RememberSchiff

What's your and your scouts favorite Klondike station?

Hmmm, if there is a large electrical generator nearby to the East or West which will be accurate - a compass or my pooping dog?

You made my day. I still wear my old square BSA from back in the day! Here's a link with much useful info that Kudu provided. http://www.inquiry.net/uniforms/neckerchief/index.htm also http://www.scouter.com/forum/uniforms/12416-old-neckerchief-for-an-old-troop http://www.scouter.com/forum/uniforms/12829-scout-neckerchiefs

Our tax dollars at work, I wonder if human testing starts this summer? http://www.nbcnews.com/science/do-dogs-possess-poop-compass-other-weird-science-questions-2D11849668 Did some field testing with our dog, his nose bearings were all between 175 and 195. New, unfamiliar field, all days were cloudy and cold, I doubt the sun was a factor.

When there is no snow here, some scouts attach wheels to their sled (or switch to backpacks as I mentioned) which works well enough on frozen clear hard ground, not so such on early thaw mud. For those patrols that build their sled, the innovation is evident in the materials - rope, elastic cord, wood, recycled skis, pvc (ugh!), construction styrofoam (blue) as sled floor, crates, plywood, ... functionality - clamp-on wheels, some build collapsible for easy transport and storage, detachable floor stretcher, one patrol made a fair attempt at building a "Transformer" sled (transformed into a table/bench)... and then there is the paint job and other decorations. IMO, the real innovation occurs when a sled breaks during the competition and scouts need to repair ASAP with what is available. Another $0.02,

Around here, there is no competition. Typically, one or two troops have an Uberscout patrol of just 3 or 4 big guys and they just shellac the other younger patrols, all fair and square. Even sports has a "mercy rule". Wonder why registration is down the next year. Well at least, the Ubers don't compete against the Webelos. Agree with you about the adult shenanigans. I should have noted our unit Uberscouts are not competing, they are staffing stations. Giving everyone a trophy, that's a good laugh. This isn't Little League...yet. Another $0.01

Oldscout448, I share your frustration. Just once, just once, I would like to see some courteous and kind Scout Spirit from the winning patrol of 17yr old Uberscouts whereby they say "Thank you, but FIRST place belongs to (in distant second place) Hawk Patrol (consisting of 13-14 year olds)". I would then feel Scout character building had been achieved in those scouts about to age out and that would be the real win. My $0.02,

The Wheel? I believe Professor Clyde Crashcup beat you to it.

Great stuff, thanks. Here's one in appreciation of Kudu Notice the text at the end of the video which explains their storage solution.

Cub Scouts Design Objectives Slide 7: Opportunity to Enhance Fun w/ Academics & Sports Pgrm Cub Scout Change Summary Slide 11: Changing - Academics & Sports program discontinued 5/15 ??

Ask your town Emergency Services Coordinator or maybe Fire Chief, Police Chief how the scouts can help with town or area emergency services. - Sometimes there is a mass casualty drill that scouts can participate as victims. - Sandbagging during a flood - Scouts as snow captains - shovel out fire hydrants.elderly homes, etc. - Serve at a storm shelter (keeping kids entertained can be a big help) - Serve at a Red Cross blood drive Be prepared. Some might say just stay home and shelter in place. My $0.01

We still have winter, Klondike Derbies, snow and cold but the patrol-built sleds are disappearing? In recent years, I rarely see any reference to their specification and inspection in the Klondike Derby flyers that go out. At local Klondike Derbies where once I saw an abundant assortment of scout-built sleds, now I see more plastic Walmart sleds or even no sleds (Scout backpack instead). When asked, some say there is no time or place to build sleds and then the storage after. Sad excuses, I think, might as well blame global warming... My $0.01,

You're probably right. Maybe it was just poor phrasing on their part that struck a nerve, to me, Scout Spirit is all those duties together. Brad Smith chairing Leadership Development on this Task Force, wonder if he is the same who strongly opposed the May decision?

Wow a Task Force! Seems an overly big production for minor changes, e.g. Page 7 is a beaut. So to use MBA-speak, the executive summary is 1. All will now use Boy Scout oath, law, and salute. Adjust accordingly. 2. AOL will no longer require earning Webelos. This was the BIG reason that it made no sense for a new scout to join Webs in 5th grade and instead wait or not to join Boy Scouts... long overdue. 3. Other minor changes which you'll see when new handbooks come out. You may now return to your regular programming. Things that will problematic Cub Scouts - " For each rank...include a family-based Duty-to-God adventure.", feedback from parents has been MYOB. Boy Scouts - "Some reordering (T-1)". Hah, why not just go back to working one rank at a time in sequence! "Duty to God incorporated in requirement to show Scout Spirit" Huh? What about Duty to Country, Duty to Other People, and Duty to Self ? My $0.02,

May you have better luck than I did with the 3d scanner I supported through Kickstarter Embarrassment . Somewhere a clever design is still trying to find a quality manufacturing and logistics system.

it will be found handy for recharging smart phone... http://www.flamestower.com/

Due to financial problems, the Central New Jersey Executive Council decided to dissolve their council and transfer units to adjoining councils (to be completed Dec 31,2013). No word on council properties (Yards Creek Scout Reservation) http://www.cnjcscouting.org/index.php/download_file/view/802/1/ http://www.cnjcscouting.org/about/strategic-plan/

Good photos, good thoughts. Thanks.

Hosted by the Transatlantic Council, April 25-27, 2014 http://www.tac-bsa.org/Program/Normandy Read that some east coast councils are forming contingents, likely a week long trip. Could be really interested if they started in Britain (Battle of Britain Museum, Dover, ...) , crossed the channel, hiked the beaches, visited the cemetery...emphasize history and sacrifice. My $0.01,

Thanks. In years past, this topic was more promptly and elegantly posted by Trevorum and others. For auld lang syne.

As the daylight now grows longer and brighter, may Scouting do the same. Happy Winter Solstice to all.

Maybe Cooking MB is a bit overdone. Simplify. First requirement, scout must be at least a First Class scout! Next, design the merit badge such that a First Class scout can complete the outdoor patrol cooking on a weekend outing. I think many troops would be hard pressed to find the time for their scouts to fulfill their various cooking requirements. Our troop has more than half our scouts trying to complete their Second and First Class cooking by summer and another six scouts want to earn Cooking merit badge in the coming year. 3 scouts/patrol/outing could pass Second Class cooking OR 1 scout/patrol/outing could pass First Class cooking OR 1 scout/patrol/(2 or more outings) could complete outdoor cooking for Cooking mb My $0.02

Seems a valid point. I think this dims the chances that the BSA will buy any $500 toilet seats from them...not even for the Summit.

Wow, assuming beforehand that someone else without notification would cover your unit from an adult leadership standpoint...that SM needs a talking to. I hope the Troop Committee discusses this. How did he get sign-off for a Tour Permit?

Glad you and your son are joining another troop. Hope your other Webs do the same. Good planning and execution requires communication and coordination and then there is not being prepared and lack of patrol and leadership methods, Random thoughts: Often I think trailers cause more problems than they solve. Either way the equipment needs to arrive with the scouts or ahead of the scouts. If there is an issue with trailer lights, that usually includes the BRAKE lights which makes it unsafe for day travel (particularly rainy day) too. Being old and grouchy, I would have been less Kind and said well you don't have two deep, unhitch and come back for your trailer later. My $0.02