9muckraker7

Hey guys, it's been a while since I've posted here, but I have a cool topic and I'd like to hear people's opinions regarding this. I want to make a very challenging and involved competition event to be held at a camporee. I'm looking for both creative and practical ideas, something that will really test a patrol's skills and teamwork. For example, the patrol must build a fire with wet wood and cook something. They'd be provided a small hatchet with which they could cut open a wet log and use the dry wood inside of the log. They can make what I think is called a "fuzzy stick" where the stick is carved with a sharp knife so that its wood is sort of peeling off of the stick, allowing it to burn more easily. Extra points would be awarded for using a green branch to weave somewhat of a tennis racket shaped griddle to cook on (I've seen this in the scout handbook). This would test their knowledge of firebuilding, their knife/axe skills, and their ability to cook on a fire. If anyone has any detailed suggestions, feel free to post em!

Different lodges do things differently. Our lodge's fellowship weekends are held at our council's summer camp, and food is cooked and served in the dining hall. The entire camp usually is the lodge's for the weekend, and we do service projects for the camp at all events. At our lodge's service weekends, the projects are more numerous and of a greater scale; at fellowship weekends, the projects are smaller and can accomodate a few people or a lot of people [splitting wood, moving branches, etc]. There are cabins at our camp which can accomodate roughly 20 people each (and usually are enough for the entire weekend's arrowmen), although all campsites are open to any scout(s) who want to stay there. Naturally, there are arrowmen from the same troop, or from the same lodge committee such as a dance or ceremonial team, who tend to "stick together" throughout the weekend, but typically everybody gets along equally as well. During the day at a typical lodge campout, a lodge may have a leadership-training session, ranging from team-building and leadership styles to improving communication between the lodge and OA troop-reps. These sessions are usually conducted by very experienced and qualified arrowmen, to share their knowledge with everyone else. Aside from training sessions, a lodge may simply have a FUN weekend...and hey, what's not fun at a summercamp? Depending on the weather, arrowmen could use some of the summer-camp facilities [that is, IF these special activities are planned for ahead of time by the youth of the lodge in conjunction with the council, who usually are very cooperative and supportive]. IF the lodge has developed chapters, then inter-chapter activities and/or competitions are also a possibility. Competitions could be something completely fun such as a relay race, or they could be more knowledge-oriented things such as firebuilding or compass reading....anything the lodge wants really. At night, the lodge membership congregates in the dining hall for dinner and some after-dinner entertainment. These can range from random prize drawings to OA jeopardy to seltzer-chugging or pie-eating contests---any crazy thing the youth lodge leadership can think up and plan for! Again, the YOUTH plan out the weekend! If the youth don't want to plan much for the weekend, then the weekend is pretty much a relaxing little get-together for the lodge. If the youth are in the mood for a jam-packed weekend, they'll plan a jam-packed weekend with lots of things to do. The adults play a verry small role in planning and running the weekend; they make sure policies are enforced [youth protection is observed, first aid personnel are available, no firearms or anything like that]. I heard somewhere that the adults in the OA exist to help the youth succeed as leaders. In my lodge at least, this is very true.

Is this parent a troop leader? If she (or he?) is, then I would suggest he go through some leadership training to know where his/her place is as an adult, to motivate the scout more positively in situations like these. Remember, you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar

Sounds like a start, although I'm not quite sure if the BSA or GSA [Girl Scouts of America, I'm not sure if that's the full name of the organization of Girl Scouts] offer any recognition awards for people outside of scouting. The silver beaver award, the highest commendation the BSA awards, is given to anyone who performs great acts of service to youth, and the recipient does not have to be affilitated with scouting to receive it. I see your point though, that eagle scouts and gold scouts should try to create for themselves a great reputation for being top-notch citizens, to hold with them the honor and prestige of earning that rank for the rest of their lives.

Hey here's a good idea for a thread: Many of us in these forums are VERRRY experienced scouts/scouters, and I'm sure all of us have a favorite personal scouting experience... What are your "TOP 3" most meaningful or memorable scouting experiences? Whether you want to briefly list them, or provide an explanation, it's up to you. This is meant to be one of those "charge your batteries" type threads, so feel free to whatever you want about your personal favorite scouting experiences. I'll start y'all off by listing my own top 3: 1. NOAC 2004 -- my first NOAC, but not my last....seeing so many scouts in one place, and participating in the fantastic activities and shows, all in the most amazingly friendly OA atmosphere, meeting so many people, making so many friends, realizing I actually had THOUSANDS of brothers across the nation who all hold the same ideals of brotherhood in common with each other----easily puts this event at the top of my list. 2. Order of the Arrow National Leadership Seminar -- Overall, this was an amazing learning experience. No training course I've been through is quite like this, and I recommend any serious scout/scouter who's an arrowman to go through this. I really like how the top officers from across the entire region come together to teach and inspire fellow arrowmen, all in a very fun and trusting atmosphere. 3. Troop camping trip about 3 years ago -- This was a VERY RARE camping trip that it rained non-stop all weekend. Yet, the entire troop -- both youth and adult -- seemed to maintain extremely high spirits the whole weekend. Seeing all three patrols try and try and fail to light their campfire, and each patrol helping the other with this endeavor, yet never lighting it...then the patrols proceeding to sit around the unlit campfire in their ponchos to tell campfire stories and sing songs and do skits in the rain...it was one of those very awesome sights that one can only see during a scouting experience. ........... Please share your own personal favorite scouting experiences and make this thread great!

There are no lifetime or honorary memberships in the OA. [i believe this is stated in the OA handbook and the guide to officers and advisors]. To be a member, however, one must only go through the induction sequence one time. After that, he may retain [or reactivate?] his membership by paying dues to the lodge of the council to which he is currently registered.

Interesting. I have another question... Would "soliciting funds" for the charter organization be prohibited?

I recently read this on scouting.org, concerning hurricane katrina. "Although the BSA Charter and Bylaws do not allow for youth members to solicit funds for other organizations, there are many ways your Scouts can help in the relief efforts." So, is this saying that a patrol or unit cannot ask for funds to benefit the relief efforts (by donating to the red cross or salvation army) of a natural disaster???? I think that it would be very beneficial if boy scouts were to organize fundraisers for the organizations directly involved with the relief efforts. People will have a greater respect for our organization if they saw us taking an active part in the relief efforts. Also, there are many people who do not know how to help, or who do not want "to bother" with dialing a number or mailing a check. If they encounter a couple boy scouts on the side of the road collecting donations for the red cross, then maybe they'll give 5, 10 dollars they might have in their wallet. Seeing these kids in their uniforms would raise awareness of the good citizenship our organization fosters. Also, there are some people who may be suspicious of whom they give their money to, but who could ever distrust a scout in his uniform, helping the community? This is just how I see it; perhaps some clarification is needed.(This message has been edited by 9muckraker7)

American Red Cross. 1-800-HELP-NOW

Try getting in touch with the national or regional office (officers?) for the OA. The names of vigil honor recipients and their given native american names are probably on file somewhere.

The "crossing over ceremony" almost always involves the presentations of the arrows of light. This award, the highest award offered in Cub Scouting, marks the beginning of the Cub Scout's scouting 'career' [for lack of a better word]. This is the arrow of light: a light representing the spirit of scouting [or potential thereof] that shines in each of the recipients of this award. Now, the Order of the Arrow has a special place in these ceremonies. These are scouts who have kept this light shining, and who have shined their light outward to others, demonstrating in their daily lives the scouting spirit that both the arrow of light and the sash represent. Therefore, it is only logical that these exemplary scouts who wear the sash give a first impression of scouting to those who have first caught a glimpse of the arrow [of light]. It is important that each cub scout might realize his potential to put the most into his scouting experiences, and one day join those guys wearing the sash, showing others the light, the spirit of scouting. Ideally (in my opinion), the OA should have such involvement in the ceremony, but if your lodge is in such a "disorganized" condition, then perhaps it is in the best interest of your troop and of the cub scouts to have something the troop organizes. You do have an extraordinary idea [the fire concept]. Just be sure to maintain the understanding of the arrow of light award throughout your ceremony; that while their crossing over is the end of their cub scouting career, it's the beginning of a much more important, challenging, and rewarding life as a boy scout.

I know the G2SS has a whole section on such limitations as working with chainsaws and motorized vehicles, among a variety of other things, but I'm seeking an answer that I wasn't able to find in the G2SS (although I really didn't read through the entire publication, just any applicable sections). Does the BSA have any limitations on youth scouts working on the roof of a building? Are there any height and/or roof 'slope' (maybe it's called the pitch?) limitations for youth members to be working on, if it's a BSA-related service project (such as an eagle project or perhaps just a troop related service project)? I would think that there would be some restrictions, or at least some written safety procedures one must follow for doing this. Otherwise, maybe common sense and parental consent / adult supervision is the best restriction.

I'm not really familiar with types of cloth, but I believe the sash cloth is two-ply cotton twill. I have no idea what this means, but I do know that it can be ironed, and even perhaps washed! I've washed mine several times with no problem, but I've heard horror stories of PINK SASHES when people try to wash them. Dry-cleaning would be the safest bet on this then, but a new sash isn't that hard to come by...

Forgive me if this topic has been posted before (it seems awfully familiar but I couldn't find anything familiar here in these forums).... What does your lodge do to 'recruit' elangomats for the ordeal(s)? Is there any incentive that you use? Aside from simple recognition, my lodge offers a small pocket dangling patch for elangomats, but I think we need to do more. I'd like some ideas. Thanks.

The Lodge Staff Advisor should be the one handling this situation...I'd suggest you talk to either the staff or lodge advisor, or both, regarding this topic.