Scout Training

[djminnesota]

Good luck! As the Boy Scout, I have changed 4 of my fellow "day-relaxation-hangers" to overnight hangers, And have more people (esp. adults) starting to take interest in it.

[doogie]

I'm planning on hanging on our next few scout camp outs (now that I have one successful hang on the AT under my belt). I'm not really sure on how much interest there will be since one of the high points seems to be fooling around in the tent before falling asleep. There are a few hammocks in the troop, but so far just used for lounging.

[Porkroll]

I made custom hammocks for my troop. This was after several trips using my hammock, the scouts, and leaders were sold! NW then went on a 20 mile hike on the C&O Canal, and used the hammocks. Now the scouts that didn't buy a hammock, are clambering to order one!ImageUploadedByTapatalk1338752306.865929.jpg

[Postal]

Well I survived. I now am a true believer in Permethrin. I have so meany converts to be now. There were leaders there from three states and I set up four different times and then gave the full pitch on why I was a hammocker. May be a few new members join here. I know I have to send a few links here in a few seconds. At any rate I will post some pics soon.

[Porkroll]

Great! Converts to the world of hammocks is great!

[JWinNC]

Uniformity of equipment is important for scouts, so that you will not have the "haves" and the "have nots."

[perdidochas]

Uniformity of equipment is important for scouts, so that you will not have the "haves" and the "have nots."

Huh? I've never read "A scout is socialist" in the Scout law. So I guess your troop mandates that all of the boys have uniform cheap sleeping bags? They all use the same brand of backpack, and wear the exact same cheap shoes?

[Morgoroth]

Huh? I've never read "A scout is socialist" in the Scout law. So I guess your troop mandates that all of the boys have uniform cheap sleeping bags? They all use the same brand of backpack, and wear the exact same cheap shoes?

This seems a little extreme. An important part of Scouting is based on the team, and team concepts. Some gear related equity isn't going to lead to Marxism....

To help other people at all times...

I do have to give it up for you though perdidochas, that is a GREAT sig.

[JWinNC]

Huh? I've never read "A scout is socialist" in the Scout law. So I guess your troop mandates that all of the boys have uniform cheap sleeping bags? They all use the same brand of backpack, and wear the exact same cheap shoes?

Ouch...

And I suppose your troop mandates that the boys never wear uniforms, never form patrols, never perform functions as a team, never form a group identity, never have shared responsibilities, etc...

I was neither expressing nor implying that "A scout is socialist." But a Scout is most definitely a citizen in a community.

I know from many years of experience that if you have 4 scouts on the ground in a $30 Wally-World tent and 2 in the trees with $300 hammock rigs, that's not going to be a well-oiled patrol. You will have clearly delineated "haves" and "have nots" and that will interfere with patrol function and unity.

The Patrol Method as envisioned by Baden-Powell means that the boys work together, tent together, learn together, cook together and survive together. By no means do they all have to have the same equipment, but neither do we need to have a great disparity.

Our Scouts, Scouters and parents all work hard to make high quality equipment available for our Troop and the patrols. Our patrols have a lot of latitude to run things their way (tent or hang or other decisions) but they must do it together as a patrol.

"Patrols must be kept intact under all circumstances, which means working, tenting, learning, cooking, so surviving together." - Baden-Powell

"In a Patrol the Scouts learn to work with others, while the Patrol leader learns responsibility for others. Both have to give in a part of their personal interest for this." - Baden-Powell

Yours in Scouting,
JW

[Morgoroth]

+1 JWinNC
Are you in the Occoneechee Council by chance?