dg98adams

When I was Cub Master I remember the same kind of issues. We also had the complication of Scouts going to different Troops in the same ceremony at the end of the B & G. The Webelos parents had to complete the transfer form ($1) to cross. period. The pack "bought" the Boy Scout handbook as a "going away gift and presented it just before the Webelos crossed the bridge. I think I said something like "....as you have helped the Pack go, now we would like to help you grow beyond Cub Scouts..." with all the popcorn sales Cubs usually do, $ was not an issue. Most times we even encouraged Webelos I & II's to have "accounts" to build up for the 1st year of Boy Scout Summer Camp. Usually the Spring Sale and a Wreath Sale was usually left to them. Now the Troop my son joined had a cool "candle" ceremony, that included loops and a necker tied with a simple square knot. The other Troop did the necker and loops, but had no "candle" ceremony. I know the boys that went with the "no candle" Troop looked a little forlorn without a candle,....but that's what that Troop wanted to. As they cross the bridge, it's a Troop ceremony. No transfer form ($1), no cross.

Wow, Eagle92 It's taken a lot of effort to get the boys to choose meals from the "Menu Book & Dutch Oven book". One outing with that Troop and we would be back to "Troop Cooking" and "Hot Dogs" for every meal. In our Troop, although the boys choose and purchase the food, they do have to get the "SM/ASM/SPL" rubber stamp to prevent the "Hot Dogs" and "Honey Bun's for every meal.

We have 3-4 Patrols on most outings. The boys do go get the food for their Patrol, but they check with the other Patrols when Menus are approved to see if they can share the box of pancake mix, or 1/2 the dozen eggs. Most times they "buy" or "trade" for the portions. or the "extra" just goes to the refrig/pantry. Sometimes they get it right, sometimes not. But they CAN'T go over their PATROL budget ($8 per Scout for Fri night to Sun. morning, ~4 meals + whatever snacks). We now have a Troop refrig/pantry at the church. Before they go to the store they check to see if the "Troop" has it. So far, that has been working out ok. (This message has been edited by dg98adams)(This message has been edited by dg98adams)

Wouldn't this be something the Venturing crew would vote on for them selves? As older Scouts and possibly female (who were never Boy Scouts),.....I would think they are able to decide for themselves as a group to allow these devices or not. Now if the event has a "no electronics rule" then they should abide. (This message has been edited by dg98adams)

I don't get too many requests from my 13 year old son...so the ones I do get ..... I take. Although, I think I would ask why he wants you to go to both camp and the resource event (I handle all the aquatics-related stuff for our Troop so I would like more info on that). My best friend took Shooting sports director course at Ransburg and loved the camp.....I would be very much interested in going there too.

This is going to be an issue.... Did "come to your attention" mean you heard it from the DL or just heard it about it? Scouting is founded in religious belief (just not specific belief)...not avowed absence of belief, which is how I would interpret "Atheist". 2 choices.... #1 - head in the sand - can an 11 y.o. really make this statement of faith? #2 - private conversation with the parents. This will become a bigger issue if he crosses into Boy Scouts where belief & duty to a belief comes up more often.

Not to put a rough spin on it.... I think you are over stepping......what is your position? How would you feel if some one asked to see your credentials for or quiz you about dates for awards when you were a kid? In the big skeem of things....is he hampering anything? Are you part of the "secret patch police" I keep hearing about? He could have earned those in his youth (and WB as a young man). It's not too far out there to see boys earning the religious medal as a Tiger or a Wolf, and know they could not tell you the 1st thing about it by the time they finish Cub Scouts and get AOL. I have 2 Tigers visiting my Troop, who were in my pack when I was CM that are just like that. I tied their Tiger neckerchief and announced the religious award at a pack meeting. There are boys getting tapped out for OA that never do more than the ordeal. If this was the case, I doubt if it had much impact. On the other hand, the Eagle knot should have rung a bell, and of course the WB course even if it was the "Old Course". Better to encourage an active parent/leader than to drive them away. All this is assuming he is a good leader and not trying to decorate what may be a "slick" shirt.

That is a good idea for an Eagle fundraiser..........

If a Troop condition of the POR your son was elected to was to attend the Troop JLT...that can be set as a requirement for the Troop POR...it is not an extra rank requirement. If the Scout performed the duty of the POR without counseling, or being removed, then he completed the requirement for RANK purposes and cannot be held back because now the SM thinks he fell short. It sounds like that it was signed off. The SM conference, is the last "hook". If the SM is looking to "punish" your son, for not taking the training, your SON has 2 options..... Abide by it, life is too short to sweat the small stuff, and wait for the next COH where its likely the SM will sign it off. or Find another Troop. Since he has almost everything signed, it should not be hard to demonstrate Scout Spirit to a new SM in about the same time your son would have had to wait for the next COH in the other Troop. It's not worth banging heads or stirring up issues to force the issue, even though your son should not be held back because the SM is a despot and lacks training.

I think you should be asking your CM what the schedule is.....and what your son wants to participate in. In general, the Thanksgiving & Christmas Pack meeting in my Pack were always lots of fun (course my job was to make every Pack meeting FUN). The Blue & Gold in Feb. The Pine Wood Derby in March. Our council had a Cub Family Bash in October as a 1 day event with optional 1 night of camping. The Cub "Winter" day-event in Jan/Feb. Then there is week-long Day camp (no overnight except Friday) during mid-summer.

My dad lives in Del city, and my mom is just outside of OK City. I have often heard them say, "if the wind does not blow, you don't have to pay your rent." The family and I stayed at a S.P. outside of Ok City one year in a pop-up and experienced: "80 MPH straight line wind" When Ok. has Tornadoes, it ain't just one, it's a line of Tornadoes one behind the other.

Our Troop went to Kings Island over Halloween. Only thing I heard back was there was not enough "diverse" scouts in attendance. Apparently a couple Scouts found out they did not like the big coasters or the spookier haunted houses (after 1 ride or 1 house)....it became a drag on the small group because that is what they were there for. We did not have as many Scouts from the Troop go like we thought, so the Patrols broke into groups of 3-4 with a mix of ages. To stay with the buddy system, a Scout that wanted to ride/spook had to wait with the Scout that did not. This wasn't really fair to either one. So if you take a group, make sure the scouts have a buddy with the same interests/desire to ride the rides and discuss what they are able to do while waiting on the rest of the group to ride a ride if they decide not to. Buddy system!

The main thing I think you want to stress, is the CO involvement and that the proceeds benefit the CO which will fund a PWD track for the Pack. Start with a plan, figure up expenses (general), decide how much $ you think you could (or like) make, turn in a Unit Money Earning application. If the council has any issues talk it over with your DE.

You can contact a local runners club. They usually have a group that handles all the timing for a fee. ' Course you will need to get permission from the city/police for the course. The Y will likley want a cut, but would let you advertise for free....why do you need them? Maybe you can work that part out for the timing by having your pack cover some of the "leg-work". I have ran low-tech races where runners grab "numbered tags" as they cross the line. They turn in the tag after writing their name on it and the age bracket. Place them accordingly. time to turn in the tag is usually 1/2 hour after the last runner. A lot of runners usually just leave anyway. 1st year races don't generally make a lot of $. But you could theme it. Offer a couple shorter runs along with the 5K aimed at other Troops/Packs/kids/dogs. A lower cost, and maybe optional t-shirt (tie-dye jobs your Pack could create). Most runners just want to run a safe race, see the finish time, and get a T-Shirt. Trophies are not why they come out. I think it's a great idea, and a good way to attract new people to the pack. It could be something that gets done annually. The real money is the "bake sale" after the race, or having activites for the kids. Runners run to eat. Don't forget the Money earning application.

Our SM does it with 2 slices of bread, and puts "pie-filling" from the can in it. He has a knack for guessing when to turn and pull from the fire. A couple ASM's and a couple Scouts are trying to get there too. It's too slow for a meal, but fine for cracker barrel, or "sitting around the camp fire" food. I did hear about a new way to roast hot dogs. Get a 1/2 gallon paper/wax carton (orange juice/milk. etc), foil wrap the hotdogs in buns and put inside the carton. Toss carton on hot bed of coals (or the campfire). When the carton has burned way the dogs are done, and the bread is slightly toasted. As soon as we head out for our next outing , I'm doing it for the leaders fire. course, we'll probably have some Chili as backup in case the dogs get too burned to eat.

I read it...and there's no "winners" in that story no matter what eventually happens. I doubt the store ever expected to pay out "minimum wage" like the Troop expected. It is also a sign of the times, $10 for a days effort, won't make any kid I know (including my Life-Scout son) turn off the video game and come outside. When I was a kid, I remember "working all day" for "enough $ for the "Fair admission and food", or just enough to go "roller skating" Friday evening. Who ever paid a sub 15-year old kid minimum wage back then? I did do field-work for farmers (planting/hanging tobacco, planting/hoeing corn, & strawberries) for $5 an hour (all cash & higher then minimum at the time). But that was REAL "sweat-equity".

Basementdweller, I think the issue is, a Scout in "uniform" raising money for the CO (or any other group other than Scouts) is probably the restriction.

I was a CM when I started and a new ASM when I finished. 2 of my tickets were CS-related, 1 was CS-Council-Training related, 1 was Troop related and of course the "360" review. I got my beads on the last day of my son's 1st Boy Scout Summer Camp. I'm on staff this year (4 years later). Where ever you decide to get them, it's an opportunity to advertise the next course. Take it where it has not been before.

In our Troop, as new adults come in, they are offered MBC forms. So we have a mix of MBC's. There is some over lap, and some not. I am the only Swimming/Lifesaving/Computers MBC for the Troop (I'm a YMCA & BSA Lifeguard, & Computer Scientist), but I have signed up for others that are also covered like Auto Mechanics, home repair, etc....I have avoided other Eagle required MB's since we already have most covered. My son worked his "swimming" at camp, but I would have held him to the same book requirements as the others in the Troop I did over the winter at the Y. I am also the organizer for the district merit badge trail drive. My son took "Computers" with a mixed group, but I was the MBC, again the same requirements. In our Troop we make an effort to have more than 1 MBC when we work on group-things that can apply to Troop outings. Canoe trips, ski trips, climbing, etc... We do have a policy that the SM has to approve a Scout starting a MB, and an ASM provides the card, and enters the info into the Troop Master and prepares advancement reports.

As the incoming Cub Master, with a Pack of normal-low funds, I not only had a gift for the Cub Master, but also for his wife. Believe me, a Cub Master (or any Scouter) who has a wife knows what I mean when it comes to "doing more than needed". It's the nature of the game. What I did was present the Pack American Flag to the outgoing Cub Master. But first, during the Blue and Gold, I gave a speech about how this flag had gotten wet in several parades, muddy from the Campouts that always had some kind of rainstorm. It's a little frayed, and faded...but since it carried a lot of memories of the Pack, I did not look forward to "retiring it"....I took it off the pole and draped it over the podium. At that moment, I had the Webelos crossing over come up and perform a simple Flag ceremony to bring in our "new" American flag. When the Webelos finished the ceremony, The crossing over Webelos returned, folded the old Flag, and as a group, in silence, presented the old flag to the outgoing Cub Master. I think I said something like, "even though this flag is old...perhaps the best place for it to be is with the "old" Cub Master. The boys loved it. I had my wife give the Cub Masters wife a Candle, so she could keep the "light of Cub Scouting" alive in her home and thanked her for all her service. Cost: 1 New Flag and 1 large candle.

Gklose, I only put the "rule" there because you were a little off. I pasted the "rule" so it would be easy to see where you where off. The Scout does not get to choose ANY stroke, but CAN CHOOSE from ANY listed strokes: (side, breast, trudgen, or crawl). He cannot dog-paddle, swim underwater, bob-along, touch the wall or etc....The basic premise is active forward motion, with or without the arm out of the water. On your back is on your back.. I also typed, when I ask the Scout if he can do them I show him what I am asking for...... I go so far as to get a Scout to demo it, as we usually have one in the water. I am an active participant, not reading this off from the shade on the the other side of the fence. As far as floating, the Scout has to demonstrate TO THE PERSONA ADMIN. the test that he can float without panic when exhausted, and since it comes at the end of his 4 laps, its reasonable to have him do it then and stop when the PERSON ADMIN. the tests says "stop", not the scout. I am sorry if you took anything personally, it was not intended. This forum is a place where questions or opinions get asked and others chime in. I have been on Camp staff and had this discussion with lots of Scouters.

GKlose As a Volunteer camp lifeguard, and a part time YMCA certified Lifeguard, you may have missed a tic "prepping him". With a big line of Scouts, time is usually an issue. The choice of strong strokes include: side, breast, trudgen, or crawl (most often called "freestyle"). I usually ask for an "active" stroke (arm rotating out of water) as well as a "passive" stroke (arm below water). The inability to do one does not disqualify the Scout, but means I have to be more careful as this could indicate minimal water experience. The "resting backstroke", can move from arm out of the water backstroke to the "elementary backstroke" (jelly fish-movement) where the arm does not come out. I also describe (pantomime) the strokes in case the Scout calls it by another name. On floating, the time needed is longer than when the Scout says, "is that enough"? I want to see if the Scout does not panic. What I do is wait at least 3-4 of his breaths, .... and after the Scout quits asking "is that long enough?".

Advantage to being the Tiger coach/DL. Setting the schedule. Obviously your DL is too busy. Email on the same day with program changes is worthless. An Email without the phone follow up phrase (I will call if I do not hear back by xtime) is worthless (although I know some people never respond so turn on "read receipts" - I do not call the ones I get). I preferred a set Tiger coach/DL when I was CM, so the Tiger den could get used to it. 1x a month, with a "go see it" 1x a month (usually weekend) and then the pack meeting was enough for the Tigers to get everything done. There should be some flexibility.

This was sorta listed above, but a DUTY ROSTER prepared by the PLC will make things easier. That way everyone know WHO should be DOING what. 'Course the PLC/Patrol Leader will have to explain things like, the Scouts assigned to FIRE/(STOVES), need to get it setup/going BEFORE the cooking crew needs it to start cooking...and CLEANUP needs to heat water as soon as the cooks are DONE, and everyone starts eating. The Quartermaster plays role here during the process, by making sure Matches/charcoal/stoves are made available BEFORE the FIRE guys need it, wash buckets/soap get pulled for the cleanup crew, trash bags are available for the TRASH Scouts, Coolers/food crates set out for the COOKS, etc..... We try to make sure the CLEANUP eats first, as they will start DISHES/CLEANUP, before the rest are done. Assuming they started HEATING water AFTER the cooks were done, and also setup the WASH (as much as they can) station while the cooks were cooking. Fire, water, washing, cleanup, cooking, etc....all running not happening one after another. The duty Roster can be further divided by the Patrols if you are getting them to work that way. I bet most of that 3 hours was "herding the goats" to come help. Believe me, I have seen our new Scout Patrol take 2x as long, but that's because every opportunity to learn something, involves, talking about it, demonstrating, then letting the Scout do it (with supervision). Our Troop guide on these outings is busy assisting/teaching new Scouts. While it is happening, it should involve everyone in the Patrol. The leaders need to setback and watch and I bet you'd see the Scouts that have to be tracked down and walked thru the jobs they should already know what to be prepared for. When it works it looks like ants moving the colony, except it's never silent.

My new uniform has a "made in china" tag.