Double Eagle

This might be a good time to try popcorn over coals. Baked apples as a treat. Watermelon or even bald cupcakes (bald without frosting). Whatever you decide, don't let anyone say that it is inappropriate to have a special troop treat. My last troop, it was tradition to have oreos and milk on the first night's cracker barrel. Speaking of cracker barrel, how about one of those?

Check out www.scoutorama.com (look for the "Mad Lib" title on the left side) and there is a fill in the blank type letter that is fun for all. The first time I did it, the troop thought it was great. It talks about the flood, learning to drive, lost scouts, and going to town for more ammo. Pretty inventive.(This message has been edited by Double Eagle)(This message has been edited by Double Eagle)

Thank you for your time and giving the scouts a camp. KS hit on it and I'm just wondering (no judgements) whether the pants and boonie caps were the 4 color camo or solid colors like OD green? I won't open the debate. Sounds like you guys had a great time and are keeping them doing the fun stuff and advancing along the way.

KS, I know all about the military training areas and scouting use. Being on an extended campout in the balkans, I will miss out on camp this year. DE is way out of line on the watermelon thing. My troop routinely has treats for the troop. One new concept was popping corn over coals. Feeding seems to be a problem with your camp and ours last year. NOLDSCT from the Adironacks would know about how Camp Portaferry does a great job, so did the Blue Water Council (Michigan) in the 80s. Scouting oversees is much different than other places. Thank you for giving the program to those scouts. By the way, our DE is at camp the whole summer. Pretty user friendly, seemingly unlike yours was.

I agree with Mike Long. Have the scout involved in the planning, isn't it a requirment up to 1st Class for menu planning and assisting in the prep, and safe handling of food. Anyway, How about asking the "McMom" (cool term) and "McScout" to help with the teaching of the newer scouts about the food pyramid and how to plan a menu. It may make them think. This might be a good time to have cooking as a theme for the month and let everyone try their hand at some troop feast on an outing. The other thing about sodas. As a rule I don't like them because we always seem to decorate the area with the cans. I remember at Philmont, the treat it was to get rootbeer at a staffed camp. Pack it in and pack it out. If not, don't take it. Last thing is maybe just once a backpacking trip where McMom couldn't deliver the meals without a lot of effort. Carrying a happy meal over miles of trails, she might just eat it herself.

Wow, this sure got some attention. Boy scouts taking a troop to court, that sure would bring a headline. So much for the volunteers of that troop. You would probably send every scouter and scout running for the hills. Many of these volunteers do the best they can, without a lot of support until one parent isn't pleased. How about amending/drafting their guidelines so that it is pretty clear. What was the purpose of the fundraising? Was it to fatten an individual account? When we plan our budget, we focus on what is to be done and then how to raise the money. I think that using the way the scouts might handle this is probably a good example. It kind of goes to what if the grubmaster has money left over? What ever happened to "scout spirit". Was transferring a forecasted move? You have an awesome fundraising for a scout to have $500 and not have a goal for it. If going to a jamboree or high adventure base, what was your plan for the money. Some troops do not have a scouts fund, and the money is shared for troop expenses. They do it without the incentive of personal gain. If you knew you were not getting the money, would you have still participated? This seems to have gotten to a "sue the troop", lose the scouts, stop fundraising, and take the money and run. Here's a question, what if your next troop does not have scout accounts? When in doubt of the right thing to do after giving everyone a shot, how about helping the program and donate "your" portion to the FOS or into the parish?(This message has been edited by Double Eagle)

Having taught this two times in the past (whew!) The five 10-mile hikes are separate but each hike must be completed the same day. The on 20-miler is also in one day. The last time, we did the 20 miler in the Adironacks and left early, 6:00am. We hiked, messed around, took scenic breaks, and didn't turn it into a race. A real enjoyable and over-before-you-know-it hike. Total hiking merit badge miles 70.(This message has been edited by Double Eagle)

At one of the first meetings of the fall, usually after the school night recruitment, we used a discussion, with the cubs and their partners, on how we would introduce new cubs and partner to meetings and what the cubs roles were. We talked about it, practiced it, and then had the next week's meeting try it out on another cub's partner. We worked in the "signs up" into it and it caught on pretty good.(This message has been edited by Double Eagle)

Agree, moving every 3-4 years, I fall into that boat quite often, after 20+yrs, I don't have it. I've come to accept it. I've had and worked with some great SM that have in position for a long time too without a thought of moving them. All I can say is we have to be patient and those knots don't make the scouter. I've seen "knot chasers" and most were there for themselves and not the scouts or program.

I've served as ASM for a woman SM. Great scouter. I can't count the number of women that serve(d) as den leaders, committee members, and staff. The OA went to inducting women in 1989. Many of my experience have shown that without the women being involved, there wouldn't be a program. Having married a woman scouter, not the SM above, I've seen how recruiting and letting women fit into a once male dominated organization helps the entire growth and program. I think that seeing a woman going through an ordeal, summer camps, staff, and NOAC, the scouts develop a better idea of how equal the sexes can be. Isn't that part of building character. The BSA has even extended it's hand to young women in Venturing.

In response to the question about whether it carries over? Knife techniques are only part of the totin chip. My take is that if they learned the skills (knots, knife safety) prior to entering boy scouts maybe only the test and recognition portion of the advancement steps needs to be applied. I've always been supportive that if they had a whittlin chip, they would be allowed to use knives. I've seen the whittlin chip taught on bars of soap and never had a blade touch wood. Maybe at least a refresher with the new scouts would help. If they thought that they were ready for the other woods tools, it was a good time to teach them. I recommend a totin chip session prior to camp. Not only does our trading post sell knives but you need one of the cards to purchase one. The same for the hotspark with the firemn chit, another story. I've found that without teaching the scouts about the woods tools, they will do it on their own and out of sight as to keep out of trouble. Better to teach them right away. I'v seen several parents shrink when they find out just how good their scout is at sawing, splitting, and limbing. Growing up in the woods of Michigan, my buddies and I lived with knives daily. We had to use woods tools as chores. Some became pretty good with chainsaw art in the later years.

I've taught the use of woods tools for several years, decades. As of late, some scouters have questioned the use of hatchets and some leaders have forbidden the use. They have no problem with the 3/4 ax. I kind of revert back to teaching them to "be prepared". Many places a hatchet or hand ax is easier, lighter, and more appropriate to use than the ax. With the new compact models with sheaths that can be attached to a belt, not a popular practice due to safety, they seem to pack quite easily. The BSA has modified the sheaths so they are not able to be carried on the belt as in old photos. The BSA catalog carries them and sheaths. Is the hatchet or hand ax on its way to extinction? What are your views on whether to use or not use hatchets? I still own and use axes too.

My guidance is that in order to use the knife only, they must at least have the whittlin chip. If they want to use the other woods tools, they have to earn their totin chip. One way to help this process is to offer the totin chip on the first day of camp. While some moving of stuff is happening, those needing it, can. The thought of me not being able cut, chop, and saw (grew up in the Michigan woods) seems like a bummer. My experience is that at camp, they will try to use the tools whether with or without the training. Better to teach them the right way than to try on their own out of site and in turn earn the first aid merit badge for self inflicted wounds.

Been there. A good resource for you and the troop is the unit comissioner. If you have one, invite them to a committee and/or troop meeting. Your COR may help too. After all, the chartered organization there too. The commissioners, both unit and ADC, are not the enemy and will come if invited. The local OA lodge or chapter is available to help you with the outdoor program. The lodge is there for the troops, many of their arrowmen will help with the selfless service or counsel. Committee training is good for the learning who's job is what. From what I can see the problem is that she is trying to deliver a program without approval. What is fun for adults is not always fun for scouts. Maybe if you or the commissioner could get her to a roundtable to speak with other scouters. Maybe a visit to another troop and watching how they do things. They are not the enemy either. Sometimes, you may have to hurt her feelings and lay it on the table and see whether she will let the PLC and the committee get things running smooth. Hope this helps.

OGE, For the part of a shy scout and the ceremony, I offer this. Practices and rehearsals conducted during the pre-opening or last meeting's after-meeting portion may help with the uneasiness of getting in front of a group. A troop guide or informal leader may be able to work with the scout where an adult may be intimidating. Just being part of a winning team, whether playing or not, builds esteem and confidence. Maybe if he was asked which part he would like would help, this way he is not avoiding responsibility of participating but easing into the spotlight. Maybe a win-win situation. For the noisy tent partners. Maybe their patrol would select a site farther away from the rest, within a reasonable distance that would not allow for their nocturnal spirit to disrupt others. I think that if they couldn't quiet down maybe a move of their tent after the upteenth time to quiet down would fix this. Not a fun thing to do at late night and usually get desired results. Keep the days activities busy so they are tuckered out towards night. Those small nightly campfires burning into embers (a caveman's TV) can hypnotize them into retiring early. I think that corrective action should pertain to the infringement (e.g. skips out on clean up, they get two clean ups; Using nature instead of latrine, maybe the latrine needs to be beautified or decorated (spider webs and pine needles) so it is not unpleasant. A rotating duty roster can help getting the chores done, and supplement the the roster with those extra helpers.