Title: INTERNET SCOUTING
Author: Michael F. Bowman
Company: Attorney at Law

SCOUTS-L
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PATROL FOOD

Date:         Wed, 25 Sep 1996 18:10:37 -0600
From: Jim Peterson <jpeterson@TZNET.COM>
Subject:      Re: Patrol food purchasing

At 06:41 PM 9/25/96 Rusty wrote:
>
>We've got two eleven year olds (patrol leaders) going to the store this
>week.  They will be going with two of the troop leaders.... I understand
>that these two young men will be given the money collected from their
>patrol, and told to shop. Seeing as how these two have never been shopping
>for a group before, I expect that they will be uncomfortable, unfamiliar
>with what to do, and somewhat scared. The leaders are going to check their
>basket before they check out, and give them guidance by asking

Also from the perspective of a young Troop, we eased our guys into it.
A year ago, our Troop was, much like yours, 7 new Scouts and one Second
Class Senior Patrol Leader. The first camp out, we held our Troop meeting
for the week at the grocery store. All 8 boys and the leaders did the
shopping together, it was quite a site. The next time, we had the boys make
a list of what they needed and the Patrol Leader and SPL did the shopping.
They were only allowed to purchase what was on the list. The third campout
the list included things like: bread for the french toast, butter, syrup,
etc. The last campout we went on the boys took care of everything
themselves...the only help they received was from the mother who drove them
to the store and her only suggestion was that they look at the Turkey Ham,
instead of the whole, bone-in ham they had selected (Much less expensive).
This process worked out well and the boys have learned to plan their meals
and do their own shopping.

YiS,
________________________________________________________________________________

Jim Peterson                                                  /\
Cubmaster, Pack 379, Auburndale, Wisconsin                  ("\/")
Advancement Chair, Troop 379, Blenker, Wisconsin             ~''~
Cub Roundtable Staff, Ojibwa District, Samoset Council
jpeterson@tznet.com

"Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is the probable reason why so
few engage in it." - Henry Ford

Date:         Wed, 25 Sep 1996 18:41:40 -0500
From: Rusty Chatelain <nighthawks@DATASTAR.NET>
Subject:      Patrol food purchasing

Our Troop looks to the patrols to plan, price, and purchase the food for
their menus...  Being a young troop (new scouts and tenderfoot) they need
much guidance in this process. It is our management of this process that I
question.

We've got two eleven year olds (patrol leaders) going to the store this
week.  They will be going with two of the troop leaders.... I understand
that these two young men will be given the money collected from their
patrol, and told to shop. Seeing as how these two have never been shopping
for a group before, I expect that they will be uncomfortable, unfamiliar
with what to do, and somewhat scared. The leaders are going to check their
basket before they check out, and give them guidance by asking questions
etc.... "Perhaps you like your pancakes plain?" etc..

Now, I think this would be a good method for us to use with a scout who has
been coached on how to buy, and what to think about when buying etc....  But
not for a scout who has never been put in that situation before.  It seems
that if we were to coach them once or twice; and then oversee the buying by
using the method noted above a time or two...... the young man will have
been given the coaching and the guidance needed to know what to do and feel
more confident about it... I'm not so foolish to think that it will go great
for them from this point, but after teaching them what to do, the hard
lessons learned will not be due to our negligence.

I would appreciate any feedback about how your troop handles these
situations and any other information you wish to lend...

I would also be interested in the pros and cons of setting a standard fee
for food on campouts....

Rusty Chatelain
ASM Troop 81 - and, A working for my beads, Beaver.....
Carriere, MS
If you wish to reply by direct email:  Nighthawks@brutus.datastar.net
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