SWScouter

I've been lobbying for a patrol box bonfire. So far I have been unsuccessful. I really think they are a bane to good camping, at least the way I see them used. SWScouter

Lisabob wrote, "And what about girls? All the local rec leagues are co-ed and I am not certain how you could have a team where the boys were eligible to join this program but not their female team mates." That's actually a very big issue with the Cub Scout soccer program here in the Grand Canyon Council. The hispanic community is very family oriented and this is a big drawback to the program. It will be interesting to see how this evolves but it is looking like there will be some accomodations made to the program for the girls. SWScouter

All hikers are now accounted for.

"But has anyone heard anything about a new National Sea Scout Commodore?" Anybody else misread that as Sea Scout Commode? SWScouter

Well, I don't have any tattoos, but the add just showed me how to meet people at TattooLovers.com. Ooh ya!(This message has been edited by SWScouter)

I've done rim to river and back twice. That's not much different than rim to rim, except that it's a 200 mile drive from one side to the other. Now rim to rim to rim is a different story. It's about 21-24 miles from rim to rim depending on the route. Both my trips down, I took the same route, South Kaibab trail to Bright Angel CG, returning on the Bright Angel Trail for about 16 miles. We spent two nights at BACG and did day hikes up the N Kaibab trail. There's about a 5000' elevation difference between the river and the S rim, more for the N rim. A lot of people go down S Kaibab, spend one night at BACG, then hike out the BA trail only they spend a second night about 1/2 way out at the Indian Gardens CG. People do it, but summer really isn't a good time for rim to rim hikes. It is just too hot at the bottom. Temperatures will be in the 100s and could go to 110+. On the rim you'll have 80s to 90's but really nice nights. In July and August thunderstorms are very common and can dump large amounts of rain. If you can, go in mid to late April or even October. Spring break is nice but there could still be snow and ice that you may need to deal with. That can really make for a nice experience if you are prepared. Sticking to the main corridor routes is probably a good idea until the troop has experience with canyon hiking. After that there really is a whole lifetimes worth of trails to explore. As someone mentioned, back country permits can be an issue, especially for the corridor routes. Group size is limited and there is no guarantee you will get the day you request. BC permit applications can be faxed in no earlier than four months before the start date. You may not get the dates you want so that can make planning more difficult. I was just at the North rim, we found a great place to camp not to far from the DeMotte CG. The N rim really is beautiful and a whole different environment than the S rim. A great resource for GC hiking is http://www.kaibab.org This website is managed by a guy that just loves hiking the GC. The Grand Canyon is an amazing place. It is just incredible to view, especially from the bottom and along the trails. It's immensity is overwhelming. This could be a great trip for the troop. Eolsen mentioned Havasupai. There was an article in Scouting Magazine about that last year See http://www.scoutingmagazine.org/issues/0503/a-hava.html. I looked into doing that but it seemed awfully expensive. Basically a $35 fee to enter the area and then $17.50 per night. That is per person. I don't know if there were group breaks or not. Perhaps he can comment on the cost. Good luck, SWScouter

TwoCubDad wrote: I require the elegible Scouts to let me know why the want to be in the OA, have a general understanding of what OA membership entails (meetings, etc.) and make a commitment to be active in the Order. I ask that the Scouts put this in writing, but if a Scout takes much initiative at all to let me know that he really interested, I will approve. I almost completely disagree with this. How active or not a scout may be in the OA should have absolutely no bearing on whether that scout is on the ballot or elected. A scout that goes through the ordeal has absolutely no obligation to be active in chapter or lodge activities. His obligation is to his troop or team and that is where all emphasis should be placed. Now when a scout wants to seal his membership in the OA by going through the brotherhood ceremony, then yes, perhaps those questions are then applicable. SWScouter

Dan, Best wishes and prayers for your son and you and your family. I don't know how well I would hold up under your situation. Everything checked out well for me. I went twelve minutes on the treadmill without trouble. The docter said that if one goes nine minutes that they rarely, if ever, see any heart trouble. The imaging checked out too. Right now my only risk factor is family and I wouldn't want to change anything there. SWScouter

Personally, I think GW was being an ass. But that's just my opinion.

Everyone, thanks for the kind words. Scoutldr, that thought did come to mind .

Umm, as far as I know, OA does not have any official call out ceremonies as there is for the Pre-ordeal, ordeal, brotherhood, and vigil ceremonies. This is all under the purvue of individual lodges.

So I was planning on being one of the ASMs at summer camp again this year. I was really looking forward to it too. I'm well over 40 so I went to get my physical and class III health form filled out. The Dr. is filling out the form and asks when I need it by. Well, as soon as possible. Actually I need it right away for camp. The Dr. says my EKG is "different" and he wants me to see a cardiologist first and if everything checks out, he'll sign the form then. Okay... So the next week while the troop is at camp I see a cardiologist. He asks what is "different" since it looks fine to him? I don't know, weren't you faxed the information? No? Yesterday I had a stress test done. Well into the test the tech says, "I think it's safe to say nothing is wrong with your heart." I suppose that's good news, but I'll meet with the cardiologist next week to go over all the results. I hope the tech was right. I suppose it's better to be safe than sorry. I have a brother and a sister that have had heart issues so there is a family history. I've heard of other scouters finding life threatening health issues in time just because they've had to get their annual health form signed. Even still, I am disappointed I wasn't able to go to camp. I do wonder what is "different", what has changed and why? I've always been very active. I raced bicycles for close to twenty years. I haven't ridden much the last two or three years though, perhaps that's why. My blood pressure has always been good, my pulse low, my cholesterol is okay, I take no meds. The scouts had fun at camp and were very successful. I'm really happy that camp went well; I just wish I could have helped. The three adults that went said one more adult would have really helped. The four of us were at camp last year, we were a great team. I guess I'm being a bit full of self pity right now, but there is something special about spending a week at camp, watching the scouts. The way they grow up and become a closer knit group as the week progresses is, to me, wonderful to watch and something I very much regret missing this year.

I have a Kelty Tioga 5400 external frame pack with the 50th anniversary frame (bent funny to add more air circulation). I haven't used it as much as I'd like. The first trip I took it down the Grand Canyon and back up. The pack rides absolutely great. It's very comfortable. The biggest problem I have with it is that it's heavy and there is no good way to strap a sleeping bag or tent to the outside as with most externals. I ended up putting the sleeping bag in the bottom compartment. That left just one big compartment for the rest of the gear and that really sucks. The pockets are also really strange. There's one long deep pocket. I haven't figured out a good way to use that? Perhaps belayer-St. Louis can explain? Quart bottles don't fit in the pockets well either. I still have my backpack that I used as a scout 30 years ago. I like it's design and size much better than the Kelty. There is two compartments. I always put clothes in the bottom and food/gear in the top. Sleeping bag and pad strapped on the frame below the pack. It had four side pockets, two on each side. A quart nalgene bottle fit perfectly in the top side pockets. There was also a pocket facing back on the upper compartment, a perfect place for rain gear and first aid kit. It's too bad that pack is mostly worn out. I really wish there was something like it on the market now only with the new improvements to the suspension.

This is a hoot. BSA has been around for what, close to 100 years. Let's see the current uniform has been around for what, close to 30 years or 30% of the time the BSA has been. I imagine that there has been way more scouts and scouters in the current uniform than any other. This is great entertainment. Thanks, SWScouter

There is a troop in my district that is chartered to the Adobe Juvenile Detention facility. All the scouts are "ins" none are on the "outs." The scouts seem to really enjoy being a member of the troop. The troop number is 4, originally it was to be 420 but that is a term for smoking dope so it was quickly changed. There are some problems. The leader screening is very rigorous. I hear even more so than for employees of the facility. Going camping is a problem and that has advancement repercussions. Detainees come and go. How can we continue to offer scouting to those boys that serve their terms? There are youth privacy laws so there is no followup after the youth leave, period. That concerns me a lot. SWScouter

That wasn't the only change. My uniform for the early/mid 70's was different than my brothers' from the mid to late 60s.

I have two things I'd like. 1. As a District Commissioner, I'd really like the Unit Visit Tracking tool to be fixed and put back in service. 2. As a Unit Scouter, I'd like the My Scouting section beefed up. Namely, I'd like to see the Online Tour Permit added. Thanks, SWScouter

Service stars should be placed 3/8" above the pocket flap, or top row of knots. If more than one star is worn, then the stars should be 1/8" apart. The row of stars should be centered across the pocket.

I don't know when numbered stars were started, but it's been at least since 1972, when I received my first one. I remember receiving attendence bars back then too.

Back to the topic. Lisabob, As Secret DE said, the scoutmaster should be at the top of the list. After that, I think the list should be sorted by those scouters that are working with the youth the most. Secret DE did make a mistake, he said three adults with 76 youth. It should be 101 youth, but whatever. Don't make too big a deal out of this, keep it simple and think which adult will best serve the youth. Remember there is always next year and the next too. SWScouter

GNX Guy, Yes, I saw that. I don't see how that is an issue though. The council can have it's own sign up and then submit all names to National as needed. The council can do this online if National requires it. Moneys used can be from those already received from the scouts and adults that are registered from the council contingents. That's just a logistic item the council needs to work through. Like I said, my son is signed up, there is a payment schedule in place. It's real. SWScouter

GNX Guy, Our council started sign ups last spring. Most of the troops are already filled up. My sons Jamboree troop will have its first meeting the last Thursday of this month. The meeting is mostly informational for the parents and for everyone to meet. The contingent troops, in addition to the jamboree, will have a fairly extensive tour. They will be travelling for three weeks total. The council has priced the jamboree at $3000. There was a $300 deposit and starting last January, there are $300 payments each quarter. He's signed up, it's real. Timbit, Thanks for posting the link to the video. My son watched it, we went over the tentative itinerary again, and he seems much happier about the whole thing. That makes me feel much better too! SWScouter

I guess I have trouble with this whole concept of "Earning" the scout badge. For one, it's a lot simpler than earning AOL. The only thing the scout has to learn is to tie a square knot. The hardest part really is getting the parents to sit down and go through the youth protection insert with the scout. The rest is just a sit down for a few minutes and go over the stuff with the Scoutmaster. Let's not make more of the scout badge than it is supposed to be: what a boy does to join boy scouts. SWScouter

Last fall I signed my son up for the 2010 NJ. We had a talk first and he said ok. Lately he has become less interested in scouts. We had a talk the other day and he said he wouldn't mind continuing in scouts but he isn't going to go to the jamboree. I asked him why, what does he think it's going to be like. His response was that the sight seeing stuff sounded okay but there was no way he would want to do the jamboree part. More prodding and he said he thinks it would be like attending Scout-O-Rama for two weeks straight. I had a good chuckle with that and said I wouldn't want to do that either. I couple weeks ago, BSA had a video on its website selling the 2010 NJ. I was going to show it to my son but couldn't find it. Does anyone know if it is still there? If so, where? Thanks, SWScouter

Anne, when you visit the units, always let them know you're coming, even if you get an open invitation. Also, always bring them something, such as the flyers handed out at roundtable. Good luck! SWScouter