jasper18

Thank you all for your advice. My son is currently transcribing the calls lower for the clarinet and practicing them in turn. He also has located an adult who is willing to give him some lessons on the bugle. The current troop merit badge counselor cannot actually play the instrument as far as I know. Great idea on the clarinet because it is giving him some confidence! I think he will persevere a while longer now. He was only practicing every couple of days because barely making a note was so discouraging. Now he can flip between learning the music and trying to get the notes going on the bugle - practicing it every day for a while longer each time.

My son is a First Class scout working on Star. He took the position of responsibility of Bugler and has been practicing for a couple of months once every few days. As of this point, he can play one (maybe two) notes only. So my questions: 1) Any advice on getting him to the point of being able to play? He has looked at Youtube videos and online advice. His father, a brass player, has tried to help as well. My son does play the clarinet quite competently but this seems to be a whole other animal... 2) At what point should he say to the Scoutmaster that this isn't working out? 3) If he gives back the Bugler role, I argue that he starts over in his position of responsibility for Star. Is that correct or should he be able to count his time as a non-bugling Bugler? Thanks!

Thank you both! The troop he is entering does a fair bit of camping, including at least one backpacking and one wilderness trip each year. We are in the South so it does not get as cold as some northern places. You guys had some great ideas - a headlamp seems very Hanukkah and scout-like at the same time! Thanks.

Hanukkah will be upon us soon and I want to get my son something that he will need for Boy Scouts. He is an AOL who will cross to the Troop in March. Last year, we gave him a pocket knife. Any ideas on what would be best? I looked at possibly a mess kit, but I wasn't even sure what kind would be best for that.

I am about to order some stuff for my son online and I am wondering if the uniforms run true to their regular size. In particular, I am about to buy my son the switchback pants for Boy Scouts.

There also are these for the woodworking adverse - http://pinterest.com/pin/398216792021348964/ Our Wal-Mart had the wooden rulers for 25 cents a piece and I think you could do this with $1 worth of rulers for each boy.

When we did Craftsman, we did "non-traditional" picture frames (http://pinterest.com/pin/398216792021774701/) with cardboard, fabric, pushpins, a stapler and string. Using a sheet for the fabric and cardboard from Costco, I think the whole project cost about $10 total. The kids gave them as holiday presents and really enjoyed it. I have also seen nice, non-traditional frames made from things like rocks and wire http://pinterest.com/pin/398216792021426149/ and cardboard and clothespins http://pinterest.com/pin/398216792021574146/ For the wood objects, 1) we made "tikis" for Blue and Gold using wood reclaimed from the woods, cut to size by the boys and decorated with nails, paint, etc. 2) we used the Pinewood Derby car built that year. For the non-wood, 1) we did polymer clay keychains 2) paracord survival bracelets 3) beaded american flag neckerchief slides 4) duct tape wallets. One extra in case someone missed one of the days.

We definitely go for a finished product by meeting's end. We also tried to scatter the craftsman requirements throughout the year so they did them in the middle of other badges. Some examples- 1) a beaded red/white/blue kerchief slide during citizenship 2) a wooden tiki cut from branches and decorate with nailed on things and paint for the luau theme B&G 3) duct tape wallet (just because but it could go with family member and the money tracking) 4) polymer clay Christmas ornaments and key chains None of these took more than an hour.

Forgive me if this is a duplicate thread, but I cannot get the search to work... What was your best pack meeting? We are looking for ideas for next year. Thanks!

Just by way of FYI... I grew up in the North where there were lots of synagogues, temples, shuls, etc. from which to choose. I now live in the South where there is only one Reform and one Conservative choice within driving distance. I would love to do a religious emblems class for both GSUSA and BSA. I know they would never go for it at my synagogue and I don't think the Conservative one would, but I have never asked. I also would love to get a Scout Shabbat going for both scouts. I did lead my son through the Macabee emblem and he is working on Aleph. My daughter just started Lehavah for Girl Scouts. I just wish there were more options for integrating our religious life with scouts.

You can peruse all the senior badges and requirements here: http://scruggseasthigh.wikispaces.com/Senior+Journey+badges and here: http://scruggseasthigh.wikispaces.com/Girl+Scout+Legacy+Badges The Legacy Badges and Skills Badges do not have to be tied to a Journey specifically.

Here is a link that does a pretty good job explaining the position of the Reform movement on BSA: http://rac.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=3231 This is an excerpt from the letter that was sent out by the Commission on Social Action of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations in 2000 after the Supreme Court ruling on inclusion of Gay Scouts and leaders: "In its new policy, which was mailed out to congregations this week, the CSA reached the painful decision to recommend that congregations sponsoring or housing troops/packs withdraw sponsorship and/or stop housing those troops/pack s effective immediately and that families remove their children from other scout troops. However, we understand that many are not ready or able to make that decision and prefer to continue to work from change from within. Therefore, the memo also details a number of protest actions congregations can take, while retaining a working relationship with the Boy Scouts of America." As for the different types of Jewish beliefs, I don't want to set myself up as any kind of expert, but in a nutshell, it is like the various denominations within Christianity. Jewish congregations in our area are part of the Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, Reconstruction or Humanist movements. They all have slightly different interpretations of Jewish law and its requirements as well as liturgical differences. Some would tell you that the Orthodox represent the most observant and it is true that they have beliefs that most greatly affect visible decisions around keeping the Sabbath, keeping kosher, appearance, etc. Hope that helps...

This may not be the right place for this question, but I am a Cub Scout parent so this is where I look for posts... I notice there are some Jewish scouters on this forum. Have you ever experienced issues with scouts who are Reform Jews and their congregations not supporting BSA? Where I am, the Reform synagogue will have nothing to do with BSA - no Scout Shabbat, no presentation of religious emblems, no Eagle Scout projects can be done, etc. Has that been an issue where you are? Do you have any Reform scouts in your pack?

Thanks all! That is the direction I was leaning...

Can Kickball Belt Loop count as a team sport for the Webelos Sportsman requirements? Here is what it says: While you are a Webelos Scout, earn Cub Scouting Sports belt loops for two team sports (baseball, basketball, soccer, softball, volleyball, flag football, or ultimate). Thanks!

Assuming you get outside, this is popular with the tot lot boys, use sidewalk chalk and draw a town with roads, buildings, etc. and give them HotWheels. This keeps them busy for quite a while. You can do it inside with large pieces of paper or with large chunks of cardboard from boxes. Also, inside, if you have a Costco or somewhere you can get boxes, bring a ton and they will find a way to use them....

At the end of the year, the boys line up from Webelos down to Tigers and remove their neckerchiefs and slides then place them on the boy in front of them. We make a big deal about it and the boys are so excited to get their new neckerchief that nobody would be thinking about the old ones. We are sure to have a few extra just in case a boy is absent or lost theirs, but this has kept ours going without too much of a problem. I have never seen anyone get sentimental about it and want to keep it.

I like the idea of marking the bottom of the blocks. You could do a rubber stamp or even a wood brand: http://www.lnt.com/product/bbq-accessories/52109-217118/texas-irons-dsrare-rare-pictorial-steak-brand.html?utm_source=googleproductads&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term={keyword}

Hi all, I have lurked for a long time, but decided to actually register and post. I am a Webelos Den Assistant Leader and also a Daisy-soon-to-be Brownie Patrol Leader. I have posted a couple of times on the Cub Scout and Girl Scout pages so far. I am blessed in that my scout-age kids are both in very well run, large, established scout groups. I personally was a Girl Scout until my troop fizzled out at bridge to Cadettes. I have always regretted that I did not have the opportunity to continue.

There are a lot of pros and cons about the cookie sales. So far, I have only done the Cookie Activity Pin and Cookie Leaves with the Daisy Girls but everything they did to earn them was valuable: 1) Learn to count money 2) Learn to set goals 3) Understanding needs vs. wants 4) Discuss tithing and using some of their profits for charity 5) Understand how to approach customers 6) Create advertisements that share how the money will be used It takes a lot of adult effort and it seems like a pain to me. I also know that many girls aren't selling so much as their parents are taking orders at the office. I also realize we are discussing healthy eating at the same time as hawking cookies. All that said, it costs money to run a troop and cookies are a product that people actually want to buy. Learning about and handling money is a skill girls should have. That said, it is a necessary evil. I also will say that as a Cub Scout leader and a Girl Scout leader that the Daisies understand a lot more about where the money is coming from and going to from their sales then the Tigers do with popcorn. The program really emphasizes the girls understanding of the financial aspects, which I think is great. Society could use more people who can handle money well.

I hope you do have luck finding a good GSUSA fit. By Juniors, troops really do have their own personality - especially since there is a lot of Girl-led activity going on if things are done correctly. Some troops are very focused on legacy-type scouting skills and camping. Others are more community service oriented or crafty or what-have-you. I take issue with the idea that you aren't REAL Girl Scouts if you don't want to spend every minute outside camping (though I do enjoy a good campfire!). That said, I think there are plenty of Junior troops out there that have a real focus on the outdoors. You also may want to look into resident and day summer camp opportunities. Have your daughter speak to the other girls who are like minded while she is there and ask what troop they are in. You can find a great troop that way.

Unfortunately, we are not in LA. I was just trying to point out that it can be done for girls, but it is hard to find. You almost have to carve out your own troop in order for your daughter to have a good experience.

My daughter is a Daisy bridging to Brownies in a multi-level troop that has 90 girls up to 8th grade. It is organized somewhat like a cub scout pack with a troop executive and patrol leaders below. The patrols are all age-specific like cub scout dens. The troop of 90 does meetings together once a month for court of awards and fun activities. The other meetings are at the patrol level. We do camp as a group once a year and as patrols separately. We hike and camp in the patrols - and we do lock-in type things in malls sometimes, too. The girls drive a lot of what they want to do. My Daisies wanted to learn to sew so we did. But we also did a first indoor camping experience in a gym-like space and we will go camping as a patrol next year as Brownies. We have men who are leaders, but they have to have a female leader with them as well - which is fine since we always need two leaders anyway. It can be done. I will say though that we have a waiting list that is quite long for girls who did not start as Daisies. It is hard to find good scouting experiences for girls.

What about getting a Girl Scout to build it for you as their Gold Project?