Busse hogs totin' chip role call

[DamascusBowie]

Those who know, know. Earning my totin' chit still stands as one of the proudest moments of my life and marks the moment I went from a kid playing with knives to being a responsible knife user.

For the uninitiated, the totin' chip is a camp knife/axe carry permit in the Boy Scouts. Oddly enough, after 30+ years I found out I've been calling it totin' chit instead of chip. Totin' chit is what we called it in our troop, and it still makes more sense to me than chip, but if the book says chip, well then chip it is.

Remember that kid with his first knife feeling? Multiply that by a gazillion and you get an idea what earning a totin' chip feels like. It was like going from amateur to pro, and the rules I learned back then stuck with me all these years.

I'd bet theres many a hog whose official knife life started out with the totin' chip, so if you're one of them, here's your roll call!

Scouts assemble!!

From the Scouts website:

This certification grants a Scout the right to carry and use woods tools. The Scout must show his Scout leader, or someone designated by his leader, that he understands his responsibility to do the following:

1. Read and understand woods tools use and safety rules from the Boy Scout Handbook.
2. Demonstrate proper handling, care, and use of the pocket knife, ax, and saw.
3. Use knife, ax, and saw as tools, not playthings.
4. Respect all safety rules to protect others.
5. Respect property. Cut living and dead trees only with permission and good reason.
6. Subscribe to the Outdoor Code.

The Scout's "Totin' Rights" can be taken from him if he fails in his responsibility.

 

[drift draft]

Sadly, I was booted out long before I had experienced any of the fun stuff you mention.
Coincidentally, I was booted for tote'n and drink'n chit.

 

[DamascusBowie]

Sadly, I was booted out long before I had experienced any of the fun stuff you mention.
Coincidentally, I was booted for tote'n and drink'n chit.

I never got far in the scouts either mainly because of family issues, moving etc, I was only in for about a year or two and only got to tenderfoot rank which is absolute beginner. But I did go to a couple short and long camps, got a few merit badges and patches. But even that short time left big impressions and was the most fun I had in my youth. The totin' chip was fairly easy and you had to have it in order to be allowed to carry a knife so if I got one, anyone could

 

[boring]

I made it to Eagle Scout. Good times.

 

[DamascusBowie]

I made it to Eagle Scout. Good times.

that is a serious life accomplishment, congratulations. I would equate Eagle Scout rank to a bachelor's degree with the possible difference being that the ES rank may be more valuable in real life.

 

[CookieRawwr]

I remember getting my Totin chip at Scout summer camp, It taught me responsibility , not only in handling knives but other things, I got my Eagle Scout in 98.

 

[DamascusBowie]

I remember getting my Totin chip at Scout summer camp, It taught me responsibility , not only in handling knives but other things, I got my Eagle Scout in 98.

I agree wholeheartedly, it was truly the first life lesson in responsibility that actually stuck. Probably because it meant so much because i loved knives as boys usually do.

 

[evltcat]

I had my Bear Scout Whittlin' Chip and trusty Camillus Cub Scout knife before I made it to Boy Scouts. In our troop, you automatically got your Totin' Chip if you had the Whittlin' Chip.

 

[DamascusBowie]

I had my Bear Scout Whittlin' Chip and trusty Camillus Cub Scout knife before I made it to Boy Scouts. In our troop, you automatically got your Totin' Chip if you had the Whittlin' Chip.

oh man, I wonder if there are age restrictions on the Whittlin Chip, I want in!

 

[Izhmash]

I earned my totin' chit from my father. Never a scout, was raised a hunter / outdoorsman. "Here, your turn...gut this deer and don't poke the belly."

Wish I had more working knowledge with axes and shelter building.

 

[TheirProtector618]

Best memories of my youth were as a Boy Scout. I would go up every year to upstate NY, to the Ten mile river. Great memories!

 

[littlehoot]

Eagle, 92. (Finished required Board of review in 91, IIRC)

Don't even remember when I received my chip, but as I recall, the card was supposed to symbolize a "chip" of wood, showing you knew how to safely and responsibly create them.

Nearly every part of "who I am" I owe to scouting.

Was OA lodge chief at one point, highlight of my youth, other than Eagle.

Incidentally, Scouts was where I got my nickname, "littlehoot"

Dad, at woodbadge, was in the Owl patrol, and was "big hoot" (our last name has.a.definitive "who" sound),
We had an owl patrol in our troop, so I became "little hoot"

 

[DamascusBowie]

I earned my totin' chit from my father. Never a scout, was raised a hunter / outdoorsman. "Here, your turn...gut this deer and don't poke the belly."

Wish I had more working knowledge with axes and shelter building.

Its the same principle. I had an awesome jv hockey coach in college who gave us a ride home from practice one day (in his killer lifted Chevy) and we passed a dying roadkill doe, he stopped and put it out of its misery then detoured to his house where he showed us how to skin and process it. I remember that he paid special attention to the scent glands on its rear legs. We ate it that day and it was amazing.

Best memories of my youth were as a Boy Scout. I would go up every year to upstate NY, to the Ten mile river. Great memories!

Yeah, its actually got me thinking to go check out my old troop and maybe volunteer, otherwise I dont get much opportunity to camp and live outdoors so that might be something I get into again.

Eagle, 92. (Finished required Board of review in 91, IIRC)

Don't even remember when I received my chip, but as I recall, the card was supposed to symbolize a "chip" of wood, showing you knew how to safely and responsibly create them.

Nearly every part of "who I am" I owe to scouting.

Was OA lodge chief at one point, highlight of my youth, other than Eagle.

Incidentally, Scouts was where I got my nickname, "littlehoot"

Dad, at woodbadge, was in the Owl patrol, and was "big hoot" (our last name has.a.definitive "who" sound),
We had an owl patrol in our troop, so I became "little hoot"

Awesome story, thanks for telling it here, its amazing what benefits scouting has for those that put the time into it.

Also, its great but Im not surprised that there are a good number of Eagle Scouts among the hogs, it says a lot about the Busse community.

 

[TheirProtector618]

Its the same principle. I had an awesome jv hockey coach in college who gave us a ride home from practice one day (in his killer lifted Chevy) and we passed a dying roadkill doe, he stopped and put it out of its misery then detoured to his house where he showed us how to skin and process it. I remember that he paid special attention to the scent glands on its rear legs. We ate it that day and it was amazing.



Yeah, its actually got me thinking to go check out my old troop and maybe volunteer, otherwise I dont get much opportunity to camp and live outdoors so that might be something I get into again.



Awesome story, thanks for telling it here, its amazing what benefits scouting has for those that put the time into it.

Also, its great but Im not surprised that there are a good number of Eagle Scouts among the hogs, it says a lot about the Busse community.

It's definitely something productive for the youth. I have 2 daughters, and even tho I love them to death, I know a son would have been super fun to go outdoors and have as a Boy Scout.

 

[u812]

I was a Cub Scout for 1 year. I would have liked to stay in it but the Scout Master we had didn't ever want to go outside. We sat in a room reading every meeting. That whole year we camped one time.After a few months about half the kids dropped out. After that year they could not find a Scout Master or Den mother.

 

[littlehoot]

When my Dad was a scoutmaster, he was often quoted, "scouting is outing"

 

[Ryker]

I was a Cub Scout for a couple years. Then when I was a senior in high school I joined the Search & Rescue (SAR) post which is part of the Explorer Scouts. I learned lots of cool survival stuff, land navigation and even basic tracking. The training is done by county Sheriff deputies. One of the advisors was retired and had a Zero Tolerance folder and my world changed when I realized there were knives besides Buck, Gerber and Benchmade. Thanks, Mike

 

[CookieRawwr]

I remember when my troop was coming home from a campout and on the Highway there was a major car wreck . We stopped the van and did our best to help the injured. This was before cell phones were quite common. I will always remember the two shaken kids who were trapped in the back seat of one car. We calmed them as best we could while one of the Leaders drove to a gas station to call the Highway Patrol. I had my First Aid Badge, and a First aid kit. I splinted one girls wrist that got sprained. Finally the paramedics arrived and took care of the one seriously injured driver of the pickup and we went on our way. I am sure nowadays there would be be a lawsuit or something but I would still stop and at least call the Ambulance for anyone if a similar situation were to occur.