sctmom

My son did something like this in second grade with a character called "Flat Stanley". There is a book called "Flat Stanley" about a flat boy who gets mailed around the world. You might want to get the book and read it with the girls. The second grade classes then kept scrap books of Flat Stanley on his adventures around the world. He went with families, grandparents, friends and even a local radio celebrity to numerous places. Perhaps someone can take the flat brownies to Savannah to see Juliette Low's home?

"2) None of the scouts has a clue what a PL is supposed to do and how they are to work with him. When are they supposed to learn this, by osmosis? " I see the same thing. The new scouts aren't told about the chain of command. They don't know who they should ask about what. They don't know they should ask SOMEONE to sign off on requirements. They don't know to go the PL first. They don't know they have to go say "I want to work on this Merit Badge". Kids are so used to going to adults first when a problem arises. They are used to waiting to be told what to do and when to do it. Some

I know most volunteers are giving all they can to a troop. But I think we should still always be looking for improvement, even if you KNOW you are following the program 100%. If you expect 50% to drop out, it is a self-fulfilling prophecy. You will not even worry about the first boys that disappear. No one will call and ask why. No one will try to listen to them to see what is going on. You shrug your shoulders and walk on. Does it mean we change the program to be all things for all people? No. Does it mean we try to find something in the program to get the boy's attention? I say YES. Listen t

NJ, They can also check out Ebay to get their uniform shirt. Not many women's uniform pieces on there as men, but still some. Tell them to wait until they take their son or the den on an outing and walk into a public place with that uniform and all the boys in uniform. You will just feel the eyes following you and then you look and see the smiles. I walked into the burger place one night with my son and his friend, all 3 of us in uniform. Realized we were drawing some attention, then realized it was because I looked like mother duck and her ducklings! But those were looks of approv

There were a few troop guides but they didn't really know what to do. They seem to "forget" they are troop guides and just ignore the younger boys. Most of the "older" boys are 13 or 14. I don't think they had troop guides, so they have never seen one in action. The older (15/16 yrs old) troop guide gets frustrated very easily and doesn't attend a lot of meetings and campouts.

I think the scoutmaster did a good job of talking to my son last night. My son is famous for digging in his heels and not budging. After a few days he may suddenly admit the adults have a few good points. He is pouting with me right now anyway because I won't buy a VERY expensive toy he wants (an antique pedal car of all things). I feel confident the scoutmaster would have no problems with patrol activities as long as the adult leadership and safety rules are followed. Of course I would have the PL discuss the activity with the SM before taking action. I don't think getting adult involve

Well, it all hit the fan last night with my son. I coaxed and made him go to the troop meeting. I went inside and after he didn't show up after a few minutes (he was outside socializing), I went to get him. Found him in another room, with a Scout friend tugging his sleeve saying "come on in there". My son had decided this was it, he was not going to be in Scouts anymore. I talked to him for about 10 minutes, the SM talked for 20 minutes, an ASM talked to him for awhile too. The best we could get was "I don't feel good. Some boys called me names at summer camp. I want to be on the computer

To get my son's interest in scouting back up, I'm want to make some suggestions for his patrol. All the boys in the patrol are first year scouts with the exception of one. None are first class, so anything they do still needs to have adult supervision. There is no specific ASM assigned to them, but lots of adults around who would help. What are some things that you have seen work for a patrol to do on their own? I want to offer some ideas to the boys. I don't think any realize they could do things with just their patrol. I don't think they would have any idea where to start. My son d

That is a women's leader blouse for Cub Scout leaders. The women in Cub Scouts have the option of the yellow blouse or the brown shirt. I prefer the brown shirt because the yellow material is a bit thin. I have seen one woman on the district level involved with Cubs that still wears the yellow shirt and blue slacks.

There seems to be a lot of differences in interpertations of the Scoutmaster handbook and the Scout handbook. That can be seen on this very board. What seems "obvious" and "common sense" to some, is not that way to others. As Dan is saying there is a lot that is NOT written or taught. Like in my other thread, I was taught WRONG things at district training, but there is nothing in the handbooks that tells me they were wrong. I trusted that the trainers knew what they were talking about it. After all "we've always done it this way...."

I inherited my soapbox from my family...we all do it..lol. Dan, you have a good point. Why not hand you a copy of the rules when you sign up? The Cub Scout Leader's book does a much better job of explaining the rules. Seems like the rules and regulations would be handed to every volunteer -- SM's, ASM's, and Committee Members. Also, the parents need to know the rules. Not just in Scouting, but in so many things in life I see adults who want to do the minimum to get by. Have just enough of a program to say "we did it". As OGE asked in another thread, why wouldn't you want to pr

The more I learn about BSA and the more I hear and see how different troops run, the more amazed I am. There is a program that has been well researched and is constantly being refined and reviewed. There are lots of resources from BSA to help everyone along the way. Everyone wants to talk about not having unit option on some issues but how many units are alike? How many really follow the BSA program and how many blatantly go against BSA rules? Here are some things Ive read on this or other internet forums, things Ive seen first hand, things Ive heard second hand and even things I have bee

OGE, Thanks for the movie example. I was thinking the same thing but could not come up with a concrete example. I recently saw a show on PBS about General MacArthur. He was a very effective leader, his men loved him. Why? Because he didn't ask his men to do anything that he wasn't willing to do. He was the first one on the battle field. If the troops were doing without, so was he. Men who were on the Batton Death March still remember what a great guy MacArthur was and how they KNEW he was serious when he said "I shall return." They knew that meant HE would personally return, not just sen

Sdriddle, Our pack always included Tigers as part of the pack anyway. Most parents got their boys the blue shirt in the spring when the boy earned his Bobcat. I don't think they wore them to Day Camp because the day camp here requires a certain t-shirt, but they did wear them to the end of the year Pack Campout/Crossover if they had them. At that time they were also given their Wolf book and neckerchief. Seemed to work well.

I see the need for age restrictions for certain activities, because of ability to think quickly. Such as white water rafting, many outfitters place age and size restrictions on certain rivers. That's not just a Scouting thing. I can even see requiring certain training before some high adventure activities --- first aid or swimming for example. I just don't get the talk of rank gives you the right to boss somebody else around. First of all, "bossing" is not leadership. Each patrol and troop have elected leaders to assign tasks to get a job done. If the PL is a lower rank than one of the pa

I like the orange shirt. I don't remember any of the first graders caring which shirt they wore, until they got their Bobcat. Then wearing the blue shirt was special, just like getting to move into the brown shirt. I think it works out about right with the growth of most boys-- orange for one year, blue shirt will fit for 2 years sometimes 3. I'm not real happy with the forcing of the brown shirts at 4th grade.

A scientific theory is not just a guess. It is based upon many tests. It can change over time. I found the following on www.encyclopedia.com "If the conclusions drawn from the original hypothesis successfully meet all these tests, the hypothesis becomes accepted as a scientific theory or law; if additional facts are in disagreement with the hypothesis, it may be modified or discarded in favor of a new hypothesis, which is then subjected to further tests. Even an accepted theory may eventually be overthrown if enough contradictory evidence is found, as in the case of Newtonian mechanics, w

So, does your troop give scouts with higher rank any special privileges? Does a Tenderfoot have to do whatever a Star Scout says just because of the badge? If yes to either of those questions, why?

Bob, I want to thank you for explaining the First Class Emphasis program for me. I didn't understand it at first and even posted many questions about it. I know have a MUCH better grasp about it. When shopping for troops I asked "do you use the First Class in First year program?". Was told YES. Well, no I'm beginning to see that is not exactly so. The troop is depending on all scouts attending Summer camp, taking the New Scout Program (which think they should) and attending EVERY campout and already knowing how to swim. The troop has about 50% of first year scouts drop out and about 40%

Our district does it as a joint meeting for about 30 minutes, then breakouts for Cubs and Boy Scouts.

Paul, Sounds like you some good young men in your household. I live in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. Even city folks have to know how to handle an ax or chainsaw when a storm blows through, after a tornado and after an ice storm. Sometimes you can't wait for the "professionals" to come get the tree out of your driveway so you can go to work.

Let me clarify: "Ethics in Action" is found in the back of the "Cub Scout Leader How To Book". A few of the activities are: Be a Friend Caring and Sharing Consumer Alert Differences Peace is Saying No! When Bad Things Happen For older boys, there is "Youth's Frontier - Making Ethical Decisions". It is publication #33620. Most of the book is for the youth to read and discuss. A section in the back in for the adults. Total pages is 20. From the book: "This program encourages young people to look seriously at decision-making and the consequences of their actions.

OGE, I read the letter to my son. He didn't say anything, but I know it sunk in some. I reminded him how he has felt helping others with his first aid skills, talking about golf in class, etc. I showed him the requirements on some merit badges that I know he would enjoy doing. At this point he is still shrugging his shoulders. In a few days, he may say something about it. Once we get back into the habit of scout meetings, I'm sure he will do fine.

Learning how to handle that ax or hatchet is one of those scout skills that has some hidden benefits. Those include "self confidence" and "pride". My 11 year old, 60 pound son was so happy to show me that he could use a full size ax at summer camp. He knows something other people don't! All the boys were treated as equals when it came to learning about the ax. They were lining up to work in the ax yard in their free time. My son was very proud to show mom the proper way to hold and use an ax, also how to sharpen it. NOW, do you think I can get firewood cut this winter? Or can I get the d

Due to some problems my son has had in elementary school about behavior, the school officials wanted him in special ed all day for 6th grade. I spent 1/2 day arguing with these people that it was not the right place for him. As Sagerscout says, it often teaches the kids how to do worksheets for treats. I know some kids benefit from being in one classroom all day, but everyone in my son's life outside of school said "NO!!!". That's just hiding him away from the problems. How will he every solve them? He MUST learn how to cope in this world. A sheet my son filled out the first day of school