HalfEagle.com - Scouting Blogs and News - Archived Posts from October 2008

Prospective 2010 National Jamboree Staffers Recieve Their Staff Patch

Posted to Scouting News on November 29th, 2008

Reports have been coming in over the past weekend that some Scouts and Scouters who applied to be on the staff for the 2010 National Boy Scout Jamboree have received letters from National that have included their staff patches. Even if you have yet... [more]

Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Posted to Lone Star Scouter on November 29th, 2008

Hopefully, you all exercised properly yesterday and shopped the great deals at your local sporting good stores for scout worthy equipment. Goodness knows we all ate far too much Thursday and can use all the help we can get. I did. I braved... [more]

Baloo's Bugle for December's RT and January's Theme, A-MAZE-ing GAMES, is on-line

Posted to U.S. Scouting Service Project on November 29th, 2008

The newest edition of Baloo's Bugle is now available in HTML, Word.doc and Adobe.pdf Everyone loves to play games!! This month Cub Scouts and their families will have fun playing board games, and solving puzzles and mazes. This is a great... [more]

Handyman Requirements

Posted to KISMIF - Awesome Cub Scouting on November 29th, 2008

One of the official suggested Webelos activity badges for June is Handyman . Here are the requirements for the Handyman Webelos activity badge : Do these: 1. With your parent, guardian, or Webelos den leader, complete the Responsibility Character... [more]

The morning after

Posted to The Scoutmaster Minute on November 28th, 2008

It is the morning after another great Thanksgiving. What made this Thanksgiving great for me this year was the simplicity. Now I don't want to start sounding like a old fuddy duddy... But, coupled with the fact the leading up to Thanksgiving I was... [more]

Weekend Patrol Box #12

Posted to ScoutSigns on November 28th, 2008

After Thanksgiving dinner yesterday and a weekend full of leftovers coming up, the Weekend Patrol Box is here to give your hands something to do that doesn't involve a fork. But I'll keep it light. Turkey, sausage stuffing, pecan pie, frozen pumpkin... [more]

Indoor Game Night

Posted to KISMIF - Awesome Cub Scouting on November 28th, 2008

One of the sad realities of today's world is that many kids seem to think the only way to have fun playing a game is with a computer or a video game controller . Kids who never play board or card games miss out on a lot. I believe board and card... [more]

Keep It Simple. Make It Fun.

Posted to KISMIF - Awesome Cub Scouting on November 27th, 2008

One of the first things taught to new Cub Scout leaders is the principle of KISMIF : Keep It Simple; Make It Fun. Keep It Simple. Cub Scouting does not need to be elaborate or complex. In fact, making activities and events needlessly complicated... [more]

Thanksgiving Campfire

Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on November 27th, 2008

When we found the spear point and the potsherd under a sheltering wall of rock the dig began. A archeologist's expert hand peeled back layers of time connecting us to those we never met but knew as we know ourselves. Down below the soil of a... [more]

Thanksgiving Recipe

Posted to Lone Star Scouter on November 27th, 2008

Boy Scout Troop 1 Scout Master - Trained, seasoned, a little tender, yet a little tough 6-7 Assistant Scout Masters - Trained, seasoned, a little tender, yet a little tough, not yet a Scout Master 1 Committee Chair - Trained, highly... [more]

Thanksgiving

Posted to The Scoutmaster Minute on November 27th, 2008

I would like to wish all of my Friends in Scouting a very blessed Thanksgiving. As you have read my blog over the last year you know a bit about who I am and I have shared on many occassions just how thankful I am. Today is a day set aside to give... [more]

A Scoutmaster's Thankfullness

Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on November 27th, 2008

The Thanksgiving Holiday has once again come to those of us in the United States. As I prepare to join my family in the annual turkey dinner I look back on my years in Scouting and discover there are a lot of things to be thankful for over the last... [more]

Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted to Scouting News on November 27th, 2008

How Scouts around the US are celebrating Thanksgiving this year: Gilbert Boy Scouts to roast 160 turkeys The Thanksgiving tradition for Troop 830, based out of the Maplewood Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, began more than... [more]

Patches...

Posted to Commissioner's Corner on November 27th, 2008

I got to reading some posts about knots and some of the other things that go along with forums...sometimes a thread can get way off track, and then there are the ones that are just plain mean. There used to be a whole bunch of knots that are no... [more]

Merit Badge of the Week: Astronomy

Posted to ScoutSigns on November 26th, 2008

Space, the final frontier. And we have a new Star Trek movie to remind us! We continue to learn new things all the time. Want to see a new planet in our solar system? Or one in another solar system ? Amazing, especially since we have just found... [more]

Artist Resources

Posted to KISMIF - Awesome Cub Scouting on November 26th, 2008

As with all the Webelos activity badges, the best resources for Artist are the Webelos Handbook and the Webelos Leader Guide . Here are some other Artist resources that may be helpful: Meritbadge.org Artist Worksheet (pdf) SHAC Artist Packet (pdf)... [more]

Greater St. Louis Area Council Collected 2.2 million Cans of Food

Posted to Scouting News on November 26th, 2008

More than 30,000 Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Venturers helped feed the hungry on Saturday, November 22nd, as they collected 2.2 million cans of food during the 2008 Scouting for Food drive. The collection was 6 percent larger than last year's drive... [more]

GreenBar.ws: Teaching How to Patrol

Posted to Chairman's Chat - A Pack Committee Blog on November 25th, 2008

A few weeks ago, I wrote about getting things started. How do you get things going in your pack. For us it was getting started participating in a Webelos Campout or Web-o-ree. I have been thinking back to that campout. It was the first time our... [more]

Updated Webelos Leader Guide

Posted to KISMIF - Awesome Cub Scouting on November 25th, 2008

Our local scout shop now has the 2008 printing of the Webelos Leader Guide in stock. The cover is still the same as the previous edition (shown above) except that the right title bar has a yellow background instead of blue. I have not reviewed the... [more]

Coronado Area Council Selects New Program Director and Camp Director

Posted to Scouting News on November 25th, 2008

The Coronado Area Council is pleased to announce the two significant personnel changes. Gary Shoemaker has been promoted to the position of Program and Outreach Director and Rex Lowe has agreed to serve as the 2009 Camp Hansen Director for Boy... [more]

An Hour A Week? #163

Posted to An Hour A Week? on November 25th, 2008

Show #163-Better Tonight-My Pack Meeting and Leader Meeting, a Chrisbacca sighting, holiday party suggestions, a possible new AHAW logo and what I'm thankful for. Tonightâs show sponsored by Badge Magic... [more]

Survival Kits in a Bag

Posted to The Trainer's Corner Blog on November 24th, 2008

Hello fellow Scouters, Happy Monday! Looking for an idea for your den meeting? Looking for something that will help prepare your scouts for the outdoors? Why not try making a survival kit? Nothing fancy or elaborate - just something they can carry... [more]

Pinewood Derby Schematic Photos

Posted to KISMIF - Awesome Cub Scouting on November 24th, 2008

About a year ago, I did a post on this neat-looking Pinewood Derby schematic t-shirt from BSA Supply Group. I inquired via email to see if there was a photo of the shirt that showed some more detail, but to no avail. Recently, I noticed that the... [more]

Eagle Honor Ring Celebrates Scoutingâs Highest Rank

Posted to Scouting News on November 24th, 2008

Eagle Honor Co. has introduced a new series of Eagle Scout Honor Rings. The Eagle Honor Ring features a deeply engraved eagle atop a signet style ring. This historic seal type ring has been worn for hundreds of years and carries family crests and... [more]

Holiday Mail for Heroes

Posted to Scouting News on November 24th, 2008

I'd like to introduce all the Scouting News readers to a great project that I was made aware of, and will be participating in. The American Red Cross is partnering with Pitney Bowes this holiday season for the Holiday Mail for Heroes campaign. For... [more]

All I can say is WOW

Posted to Commissioner's Corner on November 23rd, 2008

Per my last post, I recently visited the troop...one that I hadn't visited in about 2 months, due to a mistake on behalf of some other leaders. Regardless, that is moot, and really, isn't going to be brought up again. I walked into the meeting and... [more]

Citizen Good Turn

Posted to Scoutmaster Musings on November 23rd, 2008

Maybe you've heard of the tight Coleman-Franken senate race in Minnesota and the recount being conducted now. About 2/3 of the 2.9million ballots have been recounted but it will still take weeks for the 2,000+ challenged ballots to be examined. It's... [more]

Patience Is A Virtue

Posted to Lone Star Scouter on November 23rd, 2008

This could reflect any number of Boy Scout topics couldn't it? Let's leave it that way. Honestly, the answer applies to all the scenerios. The most recent instant may have been coaxing members of the troop to trust the rope as they backed off a... [more]

Full Day Of Activities

Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on November 22nd, 2008

Today, the Boy Scouts of Troop 68 will participate in the yearly LPMRB outing. It is a twelve hour activity extravaganza that is very popular with the boys. The outing begins with a few hours of rollerskating at a local roller rink in St. Cloud... [more]

Thanksgiving Week

Posted to Lone Star Scouter on November 22nd, 2008

It's the time of year again that we all think of things we're thankful for so I thought I'd share a compessed list of mine. Our faith. The health of myself, husband, and children. The BSA!!!, eager scouts, giving adult leaders, and the support the... [more]

Louisiana Governor Receives Distinguished Citizens Award

Posted to Scouting News on November 22nd, 2008

Governor Bobby Jindal addressed the Southeast Louisiana Council of the Boy Scouts of Americaâs award dinner last night where he was presented with the Distinguished Citizens Award. The event was attended by over 300 community leaders who volunteer... [more]

Artist Requirements

Posted to KISMIF - Awesome Cub Scouting on November 22nd, 2008

One of the official suggested Webelos activity badges for May is Artist . Here are the requirements for the Artist Webelos activity badge : Do these: 1. Talk to an artist in your area or to your art teacher about the different occupations in the... [more]

Mike Roweâs Offer to all Eagle Scouts!

Posted to Scouting News on November 21st, 2008

You have probably read Mike Rowe of âDirty Jobsâ Eagle Scout Perspective , but there is more! Mike is now writing customized letters to Eagle Scouts. According to Mike's website, he has written a Eagle Scout Congratulations letter that he will... [more]

Back in the Saddle

Posted to Commissioner's Corner on November 21st, 2008

I visited the troop this week, hadn't been there in almost 2 months, due to some mistakes that were madeâ¦another post, another time. With that said, I can say that my batteries are recharged and I am raring to go. I walked into the meeting, with... [more]

Weekend Patrol Box #11

Posted to ScoutSigns on November 21st, 2008

The snow is beginning outside my window. Lows this weekend in the teens--but a whole lot warmer than my years growing up on Eielson AFB, Alaska! Yep, I'm still in t-shirts. And loving the cool weather. I do try to encourage my Scouts to mentally... [more]

2009 Pinewood Derby Emblem

Posted to KISMIF - Awesome Cub Scouting on November 21st, 2008

Here is a new Pinewood Derby participation patch ($1.19) available from BSA Supply Group. Boys usually love to get patches. In our pack, we give everyone who participated in our Pinewood Derby a patch at the next pack meeting. Link Posted in CUB... [more]

Thank You Cards

Posted to The Trainer's Corner Blog on November 21st, 2008

Hello fellow Scouters, Happy Friday to you! Hopefully whenever you have an outing with your unit you file a tour permit. You know it's required by Scouting for any meeting outside of your normal den / troop meeting place. But if you have an outing... [more]

Mike Rowe Offers a Potential Eagle Scout His Eagle Perspective

Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on November 21st, 2008

Dirty Jobs host Mike Rowe is an Eagle Scout. Here is an exchange of letters posted to his blog Mike, I'm not sure where I heard that you are an Eagle Scout, which brings me to my question. Could you PLEASE take a moment & post to my 13... [more]

Holiday Lights

Posted to Boy Scouts of America "What's Hot" on November 20th, 2008

âTis the season, and weâre taking a look at fun activities, advancement opportunities, and how Cub Scoutsâ monthly core purposes and values are supported by next monthâs Cub Scout theme of Holiday Lights. Plus, earn a chance win a free scholarship... [more]

BSA Disaster Recovery

Posted to Boy Scouts of America "What's Hot" on November 20th, 2008

Several councils have been severely affected by the hurricanes and their aftermath. The full impact of the storm will be known in the coming days and weeks. Your generous contribution to assist members of our Scouting family and to help rebuild... [more]

Outdoorsman Resources

Posted to KISMIF - Awesome Cub Scouting on November 20th, 2008

As with all the Webelos activity badges, the best resources for Outdoorsman are the Webelos Handbook and the Webelos Leader Guide . Here are some other Outdoorsman resources that may be helpful: Meritbadge.org Outdoorsman Worksheet (pdf) SHAC... [more]

The Collection of Handbooks

Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on November 19th, 2008

I still had my copy of the Boy Scout Handbook I used as a youth when I became an assistant scoutmaster in 1980. I bought a new handbook so I would be current, and picked up a scoutmaster handbook so I would have an idea what I should be doing. Then... [more]

An Hour A Week? #162

Posted to An Hour A Week? on November 19th, 2008

Show #162-Feels So Good Tonight-Popcorn Distribution, Pack Meeting prep, lots of other personal stuff, a cool website from BSA and a great reality check from Mike Rowe. Cool Website of the Week: http://ideas.scouting.org/ Tonightâs show sponsored... [more]

Cub Scouting 101: Basic Leader Training

Posted to KISMIF - Awesome Cub Scouting on November 19th, 2008

Every Cub Scout leader should be trained. It is hard to put on an effective Cub Scout program without trained leaders. As soon as a new Cub Scout leader is registered, he or she should take online Fast Start Training . Link He or she should also go... [more]

The Pith of Sense and Pride of Worth

Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on November 19th, 2008

In 1785, just a year before his death at age 37, Robert Burns enshrined 'the pith of sense and pride of work' above wealth or aristocratic birth in his poem A Man's a Man for all That . Burns knew the privations of poverty from the... [more]

Use Your Resources

Posted to Lone Star Scouter on November 19th, 2008

Resources come in many forms. Financial, physical, time, and, of course, people. This month's campout was a climbing / rappelling trip to Enchanted Rock in Fredericksburg, Texas. We had twenty-three scouts attending and it was important to be... [more]

BSA Innovation Engine Built-in to HalfEagle

Posted to HalfEagle.com Blog on November 18th, 2008

Beagle Scout 2008 Ornament

Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on November 18th, 2008

A year ago I wrote about my trip to a Hallmark Store before Christmas and discovering an ornament featuring Snoopy, the Beagle Scout, roasting marshmallows around a campfire with Woodstock and a couple of his friends. I left the store with two of... [more]

T minus 2,160 hours till Recharter

Posted to Chairman's Chat - A Pack Committee Blog on November 18th, 2008

I have already wasted 288 hours since I was handed my recharter packet. There is currently 90 days left before recharter. So what should have I been doing and what have I done? First off according to the packet I should of had this 15 days longer... [more]

Online Permissions - Help!

Posted to Scoutmaster Musings on November 18th, 2008

Our troop has had a challenge of getting permission forms turned in on time. It seems we always have a scout family or two oblivious that they missed the deadline for an event registration and this makes it tough to make reservations and arrange... [more]

Giving the Gift of the Religious Emblem Award

Posted to The Trainer's Corner Blog on November 18th, 2008

Hello fellow Scouters, Have you heard about the religious emblem program? My son is about to finish the second program offering of our faith, and I thought it would be good to discuss. The religious emblem program is a program that teaches your... [more]

Every-Week-Together Packs

Posted to KISMIF - Awesome Cub Scouting on November 18th, 2008

Most packs fall into one of two categories: Once-a-Month-Together (OMT) Packs. OMT packs have den meeting schedules and locations which are independent of each other. A Webelos den may meet every Monday afternoon from 4-5 p.m. at the den leader's... [more]

Crossroads of America Scouts Ship 1,000 Pinewood Derby Cars to Iraq

Posted to Scouting News on November 18th, 2008

Indianapolis is the racing capital of the world, and area Scouts helped spread this legacy by collecting and shipping more than 1,000 Pinewood Derby Cars to send to Scouts in Iraq this summer. The effort was led by First Lt. Greg Hembree of the... [more]

Merit Badge of the Week: Art

Posted to ScoutSigns on November 17th, 2008

Art merit badge has the distinction of being the shortest named merit badge. Since I cannot draw a straight line, even with a ruler, let us say I never considered this one when I was a Scout. Many Scouts can tell you that there are 8 basic colors:... [more]

Budget whiteboards - Stalling for time

Posted to Chairman's Chat - A Pack Committee Blog on November 17th, 2008

Nearly two weeks ago I recieved my recharter packet. I plan to post on rechatering soon, but I need some more time to look over my packet. So this post is me stalling, but hopefully helping some one save $40 or more dollars on a modern cave wall... [more]

30 Links for Cub Scouters

Posted to KISMIF - Awesome Cub Scouting on November 17th, 2008

On Saturday, I taught a course at our local University of Scouting in which I covered 30 website links that can be useful (or at least interesting) for Cub Scouters . I thought I would post them here in case some of them may be helpful for you. 1... [more]

Official BSA Licensed Pinewood Derby Computer Game

Posted to Scouting News on November 17th, 2008

An official BSA Licensed Pinewood Derby Computer Game was released at the end of September by Elephant Entertainment. Game Synopsis: Inside a block of wood, a championship race car hides, and it's up to you to set it free. By carefully sanding,... [more]

Eagle Project Guidelines - Avoid the Maze!

Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on November 17th, 2008

Eagle Scout Projects are actually very simple; any Scout can complete a project without a lot of fuss if he avoids the maze. There is a whole lot of opaque, misdirected and downright wrong advice out there. Much of it may come from district or... [more]

Two Lessons from the Girl Scouts

Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on November 17th, 2008

The GSA (Girl Scouts of America) arrived at an elegant solution to the question of including girls who have diverse spiritual beliefs. The Girl Scout Promise On my honor, I will try To serve God* and my country To help people everywhere And to live... [more]

MSPP #55: Buttons Learns About Girl Scouting

Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on November 17th, 2008

Up until now, Buttons, the radical Boy Scout, has always been about the Boy Scouting program. He has talked about the Scout Oath and Law, being physically fit, how to tell when you know you are a Boy Scout, and has interviewed a Cub Scout and an... [more]

Buckeye December â08 Packet (Holiday Lights)

Posted to KISMIF - Awesome Cub Scouting on November 16th, 2008

Simon Kenton Councilâs Buckeye District roundtable packet for December 2008 ( Holiday Lights ) is now on the SKC website. Buckeye District makes a great roundtable packet which is posted monthly on their website. It has games, cooking ideas,... [more]

December 2008 (Holiday Lights) Program Helps

Posted to KISMIF - Awesome Cub Scouting on November 16th, 2008

The December 2008 ( Holiday Lights ) Program Helps pages from BSA National are now available (free) for download. Program Helps is a great resource for crafts, games, activities and more for pack meetings and activities and Tiger, Wolf, and Bear... [more]

OA Section Chief Elected to City Council

Posted to Scouting News on November 16th, 2008

Jeremy Yamaguchi , Order of the Arrow Section W-C2 Chief, was elected to the Placentia City Council. At 19 years-old, he is one of the youngest elected officials in the city's history. According to OC Register, Yamaguchi was the top vote getter... [more]

Mike Roweâs Thoughts on Achieving Eagle Scout

Posted to The Trainer's Corner Blog on November 16th, 2008

Hello fellow Scouters, Happy Sunday to you! The Scouting world is abuzz over Mike Rowe's recent blog entry on achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. Mike Rowe, host of Discovery Channel's "Dirty Jobs" and an Eagle Scout, doesn't mince any words. I... [more]

Mike of âDirty Jobsâ Shares His Eagle Scout Perspective

Posted to Scouting News on November 16th, 2008

The father of a Scout wrote the host of Discovery Channel's Ã¢â¬ËDirty Jobs' hoping Mike Rowe (An Eagle Scout) would post some words of encouragement to his son who is thinking about quitting scouting and has not yet attained the rank of Eagle... [more]

Defending Scouting

Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on November 15th, 2008

My friend Jerry, who writes a blog called The Scoutmaster Minute , recent wrote about an experience he had while waiting to checkout in a store. Jerry was wearing his Scout uniform. A lady next to him started a conversation with him and began... [more]

Outdoorsman Requirements

Posted to KISMIF - Awesome Cub Scouting on November 15th, 2008

One of the official suggested Webelos activity badges for May is Outdoorsman . Here are the requirements for the Outdoorsman Webelos activity badge : Do two of these: 1. Present yourself to your Webelos den leader, properly dressed, as you would be... [more]

Troop 483 FAQ

Posted to Lone Star Scouter on November 14th, 2008

Remember that list of questions I posted a few days ago? Well, it received a comment that made me think that perhaps this blog needs a FAQ page. In that spirit, I've created one and taken a personal challenge to answer all those questions for... [more]

Mike Rowe, and Earning Your Eagle

Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on November 14th, 2008

You have got to check this out. Mike Rowe, the star of the television show Dirty Jobs , recently wrote a post to his blog in response to a letter written by a parent of a Boy Scout who wants to quit Scouting because it is not "cool" to his friends... [more]

Weekend Patrol Box #10

Posted to ScoutSigns on November 14th, 2008

Cold and blustery are coming your way. Make sure that your patrol box is stocked with plenty of coffee (sugar and cream, if you like that) and hot chocolate mix to get through the weekend. And extra cups. Why do some of the Scouts always forget to... [more]

Fire-free Smores

Posted to The Trainer's Corner Blog on November 14th, 2008

Hello fellow Scouters, Happy Friday to you! As you know, it's just not a Cub Scout campout without smores. There's something about the combination of chocolate, roasted marshmallow, and graham crackers that can't be beat. But what if you don't have... [more]

A-MAZE-ing Games - Official Theme Description

Posted to KISMIF - Awesome Cub Scouting on November 14th, 2008

The January 2009 Cub Scout Monthly Theme is â A-MAZE-ing Games .â Here is the official BSA theme description: "January is a good time for indoor fun. Make and solve puzzles. Stump your friends with riddles. Build a maze, do crossword puzzles, and... [more]

Long Term Weather Forecasting

Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on November 14th, 2008

After long preparation and excited anticipation our annual backpacking trip looked like a real washout - rain from Friday night to Sunday morning. Enduring a couple of days of rain is not anyone's idea of a great time so we are postponing... [more]

Fillable Locat Tour Permit

Posted to Scoutmaster Musings on November 13th, 2008

You can type and save information in the Online Local Tour Permit as part of your Campout Planning process . This saves a bunch of time since a lot of the data is the same from one trip to the next. Folks should be running out of excuses to not... [more]

Please welcome Robin!

Posted to Lone Star Scouter on November 13th, 2008

Robin is joining the blog to give us insight as "The Boss", as she's commonly known in the troop. She got that name because she is the one who keeps us all, scouts and adults, in order. First and foremost, she (with her husband Mike) is a parent... [more]

Athlete Resources

Posted to KISMIF - Awesome Cub Scouting on November 13th, 2008

As with all the Webelos activity badges, the best resources for Athlete are the Webelos Handbook and the Webelos Leader Guide . Here are some other Athlete resources that may be helpful: Meritbadge.org Athlete Worksheet (pdf) Buckeye (SHAC) Athlete... [more]

Tbird National Jamboree Blog

Posted to The Scoutmaster Minute on November 13th, 2008

For those of you that follow my blog, I have created a blog for the members of the Thunderbird Area that have registered for the 2010 National Jamboree! It will be a conduit of information and news to keep up with National Jamboree events, time... [more]

Hamburger Casserole

Posted to Lone Star Scouter on November 12th, 2008

1-1 1/2 pounds lean hamburger 1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup 1 pkg. Velveta Sliced cheese or Pepper Jack 1 bag frozen Tater Tots In foil lined 10-12 quart dutch oven spread the cooked meat evenly. Spead the soup on top of the meat layer. Do not add... [more]

Patrol Method Made Simple

Posted to Lone Star Scouter on November 12th, 2008

Thanks goes out to Scoutmaster for this post I found on his site when trying to decide how to best describe the patrol method. Scout troops are built on the principle that "(the) unit is the natural gang of the boy, led by its own boy leader."... [more]

Age and Guile Wins Most of the Time

Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on November 12th, 2008

I cannot outrun my Scouts. They are faster, more agile and a few of the older ones are bigger and stronger. However I will always be older and wiser. Thankfully I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I have had any significant... [more]

Webelos to Scout Transition - Part 3

Posted to The Trainer's Corner Blog on November 12th, 2008

Hello fellow Scouters, This is part 3 in my take on Webelos to Scout transition, this time dealing with the patrol method of scouting. In Boy Scouts, the patrol method is used to teach the boys to work as a team, sharing responsibilities to help... [more]

Backpacking Tip of the Week

Posted to The Scoutmaster Minute on November 12th, 2008

Backpacking puts you out into the wilderness, away from the hustle and bustle of every day life.. away from cars and phones and immediate care. It is important that we enter the wilderness area with a solid foundation of camping skills. First Aid,... [more]

November 2008 Balooâs Bugle - December (Holiday Lights) Theme

Posted to KISMIF - Awesome Cub Scouting on November 12th, 2008

The November 2008 Balooâs Bugle (by Commissioner Dave) is now available for free download. It has games, activities, ceremonies, puzzles, crafts, and other ideas for den and pack meetings for the December 2008 monthly theme ( Holiday Lights ) . For... [more]

Norovirus FAQ

Posted to BSA Health and Safety Alerts on November 12th, 2008

... [more]

Cheap Gear

Posted to Scoutmaster Musings on November 11th, 2008

Last year, I wrote about our Alps Mountaineering tents we purchased online from... [more]

ISCA to Host 2009 Pre-NOAC TOR

Posted to Scouting News on November 11th, 2008

The International Scouting Collector Association (ISCA) has announced that it will host the 2009 Pre - National Order of the Arrow Conference Trade-O-Ree in partnership with the Order of the Arrow. The Trade-O-Ree will be held on campus (Indiana... [more]

To those that served

Posted to The Scoutmaster Minute on November 11th, 2008

Today we honor all of those that have served in the forces that protect our Country and preserve our way of life with Pride and Honor. Thank you for your commitment, selfless service, and dedication to keeping our Nation free. Happy Veterans Day!... [more]

MSPP #54: Star Trekking: The Next Generation

Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on November 11th, 2008

Okay, okay. If you have been reading this blog and watching these podcasts you probably know about a skit the troop developed based on the song Star Trekking by The Firm. It became one of the most popular skits ever made up by Troop 68. The skit... [more]

Veterans Day

Posted to Scouting News on November 11th, 2008

Please take " A Pittance of Time " to remember the sacrifices of those who have sacrificed so much for their Country. I've tried for the last five hours to put into words what it means to a Veteran when other Americans show their support, but I... [more]

BSA Innovation Engine

Posted to KISMIF - Awesome Cub Scouting on November 11th, 2008

BSA Innovation Engine is a cool new website from BSA National. It is a forum for ideas and suggestions on how to improve BSA programs and operations . Those who participate can make suggestions and also can vote "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" on... [more]

In Memorium: Joseph J. Davis, Sr.

Posted to Scouting News on November 11th, 2008

On Saturday October 25, 2008, Frederick Countyâs oldest Eagle Scout, Joseph J. Davis, Sr., passed away at age 96. âUncle Joeâ was a lifetime Boy Scout, having entered the Scouting program in 1924 at age 12 in Troop 39 of Manchester, NY and served... [more]

Test Posts

Posted to HalfEagle.com Blog on November 11th, 2008

Baloo's Bugle for November's RT and December's Theme - Holiday Lights is now on-line!

Posted to U.S. Scouting Service Project on November 11th, 2008

The newest edition of Baloo's Bugle is now available in Word.doc and Adobe.pdf This month Cub Scouts will share their Holiday Traditions with others in the pack and in the community. Lights on a Christmas Tree, candles on a Menorah for Hannukah,... [more]

Truisms, Axioms, or even Maxims

Posted to Chairman's Chat - A Pack Committee Blog on November 10th, 2008

A truism is a claim that is so obvious or self-evident as to be hardly worth mentioning, except as a reminder or as a rhetorical or literary device. An axiom is a principle that is accepted as true without proof. A maxim is a brief... [more]

Campout Follow Up

Posted to The Trainer's Corner Blog on November 10th, 2008

Hello fellow Scouters, Happy Monday to you all! As I wrote on Friday, we had our Webelos Woods campout this weekend. The Boy Scouts did an excellent job of providing an experience that mixed Scouting skills and plain old fun for our Webelos. I will... [more]

Fall Campout

Posted to KISMIF - Awesome Cub Scouting on November 10th, 2008

We had our fall Pack 19 campout this weekend. I think it went very well. We stayed at Devil's Den State Park . This was our third pack overnighter, and it was our largest camping group yet . We had about 20 Cub Scout families camping with us... [more]

Yes We Can

Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on November 10th, 2008

As I have noted before politics and Scouting don't mix. Political campaigns can test our patience and bruise our spirits. We can be disappointed or thrilled with the ultimate outcome but whatever befalls over the next four years we all... [more]

BSA Innovation Engine

Posted to Scouting News on November 10th, 2008

The National Council has set up a BSA Innovation Engine to manage new ideas for the Scouting Program. You can see a video from Chief Scout Executive Bob Mazzuca that explains the concept, there is also a Frequently Asked Question section. Currently... [more]

Picture of the Week

Posted to Lone Star Scouter on November 10th, 2008

Troop 483's annual trip to Enchanted Rock in Fredericksburg, TX is looked forward to by scouts of all ages and ranks. Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã ... [more]

No Show Tonight

Posted to An Hour A Week? on November 10th, 2008

I'm tired and I broke a toe. I don't think there is much I can talk about tonight... [more]

Athlete Requirements

Posted to KISMIF - Awesome Cub Scouting on November 9th, 2008

One of the official suggested Webelos activity badges for March is Athlete . Here are the requirements for the Athlete Webelos activity badge : Do these: 1. With your parent, guardian, or Webelos den leader, complete the Perseverance Character... [more]

Cool Patches

Posted to Scoutmaster Musings on November 9th, 2008

How do you like the cool patch for this year's Scoutorama? Every Webelos scout that participates gets one as a souvenir. Everyone really liked how they turned out this year. I just wanted to mention that we had a great experience working with... [more]

Country First

Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on November 8th, 2008

Senator John McCain ended his presidential campaign with words befitting the bravery, loyalty and heroism that shaped him as an invaluable American patriot. Here are some excerpts I find especially inspiring A little while ago, I had the honor of... [more]

Call Mom

Posted to Scoutmaster Musings on November 7th, 2008

You've seen decals on the backs of semis and delivery trucks like: How's My Driving? Call 1-800-123-1234 Well, at the high school this morning I saw one that was new for me all the way across the back window of an SUV. I thought it was pretty cute,... [more]

Merit Badge of the Week: Architecture

Posted to ScoutSigns on November 7th, 2008

Architecture brings to mind images of great churches, ancient buildings like the Acropolis, and the Taj Mahal. It should also bring to mind your post office, where you live and go to school. Architecture is about the structure and construction of... [more]

Webelos to Scout Transition - Part 2

Posted to The Trainer's Corner Blog on November 7th, 2008

Hello fellow Scouters, Happy Friday to you all! Me and my son are headed out early today to our council's Webelos Woods campout. (For those of you in colder climates, we here in Southern California get to camp all year. This weekend will be a "cool... [more]

The hazards of not saying no.

Posted to Chairman's Chat - A Pack Committee Blog on November 7th, 2008

I have intended to update the blog recently, but truth be told I have spent the two weeks trying to relax and de-stress. This Wedensday, I left work feeling ill. I'm still not 100%, but I'm back at the grindstone. I think this is one time my farm... [more]

5th Grader Graduation Poll Results

Posted to KISMIF - Awesome Cub Scouting on November 7th, 2008

As of today, here are the results of the October 15 poll asking "What month in 2009 will your pack graduate your 5th grade Webelos Scouts?" About 75% of the respondents said their 2009 5th grader graduation will be in February or March. Thanks to... [more]

December 2008 (Holiday Lights) DMIAB

Posted to KISMIF - Awesome Cub Scouting on November 7th, 2008

The December 2008 ( Holiday Lights ) Den Meeting in a Box is now available from BSA Supply Group for Tiger, Wolf, or Bear den meetings. It is $37.49 and includes ten â Let There Be Light! â booklets, a kit that makes ten stick star ornaments, ten... [more]

Scoutingâs Gifts for Peace Report

Posted to Scouting News on November 7th, 2008

The World Scout Bureau has released a report titled " Scouting's Gifts for Peace ". The Gifts for Peace report contains truly inspirational projects from over 110 National Scout Organizations, as well as beautiful photos of many of the projects. In... [more]

Sportsman Resources

Posted to KISMIF - Awesome Cub Scouting on November 6th, 2008

As with all the Webelos activity badges, the best resources for Sportsman are the Webelos Handbook and the Webelos Leader Guide . Here are some other Sportsman resources that may be helpful: Meritbadge.org Sportsman Worksheet (pdf) Buckeye (SHAC)... [more]

Greatness

Posted to The Scoutmaster Minute on November 6th, 2008

In the Shakespeare play Twelfth Night Malvolio reads; "Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them." Like I have said before, Leaders are not born they are made. Some men seem to... [more]

Some Scouting News Updates

Posted to Scouting News on November 6th, 2008

Changes all aroundÃ¢â¬Â¦ I just wanted to take a moment to alert Scouting News readers of a few changes that have occurred around here, and a few that are in the works. 1) If you are subscribed to the Scouting News RSS feed, you will notice it is... [more]

No Winners? No Way!

Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on November 5th, 2008

There are some people in our society that think children should play games in which there are no clear winners. They think everyone should be a winner so that nobody's feelings get hurt. There are some people in Boy Scouting that share these same... [more]

Important Questions

Posted to Lone Star Scouter on November 5th, 2008

When visiting troops, Webelos parents come with a lot of questions; but they don't always know everything to ask. The old philosophy still applies. There are no stupid questions. Ask away!!! Over the years, there is a common set of questions... [more]

The Scouting On-line Community

Posted to The Trainer's Corner Blog on November 5th, 2008

Hello fellow Scouters, The National Boy Scout of America recently rolled out a new Scouting on-line community. This is a social network site that brings leaders together. It's still in beta form, and there will no doubt be a lot of modifications... [more]

Nov. 2008 Cubcast (Dec. Theme: Holiday Lights)

Posted to KISMIF - Awesome Cub Scouting on November 5th, 2008

The November 2008 Cubcast from BSA National is available (free). It has ideas for den meetings and more utilizing the December â Holiday Lights â theme. The program also has a lot of information about the Cub Scouting courses available at Philmont... [more]

America Elects the Next Honorary President of the Boy Scouts of America?

Posted to Scouting News on November 5th, 2008

As you are well aware, Barack Obama is now the President Elect of the United States of America. No matter how you looked at the election, it was going to be historic. If the Republican candidates won the election, America would have its first... [more]

Blue Tuesday

Posted to Scoutmaster Musings on November 5th, 2008

I was curious about where the connection between Democrat=Blue and Republican=Red started. It seems like it's always been that way, but it's actually only from this century. NBC was the first station to use red and blue to show states won, but in... [more]

Election Day

Posted to The Scoutmaster Minute on November 5th, 2008

Hope that everyone of you that are eligible to vote did so. Voting is not just a Right...it is a responsibility. Have a Great Scouting Day!... [more]

Decisions and influence

Posted to The Scoutmaster Minute on November 5th, 2008

There are things in our lives that influence every decision we make. Whether that influence comes from within, as in those experiences we have from places we have been, things we have done, that which we have learned, or from outside sources like... [more]

An Hour A Week? #161

Posted to An Hour A Week? on November 4th, 2008

Show #161-Day In Day Out No tricks on this show, only treats. My Scouting career shake-up, October Pack Meeting, Fall Campout, an Eagle Court of Honor, Girl Scouts, Lion Cubs, and some 70's music suggestions. Links: New Scouting Community 1st St... [more]

New National Volunteer Committee Structure

Posted to Scouting News on November 4th, 2008

Back in July, Scouting News reported that the National Council reorganized its professional staff . Following suit, last month the National Volunteer Committee Structure was reorganized. As you can see there are four types of committees: Standing,... [more]

Webelos Scoutarama

Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on November 4th, 2008

A very promising recruitment strategy mentioned at the Scoutmaster Musings blog: The Scoutorama is 3 hours of scout skill activities, lunch, and scout games. We've created a fun way for the Webelos to spend a little time with every patrol in... [more]

Webelos Visits

Posted to Lone Star Scouter on November 3rd, 2008

The time has come that Webelos will visiting all our troops. Personally, our troop is a big fan of having them stop by any time so they can see what we're about. We always recommend they do just that when they come in for a planned visit. I'm... [more]

New National Sea Scout Commodore

Posted to Scouting News on November 3rd, 2008

The National Sea Scout Committee has selected a new National Sea Scout Commodore. Mr. Charles D. Wurster took over the title from the outgoing Commodore Mrs. Jimmie Homburg. Mr. Wurster posted a letter of introduction (quoted below) on the Sea... [more]

Another Use for Kerchief Slides

Posted to The Trainer's Corner Blog on November 3rd, 2008

Hello fellow Scouters, I have a feeling most who read this blog are very familiar with the fun you can have with kerchief slides. You know that anything that can be hot glued to a section of PVC pipe can become a slide. This weekend, me and my 2nd... [more]

vote

Posted to Scoutmaster Musings on November 3rd, 2008

... [more]

Nov-Dec 2008 Scouting Magazine

Posted to KISMIF - Awesome Cub Scouting on November 3rd, 2008

The November-December 2008 issue of Scouting Magazine is now available at the magazine website. Link This issue has articles of interest to Cub Scouters on the following subjects: World's Longest Serving Den Mother (News Briefs) . Link Observing... [more]

Promotional Codes for Philips Medical

Posted to BSA Health and Safety Alerts on November 3rd, 2008

... [more]

Traditional CPR Technique Still Official

Posted to BSA Health and Safety Alerts on November 3rd, 2008

... [more]

Scouts and Backpacking

Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on November 3rd, 2008

Our Scouts enthusiastically take on the challenge of preparing, launching and completing a backpacking trip. As a Scoutmaster I appreciate the Patrol and skill building opportunities but the real reason we go backpacking is the sheer joy (often... [more]

Can you believe it?

Posted to The Scoutmaster Minute on November 3rd, 2008

It's hard to believe sometimes how time flies... We had a Troop committee meeting today, and as I sat and listened to the committee conduct it's business, I realized that it is November. Now before you think I am a total dope... Realizing it's... [more]

Texas Boy Scouts Help Prepare For Tree of Lights

Posted to Scouting News on November 3rd, 2008

A group of Boy Scouts donated their time this week, along with members of the New Braunfels Tree of Lights Committee, helping replace over 2500 light bulbs for the New Braunfels Tree-lighting event. In past years, only the bulbs that had burned out... [more]

Scoutorama

Posted to Scoutmaster Musings on November 2nd, 2008

The troop held its 4th annual Scoutorama on Saturday for the local Webelos to spend some time outside doing Boy Scout activities. The weather was just perfect and the day went great. The scoutorama is 3 hours of scout skill activities, lunch, and... [more]

And The Winner Is....

Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on November 2nd, 2008

Posted to Scouting News on November 1st, 2008

An interesting solution to a temporary skate park's liability: A local co-ed Boy Scout troop has agreed to take on the liability of hosting a temporary skate park in the parking lot of a local business - a proposal the council rejected because of... [more]

Create Scouting Certificates

Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on October 31st, 2008

I recently received an email from Greg Jameson asking me to review a new "widget" on his website that allows Scout leaders to create certificates for all kinds of functions, activities, and awards. I took a quick look at it, and to tell the truth... [more]

Should the Scout Law Add a Word?

Posted to Lone Star Scouter on October 31st, 2008

A scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. I think a thirteenth element should be added to the law. SAFE With that in mind, remind your scouts to be safe in all... [more]

Weekend Patrol Box #9

Posted to ScoutSigns on October 31st, 2008

Happy Halloween! And many of you will be remembering All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day . Trick-or-treating on a Friday night is a busy way to start the weekend. Going to be chilly tonight, and I'm taking my grandkids out with my younger children to... [more]

âBreaking Freeâ T-Shirt

Posted to KISMIF - Awesome Cub Scouting on October 31st, 2008

This is a neat looking Cub Scout t-shirt from BSA Supply Group. The heather grey shirt has a blue and yellow Cub Scout logo breaking through . It costs $9.99 and is available only in youth sizes. Link Posted in Clothing, CUB... [more]

2009 NESA Merit Scholarships

Posted to Scouting News on October 31st, 2008

Yesterday, we featured information on the National Eagle Scout Association Academic Scholarships , today the focus is on the NESA Merit Scholarships, tomorrow "Other" Eagle Scout Scholarships. The NESA Merit Scholarship is called the Hall/McElwain... [more]

Choosing a Camp site

Posted to The Scoutmaster Minute on October 31st, 2008

In interest of not rediscovering the wheel... I stumbled on this article by Mark Langston in Backpacker Magazine. Rather than paraphrase, I thought I would post it in its entirety. Enjoy. How to Choose a Campsite A NOLS veteran offers tips on... [more]