Looks like I just got roped backed into Scouts...

Normark

Normark

Joined
Nov 7, 1999
Messages
6,651
Hey Guys..

While working at the Scout booth at our local fair this weekend, it looks like I got the screws put too me and got roped back into scouts..

Not final yet by all means, have to talk with the boss first, but I kind of like the idea.. I really miss the kids and it would be fun to get back into on a more full time basis...

I've got a ton of good memories from past years, and it looks like we have a really good group this year...

Alot of infighting and group politics, power struggles and egos really bummed me out and killed it for me a couple of years ago. That all seems to be gone now. A new crew in there that are laid back and up for some fun, so it just might work out....

However since my son isn't going to be in it,, it would be more of a recreational thing for me, so I gotta swing it by the Mrs and see if there are any serious objections...

With that being said I was talking with who would be #1 in the troop, a young man, 24-25 and he is open to really doing anything....

So I swung some ideas by him tonight and he was all for it...

Basic theme for the year will be Wilderness Survival and Outdoors skills...

So you can bet I'll be hitting you folks up for some ideas over the next season..
First order of business is changing some rules to allow knives to be brought to regular meetings and not just camps...

As far as I'm concerned if they don't have a knife on them they aren't prepared, which goes against the moto....

One of the first things we will be doing is getting them earning their knife and fire cards, and I don't plan on giving them away.. If they get them they will be earning them.....

The goal is a 24 hour solo at the end using what they have learned throughout the year. I think that it is a realistic goal for kids their age....

What say You ?

On a side note, you guys will get to watch through photos the scouts going through their year learning and using what they have been taught.

Now to swing it through the Mrs, without catching too much flack!

Gotta keep her happy as well or it's no fun for Scouter Eric...

:)

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
Whats the age groupe were looking at?

24Hr alone might be kinda rough mabye?

Wish I was in scout or something as a kid, would have been fun. Either way I did alot of things that I just knew the terms of in the past 4-5 years. I just got the internet 4 years ago :eek:

But yeah, sounds like loads of fun, getting them to assemble their own kits and learning how to fend for them selves are skills everyone should be taught nowadays.
 
Hey Guys..

Fonly...

I believe the ages are somewhere in the range of 9-12..

As for their solo....

They would be all on a small parcel of land in two man groups spaced out not more than 100 or so meters apart..Closely watched and leaders within shouting distance.

That's a close to a real solo I think we are going to be getting with these kids.This is the plan, however subject to change...

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
If its a relatively young year group I also think 24hr is a tad long alone. 12 hr? I really would like to see some pics our scouts here in Aus are far too tame - in the scout book they hand out it said that disposable lighters are most reliable and matches second.

Edit - Just read your above post. 24hr seems good.
 
Fonly..

As for you not being in Scouts as a kid..

Ok,, thats something you can't change..

However that shouldn't stop you from being in scouts now,,as a leader!

If you've got some skills and are willing to share them as I know you are,, then I highly suggest, you seek out your local scout troop and fill in an application to be a Scouter...

Most scout troops I know of are lacking people with these types of skills..

I think you would be an asset to any troop, and it would be a Great experience for you...
I urge you to at least consider it, and at the very least offer your skills to them, even as a guest speaker for the night...

I don't know of a single leader would wouldn't mind part of the night off and let a speaker handle the group for the evening..

You will have a Blast! I guarantee it!

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
Normark said:
Hey Guys..

Fonly...

I believe the ages are somewhere in the range of 9-12..

As for their solo....

They would be all on a small parcel of land in two man groups spaced out not more than 100 or so meters apart..Closely watched and leaders within shouting distance.

That's a close to a real solo I think we are going to be getting with these kids.This is the plan, however subject to change...

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
Click to expand...


Oh ok, in that case It would be perfect.

Me personally have done things like that, its no worse than camping in the back yard, someone a shout away like you said.


As to doing some type of scout leadership, I would love that. When I get back to nova scotia I was going to start on the Search and Rescue team. Back there the guys who did scouts and the Hunting courses, firearms courses and everything else were also the SAR team. In other words, soon there isnt going to be a whole lot of people willing to do it, I have a chance and Im taking it when I get back.
 
Hey Nick Nack

Ohh ya,, there would be some checks put in place...

When they've had enough, or can't handle it for what ever reason they could Ring Out...

Even if it comes right down to it,,we could space them out within sight range, give them an area they can't leave and let them loose..Even paring them up would be good..

As long as they get a taste of it,, is what I'm looking for....

My last camp as a leader a couple of years ago was a camp I put together..
Only rule was,,,

No Tents..

They had to build something on the spot or prefabed and set it up there...

That's the same camp where I shot a squirell for them to eat..

Ask any of them what their favorite camp was in their Scouting years,,and they all say my camp was the Best!! :)

surgrp2.jpg


boys.jpg


Can't argue with that!!

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
I'll keep in touch with you Eric. I was assisting my son's troop before I was deployed. The leader and group are okay but more domesticated. I also ran some ideas off the son's pack leader...not the best responses but something I know I can work with when I get back and plugged in. Keep us updated...

I was thinking along the same lines as you, however, I was going to "buddy" them up for the over-night solo. I know this isn't a true solo, but I think the buddy-team would help reinforce their training and help them remember the essentials, plus it provides some good peer-feedback. I was going to call it "Lost-Proofing" and confidence building...a great culmination excercies.

ROCK6
 
Hey Rock...

Cool dude,, that would be Great....
Thanks for the help...

I know what you mean about domesticated...

A couple of years ago we had moms' setting up their kids gear and making beds!!
A camps they were buttering toast and Hovering...

We envoked the rule,, if you aren't staying, drop the kid off,see you on sunday at noon. Bu Bye!

If you are staying,,leave the kid alone, stay out of the way,, This is Our House! You sllep where we sleep and eat what we eat..If you bring shrimp and steak, hope you brought enough for Everyone!



Anything you need over there Brother ??

Anything at all,, let me know!

Peace,, Stay Safe

Eric
O/ST
 
Handling knives
making fire
identifying & using plants
finding their way with map & compass

go out in the wilderness with at least that & they can get home OK
but maybe not until they're a little older :)
 
I have been in charge of the 11 year old scouts through my church for the last year. It seems like one more thing to deal with, what with being in law school, and externing with the prosecutors office and being married with a 2 year old boy.

I never know what to do with the scouts. I have been teaching them to throw axes, tomahawks, and knives the last two times we met. I took them on an overnight (that is all they are allowed at their age group).

I only have two right now, and one has stopped coming. I call and talk to his mom every week before scouts (even right before we meet). She always says he will be there, then nope. I hate being stood up. At least when the other kid does not show, his mom calls when she remembers and apologizes. This other kid, I talk to his mom every time, right before scouts and she says oh, great, he will be there. Not for the last 2 months. (this is sounding like wine and cheese).
 
Eric,

Great news! i've been considering to become a scout leader/mentor too. At the moment I'm too busy with work and some other stuff. But hopefully next year or a bit later, I'll be a scout leader.

Just keep us informed about the progress with pics and good stories! :thumbup:

You're doing a good thing with this!

CZ
 
Thanks again Eric; all is well over here, I'm just ready to finish this tour up and get back home. Consider working 7 days a week for 14+ months; not one day off, but I try to limit myself to working only 6-8 hours on Sunday for a little breather.

I'm really looking forward to getting back to the kids. My son is dying to go hiking and camping. My wife was able to do a few trips over the summer, but it's tough without dad:( My wife was a Girl Scout Troop leader when we were in GA. She's very outdoors oriented as well, and it fustrated her when the other mothers came up with arts and crafts...she was able to really broaden the minds of many of those young girls, some of the other moms even came around.

bigfattyt said:
I have been in charge of the 11 year old scouts through my church for the last year. It seems like one more thing to deal with, what with being in law school, and externing with the prosecutors office and being married with a 2 year old boy.
Click to expand...

I grew up in a church-based scouting group (Royal Rangers) since there wasn't a Boy Scouts close enough. It was actually quite good and they had a very outdoors mentality. I distinctly remember the knife and axe lessons and training.

Hang in there, I know the fustration.

ROCK6
 
ohhhh man you get to shoot things. I rarely even see guns here in Aus. I would personally think pairing up is better - its great way to make lifelong friendships and a chance to exercise teamwork.
 
That sounds awesome, I can't wait to see pics. I would like to get back into it as a leader too but life and 2 little girls get in the way :) I still have a nice Vic knife marked with the Boy Scouts of Canada emblem from when we visited a troop up there when I was in Scouts.
 
I think it is great to have people with real experience involved with scouts. I was a scout master for 32 years. I dealt with boys from 12 to 16 mostly. I had 320 nights on the ground camping when I was officially retired. I am still the committee chair and advancement chair. My area of special interest was wilderness survival, especially winter wilderness survival. I taught igloo building to scouts, girl scouts, explorers, etc. I have spent many nights in igloos and watched many scouts successfully build and sleep in igloos on My Hood, Mt Rainier, and Mt St Helens before it got huffy. I'll watch this thread with much interest. Thanks for your survice guys.
Ron Athay
 
Ron Athay said:
I have spent many nights in igloos and watched many scouts successfully build and sleep in igloos on Mt Hood, Mt Rainier, ...
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Ron, I can just imagine someone hiking through the area and spotting your igloos and thinking, "Wow! I didn't know Eskimos lived this far south!" :D

(Then again, the only Eskimo I ever met was in Maryland at a Postal Service management seminar.)
 
Esav,
I lived in Anchorage for 4 years. Funny thing is the "Eskimos" in Alaska do not build igloos. Not enough snow. They build "mud huts" out of snow and wood. The 8 week class (16 hours total) I took was in Seattle and taught by a man who spent 18 months on Baffin Island living with a group that actually build real igloos. Greenland and a couple of Islands in the area are the only people in NA that build real igloos. The best thing to teach scouts are snow trenches (one man linear igloos). I have seen one built to occupancy in 15 minutes. Sorry to get of track. My wife and my employees often yell at me for doing this.
Ron Athay
 
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