Troop185

Well, that is a new one on me. No swimming? 50 mile backpacking, and not going into the water a few times to get refresh and clean. Yes, I think you can count on a wet foot or two, and even someone falling in. And I would be vary surprise, if the scouts did not want to take a swim every evening. And you should know the swimming level of everyone that is going (Safe Swim practice here). I would guess you probably already know the swimming level of the scouts!

I do not know if this will help you, but I own a R.V. Campground for 13 years. We used tractor tire rims for fire rims. We racked each site, and clean the fire rim, wherever the camper left. The incoming camper could move the fire rim where they wanted it. I now have a cabin. I dug a hole, put the tire rim inside, and place bricks around it. It is a fairly nice fire rim, at a low cost.

I do not know if this will help you, but I own a R.V. Campground for 13 years. We used tractor tire rims for fire rims. We racked each site, and clean the fire rim, wherever the camper left. The incoming camper could move the fire rim where they wanted it. I now have a cabin. I dug a hole, put the tire rim inside, and place bricks around it. It is a fairly nice fire rim, at a low cost.

I do not know if this will help you, but I own a R.V. Campground for 13 years. We used tractor tire rims for fire rings. We racked each site, and clean the fire ring, each time a camper left. The incoming camper, could move the fire ring where he want to, depending on where his R.V. or tent was on the site. I have a cabin now. I dug a hole, put a tire rim in it, and place bricks around it. A fairly nice fire rim, at a very low cost.

I do not know if this will help you, but I own a R.V. Campground for 13 years. We used tractor tire rims for fire rings. We racked each site, and clean the fire ring, each time a camper left. The incoming camper, could move the fire ring where he want to, depending on where his R.V. or tent was on the site. I have a cabin now. I dug a hole, put a tire rim in it, and place bricks around it. A fairly nice fire rim, at a very low cost.

I do not know if this will help you, but I own a R.V. Campground for 13 years. We used tractor tire rims for fire rings. We racked each site, and clean the fire ring, each time a camper left. The incoming camper, could move the fire ring where he want to, depending on where his R.V. or tent was on the site. I have a cabin now. I dug a hole, put a tire rim in it, and place bricks around it. A fairly nice fire rim, at a very low cost.

I do not know if this will help you, but I own a R.V. Campground for 13 years. We used tractor tire rims for fire rings. We racked each site, and clean the fire ring, each time a camper left. The incoming camper, could move the fire ring where he want to, depending on where his R.V. or tent was on the site. I have a cabin now. I dug a hole, put a tire rim in it, and place bricks around it. A fairly nice fire rim, at a very low cost.

I do not know if this will help you, but I own a R.V. Campground for 13 years. We used tractor tire rims for fire rings. We racked each site, and clean the fire ring, each time a camper left. The incoming camper, could move the fire ring where he want to, depending on where his R.V. or tent was on the site. I have a cabin now. I dug a hole, put a tire rim in it, and place bricks around it. A fairly nice fire rim, at a very low cost.

I do not know if this will help you, but I own a R.V. Campground for 13 years. We used tractor tire rims for fire rings. We racked each site, and clean the fire ring, each time a camper left. The incoming camper, could move the fire ring where he want to, depending on where his R.V. or tent was on the site. I have a cabin now. I dug a hole, put a tire rim in it, and place bricks around it. A fairly nice fire rim, at a very low cost.

I do not know if this will help you, but I own a R.V. Campground for 13 years. We used tractor tire rims for fire rings. We racked each site, and clean the fire ring, each time a camper left. The incoming camper, could move the fire ring where he want to, depending on where his R.V. or tent was on the site. I have a cabin now. I dug a hole, put a tire rim in it, and place bricks around it. A fairly nice fire rim, at a very low cost.

It is too late for you for this year, but each Christmas, I give a 8 x 10 picture to each 1st yr. scout that went on the Northern Ontario trip with me, during the summer. Sometime it is a group picture, but usually it is an individual picture of the scout playing in a waterfall, etc. Sometime I get a real good picture of the scout with his father. On the picture, I put in the writting "Scouting, enjoy the journey". The scouts do not know they are getting the picture. I wrap them up, and have another scout leader deliver them to the scouts at the last troop meeting, before Christmas. I spent the winters in Florida, so I can not hand them out myself. Several scouts (and several dads) told me, it was the best present!

After teaching for over 30 years, friends of mine retired from teaching in a rural district in Northern Michigan. At retirement, they were both teaching 3rd grade across the hall from each other. The wife decided she wanted to continue teaching, one or two days a week. She signed up to be a substitute teacher in the same district. Because of school policy, they made her get fingerprinted, and she had to pay for it herself! And this was about 18 years ago.

My troop is co-sponsor by a Catholic Church. Unless it is impossible, we never miss mass on Saturday evening, or Sunday morning. I am always happy to take them, because I almost always get comments "on how well behave your scouts are!"

The best advice I could give, is ask someone you trust in the troop, who they would recommend. And then talk to the scout and ask if they would be interested in helping. Back when I was a Webelos Leader, the SPL was one of my former Webelos. I went to a troop meeting and ask him who he would recommend. He recommended Bobby, who I did not know at all. Bobby took the job, and was great! My son who was a Webelos at the time, became great friends with Bobby.

Normally on regular campouts, we put two or three scouts in a 4 man (7 x 9') Timberline. The more scouts, the less sleep, them and their neighbors get. However every August, I take four, 1st year scouts into the wilderness of Northern Ontario. I have been doing this for 25 years. It is my favorite trip and it is a honor to get invited. Everyone knows that I do not like loud scouts. [in fact, the scouts have started adding "and quiet" at the end of the scout law!] We always put all four scouts in one of my tents. They only weight about 70 - 80 lbs. and do not take up much space. Being a wilderness trip, they do not take anything into the tents with them, except their sleeping bags and flashlights. Being young, they do not need a sleeping pad in the summer (more weight to backpack). In Ontario, the tent sites are always tight, and the adult tent is never very far from the scouts. The first night, I let them talk for awhile when they go into the tent. Then I call out to the scout that is doing the most talking: "Hey Joe." I wait until I get a reply from Joe. "Will you ask the scouts to quiet down? Your neighbors want to go to sleep." That it. I never have to said another word to the scouts the rest of the week. I guess I am good at selecting scouts for the trip. [Most of scouts in our troop, are good, but these four are always special!]

Moxieman gave some good advice; and I am glad I do not live in AZ. during the summer. If you want to come up to Michigan, or the best, Northern Ontario, let me know. I have been taking young scouts into Ontario for the last 25 years. Just returned last week. It is always my favorite trip of the year, and very few bugs in August. We backpacked, canoed, kayaked, and took the Algoma Centeral Railroad into the wilderness for one night (with our canoes in the baggage car). The scouts got to swim in rapids, waterfalls, down a natural water slide, and Lake Superior.

I do not know if there is a secret method to keep your Eagle Scouts around, but if you can, it sure is great for your troop. Last May, at our Tenderfoot Weekend / Webelos Campout, a Webelos parents said to me, "I am really impressed with your older scouts!" I told him, "I would be impressed too." This parent had just talked to two of our older, Eagle Scouts: Scout #1, 20 years old in college. His dad and him, despite now living 200 miles away, return every year for our Tenderfoot Weekend. This was his 8 year. This scout is also, working (his 3rd summer) at a Boy Scout Camp. Eagle at the age of 17 1/2. Scout #2, just turned 18 and graduating from H.S. this year. [He spent a week on a wilderness canoeing trip in Northern Ontario, when he was only 9 years old.] Eagle at the age of 13. He was the older Boy Scout in charge of this parents, son's Webelos Den, for the Weekend. I told him, we will not tell tell the Webelos that you are already 18. By the way, scout #2 has an older brother, who was the first Eagle Scout that I can remember, that stay with the troop after getting his Eagle at the age of 15. This scout is studing to be a priest at Notre Dame. What parents would not be impress to have their son be around other scouts like these?

When backpacking, we schedule our overnight site near a water source. Otherwise, everyone is going to have to carry more than two liters/quarts of water, and each gallon of water weight 8 lbs. We have never left "a caches of water." I think that would take the fun out of a backpacking trip, if some of us had to haul in water, before the actually trip. When backpacking, we divided up by patrols, and go different routes. Each patrol filters their own water, usually after dinner. We boil water from the lake or river, for cooking dinner and breakfast. Unlike resqman, we wash our dishes. Each patrol, carry a dish pan (the type you wash dishes in). We put the soft food in it in the backpack, for protection from being squash. We pre-wash, then wash in the container with soap and hot water, and rinse with the boil water, left over from the meal. You could sleep away from a source of water, but I would think you would have to stop, and eat dinner by water. After eating, and filling your water bottle/canteens, you could continue on and camp wherever.

Many years ago, when I was a Webelos Leader, and they did not have so many rules on what Cub Scouts could not do: I had just purchase two use canoes from a local canoe livery. Our very first Webelos meeting, was a 1 hour canoe trip down a very, slow moving river, and a cook out. The canoe livery gave us life jackets and paddles for everyone. I always remember this Webelos saying, "This sure beats making things out of macoroni!" This year, we had 6 Bears crossover to Webelos in May. Two of them came on a Boy Scouts trip to Ontario, over Memorial Weekend. In June, all 6 came up to my cabin in Northern Michigan. As part of their experience, they backpacked about two miles out to a wilderness dunes area, next to Lake Michigan, and spend the night. I think we do a good job, of letting them know, that Webelos will be different than Bears. Our troop invite the Webelos to just about everything that we can. Hopefully, our Webelos will know what Boy Scouting is all about. It is up to them, to decide if Boy Scouting is for them!

For the past 5 years, our troop has offered two different summer camps. Plus, we always have a group of older scouts, that goes to the council's "Trail to Eagle" camp. The bad news this summer, was that all three camps were back to back to back. Also, the Detroit D-Bar-A camp, which was local for us (45 minutes), close their doors on Boy Scouts Summer Camping. It still does Cub Scouts, training,etc. So, which ever camp was chooses, it was at least a 2 - 3 hour drive. I think we lost some new scouts that did not attend. I do think it is great that we offer more options for the scouts. We have the adults to cover both camps, and the scouts have their choice. Some scouts attended both camps.

Many, many years ago, I was bringing a group of scouts home, after a weekend campout. Three scouts were sitting in the van's bench seat behind me, playing cards and laughing. They were enjoying themselves, and I did not pay them any mind, because I was driving and talking to the other adult in the passenger seat. All of a sudden, I smelled something really bad! I look down, and the scout sitting behind me, had his boots and socks off. "What are you doing?" "We are playing a game of strip pocker!" "I do not care what you are doing. Put your socks and boots back on."

To answer Lisabob questions: We left at 9:00 a.m. on Friday. The dad that was going to ride up and back with me, has his own business, and ended up, having to pull an all-nighter Thursday night. Thus, he drove up in his own vehicle later in the day. We did have a Den Chief with us, Friday to Sunday. On Sunday, his dad took him to Boy Scouts camp. We had 13 people at the cabin Friday and Saturday night. 13 is really, too many for my cabin. I was not going to invited anymore.

I just return from a 3 day weekend at my cabin, with 6 new Webelos and 1 new Boy Scout (he couldn't make it to the new, Boy Scout's weekend). Sunday, we backpack out to the Nordhouse Sand Dunes, next to Lake Michigan. The Nordhouse is the only Federal Wilderness Area in the lower part of Michigan. It is beautiful. The hike is less than 2 miles, but goes through a lot of loose sand. It is not a easy hike for 9 - 11 year olds, or old men. I have been taking Webelos backpacking out to the Sand Dunes for at least 30 years. Usually, I have at least one adult that has been out there with me before. However, this year, I was the only one. In fact, the adults with me had never backpack before, or if they did, it was back when they were a Boy Scout. After breakfast on Sunday, and before we left for Church, I spend over two hours helping everyone pack their backpacks. In my earlier years, I have been a tripping director for a summer camp, so I can furnish all the backpacks, tents, etc., etc., for anyone whose need it. When we finally got out to Lake Michigan, it was late afternoon. I have to help everyone set up their tents - since I was the only one that had every set up the tents before. I help the scouts get water out of Lake Michigan for breakfast. The new Boy Scout and I build the fire, so they can cook over an open fire. Four of the scouts had to take a "dump in the woods" while we were there. I know it is a great experience for the scouts, and they (and their dads) had a great time. [How many Webelos dens get to go backpacking to such a great place?] But I was very tired! The week before, I had backpack out to the dunes with a Boy Scout group. Only one new scout in that group, had not been backpacking with me before, and he had already been on two other camping trips, since join the troop. It was so much easier. I did not have to do everything! After backpacking back to the vehicles on Monday, we return to the cabin to pack up (and clean the cabin). On the 200 miles drive home, we stopped and visit our troop. They had started summer camp on Sunday. The way it work out, I had to drive the entire trip home. I spent most of today cleaning and drying three tents, and putting away camping gear. If my health stay good, I will be ready to do it again next year, with a new group of Webelos. However, today I am wondering if it is worth it?

Dear Mom, Our scoutmaster told us all write to our parents in case you saw the flood on TV and worried. We are OK. Only 1 of our tents and 2 sleeping bags got washed away. Luckily, none of us got drowned because we were all up on the mountain looking for Chad when it happened. Oh yes, please call Chad's mother and tell her he is OK. He can't write because of the cast. I got to ride in one of the search & rescue jeeps. It was neat! We never would have found him in the dark if it hadn't been for the lightning. Scoutmaster Webb got mad at Chad for going on a hike alone without telling anyone. Chad said that he did tell him, but it was during the fire so Mr. Webb probably didn't hear him. Did you know that if you put gas on a fire, the gas can will blow up? The wet wood still didn't burn, but one of our tents did. Also some of our clothes. John is going to look weird until his hair grows back. We will be home on Saturday if Scoutmaster Webb gets his car fixed. It wasn't his fault about the wreck. The brakes worked OK when we left. Scoutmaster Webb said that a vehicle that old you have to expect something to break down; that's probably why he can't get insurance on it. We think it's a neat car. He doesn't care if we get it dirty, and if it's hot, sometimes he lets us ride on the tailgate. It gets pretty hot with 10 people in a car. He let us take turns riding in the trailer until the highway patrolman stopped and talked to us. Scoutmaster Webb is a neat guy. Don't worry, he is a good driver. In fact, he is teaching Terry how to drive. But he only lets him drive on the mountain roads where there isn't any traffic. All we ever see up there are logging trucks. He has to spend a lot of time working on the car so we are trying not to cause him any trouble. This morning all of the guys were diving off the rocks and swimming out in the lake. Scoutmaster Webb wouldn't let me because I can't swim, and Chad was afraid he would sink because of his cast, so he let us take the canoe across the lake. It was great. You can see some of the trees under the water from the flood. Scoutmaster Webb isn't crabby like some scoutmasters. He didn't even get mad about the life jackets. Guess what? We have all passed our first aid merit badges. When Dave dove in the lake and cut his arm, we got to see how a tourniquet works. Also Wade and I threw up. Scoutmaster Webb said it probably was just food poisoning from the leftover chicken. He said he got sick that way with the food he ate in prison. I'm so glad he got out and became our scoutmaster. He said he sure figured out how to get things done better while he was doing his time. I have to go now. We are going into town to mail our letters and buy some more bullets. Don't worry about anything. We are fine. Love, your son

Some troops work hard to keep a good relation with their Cub Scouts. My official title with our feeder Pack is Webelos Coach. I am also, an Assistant Scoutmaster with the troop. All of the dens have Den Chiefs from our troop. I attend the Pack's meetings and the Cub Scouts Committee Meetings. All of the Cub Scouts know me. I invite the Webelos to some of the troop's activities and campouts (we had two Webelos go camping to Ontario with us over Memorial Weekend), including Eagle Court of Honor. Our troop has a Webelos Campout every May. Also, every June, I have two Webelos Campout up to my cabin in Northern Michigan, for the new Webelos Den, and the Webelos II. We backpacking out to a Wilderness Dunes Area, next to Lake Michigan, and spend the night. Our Cub Scout Committee Chair had three sons, all became Eagles through our troop. She has been the CC for about 15 years, and is still going strong. Our Cub Master and recent graduate Webelos II Leader, have a older son in our troop. We are all well aware, that we need a good Pack to have a good Troop!