bear dad

thanks for the help

Scoutfish, I was just a brand new to Scouting parent with a brand new to scouting son. But I was an active parent,. I helped the pack and my den leader with anything they needed. I attended den meetings, pack meetings and was invited to sit in on leader meetings which I also attended. To that I say WAY TO GO!! Wished more parents would take active role in their kids!! Scouts packs/troops could be so much better. Also Praise God you about your Cancer being gone! If I did not you know you would say me and you are LOT A LIKE. I am also new DL also Bear, have a wopping 4 months under my belt. I have asked same sort of questions, like every one else nobody knows everything. I have done a lot of networking, talking to other CM's which have offered to help in our PWD using there track since we are new. I am also looking at being a Webelos leader next year, heck I been finding camp spots for us, down here we have some lakes not charge us a thing if we pick up trash or a discounted rate. If I can be some help, with the little knowledge I have, give me a shout.

correction size is a 10" oven

Hi I am about to try some ducth oven cooking, have never done this before. Been doing some reading on it, most of the reciepes been looking at are using a 12" oven. Was given a 8" for free,any body got any tips or suggestions for food to cook in a size like this or tips in general? thanks

Our pack is getting ready to recharter for the first time, we started half way thru the last year. We have made several attempts to let parents know when, where, and cost. We are charging the fee that BSA is charging $15.00 plus insurance, this both boys and adults. We are struggling with getting some boys just to pay there dues, so we can not as Pack, pay or afford to recharter everyone. Parents have known, from when they signed up at first meeting this anual thing and would be coming up so they can not say they did not know. With that said, there MIGHT be a family that is struggling,but if there son sold popcorn when we sold they could used some of that to pay for it, which about 3 out of the 4 that sold is doing. Basically at this point, if they don't have there fees in by time given they will be dropped from our roster.may sound harsh,but might be only way to get there attention.I don't think there is pack out there that has not informed parents/ boys there is some sort of cost to be in scouts? personally think scouts is a lot cheaper than other things that could be involved in.

I am a new DL, so with that a couple quick ones, when we make a craft or do a project, boys seem to feel proud of what they did. The other one is a boy came up and hugged me and said "YOUR A GREAT LEADER"! Think thats says it all.

Scoutfish, Thanks, no problems, happy scouting to you!

To Scoutnut and to all that responded, thanks for the help.

Scoutfish, No need to say you are sorry to me.I don't think I even responded to any thing you posted? I was even asking about merits and belt loops. I still feel like this rule is vague though, These are pack-organized overnight events involving more than one family from a single pack, focused on age-appropriate Cub Scout activities and conducted at council-approved locations So by this rule is says more than 1 family from a pack, does not say if has to be different dens. So if we plan for a pack campout and only group of parents/ boys from 1 den show up, is this still a pack camp out? Thats all I wanted to know, the post went south from there. thanks

Thanks, Trainerlady, this what I heard from other people, you can put it out like that if no ones shows up, thats on them. I do have a couple of tigers that would like to go. So if we have a couple of different dens show up, does that make it a Family Camp? I really don't see the big deal in all this, understand it is rules, but to tell a boy he can't camp because no other dens wants to is not right.

Got a answer to my question, this is allowed for pack overnighters as long as all proper training/youth protection is in place. This from a District personal thanks

Hi have a question hopefully someone can help clear this up for me. I would like to take me den(bears) camping as boys have asked to go. It would be probably just ovenight (leave sat, back sunday). here is where I am having a issue to the rules I have inclosed a link to following http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/GSS/gss03.aspx According to this Bear dens can not den camp at top, but later it talks about family overnighters as more than 1 family per pack. I have talked to other CM's and they have told me they never had a problem, with attaining Tour permits. had a person a district it would be okay,said to check with Safe Scouting Guidelines thats where I get confused? Let me say this first YES someone will Baloo Trained, and will follow Youth protection, only parent guardian allowed to sleep in same tent, all that will be applied, just not shure how to interpet this rule, maybe because I am new?? What I don't get is how is a boy thats is active that wants to go and family also, is told no and this make scouting less appealing to stay involved in for the boy and family as well? Thanks

Eamonn, Thanks, no don't think you came across as harsh, I do know of a couple of parents that might be struggling a little nore than others. With that said I Do agree with you, we pay the same. In fact was talking to wife about our UC coming to our pack meeting, she is getting the info on the rechartering, and we have told leaders and some parents at last meeting along with this one their fees for rechartering has to be turned in by end of this month. I realize that we have a little more time, but I know if we give the inch, they will take the mile and some. As wife and I was talking she mentioned that she might wait on 1 person, I said no, they are no different than any other person in pack, WE ALL KNOW, BEEN TOLD, what to expect, like the scout saying "BE PREPARED".Every parent knows scouts have costs just like most things. I think there are some who like to see what they can get by with.

Eamonn, I agree with you that scouts should be no different with regards to cost associated to be in it, just like little league base ball, soccer,etc... But is still amazes me that when parents know this upfront, cost for joing etc.. they still sign the kids up for it.Then wonder why things don't get done, or they get to this or that, when they have not fullfilled THIER requirments. I am like all you are leaders and members are not paid, in fact we have to pay just be a leader or??, Not to mention OUR TIME. Had a person call us the other night wanting to know when we was going to do a event we had scheduled, told her when we get some money in our pack. Our pack is been up for about 4 months now, and we have not as of yet got any $ from this group, we have been told they have some, but how much?? Why has it took so long and still be not what is should be. I know we have some single parents with more than one kid, so it can be rough on them, thats why we tried to make it easy on them with dues each month, but to be honest I don't think that is the problem think it is they just don't care or want to??

Eamonn, Thanks we have as a pack (leaders and c. members) started to get a year down, but we got the first 6 months, we thought at least it was a start, we have a PWD, Regatta, B&G, even a pack campout scheduled so far, in fact we have put down for a garage sale to help both the pack and either keep cost down, or eleminate it for food for campout. I speak for myself, but can't see how people are not getting the picture? As I stated earlier when boy goes to boys scout probaly be more?? Even if we figure out it will cost say $50 a year, if they pay $5 a month how can we expect them pay up front?

Basementdweller, Our popcorn sell cut to the pack was about what yours.Now if every boy sold a couple hundred dollars that would be different. I don't like the ideal of dues but if you don't fundraise you have to do something. Hopefully it will work out, as for me I pay for any supplies out pocket for my den, that why I watch closely what it cost, I am trying to help as much as possible.

First thanks for the advice, much appericated. As to Scoutfish, I understand about popcorn deal we was new however, take this example 4 boys sold 3 of them sold close to the same amount say within $15 of each other, the other filled up 2 completed sheets, so even if given a short time think more boys could have sold something. ScoutNut, we have planed a garage sale fundraiser as the commitee got together and we tried to plan our first year, we got 6 monthsdown, thought we were doing the right things. The sale was to be for helping pack and we have plan a Pack campout, which we going to use some money for food, ect.. so family could come out that might otherwise could not afford too. We are trying to keep everything cheap as possible as know it is tuff on people. Myself only one that works at house not a great paying job, but blessed to have it! When I do things for my den, I am thrifty as possible, lot of parents don't know I am paying for things out my pocket.We made some stuff and have some wood at house and bought a object to use for each, which it self was cheap but when you add 8 it get expensive especially over time. least right now the boys in my den are having a good time, which is the object anyway. thanks

Thanks for the suggestions, sorry for the brief comment Basement dweller, was in a hurry when I wrote that. Yes only 4 boys out of the 19 we have sold any popcorn, grant it that couple joined after that but still? We started our unit around time of take orders,sept. All parents and Boys knew this was going on so it was not a matter did not know. We had a lot struggels getting going but got there.parents knew this was a way to fund the scouting program so had little or no out pocket expenses, they chose not to sell fo whatever reason? As a new unit we knew we have to have dues in place so we can afford to these things, and we knew for some it might be hard to afford, however, as a pack we decided only to a small dues of $5.00 a month which we thought would cover some VERY Basic things, PWD,Badges,etc.. We thought if we could do little things the items like camps and such could be funded by other things like popcorn or? Also we started like most of you we had ZERO $, and we had to wait to get the little popcorn money we got.Yes it would be nice if all parents would pay upfront, but if we have over half not paying now, don't see how they would pay up front? Can tell you we were pretty generiuos with what we gave boys, in fact we gave them most of the money, thought is we kept some for pack and gave them some in account for them, which I think it will probably be used to pay for dues if they have a hard paying them now. Couple of boys sold a little but what they sold could pay for most of their dues and 1 boy just blew them away he has enough to pay camps, etc so he is set, but HE WORKED FOR IT! I am new at this but as rechartering fast appoarching think we have some real trials adhead, we as a pack do not have the funds in the account to pay for it, so we might have to it this BLUNT WAY,PAY TO PLAY, not a nice thing to say but I can not understand how parents are not grasping the $ issues, ideally when boys goes to boy scouts, these small dues, fees are going to seem like a pretty good deal, compared what I have seen troops charge with all they do. Sorry for the LONG STORY, best wishes to you all.

Basement Dweller "How did you do with popcorn?" This how popcorn went 4 boys out 19 sold. Not a good thing.

Hi all need to get some input for our problem. We are a fairly new unit done some pack meeting and we are running into problems not getting dues paid, by 1 group. Our CM has told everyone about these dues at pack meeting and not getting them from 1 group. was told that some money has been paid but only a couple and for 1 month? Boys have started asking about our PWD, told them we don't have funds enough cover it yet. Also with rechartering around corner don't think it is sinking in with parents.I am DL and most of den has been good at paying, we probably have enough to get cars from what has been collected so far, but any advancements and such would be little money left over for. How can we make it clear that this all takes $ to run a program without hurting people feelings or making people mad?

I'll put some imput as well, now this ONLY MINE! I am a DL our den as a group before meeting starts says all of the oaths, signs, etc.. I ask each boy seperatly here and there if they can do by themselves, some have, some have not. I want make sure they know it word for word, not beating them up on it, if they get a word wrong fine. Like I said some has got it down and they got there badges, have 2 more that will get there next pack meeting, and 2 more following. I also agree with shortridge, they learn other things why not this? Again not nick pickin each little word, in time it will come like all things. just my take on it.

Hi there, I get some project kits from Home Depo and Lowes stores. These are kits that are for kids clinics that have in their stores. They usually have left overs from previous dates and when asked, they have always gave us some. My wife just picked up 8 for me. Some of the kits are very handy or just fun for kids to make, give them a try. hope this helps.

John in KC, Do you have a web site address to either of the places you mentioned? having trouble finding them. Thanks

John-in KC, As to your earlier post about why needing one made, I am not sure if I have too in order to get a pack flag for our pack? We need to get a couple for our flag cermonies, which the American one is not a problem. I went to our scout shop here all they had was little desk type, told us we would have to custom order 1 and it was pricey and took 6-8 weeks. We are just now getting things going with our pack, and funds at this point is VERY, VERY low.I was just seeing if any body knew if we could make our own or?? Was kind of thinking like something you mentioned, we could by a emblem at our scout shop and have it sewn on material, the emblem is not the same color as the pack flags but still looks the same. I can not see how we could up with $150 or more for a flag when we have less than $50 in our account. Thanks

Can someone tell me if you can get a Cub Scout Pack Flag made other than ordering thru BSA supply? Not shure if a copy right deal?