MrDave660

My worst experience as Cubmaster has been the pinewood derby. We had a guy bring in an EBay car but he was disqualified per our rules. Another boy asked his father which car was his. The CC heard that and the car did not race. Many others look too nice for a tiger to make, but you never know. My son took it seriously and sanded until it was somooth. He found out that if he used sandible auto primer, he got to spray paint more, so he was able to get the paint job very smooth. (notice, I said "he was able.") We print out drivers licenses for the boys and there is a statement on the back that says "I promise that I made this car myself." The parents and boys knew about this in the beginning, so it was in the back of their heads while making the car. I was struggling with too much parent involvement in the cars, so I came up with a "Geezer Derby." The parents make their own cars and race them at my house in the evening of race day. It is an adult event with no children, and not a scouting event, so everyone brings appetizers and refreshments. They have to follow the same dimensional rules as the boys. We have awards just like the boys. The most coveted (to award, not receive) is the "Car most likely made by a Cub Scout." Not only do the parents let the boys work more on their cars, but the leadership of the Pack has become a more close knit group. Everyone wins. We are going to hold a "no rules" derby for the Boy Scouts next year. They still want to make cars. The only requirements are that they start with the block of wood, it fits the length and width requirement for the track, and it weighs 5 oz. They can do what ever they want with it after that.

I got a kick out of everyone's comments. I too, was the patrol leader for the beaver patrol as a youth. We were going to shave our heads before summer camp but the Scoutmaster thought it would be a bad idea to bring a bunch of shaved beavers to camp. That was an akward meeting...lots of snickering. I don't see the problem with "Bear Rasslers," but I also had to get over the purist idea of only using the patches supplied at the Scout Shop. If the boys really take the name to heart, they will begin to become a better team. It is the boys' unit isn't it? I also completely agree that the flag and patch should be appropriate. We had the guys design a patrol flag for the "Bear" patrol and they found a patch of a bear that was rainbow striped. They liked the colorfulness of it, but the parents took issue to the homosexual implications. We were able to steer them in a different direction without bringing too much focus to the colors. Hey, if you can't do it in front of your grandmother, you shouldn't do it at all...

I really like the survival geocaching. Nice incentive. I may have to steal that idea... To answer a couple of the questions: I would love to be able to give out patches, but they do cost money so we have to charge for them. If I can figure out how to put a picture on a post, I will put up a picture of the patch. It is a great patch. Our traditional caches range in size, so the larger ones have swag but the boys are instructed on swaping rules. We started off with a lot of stuff from the dollar store. One cache is a rubber dinosaur. Another cache has neckerchief slides that you can swap.

We are starting a geocaching program at our Scout Reservation. The traditional caches are set up at sites around the main part of camp that range from nanos to ammo boxes. Each cache at those sites has a write-up that tells the history of the site. Many sites are named after supporters or long-time leaders. Other sites have descriptions that explain the use of it like the OA shelter or copes course. We had 12 garmins donated to the council that we pre-programmed with the coordinates. The second choice to take is a multi-cache that requires Scout skills to finish. The boys have to complete some skill to find the next coordinates. One cache makes them lash poles together to reach the container with the next coordinates 20' up a tree. Another uses the numbers of the Scout Law to make coordinates. Another uses compass directions. Another uses a rope wrapped around a tube with the coordinates written on the rope while it was wound. (They have to re-wrap the rope to figure out the coordinates.) I may drop a flat rock with coordinates written on it in the deep end of the pool for a stage. Another has scrabble peices that arrange to form a phrase and the point value makes the coordinates. After geocaching at camp, they can purchase a special "Pipsico Geocacher" patch at the trading post. Is anyone doing something similar to this? Do you have other ideas for caches on the multi cache?