Troop185

I think what works for your troop is good. We do a lot of long distance, 3 night trips. So Holidays and school vacations are good for us. Also, we have 3 retired scouters, still in good enough health, that enjoy backpacking, canoeing, etc. Coming back from Ontario on Memorial Day, and waiting at customs is not so bad, when you know you do not have to go to work the next day! This April, over Spring vacation, we were backpacking in Kentucky (450 miles); Memorial Weekend we were at the Bruce Peninsula (300 miles); and last Labor Day weekend, we were in Norther Ontario (400 miles). If I have to travel that far, I like to spend at least 3 nights. Until this year, our Tenderfoot Weekend was always on Mother Day weekend. It is very local, and we get done by 9:30 a.m. on Sunday. Mothers do not complain much when the scouts are home in time to go to church, etc. Every year, I do a mid-week backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, tubing, low ropes trips for the new scouts to my cabin. We return on Saturday night of Father Day weekend. We even stop on Saturday evening, and go to Mass with a very special priest in Northern Michigan. We are home for Father Day, and the scouts have a lot of stories to tell. I feel very fortunate that I have the retire scouters to go with me. One of the rivers we go on, is very, very popular on the weekend. It is like bumper boats on Saturday. However, on Fridays in June, we have the place to ourselves.

Many years ago on a wilderness trip to Northern Ontario, we were going to have pancakes for breakfast. No one was anxious to give up any water from their canteens / water bottles - since we had to pump all our drinking water through a water filter. However, we did have water from the lake, boiling on the camp fire. You guess it: we added the very hot water to the pancake mix. Believe me, it does not work.

Compression bags are used for frameless backpacks. Everything goes inside, so the smaller you compress your sleeping bag, the more room you have for everything else. I purchase a new sleeping bag last year, with a compression bag. I have an exterior backpack, and have no use for a compression bag. I seen other backpackers spend 15 - 20 minutes, stuffing their bags into a compression bag. No thanks for me. When backpacking, canoeing, etc., I put my sleeping bag into a regular stuff sack, and then place it into another stuff sack, with a heavy duty garbage bag between, for waterproofing. If I am going to be on the water, I tie the garbage bag close with a shoestring. In 40 some years of camping, I have never had a wet sleeping bag. The exterior stuff sack will protect the liner from branches, rocks, etc. It will get dirty, but the interior stuff sack will stay clean. When I go to bed, I place my clothing I am wearing, into the interior stuff sack, and use it for a pillow. In the morning, all my clothing are in one place.

Last Summer, I was on a wilderness trip with a group of 1st year Boy Scouts. We had backpacked into a campsite on the north shore of Lake Superior. It was after dinner, and I was very tired, taking a rest on a rock, where I could not see my tent. The scouts were playing around, having a good time. Then they started talking about "I think there is something in Mr. W's tent." I was tired and pay them no mind. But they kept it up: "I am sure I saw his tent move. Mr. W you better check your tent." Finally, I got up and walked over to check the tent. Their was a raccoon tail sticking out the door, and I thought "Oh my gosh, there is a raccoon in my tent!" The scouts had a good laugh. One of the scout had bought a racccoon hat a few days earlier. They had stuck the raccoon tail on the scout's hat, in the door.

A solution to one of your problem: Have an advancement person to keep track of the awards, and purchase them. Our advancement person brings the awards to the pack meeting, and gives them to the cubmaster. All the cubmaster has to do, is call up the scouts and give them their awards.

I would wear the same t-shirt all 6 days, while backpacking. I change into the dry one, when we make camp, each afternoon. So I have two. But only one long shelve shirt, one sweat shirt, one rain suit. One pair of zip off pants. If I fall into a river, etc., I put on dry underwear, and wear my rain pants. I usully change underwear, every other day. Socks like Basementdweller suggested, but would have a third pair. (Really 6, because I wear a liner, and a wool sock.) I do not take camp shoes, when I am backpacking. It would be nice, but I would not want to carry them. Have fun at the Appalachian.

Years ago, when Webelos was a one year program, I was a Webelos Leader. I took a group of my Webelos to an Eagle Court of Honor in another town. (George Romney was the guest speaker). One of the Webelos with me, had not been doing much, as far as advancement goes. Well, he got all fire up about Boy Scouts and becoming an Eagle. He worked hard, finished up the requirements for Arrow of Light, and join our Boy Scout Troop as school finished up in June. His parents went out and bought him a new Boy Scout uniform. This scout only got to go to one troop meeting or so, before he headed off to summer camp. He got homesick at camp and quit scouts! Joining Boy Scouts in the Spring is a lot better. It gives the scout time to adjust to the troop, and go on a few campouts, before summer camp.

Wear and tear on my vehicle, gas, and my time, are my contribution to Boy Scouting. I do not give to the Friend of Scouting fund raiser. My way, I know my money is going to the scouts. We had a trip to a recreation center at a college yesterday. 150 miles round trip. We only charge everyone $7., the price to get into the recreation center. Drivers paid for their own gas. A trip to the Red River Gorge in KY before Easter, about 900 miles round trip, we charge everyone a little extra for gas. We tell them "Drivers will partiality be refunded for gas". I was able to give every driver $115, from the money we had left from the trip. Because I have a full size, 8 person van, I probably paid closer to $200 for my gas. The extra $85 it cost me, is my contribution to the scouts. I am fortunate that I am retired, and can afford to do this. Not everyone can. So I will raise the price per person, if we every take this trip again, and depending on how high gas prices are by then. On big trips, I try to charge enough to cover the price of gas, but it is a guessing game.

Your troop has the right idea. I year ago in April, our troop took a 300 miles trip to Hocking Hills in Ohio. A very neat place with lots and lots of waterfalls (especially in April). We had several brand new Boy Scouts join us for the trip, and a few new dads. Since I spend the winters in Florida, I had no idea that some of the new scouts with us, were still Webelos. They had not crossover yet, and registered with the troop. I guess you could said, we treated them just like Boy Scouts! I always invited Webelos to join us on trips. As you can immage, we do not get many Webelos that join us for a 300 mile trip. However, the ones that do, are sold on Boy Scouts, because we go to some great places. They are always put in a patrol with some older scouts (good with the younger ones). Their patrol leader has them on the duty roster, just like everyone else. The only time we treat them differently is at our Tenderfoot Weekend / Webelos Campout. The new Boy Scouts are working with the older scouts on their Tenderfoot Requirements, while the Webelos Dens are given an older scouts Guide (some Eagle Rank)to work on the requirements for Outdoorsman. The Webelos cook their own meals, but not with the Boy Scouts. Of course, we only have one campfire, and the Webelos Den are invited to do a skit, the same as the Boy Scouts Patrols. (We have had as many as 130 people at the Saturday night campfire!)

I visited Boy Scouts camps with Webelos for many years. It is a lot, lot better, when the scouts are there. For the last 15 years or so, one of the summer camps our troop goes to, is Owassippe on the west side of Michigan. The Sunday of the weekend that they begin summer camp, I have the 1st year Webelos from our sister pack, up to my cabin (on the west side of Michigan) for a three day weekend. We always stop on the way home on Monday, to visit the camp, and see the scouts. One year, we even got to eat lunch with the Boy Scouts.

Because I do a lot of backpacking, I use a 3/4 standard theramarest, with a ridgerest pad underneath it. However, I found out what works best for me, is the sleeping pills that my doctor gave me, just for camping!

Taking Catholic scouts to Mass has a lot to do with the adult leaders. Our troop is co-sponsor with a Catholic Church, and I have been involved with the troop for over 25 years. Everyone knows if I am involved with the trip (and also, several other Catholic leaders), the Catholic scouts are going to have the opportunity to attend Mass (or they are going to be home in time to attend Mass at their Church). Non Catholic scouts do not have to attend, but I cannot remember the last time, someone did not wish to go with us. Several years ago, we were at the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario over Memorial Weekend. In the village of Tobermory, there is a Protestant Church that allow the Catholics to use their Church on Saturdays evening. The priest drive up from Owen Sounds, an hour away. The scouts were all going into Church ahead of me, when they suddenly turned around and came back out. They all said, "There is a dead women in there!" It seems that there are no funeral homes in Tobermory. When someone dies, they lay them out in the one Church, until the funeral services. We had no Mass that weekend! And, as of four years ago, Catholic Mass for Sundays in Tobermory, is at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday! It is all part of the adventure!

Back in the 1980s' when Webelos was a one year program, I was the Webelos Leader for my son's den. Everyone in the den were going to received their Arrow of Light at the Blue and Gold in February. I asked the scouts if they want to work on some more Webelos Activities Badges or join the Boy Scouts (back then, no one joined until school ended in June). They all wanted to join the Boy Scouts! I asked the Scoutmaster (a friend of mine) to arranged for the Crossover at the Blue and Gold. I remember having a lump in my throat when my son crossed over, thinking he was no longer a little guy. At the time, he was already 11 1/2. Within eight months, he was 1st Class and our ranked me (I only made it to 2nd Class). He was an Eagle at age 14. Two of the other six scouts in his Webelos Den made it to Eagle.

Our troop always feels that our Tenderfoot Weekend/Webelos Campout is a great success. Three and a half years ago, we started a Webelos Campout, the same weekend as our Tenderfoot Weekend in May. This year, we had 24 new Boy Scouts, over 25 older scouts that volunteer to help the younger scouts for the weekend, and 16 Webelos (with an adult partner), Each Webelos Den had one of our Life or Eagle scout work with them on Outdoorsman Activity Badge, cooking dinner, doing a skit for the campfire, etc. Committeee members come out on Saturday for Board of Reviews, and we invited family members to the campfire that night. We had about 130 people there! In our troop, the older scouts, first class and above, do all the teaching and signing of books of the younger scouts. It is priceless to observe the parents of the Webelos (and the new scouts) come to the realization that the scouts are doing all the teaching! Personally, my favorite scouting time each year is in August. I get to spend a week in the wilderness of Northern Ontario with some first year Boy Scouts. Next summer will be my 25 year of leading groups up there. I know where the best campsites are, great waterfalls to play in, etc.,etc., etc. To me, this is God's Country, and I love introducing the new scouts to the wonders of the wilderness.

Several years ago, a former scout from our troop,(his parents had moved to another town) was going to have his Eagle Court of Honor, with his new troop. In his first two years with our troop, this scout had gone on several wilderness adventures with me; and continued to go on many high adventure trips with our troop, after he moved. We were always glad to have him join us. His new troop was going to have a total of six adults (including the District Advancement Person) sit in on his Board of Review. They told us, that we could have one person from our troop. Our CC was going to sit in, and I volunteer to ride down with him. The scout's mother was a nervous wreck, and I said I would hold her hand, until the review was over. The CC was in his uniform, but I did not wear my uniform. I am an Assistant Scoutmaster, and knew I was not suppose to sit in on Board of Reviews. The Review was starting, and the scout's mother and I were waiting outside in the parking lot, when they came out and ask me if I would sit in on the Review. One of the adults had not shown up. It didn't seem to upset anyone, that I was a SA. It did upset me, that I was not in uniform, and had never sit in on a Board of Review, especially an Eagle! Fortunately, the scout had no problems with the Review. And it was really neat, when they ask him about his favorite times in scouts, and he went on and on, about all the trips he had taken with me. Then he went on about how I had help arrange for him to be a Den Chief, and what a great experience that had been for him. I felt embarrass, but glad I got the opporunity to listen to him, and be a big part of his scouting years.

I do not know if you can teach it, but three years ago, we had a group of Webelos at the Nordhouse Sand Dunes, next to Lake Michigan. This is a Federal Wilderness Area and we had backpack in for the night. One of the scouts had to take a dump, and one of the Webelos Leaders was given a demonstration(with his clothes on)to all the scouts, of how you do it. It was really, quite funny! We told the scouts, "You are not a real camper, until you take a dump in the woods!" The Webelos got all fire up about doing it. They were waiting for the scout to come back with the toilet paper, so they could go. Out of the eight Webelos there, I think seven probably, took a dump!

I have been a big fan since 1981, of Webelos attending camporee, [or for that matter, of doing anything with the Boy Scouts!] In 81, our pack was started, and I was the Webelos leader. We had 12 Webelos (all 5th graders in thoes days.) We had one den meeting, and then, went to the Fall Camporee with the Boy Scouts. Back then, Webelos were encourage to come. It snow that weekend, but everyone had a good time. A few years later, Webelos could not camp with the Boy Scouts at a camporee. Another few years, and they were encourage to come again, and camp with the Boy Scouts. They were even allow to participate with them in in camporee events. One of my finest memory was when my Webelos defeated the Boy Scouts, from our sister troop, in a game of three legged soccer in the snow. I was really impress with how nice the Boy Scouts were to my Webelos! It has reverse back, for about 20 years now in our area, that Webelos are not suppose to camp with the Boy Scouts at Camporee.

I like jrush idea! Over 20 years ago, I was at a Camporee with a line up of port-a-potties. I really do not think the scouts were trying to cause problems (like in moxieman and SeattlePioneer cases), but they pee all over the seats all day long. It was below freezing that night, and I needed to sit down on one the next morning. That was the last camporee (beside visiting for a short time)that I have attended.

I had very good experiences with young Den Chiefs. However, I found that they need to be at least two years older than the cub scouts they are working with, in order to get the respect from the younger scouts.

From someone who use owned a children camp in Michigan for 10 years, and have been leading wilderness trips for over 30 years, I can assure you, this rule does not apply for scouts trips. You can contact someone at the Dept. of Health, and they will tell you the same thing. I have been backpacking to the Porcupine Mts. several times. Enjoy your trip!

I send information out on our troop, to at least 14 packs in the area. This year, our new scouts came from one parochial school (our feeder pack), and six public schools. Two new scouts are home schooled. Every year we get scouts from different packs, but the last two years, four packs product most of our new scouts. Last week, we got a new scout from a school district about 10 miles away. He said he goes to church with one of our other new scouts. We have not got a new scout from the closest pack to my house (the cub master lives acroos the street), in seven years! I will send recruiting information to any pack in the area, I can get a e-mail for.

Boys are not different now - just their parents! I was a Provisional Scoutmaster years ago. The scouts came for 13 days camp periods back then (1971). I had 40 scouts in each of my provisional troop, and we had three provisional troops in the camp. The scouts had a lot of fun, and so did I (and my two assistants). When my son was 12 yrs. old (1984), his buddy and him went to summer camp with his troop for a week. They came home for one night to do the laundry, and they both went back for the next week as provisional scouts. My son earned 10 merit badges in the two weeks, but he did not enjoy the second week. They were put in with another troop, and they did not care for the scouts in that troop (they were swearing, etc.). The scoutmaster did his best; he separate the provisional scouts into their own patrol, and they stayed away from his scouts, but they did not enjoy the week. Looking back, I would give him at least a week between camp periods.

Anyone been to Haliburton Scout Reserve in Ontario? If so, could you please describe your experiences.

My suggestion: If the CC wants two adults on the first part of the journey, he can put up the money and travel with the group down to Florida!

The thing our scouts do not like about Philmont, is that the adults are suppose to sit down, and let the scouts do all the work! These same scouts when they were new scouts, were taught that everyone on the camping trip work together. "The work is done, before the play begins!" I have been taking our new Boy Scouts on a wilderness trip to Northern Ontario for over 20 years. They cannot believe that someone on the trip would not do their share on a portage; or backpacking. Sure, we let the scouts do the cooking; they need the practice. But everyone does the cleanup. The bigger, stronger person carry the most weight. I think what you want to teach the scouts is that everything goes easier, when everyone helps out.