Issue 352 – April 15, 2013

 Cub Scouts, Reposted Article  No Responses »
May 222013
 

By AskAndy

________________________________________
Dear Andy,

How do I get my den’s parents to understand the importance of turning in a Health & Medical Form for themselves and their sons for den and pack outings? I’ve stopped planning outings because I’m not sure who would pay if somebody got hurt or forgot their medicine, or needed away-from-home treatment. Also, how do I stress the importance of den dues (it’s only 75 cents a week, and pays their yearly fees plus awards, patches, etc.)? I’m tired of paying out of my own pocket for these. (Name & Council Withheld)

Begin by never, ever paying out of your own pocket. This only leads to anger, frustration, and resentment on your part and “no skin in the game” on their part.

No Health & Medical form? Simple: Don’t let the parents drive away, leaving their son with you, unless they hand you this form. If they don’t, they get to take their son home. No “second chances,” no “We forgot it—we’ll bring it next time,” no more baloney. They have it and give it to the outing leader or they take little Fargus home with them.

No den dues? Same thing: Take little Fargus home right now—bring him back when Click To Continue Reading

Via: Ask Andy

Issue 353 – April 20, 2013

 Camping, Cub Scouts, Program Helps, Reposted Article  No Responses »
May 222013
 

By AskAndy

________________________________________
Dear Andy,

I’m a Cubmaster. Our pack is planning a camping trip for our Cub Scouts and one of the Webelos Den Leader who’s also an Assistant Scoutmaster, wants the Boy Scouts of the troop he’s associated with to come camping with the pack. We brought this up at our pack leaders meeting and we all agreed: No. Our biggest reason, which we explained to him, is the age difference between the Cubs and the Scouts, but he’s still pushing to do a joint camping trip. We need your advice on this, and I’m hoping we can put this to bed once and for all. (Name & Council Withheld)

This isn’t a good idea, from both standpoints. First, for Cubs to camp, it’s one boy-one parent (or other adult designated by the parent), whereas in Boy Scouts, just two adults in total are all that’s required. So there’s the first non-match. Here’s the second: In Cub Scouting, the boys and their adult partners all interact together; in Boy Scouting, the adults stand back and away from the Scouts as they interact amongst one another. Third, parents usually cook for or with the Cubs; in Boy Scouting, the Scouts prepare their own Click To Continue Reading

Via: Ask Andy

No more Scout Parents?

 Boy Scouts, Council News, Cub Scouts, Membership, Reposted Article, Venturing  No Responses »
May 222013
 

By Frank No, parents are not being pushed out of Scouting. They are as essential as ever from Cubs all the way up to Venturing. What’s being changed is the ScoutParent designation, a pseudo-registered position that’s been with us for several years … Continue reading →

Via: Bobwhite Blather

Help BSA Units Be Messengers of Peace Through Journey to Excellence

 Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Program Helps, Reposted Article, Venturing  No Responses »
May 212013
 

By BSA Internal Communications

The BSA’s Messengers of Peace initiative was launched in May 2012 to recognize the efforts of Scouts who are working for peace, whether it’s on projects that strive to solve conflicts in their schools, building links between divided communities, teaching their peers about health and wellness, or repairing environmental damage.

It is gratifying to see how quickly the Messengers of Peace program gained recognition throughout the Scouting organization. However, the need for strong and continued promotion highlighting the purpose of Messengers of Peace remains a priority. Community service is well embedded in our advancement system. And, as we know, community service hours is a unit requirement built into the Journey to Excellence initiative. Messengers of Peace supports our organization’s commitment to community service. Given that Messengers of Peace is an initiative available to Scouts around the world, it allows the BSA to serve as a role model and example for other Scouting associations. Consequently, our Scouts who become Messengers of Peace help bring peace to our world. Scouts and Scouters should know that almost all community service projects qualify as Messengers of Peace projects, fitting into one of the three categories outlined in the program’s requirements: personal, community, and Click To Continue Reading

Via: Scout Wire

Professional education at a volunteer price

 Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Program Helps, Reposted Article, Training, Venturing  No Responses »
May 202013
 

By Frank Where can you get professional quality leadership development training, worth many thousands of dollars, for a bargain price? One of the perks of our serving as Scouting volunteers is the opportunity to learn and improve our own leadership skills as …  Click To Continue Reading

Via: Bobwhite Blather

The Highly Evolved Scout Mess Kit

 Boy Scouts, Camping, Cub Scouts, Reposted Article  No Responses »
May 182013
 

By Clarke Green

messkit

 

For a number of years I thought that real Scouts only used real Scout mess kits.  The standard issue military type clam shell mess kit has a long tradition in Scouting but, compared to the alternatives available out there it is woefully inadequate.

There are lots of gadgety, expensive, highly touted modern specialty cooking and serving ware being manufactured for campers but I like cheap, light, and practical Scout mess kits assembled  from easily available components.

click to see the full-sized infographic

the highly evolved messkit as a PDF file

Here’s some evolved alternatives ranked by price. It’s likely that anyone could put together a Scout mess kit for little or no cost.

Via: Scoumaster Clarke Greene

Swimming Pin for Cub Scouts

 Cub Scouts, Program Planning, Reposted Article  No Responses »
May 142013
 

By Scouter Mom Posted in Fitness

Swimming Pin for Cub Scouts
Cub Scouts who have earned their Swimming belt loop can go a step further and earn the Swimming pin from the Cub Scout Academics and Sports program. By working on the requirements for the pin, Cub Scouts will improve the swimming…

[ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]

Click To Continue Reading

Via: Scouter Mom

Scoutmaster Podcast 171 – Homesickness

 Boy Scout Summer Camp, Boy Scouts, Camping, Cub Scout Summer Camp, Cub Scouts, Membership, Reposted Article, Retention, Training  No Responses »
May 142013
 

By Clarke Green

scoutmaster podcast

This edition of the Scoutmaster Podcast we discuss how Scouters and parents can prevent and treat homesickness. There’s also an answer to an email question about the the ratio if adults to Scouts on camping trips. We wrap things up with belated (honestly, is there any other kind?) good wishes for Scouting moms on mother’s day.  All this and your messages in the mailbag.

Links in this Podcast:
ScoutCircle
ScoutmasterCG YouTube Channel

Scoutmaster Podcast 171 – Homesickness

Click To Continue Reading

Via: Scoumaster Clarke Greene

One man’s life: shaped by John Wayne, the U.S. Navy, and the BSA

 Boy Scouts, Camping, Cub Scouts, Membership, Program Helps, Reposted Article, Retention, Training, Venturing  No Responses »
May 112013
 

By Bryan

Entrepreneur and Eagle Scout Ken Krogue.

Where do our values come from?

For Ken Krogue, the Eagle Scout and Forbes.com contributor, the idea of values first showed up in Scouts, were further developed at the U.S. Naval Academy, and even made an appearance in a classic John Wayne movie.

In this excellent article, posted today, Krogue takes us on his life’s journey. It all started, as it does for many of us who were Scouts as kids, with a great leader.

Krogue writes: 

The year was 1978.

I was still twelve. Almost thirteen. We had a Scoutmaster named Dave Watson.

We nicknamed him “Swat.”

Why? We heard he had blown his thumb off in an accident with a shotgun and had it sewn back on. When he reached out with his big hand he couldn’t quite grab you, he just swatted you. (I don’t know to this day if that story was true.)

Swat was a big bear of a man. We always hiked behind him in the mountains because he cleared a big path and made it easy.

But he taught me to do hard things.

To hike one more step when I couldn’t. To plan for an activity when my friends Click To Continue Reading

Via: Bryan On Scouting

How to Inspire Initiative in Scout Youth Leaders

 Boy Scouts, Camping, Cub Scouts, Membership, Program Helps, Program Planning, Reposted Article, Retention, Training, Venturing  No Responses »
May 112013
 

By Clarke Green

initiative

How do we inspire initiative in Scout Youth Leaders?

The idea of connecting  initiative to authority starts with this post by Dan Rockwell,

Ineffective leaders seize and hoard authority; successful leaders give it. Those who cling to authority lose it. Those who give authority gain authority.

Authority is permission to act without permission.

Control freaks never inspire initiative. The more they control the less initiative – acting without permission – others take. Inspire initiative by giving authority.

Frank Maynard at Bobwhite Blather  shows us how this works in Scouting

As leaders in the Scouting program, we sometimes think that we have the ultimate authority in how our troop runs. But do we?

Yes, we are responsible for ensuring that things are done safely, and that the Scouting program is followed. The committee provides essential support in the form of equipment, finance, and administration. A Scout troop, however, is meant to be led by the boys, not by the adults, and this means not taking the authority away from the boys when it comes to running their troop.

… if adults feel they must control the process and outcome, the boys will never take the initiative. Having this essential element removed negates everything that we are here for.

Scouting places overall authoritative oversight with the Click To Continue Reading

Via: Scoumaster Clarke Greene

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