The New (Improved) Boy Scouts of America

Yesterday, I helped clean out my son's boy scout troop's garage and found several items that reminded me of a time when I was a Tenderfoot in that same unit.
Some of the tents still remain from when I was in the unit in the '70's and probably some of the old patrol cook kits are still there.
While going through some of the old things that needed to be retired to the circular files, I remember some of the meals we cooked on the open fire when I was in scouts.
Things like beef stew, hamburgers, hotdogs and beans, cobbler, and an occasional loaf of bread.
Today, scouts have gone more high tech than when I was in scouts.
Self inflating matresses and more comfortable cots to fully equipped patrol boxes with orange zesters and other kitchen gadgets and tools we never heard of back in the day.
Now meals consist of Pork Chops Normandy, Black Forrest cake, Creme Brule french toast, cobbler, and bbq beef or pork ribs.
I still love the old canvass wall tents but I do appreciate the good food too.
We learned the basics of cooking while scouts today have made the basics too basic and have opted to "gourmetafy" their menus.
Gone are the leaders that drink coffee, or tea, and hello expressos and double moch latte java nut truffle ....whatever the latest caffinated beverage they're drinking at the local coffee places.
The programs are much the same, as is the fun and fellowship of scouts and scouters, but the food have evolved into so much more.
So if you haven't experienced it; join the new scouting program.
You will never go hungry and you will love the new boy scouts.

The Pan in Scouting

Recently someone asked me what makes a great scout leader?

I replied, "To be a great scout leader requires a person that will never ask the scouts to do something that they wouldn't do themselves, a strong belief in the program and the scouts, the williness to be silly and yet be able to teach the scouts something useful, and be able to adapt and overcome any obstacles or change cheerfully.
In short, a great scout leader has to have a little "Peter Pan" inside of them.

Never to grow up and be forever a kid.

Some of the best leaders that I have seen were in their golden years and they were still willing to crawl around in the mud, ride a zip line, play games, do everything the scouts do with the same attitude and spunk (although a little bit slower at some things).

I remember seeing a home movie at a scout camp where an old scoutmaster went downhill, riding on a pushcart, lost his hairpiece and his teeth when he hit a rut on the hill, and he was laughing all at the same time.

Probably laughing at himself.

If you can laugh at yourself, be that little kit at heart, and believe in the scout program, then you are on your way to becoming a great leader.

Everyone has the ability to be the Great Leader, but the ones that really excell at it let the "Pan" out every once in awhile.

Memorial Day Weekend

I love this weekend and not because it is a 3 day weekend but what it means to me.
Yes, this is the annual kickoff of the summer season but it is the time we need to remember what Memorial Day is all about.
To honor the servicemen and women that have paid the ultimate sacrifice for us to enjoy the freedoms we have is really special.
I have recently received photos of a boy scout unit that took part in placing flags on the graves of soldiers and it is a truly amazing site.
I have relatives that lost their lives in WWII and I often wonder what it would have been like to known them. I have only seen one photograph of them so it is really hard for me to know or place them in the stories my relatives told about them.
I also have a brother in law that served in Vietnam and to this day he won't talk about what he went through.
I will never understand what he went through other than he volunteered to serve his country in a time of need and he did so without hesitation.
He is a hero to me as are the soldiers fighting for our country.
So when and if you fire up the grill please take time to remember those that went on before us and when you see a soldier please stop and thank them for their service to our country.
Happy Memorial Day and please be safe!

Let's Go Camping

I love this time of year when I can put away my winter camping gear and break out the summertime camp inventory.
Winter camping is not my cup of tea but I will do so but I really prefer Spring, Summer, and Fall camping the best.
Let's take a look at what the Greater Pittsburgh Council has to say for camp gear.

PERSONAL GEAR
Cub Scouts & Webelos Scouts
Scout First Aid KitCub Scout ToothbrushCub Scout Comb w/CaseCub Scout Comb & Nail Clipper SetCub Scout PocketknifeLitt-L Vitt-L Kit

Cub Scout Lightweight CanteenCub Scout Handi-LiteCub Scout PocketliteCub Scout WalletCub Scout Book BagCub Scout Day Pack

Boy Scouts
Scout First Aid Kit Sketter StikCamper's Grooming Kit Boy Scout Toothbrush Boy Scout Comb w/CaseSoap CaddyWaterproof MatchboxBoy Scout Comb & Nail Clipper SetCamper's Cup1 1/2 Qt. Boy Scout Canteen2 Qt. Boy Scout CanteenOfficial Boy Scout Cook KitVitt-L KitBoy Scout WalletBoy Scout Utility KnifeWhittler's KnifeBoy Scout Pocketknife

Trailblazer CompassPolaris CompassMesh Ditty Bag SetBoy Scout Mini-Mag LightScout Trail LightBoy Scout Ultra Brute Personal LightFluorescent FlashlightComfortFlex Explorer PackYucca Ranger PackSquare Duffle BagOrganizer PackFanny PackBelt PackColeman Sleeping BagsCascade Sleeping BagScout Hand Ax w/Sheath
Optional Boy Scouts
Thorlo Hiking Socks Thorlo Lt. Trekking SocksExpedition Hat

Literature for Summertime Outdoor Activities
FieldbookThe Boy Scout Handbook Merit Badge Pamphlets

Now this is an extensive camp list and not everyone can afford all that in a short time.
So where can scouts go to save money for these items?

One of the best places to go for camp gear is visit the neighbors, they may have something that you could borrow provided you return it better than you found it.
Or garage or rummage sales will help.
Many scout units will have camp gear that was saved in the lost and found and would be willing to share that with the rest of the scouts.
The Army/Navy Surplus store is better than nothing.

Recently I purchased a framed backpack for $25.00 and should have paid $50.00 at a garage sale.
So don't be surprise by what can be found if you look for it at a garage or rummage sale.
You can save a ton of money should you look for it.
So to start camping, begin small and work you way up.
Save for the bigger and better things.
You will be glad you did.

Training

Yesterday I helped with the BALOO training session, which was held at Camp Rokilio, and I am aways amazed at the number of people now jumping at the chance to take advantage of training made available by Bay-Lakes Council.
Although the class size was one of the smaller classes, the attitude has recently changed from, "Ok, we are here now show us something that we don't know!" to "We're here, we are ready, show us something that will help us improve on what we are already trying to do."
The later approach makes the training a whole lot easier and more enjoyable as everyone now takes part in the discussions. Training is more fun, faster paced, and everyone is more receptive to new ideas being presented.
Pack leaders from 4002 were in attendance yesterday, not that it was earthshaking new, but there were 5 representatives there that completed their BALOO training.
The unit now has 10 of 13 leaders BALOO trained or something close to that and there are other units that can also have a similar claim to those numbers.
Training is now more readily being accepted as the way to improve upon our scouting program and is being more accepted as the way to present program ideas to our scouts in a better way.
I would like to personally thank all the leaders that take advantage of training courses offered and encourage other scouters to complete their training as well.
Being a volunteer leader is difficult enough but training will make the leadership role a whole lot easier.
So do yourself, your unit, and the scout families a favor; take every available advantage of the training courses offered.
You will be glad you did.

Happy Mother's Day

I wanted to start buy wishing all Mothers in this world a very "Happy Mother's Day," and in their honor I would like to salute all of the present, past, and future Moms that have chosen to become leaders in their son's scout units.

Den Mothers were what we called them back in the day and these women were a one-man army (pardon the political incorrectness) and could handle every situation a cub scout could and would throw at them at a moment's notice.

I remember my first Den Mother and she is now long gone and I remember her as a leader that held den meetings from her home and while she held "den court", she also did the laundry, cooked the family meal, played whatever den sport we had going, planned the meetings, removed staples from fingers, and never lost her smile.

I wonder what page in the Den Mother's Handbook told the leaders how to remove staples from fingers or other body parts (we had Joey that once stapled his belly...don't know how he did that but he did).

Den Mothers were the experts on Popsicle stick art...

And again I wondered if the Den Mother's handbook gave hints and procedures on how to create magic with Popsicle sticks.

I can only imagine it may have looked like this;

Step one...eat a bazillion Popsicles

Step two...save and wash the sticks

Step three...break out the school glue and newspapers

Step four .... clean up after projects are completed.

Step five....eat a bazillion Popsicles for next week's meeting.

We always started the meetings the same:

1. Gathering

2. Opening

3. Activities and games

4. Closing

But the biggest thing I remember was that before we left our den meetings our leader would always tell us to do something nice for our moms like help her put her coat on, or hold the door open for her, or push in her chair for her.

And we always did. At least I did.

My mother was a den leader for a very short time and I miss her dearly.

So Happy Mother's Day !

"Oh, Mrs. L...Joey's stapled himself to the tablecloth again!"

The Magic of Scouting

Yesterday I had the privilege of meeting up with a former scout friend of mine whom I haven't seen in better than 20 yrs.

Not that it was that unusual but he was the scout that could have cared less about the merit badges and awards when he was in the troop with me...loved the camp experience and would work his tail off while at camp and once camp was over, he was gone until the next camp came around on the calendar.

He was a one man Brigadoon.

Now that we are both nearing the 1/2 century mark, he still holds a fondness for everything he learned in the program with me as a boy and would still support the program when scouts came around with fundraisers.

I had asked him if he'd like to join up as an adult volunteer and he smiles with the memory of the days gone by and he would if only he could attend camp and nothing else.

Try as I might to get him on board, I realized that he really hasn't changed all that much but his love of the program and his support for the program has never flagged or ever questioned.

Now back in the day we all knew that he would never advance very far but we all knew that he loved the camps we attended and was probably one of the best friends we had at camp.

Thirty years later, the magic of scouting has reunited our friendship and the memories we have for the program and Camp Bear Paw will always be locked away for us to enjoy when we are rocking chair bound.

I feel sorry for most scouts today as many do not realize how wonderful and exciting the program can be. If only they could transport themselves 30 -40 yrs. into the future to look back on what they took from scouting as well as what they gave.

As we get older, the magic of scouting's appeal becomes that much stronger as we usually don't get the time we'd like to do all of the camps, the merit badges, and the outdoor hikes.

I cannot do some of the things that I once did but I do remember what scouting gave me and the magic that it has to keep me involved within the program.

Thank you Lord Baden Powell for giving us the magic of scouting and keeping me honor bound to do my best.