sctmom

Cooking outside does not require a fire, use a campstove. RE: new webelos --- don't you have some up and coming Webelos? As someone else mentioned, you could have them work on SOME of the Boy Scout requirements so they are ready when they do crossover. Actually, most boys who have their Arrow of Light have done a lot of the Tenderfoot requirements. You don't have to camp at a BSA camp. What about backyard camping? Ask they boys what they want to do during the fall at meetings.

Have they earned all the Webelos badges? Have them keep working on them and beltloops & pins. Impress upon them they get another year of Cub Scout camping with the family and the Pinewood Derby. They are now the "leaders" of the pack. Have them work with the new Webelos on requirements. Spend time checking out lots of troops, even if the boys think they know where they are going. Let them just have FUN! There is still so much for them to do as Webelos. If you haven't already, have them work as a patrol --- with a patrol leader. Do Boy Scout type activities/events --- set up a tent with all

They can't earn their Arrow Of Light until they have been out of 4th grade for 6 months or at least 6 months since turning 10 years old. I would NOT have them join Boy Scouts until next January or February (the traditional cross over time). They are not old enough to be Boy Scouts. The Official wording for the AOL: "Be active in your Webelos den for at least 6 months since completing the fourth grade (or for at least six months since becoming 10 years old), and earn the Webelos badge. "

I realized there are some ways to tie this into the Scout Oath and Law "morally straight" -- we don't use this type of language or talk about others in this way. "A Scout is clean" - in words as well as body "A Scout is friendly, courteous, kind" - we don't talk about others this way. Using any cuss words is normally not seen as courteous, friendly or kind.

My son is taking part in the first year scout program that takes up 1/2 day. He is then taking Pottery and Sculpture. I wanted him to take swimming instruction for 1 hour, but he refused. His camp then has "free swim" the last hour of the day -- the older boys recommended this as a time to just relax and cool off. The troop wanted him to take Swimming merit badge, but we both felt he should hold off on that.

Quixote, I understand. I was referring to someone else's comment of wanting to "revoke the scout's membership." It does depend a lot on the severity of the crime and the attitude toward changing. If the same scout gets caught a second time, then revoking membership is probably the only thing to do. The risks to the adults and other scouts becomes to great.

I have always encouraged my son to tell me any new words he "learned" at school. Then I can explain what those words mean in slang and what they really mean. Also, I can explain why we don't use those words. As early as 3rd grade he was coming home with new words. He says they are written in the bathroom stalls at the elementary school. This did almost backfire on me on time. I found a paper he had written for school. It looked like a list of "rules". Things like don't run in the hallway, be quiet at lunch. Also included a few sentences of "don't say ----". I happened to have a meeting w

The posting about the 14 year old discussing certain topics with the new scouts got me to thinking about what should I tell my son to do if he is around such talk. I talked to him about this a little yesterday, telling him that if other boys start using words he knows are wrong, he should walk away. Don't try to correct them, just walk away. Should he tell an adult? The adult part of ME says YES. The kid part of me says "tattle-tale and snitch". Eventually the boys will run into this type of talk. If not within the troop, then from another troop. What do you tell the boy

As a high school senior, our class went on a trip to the Carribean with teachers and other chaperones. One of the adults found one of the boys in possession of a small amount of pot. I just happened to be standing there when he was confronted. They didn't know I overheard them. They did quickly remove him from the rest of us to continue the discussion and dispose of the substance. I don't know what happened when we returned home. Not informing the whole class was a good thing to do. It would have just given this boy more of the kind of attention he loved (negative reinforcement). He woul

Would you believe the snipe was already a registered AND trained leader? Amazing coincidence!

Another thing I heard was to not expect them to actually WEAR all those clean clothes that are packed. Most will come home nice and clean, still folded! (no they did NOT do laundry at camp) My son has not mentioned the possibility of being homesick and I sure am NOT bringing it up! I do pity the scout leaders who are going to summer camp. I hope they have dealt with kids like my son before --- on about the third morning he will REFUSE to wake up. He will be so tired that he will want/need about 12 straight hours of sleep. If not given enough sleep he will turn into "devil child".

Let's throw another kink in this. What if it is YOUR son?

Eisely, I should have pointed that out. True, no actual snipes were hurt in this incident. The snipe was let free, unharmed and with a sincere apology by all involved. The snipe decided to spend the night with the troop. Being an adult snipe, he (yes, a he snipe) bunked in a tent alone, away from all females. It was amazing how well he knew about Youth Protection Policies. After feeding the snipe french toast and bacon the following morning, he wished the troop well and promised not to report the troop to PETA. That snipe cooks some good breakfast and even happily helped clean up!

I'm sorry you and your family had such a horrible experience. Please do NOT give up on scouts. Take their "advice" and find another troop. I'm not being sarcastic, but what did you want to happen to the older boy? What would have been "just" to you?

No matter what format the training is, no matter how hard you try, there are HUMANS involved, therefore there will ALWAYS be interpretations that differ. Here is one for you -- is this in the manuals? What do you allow or disallow for food on a weekend campout? I've seen one troop say "no hotdogs or poptarts", yet each kid can bring his own personal stash of junk food and sodas if he wants to carry it. Another troop says "hotdogs and poptarts are okay, but NO personal stash of food and NO sodas, but you can eat the koolaid out of the tub if you wish, as long as the patrol bought it".

Even agreeing on what is policy there is always interpretation and unique situations. Being trained is very important. Staying trained is important. There is no way BSA or anyone else can cover every possible situation in detail and tell us exactly what to do. We are lucky to have boards like this one so we can hear different interpretations and hopefully be open enough to give thought to what others are saying. The policies tell keep us in line, but we still have to use common sense, our brains and even the input of others to be successful.Each troop is unique. Each scout is uniqu

From the Atlanta Journal Constitution Scout guides courtyard plan into reality School gains source of quiet inspiration Rochelle Carter - Staff Thursday, May 30, 2002 Oakland Elementary School's barren courtyard needed help. There was grass growing, but nothing else, in the narrow plot, which can been seen from the classrooms and hallways. It bothered fifth-grade teacher Nancy Ahl, who told how the lush green view from her bay window at home helped her recover from a yearlong illness. Last year her students drew a plan for the courtyard and raised $400 by working at

That ability to say "hey" with authority is something all women wish for. Do matter how low I make my voice sounds, it just doesn't have the same effect. My first thought is that like Rooster talked about in other threads, you have to consider the boy. Most kids aren't going to go nuts just because you raise your voice to him. If you have that rare, unfortunate child that has suffered some horrible tragedy to the point he is terrified of noises or has some severe mental problem. The one that might curl up in the fetal position if yelled at, then you don't yell at him. I guess it al

Okay, I figured out a compromise about this last night. If a boy loses something he must listen to ME sing before he gets the item back. Wanna talk about punishment!

Rooster, I'm afraid many adults would not know when to stop. I understand YOU would watch for signs and be aware if this is the wrong kid to put in the spotlight. I hope that all others have that awareness and intelligence.

Not the same, anyone could opt out of the snipe hunt. Some did because they were so tired, they headed to their tents. No one was singled out and embarrassed.

OGE, Can we sing Greasy Grimy Gopher Guts? And that song about the man who took his troops up the hill and down the hill, when you are up you are up, and when you are down you are down.(whoa that gets those knees to hurting) I tried to teach my Webelos this song to the tune of Three Blind Mice...they just weren't impressed. Road Kill Stew, road kill stew Tastes so good Just like it should First you go down to the interstate Wait for a critter to meet it's fate Take it home and make it great Road kill stew, road kill stew (see I do have a sense of humor)

Ditto on what the others said. No alcohol. None, never, nada. No excuses.

Okay, the other thread about hazing got me thinking about snipe hunting. I never told you guys about the snipe hunt from a few months ago. I have to say this was the BEST way to snipe hunt! You all should know I don't approve of the traditional snipe hunt. There were a BUNCH of brand new scouts. The older boys took them out in the woods of the campground and tried to take away their flashlights (some boys refused to give them up..lol). While they were being taken around the campground, low and behold but a SNIPE comes into the campsite. The SM quickly runs the SNIPE into the troop trailer

Sdriddle, A few questions. What types of behavior do the boys think are reasons to be removed from the elite flag corps? I think the boys should have some say in who represents their troop and has such an honor as the the ELITE flag corps. This is the boy's troop. Do the adults let the boys choose things like Patrol Leader and Senior Patrol Leader? I hope so. I'm amazed to see what 11-14 year old boys can do when put in the situation. Many times they can be very fair and understanding -- if they have seen that example in the adults around them. If there is a serious prob