SMsteve

Thanks, Kelly. In the meantime, we purchased a copy and have used it for some special occasions. It is nice. I was unable to view the low res version at the link you provided. However, based on your description, I would say no, there is not anything more on the DVD. It's like 7 minutes long.

Has anyone seen this (item 36105)? What is on it? Please share your feedback. Thanks.

Kudos for your desire to be a good UC! My suggestions: 1) Get trained. I'm talking about commissioner training, fast-start and basic. 2) Call in advance and show up at troop and committee meetings. 3) Observe and listen first, then offer help both general and specific. Wow I wish you were my UC. My only UC contact since 1994 has been to find out who the person is, convince them that they are the UC, and deliver a copy of my annual plan to them, because the planning process says that I should.

Not long ago, our PLC took this issue up at their monthly meeting. On their own, they implemented a "distraction box." One of the PLC members was assigned to build the box, and he showed up with a foil-wrapped shoe box with some hand-made labeling. Next time someone at troop meeting was texting or talking to a non-parent, they kindly asked the "offender" to put it in the box until the meeting was over. After a few weeks with the distraction box, the behavior faded away and so has the box. Although once in a while if a Scout is acting up, another Scout will lament that there isn't a distraction box big enough for the Scout. (Nobody is really going to put anyone else in a box). It was neat to see the PLC address and resolve the problem on their own. Michael, I recommend working with your SPL to get the issue on your next PLC agenda. I would be interested to see what they implement.

Personally, I sew everything but my POR badge (where I use the evil velcro). But I don't change temp insignia very often. Around here, lots of folks swear by that Badge Magic stuff: http://www.scoutstuff.org/BSASupply/ItemDetail.aspx?cat=01RTL&ctgy=PRODUCTS&c2=UNIFORMS&c3=UN_MISC&c4=&lv=3&item=501BMK&nimg=50103&us7=Y But I haven't tried it. Maybe that's an option instead of gluing on a loop?

Thanks everyone for the kind replies and discussion. It will be interesting to see what happens with these two courses in the future. BadenP, No worries. Be happy. Hal, Sorry to hear about your left-out Scout. It is interesting to note that the Safety Afloat guidelines as listed in the "new" Canoeing MB book allow for a Scout to be in a canoe with an adult swimmer. I wonder if that is an old rule that crept into the new book, or a new rule that we don't yet see elsewhere. (Or just an error?)

BadenP, Dude, I'm not confused! God love you but I think you are confused! I just want to know if anyone has any definitive source stating whether [Aquatics Supervision: Swimming and Water Rescue], and [Aquatics Supervision: Paddle Craft Safety], will become required for UNIT aquatics activities. The courses are currently "highly recommended for UNIT leaders" (Aquatics Supervision, p. 13) but not required. There IS this kind of course for volunteers it IS very basic skills type! These are the courses in question! Before accusing someone who has completed the courses of being confused, you should at least learn about the courses. Further discussion of exactly what the courses are should perhaps be spun to its own thread. In the meantime: shortridge, BSA Aquatics Instructor is a course offered only in conjunction with a BSA National Camping School. It is the highest level of training, achievement, and recognition for adults in Scouting and is a requirement for aquatics directors at BSA camps. I know of no position titled Aquatics Supervisor. The two Aquatics Supervision courses are to help prepare unit Scouters as Gunny has summarized above. The best summary is on p. 13 of Aquatics Supervision, and the requirements are listed in Appendix 3 of the same. Gunny, You say "when" the training becomes mandatory, not "if." This goes back to my original question. What is your information source, or are you assuming it will be come mandatory? Thanks.

nldscout, In a word, yes. I first heard about it here: http://www.scoutingmagazine.org/issues/0805/d-news.html in an article about BSA Lifeguard training changing to be more focused on training "professional lifeguards at BSA aquatic venues." The new Aquatics Supervision manual comprises all the study material and includes a listing of the requirements. See the manual at http://www.scoutstuff.org (search for item 34346). BadenP, I suggest that you look over the manual, and if you have access to ScoutNET, the Instructor Guide for either course. In order to teach the course, the instructor must be a BSA Aquatics Instructor, a BSA Lifeguard Instructor, or a BSA Swimming & Water Rescue Instructor, and have Council approval (SWR Instructor Guide p. 3). The classroom and other material are plainly geared to applicable for unit leaders.

I completed the courses at a resident camp, where they were given by a camp school-trained Aquatics Instructor.

Hello, all. The two new Aquatics Supervision courses (Swimming and Water Rescue, Paddle Craft Safety) are officially in "pilot" status today. [i have completed both courses, by the way, and recommend them highly.] They are encouraged for unit leaders, but not required. Does anyone have a definitive source stating whether the courses will become required in the future? Thanks.

We do not. However, we encourage activity uniforms. Seems to be in keeping with SM Hbook p. 159: "Boy Scouts and Scout leaders proudly wear the full uniform for all ceremonial and indoor activities including troop meetings, boards of review, and courts of honor. The uniform should also be worn during special outdoor occasions, such as flag ceremonies, Scout shows, and special times during summer camp. During physically active outdoor events and informal activities, Scouts may wear an activity uniform - troop or camp T-shirts with Scout pants or shorts or other appropriate outdoor wear." My opinion, per your request: An extra-mile practice such full uniform to and from campouts should be decided by the PLC. I see no rule requiring it, and I don't read the suggestion in the above quote or any other official source. SL

Ditto on the new sliders. Our Eureka tents had some problems and new (free) sliders from Eureka (aka Johnson Camping) did the trick.

We are currently using two Eureka Sunrise 11 tents for non-backpacking outings. They have held up well for 3 years so far. Eureka is a great bang-for-the-buck brand. We had some zipper problems last summer, and called Johnson Camping (Eureka parent co.). They said it's normally the sliders that wear out, not the zipper. They sent free sliders, and once installed, the zipper problems were absolutely fixed. EZ repair. For those experiencing zipper problems, I recommend trying the new slider trick.

Some random thoughts. Short answer: Never too cold with the right preparation. However, in temps below 30degF I strongly prefer to sleep under snow. It is fun and interesting to read the views from different geographical regions. Wasn't there a recent Scouting magazine article about Scouts in Alaksa taking a Winter dip in water? We had a district Klondike some time ago, where the organizers canceled the overnight part due to -20degF temps and high winds. I had mixed feelings about that. For a few reasons (including providing a model camp, and ease of take-down/packing), the adult leaders in our troop have developed a habit of sleeping outside. December normally finds us in a Yurt, January at the Klondike under snow, and February at a local reservoir with boys under snow if there is enough. So, other than Dec and Jan, we adults sleep outside unless the chance of precipitation is high. We sleep on cots, with lots of insulation below our multiple bags, and normally a disposable hand warmer packet thrown in to preheat the toe area. This set-up under the stars provides another teaching tool to show the boys that you can prepare to sleep comfortably in any temperature. It also requires some extra caution or creativity around getting dressed with appropriate privacy (sometimes we use the Scout trailer). Last April, the boys followed our lead and slept outside with low temperatures around 10degF so that we could quickly break camp at 4:45 a.m. to meet our guide for field observation of Sage Grouse pre-mating dances. All were comfortably warm and safe. For some reason, the boys have no problem remembering the prescription for eating "greasy, gassy food." Does anyone else use that phrase? Many times during prep, and again when we close the night, everyone must rehearse the basics: Wear clean, dry clothes to bed, have a full stomach and empty bladder, and the standard call, "Steve, I can't get warm." The hardest thing seems to be getting a 12-yr. old to realize and admit that he can't get warm. We annually pass out a reminder sheet to Scouts and parents about prepping for winter camping and sleeping warmly outside in the winter. You can see the sheet here: http://stevelarsen.com/bsa/winter_camping.pdf Feedback to improve it is welcome. The Scout trailer has an extra (donated) sleeping bag or two, for guys that decide maybe they need another layer. We had one set of parents pull their kid from our Yurt trip due to cold temp forecast. I agree with NRP and the others that have indicated that is their prerogative, but I'm still disappointed when it happens.

Nice lady at Supply called back today. The info she received indicated that the Action Shirt is intended to fill that niche for now, and that it has not been determined whether something new (i.e., a new activity shirt) will be produced. Maybe there is a plan somewhere, but if so, the folks at Supply are not privy to it. I suppose that they execute uniforming decisions made by someone else, anyway.