Deaf Scouter

(This message has been edited by Deaf Scouter)

I don't think my presence defeated the purpose, Basement as scouting offers teaching tools to parents too in a friendly non threatening environment that family, school, work and sports don't. Tampa...On your 'The other wives feel weird about another woman being around their husband all weekend when they get left home. (Oh yeah that got weird)' Yeah its a fine line to walk which is probably why no friendship outside of scouting developed unless it was with another single mom. I'll have to say I felt shocked, insulted and guilty when someone hit onto me especially never having experienced this in my 9 years of scouting at that time. Made me more conscious of the need to walk that fine line WELL for other women's sake.

*laughing at how a thread brightens one's day, Basement 'Blessings in disguises' comes to mind... *winka I too have found a wealth to be gained through these forums and kinda wish they were around long ago when I begun the Scouting journey. At least they are now a tool for so many.. *smiles Summing it up its not really a thing of gender at all but certain behaviors to watch out for regardless of gender like the overprotective/ clinging parent and the untrained Scouter/ parent along with some very bad habits that need breaking like talking directly male to male or using terms of endearment on someone other than one's spouse... huh? (Still remember the confusion one had on me using 'son' on the boards here for any young boy and I thought my son... *laughing) Guess life is and will always be an adventure... *grins

Packsaddle.. Never heard those 'sweetie' or 'honey' words. Maybe they are afraid I'd think they were hitting onto me and reprimand them for not being trustworthy to their wives... *teasing grin Cooked food burns and dish washing sanitizer takes care of the unsanitary hands. I do have to wonder who started packing the alcohol based one that I REFUSE to use. Don't they know that alcohol dries out a woman soft skin... *smirks

Tent sleeping... In Cub Scouts we were together in a borrowed tent. I find it hard to see buddies together unless the parents are buddies too or they have an extra tent. During our years (my son and I) of Cub Scouting, it seems none of the boys slept with buddies as we rarely tent camped. We did more sleep in kinds of events If we did, it was with the council 'family cub scout weekend' at the local scout camp. We never even saw the need to buy camping equipment. My second time around without my son... oh SURE, camping was pushed. That Cub Scout group was unique in the bonds of friendships between parents and boys. There definitely was buddy camping. Many saw the need to get camping equipment. (I already had mine from Troop camping) Now that I reflect, I really wished my son and I had done our Cub camping with the second pack I was a part of. We didn't Scout around and compare Packs but rather signed up with the first one we heard about which was announced by a classroom father in my son's Open House School Night (*hint on the recruitment tool) There really is a little more country mind set in the second Pack and 10 miles can make a world of differences. As for our Troop experience, our first campout with them was with our new tent on a Troop family whitewater rafting trip which was a campout within Boy Scout but families turned out in droves. While the other families didn't do the Troop's weekly Spring campouts, my son and I did every one of them together. It was shortly after that someone put a stop to my son and I camping together. (I was camping as a parent not a leader. BSA regulation was not brought to my attention as they were busy recruiting us back to Scouting. Please remember we did not transition to Troop right after Cub Scouts but took a couple years off because we moved.) When there was not enough Troop tents to go round then my son and I camped together. Now that I think about it my tent was always over there ----> alone...*laughing I never trained as a Boy Scout leader nor did I go in leader capacity. In fact much later after my son and I were done, I was called to come help with a couple of campouts because there not enough adults going. I never did ANY winter campout as I politely pushed out of it. This winter was the first time I did cabin camping in all my years of Scouting and have to say I'll take TENT camping any day and any weather. Tent camping is more F U N!!! It was much later that a Scouter pulled me into getting IOLS on a campout stating that if I was going on all these campouts I should get some 'training' so I could teach the boys 'proper' tools usage and help with 'instruction'. During my second time around as a Cub Scouter that I actually 'understood' the regulations part. I fell into den leadership so den programming was my only focus. Roundtable even pushed 'programming' by doing 'ideas'. I realize the second time around how much information I missed. Training was NOT pushed during my first experience while during my second it was. I now push training myself. I'm already pushing my Troop parents and Scouters to getting IOLS so that camping experience puts us all on the same page. I got a couple I'm going to push next toward Scoutmaster training. The backpacking one was a one night incident that was the best solution at the time. All of the Scouts slept with they own child as the tents were their own personal backpacking tents. My son and I took our regular tent as no one would loan us a backpacking tent. The one scout that was NOT with parent and in a borrowed backpacking tent that he had NOT been setting up properly. It never mattered the other nights that he hadn't until 'the' night when it POURED'. (his other 3 buddies were sent home due to bad behavior and told they were not mature enough to back pack) I was VERY conscious of the YPT rules hence the reason my son was in the middle of us and I got lousy sleep. Thankfully it was the last night of the 50 miler journey.

Interesting twist to perspective, Eamonn! Definitely something to chew on and/or think about.. *wika

PapaDaddy, Reminds me of my son's first comment after being switched to the meat dept... I'm NEVER eating meat again!... *laughing Truth be told we eat more meat since his switch... *grins

Its funny but I must be more laid back now that my son is not doing this with me. At a recent campout we did clean up work. Its was drizzling and cool. There was a creek running through the area and one scout was daring to clean the other side. Warned him about getting his shoes wet but wanted to do it. I shrugged my shoulders when he fell in and got his shoes wet. Nothing harmful but might make him cold quicker with wet feet. I was really taken back with the Dad's reaction as he was livid. I wasn't the only one. I realize this makes more work for stay at home dad but kids are having FUN and that is more the point. Plus he has done this for years so should have prepared his son's feet by suggesting boots, in my opinion. Showers, who cares on a couple days missing. I have a bigger problem with the smelly breaking wind that happens even in troop meetings. There is where courteous better be practiced by sparing us of horror smells.. *grins Scoutfish.. that male asking another male doesn't happen just in Scouting... *laughing

The things we learn on the boards... *jaw drops while asking Yellow cards in the service?? You're kidding, right??? Doesn't a physical rule out all this stuff????... *scratching head

I prefer to encourage them to read the merit badge pamphlet. First I would ask them to READ the requirements. Many don't and are so unprepared. *sigh in the first failings of the 'Be Prepared' motto. Second in reading the merit badge book, encourage scouts to learn the skim method. If they read the requirements, they know what they don't know. Then go to read the headings and finding the info they don't know in the requirements. As a merit badge counselor, I think its important to supplement the merit badge book with handouts, other books, pictures, equipment and information to the topic chosen. Nothing is more boring than a plain old lecture when the mouth just never seems to stop moving and only 30% is lip readable... *grins Also consider different types of learners: auditory, visual, hands on and etc so you reach a wider audience while considering your own style of teaching... *winka

Webelos is a time when the young scouts out grow uniforms and I would encourage parents to buy uniforms a couple size larger because the next couple of years see growth spurts in these young growing soon to be men. I would encourage buying simple camping gear items to help with their transition to Boy Scouts like: compass, flashlight, fire starter flint, camping kit (camp dishes), outdoor sleeping bag, and ground pad. Too many come with cotton sleeping bags that are so uncomfortable in cold temperatures. Also having these basic tools makes the cost of transition less of a hardship for the financially strapped parent who comes over having multiple camping trip and the summer camp fee on top of it all. If you do popcorn sales that go into a scout account, encourage parents to build those accounts up for the transition so their scout has money as many Webelos decrease in their popcorn sales thinking they are moving out of the Pack and not needing it when the reality is it transfers to the Troop where expenses are greater than in the Pack on outings.

After the hot topic of female leadership in the Boy Scout level (Troops rather than Packs), I think its important to share perspectives on behaviors difference between the genders as from my own experiences I was not even aware until it was pointed out to me when I went camping with my son. One noteworthy behavior was the style of decision making in my household being a single mom and having one child, my son. We had gone white water rafting and the issue of male female sleeping together was brought up even though it was a family outing and only my son was sleeping in our new tent. The adults made the decision without the young scouts and I'm reminded of my son's reaction. He was VERY upset at the final decision as he wanted to sleep in the new tent that he was very much a part of in buying with me. It was then that I realized my son was treated as an adult in my household and his voice is heard before any decision is made which was not the case on this campout. (Luckily the whole thing was dropped and my son and I experienced our new tent and wise selections purchases together with happiness including listening well to having ground pads... *laughing) Another is setting up tents on regular future outings. Scouters encouraged (more like pushed/demanded) my son to sleep with another scout in creating that Scouter - youth leader boundary thus forcing my son to interact instead of with me but with boys his age. Another is telling me not to do for my son when I went to help my son set up the inside of his tent when he was sleepingn with another scout. Its important to teach scouts to do for themselves but realize that some parents it so easy for them to just do that they don't even realizing they are doing until one 'pauses' their actions. What kinds of behaviors do you see that you which the other gender realized they did that might be unintentional and disadvantage to the youth leader?

Let me be upfront and say I haven't read all the pages... I want to comment on my own perspectives and experiences. As a single parent looking for man role models, I think it is a good idea having some restrictions in place for females BUT there is also a time, place and way of going about things. I was not encouraged into leadership role in the Troop yet went on most of the campouts. Most often I was the only female going. To me it was quality time with my son and sharing new adventures cheaply. Several times the males would put forth rules that in my opinion were advantageous to my son even thought they 'slighted' me. Sometimes these action of 'male' dominance gives one pause in how they are doing things without realizing there is a greater picture... the strings will be cut completely one day. There are certain things that men teach that women cannot even in gender equality times. By the same token males should not be so discouraging to having women around in camps or as a Scouter. Mutual respect and communication is very importance tool for every youth leader to have and it starts with the adult Scouters.

Having done the transition as Webelos to Troop, I was involved. One needs to be as a leader as you answer parents concerns and deal with encouraging them to transition and stay in scouting. I remember a particular Troop I went to with my boys and was shocked to learn at the Troop meeting that one applies like an application process and only 3 would be accepted. I had 4 boys. I was embarrassed this was not told to me before hand and the parents were upset to waste their time visiting them. This kind of 'female' involvement is HUGE factor for many especially when there are single moms and fathers too busy working to provide for their families. At this point, I would quickly ease your own thoughts and contact the Scoutmaster of the Troop and find out what their thoughts are about females on campouts. Better to face it head on rather than worry.. *winka

From this 'differently abled' person, moi, let's put this in another perspective... What happens if they go forward and attempt to finish it without pulling the ADA law and fail? Do they get a second attempt? I agree that the person should have gone forward in trying but too many have and failed. Sometimes the situation and the importance of it will determine if the person will go forward. Trying in a den meeting is not the same as passing a college course. Age is also another factor. Failing again and again as a child sees the wisdom in having the ADA law behind one to stop yet ANOTHER failure. (Then again some of us have yet to learn an old sage...Try and try again and there is great satisfaction in aiming to succeed on the first try and earning it rather than have it given or taking a shortcut!)

Never heard of this but have seen a couple that have tried to become known to BSA as one that should be enlisted like Duct Tape Merit Badge. Are you sure you are not confusing this with the blank patrol patch that BSA sells in thinking it is a blank merit badge patch?

DLChris and Qwazse... I have no problem with finding trails. I would NOT aim for the easy one as they can be quite boring in my opinion. I would aim for the ones that climb to a panarama view on top or hide some hidden treasure. There is a couple of hidden treasure ones with relativity flat trails along waterways that I would hit first. I like the idea of moving trails meaning checking out a different one each time and increase the endurance and length. My problem stems from having adults and youth leaders that would struggle doing just a couple miles hike hence my reason for wanting the progressions like the Cycling MB gives. Gotta agree with LisaBob in not doing the hiking around some track or to people's house. I'm of the opinion that hiking is to encourage one to get out in nature on the off beaten track. There is SO many hidden trails.

As I'm reading this while we're working on Citizenship in the Community makes me realize how scouts read the requirement. It seems like thought on the Scouters and MB Counselors to make sure to discuss respectful approach in stating one's opinion is important along with stating why they are at a particular meeting. When one does the Eagle project, the youth Leader usually states why they are there. This practice should hold true in other types of meetings. There is an underlying lesson here in what that uniform means and how we should act and how we should express our opinions. We have Communications and Public Speaking along with our Citizenship packets to teach and educate our youth leaders on proper, respectful behavior and expression. I found a library book on telephone etiquette that I thought should be something to use in a Troop meeting as we want our youth leaders to make phone calls themselves properly with none of this 'slang' talk so they are taken seriously in trying to reserve or set up an event.

I'd like to do the Hiking MB but was surprised in reading through the requirements that its not set up like the Cycling MB is to encourage progression of skill and endurance. In today's world where child are more and more in front of a TV because of video games it is important to do the progression which should be part of the Hiking MB rather than a separate before process in addition to five 10 miles and one 20 miles.

TroopMaster at http://www.troopmaster.com/ Do realize please that webpages are a totally separate approach and offerings than recordkeeping ones being talked about here.

There should be a rule in place within your Troop that no parent can sign off on their own son. This SM is doing a GREAT disservice to his son in a very fundamental be prepared for life rule... things are worked for, things are earned through work. So SM signs off on stuff and it comes up to the BOR. BOR review can put a stop to it with stating exactly what hasn't been done and what is in question. You as the advancement chair educate and pick whom is on this BOR as NEITHER SM are involved. BOR does have the right to veto the advancement that the SM puts forth. You ask a bunch of questions to this scout and simply say he is not ready. If the SM then turns onto your scout, then preach the scout laws, ideal, and aims!

Funny part is a scroll saw is used in a Technology Education in NY State public schools at the middle school level (6th thru 8th grade for 12-15 years)... *scratching head. OSHA pops up in schools too. Accidents are on the RISE because people are not trained or taught the proper way to use equipment or supervised. In today's sue happy world it isn't surprising that BSA has to put prevention in place with documents like this. As the wheels, doesn't surprised me its being banned since too many think and use it as a toy... *sighs We shouldn't be blaming the ban on BSA but rather on those before us that brought the need to put this ban in the first place.

Nothing is mentioned in redirecting your son to his SPL first and then his SM. It is your son's place to take a stand and through the proper chains of command. If it was a matter of urgent timing, then I'm glad you foiled the hazing.

Thanks Basement for the spinoff.. *grins http://www.fiverivers.org/forms/pdfs/budget_sample-troop.pdf I found the above a helpful read in my google search along with several sample budget in word, excel using 'Troop budget sample; as the search word. I'm planning on using the 2 column method of last year and next year while separating actual funds we can spend from those reserve funds like Campership and Equipment that push our bottom line much higher than it really is.

Renewing TroopMaster program (this is separate from the website) Buying or renewing the Accounting program if you use one. Campership fund for low income scouts Fundraiser basics (usually comes back after fundraiser) Year end picnic Adult registration.. we pay for the first one when a new Scouter comes on board Cabin deposits, park deposits and etc. to reserve a place to camp. Signage for fundraisers or Scouting for Food