lots of mesh at the top,back and sides for positive ventilation. The vestibule portion of the rainfly will effectively keep your shoes/boots dry, but not enough room for a regular backpack ( I normally bungee my pack to a suitable tree and put the raincover on it no matter what the weather is). The vestibule also features a window that if one unzips the solid portion (not the bug-screen mesh part) of the door while laying in the tent, you get a nice view directly of the sky over your tent. This is nice as the daylight is a better alarm than my watch, and does allow me to see what the weather looks like before rolling out. The mesh is no-see-um so privacy is not comprimised. I use a clear plastic ground sheet cut to fit the tents footprint, and roll it with the tent for carrying. One nice thing is that the tent is free standing so I can hang it in my garage to dry it ( I have a 4 car garage and I put many hooks in the rafters to hang tents, it looks like a sail loft after a wet weekend with all the tents drying in there).

hot-foot-eagle, I applaud your wanting to recreate the uniforms of old to honor our 100th anniversary. Would you consider a color guard using examples of uniforms throughout the BSA's history? Using Mitch Reis' book on Boy Scout uniforming would be THE authoritative way to go and its one very interesting book to boot! There are still many sevicable older uniforms availible in sizes that go from small to large, even if you used the older khaki-green or olive green uniforms from the 1930's on through 1980, you could re-create several variations by utilising shorts, breeches (only used through 1950),campaign hats, overseas or flat hats, garter tabs for knee socks.... The hard part will be getting the "dough-boy" style tunics and breeches....my only suggestion would be searching for WW1 reenactors on the web and finding where they get theirs from. I used to be a reenactor and I know that such uniforms were offered by a firm called "New Columbia",..however they are out of business since the 1990's as the owner died. Good luck in this endevour hot-foot-eagle! feel free to pm me on this.

Stosh, Yes the neckerchief should NOT be an optional item...but it needs to be made from better material than cotton and be square and bigger than the present official ones. The material that I favor would be the under-armour type fabric..that stuff flat performs!

Neither Packs nor Troops can "require" or "not require" parts of the Scout uniform. The shirt,pants or shorts, socks,belt neckerchief/slide and hat are all PARTS of the uniform. The shirt is not the uniform alone. Watering down the uniform doesnt help..wear it right or dont wear it at all. The kids will wear it IF you provide the example by having uniformed leaders who wear ALL of it.

Well Beavah, I too agree with what you posted. I feel the Scouters and Scouts who earned the ire of land managers and the bad ink in Backpacker are the reason they see ALL of us in the same perspective...the shame of it is, that the few affect the many,...the few who are "kinda" Scouters and Scouts...the close enough bunch...The "Trained patches..we dont need NO Trained patches!" kind of Scouters/Scouts. I hope that Scouting can be made availible to ALL kids,regardless of what color or shade they were "issued" in. I really wish we could show the parents and kids from the inner city and minorities that Scouting isnt some "white-boy" only club...I see a lot on the news from Milwaukee and how so much seems to center around gangs and violence and the youth that are caught up in it....its heartbreaking,..these kids deserve better, but too often being educated and hardworking are derided and mocked, as if its "cool" to be stupid! Maybe we can make a differance for those kids Scouting hasnt yet reached...but they have to want to grab the opportunity...I dont see it happening yet. The parents or lack of parents/parent will scuttle this before we can get it to float. How do we reach them? One conclusion I've drawn regarding sports vs Scouts...sports has a definite time line and schedule, date and times are drawn up months before, and strictly adhereed to. Sports are minimally dependant on parental involvement for the most part...coaches and asst. coaches handle the brunt of it..parents rotate the snack and juice duty from what I've seen. Sports might handle the fitness part better than we do, but I believe we do better in the long term as kids who are Scouts will usually be introduced to leadership while in Boy Scouts. The team captains/co-captains positions are rarely all-inclusive to all team members. And while we're talking sports...the never ending black-eye professional sports seems to find itself mired in due to misconduct of a few players doesnt deter kids from looking up to them...those guys arent good role models, many are criminal in their conduct and actions...yet thay still make the big bucks..thats what kids see, and remember. We could be perceived as a lifeboat of decency in a sea of indecency...the thing is the folks who are "drowning" dont know they are..thay think they're "cool".

I stopped on the way home from 2nd shift for a car steaming merrily away on US12w. The two guys in it thanked me for stopping and said they had help coming while holding up a cell phone..they also said I was the only person who stopped, so far. Once I stopped for a car pulled over with the occupants sitting in it...I figured something was up, maybe lost or out of gas...Turns out it was a couple of young guys sharing what I would call a "left handed cigarette", I was offered some , which of course I declined. After I drove off, I met an oncoming sheriffs deputy on patrol..I wonder if they offered him a hit too?

Beavah, your last post alludes to those fellow Americans who roll their eyes and look the other way when spotting a Scout or Scouter in uniform I take it? Are we now to "Do Our Best" to try and win over any and all who have a preconceived notion or idea that paints Scouting in a negative way for whatever the reason? I can hope to influence such people by ensuring my actions and behavior exemplify the Scout Oath and Law while in uniform and ESPECIALLY when not in uniform...perhaps some folk may change their tune regarding our movement...but I wont let my expectations outrun reality. To use the homespun approach as you do..if I may.. "Never try to teach a pig to sing, you'll just waste your time and pi$$ off the pig". Attempting to alter opinions of those who have a negative view may well lead to confontation...something I would rather avoid. I didnt become a part of the Scouting movement to win the hearts and minds of those who find little to no use for ourselves and what we do...I signed up to do what the Aims claim, and if along the way someone changes their mind..great, but I prefer to keep my focus on the Scouts. If we as Scouters do what we are supposed to do,...WE WILL look good in the publics eye. Theres always going to be somebody or someone thats bound to gripe about us no matter how much good we do. The comments regarding white upper middle class and conservative....do they really belong here? I know plenty of Scouts and Scouters that are avowed liberals, card carrying democrats,and non caucasins to boot. Lets work to be inclusive of all who seek what we have to offer...but lets not insist we go and dragoon them in simply to satisfy diversity.

Pack378, I sympathize with you on what our country seems to be embracing rather than rejecting...yes, it is NOT just minorities that have a problem with out of wedlock births and single mothers, some with children by several differant male fluid donors.(I REFUSE to call such people fathers!). As far as being a uniformed Scouter, I have worn my uniform complete and correctly while traveling on trains as well as planes and while doing so received nothing but positive response from the people I met. One lady asked me if I was going to a Scout function, I told her that my son,daughter and myself were traveling in uniform to show our solidarity with our nations members of the armed forces...this lady told me she was the proud mother of 3 Eagle Scouts and that she thought what we were doing by wearing our uniforms was commendable. One man at Chicago's O'Hare Intl. seeing my family and myself yelled "WAY TO GO SCOUTS!" along with a BIG smile and a thumbs up. This man was in the uniform of a baggage handler for an airline,..United I believe. Several soldiers and Marines came up to us and said they were former Scouts and thought it was "cool" to see us dressed as we were. I have never received any negative feedback for being a Scouter...whether in of out of uniform. My son has lots of friends who arent in Scouts, but they think its cool for him, although several have indicated interest when he tells them what he gets to do as a Scout. My daughter is a Junior Girl Scout and has heard from one girl that Scouting was "gay" but this girl is from one of the unfortunate family situations...mom and dad split up and mom has a sucession of boyfriends staying with them...The American Dream...NOT!! I know one who posts here seems to be a bit heavy on the doom and gloom while he pontificates in his backwoods vernacular, but I would not worry as he does seem to be aware of the right way that the Scouting Movement is going in...Me, I prefer to think my vision of a nation that realizes that the freebooting past it endured along with the selfish perspective coupled with liberal anything goes/embrace everyone BS may well be a thing of the past...This nation has come together before and righted itself...and it will again...and some Scouts and Scouters in uniform may help it along. Wearing the uniform is an outward commitment that shows others where WE stand...I know I dont stand alone.

Nessmuk, I hope you didnt perceive my post as anti-military. I am USN Ret. with 20 years service,..to me wearing a uniform is a PRIVILEDGE. I will agree that some here in these forums seem to be less than enthusisastic supporters of our nations armed forces. I think what many of those dont truly appreciate is the sense of belonging and the esprit de corp that a uniformed movement like the Boy Scouts can look back on as an important part of the heritage of Scouting. Nothing seems to me to be more of a touchy subject than uniforming when it comes to discussions in this forum....why I dont know. I am grateful that BP and the Scouts and Scouters that came before us saw fit to have a uniform that set this movement apart from sports groups and bands. While many organizations use uniforms as a part of what they are and do,...how many can claim to have a uniform that means something not to just its members,..but to the nation it is a part of? I believe that the BSA as well as the Armed forces are the only ones that can claim such.

No,mtm25653...you arent the only one that has noticed what you described....just be sure not to be lamely justifying or militarising scout uniforms...after all helping Scouts engender a sense of personal pride in themselves might have adverse reactions from the wise old sages "dat" post 'ere eh!

Boy,...was it ever long reading through this whole thread! Did all you guys make nice with each other over the differences in opinions regarding pranks? Dont know if this is a prank,.. but it has become a tradition in our troop at summer camp on Wed. morning troop assembly in our camp site after breakfast(we patrol cook, no dining hall). After the SM has his say, I, the ASM announce " Ok guys! I've got some good news and some bad news" The older scouts know whats about to be said, so they stay quiet. One of the new or 1st year Scouts will ask "Whats the good news Mr. K?" To which I reply.."The good news is we're all gonna change under wear this morning!" Which is ALWAYS followed by "Whats the bad news then?"....I then say...Thomas will change with Alec, Matthew will change with Ryan...and so on. If we are lucky enough to have a new Scout dad along I will name him first and that he gets to change with me. This is one the older boys ask me every year if I plan to do it yet again..when I said no one year they were insistent that it be done as a troop tradition. I was at philmont last summer and didnt make summer camp, but was informed that a substitute carried it out....it always gets a laugh especially from the first year/new scouts.

I have to agree with the body of the article and I can draw the conclusion that we MAY well end up worse as a nation for the end result of the helicopter parenting model,...but the question I beg to have answered is how did we end up with a nation full of parents who are so visibly committed to over protecting their off-spring? Is this what we get from 24/7 CNN and FOX news along with the drivel from the so-called news services of the major networks? We have promoted the boogey man from something kids would scare each other with to a near hysterical obsession thanks to todays news media....every negative item that is deemed newsworthy is over reported to the point of over saturation! Halloween was ruined years ago by the razor blade in the apple case and the little girl murdeded while trick or treating....now adults tend to celebrate it more so than kids. What can be done to drag us back from the brink of PC/mandated mediocrity/wimpdom?

I believe the over saturation by the News media/business of cases involving child abduction and abuse have fuelled the hysteria and phobias many parents have succumbed to in wanting to protect and care for their children. Kids arent allowed to be kids as I was a kid back in the 60's. No more Trick-or-Treating on Halloween night in many communities..now there is daylight on the sunday afternoon closest to Halloween here where I live. The ever increasing lines of mini-vans and small SUVs with a single parent in each outside the schools to pick-up a single student. The parents who wont allow their son to go camping with the troop, because something might happen. Some parents are effectively smothering their kids in a misguided effort to save or protect them from the over hyped dangers they see reported by the news. I am all too aware that evil does exist and it harms children,...but are we to succumb to fear and isolate kids from the world and its wonders in order to "protect" them at all costs? Even if the cost is their health and well being by being able to grow and develop to adulthood by being being active in the outdoors and not living in mortal fear and terror of the unknown.

I feel the neckerchief should be functional first! It needs to be at least 32" and square, not triangular. And as long as we're at it,..lets have them availible in fabrics that are capable of performance under varying weather and temeratures. I like the suggestion of using wool and silk, I fell both would perform well in the field. I would also suggest using the same material that comprises my new favorite piece of gear, the Buff...yes, the same thing-a-ma-bob that the ladies on "Survivor" used as an expedient top. The material these are made from flatout performs! It wicks off sweat with out getting sodden. It wrings dry and actually helps cool when worn as a head band. I seen 2 members of the crew I was a part of at Philmont last year use these while we were on our trek. I was put off by the price at first ($15.00), but the Buff was miles above the old cotton bandana I was carrying and wearing as a head wrap,(sodden with sweat and stinky...great bear repellenant though!). As for the over/under the collar question....I wore my NC over the collar when I was a Scout. Now as A Scouter I am wearing it under as the youth members of our troop prefer, right or wrong its the Scouts choice...after all it says "Boy Scouts of America" over the right pocket of our uniform...NOT "Adult Scouts of America".

My son is a CIT at present at Camp Indian Trails, Glaciers Edge council, outside of Janesville WI. He was home yesterday for the first time since starting his duties as a CIT last sunday, 6-24-07. He told me that he rotated between 2 program areas each day, and was instructed by counselors in each area and has to carry out tasks assigned by them to familiarize himself with the material being presented as well as any work such as clean up or breaking out supplies. He is quartered in a 4 man cabin that he has to himself as he is the sole CIT at present. the cabin has 4 bunks and some shelving and electrical outlets and lighting. Meals are taken in the camp dining hall, and the evening meal requries field uniform (complete) to be worn by campers as well as staff. He must complete one week of Boy Scout summer camp, a session of Camp Akela and one week of Cub Scout day camp to complete his CIT agreement with the council. If his service is found to be satisfactory, he will be offered a position in next years camp as a counselor at a rate of pay he feels would be adequate. The exact amount I am not at liberty to say, but I do know that while a CIT, he recieves $25.00 per week in trading post credit...he said last night there is some "cool" things in the TP he plans to get with his credits. My son is 15 now and will be 16 this Dec. I believe he will be of the minimum age for youth staff next year. I am very proud of him taking this program on and for looking ahead to next years employment as a counselor. He has also taken junior climbing instructor training in our council and hopes to be able to work in that area when and if he becomes a full counselor. hope this helps OGO, YiS Will Kirchmayer

I am posting in support of F-Scouter here, those who refer to properly uniformed scouters as the "UP" should be ashamed of their conduct and their attitude. The uniform METHOD works...if you work it! The troop I serve in had a Court of Honor this past monday. Our SPL had a uniform inspection scheduled as part of the opening. Our new scout patrol (8 boys) had 4 scouts in full uniform and the other four in shirts and neckers. The boys who werent in full uniform were talking among themselves after the CoH and comments were heard such as "I'm getting those switchbacks, man are they cool" and requests to parents to get them the rest of the uniform parts they were lacking. These boys HAD NOT been required to wear a uniform....but the SPL/ASPL and PLs set the example in our troop by wearing the uniform, and the adult members of the TC and the SM/ASM wear a full uniform....BY CHOICE. Uniforming is NOT one of the aims of Scouting...just one method, but it is a method that provides a means to allow the Scouts to present themselves to the public as members of what is recognized nearly everywhere as a POSITIVE organization for youth to better themselves while bettering their community and nation by becoming better citizens. These boys can develop a sense of personal pride by wearing the Boy Scout uniform, along with giving them a place to display their accomplishments in advancement(a method) as well as where they've been, what patrol they belong to..(hmmm, yet another method) and what position of responsibility they currently are serving in. Seems to me that the uniform method can tie in with quite a lot of the methods as well as serve as a source of personal pride in oneself and encourage a feeling of belonging....being a member of something people respect,...after all, most of the general public knows what a scout uniform looks like and they probably figure any boy wearing it is likely "Trustworthy,Loyal,Helpful,Courteus...."

SR540Beaver; I had planned on getting the Shelby for my planned and fast approaching mid-life crisis...however a second Shelby GT as an Eagle Scout gift would seem appropriate. Do you think he would prefer it to be in 1/18th or 1/25th scale? Of course a display case would be included. I do appreciate your kind remarks regarding "Dad of the year". Thanks again!

My son will be a CIT for 2 sessions this month and up to the 3rd of July at Camp Indian Trails, Glaciers Edge council. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that youth staff can purchase uniforms at a discount during the summer they are so employed in our council. The program director indicated that my son should wear the uniform (complete) from the troop he presently is a member of, not a venturing uniform as we have seen used by camp staff at other camps we have attended out-of-council. I am glad we have had my sons' uniforms complete since he joined Boy Scouts, since having to purchase 2 complete sets at once would put a serious dent in the Shelby GT Mustang savings fund!

My daughters GSUSA toop leaders decided last fall that they (husband & wife) had had enough and would not return as leaders. No other parents came forward at that time to take over. I went and called around to other junior troops in our community to get my daughter back in scouting....All told me they were "full" and couldnt take any more girls in for members. I was stunned..I've never heard of a full scout unit. Myself and a lady whos a troop committee member as well as a GSUSA leader decided to re-start the troop my daughter had been in. The other girls who had their scouting cut short were excited to hear the troop was getting going again. I am serving as assistant troop leader and outdoor/camping advisor. The girls and their parents were happy that I offered to serve as the girls wanted to do the outdoor "scout" stuff,...and my experience in backpacking and camping came in very handy. The girls in our troop so far have only gone on a trip to the BSA's local climbing tower,...but it was a huge hit! I had girls who were climbing to 50' and some even rappelled from 50'...one girl did it twice. Fact is the girls outclimbed the boys who are the same age that were climbing that day...Oh yeah, we did our climbing along with Boy Scouts and some Webelos scouts(2nd year), talk about a diversity WB ticket item! Anyhow, I proud to be a GSUSA asst.troop leader, along with serving the BSA as a ASM and Roundtable Commissioner....this scouting stuff rocks!

There is Scout in my troop who has always money issues and claims his folks dont have the money to pay for annual dues or summer camp,..so for the last 2 years we covered him from the troops general fund. Recently, our troop committee finance chair was at an event that this scout and his dad also attended. The committee finance chair was in the line for raffle tickets and the scout in question was in line just ahead of him...with $150 to buy raffle tickets. The scout recognized the MC and knowing he owes the troop, told the MC " I guess I should pay you for my troop dues...but I'm gonna get raffle tickets instead". This same scout at a recent meeting also was overheard telling other scouts that he just spent over $200 at the spring car show. Our troop committee has sent letters to the scouts parents, but to no avail...the dad claims they are short of money. Our decision is that this scout is on hiatus until he meets his financial obligation.

At Ponil we came off the trail Among us, were none who'd fail At the station in Raton The homebound crew got on The last part of our trek by rail

I am also in favor of going back to colored background position insignia,..however I would prefer the insignia that featured no written titles on it. These insignia featured the "old" universal BSA emblem,.. what we now see as the First Class rank emblem. I would of course also embrace returning to the older wreathed insignia for commissioners,coucil presidents and vice-presidents and ditrict executives/coucil-scout executives. These older emblems had combinations of colors that defined ones given position in Scouting. They made one have to study the insignia guide to know who was what,..I suppose today that may not be as readily encouraged as in days past...after all, we need to make it "easy" for everyone..dont want any complaints or difficulties..heaven forbid someone would'nt understand and have to look something up. They could also bring out a new uniform shirt made of the same material and color as the new switchback pants. The shirt could feature the same outdoor intended features as found on the presently availble shirts for fishing..think new BSA action shirt...but take it a step further...add velcro strips /shapes in the areas where the insignia will go. Bring back veteran patches for wear on the right lower sleeve of long sleeved uniform shirts...make All uniform shirts long sleeved with the provision to be zip-off short sleeve convertable...uniform MUST be outdoor suitable....older "Oscars" can be retained for indoor wear or for CoHs etc..

I have a 15 year old son/Scout who enjoys gaming very much. He will play them when he can,..meaning when homework and chores are taken care of. This has not been easy to do as he is rather like most boys his age..meaning he would game as much as possible if left unchecked. Addicted? Possibly, but managing his gaming time in balance with other activities has paid off in better grades at school. I'm sure you are asking how can managing time spent gaming result in better grades? Well, about 3 years ago, I instituted what I call "Game Point Average" in my home for my son and daughter. Its very simple..grade point average is linked to the amount of time the child earns to be allowed the PRIVELEDGE of getting to game in our home. We have never seen gaming as a right, only as a reward for doing what must be done in ones schooling and household duties. How I broke it down was as follows; If the child has a GPA of 3.0, then they can enjoy 1.5 hours of gaming...4.0 GPA-2.0 hours of gaming. I dont allow any gaming if the GPA dips below 2.0, and this is hours per day. So my system has the GPA diveded by 2 equals time child can game. In our home all gaming takes place in the living room so my wife and I can supervise. I personally dont game or see what the attraction is in it, bit nonetheless, gaming isnt going away and is enjoyed by most young people. I feel I have to do my part as a parent and Scouter to co-exist with this entity and try to manage it for the best. I feel parents need to take an active part in their childrens free time and set limits and manage their childs gaming. I feel all too often, some parents are so wrapped up in work or their own selfish interests and allow video,computer or portable gaming to be a surrogate baby sitter for their kids. This can be very dangerous as the kid enjoys gaming and will do it for hours on end if left unchecked. I have refered to gaming as "Electonic Cancer" in posts here on this forum and in dealings with my own children and Scouts and Scouters...I've seen a few get their dander up at this remark, but I am adamant in my view that left unchecked, all electronic gaming has the potential to be as addicting as any drug, perhaps more so as it is after all...legal. Your thoughts?

The crew leader of the crew I was an adviser for at Philmont last year, would not eat vegetables. He would not eat them whole,cooked as an ingredeint in a dish...no veggies period. His name is Spencer and he told the crew and advisers that vegetables "are not Spencer friendly". Well, Spencer traded for food he would eat and led the charge to rummage through the swap boxes when we hit the staffed camps on the trail. He never was hungry, or so he claimed. I was concerned he wasnt getting a balanced diet, but I remembered that as a teen-ager, I ate a diet that was heavy on starch and sodium and no veggies (just the onions on the burgers). The scout in question here has suffered a great dis-service by his parents in that they cater to his whims regarding diet. Perhaps having this scout forgo the McMeal routine will either get him started eating right or at least try other foods because he will get hungry sooner or later. It took the United States Navy to get me to eat proper and ONLY because I couldnt raid the fridge or run out to Micky D's....the middle of the Atlantic ocean is rather bare of any fast food emporiums or Quikee Marts..and the Pacific has even less places to catch some McFood. This Scout will eventually eat...once he gets hungry enough.