WVCubDad

We used to have snacks at our Pack meetings until this last meeting when the CM announced that there had been one too many complaints about apple cores being shoved under the piano bench and other trash being missed. It also turns out that he and his wife had been supplying the snacks, plates and utensils for the past few years, some parents had questioned the nutritional value of them and I guess that's that. Knowing that we did a pretty good job of cleaning up after the meetings, I suspect it wasn't our Pack that left the messes, but I understand his decision to not provide snacks any longer. I provided snacks at 3 or 4 of our Tiger den meetings last year (including a hilarious attempt at baking, thank goodness I have two chef parents in my den), and we've only had a snack once this year as Wolves. I'm not a big fan of snacks and don't feel it's necessary to always have them, but I haven't made my mind up yet about it for when I take over as CM. I think we'll have enough goodies at the Halloween and Christmas parties and the B&G and end of year picnic to not have to worry about the other meetings. We'll see what the other leaders and parents think too. YiS, John Assistant Cubmaster Pack 13 Shenandoah Area Council

Pack378 - Cool idea for a B&G, love to see pictures of it when you're finished. My Wolf son was so ecstatic last week when he brought home his school library book - The Illustrated Star Wars Dictionary (with cut away drawings of R2-D2 and other cool things)! He has watched the original trilogy with me, knows the characters and has seen the first two episodes of the new trilogy and understands why I want him to wait a little while longer to see the final episode. He gets Star Wars and really enjoys acting out Yoda's lightsaber antics. May the Force be with you! John Assistant Cubmaster Pack 13 Shenandoah Area Council

One thing that I would like to see is the addition of the individual uniform inspection sheets added to the guide. It might make it easier to ensure that changes to either the guide or the inspection sheet track with the other publication. YiS, John Assistant Cubmaster Pack 13 Shenandoah Area Council

So, let's throw a little wrinkle into this question. As you may know, I'm in a Cub Scout Pack and we do have quite a few opportunities to camp. Most of it is car camping for which I make no apologies. Generally we camp as a Pack 3-4 times a year plus Council Fall Family and Spring Adult/Boy camps at the Scout Camp and two Council Webelos Camping events, all of which are indvidual registrations but the Pack is together in a campsite. Cub & Webelos Resident Camp is also offered but removed from this discussion since that is done in wall tents on platforms. The other Council camping opportunities the Cub and his family must provide their own tent, usually set up on the platforms in each campsite. Participants on the Pack campouts tend to be the same families trip after trip (a few new folks each time, but nowhere near all the new boys), all tents are personally owned with a couple of dining flys owned by the pack and set up as the kitchen area. We've recently added a trailer where our pack camping equipment is kept. After fielding several questions from parents about "what camping gear should I get/do I need", my question is what is your opinion of Pack owned tents and what has your experience been at the Pack level? I get the feeling that we would have more boys/families participate in the camping trips if we had tents available for those who needed them. If we do implement a Pack tent program, you've given me some great ideas to implement. Thanks in advance. YiS, John Assistant Cubmaster Pack 13 Shenandoah Area Council

Some of this I've posted before but... I was a Wolf Cub in 1975, earned Bobcat but don't recall earning the Wolf Badge. We met at my den leaders house and all I recall about that was going outside in the snow with our buddy burners that we made. I vaguely recall a pinewood derby and a very glossy black car and that's all I remember about the Pack. I can't tell you what the number was, but I think we were chartered out of the First Presbyterian Church in Lewiston, NY. My den leader moved and I didn't continue with Scouts. A year later my mother became the music director at the Assembly of God church and I got involved in Royal Rangers and stayed with it until I graduated from high school. We went camping quite a bit and I really enjoyed learning the various scouting skills - ropecraft, nature, cooking, fire building, map & compass, etc. I never got past first class or did many of the merit achievements, but I had a great time and was the Ranger of the Year at the Section and District levels several times. College was Army ROTC and the Ranger Challenge team which brought a whole new dimension to being out in the woods - cold camps, noise and light discipline, fire and movement, leadership challenges ad nauseum. A tour of active duty brought interesting deployments to Desert Shield/Storm, NTC, Hurricane Andrew Relief and Operation Restore Hope in various company grade officer capacities in Armor and Quartermaster units. After leaving active duty I married a Navy Dentist and joined Civil Air Patrol to get back into aviation which was my major in college. While I qualified as a search pilot, my background led me towards working with our cadets doing ground search and rescue. For about 2 years I was our Squadron Commander and held various senior member staff positions. I was active in CAP until 2005 and am currently a member but in 2006 my son came home from school with a recruiting paper showing all the neat things Cub Scouts do. We signed up at the end of Kindergarten as a Tiger Team. At the summer pack overnighter the Cubmaster asked if I would like to be the Tiger Den Leader for the next year and I said yes. Later that fall at one of the roundtables my DE asked if I would be interested in being our Twilight Camp Director ("that means going to a weekend class and I'll take care of the paperwork"), okay no problem. Oh by the way would you mind being the District Popcorn Chair, you don't have to do much, just find out who's going to sell this year. Oh yeah, there's another set of meetings for that, okay I can do that too. TWC went well as did the popcorn sale, so they haven't fired me yet and I'm on tap to do it again next year! This year I've been working as the Assistant Cubmaster/Wolf Den Leader and trying to absorb as much information as I can from my Cubmaster as he will cross over with his youngest son in the spring to our Troop. Yep, you guessed it, I'll get a shot at being CM. I'm looking forward to it and have some things that I'd like to see us do more of as a Pack. My Dear Wife accurately pegged me early on when she tripped over my stack of BSA literature and complained that I never just get partially involved in something (there are two shelves of CAP stuff still in our garage), but rather go whole hog into it. Guilty. Our daughter is a Junior GS and this past fall the whole family went on a two night Pack Overnighter at Antietam Battlefield NP. The girls enjoyed it and we had a very camping Christmas. I'm hoping the scouting bug has bitten everyone and while I tell myself it's for our kids, I really enjoy it too!!! YiS, John Assistant Cubmaster Pack 13 Shenandoah Area Council

In my Council we also have a Statuette Award which is lower than a SB. I don't know if the word on professionals making nominations filtered up this way, but it was suggested to me that I submit a nomination for a Statuette for a Scouter who has done good work in the District. The nomination form seemed to be the same for both awards, just circle the appropriate award at the top of the form. I haven't really paid attention to the number of SB's awarded here so I can't tell you exactly how many are submitted or awarded. YMMV. YiS, John Assistant Cubmaster Pack 13 Shenandoah Area Council

Along the lines of Eamonn's post - I was a Royal Ranger growing up and at that time (not sure what they're doing now) our uniform was khaki shirt (SS/LS) and khaki pants. These were usually Dickies work clothes with the tags cut off. Despite being readily available and possibly reasonably priced, we still had the problem of kids only being uniformed from the waist up. And for some strange reason we also had a beret, although it was navy blue unless you went to JLTC and then it was airborne maroon with a silver tepee badge sewn on to it. Fortunately there was also a ball cap as an approved headgear and that's what I wore both as a youth and for the short time I was an adult leader. I know the RR program has radically changed from what I knew and I don't know what the new uniforms look like. YiS, John Assistant Cubmaster Pack 13 Shenandoah Area Council

Eamonn, Growing up in WNY across the mighty lower Niagara River from St. Catherines, Ontario, Boxing Day was a staple in my house due to the proliferation of Canadian radio and TV. Many years later, Boxing Day had a more meaningful manifestation. In 1990 I had the priviledge of taking possession of 4 new (to me) M1A1-HA tanks at Christmastime in Daharan, Saudi Arabia. After a long roadmarch back to our battalion area Christmas Day was spent on a makeshift firing range makeing sure they worked. Boxing Day was the first day I had to take a breather and open up the Christmas box that came from my parents back Stateside. Brownies, some cassette tapes, a note from Mom and an uncharacteristic letter from my Dad. Today I wished several people at work (in Maryland) a Happy Boxing Day and was rewarded with quizzical looks and general confusion. So to you I say Happy Boxing Day and know you understand and appreciate it. YiS, John Assistant Cubmaster Pack 13 Shenandoah Area Council(This message has been edited by WVCubDad)

My thoughts exactly GW. For the record there aren't any 20 something drivers in this family anymore. It's 6 years to the next drivers permit and 3 after that for the last! YiS, John Assistant Cubmaster Pack 13 Shenandoah Area Council

Thank you all. I appreciate the input. I did check the link provided by CubsRgr8 and it doesn't appear that the Strictly for Cub Masters conference is being offered this year. I haven't confirmed it with a phone call yet, but there were several other posters with some good advice about spending time with my son. That was the direction I was leaning when I first posted and that will be my decision. There's always next year for a training conference that may better fit my schedule. Eamonn - How long a drive was it? YiS, John Assistant Cubmaster Pack 13 Shenandoah Area Council

Monday night I get home from work and an envelope from Philmont is at my place at the dinner table. "Upon the recommendation of your council it is my pleasure to invite you to participate in a conference at the Philmont Training Center." WOW!!! I'd looked at the Philmont web site last year and noticed all the conferences and thought that going to one would be a lot of fun and well worth the time and money. I'm a second year Scouter, spent last year as my son's Tiger Den leader, was the Twilight Camp Director for our District and am now the Assistant Cubmaster and Wolf Den leader. When our CM's youngest son crosses over this spring, he'll go up to the Troop with him and I've agreed to step up to CM. The logical conference to take is the new conference - Cub Scout Leader Extravaganza. Here's the quandry -- the first session is during our Council's Cub Resident Camp and the second session is the week of my District's Twilight Camp and yes, I'm the Director again this year. I will not duck out on my staff so the second session is out. Last year was the first time in a while that our Pack has had Cubs go to Resident Camp. My assistant den leader and I, our sons and one other boy from our den went and had a pretty good time, although my son still hasn't fully committed to going again this year. I'd like for him to go again and I am willing to go with with him and I think we can get more boys and parents to go. Broaching the subject with my wife, she informed me that one weekend of Pack family camping didn't quite qualify her to go to the Scout Ranch for a full week, so a family vacation is out. Looking for some advice as to whether I send my son to camp without me, take him with me to Philmont or regretfully decline the invitation and go with him to Camp Rock Enon. Time and money are not significant considerations. If I turn this opportunity down, will it come around again? The letter makes it sound like there are limited slots, but I figure there are other years, but....I really want to go! Thoughts? YiS, John Assistant Cubmaster Pack 13 Shenandoah Area Council

I am one of our Wolf Den Leaders and the Assistant Cub Master, last year I was the Tiger Den Leader and this spring I'll move up to be the Cub Master. I am also active at the District level as the Popcorn Chair and Twilight Camp Director. Our Den meetings are every Tuesday evening during the school year from 7 to 8 pm. Our Pack meetings are usually the last Tuesday of the month except holidays (as this month) from 6:30 to 8 pm. During the summer we usually have at least one pack activity each month - a camping trip in June, ball game or airshow trip in July, and bike ride or swimming activity in August. We also hold a lock-in at our chartered organization (a church) in January. Additionally Cub Resident camp is in June and Twilight Camp is in August. During the school year we usually have two pack overnighters in the fall and two in the spring as well as a Council Family Camp in the fall and Adult/Cub camp in the spring. My son was counting up all his Cub camping trips recently and son of a gun, he's been on 10. I hadn't even gone camping once at his age. The good news is he likes it. John Assistant Cubmaster Pack 13 Shenandoah Area Council

Thanks Jethro I was leaning towards that based on the Akela's sign off. John Assistant Cubmaster Pack 13 Shenandoah Area Council

Hmmm SMEagle819...I think I may have seen those red and white strips more than a few times! ;-) They look cool in my opinion. John Assistant Cubmaster Pack 13 Potomac District Shenandoah Area Council

Currently I've earned one (TDL) and been awarded another (DAM). I haven't received the TDL knot yet but the DAM is centered above my pocket. My question is this -- do I move it over slightly once I get the TDL knot or do I just add the new knot to the left or right of the DAM? I've seen it both ways and am curious as to the proper way to do it. Of course the third option is to work hard and earn another knot and then just figure out which knot I want to wear closest to my heart, LOL. John Assistant Cubmaster Pack 13 Shenandoah Area Council

Appreciate the form, thanks Rooneyfamily. Question (not so hypothetical) - If a Cub's family doesn't have him take a shower or bath every day, but rather just on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, should I require him to bathe every day for 2 weeks or respect the family's decision? Thanks John Assistant Cubmaster/Wolf Den Leader Pack 13 Shenandoah Area Council

The first hike my son and I did together turned out to be a 5 mile hike up to the top of a mountain at The Cove in Virginia. He was a Tiger at the time and actually rode on my shoulders for about half of the hike. Curiously he decided that he didn't really care for hiking that much, but we've hiked on every Pack overnighter since. He's hiked the Snavely Ford Trail at Antietam, the Fort Frederick Trail in Big Pool, MD and several nature hike trails at our local camping spot in Berkeley County. He's probably coming up on 15 miles total so far, not bad for a non-hiking Wolf. 8^) As GW says, keep 'em interested in what's going on and challenge them to do more on each hike. Getting a cool patch for completing the hike is pretty nice too and I like the idea from that Pack in a recent issue of Scouting mag -- present the boys with a nice hiking staff after going 50(?) miles. My .02. John Assistant Cubmaster Pack 13 Shenandoah Area Council

I bought my son a vest last year when he was a Tiger. An older Webelo he really looks up to wore his to the first Pack meeting and he decided that he had to have one too. Well, 10 theme patches, 2 popcorn patches, LNT, Resident Camp, Family Camps, Father/Son camps, rain camp, Master Angler, Scout Sunday, 2 pinewood derby patches (and probably some I''ve missed) later, he has yet to wear it to a meeting!!!!! My thought is instead of ripping them all off and puttin them on a blanket, I''m just going to open up the seams and stich the vest to it instead. A couple of packs in our Council use a red sweatshirt to put their patches on. I think that looks pretty cool and even their leaders wear them. We''ve got yellow sweatshirts from Class B with a nice logo on the front, so adding the patches doesn''t look quite as good, according to the non-brag-vest-wearing now Wolf Cub son, who will learn to sew in the very near future!!!! John Assistant Cubmaster Pack 13 Potomac District Shenandoah Area Council

I wish this string had occurred earlier this summer (mid-June) and I knew specifically what the BSA Swimmer Test requirements were before I went to Cub Resident Camp and wiped myself out passing it! For some reason the examiner didn't like my overhand backstroke and made me do it with me moving my hands at my sides. I am out of shape and hadn't swam much this season when we went to camp so I didn't really pace myself in the swimming portion and then I just about killed myself trying to float while I was heaving trying to suck in good air. Fortunately (or not) the examiner had some patience and I did finally pass the test. I'll know better for next year and have practice more as well. Thanks for the tips folks. John Assistant Cubmaster Pack 13 Shenandoah Area Council

Growing up in WNY my favorites were pierogies, keilbasa with egg noodles, steak and kidney pie, Yorkshire pudding and of course Salens hotdogs. Shore lunches on fishing trips with Dad were usually walleye, yum! College introduced me to catfish (usually one of the 3 "meats" at catered dinners), Dubuque Star Beer, brats and oddly enough Domino's pizza. My time in the South is fondly rememberd for Frogmore Stew (aka Low-Country Boil), Shrimp burgers from the Shrimp Shack and all the fresh seafood I could shove in my mouth. I've been in WV for 12 years now and I hear about Ramps, but I've never had them to my knowledge. Oh, I almost forgot, I had my first bunch of kettle corn at the Sharpsburg Heritage Days in 95. Really made me mad when we decided not to keep it on our order sheets for this year's popcorn sale! Grrrrr! John Assistant Cubmaster Pack 13 Shenandoah Area Council

I have been in one uniform or another since I was a Wolf Cub in 1974 - Cub Scout, Catholic grade school Cadet Uniform, Royal Ranger, ROTC, Army, Civil Air Patrol, Cub Scout Leader. (Hi, I'm John and I'm a joiner/uniform junkie....) Now in my second year as a CS Leader I wear the SS shirt w/authorized patches, bolo tie, Scout web belt and either ODL shorts/pants/switchbacks (shorts), green & red socks and one of my Scouting ball caps (CRE or 100th Anniversery). Gig line is automatic as are the hunt for rapelling ropes. Fortunately, I don't have to shine my hiking boots . At Resident,Day and Council Cub Camps I wear a Scout T-shirt (Pack/Camp) and shorts w/belt and ball cap, Scout socks and my boots. Scout shirt comes out for dinner/campfire/devotions w/bolo. Pack camping is done in Pack t-shirt/sweatshirt, jeans or shorts as weather dictates. I'm currently trying to shed my GI gear for lighter, better stuff and will test an occasional piece on a trip. My son grumbles, but wears the Cub uniform with the exception of the pants (although we found a cool pair of shorts that look a lot like the S2's but without long legs and that are one shade off "official" that he likes wearing.) Since he has those shorts, I bought him Cub socks to match and he's actually worn them! Only two other leaders in our Pack wear uniform pieces, one of them was one of my Tiger Dad's last year and he went full uniform for Resident Camp with me (switchbacks). Our CM wears the shirt. I get kidded by the other leaders for wearing the whole uniform, but I just smile and nod. It's not in me to knowingly wear a uniform incorrectly, and if I am, I'd prefer a quiet comment with a reference to guide me along the way. My long .02. John Assistant Cubmaster Pack 13 Shenandoah Area Council

Pack 378, That's the supplier that we use. We put design SP69 on a gold t-shirt (long or short sleeve) and sweatshirts (crew neck and hooded). We order them every fall and we are known throughout the Council by our shirts. Very easy to see the boys and they like wearing them. The price is right and we've been very satisfied with the quality. My son has just about worn his out after only 14 months, it's getting a little short as well. He wears it to school, daycare, camping trips, etc. His buddies see the other Scout shirts from the various Council and District camps he's been to on him as well. John Assistant Cubmaster Pack 13 Shenandoah Area Council

At Cub Resident Camp last month our Pack's only scheduled swimming period was cancelled due to thunder. The rule explained to us was out of the water and under the pavillion until 15 minutes passed with no more thunder. True to form at 14:15 another clap of thunder and a conference with the adult leadership resulted in calling it off since another 15 minute wait, the inbrief and buddy tag drill and we'd have about 15 minutes to swim before the end of the session and getting ready for dinner. Aside from being disappointed about not getting to swim, my son (6 at the time) didn't really care for the thunder and we went back to the tent and played cards and talked for a while. During the rain we heard some trees come down in a nearby campsite and found out later that the residents of that site would have to stay at the dining hall while the camp ranger cleaned it up. Didn't take too long, I think they were able to get back in before taps. I can deal with thunder and lightening, not sure I like being a walking nail waiting for a tree to drive me into the ground . One thing I did become aware of is my son's intense dislike of being outdoors in a thunderstorm, almost bordering on a distinct fear of it. Except for the first camping trip we went on last year, every trip has had some rain (I was a CDAT in the Army and concur with the if it ain't raining, it ain't training theory and try to project a hey it's no big deal attitude to the boys.) We're working on the rain stuff and he's getting a bit better with it. Hopefully we'll have some nicer weather camping trips later this summer and fall. John Assistant Cubmaster Pack 13 Shenandoah Area Council

My understanding of this is that the Summertime Pack Award is pinned in the same position directly through the Outdoor Activity Award and then you can add the subsequent OA award wolf track pins on either side of the SPA. I can't find the sheet that I thought had that and as was pointed out neither the Leaders Handbook, Insignia Guide, Inspection Sheet or BSA web site clarifies it. I think it was part of the huge package of stuff I got at National Camping School. I'll see what I can find tomorrow. John Assistant Cubmaster Pack 13 Potomac District Shenandoah Area Council

I hope Ketcham keeps up this story idea. I'd take him in my Pack and even my den. It could be fun and I think he'd fit right in!!! John Assistant Cubmaster Pack 13 Potomac District Shenandoah Area Council