Tampa Turtle

wahooker, I am in a similar boat with a Tourettes, OCD, ADHD, Austistic lad. He works much better with others but I need to be "in the area just in case" which seems to be less and less as years go by. I think if you have a boy with disabilities all your concerns can get amped up. You really want them to succeed at scouting because you fear how will they function in the real world as an adult and yet there are times you can't just let them go because they truly aren't ready. When my boy was a Bear he really would just walk in front of cars--he is lucky he isn't dead--so someone had to keep an eye on him. I like Boy Scouting better as it lets you be a little more hands off.

I know of a neighbor Troop with a SM of 20+ years but most are only 1-2 years tenure. My old Pack has a CM of 23 years.

I am always at Summer camp on Father's Day but it seems appropriate; Mother's Day better be around to play homage and then take them away for a while if needed. We base our around the Tampa Buccaneer schedule a bit, Superbowl, Gasparilla (our big parade her), various exam times and standardized tests, the public school schedule, religious holidays (we ask around for the Jewish and Muslim ones, etc--we have avoided activities a few times when those practioners could care less), and big fundraisers. So our schedule seems pretty fixed from year to year even if the actual scout activities vary.

I have seen this a lot especially with my kids! The trick is to assign another adult to police your own child or at least remove them so they are not a distraction. My kids know I am much less likely to yell at them in front of the others and used to push the limits. They are not so sure of how far to push another adult.

At the Pack level summer was always a challenge. The only time I consistently got folks was when they were Webelos and that was because we made them go to a meeting each week just like Boy Scouts. So they were used to being active. Even then I could only get folks to one event a month during the summer and usually pretty casual stuff. A pizza and pool party worked--folks just had other plans during the summer. And summer in Florida is not the ideal camping weather either. Half the families are up in the Carolina mountains. You know many families are just exhausted by the end of the school year and just don't want any more demands. To us Scouters summer seems ideal "All right now we can get some real scouting in without all that school interference. But we may be in the minority". So I say do the event with the info you got and enjoy the folks who come and do not get all hung up on those who don't. Like I said on the forum before my BEST meeting in cub scouts was when the only folks who came (out of 12 kids) was me and my son and my Assistant Den Leader and his. If was like an hour long father-son playdate.

Summer is tough; even our COH during the last week of school is poorly attended --exams and parties. As for communications we have the same problem--we oldsters using email, younger folks texts, and yet other paper handouts.

Oh yes that was from the play "weblinger the 08"

Sigh...pretty common in Cub Scouts and Elementary-age Birthday Parties. Hardly anyone RSVP's and I had things where we invited 14, got 1 yes/1 no and only 1 show up un-noticed. I have had things where we invited 40, 8 responded and got 50+. It is really hard to deal with it. That said some of the BEST events I ever had in Cub Scouting where the ones where we camped with just a few folks: (cue music) This story shall the good man teach his son; And Graduation Day shall ne'er go by, From this day to the ending of the world, But we in it shall be remember'd; We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that roasts his pig with me Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile, This day shall gentle his condition: And families on vacation now a-bed Shall think themselves accursed they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks They camped with us on Graduation day!

Hmmm...just after I removed all my knots. The contrarian in me would want me to sew them back on; like the old salts who are proud of their red tabs or old green uniforms. If they remove them their will be some sort of new device in a few years and it will grow and grow... The DE thing is interesting...I have not heard a thing.

I try to treat them all the same but when their is not enough time you hope you make the right investment.

I like the visuals. It is more like what the director Wes Anderson--who always wanted to be a Boy Scout--thought they "should look" so I expect it a movie that will "feel right" more than be historically accurate. Some of the stills look VERY Norman Rockwell-esque.

I do not know WHAT the SM told him but he is avoiding me like the plague. I bumped into him at church and it was like I had a repulser ray. Funny as heck. He seems a bit chastised around the other boys. I think they got his number. So maybe there is hope. I still will tell the other adults at camp. I strongly suspect a return of old behavior. Also the COH is upon us and he needs me to sign off on some knot requirements; so I am and make sure I am near other adults and am kind, formal, and professional--killing him with kindness. But trust em? Nahh.

Basement, my brother, take a deep breath. Take a break if you need to. I had to go for a walk recently too. Sometimes you just lose a guy. He made a decision and we want them to make choices. Maybe he will come back. I know it is tough when you have invested a lot in a boy and they go away. Oh course he probably made a bad choice. I spent a HUGE amount of time with one lad who, I later found out, was only coming long enough to collect his parental bribe. I felt betrayed. Yes I know we get know respect from coaches and band leaders. They make near impossible demands. I don't think you can fight that. I had such a moment last week at a campout, was so angry, went right up to my beleaguered SM and used some foul language damning the Troop. I was so disillusioned at working with other people's kids and mine were being bullied elsewhere. Why was I doing it. I was fed up and probably a bit burned out. But I cleared the air and the SM said that was reason he liked me was that I was passionate about Scouting. Well I was passionate that night. (Needless to say I kinda put my Chaplin's plans on hold--I really set a bad example. Too many F-Bombs) Basement, from your other posts I know you are passionate and care. You have helped a bunch of boys that may have never had scouting. And like many things in life when you put your heart out there you can get hurt. As for parents I read you loud and clear. But we don't do it for them. But yeah I have been to 3 summercamps and 35 campout weekends in the last three years and have yet to have a nice vacation with the wife. I have not found that balance yet. I do not front money as that would be a deal breaker for my wife. But I do subsidize things other ways. Probably a few thousand a year--I rationalize as a hobby cost.

I used to be a good swimmer but now, for medical reasons, not so good. I have "failed" the test several times, passed others, but always try, try, try for the boys sake. I have been classified as a "beginner" at camp once and had to wade, conspicuously, in the "baby area". Always tried to be a good sport about it.

We go by: (1) Sons of Leaders who are going on trip go automatically. (so we dont lose adults--even if they are not driving) (2) Senior Boy Leadership. (SPL, ASPL, QM--they are often too busy working to get all the paerwork in) (3) In order of response,paid permission slip. Once we hit the limit we start a stand-by list. There is usually a parent willing to drive his son of he really needs to. That can be an inducement. I screw things up--I have two sons but usually cannot drive the one family vehicle. On the offer hand we have a Troop van. But it has been close.

Yeah I would give our boys a pass for one week of camp in the canvas and frame on a platform tents. They usually have to tie them down a bit, put a tarp over them, adjust the rickety wooden pallets to be level, and battle spiders, mice, and raccoons waltzing in. It is enough of an adventure. Even with a dining hall we make them do some cooking.

I would be proud of him and equally proud of a scout, based on the scout law, that made the case for keeping the status quo. Either way they are doing, in their opinion, the right thing the right way.

First off, GREAT discussion and I want to thank from the bottom of my shell all the advice. This kid does come from a good background; I do think it is a manipulative sort of thing. Apparently had his Tenderfoot BOR and there was an almost hour long discussion on Scout Oath and Law. I do not know if he passed or not. I do know his minor POR is in jeopardy as well as his PL is reassessing his choice. (he can be charming) Funny thing is his Patrol mates see things once he is away -- "why were we so mad at Taylor? He is a nice guy..." and they start to catch on. So I take that as a good sign.

I had two sons and when we started I was unemployed so the cost was an issue. What if they didn't like it. So I did "incremental uniforming"--T-shirt, then Blue shirt, Belt, Socks, Hat, Pants in that order. Took a few months, was an incentive for the boys, and was more affordable for me. As for the "football" argument--during that period I deliberately kept them out of some other activities (like Baseball or Football camp)because of the high cost of outfitting them.

If you need uniforms always ask around. I live in a pretty affluent area; parents seem reluctant to re-use an experienced uniform. So at the Pack and Troop level we always had a surplus. Eventually we found a "brother" unit not as well off and they have been the beneficiary of excess uniforms, stoves, etc. If a guy is not sure we always say start with the shirt.

Agree or not he is attempting to affect change he disagrees with in good conscience in an orderly and democratic fashion. Whats wrong with that?

PAB, My son--exact same experience at camp. Shoot, shoot, shoot and ditched a couple other Merit Badges. But when is it any easier to find the time. He qualified on Thursday as well.

Yes I assumed I was "the decider" and asked/assigned specific jobs/projects. One parent might do a 10 minute first-aid presentation on cuts if they were a nurse. It was more like I was the MC of a variety hour. You know, strong opening and closing number and some acts in the middle. You will end up with a core group of a few parents you can rely on but if your problem is "too many hands" that is a good problem--in Tigers at least.

I always see an Atlanta Troop (I keep thinking #1996)at Woodruff every-year that is uniformed immaculately and rock the red beret.

We have made progress my making Patrol QM a Troop Position (technically a Senior QM and a QM for each patrol for advancement purposes). So that elevated up there with the PL as a sought over position. With sometimes 50+ scouts on some campouts it just too big a job to leave to one guy...