ogghall

We are a troop from western Wisconsin looking for a camp in either South Dakota or Colorado to take a backpacking high adventure in the summer of 2010. (Prefer locations we are approximately a good days drive to.) We are looking for a camp that would provide a guide and planned trek since we are not experienced at backpacking treks and it would be the first time in a long time venturing outside the state. A couple of camps I found googling were Medicine Mountain Scout Ranch in SD and Elkhorn High Adventure Base in CO. There leader guides had the type of trips we were looking for. I did see some negative things written about Medicine Mountain but they appeared to be 4 to 5 years old and I believe were more directed to the summer camp and not the high adventure activities. Appreciate any comments about these camps high adventure activities or other camps with backpacking near these areas.

A constitutional right here... A constititional right there.

Our council provides the cards free. Unless cost is included in the cost of the rank/merit badge. How much are they charging?

I am somewhat curious why someone continues to want the position but has no interest in being involved. It isn't the pay. Do they give any reason for wanting to stick around? Usually when someone becomes that disinterested they jump at the chance for someone to replace them.

I have a son in the Navy and I believe the restriction with tatoos is there cannot be any on the face/neck area or on the lower forearms. I think the current fad of them being on the neck or excessive amounts of them where ever they are on the body is goofy. At least the goofy fads in my younger years like Beer Can hats could be taken off easily. I wonder what some of these are going to look like when they get older. Some aren't that attractive now and others like the barbed wire ones, neck ones, chinese symbols, or the ones on the lower back don't really show any imagination anyways. No restictions of them in our troop and don't know of anyone with them at least in obvious spots.

I appreciate it more when posts are answered with practical answers, what the respondent actually did in a similar case or what they may do based on their experiences. I think when someone is asking a question that they know that a Council/District Scouter can help with the situation. I know I have done that in the past. But in reading posts with situations that I am interested in how they can be handled reading answers like read this or read that is frustrating. Speaking for myself the information in those manuals, handbooks, pamphlets, typically explains a general program, outline or intent but doesn't provide the information that can help a person deal with the situation or help with the issue they have. If someone is going reference the BSA program at least include practical information with it. I would hope those who do reference have that experience and would like to share it. Possibly sharing success as well as mistakes to avoid. Another thing that is frustrating is reading a post that I have an interest in and then it gets hijacked. As far as reading those posts I try to ignore those answers but what is unfortunate is that subsequent substantive answers typically stop. The forum is a great resource for information, as mentioned, but like other posts/blogs on the internet have also provided a vehicle for those who I think would be generally ignored or do not have the interpersonal skills to contribute in any other way other then postings. It would be interesting to be a bug on the wall of their troops, work, etc to see how effective they are in their real world endeavors. Those that perpetually do that really indicate to me a lack of maturity and respect for what is trying to be accomplished by others.

Timely article from Milwaukee Journa-Sentinel on the subject of identify theft. In today's paper http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=765114 I think one of the things they really wasn't answered is if the use of ssn really improves the ability of the background check agency to find the information needed to find people with criminal backgrounds. That is the bottom line question. Providing the number does increase the chances of it being stolen. It has to just due to the fact that someone else now has it. It would be a shame if it really isn't needed. There is also a difference between someone wanting to steal my information and someone stealing information that includes my information. I don't think I could stop someone from trying to find out about me and my specific information about me, like my credit card numbers, ssn, etc. But I would like to try and minimize the ability of people stealing information like ssn and credit card numbers and using it. I think the news article shows that just checking your credit card statements isn't the point of the concern. It is someone using your ssn for other reasons and not being aware of it before it is too late. Then not being to do a lot about it. Of course everbody has to make their own decisions regarding if they are willing to take the risk. A lot of those decisions will be based on persons personal experiences. People make choices, (I do not mean risky life style type choices), on how much and what type of insurances they take out, the activities they are going to be involved in, using their credit card on-line, etc. all based on the risks they want to assume. I find it somewhat curious that some of the people responding in this forum do not respect a persons concern about the risk. Just because one person might be willing to take that risks does not mean another person who does not, does not have a valid reason to be concerned. Hope some of you don't end up finding out you own a couple of homes or have another career. I guess you can't fight city hall.

I would think the reason for having the policy stated that way is that it would make what is and what is not acceptable black and white. Using terms like "appropriate" only leaves too much up for interpertation and makes it easier to communciate the expectations and enforce. It would seem to me there must have been problems with what had been worn at the camp and maybe previous attempts to communicate what was appropriate fell on deaf ears. Especially if some troops made sure the "rule" was followed only to come to camp to see other troops disregarding the rule. Seems to me the easiest way to control the situation.

evmori, Today is Memorial Day and is meant to remember those who died during their service. Veterens Day is in November and would be the appropriate time to say thanks to a vet. Any day actually would work too. Just trying to keep the integrity Memorial Day in tact. http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html(This message has been edited by ogghall)

I think you could remain in scouting. But as one reply said it may depend on how much the troop you are in includes religous activities in its activities. Also I think it depends on how much you want to make it an issue. If you feel it is necessary to bring it up and make an issue out of it it will be one. Then again if you can accept what the troop does and do not see a need to make an issue of it it probably won't be one. If you are good and moral person respectful of others I do not see what a belief in a good or religion has to do with it. There are enough instances in history that atrocities were done in the name of god and religion to know that just saying that you believe in god isn't all there is. If you are a good person then you should stay in. I am old enough to have seen enough people who say they believe in god and a religion they are affilitated with that do things that are opposite of the teachings. And I also know people who belong to religions who are very good people but do not necessarily believe or follow all of the religions teachings. It is noble to believe that if you join an organization you should adhere to all its beliefs but sometimes that is just not the case, We are not perfect. If you beleive you can become a better person by being in the scouts and you can have fun doing it, stay in. If you believe you can help others to be come better than you should stay in.

Thanks for the info on the sliders. The teeth look in good shape so this may do the trick. Eureka did get back and they do not sell zippers but will replace sliders. They will repair though. I was just looking for the zipper because a parent thought they may be able to do the sewing. But not sure if they can do now. There is a place that does tent repairs in the area but had something done of mine a few years ago and were a little pricy. Thanks again

Anyone know where replacement zippers for eureka tents can be purchased? We have a couple of older timberline 4's that are still in pretty decent shape except for the zippers. Thanks

Possibly a reason for this attitude by the planners of the camporee is the size of the troops attending and the percentage of scouts attending from the troops. And based on the history of past attendance of the camporees. If you have troops that number around 10-12 scouts and you get 50-75% troop membership attending there may be only 7 or 8 scouts showing up. And not necessarily an even split from the patrols. (ex. 5 from Hawks and 3 from Ravens) I guess you could let the Ravens compete with 3. I know most of the troops in our district are not made up of 25-30 scouts they are mostly around 10-15. As far as promoting the patrol method what has been difficult for me as a SM is the inconsistency of our troop size. We can go from 6 to 14 within a year due to families moving, small crossover classes, and boys/families deciding to focus on other activities. (Sports, music, etc.) I am sure there are small troops with very successful patrol method programs. It is just more of a challenge. If the troop size was more consistent the ability to develop the patrol method would have a better chance for success. And even with 3 scouts from a patrol they could compete. Maybe this is going on in some of the troops too and that is why there is an acceptance of the practice at the camporee. I dont think it necessarily a lack of training or a desire to not follow the program that can cause this attitude. It is just the Patrol Method is not as strong as it should be in the troops. I know it has been a struggle for me but I continue to plug away. And there are ups and down in the process. (Currently on an up.) (I also agree with Lisabob and late or poor camporee planning being a reason for poor attendance. We keep May open on our Programm planning but sometimes the weekend is not set early on calendar or changes late)

Do any of your troops help pay for any or all of the cost of Woodbadge? Or is the person expected to pay? Typically the various Scoutmaster training has been paid for by the person attending but their cost is somewhat minimal $25. Woodbadge in our area is $200. If your troop does pay or subsidize a portion of it do you put any guidelines on the number of persons that can attend or is their some type of request like a campership. I realize it depends on the funds that are available and we are discussing how we will fund. Just looking for some guidelines for dispersing funds. Thanks for the help. Go Brewers

Petronius lived in the time of the Roman Emperor Nero who named Petronius "Arbiter of Elegance." Nero was one of the emperors associated with the persecution of Christians, so he could not have lived more than two centuries before Christ. As a Quality Guy myself I think the problem is there is no patience to let the system evolve and improve them in a unique way to your work environment. Regardless whether its Quality Circles, SDWT, TQM. 6 Sigma, Lean or whatever the next thing consultants will get rich on there is always some CEO who wants the results now because the businesses are managed by the quarter. And there is equally enough corporate ladder climbers who will facillitate this and leave their messes behind. The lack of patience also goes to the planning process to implement these things. Got to do it now so we can get payback. Only about 25 years experience talking