dg98adams

Is there a location nearby for under-roof shelter (does not have to be enclosed). I'd also consider how long the weather might last. 1 hour doable, 3-4 hours would push cubs/parents in a cramped shelter. Do you have a plan B camp site (something lower with indoor shelter if needed)? (This message has been edited by dg98adams)

It's your beads... you only have to please yourself. I agree, any long-winded ceremony would probably be boring to many Scouts. The bead explanation our CD has done is interesting and certainly not boring since he includes some BP history. In our council, IMO the CD sees bead ceremonies a the final opportunity to close the course for the Scouter. I have noticed that the presentation can be shortened based on the audience (adults vs youth). I have observed several spouses or other Scouters attending a simple bead ceremony become more interested in Scouting because of it.

Registration/book 1st year.... ok, I can see the Pack picking it up if there's financial need. Without participation in that following years fundraisers, selling or volunteering and obviously there are more than 1, makes it tough to continue supporting. Scouting should be available to all willing to commit to being involved. As a Pack, you could offer 1/2 pack support on registration and let her know fees from fundraising is where this support comes from.

Den chiefs need recruited, more than to just the SM... the CM/DL need to visit Troops, & describe the role. Since it counts as a POR, it's got to be something they are interested in ... don't forget the "ropes" and how a DC can earn them. In fact, DC can be served at the same time as a Troop POR for any Boy Scout.

Unless all the new kids are orphans, you have 40+ candidates. You should be trying to keep dens at 8 or so. The mega dens get harder to break up the longer you let them go.

A fun idea would be to gather up 100 pieces of "Lincoln Logs" and give them 100 seconds to build a log cabin. Maybe have some thin wood sheets with the anniversary logo on them for root sizes. Course a Digital Camera to get a picture of the group/cabin. If you can't find Lincoln Logs, just cut some lengths of dowel rods and notch them a bit. One of the more popular cub activities in our council is "Life Size" Foosball using cubs on stationary ropes to kick the ball across the field. Or get simple, decorate some corn hole boards or 3-tier vertical golf sets in anniversary colors.

I bought my son a recurve, 1 step up from what WalMart carried... when he was a Wolf/Bear. He's a Life Scout now, and occasionally like to use it out back (we live in the country). When I was a Scout I used my grandfathers recurve long bow and loved it. That thing was 5 foot long! I never went bow hunting so never need to own a compound bow, doubt he'd ever want to shoot a bambi either.... So, I suggest finding a recurve that is not a Walmart toy. And some highly reflective wood arrows. Check Gandermountian or Cabelas

I'd be surprised if there was a partial MB category in Scoutnet...

We do the same as "Jeffrey H".

It's not cheap but the aerosol Camp Dry for the fly's is common. There is a warning on the can it can discolor, so a test patch is a good idea. The cheap tents our Troop uses don't last much beyond 3 years (mostly zipper issues). Course, that's expected for $39 tents. Older Scouts usually have better personal tents.

Our Troop got a couple Timberline T2's that had been in storage over 10 years. We took one home (all were lightly moldy and smelly). I rinsed it out with a hose, to get any loose dirt/mold off, then used a 5 gallon bucket with some dish sop and a cap or 2 of bleach. Started with the fly, squishing it and flushing water thru it in the 5 gallon bucket. The water got so dirty I refilled the bucket for the tent. I also turned the tent inside out and re-zipped it back up. This bucket's water got changed twice on the tent. Then I set it up (inside out), and hosed it off with a hose and hit it lightly with some simple green, rinsed and turned it back outside in. Another dose of simple green and good rinse. staked it down to air dry. It cleaned up well, and got rid of the visible mold and moldy smell. Once it was dry, I used floss to fix a hole in the screen and gave it a couple squirts of odor remover. I know a couple boys slept in it on a rainy weekend a couple weeks ago and were fine with it. The others did not get the cleaning job my son and I did on this one. They still look and smell moldy. (This message has been edited by dg98adams)

The original post was mine I think, and I'd like to clarify what I meant by "Troop Cycling MBC". I am the "only" current (YPT) listed, Cycling MBC within the Troop I serve as ASM in, but I am not listed "Troop Only" on any MB I cover. They did have several to choose from outside the unit. I also chair the Council MB Trail Drive over the winter and recruiting MBC's from the Districts (5) list for the event often causes me to wade into the "Troop only" portion of the MBC list. I do try to call those listed "Troop Only" last. Personally, I'd like to see that category removed. Either you are or you are not a MBC. (This message has been edited by dg98adams)(This message has been edited by dg98adams)

When I was CM and asked about uniforms ... Cubs will outgrown a shirt before it wears out. So wear it whenever they can, "Den meetings and Pack meetings for sure, outside events...

I know our council does a district level Corporate Pinewood Derby, Mostly companies sponsor a car, build it and compete... I think the minimum donation to participate is the fundraiser part.

Our local camp tries not to schedule stuff with OA events if possible, so that's why I asked. Although, if an Ordeal Weekend or just a fellowship weekend, "waterfront service time" with OA Scouts would be easy to staff. The 1:5 ratio for Cubs and the number of boats is a factor. Been a while since I was a CM, but Cubs never were in a boat without an adult (there's your 18+ lookouts), so usually 2-3 staff (1 with LG training SSD, SA, and 2 who can also swim, SSD, SA training) were usually enough. I think we had 4-6 row boats that we limited to 2 adults/3 cubs, or 4 cubs 1 adult (maybe 5 if they were little). I don't think there is any spot in the lake (large pond) at camp where an adult could not stand in....(This message has been edited by dg98adams)

"council family camp" Is that a Council sponsored event, and if so it would be a concern of the Activities chair and the ranger. Or is that a couple Pack's camping (since all Cub camping is family camping) on the Council grounds?

Can't offer much that hasn't been said, but I concur the cost associated with meals/camporees are about right-on with the Troop I serve (ASM). The one suggestion I seem to keep bubbling up is the "why do they want the same camp food over and over?" The Answer: because that what the Scouts (or Crew) choose, which is good enough. And it works for the style of camping they most often do (Camporee/Trailer Camping). A couple patrols have "themed" outings to prepare for "more primitive" campouts by skipping coolers and full patrol boxes" with competent but varied meals. Surprising to some (Scouts and Leaders) the food costs for these outings are almost always 30% under budget. Some menu's from these "themed" outings make it back to standard fare once they see how easy cleanup is. That's when it gets interesting and more fun IMO.

I visited my son during the jamboree and saw some marked changes as well concerning OA and his own Eagle progress. I was also surprised to hear from one of our Troops Jamboree ASM's about "camp raiding"... it even went on during staff week. Typically 1 of the 4 ASM's had to stay in camp for security at all times. I think next time around, each tent should make a 1'x 1'x 1' plywood lock-box chained to a cot using a combo pad lock to hold patches/money/electronics.

I am the Troop Cycling MB councilor - 1st time for a Scout to pursue this with me. I just noticed something when working with this Scout on the cycling MB. In the Online Guide to Safe Scouting - Bicycling Activity Step 12. Planning Plan both the route and timing of bike trips to avoid heavy traffic and hazardous conditions. Biking is unsafe on wet pavement and on windy days. Plan for at least hourly rest stops and a maximum of approximately six hours on the bike per day. In the current Cycling Merit Badge Requirement 9. After fulfilling requirement 8, lay out on a road map a 50-mile trip. Stay away from main highways. Using your map, make this ride in eight hours. 50 miles in 8 hours is 6.25 miles per hour (no rest stops - exceeds G2SS for time on the bike) 50 miles in 6 hours is 8.33 miles per hour (room for 2 hours of rest stops along the way). (I know either speed is not beyond even a non-geared street bike for a flat road). So, would you interpret that like this? To observe G2SS and to complete the Cycling MB requirement for the 50 miler .... getting it done in less than 6 hours (on the bike) with no more than 2 hours (off the bike) of rest stop time to stay in the 8 hour window? I plan on asking him what his plan is and will ask more questions from there.(This message has been edited by dg98adams)(This message has been edited by dg98adams)

I think some trouble our PLC is facing is most activities being planned out of the area want a credit card (CC) for a reservation/deposit. I know in the past, the PLC had the SM or ASM use their own CC for the reservation and the Troop reimbursed him after the trip. A couple times the CC was only needed for the reservation, and the Troop paid the fee with a check "day of". I think the SM is considering a Troop Debit card... don't know if that's a god idea or not.

EagerLeader, Just some friendly scouter advise (BTDT). If you have a young Troop, i.e new SPL/ASPL/PL's 9especially younger than those not serving in a POR) after elections. Troop junior Leader training needs to happen ASAP before the next outing. That way, the SPL/ASPL/PL knows the expectations, and requirements ACTUALLY placed on them. and it offers tips on LEADERSHIP styles and COMMUNICATIONS. Sprinkling LEADERSHIP and TEAM BUILDING in the TJLT will help ease them into the roles they will need to play. It also give the observing SM (a good TJLT is conducted by the old SPL/Older Scouts that have held positions like it). The SPL job is not a position for a Scout that can't deal with aggravation. From answering SM questions to trying to delegate responsibility to new PLs is hard enough. IMO the SPL is bounced, but you need to do a couple things. Inform the CC why, inform advancement chair the date SPL is removed. If the ASPL is not willing to serve as interim SPL, then you could do a couple things. Announce new SPL/ASPL elections. If no one wants the jobs, all outings are canceled. Scouts are boy-led, and if there is no boy Leadership, then there is no BOY SCOUTS. Depending on your Troop (if it's small) this could backfire and kill the Troop, so it's only a last-resort suggestion. But you need TJLT ASAP. Good luck.

To answer your question. No, our Troop does not put age restrictions (or any other restriction) on Merit Badges... I chair the Council Merit Badge Trail drive, so I know I have Scouts of all ages in the Citizen badge courses....although in the normal course of things, I have observed the average age of the Citizen merit badges to be ~13. And yes, that would be adding to the requirements, which is not BSA policy. (This message has been edited by dg98adams)

Recognize them publicly in some way at the next Troop/Pack meeting. You can generate your own certificates from this site. http://www.cyberbasetradingpost.com/docs/create-a-certificate1.cfm

Salute an Eagle passing.....

If "rocket program" means plastic model kits and the balsa wood propeller rocket racing then those are good for all levels of Cubs. We used alka-seltzer bits in film canisters with some water for pop-rockets as Cubs. I would hold off on model rockets with a chemical engine until they are Boy Scouts. Then they can use them in Space Exploration as a requirement for the Merit Badge. Even water based 2-liter bottle rockets are dicey when you have young ones around.