Letters
Help for 'disappearing slides'
[Editor's note: In the January-February issue, Scouter Chuck Jakab asked for suggestions from readers on how to keep neckerchief slides from falling off, which happens frequently, "especially when the boys are active." Below are examples of solutions cited most often by the more than 200 readers who responded with suggestions.]
...Place a rubber band on the neckerchief underneath the slide. The additional friction keeps the slide in place. I've used this method for 11 years as a leader and haven't lost a slide yet....
Jim Roberts
Bethlehem, Pa.
...Use a safety pin to fasten the back of the slide to one end of the neckerchief, in a way that the pin does not show. This way, the other end of the neckerchief can slide in and out, preserving the roll of the neckerchief for next time.
Karen Fruit
Menomonie, Wis.
...After putting on the slide, put on a chenille-type ponytail band. They are about 1/4 inch thick, and twisted once is a tight hold...You can buy them in multicolored packs to get one to match the neckerchief color.
Marcelle Vaughn
Silver Spring, Md.
Use sunglasses in winter
The cover and photos for "A Not So Little Cabin in the Woods" in the November-December 2004 issue show Scouts in sunny, high-elevation, winter conditions without sunglasses.
Sunglasses are an important piece of equipment for any outing, to reduce eye fatigue and even to provide some protection from injuries. In snow conditions, sunglasses are critical to eliminate the possibility of snow blindness.
All activities require specific gear. Troop leaders can assist parents and reduce the possibility of a Scout forgetting something by maintaining a master list of equipment for each activity and giving a copy to every Scout prior to each trip....
Also, [to prepare for a high adventure activity] troops can gain knowledge and skills by participating in specialized training courses, such as, for winter camping, avalanche safety, winter survival, outdoor emergency care, and basic mountaineering.
Betty Palmer
Dryden, Wash.
Thank you for the tip. Sunglasses are important, as noted in the "Gearing Up" chapter of the latest edition of the BSA Fieldbook (BSA No. 33104), which advises: "For travels across snowfields, in deserts, and on open water, wear sunglasses for your comfort and safety."
The Fieldbook's companion Web site, www.bsafieldbook.org, lists resources for specific activities like ski touring and showshoeing. Sources include current books and links to recognized organizations that provide information and training opportunities.
New Cub Scout 'hats' are a hit
I think the special Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Eagle hats worn by the Cub Scouts on the cover of your January-February 2005 issue are great. I would like to get them for our blue and gold banquet. Can you tell me where to find ordering information?
Caryl Fish
Den Leader, Pack 476
Greensburg, Pa.
The colorful "Foam Visor Kits" are among the new items in the 2005 BSA Supply Division catalog. Information is also available online at www.scoutstuff.org/items/ww17881/index.html. Buy or order the kits at local Scout shops, council service centers, or by phone, (800) 323-0732.
Web Exclusive LettersThe following responses do not appear in the print edition ... May is National Allergy and Asthma Awareness MonthThank you for your September 2004 Family Talk column, "Helping Your Child Manage Asthma." The information helped raise awareness of a disease that affects more than 6.3 million children and can result in permanent lung damage if not diagnosed and treated properly. As the article notes, "The path to control begins with diagnosis." To help adults and children find out if symptoms such as a chronic cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath might be a sign of asthma, the Nationwide Asthma Screening Program offers free asthma screenings at more than 300 locations across the country. Led by the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) and the nation's allergists, screenings are offered at shopping malls, civic centers, health fairs, and other accessible locations each year. In addition to helping people find out if they might be at risk for asthma, the screenings also provide an opportunity for those who already know if they have asthma to talk to an allergist about their disease and how to keep symptoms under control. Many screenings will take place during May, which is National Allergy and Asthma Awareness Month. To obtain a list of screening sites, visit the ACAAI Web site at www.acaai.org.
John Winder, M.D. The September 2004 Family Talk column, "Helping Your Child Manage Asthma," is available on the Scouting magazine Web site, www.scoutingmagazine.org. Click on "Archive/Past Issues" and then on the cover of the September 2004 issue. Museum hosts FDR Scouting exhibitThe Ten Mile River Scout Museum is hosting a major exhibit on President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the development of Scouting in New York City and nationwide. A strong supporter of Scouting, FDR was instrumental in the creation of Ten Mile River Scout Camps in 1927; as president in the 1930's, he broadcast congratulatory radio messages during Scout Week. The museum, sponsored by the Greater New York Councils, is located at Ten Mile River Scout Camps, near Narrowsburg, N.Y. Visit our Web site, www.tmrmuseum.org for a schedule and exhibit preview.
David M. Malatzky For more on FDR's involvement in Scouting, read The Way It Was column, "A Best Friend in the White House," in the March-April 2003 issue. To find it on the Scouting magazine Web site, www.scoutingmagazine.org, click on "Archive/Back Issues." |
May - June 2005 Table of Contents
Copyright © 2005 by the Boy Scouts of America. All rights thereunder reserved; anything appearing in Scouting magazine or on its Web site may not be reprinted either wholly or in part without written permission. Because of freedom given authors, opinions may not reflect official concurrence.