perdidochas

So should we not allow the boys with epi-pens to go on campouts without a paramedic?

One thing that struck me at a recent SM training, is that we are not allowed to wear the field uniform at certain fundraisers. To me, this is counterproductive, and honestly, strikes me that the upper levels are running on greed rather than common sense.

In terms of the kabobs, the scout has to cook the meal using the My foodplate guidelines. They either have to cook the vedggies with the kabobs, or separately. the veggies ARE part of the requriements.

I was told about the flaming scarves at a Scout leader training this weekend. I would also like to see the G2SS about this.

Your WEb II leader is right. BSA policy is that you don't award rank badges until you earn them--it's basic honesty. Also, BSA poliicy is that you remain a Tiger until June 1. The problem is that your pack is doing things wrong. If I were you I would just simply demand that at the next pack meeting you have time to give the Tigers their awards. Have your parents ask the CM the same thing. Or if not, plan your own Tiger cub advancement ceremony at a Den Meeting. Ask if your local Boy Scout Troop can help with the ceremony--I'm sure that the boy scouts might need to be an MC at a ceremony for Communications Merit Badge.

You have things confused in terms of terminology and concepts. First of all, crossover is just the crossover of Webelos to Boy Scouts. There is no crossover of tiger cubs. There is an end of the school year bridging or tansition from Tigers to WOlves, but that has nothing to do with advancement. It occurs at the end of the school year, not right now. Third, you are really talking about the awarding of the Tiger Badge, and your Webelos leader is exactly right. They cannot legitimately be awarded the Tiger Badge until all requirements are completed. To all this, it really doesn't matter. The Blue and Gold is not the end of the cub scouting year. It should just be a celebration of Cub Scouting. Just give the Tigers their advancement after they have earned it at your April pack meeting.

BD, I pretty much agree about the work part. Most boys will do things when asked. Those who are OA material are the ones that are looking for things to do, or that see what is to be done, and do it. By age 14 and Life, he should know what's going on--not just in terms of OA, but in what the troop does.

Microwaving is about the best way to cook/steam most vegetables. It's totally appropriate for the meals that have to be cooked at home. No need to spend much time except to discuss that it's usually not the best way to cook meats, and that it requires moisture to work.

I pretty much agree. He's had to irritate most of the boys voting (most meaning one more than 1/2). Our troop similarly has a lot of schools-- two middle public, two Catholic K-8, one Catholic high school, three public high schools, and a couple of homeschoolers thrown in. I think he's not as diligent/perfect when Mom's not watching, and boys know it. The boy needs to figure out how to fix his problem with the other scouts or find another troop if he wants to be in OA.

It's being replaced by the Outdoor Ethics Award, so it's just logical that would be the replacement for the OAA.

The new requirements include learning about 7 different cooking methods (baking, boiling, pan frying, simmering, steaming, microwaving, and grilling.) and require that food prepared at home use at least 5 of those methods. For patrol cooking, the scout needs to cook with two different methods and another one that uses dutch oven, foil packet or kabobs. And a separate dessert.

I'm also a Cooking MB counselor. My personal plan is that all the boys who started last year will use the old requirements. The boys who started this year will use the new requirements. IMHO, the new requirements make a bit more sense and contain more guidance.

The water/steam is to transfer heat. From what I've read about it, it doesn't make for soggy foods. Now, they aren't crisp like dry baked goods, but they aren't soggy. Here's a link to a DIY version: http://www.trailcooking.com/fauxbaker/

My sons are both OA members (Brotherhood). Before OA, they were pretty mellow about electing OA members. Now, they are pretty hardcore, and actually voted against most of the candidates this year. All the boys got in, but not from my sons' votes. Their main criteria was how hard they work at campouts.

if the boy is as helpful as his mom thinks, then he needs to work on those interpersonal skills and make friends. Personally, I think she may have an exaggerated view of his helpfulness, and the other scouts don't see it.

If the boys are aware of food allergies, at least in my troop, they are pretty good about reading labels, etc when they are grubmaster. I'm actually surprised about how aware they are of things like that. Ironically, we had one of our peanut allergy kids as grubmaster, and HE bought the wrong type of food.

I think it would be time to harshly reprimand him (in private) about the situation. I also think it should be time for his parents to be involved. I would remind him of the Eagle Charge and Challenge, both of which he clearly failed. I would probably tell him that if I heard anything else remotely unkind, uncourteous, unfriendly or uncheerful like that, I would kick him out of the troop. I would suggest that he work with that Tenderfoot, but I wouldn't curse the Tenderfoot with that.

It's politics. If he's helping out the younger scouts, when it's close to election time, he needs to ask them for their votes.

Our troop always travels in the field uniform (aka Class As). This weekend, on our way to go backpacking, we stopped at a truck stop to fuel our vehicles and quench our thirsts, etc. Got a lot of positive reactions. I don't think that people see scout uniforms in public very often, and it's a sad thing.

When I think of a "small juice can" I think of the little 6 oz cans of pineapple juice that my dad used to buy for camping trips. They aren't even the size of a fist.

The next chapter of the neutering and bubblewrapping of Scout activities has begun........

I agree that the ideal recruit for Tiger Den Leader is a parent with an older child in the pack. They've seen it, and realize that it's not that hard.

I've heard that Eagle helps little for admissions, but helps a lot more in terms of getting scholarships.