boomerscout

"For centuries the Royal Army Chaplains' Department (RAChD) has ministered to soldiers in times of peace and war. We are proud to provide spiritual leadership, moral guidance and pastoral support to all soldiers and their families, irrespective of religion or belief." military chaplains need to be government funded because they need to be under direct government control. If they were were in the military, but not paid, that would be unequal treatment of personnel. If they were not in the military, but on the battlefield, there would be the great chance of civilian "insubordination" while the group is under fire.

I went down to the fire dept and talked with some of the guys. Volunteer Fire Fighters are NOT government employees. They are formed into a non-profit, and are not a government entity or department. The community "gave" them the firehouse for their sole use because the community thought it would be nice to have trained firefighters in the area. Firetrucks are also purchased with taxpayer funds because all agree it enhances community safety & wellbeing. The VFD still holds fundraisers to buy their personal equipment, and to make small improvements in the site. They have contracted with the community to answer fire calls, and do get a small fee for each run they make. Several have expressed interest in becoming mb counselors, but have no room in the firehouse to hold troop meetings--especially if the fire alarm rings. On the other hand, there is nothing stopping them from being the CO of a troop

Why does the free exercise of religion require government-paid chaplains? Most people don't HAVE government-paid chaplains, so are their rights being limited now? Does the government need to pay for chaplains for everyone? Probably because in the military there exists a greater need for Last Rites than in the population at large.

Merlyn: Just curious -- what other groups do you try to prune into purity -- besides the Scouts? Did you write the President that taking his oath of office on a Bible was just plain wrong?

I would not pay the dues; I'd look for a different pack

Sounds like my old cub pack. I almost didn't go into the Boy Scouts because I thought it would be more of the same. Sure glad an old friend was working on his Recruiter patch; one of the best times of my life

"the calories you'd get back probably wouldn't justify the calories burned." true enough for most survival situations. But, let's not forget that early man did hunt, and found it profitable enough to keep hunting. It all depends on techniques. The calories you get back...I first heard when discussing grasshoppers as survival food. If you chase after them one at a time, then you'll have a net energy loss. If you erect a small mesh net, and, then, starting a distance away from it, walk towards it while beating the brush with a stick you'll catch enough to gain energy for several people.

Many means numerous or more than one. It's an indefinite count because I didn't feel like accessing every state's site. Now, if I had said "most", then I would be really incorrect. Should there be restrictions on new drivers? You betcha! They should be made to display an "L" for learner on the rear of their car.

East Fork State Park (Cincinnati OH) is a family campground with a fishing lake and a couple of trails, but nothing High Adventure

in many states, if he is 16 or 17, then he can't have any passengers (except for parent, guardian or trainer), or be driving at night. Also, many campgrounds have limited number of parking spots. So, driving to the troop meeting probably OK, but can't drive home if it has gotten dark.

collarless shirts back in the 70s were also v-neck. they did not button all the way up like a Marine uniform. these short-sleeve shirts, along with Bermuda style Scout shorts and knee socks, were the standard Jamboree uniform

to MD ScoutMom: since your troop is small, you don't need to make big money to be effective. There are plenty of ideas on Scouter's fund-raising forums. We never had much luck with the % of sales flyers. We had better luck when a restaurant allowed the Scouts & their parents to be waitstaff and busboys, dishwasher's helpers & restroom caretakers. Naturally, the restaurant gives you a slow night. Since our chartering org is a church, we got this mentioned at the service, had an info table set up near the entrance, spoke (casually) to social orgs some of the parents are also involved with. We picked a week when most of our members get paid (or get their social security). Have about a two week lead time Best of luck

to MD Scout Mom: The restaurant may not allow you to stand by the door and snag all the customers. This is against the policy of most places that do this. So, please check with them in advance.

Take your 8 boys camping. When they tell everyone what a great time they had, I predict more will show up for the next. "At some point, the scout has a responsibility to communicate with his parents. If he is not interested in doing so, why is he still in scouting? If advancement is the scouts responsibility (and it is) how more of a leap is it for the scout to be sure his parents know about the events (outings) that give him the best opportunities for advancement?" This may be hard to accept, but some boys join the Scouts to get away from their parents. They can't sit down & talk to their parents; the family is a bit dysfunctional. Going camping may be their only hope of "normal" times. When parents have missed their first installment for summer camp, we send out a post-card. We've found post-cards get read then & there while letters may get set aside unread. We do offer a wee discount for all the money up front by a certain date. Our troop meeting room has an anteroom between it and the entrance. This is where the hardcore Scouters sit and have coffee while the meeting is in progress. Any drop-n-go parent wanting to talk with the SM is then automatically shunted to these guys. Works wonderfully

The direction this thread is taking has made me curious about something. Admittedly, it has been a long time since I've been in junior high. At the end of gym class we all piled into the big shower room to wash. What is done nowadays?

Eamonn, why would you want them to do a tick check in a communal shower and not the privacy of their tent? Guessing for Eamonn: Maybe because we don't have eyes in the back of our head, and therefore could use a little help seeing where we've been. It's darker in the tent, and I, for one, wouldn't want the tick to fall off where I'm going to sleep. We have such a nudity hangup in this country.

for projects at home, my nephews used carbon steel paring knives from the junk store: cheap, designed for close work, little danger of folding up, made for small hands, didn't feel flimsy...

ten inch is fine. google on over to "macscouter" or "usscouts.org" they have D.O. cookbooks to download

put an ad in your local paper(s) under items wanted "Boy Scout needs your help in replacing camping gear lost thru parents' messy divorce. Needs bag, groundpad, pack, etc phone ###"

in winter camping you'll need to watch your boys for signs of exercise induced asthma attacks and perform the proper first aid

make sure no one skips a daily evening wash-up of pits & groin -- daily and not the "he-man" 2X a week when out in the boonies

no cotton underwear

spud guns are different from potato guns/cannons. A spud gun is a metal hand held toy gun popular in the late 50s/early 60s. You stuck the snout of the gun into a potato to load the gun with a pencil eraser sized piece of potato. As you pulled the trigger you really compressed the atmos. air chamber inside ===> the potato then came flying out -although not very fast nor very far. never heard of anyone getting hurt with these

Northern Tier - OKPIK, consider protection for each part of the body. Sleeping bag. If you have a cold weather camping sleeping bag, bring it. Otherwise a summer weight or 3-season bag is adequate as we will provide a supplemental bag to use with yours to make an extreme cold weather sleeping system. ______ 2 Winter stocking caps, - one spare, facemask type is best ______ 2 - 3 pairs of mittens with outer shell (mittens are warmer than gloves) ______ 2 - 3 Sweaters and/or shirts, preferably wool or polar fleece. No Cotton ______ 1 Winter jacket, preferably hooded ______ 2 pair of long underwear tops (synthetic such as capilene or polypropylene) (no cotton long underwear) 3-4 pair for a Holiday stay. ______ 2 pair of long underwear bottoms (synthetic such as capilene or polypropylene) (no cotton long underwear) 3-4 pair for a Holiday stay. ______ 2 pair of pants, 1 pair preferably wool or an insulated snowpant. Do not bring blue jeans. ______ 2 or more pairs of light liner socks (preferably synthetic, i.e. polypropylene - not cotton) ______ 2 or more pairs of heavy insulating socks (preferably wool or synthetic, - not cotton) ______ Toiletry articles (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, towel, comb, etc.) ______ 10 feet 1/8 inch nylon cord ______ Cup, bowl and spoon preferably all plastic or lexan (remember plastic can become brittle at extreme low temperatures) ______ Towel and Swimsuit for use in the Shower and Sauna after your trek RECOMMENDED ITEMS: These items are optional, depending on personal preference and what you have available. ______ Insulated vest ______ Extra socks ______ Scarf or neck gaiter ______ Warm boots such as Sorels, moon boots, shoe pacs (preferably with removable liners) ______ Closed cell foam pad ______ Pocket knife, matches, bandana, and other items you normally carry while camping. ______ Sunscreen, Chapstick, foot powder ______ Sunglasses ______ Pocket flashlight, headlamp, or glow sticks ______ Skis or snowshoes ______ Camera and film ______ Small package baby wipes for personal cleanliness (keep in pocket near the body to keep thawed) ______ Pee bottle - Large mouth plastic 1 quart bottle w/ a leak proof cap to be used at night when nature calls OKPIK PROVIDED PERSONAL ITEMS: If you own any of these items & would like to use them, you are encouraged to bring them. ______ Sleeping bag for extreme cold temperatures (will be used with your summer ______ or three season bag) ______ Closed cell foam pads ______ Supplemental outer clothing & wind clothing ______ Mukluks and foot wraps ______ Cross country skis and poles ______ Snow shoes ______ Water bottle and water bottle bag w/strap -------------------------------------------------------------------- Philmont - Kanik Philmont provides the following equipment as crew gear: ■Eight 1-quart pots with lids ■Coffee pots with lids ■Peak 1 stoves ■Fuel bottles ■Fire paste ■Match cases with matches ■Hot pot tongs ■Cooking pads ■Three 1-gallon water jugs ■Biodegradable soap ■Condiment kit (salt, pepper, etc.) ■Polar Pure water purification crystals ■Trash bags ■Tents with stakes and flukes ■Sleds for pulling gear ■Saucer sleds ■Cross-country skis and poles ■Tarps ■Maps and compasses Other Available Equipment In addition to the equipment listed above, supplemental clothing and equipment are available to loan: ■Backpacks and frames ■Zero-degree sleeping bags ■Closed-cell foam pads ■Fleece sleeping bag liners ■Water flasks with covers ■Suspenders ■Fleece nose warmers ■Wool mittens ■Windproof overmitts ■Wool shirts ■Polarplus shirts ■Military-issue jacket liners ■Windproof anoraks ■Wind pants ■Wool pants ■Military-issue pant liners ■Waterproof overshoes ■Foot wraps and liners Supplies are limited. Call in advance to make sure the equipment you expect to borrow from Philmont is available for your scheduled visit. Personal Equipment When packing for Kanik, consider protection for each part of your body. Whenever possible, wear wool, polar fleece, or polypropylene. Even when wet, these fabrics retain insulative value. Check your clothing labels to determine the fabric content; do not bring cotton clothing (including jeans and Carharts) for winter camping. When wet, cotton loses almost all insulative value. Think in terms of multiple layers of comfortable clothing. Clothing ■One stocking cap* ■One facemask (balaclava)* ■Two pairs of mittens (preferably wool)* ■One pair of glove liners (polypropylene)* ■One pair of windproof glove shells* ■Two wool or polar fleece sweaters/jackets* ■Windproof jacket*, preferably hooded ■Two sets of polypropylene underwear* (tops and bottoms) ■One pair of wool or fleece pants ■Two or three pairs of wool socks* ■Two or three pairs of polypropylene liner socks* ■One pair of hiking boots Personal Equipment ■Sunglasses* (100% UV protection) ■Insulated cup* ■Spoon* (plastic) ■Toilet articles (soap, toothbrush, towel, etc.)* ■Sunscreen* (SPF 15 or higher) ■Lip balm ■One or two 1-quart water bottles* or canteens ■Sleeping bag (zero-degree rating or lower; preferably not down-filled) ■Full-length insulated sleeping pad Optional Items (Recommended) ■Insulated vest* ■Bandana* ■Pocket flashlight* ■Pack boots ■Spending money (approximately $40 per person)

these are fun. However, the vapor pressure chamber can let go if it has any kind of weak spot ===> plastic shrapnel. Also, I can visualize some Cub with his hand or face right over the barrel as someone else ignites the charge. So, this is just not for little kids