ozemu

I know this is a bit cheeky but since so many new posters responded to the "what do you do for a living" thread I thought I'd drag this one back up front. We are looking for the single best idea that you have gotten off this forum. I personally am always looking for new idea's - or old ones that I've been overlooking.

Well done son of Sparky and Sparky herself. He must put a big effort in at school. Maybe he rests at home.

ditto gsmom's post. Words cannot express the helplessness we all feel at these times. Maybe run a normal meeting but focus on the grief on parade or in a session. It cannot be ignored but life goes on I suppose. At our last Jamboree a Scouter died and the Troop returned home early. I think that this may have been a bad way to handle it - but I wasn't involved.

Outdoor Education instructor primarily working with highly 'at risk' 11-15 y/o. Also programme and instruct an adult assistant instructor course. Also Army cadet officer - was permanant Army officer (Infantry)90-99. Now also foster carer for two quite good boys - that was my wife's idea. She has a big heart. Nice meeting everyone. Interesting people.

We have two competition camps. Leaders camp separately to the Scouts in both cases and run bases away from the camping area at one. The patrols rotate around and there is only one patrol at a base normally. Difficult to cheat when your Patrol is the only one being watched. The Scouter running the camps of late is not policing either adult involvement or Scout behaviour (remember no Scout here is above 14 years old)and the camps have lost their appeal. Before that however they were pretty good. Would not help all of your cheating issues but might help some. Otherwise: Explain on the morning of Tower Day that the towers had to be constructed at an arena away from the camp sites. The offending Troop would in fact have been 'practicing' or they would have an interesting tower carry - it would look a bit obvious. Prep'ed wood - provide the wood to be used. Orienteer - issue the route and maps at the start point - after the adults have moved to their required safety position. It's hard to play the game this way and only works when you can guess what they intend to do.

"...in violent agreement..." Oh that's good. Missed it the first time. It's not even late - no excuses what-so-ever. I think I'll log off....

We call it competency based training. If you've done it to the correct standard somewhere then you are accepted at this level everywhere else. Works for adults. Seems the arguement has become more about whether someone is checking that the work was in fact done elsewhere and that the standard is equal or better. As Yarrow states it this is not the issue. Double dipping was the major point - and as it works for adults I adhere to the same standard for Scouting.

ditto

Been looking at getting ropes in patrol colours for my scouts but cannot find the right thing. Have also decided to get 8mm static prussick cord instead of braided nylon. Cost is much higher but climbing rope is more coloufull and feels great when handling it. Also flexible and doesn't kink when rolled for while. Hope that this will make knotting more attractive. Can then follow red feathers lead with carrying rope on the belt and doing random checks.

Tonight I got a pack of small easter eggs with this note: "Emu, Happy Easter. Thanks for the time and effort you put into Scouts. Cameron loves Scouts and that's because of your input." It's not why I do the job but the gesture warms the heart. Over the years I've recieved a personalised coffee mug, cards, an engraved pen, a few homemade certificates and a model pioneering bridge. Each full of meaning and proudly cared for. Nearing 15 years now and I could have recieved some official commendations but much prefer these occasional and unsolicited memento's. Just thought I'd share a happy moment. The scouting organisation can be frustrating but some parents and Scouts really appreciatte your efforts. Wish I could share the eggs with you all.

good thread OGE, and I like Ed's Knot of the Night. When teaching a knot I start by showing the finished knot, explain it's purpose and how it works. With the end in mind I then show how to tie the knot. After showing the full process I then re-show step one. When step one is re-shown I then allow the Scouts to grab their rope and follow my lead. If I let them fiddle with the rope before that point they don't watch and get lost. Some learn by watching, others by trying and getting it wrong, others by reasoning and explaination and some by just copying step by step. I try to do all methods as a process described above so that they all have a chance and don't get disheartened waiting for their favourite learning method. As a boy I practised lots - a favourite for a few months was to tie up a volunteer Harry Houdini. No matter what you do there is almost always a way for the volunteer to loosen and then untie your knot. You soon learn that lots of kots is not the solution. Haven't encorouraged this as SM. Basically had forgotten until this thread. No looping ropes around necks, pulling limbs tight or involving a stick or other foriegn object. Too big a minefield to try that now. There are other ways. I always escaped.

So would I.

red feather you could substitute the matches for sugar, potassium permanganate and a spoon (from your camping ideas thread). If it is from their survival kit than only allow enough in a patrol for a couple of goes. ie one scout has suger, another has the potassium etc) scoutldr that show (our version) is my daughters favourite. Sounds like an excellant idea. Notch up another idea trade.

Ooh! I thought I had started a dud! MB's handed out by SPL gives me another idea for use here. That's the way - keep listing the ideas. I'm sure others would find the summary useful. Thanks everyone

Wonder how they are going. Looks like an old style scouting philosphy (no criticism intended) and in that era the British Scouts were diving into burning and collapsing buildings in the Battle of Britain. Could be the same in Basra. Hope the impending death of Saddam puts other depots on notice. The violence of the moment should have far reaching benefits. Lest we forget.

Leaders kids progress quicker than the children of non-leaders generally. Mostly because the parents are involved and encouraging. The children may also try to please the parents. All in all not much to worry about unless YOU can see some imbalance in his abilities. Some Scouts are thriving in our program but in the rest of society they are misfits. As long as he has it all in perspective then he should go for his life. We normally agree that we never sign off our own children. That avoids any criticism that they are getting favouritism. In fact our children have one less leader to go to and that can mean that they have to wait in line longer. Do you have a similar tradition over there? Your son seems to be fine. Your approach is good and correct. Don't hold back.

Whilst serving the Queen in HM Armed Forces I was transferred from place to place and given alternate commands and staff appointments. Nothing strange there but I did enjoy looking up the phone book for the Scout Assoc in my local area (only when in a staff position) and asking them if they could use a trained leader. Always assured of a pleasent welcome. My last Scouting change happened when I returned the uniform and took up roots. Same result - happy welcome.

I agree eisely. Anyone know about Scouting in Iraq? I suppose that Saddam has converted them into Hitler Youth ...if they ever existed. Does the World Org of Scouting Movements have a plan? Duty First(This message has been edited by ozemu)

(grin)

Great news scoutmom. Something else I got from this forum was the addiction being called the 'scout pox': highly contagious and incurable. Sounds like your son is pretty crook.

That's it sctmom. Can't stand Chevy Chase actually. The only scene I remember is grandma wrapped in a blanket sitting bolt upright on the roof of the car. No idea ho she got there but assuming she was deceased.

Wow! the 'victim'was incensed and made a scene, the CM and den leader resign, the cubs are feeling...what? probably not good. Did they learn anything useful - probably not. Lose-lose-lose.

Thanks Dan, was away again. Maca's are native to here! That is why we have a Bauple nut on our scarf badge. The mac was taken to Hawie, Hawia (?) and selectively bred. Then it came back and is grown everywhere in our area. The site was really intended for the koala and her hosts. eisely I don't think the pics are very good at the moment. The Troop has a disposable and it takes a few months to finish the film. A few given by parents too but the delay is long and I'm trying to keep things current. Thanks again everyone.

Kicking the list off. My advancement, investiture and promotion ceremonies are fairly elaborate and include Aboriginal culture and icons (with their permission). Family members are invited but the investitures are otherwise private Troop events (creating some mystique amongst the Cub Pack. I follow the official ceremony but added a Scout dressed as an Aboriginal guide, didgeredo music, flaming lanterns, canoe transport from the Cub Pack when possible, signing the Troop role, Troop wall hangings (using poles and lashings as a frame outside), always conduct them at night and all badges are safety-pinned to the shirt. I used discussions relating to OA and Mic-O-Say and then checked out a few sites.

I'm thinking that over the years many of us have got ideas from this forum. Always on the lookout for another good idea so... lets see the best program idea that you got from this forum.