sweetspiritpamh

I had to find 4 of them last year. I went to the national scout shop and I got them for only a couple of dollars each. They are the same patch which my kids needed for the red windbreaker type coat also.

Howdy, Our family is a dual coucil one because we live less than 2 miles from the border. Husband and son are very involved in a over 75 year old troop in Longhorn Council. My daughters make the trip to Irving to be involved with BSA national office Venturing crew. Pam

After having my 2 daughters who went to Switzerland this past summer let me tell you. Good Boots and Socks are Very Important but for my daughters who are typical American girls, when getting off the mountain at the end of the day. They were looking for flip flops to wear. To my horror and disbelief when I went to the airport to pick them up in and see them in formal Class A uniforms with flip flops on. When I asked Why? They just said less problems at the security areas and more comfortable for the long flights.

My sons troop is very much BOY LED but being a troop of over 75 years experience, they have discovered some simmple tips to help. If you go to www.troop68.org then go to their forms page they print out a Menu Planning Sheet that each patrol gets and works on in the meetings. It really helps everyone make sure everything is covered and makes it easier to the shopper. Also they have special recipes on their website and always looking for new ones.

I just found at our local Hancock Fabric store a fleece material with the Timeless Values logo on it. So my son, husband and special scout friends will receive a extra blanket to through in there camping bag for the winter. The 2 materials either sewed or tyed together will take about 30 min. each and cost about 12.50 each. I found it online even though it might cost a little more because of shipping http://www.hancockfabrics.com/shopping/search/searchresultsmain.jsp?freeText=boy%20scout%20material&history

MY son is getting a telespoping walking stick bought at Wal Mart for under $10.00. New pair of scout pants and a new scout polo type shirt. Having been in scouts for 8 years now we have gotten most of the basics needed. We are always getting something here and there just to keep updated. This scouting activity really is tons of fun but can get quite expensive if you aren't careful.

I meant that YPT is required of all adults for safety. The Baloo, Owl, and North Star trainings are for the consistty is the scouter outdoor training.

I believe at least 2 adults must be current on there CPR and First Aid also.

In Texas to reserve a campsite and secure a tour permit the pack, troop, crew, or group must prove that every adult going on a trip must have a current Youth Protection Card. Also the designated leader must also have BALOO or OWL or whatever is the approved camp type training to get there site request. While entereing many scout camps they ask to see adults YPT cards, thats why we have them in a business card folder left in our scout shirt pocket. Its all for the protection of the kids and to make sure that the scout program is really being taught with some consistity.

About keeping warm, in Texas some may think we really don't get to experience this wonderful camp experience but some say our blood is thinner and sometimes it does get quiet cold. When taking my 1st leader camper training many years ago it was between 0 and 10 on the whole camp out. We learned some newspaper under our sleeping bag really helped keep the cold from coming up from the bottom. Also in our bags which were only 40 degree bags we put a sheet or flannel blanket so that we would not roll in to the zipper which really could wake up up in the middle of the night if it was touched with bare skin. We also put the next days set of clean clothes in the foot area, so we just had to wiggle around to put on fresh clean clothes the next cold morning. But probally the most imporant thing we learned that really needs to be over stressed exspecially to young scouts is they need to have CLEAN DRY bodies. Many of a night a baby wipe was used to to clean ourselves because it was just to cold to get in the shower. We then sleep with tommorrows CLEAN socks, underwear, and a hat that covers your ears and nothing else at all. I know many a leader who would rather take scouts cold weather camping because once everyone is in bed they stay there. Less worries of middle of the night play going on.

www.troop68.org then go to the recipe page has some tryed and true old time good camping meals. The Lasagna and Dutch oven pizza might be considered Italian. Several could also fit into the Mexican category. And many are just good old fashioned American

In our area the presidential letters are saved for a boys eagle recognition. This way they make them very special.

My daughters are in a Venture crew sponsored by BSA National Office. Many of the staff there really enjoy reading all types of books and watching movies. So they did a drive to collect reading material and movies, the big part of the challenge was organizing it so people could find it. Then over a 2 day time period they sold them at this office building (BSA National Office)during peoples lunch time. Then with the leftovers they were donated I believe. The kids were really working hard and everyone knew they had a great goal so I believe they were very supportive.

I have 2 teenage girls, 1 LOVES it. the other doesn't have the time for it. My son is only 13 and more interested in Runscape than MySpace. Our athletic director at our high school told parents 2+ years ago to monitors kids activities on thses type web links because some were doing and saying things that could actually get them in ALOT of trouble. My husband went and expored it when no one was at home one day and said it was a glorified porn site. Our middle daughter told us she was just using it to communicate with friends on other side of town and wasn't out except for her close friends. So we allowed and have just monitered it VERY close.It all comes down to parent attention and how much space you feel comfortable giving your child.

When my husband was a den leader and then a cub master this qusetion came up often because MONEY is always a issue. Our pack only had 1 fund raiser per year(the ever so pricey but politically correct popcorn sales). Our pack consisted of many boys from 1 school but from varing degrees of how much money they wanted to support the pack with. We NEVER wanted money to be a factor as to weather a boy could go to a scouting event or not. So we our PACK paid for almost everything pack related such as awards, blue and gold, pinewood deby cars etc. We asked for the least amount possible to make all things like camp outs (where we provide food) and all field trips. We have so many fund raisers from every organization in town we have tried to keep it limited because many parents and grandparents just feel so beat down with them. But a group car wash or garage sale is fun when EVERYONE takes part in them. On our den level we really tried to promote be frugal because some just want to spend to see how fast it goes and that just isn't fair if your on a tight budget unless they want to pay for everyone. My husband did try and collect $10.00 per semester to help cover the cost equally for everyone, knowing honestly scouting is not a cheap quality program to do. 1 year our Webelos den boys did deside with their parents approval they wanted to go on a farewell field trip 12 hours away ( to sleep on the Lexington Aircraft Carrier overnight) and the families together dicided that they would ALL work hard to make this fund raiser successfel so all could partisipate. From what I understand in our coucil you can not have indiviual accouts at the den level. Only at the boy Scout level.Because when a boy moves on money does not follow him. It becomes the property of the Head organization (Like the Pack). So we tried not to indivually fund raise to much. Because if you let parents think that scouting is the cheapest activity in town they don't think or care about it as much as other things. Look at how much people pay to put their kids in sports and in our area they take all prioity because people say that they spent so much of their hard earned money on it so they don't let their kids miss or anything. But in the end we don't want a boy not to be able to have fun in scouts just because of money. We always work with those on a case by case thing. Because some just want a FREE ride and others truly can't afford it.

In my sons troop they really promote the patrol method at summer camp, they boys work on their indiviual merit badges but everything else is treated like teamwork and patrols are rated in may areas including advancement in rank, working together and the like, then a honor patrol is named the last night and the scoutmaster has special steak dinner reserved just for that group, the adults don't even get the steak. It amazes me how food really motivates a group a kids to have fun and work hard together.

I like the flyer that promotes getting to the troops web site where a potential recuits can really see in the privacy of their own home if its a group they might be interested in. Then when they truly see the fun they want to join.Then get them in to meet the guys and have a really FUN exciting 1st camp of the new school year. I may be bias but i believe that www.troop68.org has done a great job in this area.

I think a neat thing for a scout group to build patriotism is to volunteer to have a flag ceremony at a incoming flight of military group at your local airport. My kids did it and said the solidars seemed really to appreciate it and it made the local news.

My daughters just got back from a 2 1/2 week high adventure trip with the Venturing Crew sponsored by the Boy Scout Office and they went on a Rhine Cruise while in Germany and my daughters said they Did NOT wear life jackets but saw the life rings as they boarded the boat. Also 2 years ago they went on a Hovercraft going from Finland to Istonia and they did't wear them either. BUT whenever doing any activities the most strict safety regulations are always abided by. We had a activity at a personal home and the homeowner was asked to take down there 3 feet above ground pool to be on the safe side. At the time I personally thought that was going a little to far, we could have just told these high school and college students NO SWIMMING.

I believe that most of the issue is the COST. My 3 children are very involved in this scouting program. Being in a color guard requires complete down to the socks uniforms. Which gets very expensive because of changing sizes. There pack, troop, and venture crew only required belts up uniform because they want to make sure that as many as possible can have the opportunity of being a member of the scouting program. I greatly promote the uniform closet idea of a place for outgrown uniforms but some clothes are pretty well used before getting grown out.

I believe the BSA is not quite up to date on what is really age appropriate. for most beginning 1st grade boys.I happen to teach that level. I remember the importance and how hard it was was those new boys just to get their own motto and stuff. It takes time and maturity not only to understand and know the Cub Scout stuff and be bold enough to recite in front of a crowd. I feel we are expecting to much to quick or maybe they will just skim over the importance because we are expecting to much to soon for such a young group.Some boys will not have any problems but for some just beginning to read it will be more of a challenge. (This message has been edited by a staff member.)

Hello, My husband was the Tiger Roundtable Leader just 2 years ago and unless things have changed a whole lot since he was involved the Tigers learn the Tiger motto at the begining of the year and the Bobcat is what they earn at the end just before bridging to Wolf. In the current book will have the info needed and the roundtable will have real hands on info.

My sons troop is over 75 with lots of pride and tradition check out their web site at www.troop68.org My daughters Venture Crew that is sponsored by BSA National office and maintained by a committee member which right now will be keeping us up to date on their high adventure trip to Kanderstag Scout Camp in Switerland and their trip to Germany is www.srventuring.org

Hello, Having been a lifetime Girl Scout and Day/Twilight Camp director for 10 years I can understand where you are coming from. ALL of my girl scouting activities have been considered volunteer(meaning I PAID for the privlage of working for the scouting movement that gave me many great memories and opportunies. I have 3 kids so together with my husband we have made this a full time priority in our families lives. My children have been so involved with both the girl scouts and boy scouts it has taught everyone the importance to service to others. My olderst daughter got involved in Venturing 3 school years ago now. She was very excited to be selected to WORK on staff at the Jamboree last summer(even though it cost HER approx. $1000.For the camp fees, transportation, uniforms etc.)To help raise the money needed to go she got a job at the local (2 hoours away) girl scout camp.She started in the kitchen and because of a shortage she ended as a counselor. Yes she worked lonnnnnnnnnnng hours and slept in a tent in over 100 degree days in Texas but she came home ready and excited about her next opportunity of working at the Jamboree. When she got home from there some of the stories she told us of mentally and physically demanding days(she came home on crutches)made the hair on my neck stand up, the only reason she got something to eat many lunchs was because of kindness of scouts who would bring her a ice cream or so because she was told they were so short handed there wasn't time for her to get lunch or a break. She made memories of being the crazy 16 year old girl in a pink cowboy hat working in the disAbilities Merit Badge area.After getting home getting a good nights sleep, eating a family meal she told us she WILL be going back hands down to the Jamboree in 2010 and told us to start saving cause even with the chaoas she wants her younger sister, younger brother and dear old mom and dad to experiece the GREAT time she had.

I just went to that web site and it didn't tell me about the FREE part i got that info at www.srventuring.org web site. Sorry for the confusion.