OldGrayOwl

Just this past summer, at a big summer camp in MD, the instructor was failing Scouts and Scouters for their swim test if they were NOT gliding for at least 4 seconds for the restful back stroke. No matter that I showed him in the Handbook, Swimming merit badge book, nor the G2SS did it state a glide of at least 4 seconds. Some of the scouts that are very lean, would sink if they tried to glide for 4 seconds, but that did not matter to him.

YOU try dialing 999 for Emergency and see how far that will get you. Other than that, it is a good training idea.

A lot of our Scouts and Scouters are addicted to the stuff, either buying it or getting it (free).

It has!!!! It is even on freshly washed fruits and vegetables!!!

Here is a site for totem critters on a leather cord: http://www.spiritcreatures.com/(rk3a00mr502p0py0ai3gvvic)/totemimages.aspx using tinyurl.com to shorten above link: http://tinyurl.com/3d35ou(This message has been edited by OldGrayOwl)

This talk about food as gotten me hungery, so I thought that I would spin off a thread about what Scouters think about a lot .... FOOD In HiLo's land (Australia), he has TimTam's as well as Vegimite. (Both very good). In my area we have Maryland Steamed Crabs and Berger Cookies ( http://dcist.com/2006/11/20/charm_city_supe.php )(I believe that the Berger cookies are far better than the TimTam's....you can get them in the US ) What foods are considered a delicacy in your area? (Still learning this spun thread thing) (This message has been edited by OldGrayOwl)

EagleDad, That is a GREAT idea, about giving a copy of the G2SS to the Senior Patrol and PLC. Question though, Is the G2SS a "Guide" or is it some additional Rules and Regulations that National has given to us, or is it simply a clarification of the existing rules?

This is the stove that I'm looking at: http://www.trailstove.com/ What do you think of it?

You can find one at: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4809690 or just do a search at any camping supply stores for either "Pie Iron" or Cooking Iron"

One that works with a PC is the Microsoft Streets and Trips. It costs about $70.00 and it includes the GPS receiver.

The Dangerous Book for Boys I got a copy for my son and he really likes it. I found that there is a website for the book: http://www.dangerousbookforboys.com/

With the advent of the Internet, and many Troops posting photos and movies on their web sites, do any of you have the parents fill out a Photo Release form? This form could protect the troop from liability suits resulting from "unauthorized" publication of their son's images and or movies on the web or other sources. What do you think?

CNYS, Could you tell us the name of the camps?

The way I do it in my troop is that when a Scout requests a SM, I check and see if I'm busy and do it when I can...after all, the reason that I'm there is for the Scouts. We used to schedule them, or have them the 3rd meeting of the month, but the amount of advancement that we were getting was minimal. If I couldn't make it on the 3rd meeting night, or if the Scout couldn't for whatever reason, then he would be delayed again. The parents understand, since they realize that I am staying there for THEIR son, giving up more of my time for THEIR son. I had to explain that only once to a parent, then they understood.

So it sounds like what you are saying is that if you don't work to keep the honor, you will be removed from the Order? I thought that once you complete the ordeal AND keep your dues up to date, you will never lose the honor.

Going along with the Adults leaving summer camp early, What do you do when you have scouts decide to leave summer camp on Friday night, instead of leaving on Saturday with the rest of the troop? I had a few scouts decide to leave because they were either bored, tired, or whatever. I had a couple that wanted to leave after their parents came up for the closing campfire (this was their first time away from mom and dad, homesick and all. I have no problem with them). It is the more experienced scouts that left, even without telling me that they were leaving. I found out after they were gone. They didn't even tell their SPL or their PL's that they were going, just their tent mates. A couple of them are up for higher rank advancements, Star, Life, etc. This is not something new, they have done it in the past. It is almost a tradition with them, to leave camp on Friday, and leave the cleanup to the rest of the troop. Some cite that they are leaving on family vacation the next day and want to get an aerly start, etc. Any number of reasons. What would you do? Thanks OGO(This message has been edited by OldGrayOwl)

Check out Camp Cedarlands in upstate NY. http://www.adkventures.org/

Here is a favorite: A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the dinning hall. Music will follow.

How about the terms: "Formal" - Class A, all of the bells + whistles i.e. sashes, medals, etc. to be used for Court of Honors, and other very special ocassions "General" - Still Class A, but without the sashes, medals. "Activity" - What is known today as Class B. A uniform to be worn when working, where the General uniform could get damanaged. Just an idea.

What we do is just after the Scout completes his BOR, we make a copy of his handbook (another good reason to bring your handbook to your BOR), so that the troop secretary can input the data into Troopmaster. We then file the copy away in the troop's file cabinet and the Scout's induvidule file folder (just in case any Scout loses his handbook, like that won't EVER happen) When the Scoutmaster signs off on the completed blue card, he makes a copy of that and gives it to the Troop secretary as well to enter the data into Troopmaster. That copy is then stored in the file cabinet.

Thanks. Shows that my gray matter just ain't what it use to be. Never thought of looking there.

My troop wants to get into doing some Pioneering activities. What sort of poles (logs), lengths, diameters, material would be required, how many, etc.? They want to start off building simple things first, like campsite gateways, then move into more complicated projects like towers and bridges. Any ideas and or plans? Thanks OGO

>>>> What could be better!!

When I was a young owl, I really enjoyed Cooking MB. It is a shame that it isn't required for Eagle anymore. After that one, I enjoyed the "tech" ones, like Atomic Energy, Electronics, Photography. Now, as an OGO, I don't really have any that I don't like. They all have their purpose, albiet being watered down a lot.

Here is another site where you can listen to it. http://www.michael-mitchell.ca/s_ciskvc2_land.mp3 (Edited since I found a better site for the song)(This message has been edited by OldGrayOwl)