Tampa Turtle

Just had this question the other night! Take a deep breath and relax. There is a LOT of stuff thrown at the parent at the beginning and Merit Badges seem pretty confusing. The main thing is HE needs to be initiating it and you just support him when he asks--like driving him someplace if he needs it. Expect him to fall on his face or lose interest on a MB sometimes. As a new scout he will have a lot to learn and will probably do a MB at his first summer camp as others have said. Exceptions are a really mature, organized young man--especially one who is home-schooled and has a flexible schedule. He might want to start on some like Camping MB early as he learns his skills. That one just takes a lot of time. IMHO the main thing is: (1) Don't put any artificial barriers in front of him. (2) Help him learn to make phone calls, organize himself, and schedule appointments. (3) Let him pick things that interest him not just forward his advancement. One my younger sons just loved Plumbing and Painting. Good introductions to those skills.

Seems to me that IF the Catholic Church wants to bar Girl Scout Troops because they disagree with something it is their right. I think it would be stupid, bad PR, and short sighted. Just as if my United Methodist Church decided that any group that discriminated against any Gays should be banned from using their facilities than my Boy Scout Troop would be hosed. It would be their right. The rest of the discussion seems to be devolving into the Thirty Years War...

I really like the Streamlight 73001 Nano Light Miniature Keychain LED Flashlight. Very bright and so small I hang if off my dog-tag at night. Great deal for around 6 bucks.

We try to have the boys pick from the ones that Class B or Patchtown already has. There are quite a lot beyond the basic BSA ones. Our Troop pays only for one set of the basic patches. Any special or custom jobs and they are on their own. Replacements--they pay for them. Rename the patrol--they pat for them. I have seen some pretty creative interpretations of the standard patches.

Well I also have a bad lower back and I love the rigidity I get with a frame and hip belt. My back feels actually better after a hike.

Gee we have boys doing Bugling, American Business and fishing now.

Well those Mennonites do have them flashy blue shirts. The nerve of them.

What is a "stripped" uniform.

My good little swimmer younger son failed the first time at camp. Sucked in too much water after jumping in from a dock and failed. Tried again and failed. Took him three tries and he was fine. I was really proud he kept going back--he really wanted to do teh water activities. Other boys wouldn't even try, or deliberately "threw" the test by jumping in, swimming the minimum for beginner and getting out. *sigh* With my arthritis I have a very hard time finishing and have failed a few times. I have had to swim in the beginner area some years. So it stresses me out too. Ironically I used to be on the swim team in H.S.--I think I just lost my aqua-mojo.

Wow what a back handed compliment. It is like getting a father's day card from my wife that says "To a wonderful father who, despite being a boar and a sloth, is a good father to our children"

As an American it is my right to gripe about my country but when I go over seas I see a lot of reasons my forefathers came here. And, while I enjoy my trips, it makes me grateful to come home.

For an ultralight trip I would go internal; for big hikes with a lot of water and some special gear I like to tweak my load a lot and go external. I will look into those used Kelty's. I like those. You know when it comes to packs, everyone has an opinion. I say hike YOUR hike. If it is working for you and you are having fun don't worry. But do keep your mind open to new gear and ideas. I love comparing stuff on the trail.

It is a boxer or briefs sort of thing. I prefer external.

Well Fred, I think the Mixed-Age vs Same Age is a well traveled topic. Some Troops cycle back and forth. I think it depends on how the Troop is functioning and if you need to shake things up.

I am actually Portuguese-Irish-German with some American Indian and Hawaiian thrown in. I had relatives who speak Portuguese, German, and Pidgin. In addition, One of my great grandfathers had three wives as he crossed back and forth across the west following wagon trains selling pots and pans. He had three wives he had children with. One was an Eastern european (I think a southern pole) who was jewish, an indian at the half-way point, and a chinese one on the pacific coast. Legally only the first counted. Two of them died and all ended up with the eastern one. My Grandfather could never figure out what kid we were descended from so he used to joke "never throw stones at any religious or ethnic group--for all we know you are one." The Portuguese ones were islanders --Azores--part of the late 18th century diaspora and just like the Irish who left clung very strongly to their heritage. And like the Hawaiian folks I think the geographic isolation intensifies the identity. I think folks differences makes them more interesting.

Fred, We do allow especially in cases where their are brothers. A few were in a same Patrol and wanted to split. A few others begged to be kept together. Occasionally if a great buddy is in another Patrol. So we will move for special circumstances. Guys do hang with their same age buddies too. I won't lie it was rocky at first. It cost us a few older scouts who didn't want to "baby sit" but truth be told they were not the best examples of Scouthood to start with. Now no big deal with the mixed age. What is nice to see the boys develop friendships with boys 2 or 3 years older. I see Patrol mates getting invited to (non-scout) paintball or video-game playdates. Some of the older boys in High School still like having fun even if it is not cool with his peers and seem to enjoy some time with a younger guy who jumps at the chance. Just an observation, but a sign that things are working. Another thing I observe is when the sweet little 10-12 year olds turn into wild bucks of 13-14 it is the older 15-17 year olds who keep them in line. The 13 year old guys are so crude and it is fun to watch an older boy tell them to cool it--and they listen. So, in short, their is truth in the mixed-age theory. The younger guys keep the older guys in touch with their inner boy longer and the older boys help the younger boys grow into man. Most of it is informal and outside the program. I think this does not much happen in the school and sports environment and is not accomplished with adult direction. So when this happens the Patrol should stay and prosper. When it doesn't things start to fall apart.

Come on guys just a few more and we make 200 replies. Let's beat the American Heritage Girls thread!

We do both since the camp makes us redo them anyway. I have seen pretty good swimmers fail under the camp system. Stress or the venue it is a lot of pressure. We never tease the guys that fail and will keep re-trying until they pass. Last year we had a ring of fellow scouts and scouters swimming along with a guy to help him out.

Having spent a lot of time in the South (up north not so much Florida) I have heard many folks complain about hyphenated Americans but self-identify themselves as "Southerners". Seem slike it is the same thing.

I am of the opinion that you plan a camp-out and if only a few go, you go. If it was fun the other boys will hear. If they missed out a great advancement or MB opportunity--too bad so sad. Concentrate on delivering a good program--no matter how small--and grow from there. Some of the smallest campouts are the best ones.

Our Troop ran the Troop T-Shirt up the flagpole at Summer Camp right before assembly. Moved the Camp Director's Golf Cart up two flights of stairs to the deck outside his cabin.

We are all mutts! I am 1/2 Irish 1/2 Portuguese. I guess it just makes life more interesting. What did Bill Murray say in Stripes: "Cut it out! Cut it out! Cut it out! The hell's the matter with you? Stupid! We're all very different people. We're not Watusi. We're not Spartans. We're Americans, with a capital 'A', huh? You know what that means? Do ya? That means that our forefathers were kicked out of every decent country in the world. We are the wretched refuse. We're the underdog. We're mutts! Here's proof: his nose is cold! But there's no animal that's more faithful, that's more loyal, more loveable than the mutt. Who saw "Old Yeller?" Who cried when Old Yeller got shot at the end? "

I will say that most of the minority who showed up for our Pack summer activities were the most active and became the core group when it was crossover to Scout time. It can be a nice bonding experience.

In all seriousness I believe term is "Catholic Church" for Catholics. Pretty simple. My 7th grade Baptist girlfriend used to say the pejorative "Cath" to my "Prot" for her. But that was usually followed by a kiss.

Sorry Fred it was the mid-90's.