Cubmaster Randy

I saw the commercial during the da Bears game as well. To me it was along the lines of some kind of sophisticated ink blot test or a test of brand recognition. Yes, I immediatly thought Boy Scouts and probably most people will, but there was no insignia or logos, just a boy in uniform with a campaign hat and a kneckerchief. To me it tied in well with values and they got their point across to me, I am not going to buy a truck , but I'll remember the commercial

I have also seen many patrols sew or glue them on their course hats. Either on the back or the side that did not have the course number on it As it has been mentioned, you do not need to strip the uniform anymore, just make sure the patches were in the correct spot and you that you have any non correct insignia or regalia taken off. We were also told that we should only wear 3 rows of knots. (Not a problem in my case) My guess is that they wanted the participants to see what we did outside of Wood Badge and that we make sure that our uniform was correct because we were setting the example as a staff members. When I took the course in 2004 everyone had red woggles. I made a blue one to match my epaulets when I served as staff as everyone made one that matched the program they served as. The staff wore the Troop 1 kneckerchief for the course, except for the closing banquet and staff dinners

I am a Cubmaster, on the District Commitee (Activites Chair) and a Unit Commisioner for 2 Packs. I am also on the district training team doing CLST and BALOO. I have also had the opportuity to serve on WB staff. Needless to say I am very busy with Scouting attending various meetings and activities, ( and yes I am a commisioner who visits my units on a regular basis) How much is too much depends on how much time you have to spend on it and how much you enjoy it. I enjoy it and I make time for it. Spousal unit would like for me to cut back a bit, and per some suggestions from this forum. I am looking into stepping back some next year when my son crosses over into a troop. I have had to say "no" several times. Basically they were for projects or events that I knew I do not have the bandwidth for. I also travel for business about once a month for a week a time.(I love my blackberry) So, Unless we can add more hours to the day and an extra month or so to the year, there are limitations to the amount of hats one can wear and do still do effectively... and still enjoy watching the kids grow up Besides, when would we find the time to post on the scouter.com forum lol

Eamon: Your right, If you were to say that you probably would get some strange looks, but I know what you mean by that, so I would not laugh. Curious: What are all the patrol names for the UK woodbadge, (I could probably google it, but just asking)

Of course you can. We all sang it during the course, right? so why not while working your ticket or during the break between weekends? What critter are you? I used to be a beaver, but will always be an Eagle

Thanks for all of the replies. I am looking forward to reading them , but I have not been able to see them for some reason cannot read them as there is a server issue and I can't see anything past the second message. I am replying blind here as all I see is this and a black spot and this error message Microsoft OLE DB Provider for ODBC Drivers error '80040e14' [Microsoft][ODBC SQL Server Driver] Line 1: Incorrect syntax near 'bob'. /forums/forum_library.asp, line 601

Sometime I get ahead of myself, but I wanted to be ready. As a former Boy Scout and now a scouter (A scout is prepared) My son crosses over next March and I just finished up the last part of my SM/ASM training by attending our district's ITOLS course this past weekend. It was a blast. We got to learn, relearn or in my case remember all of the skills needed for a Boy Scout to get to First Class. I did SALT last spring so I am now a fully trained ASM. I did committee training last spring too, but don't think I want to be on the committee. I would prefer to work front line with the boys. Any suggestions for a new Boy Scout leader?

In BALOO training, we teach about having organized activites. You need some free time to let the boys be boys, but at this age they also need structure. Agreed that this was probably not the best planning or use of time If this was a webelos only activity then this would have been an excellant time to work on outdoor skills, maybe earn the outdoorsman activity pin or earn some belt loops. Even if it was an pack activity, they could have knocked off some requirments. It is all a game with a Purpose We had a similar experience a couple of years ago. Our pack had recently lost its activity chair and nobody wanted to step up or even run any activites at the campout. So it fell on me. I provided some basic activites but agreeably not as detailed as I would have liked it to be. At the end of the campout we did a roses and thorns after the scouts own on Sunday moring. The boys enjoyed the campout, but expressed an opinion that they would like more orgainized activites to do. The parents heard the message and since then I have several parents step up to offer their services. (Vacummns do fill themselves if one allows them too.) I've also found sometimes i need to walk over and ask if a new scout can be included in the games. Kids are kids and sometimes will not think to ask if someone wants to join them. Also, It is so easy to judge other people, but remember these parents are volunteers, maybe your husband, with his boy scout experience can offer some of his services to help out; Remember The World (Pack, den etc. insert correct noun) is run by those who show up.

You can always ask your DE Does the church (CO) care what number you get? In our district we currently have three different scenarios. Some of our CO's have a pack and troop and a possibly crew with the same numbers. Some of the CO's units have totally different numbers, that are not even close to each other. We even have a pack with the same number as a troop and they are on opposite sides of town with different CO's Talk about confusing

That is the tradition in our pack as well. I can't recall anyone telling me I had to do it that way, but it works

In our district we have a year round program. The units can pick when they would like to do it. it is unfortunate, but the food banks need food year round

How about a pair of long underwear? Something of the microfiber varity to wick moisture away. I bought a pair at REI a few years ago that would work great.

That is correct that one per household fulfills the requirement. There are different inserts for the different levels, so if you have a cub and a boy scout, they may still want two issues. I've been told their is a seperate issue for webelos, but with one son I may never know as we only get one subscription per month In our district we have to purchase the patches,so for many years we just ordered the quality patch without the 100% boys life even though we qualify for the 100% boys life patch. Last year, our CC asked me which to order. i said lets try the 100% boys life. I don't know if I like the mylar either, and Nobody said anything either way. I'll let the CC decide next year.

We encouraged all the parents to come to our webelos woods, but if someone could not make it, then the boy could still come. In our den we had 6 of the 8 scouts bring their parent. The district made it a Webelos only event. No sisters or younger brothers. It allowed for the webelos to interact and do activities with the boy scouts and the parents of the webelos who attended also got to see how boy scout "boy led" program was run. Also a chance to talk with the Boy Scout leaders. It was an eye-opener for many of our parents.

If they meet the joining requirments for Boy Scouts, then officially they could join and I would see no reason for them staying if they did not want to. If (he) they want to finish up the AOL, go with the combined den approach. The cub scout program is geared to ages for a reason. My concern would be if the boys are emotionally ready. Since i don't know them, I am not even going to guess. The jump to a boy led troop for a beginning 5th grader may be big and it might end up being a big disservice to them. What does the SM of the troop have to say?

I also like the information that was on the Webelos-o-ree site. I may add some items from that to our WW. We do ours yearly in the spring after our Webelos II have crossed over. We invite the Webelos I's and occasionally a there are some Webelos II, who need a troop activity. We invite all the troops from our distict and out of 13 troops we had 8 particiapte this past year. We are aiming for 100% particiaption, but that may be not realistic. Our Webelos Woods is a 2 day camping expeirnece exclusively for Webelos Scouts to experience camping in a manner similar to Boy Scout Troops and Patrols. The weekend program is focused on providing opportunities for Patrol-style activities, team building, and leadership experiences. Troop Leaders meet during the activity periods with the parents of the Webelos Scouts when the Webelos while at the station Schedule Outline: Friday afternoon/evening - Webelos Dens to arrive and check in Friday night campout by Dens Saturday Project X Patrol Challenge Course Saturday Evening Council Campfire Saturday night campout Sunday Scouts Own Service, departure Activities The Saturday program is built around the Project X Patrol Challenge Course. X stands for the unknown, and the Webelos Dens will attempt to figure out and overcome a number of obstacles and puzzles. Each situation will test the Scouts ability to work together as a team. Each scout will have the opportunity and challenge of leading his Den/Patrol in working on an activity. We also allowed troops to come up with "scout skills" actiivity if they chose to. The Project X activities are constructed, staffed, supervised, and refereed by Boy Scouts from our District Troops. This provides a leadership challenge to the Boy Scout Staff members, as well as the opportunity for constant interaction between the Boy Scouts and Webelos Scouts. Leadership and Staffing Each participating den must be accompanied by at least 2 adults. Den Chiefs are encouraged to attend with their dens. Boy Scouts, opersting with the support of their Troop leadership, will manage the challenge course activities. Additional Boy Scout staff members may serve in the role of Encampment SPL, ASPL, service patrol members, or special assignments as needed. Participating Troops must provide adequate 2-deep leadership for their participating scout staff members. Unit Commitments Packs Unit leaders should encourage the participation of all 4th grade Webelos Scouts. Webelos Woods can be planned on as a leadership training activity and an exercise in outdoor and camping skills development. Webelos Den Leaders should work with their Scouts in the weeks prior to Webelos Woods to teach the Scouts how to develop camping supply check lists, and patrol-style food plans. Troops Boy Scout Troops will be asked to support Webelos Woods by producing and staffing activities for the Project X Patrol Challenge Course. Troop leaders should encourage participation by their scouts in serving as leaders of the various activities on the Challenge Course. With appropriate prior planning, Scout service at Webelos Woods can be an effective leadership and team bulding learning exercise for Patrols and Troops.

We get involvement by distribution of the responsiblites to each of the troops in our district. No one troop is responsible for putting it on and all troops particiapting have a role. (Ownership sparks involvement) The Camporee is structured around a central theme (that the boys pick) and the Program Activities are designed to support that theme (by the troops). Outside experts and resources have been used to advance core objectives of the theme. The main objective of Camporee is to promote fun of outdoor scouting activities. Leadership and Staffing Each troop takes responsiblity for an area of responsiblity as well as a troop activity. The troops will pick what they want to do by size of unit, the resourses to get the job done, as well as the interest level of the troop The Camporee Camp Director is a volunteer and is approved (recruited) by the District Program Committee. Working with him is a camporee SPL, who picks several ASPL's (from the other troops) to help run the event with the help of the reps. The Camp Director and Camp SPL are supported by a volunteer staff from the troops in various critical areas including: Program Development Health and Safety Logistics Coordination Communications Registration Finance and Accounting Recognition and Awards Facilities Management Troop commitments Each Troop provides a Scout as a representative to the Camporee planning committee, with an adult leader to assist. We meet monthly starting about 6 months from the camporee date and when we get closer sometimes have an extra meetings We encourage every Troop to plan on attending Camporee as part of their major activities plans. For the past couple of years, we have had 450-500 people attend camporee.

What are the other members of his troop bringing to wear? I would have him ask his PL or someone who has gone to camp with your troop before

In the world of Cub scouting you have much experience. I became involved with the district committee when my son was a wolf and became a commisioner when he was a bear. I was assigned to a pack that had not seen a commisioner in two years. They were very happy to see me. I went to their pack meetings and leader meetings. I made myself available to them. If they had a question, that I did not know the answer, I would tell them that and that I would get the answer for them and follow up with them. I let them know about upcoming events and trainings. If you have enthousiasm and a caring attitude you will succeed no matter how young you are. I have not been asked to serve as a Troop commisioner. Most of my experience of Boy Scouts was as a youth. Although I am Wood Badge trained and an Eagle Scout, I am still percieved as a Cub Scout Leader. In our district right now, we are targeting recruitment of former cubmasters and den leaders to serve as commisioners. We have found that many of these former cub leaders are getting lost in troops with 6+ ASM's and we don't want to lose the experience that they have. Regarding being the District spy.. I try and not be one. Yes, I report on how my units are doing, but because I care about the health of the unit. We report Green, Yellow or Red. but I talk about how I am helping the the key 2 of the unit to correct the issue if we are yellow or red. I am not there to spy, but to be helpful. That comes from building trust

I've seen the tote&chip patches. It is rather difficult to tear the corner off. You need scissors LOL

For twins, one adult partner is acceptable, For quads or quints, you might want to think about having two adult partners for them.. Add a couple more tiger scouts and you have a den

I apologize for my post earlier. I meant to say yes you can, but in typing my response, I misread the question (example)as "Can you work on it over two years?" YES instead of your question. "Do you have to complete it while the scout is the same rank?". NO

The simple answer is yes. The Academic and Sports program suppliments, it does not replace the existing rank advancment program They can be earned by tigers through webelos. Now if you if it was a belt loop being earned for a webelos activity badge (pin), I would want most of the work to be done as a Webelos, as the the requirment says earn while a Webelos, not work on...just my 2 cents

What is the defininion of a "winter camp". Being a tranplanted northener and having gone winter camping as a Boy Scout,I would not consider taking webelos out in the Northern winter unless I was in a heated cabin. But I live in Georgia now... Two years ago, we went on a campout in January with the webelos. Before we went we went over cold weather camping procedures, had a shakedown to make sure everyone had enough warmth and the right equipment. We did not want to make cubsicles out of the boys or ourselves. We put togther a pamphlet on cold weather camping and went over it. We worked on readyman and what the symptons and first aid of hypothermia. We instructed the importance of staying dry and having the proper wicking, warmth and windproof clothing. We wanted everyone to be prepared for the weather and for our adventure. For those without really warm sleepping bags, they brought 2 and double bagged them 2 days before the campout the leaders convened , checked the temperature and weather forecast and it was decided that the trip was a go. The actual low at night was 27 and the high during the day was in the 50's. We did some compass, took a hike, but mostly the boys just played and got to know each other(We had three different packs there) The fire went all day and we had hot chocolate for the scouts and coffee for the adults available at all times. My son still says this was his best campout This year when we did our precampout conference call. The weather forecast was deemed unsuitable for webelos (rainy, windy and a high of 35) and we went to plan B, which was a 1 night lockin at the local church, On Saturday, they worked on belt loops, activity pins and did some rope work. The boys also had a fun time

At $6.25 each, how many do you have? A Scout is thrifty. I don't know if they would notice or care if they had different styles. Or you could save them for a time when you need them When I became Cubmaster several years ago, the committee chair gave me a box also. There must ahve been three different shades of gold for the wolf kneckers. Nobody has said anything