perdidochas

I wouldn't say test out, but I think they should have an Advanced IOLS for people who want more advanced outdoor skills. SM fundamentals was just a boring class. The only thing I got out of it, was that our troop was doing a pretty good job of delivering the BSA program. (I did mellow out a little in the two years between the courses).

I agree. I wasn't impressed by my IOLS class. I took it after I had been a Webelos Den Leader for 2 1/2 years, and had been with the troop as a committee member (in name, but ASM in actions) for about a year. I was very irritated with what could have been a great class. Basically, the class was at basic levels of outdoor skills, and I was at least at the intermediate level. Besides the section on backpacking, I could have taught it. No mention of patrol method that I can recall.

We are very fortunate (although not all of our committee members think so, they would like more) with what our CO provides. We have a Scout hut (a portable classroom with bathroom), as well as an old single car garage for our quartermaster's shack. We used to meet in the Church's Family Life center (aka gym with kitchen), but have gotten the hut. The hut has been great--it is a place to hang up stuff, and customize it for our own use.

IOLS, IMHO, is for teaching new leaders how to tie the basic knots, use a compass, and heat (not cook) food in dutch ovens, using matchlite in a chimney starter.

The ideal is that the older boys would know and teach the younger boys. If the skill-set isn't in the boys, then the adults need to step in, IMHO.

There is no doubt that an adult led and run troop would be more efficient, easier, faster, etc. But our goal is not to be efficient and faster, etc. Our goal is to develop boys into leaders and good men. Boy led and run troops are the way to do that.

Boys and Girl Club (and YMCA youth programs) are pretty much how you describe it--baybsitting for older kids. Another thing is 4-H is a federal youth program. It's operated by a group funded by the USDA. The only reason it is less progressive than the Scouts is because it's primarily rural--i.e. it's membership is less progressive. http://www.4-h.org/grows/

Great idea about position insignia on epaulets. I don't see the current (post-Centennial) uniform to be bad. The boys don't mind the pants at all (most wear them with Activity uniform). They wear their field shirts with activity shirts underneath when we go on campout, and then strip down to activity shirt during the activities. Some wear their uniform all weekend.

I think we'd have much better luck selling the uniform to teens than a safari vest.

Exactly. The big problem with not wanting to wear the uniform is the "middle-aged" scouts--the 12-14 year olds. I also agree, that the adults are the key. If the adults in a unit aren't wearing uniforms, or wearing incorrect uniforms, the scouts are going to want to do the same. All that said, I also think the sticklers about uniforms being pressed, etc., don't help the uniform argument much. About 6 months ago, I went to an ECOH for my nephew. Hte belongs in a "uniform for special occasions" troop. All of their uniforms did look very nice. My oldest and I went to this in our uniforms, which we wear every week and on campouts. Our uniforms look lived-in, because we do live in them.

Liquid accelerant isn't needed for wood or charcoal.

Wow, I would never have thought about the Troop Committee making any decision about when and where the troop was camping. The PLC decides that, and tells the TC. That said, there have been times when the TC has had to veto PLC plans, due to lack of adult availability, or due to finances.

I think seeing boy led troops is a good idea. Honestly, I don't think there is much way to change troops that are actively adult led, if the adults like it that way. The only people that will change to boy led are those that want to be boy led.

Makes me wonder why BSA isn't also doing this.

We tend to do the hand-me down necker. Each year, the Pack has a crossover to the next rank. At that, they get their new necker, and give the old one to the next group. It seems to work ok.

My sons' OA ceremony group has two teams--the main one chose to do Sioux regalia(here in NW FL), and the other chose local Seminole inspired regalia. That said, they don't pretend that the Sioux regalia is local.

From the 2015 Guide to Advancement:

Well, hopefully the troop is teaching them with hands-on vs. lecture...... In terms of the whole repetition thing, yes, a lot of material in Scouts is repetitive, but on the other side of that, I know boys who have been through the material 4 or 5 times, that don't get it until the 6th. Kids need some repetition to learn. In terms of Cub den meetings, the key is to make sure you play a game at the end, hopefully an outdoor one. IMHO, playing games and having fun (rather than lecturing) is the weakness of scouting as it's implemented.

I agree. I know the pack I was a den leader for met every week as dens, and once a month was the pack meeting. I don't see how the biweekly or monthly meetings would work. I would think that there would be more absences, as people forget they have it. Rec soccer practices once a week in the off season (aka spring, with Fall being the "main" season (two practices a week)). I can't imagine doing Cub Scouts with less than one meeting a week (between Den and Pack meetings).

I've made foil packet dinners with thin-sliced round steak. They are a bit harder to eat (need to cut with knife), but taste better than the hamburger. Also have done them with smoked sausage. I use onion and green peppers and carrots.

Some tips for foil meals: 1) use alternative meats other than ground beef--you can use thin-sliced steak or boneless pork/chicken, you can use smoked sausage, etc. 2) Always put an onion slice in it for moisture, unless you are allergic. 3) Tater tots are the easiest form of potato--they cook faster than slices of potato. 4) Use mustard in a squeeze bottle to mark the top of the foil packet with initials. (Girl Scout trick a mother of one of my former Webelos told me) Last campout I was on, I made the following beef stew. Turned out great. Cooked it in a dutch oven on the stove. (from http://www.boyscouttrail.com/content/recipe/dutch_oven_beef_stew-579.asp ) Dutch Oven Beef Stew Recipe This Recipe is meant for Boy Scouts. Ingredients: Per person: 1/2 cup water 1/4lb beef cubes 1 carrot 1 potato 1/4 onion Notes: main course Instructions: Pour 1/2 cup of water into dutch oven.Heat to 350 degrees for Frying. Add beef cubes and cook covered for 20 minutes, stirring every few minutes. Add rest of water and heat to boiling. Cut carrots, potatoes, and onion into cubes and add to beef. Add salt and pepper. Cook for 20 minutes or until potatoes are soft. I also added a couple of cans of green beans (and I browned the meat in a few tablespoons of oil rather than in the water. )

That's sort of the way we did it. It's much more convenient for parents who have several Cubs. We had a Cub Scout meeting every Tuesday night--meeting in the same building. Most dens met during it. We had a Pack meeting at the same place once a month.

I agree with you on the reasoning for my sons being in Scouts (oldest is an Eagle). That said, my wife feels otherwise. She thinks the 4 you do, as well as getting Eagle. I also agree with you on the prioritizing thing. The boys need to choose their priorities (in extracurriculars, academics is always first), not me. They have to choose between the lacrosse practice and possibly not playing in the game, or the OA campout or working on their buddy's Eagle project.

I, personally, never recommend a Scout take one of the classroom Eagle required (ER) MBs. If they ask me what I suggest, I will suggest the outdoorsy ER badges, the unique badges for that camp (we go to different out of council camps each summer), and fun badges (aka outdoors, especially aquatics, badges). That said, Scouts often want to take the ERs, to get them over with.

Our SMCs are in a room just off to the side of the main meeting room, with an open door. They are in sight of everybody, just not in earshot.