Tampa Turtle

You have a uniform! Ha ha. I am so cheap once I bought the $28 BSA shirt I kept on leading to get my monies worth. Yeah 5-10 minutes. I used to prepare enough material for 90-120 minutes of an hour meeting. Some nights I went right through it all, most of the time I rolled it over. I remember a Tiger just amazed at our compass demonstration--it always pointed north? Wow, it was an epiphany to him. A "hike" around the block was an adventure--if you hammed it up. Going to the Fire Station--awesome. I became a minor local celebrity at the grocery store--boys would come up to me as their leader or former leader. I had to clean up my language and dress in public in a hurry. Yeah they are a bit more work if a parent checks out. That is why they have high-visibility orange! But I had a couple boys that were in the middle of divorcing parents and kinda got lost in all that and I was told I was a good presence for them at that time. And that made it really worth it.

Barry, We aint there yet but yes we are at a decision point. Make or break time for me in the next few months. I took it as a good sign at the PLC that the new middle-scout PL's forcefully made the case that the younger scouts are still complaining about bullying. It takes some guts to take on the SM and shows some real leadership for his Patrol mates. So that is a good sign that we are changing the culture. The middle-scouts are rising to leadership; some of the older scouts are checking out for various reasons (the usual distractions, lack of more ambitious adventures, and not buying into boy-led) I like watching how human organizations function and scouts is a real interesting petri dish. On a good day scouting is a bright part of my life; on a bad day it is an unpaid job. I try to stay in contact with families that have left our Troop for various reasons and compare/contrast their experiences with the new Troops. And reach out to other Scouters. If nothing else you find things that you would never do! I must enjoy it to spend so much time at it--my SM said I was the most passionate. To think it all started with a flyer to a Tiger cub round-up. Be careful what your wife sends you to.

SMY224 Great story! One patrol swapped out their "crummy" campstove for the shiny one on the shelf...which was on the shelf because it didn't work. Couldn't cook their frozen pizza rolls (I know, I know) which they discovered were edible if you let them warm up in their mouth. One experiment Peanut Butter and Steak Fajitas was a hit. Another Spaghetti-O's and grits not so much.

Always a hard call. I wonder if parents realize how much we agonize over these things. Yes I did get my SM attention and now I am the official "bad cop". The lad needs his POR and I am training the ASPL on managing the POR's so I can reinforce the oath and law. I hope we can turn this kid around but more importantly I will work to set up and reinforce all our boys living the oath and law and calling out the ones who don't. One thing I did learn from this is to listen, really listen, to the boys more. Boys told us over and over what was going on and we just didn't want to see it. Summer Camp is going to be the crucible.

The above is correct and we followed a similar schedule. I did two years as Tiger Leader and when I retire would consider doing it again. Yes the kids are little but never again will they be so earnest and cute. Some of the Tiger requirements are dull; they require some pumping up. And you do a good number of "Go See Its" or field trips. Those were really interesting for myself--those you should try to delegate as much as possible to the parents. Yes adult led and not a whole lot of camping. I would suggest: - At the least be an Assistant Den Leader and get the uniform. - Divide up the activities amongst the parents as much as possible. We need a Go-See-It for a media outlet and we had a dad who was a TV weatherman. He set that up (it was surprisingly hard) because we had access. - Substitute some Tiger requirements. We did Nutrition Bingo instead of the Food Pyramid. Kids thought Bingo was awesome. - Keep activities short. Dont talk at them too long. - Bring in a Boy Scout or two for a demo. We had a 13 year old scout demonstrate canoeing techniques--they ate that up/ - Buy or steal the Cub Scout How-To Book. Lots of games and activities. - Remember they are boys, practically an oppressed class these days in 1st grade. Let them blow off stream and have fun. I loved Tiger Cubs; my son announced that year he wanted Eagle. He started on his way.

This weekend got the edge of the Tropical storm. Gusts to 35-40 for an hour and we were right by the water. Pure squally weather. Couldn't bug out as that would have taken too long so we hunkered down. Expected some clucking by newbie parents when we got back as boys discussed their "hurricane weekend". One newbie parent just smiled and said "Welcome to Boy Scouts, you just got your first lesson in adversity". Gotta love it.

Got a new SPL. He's a good guy he will catch on quick.

Same here. Would have been nice to get it at camp.

I think I have gravitated to the bad cop job and go out my way to appear impartial and really, really try to be fair. Our SM, who really is a good guy, is no doormat but is a real optimist who mostly only sees the good in each boy--I think there is a real upside to that. He has done a great job. I agree that good cop-bad cop works pretty well. I talked to my SM today and we are going to have a ASM meeting with the CC about this and few other bullying issues to make sure we are all in agreement on our approach. Bullying keeps coming up at the PLC's. I do not think I will try to record his conversation--our Troop is chock full of lawyers. But I do keep very good notes. I need to sit down and think of how I should act around this kid--he is good.

Ok LisaBob I see your point. United front. If it blows up because I am stupid it may damage my sons. This is the part I hate.

We have a very good CC and things are firing well there--fundraising, advancement chair, treasurer, Life to Eagle, etc. Takes a lot of hands but real pleasure. The Scouter pipeline is a problem. We had a lot of older Scouters who founded the Troop and their boys aged or are aging out. They did things more adult led and did not support the boy-led transition. They are more active in the support positions. My generation is the parents of the middle aged scouts and we were a small group to begin with. We had a few guys leaving so the same Scouters gotta keep going most every campout to make things go. So we are burning out. We had a big influx of 24+ new kids but only got 1-2 new ASM's out of it. So the guys who should be SM are just burning out and not jumping at the chance. The older men are over it. The pipeline is trickling. We saw this coming and now the crisis is here. How do we get the parents to come out at camp-outs? Many hands make light work and all that.

Good advice and much appreciated Brother and Sister Scouters.

You know I counseled a boy right out of scouts. It really wasn't his thing he was really into Hockey (in Florida, yeah) and he was good. I said stand up to your parents and follow your passion. I miss him--he was one of my cubs--but he hated camping. It has been 3 years and he is happy as heck. Now if a boy was just kinda drifting I might give him a helpful nudge to get it finished. Regrets and all that.

PapaDaddy I read that loud and clear. I am an ASM..though I guess a "senior" one. I doubt I have the temperament yet for SM or I am just not ready. I was told that this weekend and pretty much agree. But I am deeply involved. Next infraction I am circumventing our kind-hearted SM and talking to the parents. I will talk, tactfully, to the other Adult leaders.

Tigers and Wolves are the proudest to wear the uniform so poor uniforming is not a good start. They really enjoy it. We brought our Class A's to campouts for opening and closing and awards. We wore our Pack T-shirts the rest of the time. A leader who does not wear the uniform sets a very bad example--that he thinks it does not matter or he is "too cool" to uniform. Come on I did it and I weighed almost 280 pounds and looked like a dang fool...but I did it and my stature in their eyes grew.

Well we stopped the consequences for lost stuff and sure enough the lost stuff is getting left behind. I get so tired of picking up old water bottles, etc from the same kids over and over. Webelos 3 indeeed. And some of them are going for Life.

I really need some input here. Including cubs I have been a Scouter 8 years. I bet I have worked with 100+ boys over that time. I have had my share of "problem children", whiners, mischef makers, and hot headed boys quick to anger. But I got one that is new to me. 12 years old, with the face of a choir boy, a sweet smile, and not even a tenderfoot. He appears to be a master manipulator--all the adults think he is charming and a growing group of boys say he says nasty things to the other boys, sets them against each other, and instigates fights though he never touches anyone. I have heard about it from my sons (who rarely agree on anything but are very truthful)and asked around a number of the other boys who confirmed everything. I then kept myself closer in earshot. He charms boys (like an SPL), whips up scapegoats, and says some pretty nasty things. This is what I have personally heard: "Tim you repeated a grade because you are retarded. Retarded people cannot be anything. Retarded people belong in a retarded Troop. You are still 1st Class because you are stupid" "Fred, you never do anything right. No one likes you because you act like a girl. We all hate you. You need to get out of the Patrol and the Troop" "You are the worst grubmaster ever. This food sucks. I say as punishment we don't let him have any food the entire weekend" He says all these things with a sweet smile on his face and very calmly. If you were an adult you would not think there was a problem. I pulled him aside and told him that a scout was kind, etc, etc. Scout spirit and all that. That I had an eye on him. His reply (in a low voice and smiling): ("Mr Turtle you need to calm down, you don't want to have a heart attack.") It was like a scene from the Omen or something. A couple days later he does this stuff again--the kid is cruel--and I talk to him. He lies so sweetly to my face and I start to get mad. He smiles some more and I realize that he realized that he knows how to push my button. I was talking to my wife (she does Sunday School youth programs) and I realize that this is the kind of kid that could set you up ala "It Could Happen to You". I mean you try to stay 2-deep but sometimes someone leaves and you are alone. This kid scares me. I love most of my boys and usually try to see the good in them. But this one...can you have a toxix scout? And if he is good at manipulating adults what do you do. Beyond the "keep an eye on that one" what do you do? None of the other adults see much of this.

Beavah, yes, yes, yes! (I bet it was a long time since you heard that. I was saying those words yesterday on the way back from a campout. You play football, you are in band--you sure wear the uniform , go to practices, and attend games or else. But scouts you can go AWOL and still expect credit for your POR. I am fighting that fight now. I don't mind an otherwise engaged boy being in our Troop but don't expect to advance as fast and don't expect to fill a leadership slot unless you make it a priority. It is just unfair to the other boys and undermines the whole boy-led thing. In HS I played football and got injured. I was off the team and couldn't get my letter (I had not played long enough --less than 1/2 the season). So I became as assistant swim coach and washed a lot of towels. It wasn't sexy but I got my letter.

After this weekend...I would still say Scoutmaster. We are having a hard time finding a replacement. Almost had to resort to the "everyone keeps drinking until we wake up the next morning with one" method.

For backpacking I use a compression bag. The bulk is an issue and the compression bags makes it easier to carry. After a campout I fluff the bags on real low in the dryer to restore the loft and hang in the closet. I have a HUGE 20 degree Coleman I use for plop camping. I just use a garbage bag.

I'm with ScoutFish! I have been passed over many times--even if it was unfair. That is life.

EagleDad, Agree but we have had Dad's go because they their son had special needs and they went to provide more labor to make up for the extra effort their boy required. A few went because we were shorthanded or it was a drop-dead requirement from mom. The "dad's in residence" but not really ASM's usually didn't work out. We have since made it clear that you make the trip you are expected to work. We made the adult encampment "officer's country" and boys were not allowed to enter unless given permission. Usually just the SPL or a boy requesting a BOR. But sometimes a newbie Dad would let his newbie boy enter for some snacks or something and it messed up the adult karma. If you are the dad it is tough to tell your boy "go away ask your PL" but you have to do it.

My son also has fine motor problems and this has been a major issue for him until age 13. Had Occupational Therapy for it and we refused to get him velcro shoes. But he needed help sometimes. Yet he was great with rope--maybe a knot savant--one of best in Troop. Go figure.

Some new Hammock tips (they seem obvious AFTER the fact) Troop went camping on the barrier island on the East Coast of Florida this past weekend a little too close to Tropical Storm Beryl. What I learned: -The Hennessy Hammock stock rain fly will keep a lot of rain out when rigged correctly even at 30+mph with 30 degree rain. -That those darn Australian Pines they planted as windbreaks back in the 1930's (and are invasive and are being removed)are excellent as...windbreaks. My son moved his Hammock from near the water to a grove of pines 30 feet away and did fine. -Do not put your hammock broadside to the wind unless you want your rainfly to be a sail. Point the "head" of your hammock into the wind so you make a smaller target. Think sailboat. -If it is a monsoon and you are not going to move use something like a full canteen or hiking poles to weight down your tarp lines. Enough to dampen the gusts but not so tight as to make them snap. -Put the leading edge lower than the trailing edge if you are broadside to the wind. -Those lines holding the hammock down really work--even broadside--at least up to the occasional 45mph gust. I was rocking and rolling all night. (Boys also learned that is always good to stake down the tents! And grab your class A's off the clothesline before hunkering down...somewhere today there is a raccoon sporting some small BSA shorts.)

Their plan for the boys are to use them for PR! That's why we have the model release on the medical form. Got to protect and promote the brand, my boy.!