1st Class 'cooking' requirements

[momma_bee]

#4 is the cooking requirements and it is giving us fits.

Why? Because we have the most inactive troop in the USA. We have 2 campouts a year. (not counting summer camp) If you have a patrol of 6 boys, that means it would take 3 years to get them all to first class. And, that assumes that the Mommy's don't take over and the boys don't skip the campout at which they were supposed to cook.

So, my son is looking for alternatives. Our campouts either start after dinner Friday or after breakfast Saturday.

We talked about using a day-trip / hike / whatever to meet his cooking requirement. You know, we are meeting at this trail head. Breakfast is at 7:30, the hike begins at 9. That would allow those who are busy Friday night to come in after breakfast and not miss the event. But, that isn't a campout.

He asked if he could consider his family his patrol and just cook for us on a campout. (his rational is that we are at every event, but his patrol isn't)

I guess I hate the idea of him needing to plan an event in order to also plan/cook 3 meals.

He asked if it started after supper, could he make a healthy bedtime snack. (I said no)

He also said he could cook breakfast and lunch somewhere and then make supper as part of the regular meeting. Now, I don't see where it says it has to be consecutive meals or at the same event, just 3 meals, so I felt wishy-washy on that.

What if he is the only boy from his patrol, what would he do for an assistant?

Folks, this kid just went to two events by himself, and one was summer camp, and is in a troop of 10. They are uninterested and inactive and will only do if their hands are held. He wants to stay with them for now, and I have to support it.

I feel like I'm looking for a loophole, but not really. I'm looking for ideas on how to complete this quickly, so that others get inspired before the snow flies.

[evmori]

Nothing preventing having two or three cooks for each meal. So if you go camping over the weekend, three Scouts could complete this requirement! And a patrol of six could complete this requirement in two camping trips.

[wagionvigil]

Ok the year 1961 2 scouts and two leaders go on a 5 mile hike. WE Both Cook a meal I assist him he assists me. WE both meet the requirements.

[momma_bee]

I know you folks may think I am exaggerating but after the dismal turn out for previous events, I am looking at the very real possiblity of planning an event with only one or two boys in attendance.

So, if he plans a patrol or troop campout and plans the meals and no one comes, did he still cook for his patrol?

I say yes - only because if he cooks something very good, and they are all there, and no one eats it, he still cooked it and it isn't his fault they weren't hungry or were food snobs.

[momma_bee]

Jumped on top of ya' there WV

I guess I am over thinking this. Very bummed over camp / fundraiser and lack of partipication in such.

But, my son went from quitting Scouts and only going to camp because I was forcing him to do so to wanting to earn his 1st class and ready to do things without the troop if they don't want to do things with him.

And, I don't think the problem is him. We've hashed that before. He said he wants to stay with this troop for now and I understand his reasons.

It does say 'campout' so does a hike that is only a day trip provide the right setting? If it was a day camp for the Cubbies and a troop was helping and a boy provided 3 meals, would it be the same? If they meet somewhere early in the am and eat breakfast, the cook packs sack lunches and we travel somewhere, coming back to the fire ring to make supper - aren't we doing the same as doing it in front of a tent?

Like I said, if we plan an outing and say 'meet here Friday night if you want to sleep over but if you can't breakfast is at this time' and then cook the three meals, is it still a campout if no one else sleeps over?

[WVBeaver05]

I just re-read the requirement - and here is how I see it.

It says campout - so I would insist it be at a campout. Doesn't say how many have to be there. If only 1 shows up there still have to be 2 leaders (G2SS - two deep leadership) and nothing says the leader can't be the assistant. Don't like to do it that way, but the requirement doesn't rule it out.

One night makes a campout. I'd say that starting Friday night and cooking 3 meals would work. Either Supper Friday through Lunch Saturday or Breakfast Saturday through Supper Saturday.

Looks to me like you have found a workable solution for interested Scouts.

Here is another idea. Have your son find and invite other boys who are potential Scouts. Many will have a great time camping out, cooking out, hiking, and maybe working on knots or lashings or something. They might then be interested enough to join the Troop. That would increase the number of interested Scouts and you could increase your number of activities.

We have had events with 2 Scouts and events with 3 Scouts that were great successes. Fortunately we have increased our numbers and are now having 7-8 Scouts on most events.

I know that I don't have to mention it, but an ideal Troop will have an outdoor activity every month (we never make it in December -- not because of the weather, but because of too many conflicts). With that you can easily get 15-20 nights of camping for the Troop. Most Scouts won't make them all, but they should make enough to work in the rank requirements.

Just my thoughts. I've been there with low numbers - not so much uninterested Scouts, just too many in Band, baseball, etc.

Hang in there -- and don't forget to come here for advise. I have found that the people here are an excellent resource.

YiS

[riverwalk]

Yeah, there was once an old joke about Group insurance....punch line was that the whole group had to be hurt before it (Policy) was any good.

The whole Troop however is not required for an Activity to be official, if it meets all the planning/approval/Policy issues. I've never had a whole Unit do anything...as the whole group. BSA has their concerns, and their Policies address them. But the Scouting movement also has objectives to meet, if the programs are going to benefit Youth (tomorrow's leaders). Besides that, one could attend another Unit's outing, where meeting requirements is planned into the outing. Hmmm, now there's an idea, haha.

[momma_bee]

Wayne - it is an aside, but we tried to build, and it isn't going well. Our (Poppa & I) thought is if the other parents don't want to take advantage of the program that doesn't mean our son should do without.

I did threaten to plan an event, give our troop a deadline and at that point, open it to other units to fill to capacity. When they try to sign up 3 days before, I can say it is full.

Hubby is ASM, I am CC, so if we get the SM there, or another parent, child combo, I'm happy and we are 2-deep.

What if it were a family campout, verses a troop campout?

Poppa and I thought of a destination, but they require 10 people to get group rates. If we go family, we can almost count on getting that. (our 4 + my friends son and family is 4, SM is 1, so if we had one more boy out of the remaining 8, we'd qualify) It has the added advantage of camper sites for the parents who don't do well in tents, so it may help bring up the boys who are hesitant for whatever reason.

[evmori]

The requirement states patrol so that would eliminate a family campout.

[Billiken]

Thanks for the post, momma bee and all the great responses.

We've got 3 boys that, once they complete the cooking requirement (4a-e), will be ready for the 1st Class Scoutmaster Conference and BOR.

[momma_bee]

If he cooks for his patrol, does it matter who else is around?

Ev, I'm thinking the troop could plan a family camp and he would cook for his patrol and someone else cooks for the rest (or he cooks enough for everyone)

Does saying 'cook for your patrol' mean that if you feed someone who isn't in your patrol, you didn't complete the requirement?

eta...

He has a bug in him now to get first class so he can run for OA. I want to get it done now because I can't cold weather camp. Is it still a campout if we rent a lodge at the BS camp? (yes, I do know how to pull off the seperate sleeping quarters, although I heard of one that that the ladies sleep in their bathroom...)

[Lynda J]

Momma_bee. How much of the troop planning do the boys in the troop do and how much is planned by adults. I have discovered in my time in Scouting that if the boys feel like they are running the troop they will come. If they feel like the adults are running the troop it isn't much different that sitting in school classes. They won't come.

[momma_bee]

This is way off of my original topic, but you asked...

Linda - the SM believes that when the boys want to do something they will plan it.

The boys try.

They don't know HOW to plan yet. The SM asks if so-n-so is coming and instead of one kid saying 'I'll call and ask' they all say 'I'll ask at school' and then they all forget. A boy will go home and find out he isn't available that day after all, and dates or times need changed and they are back to square one.

And it snowballs.

BigBee (my son) planned a simple hiking trip last summer. Be at this trailhead at this time. Bring water and snacks. He sent out a postcard 2 weeks ahead of time and no one showed up. Now, the SM's dad was in the hospital, and maybe 1-2 heard that and figured it was cancelled. But NO ONE came and no one made an apology or excuse. No calls to check. And, we asked for an RSVP so we knew who to wait for.

SM planned a hiking trip with Web II den. 3 boys from the troop showed up and one of those hiked ahead of the group. No one else said drats, we couldn't go that day. It didn't make a good impression on the Web II den.

SPL planned a bike hike. 2 kids showed, counting SPL. It was a 'family' event because it is on a public trail. SM offered to drive up bikes if need be, just call him. 2 kids out of 10. It discourages the ones that come.

The kids want to do things, but we live somewhere that you have to be driven and the parents can't be bothered unless you say that it specifically will meet this one requirement/badge.

And our communication is POOR. I take responsiblity for that, only because I know it is a problem and haven't fixed it. I offered to do a newsletter and someone said the boys should do it. (yep, I agree) My son doesn't want to do it. No one else offered to do it, so I may as well start it and see if someone will take over. I suggested a website or egroup (since the papers in the boy's hands do not make it home) and I was told that the parents don't have time to get on the computer.

I'm sure you can see why I'm not optimistic about getting an oppertunity for BigBee to cook.

If we plan the campout portion of it, and he plans the food it allows him to focus on the requirement. But we are all (SM included) burnt out on planning and having no-shows. And, just think of the expense. . . If we have a weekend thing at the Boy Scout camp, there would be lots to do and so planning would be minimal. That would allow the boys to be free to step up and lead. But, if we do that, and there is poor attendance we are out $$$

[evmori]

If he cooks for his patrol, does it matter who else is around?

Ev, I'm thinking the troop could plan a family camp and he would cook for his patrol and someone else cooks for the rest (or he cooks enough for everyone)

Does saying 'cook for your patrol' mean that if you feed someone who isn't in your patrol, you didn't complete the requirement?

eta...

He has a bug in him now to get first class so he can run for OA. I want to get it done now because I can't cold weather camp. Is it still a campout if we rent a lodge at the BS camp? (yes, I do know how to pull off the seperate sleeping quarters, although I heard of one that that the ladies sleep in their bathroom...)

As long as he is cooking for his patrol it makes no difference is the entier country of Italy is there to eat! The key is it is for his patrol 1st.

[momma_bee]

So do we all agree that it doesn't matter who / where the campout is planned, as long as the patrol is invited and he does the cooking for them, we are good to go?

I like making evmori post 'cause I really like seeing that SuperBowl Champ in his siggy line...

And, it makes me wonder how a Lone Scout does this requirement, or leadership.... Off to ponder and actually get work DONE.

[momma_bee]

He asked if he has to use the same assistant all day.

Found a site, found a date. Thought it was good. Band has a parade that day so we'll see what happens. But, he may have folks leave around lunch time and come back later which could mess him up.

Can the mommy ask for an RSVP before Band camp starts so that they have already signed up and feel obligated?

He is working on his menu. It is kinda funny. We bullied him in to Brownie Stew. His sister's grin is wide! (Brownie Stew - brown hamburger, drain, add condensed veggie soup and water. Heat through.) We were looking and counting servings and he was trying to add meat to his lunch without requiring another dirty dish and soup was already planned so it worked.

THanks for your help.

[616kayak]

He can have different assistants.

[momma_bee]

Update - letters went out last week.

One phone call - "my son can't come because he has a parade - so does yours. Just so you know, BigBee has a parade that day. I mean, its up to you."

My reply, after explaining that BigBee was NOT going to be in band this year, was that I realized that there was a parade AFTER the reservation was made and now the boys get to CHOOSE what they will do. And, just because the older ones can't be there, doesn't mean the younger ones can't.

But, no one else has said yes or no. Poor kid. (and that is Mommy talking) And, he is talking bike trip...

[momma_bee]

It is offical

No one signed up.

Folks - it is less than 1 hours drive. Everyone who needs to can do their weekly shopping after they drop their son(s) off.

They could bring their parents and siblings.

They could bring the camper and park it somewhere.

Other than - I'm busy, there are no excuses.

Poppa wants to move the campout into the woods. We avoided that option because it is a 2 hour drive and no communication but hey, if we are the only ones, it doesn't matter.

[evmori]

Too bad momma bee. Sounds like you have a bunch of parents who have no interest in Scouting!