Scouting anyone?

[Spitfire]

I was just wondering how many of the fine members of this lounge had ever been scouts?

The reason for my question, is partly Carters new/old avatar and partly that I myself was a very active boyscout from I was 9 till I was 21 years old. And right now I am involved in organizing a reunion of former, old scouts in order to celeberate my scoutgroups 75 aniversary. (One of the oldest groups in Denmark!)

There is something nice oldfashioned about scouting, isn't there?
But scouting - in Denmark at least - has had too many changes in order to attract the kids, so it's now miles away from the scouting I knew - and loved.
Somehow I think they should get back to basics in order to beat the PCgames etc.
Instead of playing PC games at the meetings.:rolleyes:

[eightbore]

Troop 51...Eagle Scout...1986 :)

We had a great group of adults who taught us a lot and worked like mad to help us organize some great camps. The older I get, the more I miss those big events.

eightbore

[Smithy]

I was a cub for about three years, before playing cricket really started to take up my time.

[Flivver]

I was a Cub Scout for about three years and had great fun doing it. My best friend's mom was our Den Mother and she was great at it. We made some wonderful field trips to museums and the local Air Force base, and were encouraged to do special projects to earn gold and silver arrowheads (my mother got tired of sewing them on my shirt). I was a Wolf, Bear, and finally a Lion. I still have my little blue uniform.

Then I became a Boy Scout and enjoyed that, too...at least initially. We had a great Scoutmaster but eventually he wound up having to work overtime on the nights we met. Our meetings then were run by teen-aged Eagle Scouts who took great pleasure in sneering at us and making us do exercises for an hour or two each meeting. There was nothing else in their "playbook". After a few months of that, my friends and I quit the Scouts and went on to other interests. That was too bad, as I think being a Boy Scout could have been even more fun than being a Cub Scout.

[Miss Sis]

Ben Stephens (on holiday this week) was a Scout and is still a Scout Leader.

Here he is being a British War-time Scout Leader with all his 'scouts' at COAM (Chiltern open Air Musuem) in July. It peed down with rain and was quite unpleasant weather but the Scouts had the time of their lives! At least three went away and joined the Scouts for real. :)

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p242/dropshort1/P1010031.jpg

[Edward]

I was in the Robins, the most junior end of the BB (Boy's Brigade) for a year or two when very young (4 / 5). We moved house, and all my new friends were joining the Beavers (junior end of the Scouts in the UK) at 6, so that's wehre I ended up. Comparing it to the BB, I think I probably got a lot more out of the Scouts (Dad was a leader in both for years, and he reckons the same), though others' mileage may vary on that one. I went right through beavers, cubs, scouts and into venture scouts, then from about 18 through to about 20 or so, I was an Assisant Scout Leader. Great experience.

[LizzieMaine]

Brownie, 1970-72, Junior Girl Scout, 1972-75, Cadette Girl Scout 1975-76. I'd have stuck all the way thru to Senior, but the troop dissolved for lack of interest -- the 70s were a fallow time for such things, I guess. But I enjoyed it very much, even though the only camping trip I ever went on was a sleepover on the floor of the local armory one summer. And I still love the cookies!
http://www.midcoast.com/~lizmcl/vest.jpg

[Feraud]

I am a former scout and my son is currently involved in scouting.
A great organization for kids.

[Rooster]

I was a cub scout for a year. All we did was carve soap......:( When I joined up I had envisioned camping out in the woods and doing all kinds of boy type fun things, not carving soap.
I just went ahead and did all those boy type things on my own with out the scouts.
I was however a long time 4H member and raised rabbits chickens and vegetables for projects. Always did quite well with them at the local fairs. I still raise and show chickens yet to this day.
Scouts and 4H are great for today's kids, especially if there is a good adult leader to get the kids pointed in the right direction.

[Doctor Strange]

I was a Boy Scout 1966-1969, but a pretty lazy example - I never made First Class. I survived two summer stints at Camp Read in the Adirondacks (which was seriously roughing it!) and some local campouts and hikes. Since we were an urban troop (Yonkers, NY), we did a lot less woodcraft and nature study than average. (E.g, gun folks, take note: Camp Read was the only time in my life I have ever handled live firearms.)

It was mostly a good experience, and I still have a few bits of my old uniform and equipment, and some photos, to show for it. But just about the only thing I learned then that's ever really come in handy since is the ability to tie a taught-line hitch...

[BeBopBaby]

My husband was a boy scout most of his youth, his father was a scout leader. He's always spoken highly of scouting and plans to be involved if we have a son. He saved his father's scout leader uniform just for that purpose. :)

[Big Man]

I was a Boy Scout in the 60's. We went hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, and all kinds of great outdoor things. I went to the same summer camp that my Dad went to in the 30's (and stayed in the same cabin, too). When my sons were of age in the 80's, they were also Boy Scouts. It is a great organization.

[BeBopBaby]

I was however a long time 4H member and raised rabbits chickens and vegetables for projects. Always did quite well with them at the local fairs. I still raise and show chickens yet to this day.

As a child, I grew flowers to show at the county fair. I'll never forget the year I grew a monsterously big celosia and won the blue ribbon! Such a thrill when you're little.

[Edward]

Scouts and 4H are great for today's kids, especially if there is a good adult leader to get the kids pointed in the right direction.

4H? Que es? Is it along the lines of the Yuong Farmers' Club that exists in the UK?

Absolutely agree the Scouts are great for kids. I had so many positive experiences growing up in that movement. Not least was the fact that our Scout troop was very mixed (i.e. Catholic and Protestant) - one of the biggest reasons for the ongoing social divide in Northern Ireland is that the two "sides" simply don't mix - there are kids who grow up right through to adulthood with having any significant interaction with "the other side" (separate schools). We gained a lot from not growing up thinking the other kinda kids had horns.

I could still build you a hell of a fire from stuff gathered in a forest - I'd need the lighter, though, I never did master that thing with two sticks. :p

[Harry Pierpont]

I was a cub when I was younger but our great den mother quit and no one liked the new one and the pack dissolved. Both my sons on the other hand are Eagle Scouts and I am currently the " Chartered Organization Rep." our fire dept charters the local troop.

[dhermann1]

We had a great Cub Scout pack, with good leadership. I made Wolf. Whoopee doo! Our Boy Scout troop had one leader who did almost everything, and when he retired, it was hard to find a replacement. I went camping, reached Second Class, had fun. I was a den chief for a while! These organizations all need good adult leadership to do well.
It's sad to see all the political controversies the Scouts have been mired in. It's too bad schools no longer sponsor them. But I'm glad I was a Scout, and would recommend it to anyone.
The last Scouting activity I was involved in was several years ago. A friend at work was a troop leader in Harlem, and I went with his troop to a Yankee game. That was fun!

[Nathan Flowers]

Troop 475. God and Country 1995, Eagle awarded 1997. Brotherhood member of Santee Lodge 116, Order of the Arrow.

I pretty much never stopped going to meetings every week, and I'm now an Assistant Scoutmaster in the same troop I grew up in. In fact, 5 of the 6 Scoutmasters of our troop are former Eagles out of the same troop.

Spitfire, we are also in the process of planning a reunion for our troop, as the 60th anniversary of its first charter will be March 2008. What all do you have planned?

[Nashoba]

*sigh*...ahh scouts.

My husband started out as a cub, is an eagle scout and up until a few years ago was a scoutmaster.

I was also a boy scout. It was where we met. We were both members of the same Explorer unit.

[Rooster]

4H? Que es? Is it along the lines of the Yuong Farmers' Club that exists in the UK?
Yep, probably the same thing.

[J. M. Stovall]

I was a Cub Scout, Webelos Scout and Boy Scout and made it to First Class. My family then moved and for some reason (rebellious youth) I didn't get into a new troop. I haven't decided if I'm going to nudge my daughter into Girl Scouts yet. It seems like it's just a cookie selling organization.

[Rooster]

*sigh*...ahh scouts.

My husband started out as a cub, is an eagle scout and up until a few years ago was a scoutmaster.

I was also a boy scout. It was where we met. We were both members of the same Explorer unit.
Oh, say it ain't so Nash! Chicks in scouts!:eek: Times sure have changed.....lol

[Josephine]

Brownie, 1970-72, Junior Girl Scout, 1972-75, Cadette Girl Scout 1975-76. I'd have stuck all the way thru to Senior, but the troop dissolved for lack of interest -- the 70s were a fallow time for such things, I guess. But I enjoyed it very much, even though the only camping trip I ever went on was a sleepover on the floor of the local armory one summer. And I still love the cookies!

Nice pic of your vest! I made it to Cadettes, and still have my vest, I'll take a picture tonight. I earned the First Class Award, of which I'm very proud. I'm the co-leader of Big Miss' Junior troop, and Middle Miss is in Brownies now. I'll post more later, have to go to work!

[Nathan Flowers]

Oh, say it ain't so Nash! Chicks in scouts!:eek: Times sure have changed.....lol

Girls have been allowed in Explorer units for a long time. It's not exactly the same as regular Boy Scouts -- more of an adventure club with Scouting ideals. It's an especially good option these days, as many Girl Scout groups these days don't spend much time in the outdoors.

[Big Man]

Oh, say it ain't so Nash! Chicks in scouts!:eek: Times sure have changed.....lol


http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/Burke1777/he-man_club.jpg

lol lol lol lol

[carouselvic]

I was active in the scouts for many years. I left when I turned 18 and went to college. When I left I was Jr. Asst. Scoutmaster, a Brotherhood member in the OA. I found it to be a great organization, a lot of great times and fond memories.

[Rooster]

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/Burke1777/he-man_club.jpg

lol lol lol lol
lol HA! That's me!lol There's just some things guys have to do with out chicks around, and one of them is Boy Scouts. That's probably not a politically correct statement these days.;)

[Samsa]

Troop 1024 (Detroit Area Council). Made it up to Life (and Order of the Arrow), but was unfortunately too lazy at the time to make Eagle. (I didn't value it enough at the time. If I have any regrets, it's not putting forth the extra effort to make Eagle.) Our troop was great, and we did a lot of camping - one of my favorite experiences in or out of scouts was going to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico (twice). If I had money for new gear I would love to get back into backpacking.

I'm not sure if I would have gotten into drugs or other unsavory things as a teen without Scouts, but it was definitely a worthwhile experience.

[Foofoogal]

My son was an Order of the Arrow and made it to First Class scout. I was so mad when he quit due to peer pressure. Remember the night he had to stay in the woods all by himself. (that will make a man out of anyone) lol
My husband was Scoutmaster (I think if I remember also Order of the Arrow) and I used to go camping with the troop. I had a blast watching those boys plus they had to cook for me (silver turtles anyone) . Hilarious fun. One of the best organizations.
:offtopic: Many people collect vintage Boy Scout memorabilia.

[Mark from Plano]

My father was an Eagle Scout in the 40's and 50's. I made it to Life in the 70's. Currently #1 son is a Life with only his Eagle project remaining. #2 son is stuck at 1st Class due to sports and other commitments. I am an Assistant Scoutmaster in their troop.

My oldest son attended the National Jamboree in 2005 and the World Jamboree in England this past summer. These have been the highlights of his scouting experience thus far. My younger son has been too young to attend either of these events, but plans on attending the next National Jamboree.

I attended a National Jamboree in 1974 and went to Philmont in 1976, those were the highlights for me.

My wife says that Scouting makes you a better parent because it forces you to do the things with your kids that you always meant to do and teach them all the things you meant to teach them, but just never would get around to otherwise.

[Feraud]

A question for those with children currently in scouting.

Does your troop work on any merit badges with the children as a troop or is it up to the scouts to choose a badge, find a counsellor, and complete the requirements?

Thanks

[Tommy Fedora]

I was a Cub, then a Boy Scout years ago when there was still patches of woodland in the NJ/NYC area that we could walk to for a day hike. I really enjoyed the woodcraft and being free to roam the forest, exploring what was over the next hill.
I doubt that the scouts draw in my area the way the used too. Another species in danger of extinction from a lack of habitat.

[carter]

THIS
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p242/dropshort1/P1010031.jpg
is the Scout Troop for me! :D

I grew up in VA and was a member of both the Cub Pack and Boy Scout Troop 121, Stonewall Jackson Council, chartered by our church. Our troop folded while I was working on 1st Class. The Scoutmaster was pretty old and no other adult male wanted to take on the responsibility. Since we lived in a farming community, that didn't curtail our outdoor activity on iota. It did end my involvement with Scouting as a youth. :(

I have some old photos that I'll try to find and post on this thread.

Fast forward a few decades. We had just moved back to Dallas from Houston and our son was entering the 1st grade. On Scout Night at his elementary school (anyone remember those?) my wife volunteered to become a Tiger Cub leader and I was drafted as the only male willing to help out. The rest, as they say, is history.

I went on to become the Cub Master. Then I transitioned into the Boy Scouts with my son and served as a merit badge counselor, Assistant Scoutmaster, Scoutmaster, and Unit Commissioner for Troop 68, Highland Park United Methodist Church, Dallas. Along the way I attended Wood Badge 57 at Philmont Scout Ranch and earned my beads as well as attending the National Jamboree in 2001 and surviving a 100 mile trek at Philmont in 2003. I'm also an OA member.

My son earned his Eagle rank as well as serving as his Troop Quartermaster at the National Jamboree in 2001 and leading our Philmont trek in 2003. He also is an OA member and taught 1st Aid at Camporee for a couple of years.

I've been retired from Scouting for the last couple of years and working a bit with the Girl Scouts since my daughter has been involved.

But...I really miss camping. So, my best guess is that Scouting hasn't seen the last of me yet. :D :fedora:

Thanks for starting this thread! I needed a pick-me-up!

[carter]

A question for those with children currently in scouting.
Does your troop work on any merit badges with the children as a troop or is it up to the scouts to choose a badge, find a counsellor, and complete the requirements?
Thanks

This is a very good question. Let me say that parental involvement is always a good thing if channeled properly and in accord with BSA policy.

Our troop does both. We had/have significant parental involvement. They are all registered with the BSA.

We also have an excellent relationship with the Chartered Organization Representative as well as the Church that charters the troop.

We offer a limited number of required merit badges taught as part of each weekly meeting. Outdoor requirements are covered at campouts, cookouts, and other activities. This has been done for years.

Individual merit badges are either offered when there is an adult with particular expertise or when a scout wants to earn a particular badge and locates an approved counselor. However, we always insist on the two-adult rule as well as encouraging the boys to work with at least one other scout on a badge.

Generally, we have plenty of adults available to teach just about any merit badge a boy wants to earn.

This being said, structure helps a lot. It is the job of the Troop Committe Chairman to recruit and help guide the adults who support the Scoutmaster and the Troop.

It is the job of the Scoutmaster and his assistants to work with the boys.

A clear understanding of the roles of the various adults involved with the troop makes a big difference in how well a troop runs.

A Scoutmaster and Troop Committee Chairman who understand their roles and respect one another are vital to a well-functioning troop.

[Feraud]

Thank you for the reply Carter.

The issue I have with our troop is not the parental involvement but the troop structure. I work with my son on his scout requirements but notice they rarely work on merit badges during meetings. I was wondering how common this is. I know it is not productive.
My son's troop works on merit badges during summer camp and when they are camping.
What bothers me is the seemingly unorganized weekly meetings.. not to mention the favoritism. :rolleyes:

[Edward]

lol HA! That's me!lol There's just some things guys have to do with out chicks around, and one of them is Boy Scouts. That's probably not a politically correct statement these days.;)


I wonder about it sometimes. I'd hate to have grown up in a solely single-sex environment, but at the same time I don't think it did any harm at all to have that weekly evening where it was an all-guys environment. I think both genders can benefit from a balance between being on their own and being mixed.

Back when I was still involved with the Scouts, the UK organisation did decide at the top level that girls could join in with Scouts from the age of 10 and a half (the level at which back then at least we went from Cubs to Scouts). I guess the feeling was that in the modern world boys and girls didn't require to be treated differently, or more to the point, the girls could cope as well as the boys and didn't need to be kept indoors learning how to be ladies. Heh. I don't know how far it took off.... I think a lot of the Guide movement (Girl Scouts in the US, right?) had moved on by then and was so much modernised that it was more a matter of preferance on the mixed issue than anything that would decide preferences on the matter. In our small village Scout group, we remained all male, with the local guides agreeing to carry on providing for the girls. As much as anything this came down to a leadership issue - if our group had taken girls in, we'd have had to recruit a bunch more (female) leaders what with legalities, insurance, etc, especially if camping. It was hard enough recruiting leaders as it was - it's a big time commitment, certainly, and then I think the movement got hit by the same thing as primary school teaching for men - the crude, popular jokes and suspicion about a man who wanted to work with young boys. Sad, but there you have it.

[carter]

Thank you for the reply Carter.

The issue I have with our troop is not the parental involvement but the troop structure. I work with my son on his scout requirements but notice they rarely work on merit badges during meetings. I was wondering how common this is. I know it is not productive.
My son's troop works on merit badges during summer camp and when they are camping.
What bothers me is the seemingly unorganized weekly meetings.. not to mention the favoritism. :rolleyes:

Feraud,

My 1st question is, "What is done at the meetings?".

The BSA provides many resources for meetings as well as monthly programs. Does you son's troop use any of these materials? Thay can be subscribed to and received via mail by the adult leaders.

By the way, how is your Scoutmaster selected? How long have they held this position? Have they been trained at BSA training courses? Every boy deserves a well-trained leader(s).

Who runs the meetings? Is it the youth leaders with the coaching of the Scoutmaster? If so, do they have a program for each meeting? Do the youth leaders and the Scoutmaster meet separately each week? Are the youth leaders actually doing any leading?

There can be many reasons for a lack of focus. However, as far as the troop meetings are concerned, the responsibility lies with the Scoutmaster.

If this is a long-term issue, ask for a meeting with the Scoutmaster and concerned parents.

It may be a good idea to include the Troop Committee Chairman and the Chartered Organization Representative as well as the Unit Commissioner if the initial meeting does not go well or there is no improvement.

It is important that the situation not become politicized by the adults, as often happens, in situations like these. The boys and their Scouting experience are the most important item to focus on.

[Feraud]

The weekly meetings are run by the patrol leaders overseen by the scoutmaster. The activities are monthly themes voted on by the scouts at the beginning of the year. The scoutmaster has been with the troop a long time. I am not sure how/when or what training was done for this position.

It seems like troops are run slightly differently from each other. Our troop is a good group of kids who get along great, love the scoutmaster, and have a great time on their summer, camping and day trips.

I would like to see a bit more discipline when it comes to earning merit badges. Rather than feeling like all the kids are working towards Eagle, it feels like only one or two. Maybe it is just me. [huh]

[carter]

The weekly meetings are run by the patrol leaders overseen by the scoutmaster. The activities are monthly themes voted on by the scouts at the beginning of the year. The scoutmaster has been with the troop a long time. I am not sure how/when or what training was done for this position.

It seems like troops are run slightly differently from each other. Our troop is a good group of kids who get along great, love the scoutmaster, and have a great time on their summer, camping and day trips.

I would like to see a bit more discipline when it comes to earning merit badges. Rather than feeling like all the kids are working towards Eagle, it feels like only one or two. Maybe it is just me. [huh]

It sounds like there is a lot of good happening in the troop.
If the boys get along well, like/love the Scoutmaster, and have a gret time on their [Sc]outings, that's great.

Have you considered discussing this with the Scoutmaster and asking if he is open to adult volunteers who are willing to teach merit badges? He may be open to this but hasn't been asked.

If the Senior Patrol Leader, his staff, and the Scoutmaster are willing, the meetings might be restructured or lengthened slightly to provide a short 20-30 minute breakout for merit badges. This can be sandwiched between the opening, patrol meetings, and closing or however it works best for the troop.

If the boys do not want to do this, alternate meeetings at other times that work for the merit badge instructors could be arranged.

I'd say have a discussion with the Scoutmaster 1st and be prepared to offer some assistance if he is interested.

[Feraud]

It sounds like there is a lot of good happening in the troop.
If the boys get along well, like/love the Scoutmaster, and have a gret time on their [Sc]outings, that's great.
I should emphasis how well they all do get along. Any "bad apples" tend to drop off after a week or two.
Like the other parents, we are trying to help our son achieve his goal of Eagle. I hope I did not coming off as too "gloom and doom" about the troop! lol
Thanks for your suggestions. I am going to try to bring it up to the scoutmaster.

[carter]

I should emphasis how well they all do get along. Any "bad apples" tend to drop off after a week or two.
Like the other parents, we are trying to help our son achieve his goal of Eagle. I hope I did not coming off as too "gloom and doom" about the troop! lol
Thanks for your suggestions. I am going to try to bring it up to the scoutmaster.

Nope, you're coming across as concerned. A good thing.

The Scoutmaster may be eager for help. The best way to find out is to ask. :)

[pigeon toe]

I was a Brownie in the early 90's, probably only for a year or two. I was very shy when I was little, so I was not much of a joiner and disliked being forced into group situations (like dance classes).

However, those cookies were delish! I don't think we ever did anything other than make stuff out of paper plates and sell cookies though. They should have more outdoorsy stuff for girls to do. I'm sure I would have liked that much more.

[Viola]

I was in Girl Scouts, Brownie through Cadette. I dropped in Cadette's because while my leader was a total sweetheart, she was the same one I'd had since part of Brownies, and we were doing a lot of the same activities over and over.

And I was less girly than a lot of the girls, so we did a lot of crafts projects with glitter and a lot of trips to see Disney on Ice or whatever, when I wanted to go camping and canoeing and whatever. (the leader wasn't really WRONG, either, I don't think most of those girls wanted to do paintball or anything like that)

I stayed registered an extra year after I stopped hanging with the troop, because I loved the local GS summer camp in tents. (As opposed to camping with my troop, which was always in a cabin, the BABIES! :p )

That last year at summer camp when I was 14 was kind of odd though, I remember trying to learn to smoke and being in a pup tent with some chick I barely knew who was stoned out of her mind, going "Ok, seriously, you need to SHUT UP!"

And then on the last day my little sister almost got me into a fistfight with some big ol' girl from a rough neighborhood on the other side of the city who was more than a head taller than I was.

[carter]

I was in Girl Scouts, Brownie through Cadette. I dropped in Cadette's because while my leader was a total sweetheart, she was the same one I'd had since part of Brownies, and we were doing a lot of the same activities over and over.

And I was less girly than a lot of the girls, so we did a lot of crafts projects with glitter and a lot of trips to see Disney on Ice or whatever, when I wanted to go camping and canoeing and whatever. (the leader wasn't really WRONG, either, I don't think most of those girls wanted to do paintball or anything like that)

I stayed registered an extra year after I stopped hanging with the troop, because I loved the local GS summer camp in tents. (As opposed to camping with my troop, which was always in a cabin, the BABIES! :p )

That last year at summer camp when I was 14 was kind of odd though, I remember trying to learn to smoke and being in a pup tent with some chick I barely knew who was stoned out of her mind, going "Ok, seriously, you need to SHUT UP!"

And then on the last day my little sister almost got me into a fistfight with some big ol' girl from a rough neighborhood on the other side of the city who was more than a head taller than I was.

Viola,

If you're ever interested, there are female volunteer leaders in the Boy Scouts. There were three ladies in my Wood Badge course at Philmont. At least one of them went on to become the Scoutmaster of her son's Boy Scout Troop. There may not be girls/young ladies in Boy Scout Troops but some of the most effective volunteers I've had the pleasure of knowing have been ladies.

[Viola]

Carter, that's a good idea. I remember kinda going along with a lot of my younger brother's Cub Scout and Boy Scout things, (sometimes our parents couldn't make it, and sometimes I just liked the kind of stuff they were doing) and liking it.

I don't see having free time in my immediate future, I just enlisted, but I would investigate either GS or BSA in the future, or the Explorers, which I wish I'd heard about when I was 14.

[carter]

Carter, that's a good idea. I remember kinda going along with a lot of my younger brother's Cub Scout and Boy Scout things, (sometimes our parents couldn't make it, and sometimes I just liked the kind of stuff they were doing) and liking it.

I don't see having free time in my immediate future, I just enlisted, but I would investigate either GS or BSA in the future, or the Explorers, which I wish I'd heard about when I was 14.

Viola, Best wishes on your enlistment. Which branch? There are often opportunities with Scouting at permanent duty stations once you've completed your training. It seems like you may be a natural for this kind of volunteer effort.

[Mark from Plano]

A question for those with children currently in scouting.

Does your troop work on any merit badges with the children as a troop or is it up to the scouts to choose a badge, find a counsellor, and complete the requirements?

Thanks

In our troop the answer is "both". We tend to do Eagle-required merit badges during meetings (maybe 4-5 per year). Occassionally one of the parents will offer to instruct a particular merit badge outside of meetings (my wife did "Art" once). Beyond that the boys are responsible for arranging their own merit badges or attending one of the local "merit badge colleges" held around town or getting them at summer camp.

[Viola]

Viola, Best wishes on your enlistment. Which branch? There are often opportunities with Scouting at permanent duty stations once you've completed your training. It seems like you may be a natural for this kind of volunteer effort.

The Navy. I'm going to be an Electrician's Mate, is there a BSA merit badge for wiring? lol

I liked my brother's troop a lot, but I admit I think about the Girl Scouts a bit more, partially because I think there are a lot of girls that would enjoy more exposure to "real" camping and stuff than maybe are getting it with some troops. Its not supposed to just be about the cookies! ;)

[Nathan Flowers]

In our troop the answer is "both". We tend to do Eagle-required merit badges during meetings (maybe 4-5 per year). Occassionally one of the parents will offer to instruct a particular merit badge outside of meetings (my wife did "Art" once). Beyond that the boys are responsible for arranging their own merit badges or attending one of the local "merit badge colleges" held around town or getting them at summer camp.

It's exactly the same with our troop. We don't push boys to get merit badges, but will do all we can to facilitate them in getting the ones they want. This probably does result in us turning out fewer Eagles over time, but it ensures the ones that do earn Eagle rank are those that truly want it, and are self-motivated enough to put the work in to attain it.

The flip side of this coin are the troops where they do nothing but work on merit badges, and hardly spend any time outdoors, developing leadership skills, and doing stuff that is just plain fun. What is needed is a bit of it all. I have had experiences at camporees with some troops that we call "Eagle factories" (they have 7-10 Eagles per year, even if the troops are smallish), and many of the boys with higher ranks often did not have the skills (both Scouting, and leadership) that our First Class and Star Scouts have.

[Lady Day]

I went Brownie-Senior, but didnt finish Senior cause I had that pesky thing of getting into college (applications and such) :p

I was a scout in (at the time) the only all black troop in our area (Kentucky). We'd go to all or events in full uniform. We also sold the most cookies (400+ cases) for like 5 years! We were so cool :cool:

LD

[Blackgrass]

Eagle Scout '89.

I was talking to my parents a couple of weeks back and told them Philmont was one of the coolest things I ever did as a kid.

[carter]

It's exactly the same with our troop. We don't push boys to get merit badges, but will do all we can to facilitate them in getting the ones they want. This probably does result in us turning out fewer Eagles over time, but it ensures the ones that do earn Eagle rank are those that truly want it, and are self-motivated enough to put the work in to attain it.

The flip side of this coin are the troops where they do nothing but work on merit badges, and hardly spend any time outdoors, developing leadership skills, and doing stuff that is just plain fun. What is needed is a bit of it all. I have had experiences at camporees with some troops that we call "Eagle factories" (they have 7-10 Eagles per year, even if the troops are smallish), and many of the boys with higher ranks often did not have the skills (both Scouting, and leadership) that our First Class and Star Scouts have.

When you consider that only about 3 % of the boys who enter the Boy Scouts actually earn the rank of Eagle, I'd say most who earn the rank actually "want it". However, there are some boys who do so because of parental or other influence and/or pressure. Would they have earned the rank otherwise? Who's to say.

I've heard of troops called "Eagle factories" but have never sat on a review board for an Eagle candidate who hadn't done the work required to earn the rank.

That being said, there is an old saying in the BSA, that the best part of "Scouting" is "...outing". That was certainly the aim of Lord Robert S.S. Baden Powell when he began the movement.

Most of the adult scouters that I know would agree that Scouting is most effective when the adult volunteers actaully serve as mentors and guides to assist the boys in learning, among other things, leadership within a safe, well-rounded, and comprehensive program.

[Blackgrass]

When you consider that only about 3 % of the boys who enter the Boy Scouts actually earn the rank of Eagle, I'd say most who earn the rank actually "want it". However, there are some boys who do so because of parental or other influence and/or pressure. Would they have earned the rank otherwise? Who's to say.

I tell all the girls that it's 1% and then show them my scars! ;)

[carter]

I tell all the girls that it's 1% and then show them my scars! ;)

lol lol lol

[jamespowers]

Eagle Scout 1986.

[Nathan Flowers]

When you consider that only about 3 % of the boys who enter the Boy Scouts actually earn the rank of Eagle, I'd say most who earn the rank actually "want it". However, there are some boys who do so because of parental or other influence and/or pressure. Would they have earned the rank otherwise? Who's to say.

I've heard of troops called "Eagle factories" but have never sat on a review board for an Eagle candidate who hadn't done the work required to earn the rank.

That being said, there is an old saying in the BSA, that the best part of "Scouting" is "...outing". That was certainly the aim of Lord Robert S.S. Baden Powell when he began the movement.

Most of the adult scouters that I know would agree that Scouting is most effective when the adult volunteers actaully serve as mentors and guides to assist the boys in learning, among other things, leadership within a safe, well-rounded, and comprehensive program.

I'm on the same page with most everything you say here. I have, however, sat on several Eagle boards where the candidate was not prepared for the questioning (not that uncommon). I also have served on one where the Scout did not know whether he used nails or screws on his wood duck boxes, and couldn't say how he set them. Certainly, this was rare case, but it was something that really stuck out to me over the years. I don't want that to happen with one of our boys.

I absolutely agree with you regarding B-P's position on the outdoors in Scouting.

[Josephine]

A question for those with children currently in scouting.

Does your troop work on any merit badges with the children as a troop or is it up to the scouts to choose a badge, find a counsellor, and complete the requirements?

Thanks

We work on badges and Signs together, but a Girl Scout is more than welcome to earn any badge she wants to on her own. My 11 yr old earned Junior Aide and the Leadership Award on her own, in addition to a camping badge.

[Mid-fogey]

...a Cub Scout and Boy Scout. When my dad got stationed in Germany that ended it for me. I think its a great thing and my daughter is now a Brownie.

BTW my dad was the first Eagle Scout in Princess Anne County in the 1930s!

[tinmanzzz]

I was A Scout back in the early 60's made LIFE Rank. Later in the 90's I was a Scout Master in Oklahoma.
The Biggest problem with Scouting Today is that the too many Advisors want to tell the boys what to do instead of advising them how to get it done.
As the say "ONCE A SCOUT ALWAYS A ...... :o :o OOPS, WRONG "BOYS" GROUP
SEMPER FI........

[carter]

I'm on the same page with most everything you say here. I have, however, sat on several Eagle boards where the candidate was not prepared for the questioning (not that uncommon). I also have served on one where the Scout did not know whether he used nails or screws on his wood duck boxes, and couldn't say how he set them. Certainly, this was rare case, but it was something that really stuck out to me over the years. I don't want that to happen with one of our boys.

I absolutely agree with you regarding B-P's position on the outdoors in Scouting.

Zohar, I can see where the scout being unprepared could happen if a Troop really is just focused on turning out Eagle Scouts. I consider myself lucky to not have experienced this.

In our troop, between the Scoutmaster and the Eagle Coordinator, the Eagle candidate was reviewed at least twice before his Eagle Board after he completed his project, not to mention all the approval and review documentation before and during the project. My experience is that the Eagle Project is the most challenging thing a Scout will do in his Scouting career as a youth.

How a boy can get to his final Eagle Board of Review and not know his project from soup to nuts is beyond me. Unless, of course, the adult leaders aren't really doing their jobs as prescribed by the BSA.

Actually, there is one other item that I did experience as a Scoutmaster. We had a lad who was approaching his 18th birthday and had not completed three required merit badges. His dad wanted me to agree that he, the dad, had instructed his son on the merit badges. As bad as I felt for the boy, I could not do this. First it was not true and second, the boy had passed on numerous opportunities to earn the badges. He did not earn his Eagle and his dad hasn't spoken to me in years.

It's too bad that some adults don't value the BSA for what it can offer a boy. It's certainly about more than a line on a resume.

The values learned in Scouting are about as vintage as you can get.

[Feng_Li]

Eagle Scout 2002, Troop 855, Cascade Pacific Council.

[MagistrateChris]

Pack 880, then Troop 880. Arrow of Light in Cubs, Eagle w/ gold palm 1984. Ordeal member of O.A. Now, some 20 years later, my oldest son got into Cub Scouts, and they were looking for a leader, so I'm putting the uniform back on as Cub Master. Honestly, I'm in the process of considering a hat purchase for unifrom wear. Do you all lik ethe traditional campaign hat, or the new "outback" style?

[Classics]

I made it to Star, before the adult politics of the troop tore it apart. Too bad, I had a good time and learned a great deal.

[Dixon Cannon]

Troop 290, Lantana, Florida

I still have my neckerchief and my Camp Tanakeeta slide. I also carved a 'beer barrel' neckerchief slide that I saw in "Boys Life" magazine. I still have that little rascal.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h44/dixon-cannon/BarrelNeckerchiefSlide.jpg

I'll photograph that stuff and pass it along.

-dixon cannon

[Dominic]

Been a scout from age 9 to 16. Quite fun, lots of adventures including the International Jamboree in Calgary, Alberta in 1982. Also got my Annapurna badge in 1981, a badge given by the Governor General of Canada (Queen's representative) at Rideau Hall, Ottawa.

[BonnieJean]

I was a cub when I was younger but our great den mother quit and no one liked the new one and the pack dissolved. Both my sons on the other hand are Eagle Scouts and I am currently the " Chartered Organization Rep." our fire dept charters the local troop.

My darling hubby forgot to mention that I was a cub scout den mother for two years and *note to Rooster* we did NOT carve any soap! It was quite a challenge keeping 8 boys moving in the same direction! I never did any "camping" with the boys, but the scoutmaster took them once on an overnight trip. I am not the "camping type".

Also, *another note to Rooster* in my high school years (back in the mid-70s) I was in an Explorer Boy Scout troop. It was a conservation-based troop. Most of the girls joined to hang out with the guys, but I was really interested in nature conservation.

Being an Eagle Scout put my youngest son, up a pay level, when he entered the Air Force. I'm not sure if other branches of the military recognize Eagle Scouts, though.

I'll have to dig up the photo of hubby riding in the soap box derby racer they made in scouts--back when the derby cars were large enough to ride in!

[Josephine]

Being an Eagle Scout put my youngest son, up a pay level, when he entered the Air Force. I'm not sure if other branches of the military recognize Eagle Scouts, though.

They do, and the branches recognize Girl Scout's highest award too (which changes ever 20 years it seems, I got the First Class Award, Big Miss would get the Gold Award).

[BonnieJean]

They do, and the branches recognize Girl Scout's highest award too (which changes ever 20 years it seems, I got the First Class Award, Big Miss would get the Gold Award).

That's nice to know, Josephine. The young people have to work hard to get these awards and I'm glad they're recognized for it.

[carter]

Dix, That's a great piece of memoribilia!

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h44/dixon-cannon/BarrelNeckerchiefSlide.jpg

[Nashoba]

Yep, it's so. I was an explorer. I was a member of a Native American Dance Explorer unit actually. We used to do educational dance shows for various groups and schools. I've done more blue and gold dinners than I care to remember. There was a certain time each year where I would get sick of blue and gold. Like I said, I met my husband in that unit. I was all of 16. *sigh*
But my mother in law was a cub scout leader in some capacity for nearly 30 years. She had 5 children. 4 of them were boys. She has 4 Eagle scouts. And if my sister-in-law had been a boy she would have had 5. Scouting runs deep in that family. Hubby was also in the OA. We were both Explorers until we hit 21 and then were advisors for several years. And he spent nearly 6 years as a Scout master or Asst. Scoutmaster for 2 different troops.


tinmanzz: lol. you'd be surprised how many Marines are also Eagles.

[tinmanzzz]

tinmanzz: lol. you'd be surprised how many Marines are also Eagles.

Actually, it is the same mind set that drives some boys and men to excell. I left Scouts for the DeMolay's (Former Master Counsellor)
I LOVE Scouting, It givs young Men a chance to Prove themselves. I also LOVE the CORP.

[Big Man]

... I also carved a 'beer barrel' neckerchief slide that I saw in "Boys Life" magazine. I still have that little rascal ...

I cut my finger carving a neckerchief slide at Scout Camp in 1967. I still have the scar (but not the slide). :D

[carter]

Great posts from the Ladies and Gentlemen of the Lounge. I really enjoy reading these. Does anyone have pictures to post?

Here's my favorite watercolor done by Lord Robert S.S. Baden-Powell. He titled it My House in the Woods.

http://www.pinetreeweb.com/bp-house-in-woods.jpg

[Nashoba]

I cut my finger carving a neckerchief slide at Scout Camp in 1967. I still have the scar (but not the slide). :D

My husband carved the eagle head neckerchief slide that I wear with my dance regalia. come to think of it...i think he did it at scout camp one year...[huh]

[Bernard Newman]

I joined the scouts 1996 when I was eight and I still enjoy it. Next fall, when my time by the army is over, I'll start the scout master course.

[Brooksie]

I was in Sea Scouts (also an explorer unit) for a couple of years when I in high school... It was fun, I learned to sail every mast and sail on a sail boat so, naturally I was on the sailing team and also the rowing team. Learned how to tie all of the sailors knots, learned semiphore and morse code and other neat things.

Brooksie

[jamespowers]

My husband carved the eagle head neckerchief slide that I wear with my dance regalia. come to think of it...i think he did it at scout camp one year...[huh]


Yep, probably got him the woodcarving merit badge or such. :D

[fourstarbanner]

I am currently a lifetime member of Girl Scouts. I stayed with it from Brownie all the way through Senior and graduation, but I never earned my Gold Award. I did, however, work at the local Girl Scout camp back in Iowa for 4 years. Not only am I pretty good at dutch oven cooking, but I'm excellent at canoeing, sailing, using a compass, lighting a fire with one match (and NO lighter fluid!), and tying knots.

Life's been keeping me pretty busy, but I want to have my own troop someday!

[hotrod_elf]

I was a Brownie thur Cadet. I went to one camp. Now my daughter is in girl scouts. She started in Daisies and is about to finish her last Brownie year.

I think it is a wonderful outlet for kids.

[BonnieJean]

I finally dug up hubby's (Harry Pierpont) photo from his Cub Scout soap box derby. He's the cute red head in the middle.
http://www.hawcreektraders.com/soap_box_derby.jpg

He was the official "driver" and wore a football helmet for protection. They raced their cars down a big hill--no engines, just gravity.

When our boys were in scouts, those large derby cars had been determined to be too "dangerous" and so they had shrunked to about 6" and the scouts raced them indoors on a large track. I think the soap box derby cars in the "old days" were more fun.

BTW, Harry says they won the derby race, but "cheated". He said there were Boy Scouts posted on the hill telling the Cub Scouts to brake at certain points down the hill "so they don't go too fast". But his buddy told him not to brake until the end and ignore the older boys' warnings. I always knew Harry was a daredevil!

[carter]

BonnieJean, That is a wonderful picture and the tale of Harry's Soap Box Derby exploits brings back memories.
Thanks for sharing.

[Snookie]

Proud member of Troop 1019 from 1991 to 1999, and earned the Gold Award in '99. (And no - when I think of my scouting days, I don't immediately think of selling cookies.)

My husband was an Explorer scout in high school -- which actually got him started in his current career.

[Nashoba]

Yep, probably got him the woodcarving merit badge or such. :D

No, he was an adult. He did it when he was an asst scoutmaster at Camp Chawanakee with his scouts. :D

[Rooster]

Also, *another note to Rooster* in my high school years (back in the mid-70s) I was in an Explorer Boy Scout troop. It was a conservation-based troop. Most of the girls joined to hang out with the guys, but I was really interested in nature conservation.
Good Lord, the world is coming to an end!lol

[nobodyspecial]

I was a boy scout in the 1970's and made it to first class. The troop in my home town started to fall apart after the scoutmaster moved away. Nobody jumped in to fill the void. Still I am grateful for the experiences as I would never have had a chance to camp as a youth had it not been for scouting.

After college I volunteered for the local boy scout council planning and running weekend camporees. I did this for several years until we had children. Since we have two girls I now am a co-leader of a girl scout brownie troop and a girl scout junior troop. The junior troop is going camping in two weeks and we're hoping to get the ball rolling on bronze award requirements during the weekend. Saturday I spent the day getting my cpr and first aid training recertified. I have to say the training sessions for girl scouts are very thorough.

I've enjoyed girl scouts a great deal. I knew nothing of girl scouts before becoming a troop leader and I am still on the upward side of the learning curve. The girls really enjoy weekend trips and love learning actual camping skills - fires, knives, compasses, knots, dutch oven cooking.........

Lizzie - love the photo of the vest.

[Ecuador Jim]

I was very active in Scouting as a cub scout. We had a great organization, and lots of encouragement. My mom too, got very tired of sewing on those "arrow points" under my badge of rank. For some reason, the Den I was affiliated with was unraveling, and nobody was "crossing over" to Boy Scouts.

In the summer I had been going to a great YMCA camp in the San Juan islands. Someone approached me in Jr. High school and asked me to join their Boy Scout Troop. I had only been in a short time when we were to go to Summer Camp. I had only recently passed all my requirements for 3rd class, and went to camp ranked as a Tenderfoot.

Things started going south as we boarded the Explorer boat to Camp Parsons, on Hood Canal. I was teased mercilessly by other Troops, and the leaders seemed to be indifferent. Once at camp, there was a bonfire, and some yahoo threw a pressurized spray can into the fire, and it exploded. The older scouts decided to "hold court" on the guilty party. I don't recall what punishment had been decided upon, but the kid was screaming as others started to carry him off. That finally caught the attention of the leaders, and the mob was broken up. A totally different experience from what I was used to with the YMCA!

That was the extent of my four month experience in the Boy Scouts. My recollection was that it was more like a chapter out of "Lord of the Flies."

I did later become a leader, if for no other reason, to provide some guidance where I previously saw none. I don't mean to demean the experience; Scouting offers a fine experience. It does require the leaders to take an active part. I think there are checks and balances that ensure my experience is never repeated.

[carter]

I was very active in Scouting as a cub scout. We had a great organization, and lots of encouragement. My mom too, got very tired of sewing on those "arrow points" under my badge of rank. For some reason, the Den I was affiliated with was unraveling, and nobody was "crossing over" to Boy Scouts.

In the summer I had been going to a great YMCA camp in the San Juan islands. Someone approached me in Jr. High school and asked me to join their Boy Scout Troop. I had only been in a short time when we were to go to Summer Camp. I had only recently passed all my requirements for 3rd class, and went to camp ranked as a Tenderfoot.

Things started going south as we boarded the Explorer boat to Camp Parsons, on Hood Canal. I was teased mercilessly by other Troops, and the leaders seemed to be indifferent. Once at camp, there was a bonfire, and some yahoo threw a pressurized spray can into the fire, and it exploded. The older scouts decided to "hold court" on the guilty party. I don't recall what punishment had been decided upon, but the kid was screaming as others started to carry him off. That finally caught the attention of the leaders, and the mob was broken up. A totally different experience from what I was used to with the YMCA!

That was the extent of my four month experience in the Boy Scouts. My recollection was that it was more like a chapter out of "Lord of the Flies."

I did later become a leader, if for no other reason, to provide some guidance where I previously saw none. I don't mean to demean the experience; Scouting offers a fine experience. It does require the leaders to take an active part. I think there are checks and balances that ensure my experience is never repeated.

Hazing is definitely against BSA policy.

As noted above, Adult Leaders must take an active role in the troop and insure that such situations do not occur.

An adult who does not discourage (or even actually encourages) hazing has no place in the Scouting movement.

We dealt with this problem when I initially became involved with my troop. Once we got the adults on the right page, the scouts were fine.

[nobodyspecial]

The scouting experience is quite varied as the quality of troop leadership makes a huge difference. A well run troop is a marvel to watch. From my experience it takes an adult who is willing to put forth a large amount of time behind the scenes making it happen.

As my boy scout troop began to go downhill we would hang out in camp and smoke with the new scoutmaster. He'd give us his Camels (the filterless variety) and tell us stories about life during WWII. There will be hell to pay if I ever catch any of my girl scouts attempting this behaviour.

[Girl Friday]

I was a Girl Scout. I wasn't very good at it though. ;)

[Girl Friday]

I made this for my boyfriend, for drinking the most martinis in Vegas a couple of years ago:

http://marcier3.freepgs.com/MartiniMeritBadge.jpg

[PeeWee]

Troop 305 in Raleigh NC...I was a member of a little church troop just outside of Raleigh in the 60's. Most of the guys owned only the Boy Scout shirt, and a few not even that. It was a lot of fun, and it had a big impact on all of our lives;)

[staggerwing]

Troop 896 (if I remember right), in Annandale, VA. Unfortunately became disfunctional. Scoutmaster's kid thought he was a Marine DI. Didn't take me long to have my fill of it. I'd been hiking and camping on my own since I was about 8, sometimes up to a week at a time in the pine forest and swamps around Charleston, SC. That was back in the days when parents didn't get arrested for letting a kid out of their sight, and nobody called the swat team when they saw a 12 year old walk into the woods with a .22 and a pack. My inspiration was My Side Of The Mountain by Jean Craighead George. So anyway, I was looking forward to learning great things from the Scouts, but I guess it's just the luck of the draw as far as the troop you end up with.

A few years ago, a guy who worked for me was a Scoutmaster, and he almost had me talked into getting involved as an adult. I kind of wish I had but I just didn't have the time to do it justice.

[CharlestonBows]

NC, Troop 74, Eagle Scout, 1998.

[Atticus Finch]

Hi Folks,

I was in Beaufort, North Carolina's Troop 201 from 1967 until I was awarded Eagle Scout in 1972.

Atticus

[Harry Pierpont]

BTW, Harry says they won the derby race, but "cheated". He said there were Boy Scouts posted on the hill telling the Cub Scouts to brake at certain points down the hill "so they don't go too fast". But his buddy told him not to brake until the end and ignore the older boys' warnings. I always knew Harry was a daredevil!

The "brake was a 2x4 with a tin can on the end, which when pulled on drug on the road. ALA Fred Flintstone! [huh]

[Nick D]

Troop 356, Hiawathaland Council, Eagle Scout '01. I worked out at Scout Camp for several years, too, and was Scoutcraft Director my last year there. Then I got a job and college, so I couldn't take the summers off :(

[DeeDub]

I was in Cub Scouts. We didn't do any camping, but I had an active imagination, so the descriptions in the scout manuals seemed real to me. I was especially inspired by my father's Handbook For Boys from the 1940s, (which I still have among my most treasured books.)

Later, I joined the Sea Scouts. My tour of duty was unfortunately short—less than a year—since my family moved to a place with no local Sea Scout Ship. (How's this for irony: We moved to San Diego!) But even after that short time, many of the subjects in Navy boot camp, such as marlinspike seamanship, came much more easily to me than to my shipmates.

Interesting that this discussion should come up now. Just last week, I ran across an
archived article (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQK/is_4_4/ai_61555368) on the Sea Scouts that featured my former skipper, who joined the Sea Scouts in 1936, returned from the Navy to become an adult leader in 1953, and was still actively involved in Sea Scouts as of 1999!

[Big Man]

About 1936 or 1937, my Dad went to the old "Schiele Scout Reservation" (Piedmont Council, NC) Boy Scout Camp located in Tryon, NC. In the mid 1960's, I went to the same Scout Camp. By the time my two boys were of Scouting age, the old camp had closed and the "new" Bud Schiele camp had opened east of Rutherfordton, NC (I never did like the "new" camp - it just didn't have that "feel" of a summer camp).

I've often wondered what happened to that old Scout Camp, so this weekend I decided to go "exploring" and try to find the place. Although it had been 40 years since I was last there, I somehow managed to find the old camp. I was surprised to see everything still there (but unused and, apparently abandoned). The old dining hall, the old infirmary, and even the old cabins (the same ones that my Dad and then I stayed in) were still there. But the eeriest thing was the old (now rusted) flag pole in the middle of the assembly field. It was still standing.

Visiting that place brought back many memories of times spent at summer camp. While I was glad to find the old place after all these years, it was sad in a way to be there. So much time has passed since those days as a young boy at camp.

The old dining hall. Although the windows and doors are all boarded up, it looks like the grounds are being maintained.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/Burke1777/DSC02467.jpg


The old rusted flag pole still stands tall in the assembly field. I could still "see" the lines of Scouts formed up by Troop standing tall for colors every morning and evening.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/Burke1777/DSC02469.jpg

[rebelgtp]

I had been a cub scout when I was a kid, had gotten to webelos before I quit. Most of my scout troop had never set foot in the woods (I've been camping since I was 4 or 5), and I just could not relate to them. I remember going to a scout summer camp one year and got in trouble for speaking German, I also got the nick name Hawkeye (they even mentioned this at the closing ceremony) because at the end of the camp I had about 4 times the number of beads from the projects and events of the camp than anyone should have had, I was spotting and picking up all the ones everyone else dropped. [huh]

[Lancealot]

I was in Scouting, Troop 23 Blue Ridge Council from 7th grade until I was 20. I reached Eagle Scout and was involved has a Assistant Scoutmaster until I got married. I was also Brotherhood in the Order of the Arrow.

[BuddyJ]

I've been involved in Scouting since Tiger Cubs. I'm an Eagle Scout, a Vigil member of OA, and now serve where and when I can as an adult. For the past few years, I've been leading interview boards for our summer camp staff, working with the camp director; a good friend of mine who was one of the young scouts I taught as a Troop Guide and was later a Patrol Leader when I was SPL.

Scouting shaped my youth and most of my adult friends are guys I met through my Troop and Order of the Arrow.

[Big Man]

... I was also Brotherhood in the Order of the Arrow.

I was also Brotherhood in the O.A. Visiting that old scout camp and seeing the old amphitheater where the ceremony took place brought back a lot of memories. I can still see that flaming arrow lighting the camp fire ...

[Valhson]

Troop 402 Bradford Pa Whitetail dist. I made Eagle in 93.

We had it made as far as scouts go. Right in the middle of a National Forest, all the adventure boys could ask for and a bunch of "underground" outings that weren't allowed then and aren't now like... hunting etc.

I learned a lot that served me well thus far. Miss some of the crazier stuff like Klondike derbies (the patrol pulls the dog sled through checkpoints all the while doing orientation drills to the next sites) or earning the wilderness survival badge but actually going on a hike with nothing and making a shelter eating off the land (mosting fishing this time... pa stream trout are easy catches in august)

Because of my experiences I always felt bad for scouts in urban areas.

[Foofoogal]

:offtopic:
A bit on topic. I read yesterday that people are selling Girl Scout cookies at ebay for much more than they go for by the little girls standing in front of stores. It is supposed to be against the rules and I personally think needs to be nipped in the bud as no telling where it would go but if someone in Antartica wants some I guess it is a way.
I have eaten and bought so many it is not funny.
Thin mints are best of course.

I just went and checked.
1 case (12 boxes) samoa girl scout cookies $51.00
$20.50 shipping. Oyvey!

I can see someone knocking down little girls to get the goods. Does everything have to be screwed with?

[drjones]

I was never a boy scout....but I was a Webelos Cub Scout.

DRJONES

[DeaconKC]

Was a Cub, then Webelos, then we moved to Arkansas and no scout troop where we moved to.

[jayem]

Proud to be a Girl Scout drop out!

I quit going after my troop leader told me that Alice In Chains wasn't appropriate music for a young girl, and that the word 'sucks' was a swear. Hey, it was the 90s... everything 'sucked' and grunge was awesome!

[Vintage Betty]

I was a Girl Scout and an honorary Boy Scout.

Our Girl Scout Troop disbanded when all the moms had to go to work.
My Dad was a Scoutmaster, so I was made an honorary Boy Scout to shut me up since I attended the weekly Boy Scout meetings and went to camp with the Boy Scouts each year. lol

[Lucky Luke]

Eagle Scout - 1986 - Troop 876 - Savannah GA.
Both of my brothers, dad, and Grandfather were Eagle Scouts.

[TheKitschGoth]

I was a Brownie and a Girl Guide, I still randomly run into girls from my Guide troop years down the line. It was actually a lot of fun, even for a painfully shy little girl.
We used to perform at the local village fete every year, I remember we had to do a dance to Copacabana one year, we thought we were soo glam lol

[donCarlos]

Yes, I was a Boy Scout... 35th department, 305th brigade, founded in 1917 in Prague. History of scouting in the Czech Republic is quite interesting, because it was illegal from 1940 until 1989, except the three years after WWII.
But those are things I couldn´t appreciate when I was 13 :)

[olive bleu]

I never had the opportunity myself, but my 2 boys were in cub scouts for a few years. Unfortunately, things were not well organized and the leaders were all mainly people who were really too stressed out to be hanging out with a bunch of energetic kids( lots of shouting,etc.)They eventually became so fed up they refused to go back, and i didn't push it any longer.However, I am a big supporter of the scouting movement .I still feel they learned skills that they will have always and i knew I had to do something the first time i took them camping and they referred to the lake as THE POOLlol

[DutchIndo]

I was a Weblos and a Boy Scout in the late 60s early 70s. I got up to Second class working on First. Our school had a lot of boys in Scouts back then. You were either in Troop 90 (mine) or 170. It was alot of fun I really enjoyed it. It has gotten too PC these days though. It got to the point where my friends son ended up quitting. One of my co-horts at work was an Eagle Scout and we drew notes. It seems that scouts are more conscience these days politically in opposed to when I was in. I asked for a copy of his Scout Manual and saw it seemed lacking to the one I had. I found the type we had on ebay and won one. The one we used back then seemed more like a field manual. The newer ones have neat color photos and some new field tricks.
Scouting is great too bad it's not "Cool" to kids anymore.

[Luddite]

I was a Cub Scout, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and an Air Scout, which I found a little disappointing, due to the lack of air activities; I changed to the Air Training Corps when I was old enough, which fulfilled my need for adventure!

That's not to knock Scouting at all, and I learned an amazing amount about camping and outdoor activities, and how to conduct a camp 'properly'. This knowledge, and the enjoyment has stayed with me. My two sons are now part of Scouting, having gone through Beaver Scouts, Cubs, and the eldest is now a Scout. Things have changed though, and the structure and discipline of my time has gone to be replaced by the unstructured, lackadaisical approach of today's world. Scouting's loss I think.

[Edward]

I was a Brownie and a Girl Guide, I still randomly run into girls from my Guide troop years down the line. It was actually a lot of fun, even for a painfully shy little girl.
We used to perform at the local village fete every year, I remember we had to do a dance to Copacabana one year, we thought we were soo glam lol

Barry Manilow, eh? He's, eh, not exactly Nick Cave... ;)

I know exactly what you mean re being the painfully shy kid... it all really brought me out of my shell. Or at least taught me how to put on a better front. lol

[PADDY]

I was in the Cub Scouts and rose to the lofty heights of a Sixer with my little white toggle!!. 10th East Belfast. The hall is still standing..just, and is still a Scout Hall, as I walked past it on a journey of nostalgia a few months ago.

[Custom79]

Here in Canada, from Wolf Cubs all the way up to Rovers.

Proud of it!

C79

[Harley Quinn]

I was thrown out for not admitting who's tent I was coming from in the wee hours... I may be a cad, but I'm not a bounder, and the lady's name has never passed my lips to this day in that connection...

Here's one of my favourite books of all time... not fo rthe content, although there are some useful ideas, but for the startling double entendre*

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g290/Father_Shandor/scouting_for_boys.jpg


* - Woman walks into a bar.
The barman says 'What would you like?'
She says 'a double entendre'
So he gave her one...

[GentlemanFarmer]

Started as a Cub Scout, just missed Eagle (didn't finish before my 18th birthday) as a Boy Scout, went on as an Explorer and then became an Explorer advisor. I guess I put in a total of 19-20 years. Wouldn't have traded it for the world. Who's been to Philmont??

[David Conwill]

I was just wondering how many of the fine members of this lounge had ever been scouts?

I was a cub scout, but my parents didn't like taking me to the meetings, so I was talked out of pursuing it. I regret it, and think I would encourage my kids to join. Partially because I'd like to be an involved dad.

Here's my father in his scouting uniform at age 10 1/2 in Japan, circa 1957.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/conwi1wd/Family%20Album/Family_Album004.jpg

-Dave

[Spitfire]

Started as a Cub Scout, just missed Eagle (didn't finish before my 18th birthday) as a Boy Scout, went on as an Explorer and then became an Explorer advisor. I guess I put in a total of 19-20 years. Wouldn't have traded it for the world. Who's been to Philmont??

My father has actually been to Philmont - way back in 1956!
(Something he never forget and still talk about with great pleasure and joy)

He was in scouting too - for more than 50 years!
Ended up as International Supervisor or something.
And we were - offcourse - in the same troop. A troop who has just celberated 75 years jubille. One of the oldest scouttroops in Denmark.

[MrFusion]

Troop 978 Eagle Scout
Worked at Broad Creek Memorial Scout Reservation for 3 years. Probably the best summer job I have ever had!

[Pip]

KD4 - Worcestershire UK

Spent about 7 years in it, from Beavers, through Cubs to Scouts. Made Senior Sixer and Senior Patrol Leader :D One of the best parts of my life haha.

[Vintage Betty]

Vintage Betty does the Girl Scouts...

http://www.needlewoman.com/ebay_auctions/fedora_photos/clothing/girlscout.JPG

And being sworn in as a Boy Scout...

http://www.needlewoman.com/ebay_auctions/fedora_photos/clothing/boyscout.JPG

[Tango Yankee]

I was in the Cub Scouts for a while--my mother was a Den Leader. Meetings were after school at the Den Leader's house, so on meeting days you'd see boys in uniform at school. (Can you imagine an elementary school student with an official Cub Scout folding knife hanging from their uniform belt in school today?) Dropped out somewhere along the line. That would have been in the late 60s, early 70s.

Got into Boy Scouts, but that didn't go far. The troop I was in was made up of only a handful of people, with a Scoutmaster who didn't really have time for it. At Second Class I was the highest ranking Scout in the troop! I didn't get any farther.

This was in South Gate, a suburb of Los Angeles. There was an area at one corner of South Gate Park that was fenced off from the rest of the park with a pretty neat rock wall. There were a bunch of small buildings, each one belonging to a different troop, that were naturally referred to as "Scout Huts." They were set up in a U pattern. There was a huge fire ring inside the U. I recall going out on one campout (a gathering of troops) and to a Jamboree. Unfortunately, with no adult leadership the troop just faded away.

I remember reading the Scout Handbook cover-to-cover, wanting desperately to be able to learn and do a lot of what it talked about regarding camping, hiking, etc.

My godson and his older brother were involved in Scouts in southern Oregon, but James dropped out. I'd hoped to get him back into it after retiring from the AF by getting involved with it as well, but wound up delaying my retirement and then retiring to Ohio rather than Oregon. :( His brother stuck with it, though, and recently made Eagle Scout. Will went to Philmont last summer, IIRC.

Cheers,
Tom

[Big Man]

... on meeting days you'd see boys in uniform at school. (Can you imagine an elementary school student with an official Cub Scout folding knife hanging from their uniform belt in school today?) ...

Same thing here. On meeting day, all of the boys would wear their uniforms to school. And the knife, well EVERY boy had a pocket knife in school. We never dreamed of them being a "weapon", it was just a knife for sharpening pencils or cutting sticks or whatever.

Times sure have changed ... [huh]

[carter]

I dropped by The Vintage Sportsman forum
http://vintagesportsman.com/
earlier this evening and read a short thread about camping with a hammock. It brought to mind this watercolor by Lord Robert S.S. Baden-Powell c. 1911. He certainly knew how to make himself at home in the great outdoors.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3616/3355905770_10ab3e0a1d.jpg

Vintage Betty, I'm happy to see that you shared Scouting with your Dad.
http://www.needlewoman.com/ebay_auctions/fedora_photos/clothing/boyscout.JPG

Gentleman Farmer, I've been to Philmont twice. The first time was for my Wood Badge course. The second was as Scoutmaster on our Troop's Trek.

Spitfire, Both you and your Dad have shared a long history in Scouting. There must be some wonderful memorabilia between the two of you. Is there a chance that we might see some pictures?

Finally, My daughter is in the midst of Girl Scout Cookie sales. The girls are raising money for Summer Camp. My daughter has been for the past three years and seems to enjoy it as much as her brother enjoyed Boy Scout Camp (in any season). He earned his Eagle and I hope she earns her Gold Award. Can you tell that we like Scouting?

[carter]

Here are some pictures of a 1920 London Jamboree Irish Scouting uniform.
http://i.ebayimg.com/21/!BOZ(vjg!Wk~$(KGrHgoH-DcEkJw1zHMKBJubPm,Y1g~~_1.JPG http://i.ebayimg.com/23/!BOZ()PwBGk~$(KGrHgoH-DMEjlLluysEBJubPuF,og~~_1.JPG http://i7.ebayimg.com/01/i/001/39/95/f2bd_1.JPG
http://i6.ebayimg.com/04/i/001/39/95/f433_1.JPG http://i.ebayimg.com/12/!BOZ(1zw!2k~$(KGrHgoH-DoEjlLluCsSBJubQEhLew~~_1.JPG http://i7.ebayimg.com/06/i/001/39/95/f735_1.JPG http://i.ebayimg.com/23/!BOZ(9o!BWk~$(KGrHgoH-EEEjlLlyOEvBJubQpNVkQ~~_1.JPG http://i2.ebayimg.com/05/i/001/39/95/fefe_1.JPG http://i22.ebayimg.com/03/i/001/39/95/fc08_1.JPG

[Old School QD]

I took part in scouting for 7 years, starting with Beavers, then Wolf Cub, then Boy Scouts (Canadian scouting levels). I also tagged along on a couple Ventures events afterwards, but was not a member at the time.

At one point there were only 3 courts in my troop, but at the best there were 15 or 20. I barely remember the regular meetings, but I fondly remember the outings we had. One leader had a cottage in the woods on a lake only a 1/2 day bicycl ride from our meeting hall (school gym). Guess how we got to camp?

So we would stay in the cabin, but we also had "survival" camps in the nearby woods where we couldn't bring food or tents. We focussed on fishing with only a line (no rod) and a hook, or snaring rabbits, collecting water from vegetation and building shelters. Great fun! Of course, we had traditional camp outs in tents as well at different parks. Yes, I miss scouting. Perhaps I will get back into it as a leader when my boys are old enough to start.

[Old School QD]

Same thing here. On meeting day, all of the boys would wear their uniforms to school. And the knife, well EVERY boy had a pocket knife in school. We never dreamed of them being a "weapon", it was just a knife for sharpening pencils or cutting sticks or whatever.

Times sure have changed ... [huh]

I couldn't agree more. Sure we had fights in our high school (early 1990's), but the ubiquitous pocket knife was never used. It was a tool as you say. I've been thinking I should start carrying one again.

Tim

[Lefty]

We've also got an Eagles thread somewhere here - maybe in the Golden Era.


Eagle, 1994, Troop 630.

[HarpPlayerGene]

4H concentrates primarily on horsemanship.

[Undertow]

Troop 77 - I don't recall my rank, I was kicked out.

My troop spent 95% of the time watching the older scouts playing Advanced Dungeons&Dragons while the younger ones, myself included, were forced to sit around the campsite and literally do nothing. Occassionally, we were graced with a hike or a badge, but after years of this waste, I got a wild hare and started "hiking" away with other scouts to explore the woods and grounds around us.

This was simply too much for the Scout leaders and I was eiminated from the roster. It seems unfair, but I suppose it's a matter of perspective; the older scouts very much enjoyed playing AD&D all day and night for three days straight. [huh]

[Barbigirl]

Be prepared is the number one biggest thing I took from Girl Scouts.

My Mom is crazy for Girl Scouts, she and my Aunt even went to a Alumni Scout Camporee a few years back.

I did Brownies through Cadettes but my favorite part was working on Junior Badges. I hated camping even then.

My BFF was myy girls have been Daisys and Brownie leader so I was required to be the co-leader/extra adult. Then we moved away and my kids moved on to other sorts of extracurricular activities. My heart wasn't broken I was done dealing with cookie sales.

[rkwilker]

Early 70's eagle scout here....

[carter]

Troop 77 - I don't recall my rank, I was kicked out.

My troop spent 95% of the time watching the older scouts playing Advanced Dungeons&Dragons while the younger ones, myself included, were forced to sit around the campsite and literally do nothing. Occassionally, we were graced with a hike or a badge, but after years of this waste, I got a wild hare and started "hiking" away with other scouts to explore the woods and grounds around us.

This was simply too much for the Scout leaders and I was eiminated from the roster. It seems unfair, but I suppose it's a matter of perspective; the older scouts very much enjoyed playing AD&D all day and night for three days straight. [huh]
Aside from being there, there was no [apparent] Leadership provided by the adults involved. It's hard to say without having been there.

I'm sure the older scouts enjoyed camping and playing AD&D but this scenario wouldn't bode well for the long-term success of any scout troop. The worst thing one can do with a bunch of boys is to take them somewhere, provide no planned activities, and let them get bored. They need to be engaged in a well-planned and executed outdoor experience. And...they should have fun doing it.

"The boy is not governed by don't ,but is led by do.” Lord Robert S.S. Baden-Powell

"Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old he will not depart from it." Solomon, Proverbs 22:6

[Foofoogal]

My son was an Order of the Arrow and made it to First Class scout. I was so mad when he quit due to peer pressure. Remember the night he had to stay in the woods all by himself. (that will make a man out of anyone)
My husband was Scoutmaster (I think if I remember also Order of the Arrow) and I used to go camping with the troop. I had a blast watching those boys plus they had to cook for me (silver turtles anyone) . Hilarious fun. One of the best organizations.
Many people collect vintage Boy Scout memorabilia.


I cannot imagine any leader letting the boys sit around playing video games. We kept them so busy during the day all they wanted to do was pass out in the tents.
One time when my son was in cub scouts we lost him at the Astrodome at a Jamboree in Houston. Try finding about a 9 year old in a sea of 9 year olds all dressed the same. I was a wee bit frantic.
I was involved with our daughter in Girl Scouts but the group or bunch we were with were pitiful.
I have bought and eaten so many Girl Scout cookies lately I try to hide from them. Those things are dangerous. How many Thin Mints can one eat? lol

[Undertow]

The worst thing one can do with a bunch of boys is to take them somewhere, provide no planned activities, and let them get bored. They need to be engaged in a well-planned and executed outdoor experience. And...they should have fun doing it.

Isn't that the truth!

I can definitely see how my fellow scouts and I seemed like little demons; if I were an adult trying to manage a group of bored-to-tears boys who kept running away and getting lost in the forest, I would be paranoid, too.

I think you hit the nail on the head Carter; you can't throw a group of young boys together with nothing to do and hope they won't go insane with boredom.

In fact, the only time I think we had much fun, or did anything of note was under the command of a Girl Scout leader who felt sorry for our troop and took over for a night. [huh]

[der schneider]

2 4 6 8 who do we apprieciate?!

DEN 4 DEN 4 DEN 4

cub scout pack 133 then BSA 485 great fun lots of camping canoeing sailing . I quit after we moved to the country.

Later became a scoutmaster with my friend who I had to talk into joining scouts as a kid. we were patrol leaders as boys and scoutmaster's as adults.

When my son was old enough we did cubs webelos and scouts.
sea base but never philmont. Sea base was a great adventure!!

I still sew patches on scout uniforms and my buddy is still scout master but now he is at troop 133 where I started years ago.

a lot has changed. I dont like the new uniforms with the media pocket.

[jamespowers]

I have bought and eaten so many Girl Scout cookies lately I try to hide from them. Those things are dangerous. How many Thin Mints can one eat? lol

Lots. I have tried and it is lots. ;) :p

[Miss 1929]

I was kicked out of the Girl Scouts. For being an atheist.

[miss_elise]

Girl Guides and Girl Scouts are 100 years old this year!

[DutchIndo]

Troop 90 back in early 70s what fun it was. Most boys at school were either in Troop 170 or 90. The thing I remember most about Scouting was believe it or not fighting ! We would run into Scouts from the inner cities and a fight would ensue. I remember one meeting a Scout Master from another Troop ( we shared a meeting hall for a month ) told us a story. It seems his son during a camping trip saw a Bigfoot run across a road. He had a Plaster cast which he showed us. This guy was white as a Ghost while telling us so we knew he wasn't lying. I currently work with 2 guys who were Eagle Scouts but are ashamed to admit it. My friends son who was in scouts said it's way too PC. I bought a Manual that I had in the 70s off of ebay. Boy what dated memories .

[hailey greenhat]

Both a boy scout and a girl scout here :)
Dad was the co-leader for my brother's B.S. troop so i joined for a lot of the camping trips and mom was co-leader of my sister's G.S. troop so naturally i joined the girls as well.

[Corky]

Half a century ago, back in Kentucky, I had a tremendous experience in the Boy Scouts.

Our scoutmasters were or claimed to be part or full blooded Native Americans and they taught us things, Useful woodcraft and things like how to follow a trail and how to find arrowheads.

They did this by the following method: on a hike, one walked at the front of the troop, and the other walked at the rear. Each scoutmaster would pick up arrowheads as he walked along. At the end of the hike each scoutmaster would empty his pockets and keep the good ones and divide up the lesser ones among the scouts.

Each kid realized that arrowheads were out there waiting to be picked up, if only you could spot them -- and you had walked right over and not seen at least as many arrowheads as the scoutmaster at the rear had picked up.

Eventually, we all learned how to spot arrowheads and thus how to collect them. We also learned how to read a trail and how to track an animal.

These skills have come in very handy on places like archaeological digs and have been useful in solving the occasional petty crime.

One example of this: one night in the early 1970's, my girlfriend's car was burglarized. Her car was parked near some woods and we came back from a party to discover her rear window was shattered and her briefcase was missing. That briefcase, although of no great intrinsic value, contained two years of her life's work: all of her Ph.D. notes and research on some obscure topic in Classical Archaeology. She was freaking out, so I told her not to worry. At first light, I returned to the scene of the crime and looked it over. The evening's dew had not yet lifted, so I was able to discern a faint trail away from where her car had been parked leading to some woods. Once in the woods, I followed a few sets of muddy footprints for about a mile until I came upon a clearing in the woods. In the center of the clearing was the still-glowing remains of a campfire, with an odd bunch of stuff scattered around it. Empty beer bottles, a case of oranges, and my girlfriend's books and notes, neatly stacked. Obviously, whoever stole the briefcase took a bunch of other stuff as well and brought it here to sit around the campfire, sort it out, and have a few beers. I loaded my girlfriend's notes and books into the briefcase, grabbed the case of oranges and trekked back to my car. When I returned the briefcase, my girlfriend was extremely grateful and... let's just say the celebration also included lots of freshly squeezed orange juice.

In time, I accumulated enough Boy Scout merit badges for the rank of Eagle, but did not stay to collect the badge as I had moved on to other pursuits like girls, football, and motor vehicles.

I did keep all of my old Scout Handbooks and Field Books. I have also accumulated a number of other editions. The older ones are always the most useful and interesting and the newer ones far less so.

When I was a kid, I was lucky enough to own an old original edition of what must have been the original Scout Handbook, The American Boy's Handy Book: What to Do and How to Do It (http://www.amazon.com/American-Boys-Handy-Book-Centennial/dp/0879234490) by Dan Beard, the founder of American Scouting. First published in 1882, this is a wealth of projects and games, with practical directions on how to make them, filled with topics which are now totally neglected by the decision makers who direct today's Scouting: Winter Fishing, Trawl Fishing, Kite Making, Home-Made Boats, How To Rear And Train Wild Birds, Magic Lantern Tricks, Snowball Warfare, Home-Made Hunting, Camp Out Tips, Home-made Masquerade Costumes, How To Make Various Whirligigs, Novel Modes of Fishing, How To Make A Flat-Boat, Home-Made Fishing Tackle, Crusoe Raft, How To Tie All Sorts Of Knots, etc.

I looked into today's version of Scouting for my kids, but found that it has changed, almost beyond recognition.

The topics the kids learn about and what they do is far less interesting.

And the Scouting magazine Boy's Life has gone significantly downhill. It used to have plenty of great articles on neat things to make and to do, but now it only seems like a guide to the consumption of high end camping gear and the acquisition of passive video games. I got my kids a subscription to Boy's Life, hoping to spark an interest in then in Scouting, but a steady stream of the mediocre content of the current issues had an opposite effect to the one I had intended.

Also, sometime since the days when I was a scout, the Boy Scout organization and the Boy's Life magazine seem to have taken on or been taken in by a particular religious orientation. This is a most troubling development because if a kid already has his own well-defined religious belief and if it is a belief other than that which seems to be promoted by the Scouting organization, that kid will amost certainly be made to feel like an outsider in the group.

When I offered my kids the opportunity to join a Scout troop, they passed on it and took junior life guard lessons instead.

Best of luck

[Big_e]

Never did scouting. There was a group called the Young Marines. I was in from '74 to '78. Big D Detachment, B Company out of the Naval Air Station in Grand Prairie. We had a two week bootcamp with plenty of drilling in the hot sun and push-ups. Oh yes! All the push-ups you can want. Complete with in-your-face D.Is, morning revielle, PT and all kinds of inspections. Camping on weekends afterwards or charity drives.
I loved it and it gave me a head start in school with U.S. History. I never did follow up and join the military.
I was suprised that the Young Marines were still around. They organized a mud run last year, I think in Arlington. Fun!
Ernest

[Lancealot]

I was in Scout Troop 23 here in Greer from middle school through high school. I did earn the rank of Eagle and made a friend who is like a brother to me through the troop. We still get together and go camping to this day.

I tried to stay on as a Assistant Scout Master but college, marriage and having 3 daughters kind of got in the way. I'm excited that this year for the Anniversary my OA lodge is having a big open camporee here at Camp Old Indian. I intend to go to it, hoping to run into some old friends and take a look over the camp. I haven't been up there in over a decade.

[NeilA]

I'm an Eagle scout from '09 in troop 609. Arrowman in the OA. BSA is 100 this month. I got the Boyslife for this month for that reason. Its a great program even if it is a bit watered down these days. My troop went on monthly campouts at least. Getting eleceted to a position was acctual work as the troop is nearly 80 strong. The leadership training and other skills I learned were only comprable to my time in the JROTC. I too would recomend scouting to anyone.

[V.C. Brunswick]

When I was a kid, I was lucky enough to own an old original edition of what must have been the original Scout Handbook, The American Boy's Handy Book: What to Do and How to Do It (http://www.amazon.com/American-Boys-Handy-Book-Centennial/dp/0879234490) by Dan Beard, the founder of American Scouting. First published in 1882, this is a wealth of projects and games, with practical directions on how to make them, filled with topics which are now totally neglected by the decision makers who direct today's Scouting: Winter Fishing, Trawl Fishing, Kite Making, Home-Made Boats, How To Rear And Train Wild Birds, Magic Lantern Tricks, Snowball Warfare, Home-Made Hunting, Camp Out Tips, Home-made Masquerade Costumes, How To Make Various Whirligigs, Novel Modes of Fishing, How To Make A Flat-Boat, Home-Made Fishing Tackle, Crusoe Raft, How To Tie All Sorts Of Knots, etc.

I looked into today's version of Scouting for my kids, but found that it has changed, almost beyond recognition.

The topics the kids learn about and what they do is far less interesting.

And the Scouting magazine Boy's Life has gone significantly downhill. It used to have plenty of great articles on neat things to make and to do, but now it only seems like a guide to the consumption of high end camping gear and the acquisition of passive video games.

Corky, your comments brings to mind a quote by Mr. Beard that I think is especially relevant today:

"...We must be on our guard to see that modern conditions do not weaken our fiber until when faced with hardship we are as helpless as a hermit crab without its shell." ...Daniel Carter Beard

A few years ago I picked up a reprint copy of The American Boy's Handy Book at a library sale for a buck. Though, much to my regret, I never was a Scout, I found it to be fascinating reading. Even I wouldn't mind trying my hand at a project or two!

In the Golden Era there were tons of hobby and how-to books for boys filled with these fun projects. I collect these books. One of the most notable examples is The Boy Mechanic which was published in four volumes in 1913 (Volume 1), 1915 (Volume 2), 1919 (Volume 3), and 1925 (Volume 4). They were a compilation of articles that originally appeared in Popular Mechanics Magazine in those years. It's a shame they don't publish books like that anymore.

Based on my recollections it seems as if even as recently as the late '70s and early '80s it was still possible to have a Huck Finn kind of childhood.

[cptjeff]

Eagle scout from Troop 107 in the Old North State council. Brotherhood in OA.

And I'm not going to go into all of the issues raised in Corky's post, but I will say he's got a good sense for the national organization. There are a lot of great people in Scouts, but there are certainly... issues.

[BinkieBaumont]

"I was in the "Cubs" for about three weeks in the mid 1960's unfortunately I went down a hill on my Bicycle, ran straight through an intersection, and was almost killed by "Akela", needless to say I never went back"


http://www.sterlingtimes.org/jimmy_clitheroe.jpg

[Feraud]

When I was a kid, I was lucky enough to own an old original edition of what must have been the original Scout Handbook, The American Boy's Handy Book: What to Do and How to Do It (http://www.amazon.com/American-Boys-Handy-Book-Centennial/dp/0879234490) by Dan Beard, the founder of American Scouting. First published in 1882, this is a wealth of projects and games, with practical directions on how to make them, filled with topics which are now totally neglected by the decision makers who direct today's Scouting: Winter Fishing, Trawl Fishing, Kite Making, Home-Made Boats, How To Rear And Train Wild Birds, Magic Lantern Tricks, Snowball Warfare, Home-Made Hunting, Camp Out Tips, Home-made Masquerade Costumes, How To Make Various Whirligigs, Novel Modes of Fishing, How To Make A Flat-Boat, Home-Made Fishing Tackle, Crusoe Raft, How To Tie All Sorts Of Knots, etc.

I looked into today's version of Scouting for my kids, but found that it has changed, almost beyond recognition.

The topics the kids learn about and what they do is far less interesting.


Agreed. Scouting would do well to take a few lessons from the past when it comes to their activities. My son is currently a scout making his way up the ranks and I can say their yearly calendar of events leaves much to be desired. There could be so much more daytrips and handicrafts happening in our particular troop. Overall the kids are enjoying it so who am I to complain..

[gtdean48]

Eagle Scout & father of an Eagle Scout, former Assistant Scout Master & current Life to Eagle Coordinator for Chattahoochee District of the Atlanta Area Council. Scouting today is a good distance from what I experienced but a very viable program to develop character & leadership in today's male youth. It meant something to me growing up, so I'm giving back so it means something to my son & the other boys. For the boys...

[Foofoogal]

Honey was asst. Scoutmaster and son made it to 1st. Class and both Order of the Arrow.
Not only did I have a blast when I went with them camping but usually got to sit back and eat yummy silver turtles and cobbler to boot.

We were very disappointed when son didn't go on to Eagle but peer pressure can be bad. I know without a doubt that Scouting reinforced values we were trying to teach and added greatly to self- confidence and independence as a man. Our son is in the business of saving lives daily and has made us very, very proud.
When I look back it was probably one of the top smartest things we ever did as parents.
Not sure how it is now though. Like to think still viable and I also believe one troop may not be same as the other. Depends on leaders.

P.S. You ain't lived till you lose a 9 year old boy in the Astrodome during Jamboree. Like finding a needle in the haystack. lol

[Marcus]

Eagle Scout, Troop 351. After being unhappy with our first troop, my dad and some other parents started our own. I was the first Eagle out of the troop. Good times..learned alot.

[Bustercat]

Growing up in NYC, my folks were underwhelmed with the scouting options available (based on my bro's experiences in the late 70's). I would have taken part if I had known more about it. I respect many of their values, and wish there were more things these days that balanced patriotism and core American values with internationalism. It's wonderful to me that a scout grows up immersed in US traditions and salutes the flag, but can relate to other kids who've had a similar scouting experiences from Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America.

Had a low paying, but fun job a few years ago designing and illustrating for a company that handled Scout patches, pins and emblems. Ironically, the other major source of business for us was MC clubs, which were often (but not always) the opposite of the Boy Scouts—at least in the popular imagination.

[Ethan Bentley]

I was in the Sea Scouts back in the day, like the regular Scouts but with sailing. :)

[TraditionalFrog]

I was in Cub Scouts when I was younger (1980's).

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w69/thetraditionalfrog/CubScoutPhoto.jpg

I was ten and in the 4th grade when this was taken. I had the rank of Wolf.

What is so sad today is fewer boys are interested in scouting, and of those that sign up, many are rarely at Pack or Den meetings because they always seem to have other, more "interesting" things to do. When I joined it was made clear that I would be involved and attend meetings, even if there was something that I might find more fun or interesting on meeting day. In other words you fulfilled your commitments and obligations.

Also, it is hard to tell who is a scout today, as more often then not they wear no uniform. When I was in scouting the wearing of the uniform was a big thing, especially to a young boy.

[Yeps]

Started as a Tiger Cub (the part before Cub scouts) in Kindergarten or so (or maybe not kindergarten. I have no idea what the ages were) and continued all the way up to becoming an Eagle, which by the way, did not happen till two weeks before my 18th birthday. I like deadlines.
BSA is great, and I don't think I would be who I am now without it.

[TraditionalFrog]

I started out as a Bobcat then made my way through Webelos. Also earned the Arrow of Light badge (different from Order of the Arrow). Started in Boy Scouts, but never went far as I had to drop out to attend boarding school.

I was a member of Pack 338, Hoosier Trails Council (Bedford, IN), Den 3 until Webelos. My father was one of the Webelos leaders.

Sadly, because of the obnoxious behaviour of some of the boys in my den, the den mother up and quit. It caused quite a stir and things were messy for awhile. I was a Bear at the time, and frankly those boys really ticked me off. They seemed to calm down when a man (can't recall who now) finally was appointed to take over.

The one thing I will never forget is a camping trip I went on as a Webelos. My father and I were canoeing, and not having done this before.... anyway, despite his best efforts to teach me all I proceeded to do was turn us in circles! He finally took over completely. Suffice it to say, I did finally learn canoeing, but while at away at school. To this day when I mention canoeing to my dad he still ribs me about this. lol

[Viola]

I was a Girl Scout from ages five to fourteen. I went from Brownie to Cadette. I loved many aspects of Girl Scouts but my troop (knew the same girls the whole way through and had pretty much the same leaders the whole time) were too "girly" for me. Girl Scouting seems less structured than Boy Scouting - you do what the leader finds interesting, which in our case rotated far too much around crafts projects, for me, and not enough outdoorsy stuff.

I, of course, will one day have a troop, probably full of girls who'd wish I shut up about making them hike and swim and only want to play with the glitter I hated. lol

[LizzieMaine]

Girl Scouting seems less structured than Boy Scouting - you do what the leader finds interesting, which in our case rotated far too much around crafts projects, for me, and not enough outdoorsy stuff.


That was my experience too -- the leader's personality really did carry over to the troop. Our Junior troop leader had been a WAC in WW2, so we didn't get in too much time with the glittery glued-down-macaroni stuff. But we learned to march *very* smartly in the Memorial Day parades. And I could probably still do flag drill in my sleep.

[Foofoogal]

But we learned to march *very* smartly in the Memorial Day parades. And I could probably still do flag drill in my sleep.

hilarious.lol
you always make me laugh Lizzie..

[Big Man]

My Dad was a Boy Scout. He attended the Piedmont Council BSA Camp Schiele in Tryon, NC in 1938. This is a photo of the patch he got at camp that year.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/Burke1777/DSC03397.jpg



I was also a Boy Scout and, 30 years later in 1968, attended Camp Schiele. Our troop stayed in the same cabin as my Dad's troop. Here is a photo of the patch I got in 1968.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/Burke1777/DSC03399.jpg

[The Good]

I was not a Boy Scout, per se, but I was a member of another scouting movement as a kid for a few years. It's called the Royal Rangers, and it's essentially like the Boy Scouts, but more Christianity oriented.

[rkwilker]

Former Eagle Scout (Boy Scout) here.

[gtdean48]

Former Eagle Scout (Boy Scout) here.
NEVER a "Former" Eagle Scout. Once an Eagle Scout, always an Eagle Scout!!!

NESA Lifetime Member. Happy 100th BSA!

[jamespowers]

NEVER a "Former" Eagle Scout. Once an Eagle Scout, always an Eagle Scout!!!

NESA Lifetime Member. Happy 100th BSA!


:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

[PBenes]

NEVER a "Former" Eagle Scout. Once an Eagle Scout, always an Eagle Scout!!!

NESA Lifetime Member. Happy 100th BSA!


:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

Let my NESA membership lapse, but still got my card.

[Feraud]

My son was accepted into the Order of the Arrow.

[Emerson]

Yessir. Folks moved into a new development in 1955 when I was eight. One of the parents in the rapidly filling suburb was an elementary school principal, and canvassed our neighborhood on foot to ascertain interest in a Cub Scout pack. Some 150 families came to the "organizational meeting." Soon we had a fully functional Cub pack, and as we all got a little older, our own Webelos group. Long story short, we went on to form BSA Troop 58, Englewood, Colorado. Fourteen of my friends and I who were "charter members" of our Cub Scout pack in 1955 received our Eagle Scout awards on April 7, 1963.

[Lancealot]

My son was accepted into the Order of the Arrow.

Congratulations. Encourage him to get his Brotherhood rank.

[Creeping Past]

Royal Rangers.

The people responsible for the excellent Frontiersmen Camping Fraternity (http://www.coldsplinters.com/2010/03/frontiersmen-camping-fraternity/).

[Mav]

Former Boy Scout and OA. Only made Star Scout- left it at 14 for DeMolay. They had a better rifle team, and dances with Job's Daughters and Rainbow Girls. I figured the latter was preferable to sleeping in a tent with another unwashed guy.

[Trotsky]

Eagle Scout (w/ bronze palm) and OA, Troop 314, Toledo Area Council (since re-branded to Erie Shores).

I didn't like camping, which is hilariously ironic. Somehow I was able to get all the merit badges and make the grade, I honestly don't remember how. My scout leader was one of the best in the region and did wonders for the program; he was a stand up guy all the way and was a recipient of the Silver Beaver award. We did most of our activities at Camp Maikonda in Toledo, nice place still active. I have some good memories of that place.
I have a collection of scouting things which I was into briefly. Sea Scout Middys, Air Scout badges, some manuals and the old Town rockers from the area. In fact, I even have my great Uncle's BS Campaign hat.

I was the weirdo kid, as I had some of the obsolete uniform stuff and happily wore it. Like the overseas cap (I hated the baseball cap). I wouldn't mind becoming an Adult leader of some sort but I really only want to get involved at home and, well, I'm 1200 miles away right now.

[Cracker]

Cub Scout. Webelo. Eagle Scout, 1982. Troop 370, Tyler, TX (they still have the same scoutmaster nearly 30 years later). Order of the Arrow. Spent summers at Camp Pirtle. Went to Philmont twice. Attended '83 World Jamboree in Calgary. Accidentally left my merit badge sash behind after a meeting during my last year, and never saw it again. :( Can't wait to get involved with my son in Boy Scouts when he turns 12 (11 years and 8 months from now).

Philmont, 1984 (I'm front row, 2nd from R)

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w266/cracker1743/Philmont_1984.jpg

[gtdean48]

...Can't wait to get involved with my son in Boy Scouts when he turns 12 (11 years and 8 months from now).

Bummer about the MB sash. Don't wait until he's 12! Boy Scouts come in at 11 or graduate the 5th grade. Get him involved with the Cubs like you did. I will agree that the Boy Scouts is a lot better for the adults than the Cubs. I was Den Leader for Bears & both Webelos = 3 tough years.

[Viola]

Went to my cousin's Eagle Scout ceremony today. What a handsome and hardworking man my "little" (he's ridiculously bigger than me) cousin has become.

[B.Golightly]

Tiger Cub through Eagle, OA, then went on to serve as a leader in a Venture Crew and a Boy Scout Troop. More summers than I care to remember at Camp Pioneer, Philmont twice, and I helped staff the 2005 National Jamboree. I'm not involved at present, though - too much else to worry about. (A poor excuse, I know.)

[grundie]

I was in the Scouts from when I was 8 through till I was 21. Along the way picking up both the Chief and Queen's Scout awards.

I was lucky to be part of a very active troop. We went camping at least once a month and canoeing once a week. It gave me my love of the outdoors as well giving me lots of practical skills that still serve me well.

It's a great organisation that can really help young people develop. It's a pity that a lot of todays teenagers think it's just not 'cool'.

[stillwell]

I am currently a life scout in BSA with Troop 65 in Conn.

Our troop goes to Camp Workoeman which has been around since 1924
there are still some original buildings and fixtures
The place really never changes much (I've found that with a lot of BSA elements) and it's a bit of a flashback when you go there

[Feraud]

It's a pity that a lot of todays teenagers think it's just not 'cool'. Right. If an outdoor activity is not "extreme" (meaning somthing stupid enough to get you seriously injured or killed) society tends to look down on it.

Many people take a "these kids today..." attitude but I blame the parents who allow such ideas to flourish in their children.

[Mike K.]

Interest in scouting has waxed and waned over the years, and will likely continue to do so. I recall reading that there was a very pronounced decline within the Boy Scouts during the 1970s, followed by a membership spike in the 1980s (when I was a scout). I suspect that what we are currently seeing is only temporary and that something will trigger increased interest sometime down the road. Take this article about scouting in the UK that shows a recent upsurge in interest due to TV adventurer Bear Grylls being named the new Chief Scout.

http://scouts.org.uk/news/187/new-chief-scout-leads-to-flurry-of-interest-in-scouting

[Spitfire]

I believe the problem with modern scouting is, that they try too hard to be modern! - In order to attract kids.

Instead they should go back to old-school, vintage scouting. As it used to be - and was meant to be. (Hiking, camping, making your food on a fire, surviving...)
To day a scoutmeeting (at least in Denmark) consist of a soccergame, some computergames and some scateboards.
You can get that everywhere!!!!
But there is nowhere you can learn to build a fire in pouring rain - and light it with only two matches.
If I should start a scouttroop today, I would make it totally "vintage scouting" And it would be a raving succes!

[Feraud]

Take this article about scouting in the UK that shows a recent upsurge in interest due to TV adventurer Bear Grylls being named the new Chief Scout.

http://scouts.org.uk/news/187/new-chief-scout-leads-to-flurry-of-interest-in-scouting

Great! Maybe the U.S. scouts will take a lesson.

[Lefty]

My dad is still an active Asst. Scoutmaster. He told me about his camping experience two weeks ago. It was All Scouts Day weekend - sort of a weekend exhibition of scouts showing off their skills to the public while camping in a city park. When word got around that severe storms were predicted, all of the i-scouts broke out their phones, looked at the radar, and called their parents to be picked-up. We're not talking tornadoes, we're talking thunderstorms. Phones have made wimps of them all.


/rant

[jamespowers]

I believe the problem with modern scouting is, that they try too hard to be modern! - In order to attract kids.

Instead they should go back to old-school, vintage scouting. As it used to be - and was meant to be. (Hiking, camping, making your food on a fire, surviving...)
To day a scoutmeeting (at least in Denmark) consist of a soccergame, some computergames and some scateboards.
You can get that everywhere!!!!
But there is nowhere you can learn to build a fire in pouring rain - and light it with only two matches.
If I should start a scouttroop today, I would make it totally "vintage scouting" And it would be a raving succes!

Those are all good points. Having been stuck out in the snow more than once (during an Ordeal no less:rolleyes: ), I know it stinks but you deal with it.
I have not been back to my troop in years but It was not about games and silly stuff back then. It was about the true scouting you mention---achievement. You learned to tie knots(that, amazingly, I still use today), camping skills, personal skills, leadership skills and maybe earned a merit badge or two.

[Feraud]

My dad is still an active Asst. Scoutmaster. He told me about his camping experience two weeks ago. It was All Scouts Day weekend - sort of a weekend exhibition of scouts showing off their skills to the public while camping in a city park. When word got around that severe storms were predicted, all of the i-scouts broke out their phones, looked at the radar, and called their parents to be picked-up. We're not talking tornadoes, we're talking thunderstorms. Phones have made wimps of them all.


/rant
It is not the phones but the adults who allow this weak behavior to flourish. The adults are the ones who are supposed to know better and be the leaders. Since when do kids make the rules?

[jamespowers]

It is not the phones but the adults who allow this weak behavior to flourish. The adults are the ones who are supposed to know better and be the leaders. Since when do kids make the rules?

That has been going on since parents have allowed their children to carry cell phones. I could just hear my mother: "What do you need a cell phone for? You don't have an office to contact for your messages.":p

[1961MJS]

Hi

"Be Prepared" means being prepared to stay somewhere and survive no matter what happens. IFFF a tornado is coming your way, leaving is a good option. If a tornado isn't coming, staying is pretty much a given in our troop. Our troop leaders have cell phones, but we don't generally like the kids to take them along.

One thing that hasn't helped make Scouting popular is the "Character Counts" slogan. Character Counts gets parents to put their kids in scouting, it is especially attractive to those parents who can't seem to get their kids to behave. Having a troop full of kids "who NEEED scouting" runs the other kids off.

Troop 510 Committee

[Feraud]

One thing that hasn't helped make Scouting popular is the "Character Counts" slogan. Character Counts gets parents to put their kids in scouting, it is especially attractive to those parents who can't seem to get their kids to behave. Having a troop full of kids "who NEEED scouting" runs the other kids off.

Troop 510 Committee
I am confused by this. Are you saying scouting is being hurt by the kids who need it most?

[Lefty]

That has been going on since parents have allowed their children to carry cell phones. I could just hear my mother: "What do you need a cell phone for? You don't have an office to contact for your messages.":p

Yep. A leader can talk about scouting, being prepared, roughing it, etc., but if a scout decides to call home, and mom or dad doesn't talk the scout into staying, it's over. IMO, only leaders should have phones, and those should only be for emergencies; no contact with parents unless there is a real medical need.

[Mav]

Having been stuck out in the snow more than once (during an Ordeal no less:rolleyes: ),

Good Lord. Where was your Ordeal? I only had to deal with rain, and I thought that sucked.

[jamespowers]

Good Lord. Where was your Ordeal? I only had to deal with rain, and I thought that sucked.

Los Mochos. We were pretty shocked as well. Especially having to get it off of the sleeping bag in the morning. :eek: :p
Then you know what you have to do the next day---well it was in the snow. At least the snow wasn't falling. It was just on the ground. The snow cleared out by mid day but it was pretty darn cold.
That was a very strange year in terms of temperatures in the Cold Livermore mountains.

[Mav]

Then you know what you have to do the next day---well it was in the snow.

Gah. One would think that the wardrobe requirement would have been waved. I guess that's why they call it an Ordeal.

[jamespowers]

Gah. One would think that the wardrobe requirement would have been waved. I guess that's why they call it an Ordeal.

You just had to Be Prepared. Being right next to a tree didn't help much though. lol

[miss_elise]

well, i can't comment on scouting, but our Guide pack does everything from playing games and mucking about to good old fashioned colours ceremonies (which they love) and camping.

All of my girls know how to light a match, different tracking signals, and to use a public telephone (in case their mobile is dead in an emergency - which surprisingly few of them knew how to do), but they also know how to make icecream in 5 minutes and silly goo...

it really depends on the leaders and their implementation of the programs and values of these movements. You can still have the same values but if you implement them in such a way that the kids still enjoy them, then you shouldn't have too many problems with numbers.

One of my fellow leaders said recently that she had forgotten that it didn't always need to be about 'fun' but the girls are actually very receptive to more serious issues as well.

"Bilby"
1st Hartwell Pack Leader & Camberwell District Leader
Girl Guides Australia

[1961MJS]

I am confused by this. Are you saying scouting is being hurt by the kids who need it most?

Bingo.

The primary reason that kids today NEED character development is that their parents are unable and unwilling to discipline them.

One child that is impossible to control can and will wreck any organization fairly quickly. If you have a boy who acts up in 2 meetings, other kids will quit showing up at the 3rd meeting. Scouts gets these kids through our slogan Character Counts.

Later

[Mav]

Bingo.

The primary reason that kids today NEED character development is that their parents are unable and unwilling to discipline them.

One child that is impossible to control can and will wreck any organization fairly quickly. If you have a boy who acts up in 2 meetings, other kids will quit showing up at the 3rd meeting. Scouts gets these kids through our slogan Character Counts.

Later
Sadly, I agree. I think that extends to other youth groups, as well. I've seen a couple of DeMolay Chapters dissolve due to a few undisciplined kids. These groups don't provide basic discipline; they refine and teach skills to kids who are disciplined at home.

[Andykev]

Circa 1968 or so. My twin brother and I at a Scout camp out.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/andykev/TwinScouts.jpg

[NDW76]

I was involved in scouting throughout most of my child hood and a fair bit of my teen years. There was no PC stuff when I was involved, but it came in shortly after. When I joined the local scouts the scout master who had just left liked children a little too much. Understandably many of the other children were screwed up by this. So it was in scouting that I learned how to turn everyday items into weapons. One kid also taught me how to tie a noose. Sadly he isn't with us anymore.

[jamespowers]

I was involved in scouting throughout most of my child hood and a fair bit of my teen years. There was no PC stuff when I was involved, but it came in shortly after. When I joined the local scouts the scout master who had just left liked children a little too much. Understandably many of the other children were screwed up by this. So it was in scouting that I learned how to turn everyday items into weapons. One kid also taught me how to tie a noose. Sadly he isn't with us anymore.

They weren't exactly very enthusiastic about teaching how to tie a noose when I was in. I learned how to tie one from a friend of mine in Scouts anyway though. It is actually a useful knot for holding things and it can be easily adjusted to raise or lower whatever is needed.

[Andykev]

Hey, I grew up in the "Leave it to Beaver" era!

Everyone treated the kids like their own. Lots of parent volunteerism and participation. Overnight camp trips to the lake, and the snow.

Sad, we may be more savvy in this generation, but a lot of the innocence and joy seems to have been lost.

No one dared or even thought of "doing something" to a kid back then. Sometimes I wish we were back to kids spending time flying kites, building soap box racers, jumping mounds with our Stingray bikes, and enjoying fishing, camping, the Planetarium, ...the list is endless. Building things with popsicle sticks, glue and paints, balsa wood.

Seems like something has gone wrong in society today.

[Spitfire]

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n233/Parup_2006/IMG_0005.jpg

Just found this one from the good old days.
Yours truely, 17 years old, comming home from the World jamboree in Greece. Must be 1962.

[Smithy]

Great photo Søren!

[miss_elise]

I have to say that the number of hoops and jumps we had to do to get permission to have a campfire this weekend no longer makes me wonder about why scouting and guiding no longer get to do as many great activities as they used to

[Smithy]

I have to say that the number of hoops and jumps we had to do to get permission to have a campfire this weekend no longer makes me wonder about why scouting and guiding no longer get to do as many great activities as they used to

That's sad Miss Elise. I suppose they'll argue and say because of the 10 year drought the bush is still dangerously dry in places. Probably Black Saturday has made officials all the more twitchy now as well.

Shame though.

[gtdean48]

Just returned from funeral of an Assistant Scout Master that I have served with for the last 5 years since he & his son crossed over. His son is close to wrapping up his Eagle requirements & was at Philmont when his father was in Las Vegas on business. Chuck got choked on a piece of steak & attempts at the Heimlich manuever failed. The trail will never be the same... Adios Amigo...

[carouselvic]

http://www.shorpy.com/node/8448?size=_original

[Warden]

My daughter is in Rainbows the early years option for Brownies and Guides, but I gather when she gets old enough to be in Brownies she has the choice to join Cubs

Wow, we never had 'girls' in our Cub pack. lol

A first rate, and I think the adults who give up there time to run these groups are amazing

Harry

[UsuallyComatose]

I was in Scouts from the age of 13 until I was 14 (yep, girls were allowed) but I have to say, I absolutely hated it. I first started there because my dad it a leader of the Cub pack, but Scouts was all wrong for me :(
I didn't have any friends, but didn't feel I could leave because I didn't want to let my dad down :(

However the one part I loved was going on Scout camp. If it had all been camping, I would have stayed :) Still didn't make any friends, but the camp was definitely the best part of the whole experience.

xx

[barracudamagoo]

Troop 831, Eagle Scout 1999

[1961MJS]

I have to say that the number of hoops and jumps we had to do to get permission to have a campfire this weekend no longer makes me wonder about why scouting and guiding no longer get to do as many great activities as they used to

Hi

From what another one of our committee members told me about 10 years ago, that echoes what the Girl Scouts of the USA do. They have training for everything. BSA is catching up. We finally went to Youth Protection Training (how to find pervs, and how to not be in a position to be suspected of being one) being mandatory. YPT being mandatory is good, but it will probably lead to a lot of other stuff being mandatory too (bad).

later

[lframe]

I was a Girl Scout and have a very active Wolf Cub. He's already agreed that Eagle Scout before driver's license! That makes this Momma's heart sing.

[MPicciotto]

I was a Girl Scout and have a very active Wolf Cub. He's already agreed that Eagle Scout before driver's license! That makes this Momma's heart sing.

But, but, how does he drive to Home Depot to pick up materials for his Eagle Project (like I did) ??

Matt

[Yeps]

I was a Girl Scout and have a very active Wolf Cub. He's already agreed that Eagle Scout before driver's license! That makes this Momma's heart sing.

That was me. I had planned to get Eagle before getting distracted by the 'fumes (car fumes and perfumes), but when I was at Life before going to high school, and only had my project remaining, an awful leader told me they wouldn't let me go for Eagle until I was older. So, I almost dropped out, because during high school I had lots of conflicts (mostly dance classes) and only was really part of the troop for backpacking. I ended up joined a Venture Crew, and having my Eagle Board of Review just a week before my 18th birthday.

Moral of the story, don't push him, but don't let bad leaders hold him back.

Edit: I sounded really negative toward my leaders there. Please don't think that I had only bad leaders. In general my leaders were fantastic, and were very influential (behind my family, specifically mother and grandmother, and my teachers in high school, who were great men) in my life and making me who I am today.

[lframe]

But, but, how does he drive to Home Depot to pick up materials for his Eagle Project (like I did) ??

Matt

Well, after seeing him drive a golf cart (at 10), I think the road will be a safer place for a little while without him driving. Plus, he made that deal with us when he was a Tiger Cub.

NC has a privilege license that only let's you drive during certain hours. Kinda like an extended learners permit. That, will probably be what he has for a while. He has to pass the Mom test.

I learned how to drive on a tractor, so I am thinking I will take him up the family farm and let him learn patience with an experience that only a John Deere can give you!

[lframe]

That was me. I had planned to get Eagle before getting distracted by the 'fumes (car fumes and perfumes), but when I was at Life before going to high school, and only had my project remaining, an awful leader told me they wouldn't let me go for Eagle until I was older. So, I almost dropped out, because during high school I had lots of conflicts (mostly dance classes) and only was really part of the troop for backpacking. I ended up joined a Venture Crew, and having my Eagle Board of Review just a week before my 18th birthday.

Moral of the story, don't push him, but don't let bad leaders hold him back.

We actually are switching this fall. Our leaders are so disorganized, nothing gets done until the end of the year and it's rush, rush, rush. The new one is well organized, but flows gently and they really get to experience what it's all about.

[1961MJS]

That was me. I had planned to get Eagle before getting distracted by the 'fumes (car fumes and perfumes), but when I was at Life before going to high school, and only had my project remaining, an awful leader told me they wouldn't let me go for Eagle until I was older. So, I almost dropped out, because during high school I had lots of conflicts (mostly dance classes) and only was really part of the troop for backpacking. I ended up joined a Venture Crew, and having my Eagle Board of Review just a week before my 18th birthday.

Moral of the story, don't push him, but don't let bad leaders hold him back.

Hi Yeps

We have a history in my current troop in Wichita, of having last minute Eagles. One kid finished his Eagle project at 6:30 PM, went to Baccalaureate at 7:00 PM, and turned 18 at Midnight. We also had two twins who took 18 months to fill out the white Eagle application. Both had all of the merit badges, a finished project, had written up the project, and no kidding took 18 months for a single (two sides) piece of paper.

Later

[doctor dan]

I was a Scout in the 60's, spent every summer at camp as soon as I was old enough. Made Eagel Scout, and it was one of the best times I have ever had. I think it did prepare you for adulthood in a positive way and I can remember going in the army with kids who had never even been away from home and the camping experiences and survival skills put you ahead. Also did anyone get a chance to go to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, USA. I lucked out and got to spend a summer ther also.

[Yeps]

Hi Yeps

We have a history in my current troop in Wichita, of having last minute Eagles. One kid finished his Eagle project at 6:30 PM, went to Baccalaureate at 7:00 PM, and turned 18 at Midnight. We also had two twins who took 18 months to fill out the white Eagle application. Both had all of the merit badges, a finished project, had written up the project, and no kidding took 18 months for a single (two sides) piece of paper.

Later

That is amazing. I guess running on the deadline is part of the tradition. Gets you ready for real life.

[MPicciotto]

This thread along with a conversation with friends has me considering giving back. A fellow reenactor, jeep restorer and good friend of mine's son is in cub scouts right now. Talking with his wife, also a reenactor and swing dancer she asked if I wanted to come to some of the events to be another adult. Got me thinking.

Maybe it's time to give back. After all I got to do in Scouts. Went to the National Jamboree, went to Philmont (twice once as OA trail crew), worked on staff at a summer camp one summer. Was in both an Explorer Post (Aviation) AND a Venture Crew. Our Venture crew did everything from trips to Ocean City to Canoe Jousting to some of the most hard core was a nighttime backpacking trek to a climbing spot where we spent two days rock climbing and rappelling.

Matt

[phinz]

I was a Scout for several years, getting as far as being Senior Patrol Leader and an Assistant Scoutmaster. My last stint as an ASM I was dismayed at the mere shadow of itself that Scouting has become. The Order of the Arrow has lost the Indian chief logo due to political correctness. There are no true tapouts or ordeals for OA anymore. Even the voting for OA has become a popularity contest instead of a true vote for the best of the best. When they went from a percentage of all eligible boys being inducted to the new way of all boys who receive a certain number of votes being inducted, it watered it down.

Most Scouts don't backpack anymore. It's all suitcase camping. There's little respect for elders from the Scouts. They can't be away from their electronics for more than a few minutes. And women are even more heavily involved now. I don't have a problem with women, but camping with the Scouts used to be an opportunity for the boys to get out and be boys, but now the mommies come along too, and it's just not the same.

We won't even get into the political garbage that's omnipresent in Scouts now. :eusa_doh:

[1961MJS]

...I don't have a problem with women, but camping with the Scouts used to be an opportunity for the boys to get out and be boys, but now the mommies come along too, and it's just not the same.

We won't even get into the political garbage that's omnipresent in Scouts now. :eusa_doh:

Hi, we mention in our talk during crossover, that no Mommies and Daddies are allowed. If you go on a camp out, you go as a leader, and in general, you don't help your own kids. If your son is in our troop, you're allowed to go anywhere he goes, just don't butter his bread and wipe his nose.

Later

[Big Man]

The other day I received a package in the mail from my Dad's first cousin's widow. My Dad, my Aunt, and my Dad's cousin were the last three of their generation in the Brown family. My Dad kept in contact with his cousin over the years and after he died several years ago, continued to stay in contact with his cousin's widow. After my Dad passed away, I continued to keep in contact with her. She is now moving to a smaller house and wanted me to have some of the things that were special to her husband. In the box she sent were a lot of old papers about family history, a number of old pictures, and some Boy Scout things.

My Dad's cousin was involved with Scouting from the time he was a boy in the late 1930's and early 1940's until his later years. In the things his widow sent were his Eagle award, all his Merit Badge cards, and a picture of him in his Scout uniform. I was honored she entrusted these things to me for their safe keeping.

I thought some of you folks who are involved with Scouting may enjoy these pictures.


This is a photo of my Dad's first cousin (I guess that would make him my first cousin, once removed, right?), Van Harold Brown. Cousin Van Harold was a member of Boy Scout Troop 1 in Marion, NC. Several years after the War he relocated to Florida, where he continued to be involved with Scouting as an adult leader. I believe this picture was taken in 1940.


http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/Burke1777/DSC05114.jpg


http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/Burke1777/DSC05109.jpg


http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/Burke1777/DSC05111.jpg

[bluestone120]

Troop 39. Eagle Scout - 2003. Brotherhood - Order of the Arrow.

National Jamboree 2001... I recall one scout being struck by lightning and another being expelled because he swiped all the TP rolls from the local latrine and was selling them to those in need. ...I wonder if he got his entrepreneurship merit badge.

It's really weird that I found this thread today... I found and dug through the box containing all my old Scouting/NJROTC/CAP articles no more than 4 hours ago.


We won't even get into the political garbage that's omnipresent in Scouts now.

Sadly, this is very true. By the time I earned my Eagle Scout Award, I didn't really even want it anymore - such was the condition of my troop.

...And might I also add that I was a last-minute-Eagle as well.

[1961MJS]

Hi

I just returned from Trapper's Rendezvous at Harvey County Park West just west of Newton KS. There were roughly 5000 campers this weekend. There has been snow on the ground since last week. The temperatures were from a low of about 19 degrees to a high of 35 degrees. I ate too well, and worked the BB-Gun range / qualifier for shooting Muzzle loaders. Several were wearing buckskins like the old 1800-1830 fur trappers. If there's an article in our local paper, I'll see about posting pictures.

http://marionrecord.com/direct/scouts_practice_barter_system_at_trappers_rendezvo us+18scouts+53636f75747320707261637469636520626172 7465722073797374656d206174205472617070657273272052 656e64657a766f7573

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wfryer/sets/72157623230876112/

Not my pictures, but these give you an idea what goes on.

Later

[L'Onset]

I was a Scout since 15 to 20 yrs., then studies, girls, travels, and other interests took me away from scouting. Now I'm father of boy and girl cub scouts. Here in Spain today Scout associations (there are more than one) are mainly mixed.
Scouting in Spain is a bit misunderstood by the common. Cartoons and other jokes have made that for most of the people Boy Scouts are a band of "nerds with their big hats and silly military-like uniforms pretending to be tough guys when everyone knows that the real-deal is (was) being in the Frente de Juventudes" (youth branch of the official and unique political party during Franco's days)
Those days are over long ago, but still scouting is seen with some skepticism.

Never mind though.

My grand father was a Scout back in the early XX century, First Troop in Zaragoza. Went to Birkenhead World Jamboree in 1921 if I'm not wrong.

I'm posting some pictures.
This one is of my Clan of Rovers in 1984 :

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/lDtgY2__lJw-SWkt4TNinclK0MBPIxKMkUngJPPL6Bg?feat=directlink
I`m the one right in the middle of the picture: Middle row third one from left or rigth.

The following ones are of my grand father:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/mXsM5q6oqMqS3AosHuqujslK0MBPIxKMkUngJPPL6Bg?feat=d irectlink
Grandad is the tanned one sitting on the floor between the guy with the sailor hat and the guitar and the girl with the stick.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/7vkl0xTGFtDJ7RwjTzDLMslK0MBPIxKMkUngJPPL6Bg?feat=d irectlink
Here with an english friend called Paul Cavanagh

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/8ZpAdkUHDjROYQ-rBFnQ-slK0MBPIxKMkUngJPPL6Bg?feat=directlink
Somewhere in Spain while on a sortie, buying some bread for the guys.

Hope you like them.

[Yeps]

Most Scouts don't backpack anymore. It's all suitcase camping.

In my experience, this was not true, at least a couple years back. My troop almost never did suitcase camping. The only times we did not backpack was when we did jamboree's or stuff like that. Maybe the new scout campout or something, but that was just to get the newbies used to being away from home.

I loved Scouting, and it definitely helped define who I am now.

[SeattleSparky]

Just turned my son and 5 other boys over to our local Boy Scout troop. They all crossed over with Arrow of Light!! Very proud of them!!

[Tuesday_Next]

Have you fellas (and ladies) seen the Girl Scout thread over in the Powder Room?
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?55541-What-A-Girl-Scout-Knew-In-1923

[Renault]

I made it to Star before having to go to work. Both my boys made it up the Eagle trail. All three of us were OA. I was an asst. scoutmaster for our local troop.

We lost one of our Eagles, 5 Sept 2009 in Kandahar province. Hit our community hard. We had lost his father (who was our scoutmaster) in '98 to cancer (agent orange) . We had what I call an atypical troop of boys. We did lots of backpacking, camping, shooting, the works. And ran our own summer camp on a West Texas ranch with no amenities! We campaigned!

Renault

[Harry Gooch]

Thought I'd better join the list.

I'm a Queen's Venturer, roughly equivalent to an Eagle Scout.

Hiking, camping in all seasons, woodcraft, etc. etc.

Still stands me well.

Of my current friends, almost ten of them are also Queen's Venturers from 35 years ago.

[MiG-19]

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v4738/246/53/1343173066/n1343173066_30418240_3505680.jpg
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v4738/246/53/1343173066/n1343173066_30418244_1078347.jpg

My first post to the lounge. I was a Scout in Lexington, Kentucky's Troop 98 in the 60's and 70's. Stopped at Life when girls, gas and grades became more important. I'm now back in the game, starting out as a Unit Commissioner in Okinawa Japan for BSA's Far East Council. As my twin boys, Mikey and Jeremy started Tiger Cubs, I've been a Tiger Cub Den Leader, Cub Master, District Chairman, District Commissioner, Council Commissioner and am now the District OA Chapter Advisor. I recently got Vigil Honor in OA, and am a Woodbadge graduate. My boys are now Life Scouts, and only have their Eagle project to go in order to reach their goal on the Eagle Trail. They will make it! BTW, my faithful border-pointer (Border Collie/Short-haired Pointer mis) in the first picture died yesterday. He's been my constant loyal companion for 14 years. I miss him terribly.

[Girl Friday]

There is a big push to reconnect with Boy Scout Alumni, you can find out about it here:
http://www.scouting.org/Alumni.aspx

Just thought some of you guys might like to know!

[Oldsarge]

I stayed in through Explorers but never advanced above the rank of Star due to my inability to swim decently. It's a family trait. I float like a rock, just like my father.

[jamespowers]

I was a Scout for several years, getting as far as being Senior Patrol Leader and an Assistant Scoutmaster. My last stint as an ASM I was dismayed at the mere shadow of itself that Scouting has become. The Order of the Arrow has lost the Indian chief logo due to political correctness. There are no true tapouts or ordeals for OA anymore. Even the voting for OA has become a popularity contest instead of a true vote for the best of the best. When they went from a percentage of all eligible boys being inducted to the new way of all boys who receive a certain number of votes being inducted, it watered it down.

Most Scouts don't backpack anymore. It's all suitcase camping. There's little respect for elders from the Scouts. They can't be away from their electronics for more than a few minutes. And women are even more heavily involved now. I don't have a problem with women, but camping with the Scouts used to be an opportunity for the boys to get out and be boys, but now the mommies come along too, and it's just not the same.

We won't even get into the political garbage that's omnipresent in Scouts now. :eusa_doh:

It is sad to hear that the Order of the Arrow has become what it has where you are there. The tapouts and ordeals were the thing that made them a mystery and added to the cache of being a member---even if you had to go through an ordeal in the snow like I did.:eusa_doh::rolleyes:

[Taz-man]

I was also a Boy Scout. Never made Eagle but I had fun. I got to go to Philmont Scout Ranch. My father, grandfather, and uncle were also in the Boy Scouts.

[Big Man]

My Dad (third from the left) at Schiele Scout Camp in the summer of 1936. When I was in scouts, I went to the same camp, stayed in the same cabins, ate in the same dining hall, and swam in the same lake. The old Schiele camp that my Dad and I both went to is gone now, but the buildings and flag pole remain.


http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/Burke1777/DSC04428.jpg

[Gregg Axley]

Sorry to hear that too James.
I attained the rank of Eagle in 1985 and it was a very proud moment in my life.
The Order Of The Arrow was also a memorable occasion. I can think back on many times during the weekend I was inducted, and remember many things such as camping out under the stars (in February and with frost on the ground I might add!!!), starting my own fire out of only what I had, and doing a few projects at the camp we attended.
Scouting instilled me with a lot of values I have today, and I loved every minute of it.
And no suitcases back when I did it. :D

[jamespowers]

Sorry to hear that too James.
I attained the rank of Eagle in 1985 and it was a very proud moment in my life.
The Order Of The Arrow was also a memorable occasion. I can think back on many times during the weekend I was inducted, and remember many things such as camping out under the stars (in February and with frost on the ground I might add!!!), starting my own fire out of only what I had, and doing a few projects at the camp we attended.
Scouting instilled me with a lot of values I have today, and I loved every minute of it.
And no suitcases back when I did it. :D

Amen. I remember many things that happened as well. I have to say that I hate building friction fires though. It takes quite a bit of doing. The flint and steel fires are more my style. :p

[Stearmen]

Amen. I remember many things that happened as well. I have to say that I hate building friction fires though. It takes quite a bit of doing. The flint and steel fires are more my style. :p Starting the fire with sticks reminds me of a great story from the 80s. A friend of mine daughter was around 8 years old and had to go to some kind of scout camp. One of the instructors was showing them how to make fires with sticks rubbed together. My friends daughter must have gotten board, being brought up around motorcycles, she walked over to the three wheeler, disconnected the fuel line, turned on the petcock, drained some fuel into a cup, reconnected the fuel line, went over to her fire pit, poured the gas on and struck a match. The scout leaders were not amused! I think she deserved some kind of merit badge for initiative !

[jamespowers]

Starting the fire with sticks reminds me of a great story from the 80s. A friend of mine daughter was around 8 years old and had to go to some kind of scout camp. One of the instructors was showing them how to make fires with sticks rubbed together. My friends daughter must have gotten board, being brought up around motorcycles, she walked over to the three wheeler, disconnected the fuel line, turned on the petcock, drained some fuel into a cup, reconnected the fuel line, went over to her fire pit, poured the gas on and struck a match. The scout leaders were not amused! I think she deserved some kind of merit badge for initiative !

:rofl: This is how you light a fire. :p

[Bumper_Morgan]

Well, this is how my leatherstockings do it:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v468/FJR6/Scouts/SF019.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v468/FJR6/Scouts/SF021.jpg

Of course, they know how to torch things with lighter fuel, too...

[Bob_Fixico]

I was a Cub Scout long ago and was a Boy Scout for a short time until my father got involved and pulled me out of it because he felt his time was better suited elsewhere. Now that is another story for another time. Last year I became involved in Scouting when my youngest came home from school with some paperwork about scouting. I was hesitant about him and me getting involved in this. In two parts I had never done this with my older children and I was afraid I was going to be asked to do something. To give you an idea about the concern with my son he was diagnosed with Autism when he was three. He needs almost constant supervision when he is home and out in public. We took him down signed him up and let the Scout Master know I would be there to wrangle my son and to keep him on task. I was informed I would have to take Youth Protection Training course if I was going to be there. I did take the class and we did begin going to the troop meetings. My son really came out of his shell and stayed on task in the group setting. Myself I found jumping in neck deep to get involved. So deep I immediately volunteered for this next year. Now what got me hooked was the camping trip. We went to Camp Old Indian in the hills of South Carolina. That night the temperature dropped to 28 degrees Fahrenheit. Yes we froze our butts off but not as much as I did because of the pins, rods, and screws I have in my arms, hips, and legs. I became motivated in more ways than I care to count. We are excited for this next year.

[Gregg Axley]

James we were told that's how girlscouts light fires. :D
I agree, bravo for initiative.
We actually tried that sticks firestarting, and got nowhere.
So while we were sitting at summer camp, we were sitting under a canopy with a pole in the center of the table. We put grass around it and started turning the pole as if to start a fire. The couselor turned his head to answer a question, and one scout pulled out a bic lighter and lit the grass ever so slightly. You should have seen the counselors face when he thought we had started a fire that way. LOL

[jamespowers]

James we were told that's how girlscouts light fires. :D
I agree, bravo for initiative.
We actually tried that sticks firestarting, and got nowhere.
So while we were sitting at summer camp, we were sitting under a canopy with a pole in the center of the table. We put grass around it and started turning the pole as if to start a fire. The couselor turned his head to answer a question, and one scout pulled out a bic lighter and lit the grass ever so slightly. You should have seen the counselors face when he thought we had started a fire that way. LOL

:rofl: That would have been good. lol

[Renault]

Bumper Morgan! Good on your Leatherstockings!!!!!

Here's a pic of several of my strikers straight from my trade goods chest! There under the trade knives....

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/lt13demi/100_0223.jpg

Renault

[Bumper_Morgan]

This last Friday I took the Troop out to the woods to collect some birch bark and harvest some fatwood/maya wood. We did some prepping for next Friday's big capture the flag/stalking game, too. They show great potential for becoming first-class outdoorsmen. I'm so proud of these kids.

[Bob_Fixico]

Must be a Webelos Troop or Regular Boy Scout Troop working on Pathfinder. My youngest son is in Webelos we worked on the forester naturalist and the outdoorsman awards this past fall. This Spring they have on working on citizenship and readyman. I have two grandsons that are in wolf and bear.

[W.A.Mack]

I am of the opinion the Scouting experience is only as good as your troop and the leadership. I was in Cub Scouts and Scouts for a year. I went on a couple of camping trips which were fine. The problem was the average meeting. The meeting lasted maybe a half hour and then everyone went to the gym to play basketball. I was never very athletic as a kid. I became bored and moved on to other things. At eleven or twelve you need activities to motivate you to work on badges and learn the skills. Years later I wish I had stayed in.