DuctTape

As the ash borer began to make its way towards our parts I began to plant some seedlings to take their place in my woods proactively. I have also collected acorns from the nearby park and left piles for the squirrels to hide hoping that some might take root. Fortunately my woods are not a monoculture of ash, so all is not lost. The hickory are the most abundant.

Yes. For the last decade or so I cook a traditional thanksgiving menu in the woods over an open fire. I use backpacking cook gear (no dutch oven) . We camp from Thurs-Sat. Since most cannot make it for Thurs, I cook the main meal on Friday. I break down the turkey into breast and thigh pieces before heading out as it is easier to cook in parts. (I do the same when I cook turkey at home.) Edit: This is not a scout trip. But one w/ adult friends. Although there is no reason it could not be undertaken by youths.

Another benefit the Adult Association by means of the traditional approach to the mB process is the scout making the initial contact with an adult he/she does not know to plan and arrange the counseling sessions. I do not think losing this opportunity by having scouts do mBs only at camp, mB colleges, or even with troop adults can be underscored enough. When a scout desires a "rare" mB, this is the perfect opportunity to this traditional approach, in contrast to offering it at a college b/c only one or two counselors for that mB exist in council. I think the colleges serve a role, but they should be limited to introducing the mB counselor and content. Ending with providing contact info for the scouts to call/email/etc... the counselor to set up sessions (perhaps with a couple buddies at most).

What is often missing in the rush to mBs via "colleges" or the like is the real benefit of the Adult Association method. The more personal the time spent with the youth, the more the adult assiciation as a method can be used to accomplish the aims. The biggest problem with the mB mills and the give-away mBs is they are an example of the opposite of our aims. Cutting corners and taking the easy way out is not ethical decision making. By focusing on advancement as the goal, handing out signed blue cards to scouts who have not fulfilled the reqs, showing scouts how to cheat the system and denying scouts the benefit of true adult association is the worst example we can provide the scouts. It goes against the very Aims of the movement.

There is a reason for dens to be the size of patrols. Using other adults to split up the larger group into manageable sizes is an acknowledgement that the group size is too large to begin with. In general no matter how large the group is, the fellows will only be able to "hang out" with 5 or 6 others at any given time. Which is the typical den or patrol size. So even with a large den, the reality is there are smaller dens already. These might be more dynamic groupings from meeting to meeting, but they are smaller dens within the larger regardless.

As you transition to having scouts having the authority to sign-off, I would hesitate using something as arbitrary as rank, or age as whether they may sign off. Instead designate those who you have determined understand and can demonstrate what "a scout is tested" is supposed to look like. This goes for adults too. I would not designate any adults until they demonstrated this understanding either.

The belt loops in the 80s were for skill awards as a Boy Scout (not cub). IMO the skill awards were the only good thing about the ISP. They were introductory to the skill, a basic competency which then left the mBs for more advanced. This provided a means for growth over time as opposed to one-and-done. I still remember my patrol leader going over communications skill award with me at summer camp. I am ok with the reqs being put into the ranks, but I think they should all be done "as a _____ rank". So as to provide the building of the skill opportunity.

Did you all see the latest Scouting magazine? The FAQ column addressed "group" merit badges. One wonders if this was a reaction to often discussed issues here and/or survey comments. I know I have expressed significant concern with mB mills in the surveys I complete.

my first thought from your title was "bugling". For a trumpet (or any brass instrument) player it might not be challenging. But for someone who play no instrument or a string instrument it can be very challenging.

When I taught IOLS, we did do height of tree and distance across ravine. But with only 1 hour, could only do basics of map/compass. I focused on how the adults could encourage the scout leaders (youth) with activities instead of school like instruction.

To add to other good comments thus far: to go with TP, a small vial of hand sanitizer. I would also add sunscreen even though one is in the woods, the amount of uv penetration may not be insignificant. This might be a decision made by individuals more prone to sunburn than others.

I have a few acres of woods which the scouts on occassion will use. One patrol has set up a new campsite location for themselves. They lashed a pole between two trees on which they attach their tarp to make a lean-to. Their firepit is just in front with a couple of log seats. Mostly they use the tarp lean-to as a place to hang out or eat. But a few have opted to sleep there. Overheard comment, "We don't need to carry in a tent now."

most information/instruction delivered via talking will not be absorbed or remembered. So likely it went in one ear and out the other for the rest of the scouts. I would use your time as a mentor to the SPL to help him develop an activity to do on a winter trip which focuses on the first aid issues. During that help, slip in the "corrections". For example, "One idea might be to do activity 'xyz' which would reinforce concept 'abc' (the error correction)".

What I would like clarification on is in regards to insurance. The national memo refers to liability insurance as a major cost driving the membership fee increase. The councils also collect an insurance fee of $12. What $ amount from the membership fee goes to the national liability insurance? What is the difference between the insurance provided by National vs Council?

We received the info in an email from our council. They also sent us one ahead of time letting us know that changes will be coming.

I didn't know Explorers still existed as an option.

That is why I think the best "how to manual" for scouts is the original Fieldbook. A patrol can start on chapter 1, do the activity (pow-wow I think they were called). Then go to the next activity. If a new scouter needed a "how to", I direct them to this and have them hand it to their PL.

nice! Next move is to do it over an open fire. In some aspects it is easier as there is more room; the pots/pans aren't jammed in next to each other and you can have 3 ppl cooking simultaeneously. If you can't have a fire tho, I suppose you are stuck with the 3 burner.

To put risk in perspective, most foodborne illness can be traced to food preparation. Cross contamination and/or sanitation related to the food preparer. Camp chefs not washing hands after using the latrine, and/or cutting tomatoes right after cutting raw chicken is most likely. Not using chemical rinses in cleaning the pots/pans in the woods is the least likely cause of foodborne illness. Ecoli et al does not spontaneously appear into a pot or utensil with leftover food fragments. It must be transferred. This happens during food prep. No matter how well the cooking implements were cleaned, failure to follow safe serve food prep makes any cleaning regimen futile.

The older BSA literature used the term "trail tent" which was just a tarp. I have one from the 50s (and a wooden packframe w/canvas pack). One of these days I will show up to an event with only my old equipment.

Having camp more than a mile from the car would facilitate bringing a tarp instead of a "popup canopy". Even using a "car campground", the drivers do not need to drive all the way in. Most (all?) will have a parking lot closer to the entrance.

Do samples have to be followed verbatim, or can they be modified to fit the pack? Of course this question is rhetorical.

And at our troops we wonder why so many adults have never camped after having been cub leaders for 5 years. The best way to mitigate risk is through training and experience, NOT prohibition. Sadly the latter is the culture promoted at HQ.

our council camps routinely have small logging operations so there is always plenty of the crowns left for firewood. Oddly though, most troops will have a campfire, but still cook on a stove????

Very similar memories here. I was the kid who was up early and re-lit the fire using an ember buried in the ash. I was always proud I could go the entire weekend with only using a single match. Even now, I am usually the first to arise and re-light the fire when I am out with friends (or with the adults on a scout trip). My camping hasn't changed much since my scout days, except for I have learned more and am able to do more advanced types of trips. IMO unless there is a fire ban, scouts should be using open fires for cooking and camraderie. Yes, even in sub-zero winter.