Some observations from Boy Scout Camp:

[Grand58742]

So I spent the last week with my Dad at Boy Scout camp helping him out in keeping control of the boys or as I called it "herding the cats." Boys ran from 11-14 and I learned a thing or two as it had been a long time since I had worked with youth that young. Just some observations:

Firebuilding is a dying art. Trying to teach the youngsters the "right" (equals hard) way of firestarting wasn't easy. Trying to get them to recognize the difference in seasoned wood versus green wood, even more of a challenge. Getting them to understand tinder versus kindling versus fuel, impossible. But by Friday, I had at least one getting the knack of it.

There are no short leaf evergreen trees on the 2800 acre camp lol

Vasoline and cotton balls still work the best for firestarting (yeah, I had to cheat, it had been raining)

11 year olds shoot better than some of the 21 year old military folks I've seen. Standard 50 foot NRA type 5 shot targets that could be covered with a dime. Pretty fair shooting on all accounts as all the boys qualified for their merit badge.

I'm not 18 anymore and racing a canoe around an island hurts the next day lol. But we finished with the best time even though starting late.

I hope never to bug out by canoe lol

Dump cake still rocks. Smores dump cake is probably the best I've ever had. As soon as I get the recipe out of my Dad, I'll post it up.

Boy Scouts need to loosen up on the chainsaw restrictions for the adults. While there was some dead fall around, much of it was at least a foot in diameter. Too much for a bow saw and axe.

There are girls at Boy Scout Camp (Staff members)

The young ladies at Boy Scout Camp were very well behaved...can't say much more about that.

Did I mention I wasn't 18 anymore and have a hard time doing the things I used to do back then? lol

My first aid was put to use in finger, I mean wood carving merit badge class.

Texapore organic waterproofing works great

Canvas wall tents will leak over time

Canvas wall tents without something filling the top gromet hole will certainly leak over time

Coffee isn't that great when the heat index is 105...but drunk it anyway

There is hope for the future youth of America as they all learned something and had fun while doing it.

[overbore]

BAck in 1958, Uncle sent me to Newfoundland in the Fall. As a SAC pilot we had to go through advanced survival so--- days later I find myself building a parateepe- in the rain. Since mine was a double layer, we stayed nice and dry but the only thing we had to start a fire was birch bark, the pine needles then soft wood which I insisted on pre-heating inside the shelter. Worked ok. When the WX turned snotty ( snow showers) and things were getting hungry, what walked into camp but a cow moose. I only had a hunting knife so nix on mooseburgers. After rescue, went to the BX and bought a 357- still have it. Glad you know that you are not 18; wait until you hit 74--. Don't ask me how I know that---. Looking to more of your great writing talents for both stories and thanks for the cahones for using realistic events. Laus Deo overbore

[Knobster]

My 7-yr old son (and me too) are excited for this fall when he joins the scouts. I have many regrets in life, one of the big ones is never joining the scouts when I was a kid. I guess this is a good Plan B!

[Grand58742]

Knobster,

You can live it through him. There are plenty of adult leaders who are also Dads. Best way to get involved.

[Lowdown3]

11 year olds shoot better than some of the 21 year old military folks I've seen.

Amen.

And often times the younger ones or the women folk are more open to learn shooting because they don't have the pre-conceived notions, the idea that a couple hours of trigger time once a year gives them real experience or that learning BRM in Basic 50 years ago was all they needed. The ego and pride issues aren't there most of the time and therefore it gives you an easier to work with student who really CAN learn.

[Hidden Agenda]

Amen.

And often times the younger ones or the women folk are more open to learn shooting because they don't have the pre-conceived notions, the idea that a couple hours of trigger time once a year gives them real experience or that learning BRM in Basic 50 years ago was all they needed. The ego and pride issues aren't there most of the time and therefore it gives you an easier to work with student who really CAN learn.

Nor do they have as many bad habits from playing "cops & robbers", "cowboys & Indians" or "shooter"-type video games. Yep, I've found that newly instructed young folks and ladies often out-shoot most "trained" men.

[Briar Wabbit]

OK, I hope I do not offend the homosexual community, here ... just the true facts of my "scout-hood".

I liked the cub-scouts ... The uniforms were cool ... Except ... The dang org was run by Den Mothers and, sometimes, it seemed a whole lot more like "Home Economics" class, or "Teddy Crafting" (glitter and unicorns forever!) ...
... I really did like when one guy's dad had us all make really cool wooden bird-feeders ... real power-tools and a sober male role-model ... finally! ... something "manly!" .

THEN ?! ... I graduated to "WEBLOS" which (would have) meant that I would be FORCED to wear a PLAID SCARF and a NAZI YOUTH cap (with plaid accents, no less) ... In my young mind, I could only think ... "How ... GAY!" ...

NO WAY was I gonna wear that fruity garb ... NOT gonna happen ... and the name! ... WEE-BLOWS ? ! ... Call me "phobic", but I really do not THINK SO !

... My dad grieved and pleaded ... He said that I would be able to wear the MUCH more manly, Army-Like uniform, in just a few years time ! ... YEARS ? ... You are ALL IN-SANE !

So sad ... that was THE END, of my scouting experience ... for-ever! ... and, all I really wanted was some manly guidance and some manly fun ... NOT! ... Just a bunch of sissy moms and sissy uniforms and sissy monikers ...
... ? ... !!! ? :confused: :mad: :eek: :(

[WiseOwl]

Briar...you had me cracking up...not at your experiences,but how you described them.....

I never had the privilege of joining the scouts, even though I wanted to as a kid. My buddy was a scout and I got to learn some things from him.

I want to put both of my boys in the scouts, just hope the area we end up settling in has a good troop.

Me and my friends always say when our kids are old enough, we are going to start taking them backpacking with us and teach them the "lost arts" that modern civilization and "public education" has taken away from them.

[Briar Wabbit]

I just wish I had joined much later ... I am 52 and, way back then, you did not get to wear the cool green "para-military" uniform or do any truly cool camping and hiking until you were beyond Weblo age ... In HS.

I (obviously) got really frustrated by the long wait, the mommies ... the arts-n-crafts ...

I mean ... what do posicle-sticks and elmer's glue have to do with field-craft ?! ... uh ... nuttin.

So ... I hope things have changed (dramatically!), since then ... I was SORELY disappointed ...

The ads were so cool! ... MY experience was nothing like the ads ... years of cubs and weblos was just way too long of a wait, for me ... I wanted to shoot, play with knives ... archery ... camping ... hard core hiking ! ... nope !

We made holloween costumes (cardboard robots with foil eyes) ... uhm ... decorated eggs ? ... WHY ? ...
... Played "red-rover" (like I dint get enough of that at school?) ... and other things to keep us occupied, while our parents stayed home and got drunk.

The ads were really cool, tho ... A chiseled stud in a snappy uniform, bravely saluting Old Glory ? ... Hiking with a whittled staff ? ... practicing first-aid on "gory wounds" ? ... Canooing and "all that"? ... Shoot ... I musta joined the WRONG TROOP !

On the brite side ... I never got molested. Den mothers were not prone, to that. They just wanted to mold us into domesticated sissies (i.e. whipped, loafer wearin' ... sissies).