bizzybbb

Thanks for the input. As it turns out, the church where we meet is having a prayer vigil all day in the sanctuary. So I've decided to start the meeting off in there with a few moments of prayer before we move on to the regular topic.

Our first den meeting for my second-year Webelos happens to be scheduled for tomorrow, 9/11. Anyone have any great ideas to commemorate this special, historical, day? All I can come up with is a moment of silence before we move on to something like our regular den meeting topics. I don't want to dwell on the subject, but I don't want it to go unrecognized, either. I could have the boys make cards or something, but where would we send them? Thanks for any input.

Thanks again to all who replied. I just have a final question about food/drink. The two times I've awakened on these trips chilled to the bone, I've also been very thirsty. Already way ahead of you on the recommendation to cut down on liquids before bedtime, I try not to slurp down hot chocolate or much of anything else after about 7pm. Being female "finding the nearest tree" is not really an option, and it is truly beyond a hassle to find that bathroom at 3a.m. in the dark and cold. The thirst I'm talking about is not like any thirst I've experienced from heat or exercise or both. It is a demanding, give me water NOW kind of thirst. Is this a dangerous physiological symptom that my body is getting too cold? The first time it happened I had nothing inside my tent, all my water was outside the tent, so I just suffered without it. The next time I put a water bottle in the tent's convenience pocket near me, and sure enough, I had to sip on it in the night. Guess I should stash an energy bar or string cheese, too? By the way, don't know what half of those high-fat foods you mentioned were, but most of them sound really disgusting, except for the Cream of Wheat with hot milk. Mmmmm.

Interesting thing this 15 degree bag...On our previous campout the temperature only got down to about 50 at night, and I slept in my Patagonia Capilenes. I was a bit on the warm side, but not bad. How is it that a bag can have such a range of temperatures? I'm truly hoping that this one bag can cover most of my needs except for when it gets very hot. (We don't camp when it gets very hot.) In Florida we camp from October to April. Summer is impossible. So, to recap, here are my tasks (changes) for cold weather: -Ditch the air mattress. -Maybe add another sleeping pad under my Thermarest Z-lite -Add a fleece blanket inside bag, or sleeping bag liner inside bag -Change to dry clothes, minimum layers, no cotton -Maybe add blanket between sleeping bag and sleeping pad This sounds too simple. Did I miss anything? Already had the correct socks. My feet and legs were not the majority of the problem. It was my torso, my core. Storing bag correctly. Thanks again.

Thank you so much to everyone who replied. Much great information. Calico, I agree with everyone that your information was so comprehensive and right on target. I, too, would like to use your text to give to others in my Pack. It sounds like I am doing most everything right. Didn't of course think about completely changing, down to my underwear, before getting in the bag. I'll try that next time. Make the son do it too. I also realize that I probably should try layers with only synthetic, and though I love the thickness of those old Hanes thermals, being cotton, they're probably not the best solution. Didn't see anyone mention anything like UnderArmor. I have these for my fitness wear, and was wondering if they would make a good base layer next to my skin because of the compression factor. Also, nobody mentioned putting my bag inside another bag. Is this a good idea? I will need to purchase spring weight bags anyway, and thought I could maybe put my 15 degree inside a 40 degree. I know all you northerners are thinking "how cold can it get in North Florida?" but believe me, I've been colder here on a 30 degree night than in Colorado on a 10 degree day. Many people say it comes from the humidity. Damp chill that goes right to the bone. And, OK, OK, I guess I'll ditch the fat air mattress on those cold campouts.

Forgot to ask on my last post if any of you had recommendations about what I could do to make my tent warmer. I have seen people put tarps on top of their tent. Does this really help? I did some investigating on tent heaters, but they mostly scare the daylights out of me. One with the automatic safety shut-off might be good to use while we're awake in the tent playing cards, or to turn on when we wake up in the morning, but mostly I'm looking for old-fashioned solutions rather than technological. Thanks.

I recently purchased a Marmot Women's Mavericks 15 mummy sleeping bag thinking it would keep me warm here in North Florida. I tent camp with my son's Cubscout Pack, and I just put the bag to the test this past weekend. We estimate the temperature got down to around 30 degrees. There was no rain and no wind. When it was time to hit the hay, I started with two layers of long johns, one silk and one cotton, and quickly had to put one more layer on. I added a set of sweats. I did fall asleep for a short time, but woke up shivering and had to put on my ski jacket. I'm pretty sure my ski jacket has some kind of Thinsulate or equivalent insulation, and I was able to stay warm through the night, more or less. I was wearing a fleece hat, and had the head part of the mummy bag was totally closed. I was very disappointed in having to put on my jacket, as I thought the investment in this bag would eliminate that need. Thought I was doing all the right things with the layers. The top piece closest to my skin was actually a Patagonia Capilene top. My bag was on a Thermarest Z-lite sleeping pad which was in turn on top of an inflatable air mattress. ( I know, the air mattress is probably a no-no, but I'm going to give that up as a last resort.) My Coleman Sundome 10x10 tent was pitched on top of a blue tarp. What else can I do? Put my mummy inside of another bag? I also don't have a lot of "natural" insulation. I'm a slim gal, 5'7 and about 130 lbs. Any advice on layers, etc would be welcome. Thanks.

....."I can't understand it from a kid's point of view who wants to be 100% Cub Scout and not a look-alike who's half dressed."..... Do most kids in Cub Scouts WANT to be 100% Cub Scout? With all of the activities pulling kids today in 5 million directions, is this the exception rather than the rule? I, too, am a firm believer in fully dressed-out Cubs and Leaders. At least with dark blue twill school pants, if not official Boy Scout merchandise. What would our football teams look like if everyone wore just any old pants? I believe, across the board, that the cost of the pants contributes to the problem, but there are other factors at work. Kids today are not used to "dressing up". Have you seen what they wear to CHURCH?! I've seen jeans and collarless t-shirts even in God's house. Shorts and flip-flops, too, and young girls in spaghetti strap dresses, also with flip flops. The Cubs today are, unfortuantely, victims of our society. How can we turn this around? Be an example. Insist on dark blue pants, even if they ARE from Walmart.

....."I can't understand it from a kid's point of view who wants to be 100% Cub Scout and not a look-alike who's half dressed."..... Do most kids in Cub Scouts WANT to be 100% Cub Scout? With all of the activities pulling kids today in 5 million directions, is this the exception rather than the rule? I, too, am a firm believer in fully dressed-out Cubs and Leaders. At least with dark blue twill school pants, if not official Boy Scout merchandise. What would our football teams look like if everyone wore just any old pants? I believe, across the board, that the cost of the pants contributes to the problem, but there are other factors at work. Kids today are not used to "dressing up". Have you seen what they wear to CHURCH?! I've seen jeans and collarless t-shirts even in God's house. Shorts and flip-flops, too, and young girls in spaghetti strap dresses, also with flip flops. The Cubs today are, unfortuantely, victims of our society. How can we turn this around? Be an example. Insist on dark blue pants, even if they ARE from Walmart.

Thanks to those of you who replied. As a former Girl Scout, I am used to doing things differently than the Cub Scouts, and I live by the motto "Be Prepared" when it comes to camping. I knew there had to be a better way. Keep the suggestions coming!

Our cub scout pack does a great job with cooking on our campouts, but our clean-up could be a lot more efficient and streamlined. At campsites that don't have kitchen sinks or clean-up areas, most times we're washing and rinsing dishes with a hose. This is awkward, your feet and pants get wet, and the water is not hot. Anyone out there have experience in constructing a portable, collapsible, dishwashing station with PVC pipes or some other material? Something that, for example, would house rubber dishpans or larger Rubbermaid tubs?

Campfires seem to be a constant challenge at our camping events. It wouldn't be camping without a campfire, and our Pack builds them for roasting smores and gathering around, usually after dark. Our camping trips are well attended, and often 20 families or more are there. Boys inevitably are tempted to dig in the fire with sticks, throw leaves or moss on them, and otherwise use the fire inappropriately, even when they are reprimanded repeatedly. While we encourage parents to supervise their own children, many do not, and many times the fire is either watched from a distance by the Pack leaders, or adults wander by and take an intermittent fire "babysitting" role. What suggestions do you have for keeping a safe, enjoyable, and stress-free campfire?

To cubsrgr8: what is with the running down the halls, anyway? They do it the minute they get in the building! We meet on the second floor of a church classroom building. Maybe if I plan a "hall race" they won't run around like crazy on their own. Thanks. Good idea.

Thank you to all who replied to my request. You all had great suggestions, insight, and encouragement. I'm a pretty organized person when it comes to planning (I used to plan commercial office spaces for a living). Our last den meeting went like this: - Joint flag/pledge with the other den - snack - Instruction about state flag (wolf achievement 2d) - Instruction and demonstration on flag folding (wolf achievement 2e; boys practiced folding American flag with each other - Activity: Boys made paper airplanes for "Soaring to new Heights" theme - Cleanup Went pretty smoothly, because there was no unstructured time.

I am a den leader of 5 Wolves. We meet in the afternoon from 3:30-4:30 at the Pack's church. This is my first time being den leader and I need help in motivating the boys to stay on task and pay attention without running around the room, playing with each other, hiding under tables, etc. We have had two meetings, both of which I would say were successful, but the boys were a bit "wound up" and had trouble listening if they were not totally absorbed in the craft or the subject being discussed. We completed the Bobcat requirements and started working on the Wolf achievements. I want to keep the meeting fun and interesting, and not feel like I have to constantly remind them or harp on them to stay with me.