OldGreyEagle

It is indeed interesting to hear about how the program is delivered throughout the country. In our Council we have a Scoutreach division, it functions as its own District, last year as this year the Crew I serve was/has been asked to staff an "Advancement Camporee". The Scoutreach troops, all from economically depressed areas of the council are bused in to the Campsite. The Council provides the gear and the crew runs stations coverering advancement requirements, on Sunday there is a Socut's own and they are bused home.

I am sorry, but this old bird is in over his head, what is a scratch off card?

HTU, First how old are the boys? I understand the frustration the parents of the "normal" kids feel. We have quite a few ADD and behavioral challenged scouts in the troop I serve, its all the influence of having a pediatrician sold on scouting as a committee chair. Having an ADD dyslexic son with a pretty unusual physical condition, I can understand the feelings. Unrelated, you mentioned your name on the forum is how cope, do you wear the uniform and do the boys of the den know how you feel about it?

Well my dear Spiney, I hope you dont mind if I call you by your first name, you on the other hand may not call me Old. If that's inconsistent, tough nooggies. (sp?) First off, I cant add to the advice given here for Boards of Review as far as content goes. Remember one of the methods of Scouting is adult association and the Board of Review is an example of this method. I have had many scouts, Eagle or not, mention that college interviews weren't at all intimadating as the scouts had been talking to adults for years in the BOR process. Both you and the scouts should erlax and enjoy it, its will help both ends out if done right. BTW, as I have commented I am from the Chicago area and have been known to drop a Da, Dees, Dems, and Dose once in awhile. My Wood Badge Patrol is "Da Minsi Bears" I used to be a Bear, and a Good ole Bear too

Personally I always thought the phrase was "da bomb", as in "da Bears" any stinkin' Cheeseheads out there still in shock?

try http://www.inquiry.net/outdoor/skills/b-p/signs.htm and prhaps the most famous scouting trail sign of all located in Kenya http://www.pinetreeweb.com/bp-pix25.htm

Brookfield? How close to the Zoo? Originally from Wood Dale, used to date a girl from Brookfield, be sitting in her back yard, all enclosed by trees, a very romantic setting and then w huge loud lions roar would waft through the trees, the first time it terrfied me, especially when she said it was her dad.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Forum. I closed the other threads concerning this issue, not because its something we can't discuss, but to concentrate all the answers in one thread. I chose this thread because it seems to have the most information concerning the issue.

Our Council has a Venturing Association, known as the Venturing Executive Board (VEB). It follows the model that Venturing has for a Teen Leaders Council (TLC). The function is to organize (by its youth members) activities that are Coucnil Wide, so far we have had two Rendezvous and a Cardboard Boat Race (yes, 4 people in a boat made of cardboard, and they float, sometimes). This fall a halloween party and a COPE weekend are being planned at a scout camp. We advertise our activities in our cluster and attended a Film Festival last winter in another council , Crews made a video and brought them in to share. Is this what you mean Dana?(This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

Fellow OA members, I have received a few private messages that express concerns that this thread may be getting to close to an outright declaration of the word If you wish to help or need help, may I suggest the use of the private message system? I (This message has been edited by a staff member.)

What kind of garden? Annuals,Perennials, Vegetable or what? How big is this garden? 6ft by 6ft or 100ft x 100ft? Is the land clear? Will you have to remove a building or two or cut down mature trees? Drain a swamp? Do you have the church's permission to plant the garden? (Note: The use of hyperbole in this post is to make a point, just like Johnny 5 we need more input before hazzarding a guess)

Here is a thought, Why do you need a trailer? The emphasis should be on Leave No Trace, not lets haul the kitchen sink and assorted accoutrements out to the woods. Have the youth learn how little they really need, not how much you gotta bring

As the BSA does not require a scout to have a uniform, the Troop CANNOT require the scout to wear a uniform. You can set up an uniform exchange program, you can offer positive reinforcement of for those scouts who do appear in complete uniform, but the PLC denying scouting to those who do not appear in uniform is wrong.

Unc, I think the line is "I yam what I yam" and he turns 75 this week end

I think the puppy just filed a civil lawsuit with a motion to move the venue to San Francisco where it will charge a violation of civil rights and be awarded a lien against the perp's house

"... just drive him out on a country road and abandon him." Just what Florida needs right now, an increase to the feral human population

I don't know how many people have had/ are having a problem posting. I know for the last 3 days I had a problem when I wanted to reply to a post, I would click on the reply button and got a "page not found error". I ended up going to the Registration page and putting in my name and password, and then I could reply to posts again. I don't know if many people are experiencing this, or if this will fix the problem, but in the words of Risky Business, every once in a while you gotta say...

As none of the Distinguished members have answered I thought I would take a shot 1. Get as many Committee members as you can from as many troops as you can, as you bring committee members up to speed, they take it back to the troops they serve 2. Have Eagle projects reviewed by as many people as you can, to get different insights, but keep it to the same people so there is consistently 3. At Roundtable, always have a short statement, an Advancement thought for the month, like. "If a scout is active in your troop, can he earn First Class in a year?" or "If you are asking to demonstrate skills in either the Scoutmaster Conference or in the Board of Review, do you know you are wrong?" I am sure you can think of many others, just one liners to review Advancement Policies and also establish yourself as the "guy" get the merit Badge counselor list and update it, this is something to farm out if you can, but will cause misery if not done well

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I have been to Long Island a few times, but having grown up in Chicago, let me tell you its rather unsettling to see a highway direcitonal sign "New York City and all points west"...

Not all Eagle projects require raising money. Many projects on our council are funded by the Parks and Rec dept or the Church/CO that it benefits. In the District we always make sure every project has a budget, is only to show the scout the value of the project. To me the most important issue is the scout's overall leadership role, not how the project was funded.

Thats kewl JD, I wrote the skit to be targeted to the scouts, not the adults. I have seen enough skits that I used to do as a scout and want them to explore new ideas.

I picked it up a few years ago, I collect and write ceremonies. This can also be found at http://www.ediconsulting.com/Troop287/t287chicken/FTMar04.pdf

Kansas, Toto, Monkees? Oh Man, thats so very very Old School, get hip JD I mean rolling stones gather no moss...

During one of the times the troop was exceptionally rowdy, the sign went up, after a few seconds the familiar SHHHHHHH was heard. After order was restored, I stepped forward and stated that there was no shushing in Boy Scouts (see "A League of their Own")the sign was perfectly adequate. So now if a shush is heard, you can be sure a chourus of "No shushing in Boy Scouts" is heard. Of course, that occurs while the sign is up which isnt really ideal, but, oh well no one said it would be easy...