Anyone into Scouting?

[LAEarl]

I have been my son's Cub Scout Den leader for the past 3 years, and recently have taken over as the Cub Master for the pack. It is a real small pack (75 kids) and I have been kind of tossed into it all so I am having to find my feet fast. Lots of new scouts (and parents)= TONS of questions. We had our first full meeting of the year and have had a very large turnout. I felt pretty overwhelmed but my "fake it until you make it" mantra took over and things worked out.

The newest group doesn't have a den leader so I was trying to recruit one of the parents, run my group of 10, answer questions, take money for upcoming campout, ect. :affraid: Then one of the new parents came to me kinda upset that things for the new group were not going well so I pulled out a chair and gathered the kids around and focused on them for a while laying the ground work for their first badge and hopefully giving some direction for the new leader to take. It was great to see the kids picking up on the stuff so fast.

I dread every meeting early in the day but once it is over I feel pretty good about it. The best part the kids are having fun and I get to encourage them The campouts are too much fun! Over 500 kids learning, earning, and have a great time. At night once everything has died down we give them flashlights to run around with until late or the coyotes scare them with their baying. One Scout's father likes to creep around and scare the pants off of them while they are running around with the flashlights, it is a wonder they do not have heart attacks. :twisted:

Good times though. :cyclops:

Just wondering if any else is invloved w/ Scouting.

 

[Cody V]

I was in scouts for years, and have always wanted to do something in the organization once I have kids.

 

[Falconer]

Sorry, I got kicked out of the scouts back in 1964 for woodburning my intials in my Den Mothers closet door. Never sired a son (two daughters) so never got back into it. It's a wonderful organization for young boys however. I think it prepares them for a stable adulthood. Not speaking from experience of course. :suspect:
Cudos to you LAEarl!

 

[Slow Puffs]

Over the years, I have observed that those involved with scouting often are dedicated, become very passionate and often serve long after their own kids have passed through the numerous stages of scouting. I have served on "Group Committees"...... Scouting volunteers spend lots of time, energy and deserve great respect.

 

[beebiz]

When I was a kid, I was in Cub Scouts. But, when we moved to the country, I got involved in fishing, hunting, and exploring area woods, fields, and creeks with my neighbor friend. So, I kind of lost interest in Scouts.

But, when my son got old enough, my interest was once again rejuvenated... for his sake. He wasn't yet old enough to be in Cub Scouts. But, he was showing a keen interest in Scouts. After inquiring about Scouts, I learned that there was a branch called Tiger Cub Scouts that was especially for those not yet old enough to be in Cub Scouts. But, I was told that despite the interest in TCS that was expressed by a few parents, there was no one who was willing to become a leader and shepherd the young ones.

After finding out who and how, I contacted the Boy Scouts and made inquiries about TCS. I was told that there were about 10 boys (including my son) who were interested. And, all they needed was a leader. So, I volunteered and was accepted.

My son and I had a blast that year!! The Boy Scout troop whose leader was helping me learn the ropes allowed us to tag along on camping trips, cookouts, and so on whenever we wanted to! The older boys took my boys under their wings and made them feel just as big as they were!! I was quite proud of them and of my boys for being so brave and conducting themselves as such gentlemen!!!

The following year, my son's interest in Scouts lagged so far behind video games and playing with the boys in the neighborhood that he did not want to get back in. Though highly disappointed, I did not feel it right to force him to participate. My fear was that to do so might cause him to see Scouts as drudgery. And, I didn't want that. So, I didn't force him. But, I did firmly and strongly encourage him... to no avail!!

Once he found out that my son would not be coming back, there was another father who expressed a desire to take the leadership... if I wanted to allow him to. Wanting to spend as much time with my son as I could, I reluctantly consented.

It was a disappointment to me. And, I miss the fun that can be had with all the boys and their leaders. But, I am in too bad of a physical condition to be doing such things now anyway. I'd be like a square wheel on a wagon... no fun!! So, I'll leave such things to you younger, in better health gentlemen!!

Just remember this... you are today's men who are training, teaching, and influencing tomorrow's men!! Bless you!! And, I salute you for working with our young boys!!!
:cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

Robert

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry, I got kicked out of the scouts back in 1964 for woodburning my intials in my Den Mothers closet door. Never sired a son (two daughters) so never got back into it. It's a wonderful organization for young boys however. I think it prepares them for a stable adulthood. Not speaking from experience of course. :suspect:
Cudos to you LAEarl!

Could only be brother Dutch living up to his reputation!!!!!! :lol!:

Ditto what Falconer said! cudos to you Earl!!

 

[RB-5]

I don't support homophobes :x

Also, for the record, I know 2 full blown Eagle scouts and they are both gay.

 

[Doc Manhattan]

I was in Scouts from Tiger Cubs up to Life Scout--seven years or so. Wasn't really my thing so I quit, just one requirement shy of Eagle.

True Story: You know how Girl Scouts sell cookies as a fundraiser? My troop sold fertilizer, door-to-door. And of course, to deliver fertilizer at planting time, you need to sell it in the dead of winter. So there we were, in corny uniforms, trudging around in the freezing cold, trying to convince people to buy our ********. It was the greatest practice I ever had for the working world.

(And RB, of the Eagle Scouts from my town, at least three were gay, and one was an atheist.)

 

[beebiz]

RB-5 and Doc... TMI...... TMI!!!!!!!!! :affraid: :affraid: :affraid:

 

[Anonymous]

I was in Scouts from Tiger Cubs up to Life Scout--seven years or so. Wasn't really my thing so I quit, just one requirement shy of Eagle.

True Story: You know how Girl Scouts sell cookies as a fundraiser? My troop sold fertilizer, door-to-door. And of course, to deliver fertilizer at planting time, you need to sell it in the dead of winter. So there we were, in corny uniforms, trudging around in the freezing cold, trying to convince people to buy our ********. It was the greatest practice I ever had for the working world.

(And RB, of the Eagle Scouts from my town, at least three were gay, and one was an atheist.)

O' my sack.......... thats some real funny **** there Doc!!!!
ROTFL :lol!: :lol!: :lol!:

 

[Justpipes]

My troop sold fertilizer, door-to-door.

Around here they sell popcorn. I actually feel sorry for those boys going door to door and standing in front of the grocery store selling of all things, popcorn!

 

[mark]

Yup, popcorn round here too,,,nephew hits the button and e-mails the whole fam damly all at once when its time,,,no snow trudgin fer him,,,

 

[beebiz]

Yup, popcorn round here too,,,nephew hits the button and e-mails the whole fam damly all at once when its time,,,no snow trudgin fer him,,,

A true CEO in the making!!!

 

[alfredo_buscatti]

As understandable as it is, as they had their beliefs, mine run counter to the Boy Scout homophobes. My brother is gay, and I'm quite sure that there is a member of many families who is gay. Just look at this statistics.

This prejudice has got to go; it's like being anti-Semitic-centuries of persecution-and for what? There is quite probably more heterosexual sexual abuse than homosexual. Again, statistics.

I know a Catholic priest who was one of our parish priests for years, and then I got to know him personally. He has always treated me with respect, but he was alleged to have raped and sodomized 10 year old girls in the school hall under the church I attended for 10 years.

What am I going to do? harangue him, picket his house and expose him to his neighbors? I don't think so. I think he doesn't even knows that he did those vile deeds, and I would also bet that he was sexually abused as a youngster.

He is one of the most gentle, compassionate men I have ever known.

 

[alfredo_buscatti]

Selling sh*t in the middle of winter in uniform as the best preparation for the working world one could have pretty much sums it up.

 

[Anonymous]

My troop sold fertilizer, door-to-door.

Around here they sell popcorn. I actually feel sorry for those boys going door to door and standing in front of the grocery store selling of all things, popcorn!

Lotto tickets round here!

 

[Doc Manhattan]

Lotto tickets? Lucky RSA Scouts!

 

[Anonymous]

Lotto tickets? Lucky RSA Scouts!

Yea, you give them money and see squat for it!
:roll: :lol:

 

[LAEarl]

They sell popcorn here too. Kinda dumb too if you ask me, and it isn't chepa by any stretch of the imagination. They receive 33% of the sales though. For a small outfit like ours it helps pay for the camping trips, awards, pizza parties, ect.

I used to be active in marching bands as a drummer, and my sister was a majorette forever. We sold doughnuts every year, and manned a concession stand (aka roach coach) at festivals and fairs to raise money for uniforms and trips to competitions out of state. I always thought it was fun.

The doughnuts sold themselves. We always picked them up from the store as they were boxing them up as they came off the line FRESHHHH!