Tampa Turtle

Our Troop traditionally had a mix of both faiths and political allegiances. Us brown-shirts use to tell newcomers we expected respect and civility of everyone and to adhere to the scout law. Sure there was some teasing but everyone got along. Occasionally someone would violate this rule; some were told not to come back if they couldn't behave better. One of my dearest scouter friends (who died this year--I miss him dearly) and I had many fun debates on long car rides. He leaned right, I leaned left. We both seemed reassured that we believed in teaching scout ideals to the boys and encouraged political participation. One year we had a friendly rivalry--he did American Business MB and I did American Labor MB. He used to call me "Samuel Gompers".

Well that is a talent. I freely talk about my faith and love theological discussions. You just have to be secure enough to not be threatened about another person's beliefs not agreeing with yours...

I'll tolerate a lot of spirited as long as civil political discourse on camp-outs but no no on the Clan and Nazi stuff. I grew up in a jewish neighborhood is south florida and always remember my best friends mother who pulled up her sleeve and showed me her tattoo. As for any KKK comments Mr Turtle found out during his Genealogy MB practice that he had a black slave ancestor and I later had a DNA test that tended to confirm it. I always recall my grandfather telling us "never throw stones at another race or group because you dig a little you may be one".

I like the coronation comment...most of the Eagle COH I have been to have been pompous and boring. If I have to hear the John Wayne speech again I'm just gonna blow my brains out all over the Eagle log candles. The best ones had good-- barely fit for the moms in the audience-- stories. I hope Son#1 (who is on the final lap) has a fun one. Son #2 who is a really terrific scout and key leader may never Eagle out because he will always choose doing some Troop activity over banging out one of those final Eagle Merit Badges...

Our Troop typically has two ASPL's--typically one who is the manager of the other Troop POR's and the other who is more of a leader type that often steps in when the SPL cannot be there or the Troop gets split up. I'd say 70% of our ASPL's have done a pretty good job.

Only if it has a practical value as well.

He should pay the dues and move his membership but I'd let him wear it...

Our old SM did this to 1/3rd of the eligible slate last year--struck them off the ballot because he thought they were not worthy enough. I was very proud of son#2 who was an OA member intervening with the adults and having a Chapter Rep call and set the SM straight (In general trust the boys in the election). Our Troop is more careful now. IMHO the paltry campers might make nomination but are scared off by the sound of the words 'Ordeal" or 'Service' to follow through anyway. Quite a few others are "Sash and Dash" but as more boys are becoming active in OA they are being encouraged/shamed to increase their activities.

I'd have a whole bunch but the transition from a blingy Pack to a non-bling Troop changed all that. I keep my stuff and devices to a minimum but then again I only have 1 shirt. I keep my OA pocket patch because I feel I earned it and as a Sue Nunn training alumnus I keep my Scoutmaster Training MB patch and my cute little dangling train device (as in 'trained') because I really got a lot out of it.

I am a Diabetic so with the additional calories came more peeing even with the right carb load and medication (I had a nurse nutritionist design it with me because my workplace provided it--what a luxury!). I kept pretty close track and even hiking in 50 to 70 degree weather I typically drank 6 to 8 liters a day and peed 1 to 2...the rest was pure sweat. I usually carried 3 to 4 liters and did a lot of filtering and 'cameling up' when I could. Still if I can do 60 miles and a few 1500 foot up-hill days anyone can! Though I was sloooow.

We thought the Georgia sections especially Blood Mountain were a bit harder than NC/TN/VA. It seems they had never heard of switchbacks...

Not always obvious. I once observed a rather experienced but shy scout who had the fire making instruction and testing station at a Scout Wilderness Survival campout. A younger scout was frustrated struggling with using the flint and steel to make a fire. The older scout was very patient, watched him carefully, and then placed his hand on the boys to show him the right pressure and angle to do it. And the younger boy did it right after that. I saw this scout work patiently with boy after boy. If I wasn't watching carefully I would have never caught it. Fast forward four years later I see that younger scout using the same hands on technique with some newbies. So I say the older scout showed leadership.

It is easy to forget this. We have a couple boys who had some developmental issues that made the Eagle really hard for them. Maybe the project was not as impressive as some and maybe they needed more support but for them it was an enormous accomplishment.

DEET is pretty effective for what it does but yeah keep away from anything! I have fogged glasses, stained pants, and welded my plastic watch band together with the stuff. And do NOT spray in mouth. I used Permethrin products on my socks, clothes, and gear. I have had little luck with 'natural' products and skin-so-soft, at least when we were in high mosquito areas.

Beavah, I noticed that when I was travelling on a family vacation...we were backpacking and staying in Youth Hostels to save money (Mrs Turtle, the southern belle was a good sport) and we crossed paths with Dutch, French, Finnish, and some Israeli scouting units and some Girl Guides on the London Underground. All their leaders looked like they were close to college age. I noticed they could keep up with their charges better! One of sons thought including Girls could be a good thing...

Our Troop does with out them also. Too dang hot.

To get back to the original question in my experience in eating around at various Troops (turning into a big fat turtle) I note that where I see Troop cooking over Patrol cooking there is a higher incidence of adult led activity...

'carp'? That smells fishy.

Our Troop has done many trips Georgia through Virginia. Consensus is that the ones near the North Carolina/Tennessee border were (mostly) the best. We do it and Tampa is VERY flat (highest point is around 60 feet). We do a lot of practice is on the convention center stairs which are 3 stories. With packs. Best to lose as much excess fat before hand...you'll think deeply on that point going uphill. But I did it and I am a crippled old man. Going downhill with a pack takes some practice and can be hard of the knees. As for the shelters we got them about 80-90% of the time. Some of them were cool and some of them ratty. We started out early every day and try to it our target shelter around 4pm while there was still space. I kept a tarp, light weight ground cloth, and some cord and used by trekking poles (the Walmart specials with 300 miles on them) for poles. Usually worked good enough even with Chipmunks running over my feet all night. Really you will be so tired you will sleep anywhere. You can Google videos of a lot of sections and they give you a good idea. And get some profile maps. You are never really THAT far from civilization and 90% of the people are really nice to you for bringing today's youth on the AT.

Krampus, I am not holding my breath on that last one. I told him that IF a college admissions board looked at his record it would probably look better if he stayed on and showed some commitment as an 'adult'.

Well, when BSA force youth out at 18 you kind of imply "they are done". I heard a rumor that Venturing may stop at 18 son. I had to break it two him there was no way he could earn any Eagle Palms since he just times out. He is kinda mad at me I made him "do things the hard way" when he saw 14 or 15 year old Eagles with 14 Merit Badges up and out so they can pad their college application resume. That really brought the whole Eagle quality control argument home hard. But to be honest he was not ready for the boring, bureaucratic slog that is the Eagle process a year ago. But I digress.

I'll bounce the Venturing idea off him, he was tempted to join a few years ago when he heard they had girls. I'll ask around my neck of the woods. Not so sure with the JASM. We have had a couple so designated but know when knew what to do with them.

Ah yes but he will still be in High school for 2 more years.

He has a few learning disabilities that he has overcome. He had to repeat Kindergarden (yeah) and Third Grade (failed the standardized reading test by a few points) so he is behind two years. I am curious as to what the SM thinks, I should find out tonight. As to problems with adults. Nothing major just a reluctance for some parent/scouters to take the advice of young men with much scout but less life experience. But, in general, the Scouts enthusiasm for someone cooler than their Dads wins out, Just wondering out loud for him to avoid the pitfalls...

Son #1 is aging out soon at 18 after finally getting his Eagle. As he still has two more years of High School I am not getting rid of him yet and he is (somewhat) interested in staying on in a limited capacity as an Adult Leader. I think he is over the weekly meeting (he has perfect attendance since Tigers for ten years) but is a pretty advanced Backpacker, Canoe/Kayak/Sailor, Camper, Knot and Lashing kind of old school guy. So I think he wants to keep his hand in a bit (despite the bad taste the BSA paperwork driven Eagle application process has become). I would like some advice on how to avoid the pitfalls of this sort of things. On occasion we have had some college age scouters come on trips and the boys ate it up. But sometimes the parent scouters could be difficult. How would you handle it?