oldsm

In perusing the April 2006 issue of Backpacker Magazine, my eye was caught by an image on page 52. Under "Reader Tips: 3 ways your fellow readers are getting out more", a reader wrote, "My boys joined the Scouts and I became a leader..." The accompanying picture shows a boy of apparent scout age in uniform from the chest up. The uniform is tan. It has no epaulets (or shoulder loops). The right pocket flap has a diamond-shaped patch reminiscent of a Cub Scout patch, with a red star to each side of it. An engraved blue name plate is located just above the right pocket. The left pocket flap has three large gold stars. There is some kind of multi-colored bar (red/black/yellow/black) above the left pocket. There is a bit of U.S. flag visible on the left sleeve. There is a "neckerchief" and eagle-type slide, but the neckerchief looks like a solid black scarf. The hat is tan with dark trim. It is the old style all-fabric hat that could be folded flat (similar to what I had as a boy in the 60s). The salute is formed by merely folding the thumb over. The pinkie is parallel to the other fingers. And the salute centered on the forehead, above the hairline. All of this is in front of a rather faded U.S. flag, obviously just as a background. My questions: Is this some kind of special BSA uniform? Was it used sometime in the past? Is this likely just some unknowing/uncaring graphics artist's attempt to evoke an image of scouting? The reader is from California, so I would not expect that this is a "foreign" uniform. Maybe this is nothing. But I'm still curious. Comments?

"Nanson and John Fitzgerald, 9, both members of an Omaha Scout troop..." How does a 9 year old become a member of a Boy Scout Troop? Finish 5th grade real early? Earn AOL in time to crossover at age 9? I'm not sure anymore about the joining requirement for Cubs, but do know that we often had problems with accepting boys who were just a little too young. The result was that they weren't mature enough for Boy Scouts when they crossed over. Maybe they were really Cub Scouts on a Pack outing? Maybe the age is wrong? Maybe this is just some more careless reporting by the AP? Still, I'm really glad the boys saw and saved the little girl instead of just letting "it" float by.

We hand out permission slips at troop meeitngs with all the trip details pre-entered. They are given to the scouts. It is their responsibility to take them home, get them signed, and return them with their trip payment. Of course, not everyone is at every meeting, so we've started emailing them in addition (they get put into a PDF format so anyone can read/print them).

Two of my scouts just returned from a week of NYLTC. I haven't seen such enthusiasm in a long time. It is refreshing. I suggest that you ask the boys what THEY want the troop to look like. Do they want to be a backpacking troop? A high-adventure troop? Dutch oven cooking experts? How big do they want to be? I mentioned NYLTC because one of the things that is stressed in the new syllabus is creating your own vision of what you want your own troop/patrol to be. It's the boys' troop. Let them create the vision. Then be their cheerleader and help them realize their dreams.

Too bad there's not more to the story. I'm sure there is. I'll bet it pained the AP to print something positive...

An excellent alternative is one that some of the boys in my troop use: the First Need Portable Water Purifier. It's a little more expensive ($94 list, but can be obtained a little cheaper), but it also removes viruses without the need for iodine. Here's the blurb from the firstneed website (www.firstneed.com). In my book, given how people don't like the iodine taste, this is the best solution. (BEGIN QUOTE) Chemical free water purification for the outdoors Tired of the expense and hassle of bottled water... Want pure water straight without chemical after taste, holding time or hassle? First Need water purifiers cleanse water instantly and effectively providing clean, great tasting water instantly without chemicals, hold-time, electricity!! General Ecology drinking water purifiers utilize our proprietary "Structured MatrixT" technology for chemical-free cleansing to provide safe, great tasting and refreshing drinking water. Relied on by customers for 30 years in over 40 countries world-wide. A letter of confidence to our customers WHY WE SAY FIRST NEED "WATER PURIFIERS" NOT "WATER FILTERS" General Ecology water purifiers utilize our unique, proprietary "Structured Matrix" chemical-free technology to offer the highest level of water purification instantly without chemicals, pretreatment, double pumping or hold time. General Ecology's water purifiers remove viruses, bacteria, and protozoa, plus many organic and inorganic chemical and aesthetic contaminants at the highest "purification" micron level (0.4 microns absolute) to provide great tasting water while protecting against water related disease. First Need Deluxe Water Purifiers like all General Ecology Water Purifiers are certified to meet EPA Microbiological Purification Standard against cysts, bacteria AND virus! By comparison, even the very best water filters only remove certain protozoa, and perhaps bacteria and possibly certain aesthetic contaminants and provide a lesser standard of protection than that of General Ecology water purifiers. (END QUOTE) I'd be interested to hear others' experiences with this filter.

But if he doesn't have the conversation, then all the boys will pay the price. I've seen it happen in my own troop. While you never really like losing anyone, sometimes it has to happen. In this case, I think that the group is more important than the individual.

Troopmaster is outstanding. It's easy to use and so efficient. It has all of BSA's "rules" programmed in, and is constructed to work the way real-world troops work. The dotnet option is so worthwhile. It lets you access your data from multiple locations (as long as you set it up properly at the outset), and lets you distribute some recordkeeping among other people so you don't have to do it all yourself!

A few months ago I finished doing Citizenship in the World with three boys from my troop. Two were juniors, one a sophomore. The sophomore had been part of the school's Model UN program. This was a "tough" MB for the boys to do. We didn't add to the requirements, but we sure had some good probing discussions. They really took it seriously, and I know that each boy met all of the requirements personally. When we finished, I asked for their reaction to the MB. One of the older boys commented that he really enjoyed it. He said that it not only drew on information he'd learned in his AP History class, but went beyond and made him really think about world events and how fortunate we are to live in the United States of America. It made my day!

It's not clear from the article that the project was approved by the district, although since he's back and 105 lbs. of stuff was delivered, I suppose it was. To my way of thinking: The boy probably didn't do much planning or leadership, based on Eamonn's post. Part of the leadership aspect should have been finding a way to get the remaining poundage to Costa Rica. Perhaps seeking donations for separate air frieight? Someone needs to educate the boy's mother (and possibly the district advancement committee) on the meaning of LEADERSHIP. What has the boy learned from this experience?

You're not dealing with Cubs here; you're dealing with a ship. Everyone gets into the scouting program hoping to get something out of it. Obviously, the ship members have other priorities, which leaves you high and dry, so to speak. If I were in your situation, I would make it abundantly clear to the ship members that my first priority is them. However, I'd also let them know that they are not my only priority. After all, I ned to get something out of scouting too, and the ship's reluctance to make a commitment to running the ship doesn't excite me. I don't like being in dry dock. The logical solution to my situation that the ship members have created is for me to take on some additional scout-related activities. Then I'd give them a short time (maybe a day or two) to mull it over and decide whether or not they're going to play sports or sail the ship. If it's the former, I'd quickly give the Training Coordinator a big "yes". If it's the latter, then "anchors aweigh".

So...it mostly sounds reasonable. Of course, being written by a reporter, there are probably misrepresentations in the interest of making a "good story". I wonder about the people who "sped around in ATVs with loading docks piled high with mulch". Must have been quite a sight! Are you saying the young man is an overachiever? Many times the best people to get something done are those who are already busy with a lot of other things - look at the "do-ers" in just about any troop (like the SM). Then there's the matter of a 12-year old working on his Eagle project. We know that's impossible, unless his council/district are playing games. More likely, it's an error by a clueless reporter. Can't trust the media to even get the basic facts straight! This is borne out even more when you look at his other activities. He's not going to be senior in high school at age 12, and certainly wouldn't be working as a cashier at that age. Anyone writing to the paper requesting a correction and elaboration on the significance of Eagle?

I HOPE it wasn't a scout camp...

My son bought one of these a year or so ago after seeing it at the Jambo. He tried it out at home. The next morning (late in the morning - past time for him to get moving because we all had things to do), I went to wake him up. I rapped on the lump in the low point of the hammock to wake him up, thinking I'd be thumping his butt. Because of slight downhill angle that he'd suspended the hammock, he'd shifted down. What I hit was his hard head! He loves it (the hammock, not the thump on the head). It's super light and very cozy - and it breathes well and takes up very little space in his pack. It has performed very well in heavy rain. The "downside" is that there's no good place to stow your pack, park your boots, change clothes, etc.

I strongly agree with what CA-Scouter said. As far as keeping parents in the loop, that is well and good. I think most SMs try to do that. However, it is very difficult to remember every jot and tittle of every incident. If I tried to do that, I would spend all my scouting hours just taking notes in a little black book and no time counseling young men, consulting with other adult leaders, etc., etc. Remember that your SM is a volunteer who most likely has a full-time job outside of scouts, and a family to support and raise. Yeah, we all laugh at the "one hour a week" adage, but what we often fail to acknowledge is that a dedicated SM (or SA, for that matter) often puts in what amounts to a half-time job in volunteerism. And I think it's human nature to want to deal with things following the path of least resistance sometimes. We also might try to avoid dragging parents in early-on to keep from "ganging up" on the boy. Maybe also to avoid having to argue with parents who don't want to admit that junior might have a few rough edges. While you may not like what you've "uncovered" (and there may well be more that you haven't learned yet), I think you need to give the adult leadership the benefit of the doubt and work with junior to make sure he stays (or gets) on the straight and narrow. If there have already been some other incidents, chances are that the SM already discussed them with your son. Maybe your son doesn't want to stay in the troop because he doesn't like being held accountable? I've never suspended anyone, but we had one young man who committed an egregious lapse a few years back. The particular incident was not a first offense - it was just the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. The CC and I met with the boy and his mother, discussed the act, and agreed upon an appropriate course of action. The boy decided the next day that he didn't want to accept the consequences (which were rather minimal), so decided to move to another troop, with mama's blessing. He didn't last long there. There may be more to your situation than you or we know. I would be careful not to make a mountain out of a molehill to avoid damaging relationships any further. Just my .02.

I attend, along with my CC. When I was CM for the pack, I attended and found it to be a wonderful source if ideas and guidance to pass along to the den leaders. Earning beads for attendance/participation/etc was an incentive (who has the most?). So when I became SM, of course I continued attending. It's very rare that I miss one. The same goes for my CC. Because of this, we are usually on the same page with what's going on. I've tried to get the SA's to attend, but very little luck here. Biggest problem: I got them to go about a year ago when the topic was safety (Safe Swim, Safety Afloat, Climb On Safely, Trek Safely). Unfortunately, it was a BIG BUST. The speaker/instructor simply read from a prepared PowerPoint slide show. Extremely boring. Can't get the SA's to attend any more, even though I've tried to explain that not all meeings are like that - in fact, most are pretty good (and the SA's would definitely benefit). To compensate, we schedule an Adult Leaders Council (ALC) once a month on a non-troop-meeting night. This provides an opportunity for me to share some of what I got at RT, exchange ideas, etc. Still, I wish they would go to RT. A question for all: It seems to me that many of the things that are discussed at RT really should be directed to the SPL. Some are program ideas, some are camporee promotions, etc. Some great information that they boys could use but that's hard to pass along to an SPL second-hand. Does anyone have any thoughts about this?

Great idea, onehour. Do you have any pix of what a washbowl stand would look like? Also, what was the first most popular?

Why in the world did National come up with this new-fangled round temporary patch for recruiting? It's only temporary. The existing rectangular patch is "permanent" and is more recognizable than the new one. If the old one wasn't colorful enough, they could have changed the colors and design while keeping the shape, size, and placement the same. I think this was a stupid move that will only serve to dilute the recognition of recruitment efforts. It's confusing and redundant. It ranks right there with the new 1st Class requirement to "talk" to someone about joining. Maybe I should change my name to oldcodger... Grumpy today. Sorry.

A few years ago my predecessor, in an attempt to get a dysfunctional unit back on track, worked through the troop committee to get the boys back into uniform. It gradually came to be understood that BSA policy is that you either wear the complete uniform, or none of it. And none was not an option. It didn't take long before the boys started being recognized in the community and at district events for "looking sharp" and, more importantly, "acting sharp". There was a sea change in attitude and self-image. The troop has been called upon repeatedly by our Council to assist at a number of very public events. The boys take great pride in their appearance and actions, and what they represent. We have no problem getting boys to wear the whole uniform ("including scout underwear" -- joke!). If there's a lapse, the boys quickly correct it without any adult intervention.

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. My troop went there about 3 years ago and the boys are still talking about it! You need 3 days to "do" the battlefield. If you do it correctly, you'll walk all over the place on a series of self-guided tours. Day 1 is basically the Confederate side, ending with a chance to "relive" Pickett's Charge. Day 2 is the Union side. Day 3 entails walking the town of Gettysburg (I still remember the local college where the wooden floors are still stained with the blood of the wounded who were taken there). At each stop along the journey, the boys took turns reading the descriptive information from the guide book. One read the Gettysburg Address while standing on the very spot that Abraham Lincoln stood when he delivered it. Heady stuff, this. Dinner the 3rd day was at a tavern, then a home, that used to be a stop on the underground railroad. You could see into the hiding places. If you time it correctly, you can include a trip to the Eisenhower farm (it was the presidential and retirment home of Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th President of the United States, where he often met with world leaders). We did that at the end of the day. Our boys (in full uniform, of course) were honored by being asked be the color guard to retire the flag. The boys learned history, troop movements, strategy, and more -- much more than they would ever have learned in school. There was an overarching sense of wonderment at the tremendous sacrifices made on both sides, and amazement at just how near the Confederacy came to winning. How might that have changed the course of our history? Considering that many of the dead were not many years older than our own boys were when we visitied... There are commercial campgrounds nearby that offer amenities like swimming pools (much appreciated after miles of walking in hot, hot sun). After three extremely tiring days, the "reward" was a day enjoying the amusements at nearby HersheyPark. Some boys are talking about doing a repeat trip. What they keep coming back to is the battlefield - not the amusements! I think what made this destination so meaningful is that the boys had an intensive experience with a single historical event. It was not "a little of this and a little of that". It wasn't just "go and see"; this was definitely "go and experience". And there were no distractions such as you might get in a more urban setting. The local York-Adams Area Council also has a patch and series of segments that you can earn by completing various requirements at Gettysburg. With advance planning in conjunction with the National Park Service, you can also earn the BSA Historic Trails award. Highly recommended. If you would like more information, please PM me.

I'll second that notion! I think it would be a great idea - especially including geographic information. I get the announcements about WB in my council, but there are several other councils not too far distant, and I have no idea what they're offering.

I don't know if it's a law in my state, but all of our council camps for years have had signage clearly posted that requires ALL visitors to check in at the camp office upon arrival. Why in the world would Mom and Dad need to drop off dry socks for Billy? Can't he just hand wash (if necessary) his wet/dirty ones and hang them on a clothesline or inside his tent to dry? Maybe he'll learn to pack more socks next time around. Methinks the parents should stay home.

My son is at NOAC. Spoke to him on the phone last night and told him about the new zip-off pants I was at the local Scout Shop. It will be interesting to see how they look in actual service. I would have a little problem with appearance for formal occasions like Council dinners and similar events where non-Scouting people pay small fortunes to attend. Son said he'd already seen them and was not impressed. It seems that some NOAC contingent is wearing them. He says they're a different color - sort of a sage green instead of BSA green. That entire contingent wears them and always in the long configuration. Maybe they're not the official BSA zip-offs, but one of those "find it somewhere else" knockoffs, especially since the new ones supposedly aren't available until September.

I agree about the glut of fundraising that goes on. I believe it's a bit of commentary on the nature of contemporary society. Too much of the fundraising that goes on is to support schools and school activities which by rights should be funded through taxes. Too many taxpayers think they can cut expenses by chopping a school budget. But then those same taxpayers get bomarded with cadres of little salespeople hawking goods for the PTA or PTO, after-school sports events, school-sponsored social service programs, band uniforms, prorms, etc. It's a false savings, in my opinion. In my town we have two packs and two troops. The packs seems to like the show-and-sell, while the troops seem to use the take-order process. One thing that was brought to our attention several years ago is that Trails End popcorn is not labelled properly for sales of individual popcorn packages - it's legal only by the carton. So, if no one is complaining, is it morally acceptable to sell unlabelled product in possible violation of federal/state/local food labelling regulations? If it's not OK and we do it anyway, what kind of message are we sending to those little minds in front of the grocery store and - just as important - their parents? Just wondering. Not judging.

You can read the food review for my troop's camp elsewhere ("And How Was Your Summer Camp Experience?" and "Camp Quality"). Scoutldr, by way of comparison, we paid $280 this year (up $20 from last year). Maybe the difference between our cost and yours is partly responsible for the quantity/quality of food? Of course, the relationship between the camp director and the staff (including kitchen staff) plays a big part, too. Maybe it's time to find another camp to attend - let your pocket do the talking. Edited by oldsm to correct thread names...(This message has been edited by oldsm)