Letters



THE VALUE OF WILDERNESS CANOE TRIPS

Thank you for faithfully portraying the adventure of canoeing a true Canadian wilderness river ("The Missinaibi: A Wilderness River Journey," May-June Scouting). Articles such as this help inspire Scouters to take their units on wholesome outdoor programs.

I find myself on a personal mission to get every Scout in every troop into the North Woods on a canoe trip. I feel it is a slice of boyhood that our youth should not miss.

Pierre de Rosa
Director, Birchbark Expeditions
Greater Niagara Frontier Council
Buffalo, N.Y.


SWITCHBACK PANTS ARE OFFICIAL

In the past, you have explained the difference between the Boy Scout field uniform [official Boy Scout shirt with badges of rank, worn with official Boy Scout shorts or long pants] and the Scout activity uniform (BSA T-shirt, activity shirt, or collared polo shirt, worn with official Boy Scout shorts or long pants)

Now that the new Switchback (convertible) pants have been introduced, are they considered a part of the official BSA field uniform?

Scott Morrison
Kensington, Conn.

The Boy Scout Division replies: "The Switchback pants can be worn with either the official Scout uniform shirt or an activity shirt."


A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP

Thank you so much for the (Family Talk) article on children and sleep, "Helping Children Get the Sleep They Need," in the May-June issue. My first-grader has had a bedtime of 7:30 since preschool. I always thought he just needed more sleep than other children, but it seems that other kids might need more sleep, too. While his classmates are still playing in baseball games at 8:30 on school nights, he is showered, read to, tucked in, and fast asleep.… I’m glad to see that the hard work of getting an energetic Cub Scout to bed before sundown is worth it.

Dusty Worley Chuang
Helena, Ala.


A SATISFIED READER

Your May-June issue was outstanding! I picked it up from our mailbox and didn’t put it down until I devoured every feature.

"Keeping a Scouting Connection" highlighted an enthusiastic young Scouter I knew from a recent Wood Badge course that we both staffed.

"The Missinaibi: A Wilderness River Journey" brought back memories of my travels through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. "A Rugged Adventure" reminded me of the excitement I see in the eyes of youth during my scuba certification courses.

I could relate to the struggles described in "To the End of the Trail" from having climbed Mount Katahdin during our Maine High Ad-venture experience. One of the letters was even written by a Scouter that I knew from my youth in St. Louis.

…Keep up the excellent work. I eagerly await your next issue.

Mike Meenehan
Fairfax, Va.


CORRECTION FOR NAYLE PHOTO CAPTION

The article in the March-April issue about the BSA's new NAYLE (National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience) program misidentified the staff member in the first-aid photograph on page 34. He is Ross Van Balen of Troop 204, The Woodlands, Tex.

Kathleen Van Balen
The Woodlands, Tex.

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September 2007 Table of Contents


Copyright © 2007 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.