prairie

Is he ready for somebody to ask him why they don't remember him being at that event? I could wear a couple of Red Flannel awards from when I was a kid, but one is still on my old uniform and I won't touch that, the other seems to have gotten lost with the sleeping bag it was sewn to, maybe this year it will be cold enough at the Klondike Derby.(This message has been edited by prairie)

Thanks for the warning about the shirts being short, bet they will be selling a bunch of the "tall" versions to people who don't considder themselves tall, like me.

Or just wait a bit, there will be a flood on the used market for the next three years of the older tan shirts. Any body know if the tan buttons are being offered yet? And are they plain or do they have BSA specific details?

That thought had crossed my mind, but I haven't found a collared shirt of either sleeve length any larger either. Those youth shirts where a size is still marked use a number, many seem to have lost that tag or it bleached out. Might just be my poor luck, don't know. Iff'n somebody had a catalog from the 60s or 70s that would be a help. BTW I have collected shirts from the Sanforized era up to a style almost like the tan shirts, only the color, lack of eppeilets and having a yoke over the shoulders make it diffrent. (This message has been edited by prairie)

I have spent over a year hunting on ebay for a v-neck olive green uniform shirt, my neck is bout 20 inchs and chest is over 50 so I don't quite fit in a 2XLG of the just discontinued shirts. So far I have a 16 1/2 v-neck I can stuff myself into but no buttons will reach, sorry for that mental image some of you will be stuck with now. Only thing left for me to try is asking some of the older scouters if they know of unused vintage shirts.

Only iffn they had the all cotton in my size would I buy another de-Renta, of my four shirts its the one I pick for comfortable wear. Now if they found some green v-necks new-in-box from the 70s in my size.............but thats one big pipe dream. Iffn it fits well I will buy the new-new uniform shirt, but unless I have to I wont be buying the pants for a while, my Switchbacks are just 20 months old. Will take a good hard look at the new belt and a couple of the new ballcaps are a given. Gonna call ahead though, shop might not have the new stuff yet or sold out of what I want, 90 miles driven to come home empty handed is not Thrifty.

Two years ago I was in your shoes, 46 with no apparent chance to have childern of my own and a need to mentor. My biggist fear was covered by Gunny2862s response, they can protect you just as well as the boys. I think all single scouters feel their age group is the most watched for offenders, but any person physicly fit enough for Scouting is fit enough to offend. That said it has been a good two years and I seem to have been a bit parnoid, will continue being vigialent about YP though. Welcome back to the camp fire!

Michael, sounds like you are on a good track. Chain of Command? no Tree of Responsibility? Might be closer to the mark, the youth at the top with many trunks supporting their growth.

WOW, 15 pages for a uniform most of us have not seen directly. Have been wanting a long sleeve shirt for a while, if this new one fits okay I will be happy. While they didn't make all the change I could hope for, it could have been much worse. And for those that belong to the do-dad patrol there will be plenty of delarentas to load up for yearsto come. What would I change? Leave off the shoulder straps, drop the front pockets down an inch or so, and thats bout it. A v-neck shirt engineered for summer wear with matching necker isn't in the cards despits my wishes. Can't tell much bout fabrics used or construction details. But if it follows trend I will wash twice, run extra stitching on the seams and wear proudly.

I had this very thought a year ago and never had the nerve to mantion it. In my case we have several very small troops in the district so it would be a chance for the boys to meet others from these towns.

Why is it a boy will work himself into the ground for years for just a chance to be on a high school varsity team. Most any boy can achieve Eagle if he wants it, maybe thats the proablem, Eagle is too EASY! So it has little cred with your school peers, and girls.

I keep trying to find enough pieces for a vintage (1960s early 1970s) uniform for myself. Garrison caps, neckerchiefs, kneehigh socks with garters, long pants with piping, leaders in neckties, community strips. I wouldn't wear it to most troop meetings or any district or council functions, but gathering of the ashes at summer camp feels appropriate.

Thank you Longhaul for you post, it gives me points to think about.

I see many ManScouts with Woodbadge beads, some with patrol pins, patchs, pocket dangles, ect.. Does the training awaken ManScout tendences? Or are training and trappings irristable to the ManScout? I have not yet gone to Wood Badge so I'm left to judge its efectiveness by how its graduates behave, and isn't that the point? To provide a better Scouting experinace for the youth? BTW: I have not seen a WomanScout yet, must be rare.

I wear my AOL to inspire the boys, the lack of an Eagle knot both that you can be a good Scout without it and that time or motivation can run out on you.

How bout color coded neckerchiefs?

Many adult hikers buddy camp but solo hike. The smart ones will still buddy up if conditions warrent.

The internet is rather public, I don''t even have any illusions my email is privite. If the page is his doing he outed himself. Sad for him but feel worse for all those who trusted him this far only to find themselves is an awful mess. The snitching Scouter might have done the right thing, been much better if she could have convinced the young man to fess up instead.

I have no proablem accepting global warming as real, not so sure bout AlGore. Something I find intresting, if I heard right, the offical citing is to the UN commitie and Gore, not the other way around as the news says it.

Eight or nine through thirteen, after that they will seek out what if anything they want to read. I was looking for books of how-to and books that described how people delt with the good and bad choices they made, in a manner that dosen't get in the way of a good story, Twain is good for that. YOu all have joggled my grey cells some more, have read... The Bible The Scout Handbook and Field Book Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn "Lord of the Flies "A Day No Pigs Would Die" Robert Newton Peck "White Fang" by Jack London "Treasure Island" by Stevenson "2001: A Space Odyssey" and other things by Arthur C. Clarke "Stranger in a Strange Land" or "Starship Troopers" The "Mars" books by Edgar Rice Burroughs also both the Tarzan and Conan series Most all the Issac Asimov books The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings A few of the Zane Grey books "Two Years Before the Mast" Actully I was a late bloomer, not till 3rd grade did somebody offer me a book worth reading, the age appropreate stuff was so boring, Tom Sawyer was the first hard book I read.

Today I saw mention of "My Side of the Mountian" a book I loved as a youth, which got me thinkin what other good books should a boy have a chance to read? Despite their not being "PC", Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn should be required reading. I just got "A Dangerous Book For Boys"and it looks like fun. Maybe "Lord of the Flies" for new SPLs?

This came to me today, why not a campout where no electricity is used? No flashlights, radios, MP3 players, phones, electronic games, pizo sparkers, digital watches. Exceptions for medical devices, hearing aids and such. Plan it for a weekend with a full moon and even hiking at night is possible. If you take only what you need you can tell by feel whats what in your pack.(This message has been edited by prairie)

Five litre wine bladders are handy, fill them with water then freeze solid. Wrapped in a towel they will have icecold water in them for 24 hours or more. Back when my car didn't have AC I would drive with one on my lap or against my leg to keep cooler. Some valves are better than others BTW.

briantshore: I'm just going by what my sisters have told me over the years, both did earn their Gold. I will try to clarifiy my position, I would welcome girls in a Cub pack (but not Webelos) if national said so.

Just an opionion from someone who was a Cub many many years ago. At the time I would not have been happy with girls in my den, prolly not noticed if there were a den of girls attending a pack function. Knowing now how lame a Brownie troop can be I would hate to tell a tomboy she couldn't be a Cub. I would want the program to remain a BOYS program, one that welcomed girls who wanted to do the same things.