dancinfox

BobWO, In the troop I am Scoutmaster for, we have a adult leader assigned to help Scouts who achive Life advance toward Eagle. By this I mean when the Scout starts slowing down in their advancement toward Eagle, this adult memtors them. Sometimes, this occurs by the adult haveing them come to troop meetings and talking about how their project is going, or finding counselors for those last merit badges. I have had transfers come from other troops in the area, because they just aren't working toward their Eagle, I personaly get concerned about them, talk with their parents, and the scout and find out there is a problem with the current troop or leader. I feel a youth should have every opportunity to earn their Eagle Rank if at all possible. I've even argued at Roundtable about the guidelines for Eagle advancement, sometimes not the most popular person, but I always remember we are here to help the boy advance and become a better person. Maybe if you use a mentor to guide this Scout, he will get more active. Even if he doesn't, stick with the guidelines and procedures. Dancin

I would go to your District Commissioner and ask their opinion of the situation. Also ask their opinion on having the unit commissioner for your unit have their spouse be the Pack Committee Chair. You might get some help from them. dancin

Have the Patrols make a pancake. The have them flip the pancake over a string and catch it in the pan relay style. Dancin

Eagle69, You don't need the full version of Acrobat to fill these forms in. If you have a free version of Acrobat, you can use it to fill in the spaces. I have made it a fill-in form. In Scouting, Dancin

To those to whom I e-mailed the attached files too. I just wondered what you thought of them. Dancin

Dan, That is correct. I have a full copy of Acrobat and can make PDF files fill-in. Everything on the Tour Permit that needs to be filled in, can be. I also have the Eagle Appliciation in a fill-in format if you would like it. In the Wood Badge Spirit Dancin

I have faxed my tour permits to the council office for 3 years. They always fax them back to me the same day. If anyone is interested, I have made the new 2003 Local Tour Permit fillable in a PDF format. You can use Acrobat to fill it out, print it either 8 1/2 X 14 or 8 1/2 X 11 and mail or fax to your council. If interested in this file, e-mail me and I will attach and e-mail you back. Dancin

Our Council has had rechartering from Troopmaster for two years. They spent an additional two years working the bugs out before they offered it. One thing they have told us is that the information in your computer needs to be the same as ScoutNet. They will print you a list from ScoutNet to compare and change your computer, or if you have a new copy of Troopmaster, they will download to a floppy so you can upload the Names, addresses, etc. to your computer. This works well. In my work with Troopmaster, it will not let you complete your recharter process, unless everything that ScoutNet needs is complete. As far as signatures are concerned, the BSA tells the Councils the hardcopy needs to be signed, and the unit should turn in a floppy disk with the recharter on it for them to upload into their computer and transmit to National. Dancin

We got plastic mugs with axe and log on it with course number. We also got pens with Wood Badge and course number on them. We were able to buy shirts and hats. Shirts had Axe and Log and hats had the 21st Century logo on them, with Wood Badge just above and course number on right side. Staff had Staff on left side. Instead of a coin, everyone got a patch of the new logo. Real neat. dancin

One thing we all have to keep in mind with the new training materials. In the Introduction to Outdoor leader skills, this is a training for leaders to get their youth to First Class, not advanced outdoor skill training. If you read the sylabus, the participant has a sheet that tenderfoot, second class, and first class skills are signed off by the instructor. It is just what it says, an INTRODUCTION TO OUTDOOR LEADER SKILLS. If a leader wants more detailed and advanced training, that is what supplemental training is for. We should not try to add additional skills to the sylabus.

My thinking would be that National would make the uniform more in tune to the youth in the organization. If you check the new hats out, you'll see they are the low profile type that young people wear. I would assume that the uniform shirt, and pants would go to the same type of style. But, when they changed the socks, they did bring back the knee sock. You never know with the BSA Dancin

Get a copy of Faststart and watch it with all your leaders. Read the Scoutmasters handbook, the Senior Patrol Leaders handbook, the Patrol Leaders handbook. Use the meeting guides in the Scoutmasters handbook to start the first months meeting plans. Have your youth elect a Senior Patrol Leader, break into patrols and elect their patrol leaders. Make an agenda for the Patrol Leaders Council, go over it with the Senior Patrol Leader. Let him run the meeting, going over the current months meeting plans and have them pick themes for the upcoming months using Troop resourses books. Try to give them mimimal help in planning their next few months meetings and outings. Give guideance, encouragement, and praise. Let them make mistakes, but always give encouragement. Good luck, you can do it! Dancin

I use a Kelity one man backpacking tent. Only weighs 3lbs packed and sets up in about 5 to 7 minutes. Goes down in about the same time.

Your ticket should be "SMART" specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely, and address "who, what, where, when why, how measured, and how verified. The ticket is a vision of your role in scouting. You can be creative in the writing of the ticket. You do not have to use all the skills you learn at Wood Badge, but one goal must address diversity. It is not a eaiser ticket. The vision is to teach young people to make ethical decisions and improve their leadership skills. Good luck to all taking this great new course, enjoy the experience and challange yourself. In the Wood Badge Spirt Dancin Fox C-15L-95 C-CS1-93

The troop general fund keeps 50 cents of every popcorn item for the general fund. The rest of the profit goes into the Scouts account. When we do our fundraisers, Spag and Pancake Breakfast, we have the Scouts sell tickets. The Scout gets 1.00 for every ticket sold and any remaining profit from the dinner and breakfast gets divided up amoung the Scouts that worked the event. The Scouts parents, and siblings who are old enough to work add their hours worked to the Scouts. We total the hours, divide into the remaining profit after ticket sales are deducted and figure a hourly amount, then multiply that by the total hours the Scout and family worked. Seems to work real well for us. Dancin

Just finished my first weekend as a Troop Guide for the 21st Century Wood Badge. What a great course. As far as your tickets are concerned. One of the five ticket items will be on Diversity (ie: having exchange students come and talk with your troop, den, pack, team, or crew about different cultures. Just a example) We have a full course with scouters from all programs and only heard good things. Don't worry about what the old courses were like. I went to Cub Trainers WB and Boy Scout Leader WB and the new course is unique in it's own way. Leadership is continuing thru out the program and this course covers it well. Enjoy your patrol mates, work your ticket hard and go for the prize, a better program for the youth we serve. In the Wood Badge Spirit Dancin, A good ol Fox too!

Troop Program Resources have games you can use in troop meetings that build teamwork either by patrol or the whole troop. Also check the Junior Leader Training which has games you can use.

Remember, you can do prelimary research on a project, but if you do any of the project before you get all approvals after earning the Life Scout Rank, the project is not an Eagle project, but just a good service project. Just take it slow, you have until your 18 to earn the Eagle Rank. I've seen Life Scouts start working on projects before final approval, including your District or Council advancement person's approval and the project was denied as an Eagle project. After earning your Life Scout Rank, and receiving the Life to Eagle Workbook from your Scoutmaster, read it through, then talk to your Scoutmaster about the project you want to do. After his approval, talk to the organization and get their approval, then your Committee, and after all these approvals set up a meeting with the advancement chair and meet with that person to get their final approval. Be prepared that some of your project might not be approved by them. But they will guide you in the right direction for final approval. Only after their approval, start working on your project. Good Luck. YIS Dancin

My troop wears a troop hat that is low profile, dark green with our logo on the front. We also wear a troop neckerchief which is dark green with yellow piping and the troop logo silk screened in yellow. Each scout and adult also have a green nametag with the troop logo and their name on it. Looks good at summer camp, camporees, court of honors. Parents like it alot.

I'm not disagreeing with Bob, but in his other postings he always cites the policies and procedures. I do not no of any policy or procedure that says different from the BSA litature. Bob, it is not anger, but conterdiction is not the name of the game. Baden Powell came up with the Patrol method for a reason. Not saying your advice is wrong, because I don't think it is. I just think agknowledgement to the program should be stated. Dancin, PS: I'm sorry you think that I'm angry.

Bob, Where in BSA Liturature does is say you don't need a Senior Patrol Leader. Page 17 of the Scoutmaster Handbook shows a sample Junior Leader Organizational Chart for a Small Troop which shows a Senior Patrol Leader. Please site your reference on this. Remember, the manuals are always right. We have to give the youth the program from the BSA policies and procedures. Dancin

Gentlemen, I believe a true man can admit when he is WRONG. I have given this issue much thought and agree with you. I will issue these scouts their advancement. Thank you for your imput. I do fell that we all need to follow the WHOLE Scouting program, not just parts. In Scouting Dancin

If you read my post, I said the the Scouts came up with their additional punishment. I as Scoutmaster said ok. BSA policy on Merit Badges says that a Merit Badge is earned when the Scoutmaster signs it. Also, that Scout Spirit has to be signed off by the Scoutmaster or the rank has not been earned. I feel that the Scout Spirit of these young men is not up to what it should be at this time. As for these young men being turned off Scouts, quite the contrary, they are more dedicated to the ideas of a good scout then before. I did have them write the essay, but better that, then send them home or lose my temper, which I did not. REMEMBER, we are building good citizens here. Dancin

I undated my basic training in 2002 for Scoutmaster. I am a trained commissioner.

I do not have any problem with what people wear or don't wear. One thing I do think, is that our children are given to us to raise and nuture. Until they are old enough to make decisions that will impact their lives forever, we have to make their decisions for them. My son, an Eagle Scout is 20 years old and at 18, started making decisons for himself, ie: how to wear his hair, cloths, etc. All I tell him about his decisions is that he is now an adult, and while I may not condone his decisions, I will not condem them. I feel the same way about my Scouts, Adult Leaders and any other person I come in contact with. I made decisons that afected my life when I became 18, and my father told me the same thing. We are the caretakers of our worlds children, and until they are old enough to make their own decisions, someone should make them for them. Just my opinion Dancin