maccars

I've been lurking here for months, and just registered a few days ago. I became interested in this Forum after being asked by my best friend to help with his 13 year old son's new Troop. Sam (the son) has just registered, and has joined a newly chartered Troop sponsored by his Church - to which most of the boys belong. All of the adults involved are dads, and none have any previous Scouting experience. I grew up in a Scouting family which was surrounded by other Scouting families. My dad served on the Troop Committee for years, even after I went to college. I started in Scouting as a Bobcat, ready to do his "good deed", going to Eagle as a 15 year old in 1969. I was fortunate to belong to a well established troop which had a reputation for a strong camping and outdoor program and lots of Eagle Scouts - I think I was the 13th active one in my troop when I got mine. Without question Scouting has been one of the strongest influences in my life. I am hoping to find a way to contribute to Sam's troop, and help my buddy become a good Scouter - but most importantly, help them come to love what Scouting will do for each of them and their family, as it did for mine. I cherish thousands of memories of my years as a Boy Scout - and find that most of the folks that post on this forum regularly feel the same way. I'm looking forward to reading many, many items of great advice from all of you. Thanks for the opportunity.

There are so, so many memories that come back to me - but the one that stands out is my first summer camp which was at Lost Lake Scout Camp south of Fairbanks, Alaska. The memory that stands out is waiting for the sun to drop (in July, that far North it never really "set"), and watching the OA members in Native American dress cross the lake in a canoe with lit torches. They came ashore and Tapped three campers for their Ordeal. I didn't understand all of what was going on, but I knew it was not only impressive, but important. I resolved right there in the middle of the wilderness to one day experience what those three young men did that night. The bookend to that memory was one of my last as an active Scout - paddling the canoe across the lake at Camp Tiak in South Mississippi to assist in Tapping several campers for their Ordeal. Scouting always proved to me to give back what you put into it - in Spades. Paddling that canoe across the lake (and it seemed to take FOREVER), I kept thinking back to that evening just seven years earlier in Alaska . . . . The things dreams are made of.

I know I'm new here, but the following comment struck a chord with me: " . . . We just moved (Coast-to-coast) in 2007. He's had to reinvent himself already! I'm an old man. I can roll with the punches. But for my kids, with no grandparents and nothing but new friends, it's really tough. Grades 2-5 he was in a new school EVERY year! I said earlier that cub scouts was one of his few constants - he loved it; it really helped. However, the transition to a troop from a pack is an extreme change." I grew up in a military family, where we permanently changed stations every 2 to 3 years. By the time I was in the 7th grade, I had attended 6 separate schools, living in 5 different states - one of which was Alaska. For a young boy, the age yours is right now, one of the constants in my life was the Cub/Boy Scout uniform. Everywhere we moved, there was a Pack - or Troop - ready to accept me and help me along the path to my adulthood. I don't want to speak for any of the other comentators here, however, I dare say that most would testify that the values they learned and the friends they made while participating in Scouting each are some of the most valuable possessions they have. That is certainly the case with me. I, too, was an introverted kid who excelled in sports but had never spent the night in a tent. But - the outdoor experiences I gained through Scouting have served me much more than those I received in athletics. When I graduated from high school, I was still a pretty good baseball player, but through Scouting I had become a responsible young man who had learned to rely upon himself and his friends to survive together in some very extereme environments. My suggestion is for you to give your son the opportunity to experience all Scouting has to give - not only to him, but to your entire family. And, if he enjoys Scouting and respects what the program is all about, then his advancement to the rank of Eagle Scout will be the natural process of his experience, and not a simple "checking off" of a list of accomplishments. If you try to mould Scouting to your expectations of what you want for your son, he will never have the incredible experience of understanding manhood while waiting with his peers for the sun to rise on Mount Baldy. Your kid deserves that opportunity. (This message has been edited by maccars)

I never cease to be amazed at how the discussions on the US Civil War can still raise the blood of the participants. Without question, it was an event in our history that still captures the hearts of modern peoples for its scope and breadth, and mostly for the incredible loss sustained by our countrymen, both North and South. By all means, the respectful thing to do in retiring the Confederate colors is to engage the always willing services of the local Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. They are especially appropriate participants to properly and respectfully handle those flags. I agree with most of the contributors here that uniformed Scouts have no business participating in a ceremony involving the raising or striking of flags of any political entity other than their State or Nation (or visiting National Colors).

For those of you who were Scouts, go back to the time when you first noticed the adults intruding on your experience. My troop had a very active committee, which often joined us for at least one night on a weekend campout. Those adults usually slept in a troop provided 10 man tent with a separate dining fly (usually with a table for eating). That venue tended to become quite loud at times. I know for a fact that one night our SM made it very clear that Taps was the signal for the Scouts to be in their tents and quiet, and that Tattoo was the signal for the adults to have lights-out and subdued conversations (I remember because I was the bugler; the SM asked me to move closer to the adult area to play the last call of the night). After that one gentle reminder, I don't recall any problems ever again. Our SM had such a high level of respect not only from the Scouts, but also from the parents and other adults. I don't think there was ever a time he wasn't completely in charge; or a time when his "friendly suggestion" wasn't considered law. A Scoutmaster sometimes has to take a difficult stand where the adults are concerned; the Scouts will forevermore remember his doing so for their benefit.