Tampa Turtle

I have seen some excellent female ASM's and SM's but I think that it is important to have the male role models. I see this problem at churches as well--there need to be more men involved with kids and youth modeling that being a man means having character, etc. I think we have raised a lot of selfish guys who would rather do their own thing. But scouting is a great adventure and if having some female leaders means a successful troop -or the alternative is no Troop at all--then my all means do it. It does change the dynamic.

Welcome. Okalahoma--loved the musical. And the shape when I was putting together my wooden state puzzle as a kid. And yeah I know that "and what have I done now" feeling...

Tokala feel your pain. I cringe during the FOS presentation when folks bring up the bathrooms at Camp Brorein, the "money has been going to renovation" for like 10 years. My old Pack lost female leaders over the state of the main bathroom. Went we had our Pack leaders retreat (good idea, with cocktails) and the campout bathrooms was the #1 complaint. Now that was never my issue but probably was representative. Brorein is very overused and I know folks stepped forward to make some improvement contributions at one time but were "strongly encouraged" to direct the money to the general fund since improvements were going to be done anyway. And they weren't.

Old Guy, This Old Guy feels your pain. I repeat "did you look in the Merit Badge book" until I am blue in the face. Once in a great while I get a "No but I looked it up on the web". A lot of what I get are blank stares. But no you are not asking too much.

Have you looked into getting an extension or appeal? Is your activity at summer camp documented? Are your Scoutmasters's willing to go to bat for you?

If you can hire a baby sitter for 3 for $10 an hour you are a better man than I.

Fuzzy: Great Idea!

IF you do go forward get a copy of the "Cub Scout How To Book". It has lots of activities, ideas, and games.

We always did as the others did, game them a little more recognition and "perks". We would seat the den's by senority so the W2's were at the front. Actually Kinda like a U this: Bears Wolfs Webelos 1 Wolfs Webelos 2 Tigers S T A G E So the Webes got recognition and the Tigers were close at hand. Also we could ask the Webes to help them since they were next door.

At what the kilts cost and the willingness of proud folks to pay for them BSA should just adopt one and reap some money from a willing supplier of "BSA approved Kilts".

BadenP, I was an early ereader adopter but the good old book is still a great technology. Yes ebooks are a great distribution channel but I think the old-school paper book will be around for a long time still. But yes once BSA figures out it can co-brand a BSA ereader and charge the same price for an electronic manual as a paper one we will have the no-electronics argument kicked out from under us.

It is liking having an active hobby. I find my time commitment to be anywhere from 8 to 20 hours a week. A lot of that is lunch time and evening prep. Also camp-outs bump up your average. A lot more manageable if you have supportive parents. It is important to have a supportive wife and to set boundaries. I found that for every big scout "push" (Blue and Gold, Pack Campout) I needed to spend some compensating "spouse time" or at least not put off any "Honey-Do's". For all that it is a lot of fun.

To be fair it says Paint Rollers with Extensions and I have seen boys extend them to full length and wave them very close to power lines at campsites. So I can see the caution but think it is addressable.

Shhh! The more we talk the more they'll take away..."say did you read Wolves still get to use Wheel-barrels! Change it..."

At least here in Hillsborough County (claims to be the 6th largest district in US) the sole determinant would be money. If it will somehow save money they might do it. Very little thought seems to be given to how it affects families.

At our Troop if a boy needs to use a 4'-2" step ladder to get something we go get an ASM-but only one trained in the "the 12 laws of safe stepladders". I wonder how those boys in the UK do all those Monkey bridges and towers--the carnage must be incredible.They must have stories like: "3 Swindon Scouts injured in runaway paint roller tragedy" "Proud Rover allowed to use big-boy ladder now" "Queen's Scout designs ultra-safe 5 wheeled wagon for American scout use." "13 year old London scout lost in post-hole digger horror."

It is up to the boy but I would remind him that the unit is not likely to change much.

I have found the spiral, though bulky, seems to hold up better IF you get the cover. I have never seen a hardback. I would say a cover is a must.

I think it is a bad idea. The day is long enough as it is. It will push back extra-circular activities and impact scouts more. Here it is almost that long and combined with taking the bus a lot of kids get home around 5ish anyway. Combine homeworks and they really don't have much free time. We already are lengthening the school year...

That you Kudu. I will steer my boys into that direction--if we can! Meanwhile I will have to clean up the bits of skull and brain matter from when my head exploded after reading the links. This is a joke, correct? For goodness sake we had 12 year olds finishing up the Plumbing Badge soldering copper pipe with a blinking propane torch, man! Maybe next they will start culling all the Merit Badges for safety guidelines. "Sorry Timmy you are not old enough to use a paint roller yet so you need to put off the Painting MB. No rollers! Yet the recent Scouter magazine had scouts on Jetski's.

I think folks buy a tent because what are the icons that camping represent to most folks? Tents, Sleeping Bags, and Camp fires. A lot of folks already have a kiddie sleeping bag from sleepovers and lock-ins. And cheap tents are available and seem like pretty good deals. I agree that steering folks away from giant tents is good but really if in cubs they need to house Mom, Dad, Scout and sibling with air mattress and all that they will get pretty big.

Be careful what you wish for Dept... (1) Why is he leaving? I hope it is just time to move on and not that we have something about to blow up? (2) Bob is not all bad. Could the next guy be worst? I really, really hope BSA drops the "Be Prepared. For Life."

If a Troop is not camping, if it is throwing to many barriers to boy-initiated advancement and Merit Badges, if it is not --or at least moving toward--a boy-led patrol method, if your boy is not having fun--then I would say start shopping around. Better to move and find a good Troop than have your son drop put altogether.

I'll take a stab here. To me it seems clearly off base. 1.Should not matter. He had (2)POR's. He could have been removed for incompetence but if not he is done. Maybe it could have been better managed (or maybe not) but too late now. 2. Do not know where that came from. Yes a good thing Leadership wise but not a requirement. 3. HUh? Is there a discipline problem? Should have been held up in Scout Spirit then.... I would consult the Guide to Advancement. I suspect there is something else her then. And the adults had better get trained up.

All good comments The Alps is a good enough product and if you can get a bunch they offer a reasonable price. My boys have used the Eureka Timberline A-Frame and it is pretty scout proof but heavy. I have used a Eureka AT 2-man and like it; could set it up one handed at night in the rain. Our Thrifty scoutmaster has scored a dozen marked down Kelty 2-Mans at $14 at Target at final closeout. Sold them to the newbies. He says they change their supplier about every year and sometime you get lucky at clearance. Ease of setup is important for new scouts. REALLY like the idea of training them to use tarps and poles. I would also consider using tarp-tents if you plan to do a lot of backpacking. If you don't do this may I suggest a patrol dining fly as a way for them to keep their knots up. This is a good life skill. I use a Hammock and think that would be a good option for a small Troop; maybe not for a large one due to tree availability.