sylmore

Link: http://outside.away.com/outside/features/200410/iraqi_boy_scouts_1.html

Our UW chapter no longer sponsors our local Council based on a mutual agreement considering the disagreement regarding inclusiveness (Homosexual leaders.) Since our company was pushing for employee participation, I did a *write in* for our BSA council. Only after I heard the UW takes admin fees from the pledge, I didn't realize that previously. The UW Chapter president is paid $194K/yr, that was another surprise to me.

I'd say the majority of this story is on-target with my observation. I'm 32, with a 6yo TC and a 4yo who's ready for school and scouts as well, heh. I have not observed the consideration of achievement vs participation, but I'd assume rather that everyone is gearing for over-achievement and fixation on preparedness and goals. Observe the fear of jobs moving offshore and the realization that it takes nearly $100K/yr household income to have the home/2cars/family in top-250 cities. One is no longer competing with the top 15% to get in schools and jobs. Now, more folks are taking initiative, so you may be competing with the top 50%. Add in the H1B folks. Subtract the oursourced jobs and remove manufacturing. Observe the layoffs and mergers. So, we have parents over-grooming and directing children. With some schools costing $100K-$150K for a 4yr degree, which is not good enough BTW, kids are getting nervous. Are you going to let your child slide through HS w/o participating in clubs, jobs or sports? I think the trend is going to continue pushing downward, where the middle school kids already feel/see the pressure to prepare for college prep classes. I think folks my age started to see the front end of this. Sure, I cruised though school up to 10th grade as an A-B student. I then to start to panic and kick in the effort. Luckily, I was a scout since age 11, so I had experience that provided confidence and maturity which contributed to a high-achievement mentality and capability. I graduated top-10 in a small class and went on to a top school in the NE. At an engineering shcool, I was then in a pool of high achievers, just as another fish. This is when I started to feel the pressure. Previously, it was easy to swim ahead, almost laughable. Not here though. Now out of school for 10yrs, I have been on a gradual incline of learning/achieving, but nothing like the blastoff I had experiecned from age 17 to 22. I would still consider myself many years away from any transition, say, to management. I see 20yr engineers who perform the same roles at 8yr engineers. That's called reality. I do wonder how the trophy kids will relate to such a scenario. When you see it for the first time, it sometimes triggers the quarter-life crisis. That was another interesting topic I saw a while ago. Marriage. Kids. Mortgage. SUV Payments. Career. PTA....wow, you're not a kid anymore...stop watching MTV.

Two days of wilderness/outdoor fun, check out what Central Texas scouts will enjoy this weekend: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/expo/ Looking forward to a good time! JM in ATX TC DL

We are using ScoutTrack, it's very handy. As a parent and tiger den leader, I find it very resrouceful. I can: Review the basic requirements for the rank, electives, academics/sports Enter my Son's advancement, by step Review the progress of other boys in the den Send email to Individuals, Den, Pack, or Leaders Review the Pack calendar. Schedule meeting reminders, with notes Record meeting attendance It's my first time using it, it's very simple and quick. No fluff. Yours in scouting, JM in ATX

From a quick search: http://www.caves.org/nss-business/bog/app-g.html http://www.scoutresources.org/bs/caving/scouts_and_caving.html http://www.scoutresources.org/bs/caving/cave_exploring_by_youth_groups.html

Also new in Tx. CAC.

The river float would be a difficult decision. The New Braunfels river scene is certainly not a family-centric environment. This summer my family and a couple friends floated for my first time. I was hoping my 6yo didn't come out with a new vocabalary. He does not live in a sterile bubble, but girls lifting shirts for vodka jello shots, guys swigging beers, the aroma of mary-jane in the air....then the cursing ect. Not really a kids scene. If the older scouts can't appreciate a more natural setting, I'd say they are attracted to the party atmosphere (not surprising) but it's not a good thing for the still impressionable kids. It would not make a good photo on the front of the troop website! On the safety side, it flows at a pretty good pace. It would not be trivial to jump off a tube and stride upstream to anyone who fell out. It's very easy to get seperated if you float seperately into edge/center currents. Again, with all the people around, you may even be blocked by a party raft.