The Bloggers
Original site: commissionerkeith.blogspot.com (opens in a new tab) ↗
Showing 101–150 of 165 · page 3 of 4. Each title opens the post in a new tab.
I was introduced to the Friendship Knot by a scouter friend (which is is redundant as all scouts are friends) and he had this knot tied in the tails of his neckerchief. The knot itself is a unique thing in itself as the legend is that the knot must be tied by someone else and…
I like being a part of the scouting movement because it is ever changing and evolving into a whole new program. For instance: Baden Powell never taught the original scouts about composite materials nor GPS systems but I am sure that he would have been prepared to teach a course on that.
Coming around the bend is the most exciting time for boys that are about to join the world's oldest youth program. We are about to roundup new scouts and prospective scout leaders through the use of boy talks and open houses.
I finally was able to return to Camp Bear Paw to camp a full week-first time since I received my Eagle medal 33 years ago and I was able to get reacquainted with the same roots and rocks that I tripped over.
T'was the night before summer camp and the Commissioner was frantically packing for the week's long retreat and once again I vowed to never wait until the last minute to pack for camp. Where's my flashlight? Where's my mess kit?
I have been involved with various scouting programs throughout the world and the common denominator with each scout program is getting today's youth outdoors. This has been one of the founding principles within the scouting movement. It is the draw that brings children from all walks of life into the program.
I remember not to long ago, at a Mom and Son camp, I witnessed a group of cub scouts grouped in a circle near the old chow hall staring at the ground when one of the young cub's mother joined the group.
...
Commissioner Keith's Tent-Not!!! I am going off to camp and I am returning to Camp Bear Paw and I haven't been there to camp since I received my Eagle medal 33 years ago. Oh I have visited Bear Paw since that time, serving as a staff member on a few Mom and Son camp events…
On Monday, July 13, 2009, the Israeli Scouts friendship caravan performed an hour long concert at Congregation Cnesses Israel in Green Bay. For over 35 years the Tzofim (Israeli Boy and Girl Scouts) have been sending troops of 10 Boy and Girl Scouts to North America, called the Tzofim Friendship Caravan.
Nature's Fireworks. Happy Independence Day everyone! The 4 th of July is one of my favorite holidays and it isn't because I get time off from work but rather because of what the colonists fought for and believed in to give birth to a new nation and due to those beliefs, I will now give…
I have been a strong proponent of leadership training ever since I went though my new leader essentials training as a Tiger Coach and that was several years ago and I have since learned through my interaction with my scout friends in other countries (I have been involved in communication with some 35 countries with…
...an interesting title, isn't it? Imagine what the world today would be like if scouting was a mandatory program that everyone in the world had to be a part of. Let's start with the political leaders: If all of our government leaders were scouts and/or scouters and had to live up to their oath and…
I have been a part of scouting for most of my life or should I say scouting has been a part of most of my life. Growing up in a family that has seen its share of scout leaders, both grandfathers and my father, we scout leaders, and an uncle that was a scout himself…
Bear Grylls appointed new Chief Scout in the UK On 18 th May 2009, The Scout Association announced Bear Grylls ' appointment as the tenth and youngest Chief Scout of the United Kingdom and Overseas Territories. Bear is one of the UK's great outdoor adventurers; he is also a strong supporter of young people as seen…
This past Saturday, I had the pleasure in participating in another Eagle Scout court of honor and I cannot tell you what is means to me to watch a court of honor of this magnitude let alone be a participant in one.
Yesterday, I helped clean out my son's boy scout troop's garage and found several items that reminded me of a time when I was a Tenderfoot in that same unit. Some of the tents still remain from when I was in the unit in the '70's and probably some of the old patrol cook kits…
Recently someone asked me what makes a great scout leader? I replied, "To be a great scout leader requires a person that will never ask the scouts to do something that they wouldn't do themselves, a strong belief in the program and the scouts, the williness to be silly and yet be able to teach…
I love this weekend and not because it is a 3 day weekend but what it means to me. Yes, this is the annual kickoff of the summer season but it is the time we need to remember what Memorial Day is all about.
I love this time of year when I can put away my winter camping gear and break out the summertime camp inventory. Winter camping is not my cup of tea but I will do so but I really prefer Spring, Summer, and Fall camping the best.
Yesterday I helped with the BALOO training session, which was held at Camp Rokilio , and I am aways amazed at the number of people now jumping at the chance to take advantage of training made available by Bay-Lakes Council. Although the class size was one of the smaller classes, the attitude has recently changed from…
I wanted to start buy wishing all Mothers in this world a very "Happy Mother's Day," and in their honor I would like to salute all of the present, past, and future Moms that have chosen to become leaders in their son's scout units.
Yesterday I had the privilege of meeting up with a former scout friend of mine whom I haven't seen in better than 20 yrs. Not that it was that unusual but he was the scout that could have cared less about the merit badges and awards when he was in the troop with me...loved the…
When I first joined scouting as a Cub Scout, I thought that the program was set up only for the Pack that I was a part of. We never saw another unit within our District until it was time for the Scout-o- rama .
Today I had the opportunity to watch a cub pack of mine sell hamburgers, brats, and hot dogs at a local quick mart (gas station and convenience store). It was nothing to unusual but as a struggling pack they put up flyer's and ads to promote the fundraiser and at the bottom of the ad…
I remember my first SPL in Troop 2 (36 years ago) and he was, what I thought, one of the biggest jerks around. One of the first awards I earned in that troop was the Citizen skill award and my SPL was the one that would pass or fail you depending upon how well you…
Tonight I had the pleasure of presenting the Trained patches to a cub pack that is now 100% trained and this was special as getting the unit leaders to step up for training was a feat in itself. This unit's experience with the support from our District and Council staff had left a bitter taste…
Tonight I had the privilege of attending a boy scout troop cast iron chef contest. What a better way to test the metal of each and every scout's cooking skills and expertise! Scouts are given a meal to cook whether it is breakfast, lunch/dinner, or dessert.
During 1929, the Scout Movement celebrated its 21st birthday by holding a World Jamboree at Arrowe Park near Birkenhead , England. To mark the occasion, Scouts from all over the world were invited to contribute one penny toward a suitable gift to the Founder and Chief Scout Lord Baden Powell.
This posting is not about rattlesnake strikes and how to apply first aid or about how to avoid being bitten so I am sorry to disappoint the reader if that is what you were looking for even though those are worthy topics to discuss.
Summertime and the livin ' is easy....fish are jumpin '..." Summertime is my favorite time of year as the weather gets hot and the days are long. The perfect time for scouting events in the great outdoors. Camping is the number activity with most units but scouts can do so much more during the break from school.
Another District derby and rain gutter regatta is officially in the books and it is time for the ships and cars to ride off into the 2009 sunset. The event was a huge success in spite of some of the parents attempting to severely bend the rules to their favor (to no avail).
Today I have the luxury of riding to the site where our District is holding the pinewood derby event and I met some interesting people...non scouters or not currently involved in scouting. One was a manager of a fast food sub/pizza chain and he is allowing the scouts to sell subs and pizza at the…
Tuesday, March 24th, while on an outing at the Shawano Recreation Center pool, Wolf Cub Scout Hunter Vincent of Pack 3024 went under water. Several members of the group immediately called for assistance from the lifeguards on duty and one of the volunteer parents, who is a paramedic, immediately administered CPR.
Strange title for a post that is typically about scouting. "A Whack on the Side of the Head," by Roger von Oech was the first book that I read in college that really got me thinking outside of the box.
I use to think that achieving success was something one could only appreciate for themself and receive some type of award for being successful. A personal victory. Boy, was I wrong! When I was in cub scouts the only thing that seemed to really matter was how quickly I could master a specific task for…
When I was a young boy, I would often take road trips with my grandfather while he delivered he candy orders to his customers. Most of these road trips were very uneventful, in fact, most of the time they were pretty boring for me.
I was thinking about writing a post about great leadership and what makes a great leader but instead I am writing a post on my Heroes: People that I admire and just happen to be great leaders in their own rite.
I have been an adult leader for approximately 12yrs. now and I am a firm believer the the Boy Scouts of America has cornered the market on available training for scouts and scouters. Access to this training is easy and the information provided is more than helpful to anyone that chooses to seek further knowledge…
I have a daughter and she has attended more scout meetings than I can remember ...partly because I was a Cub Scout Leader for my son's unit and I am now a part of a Boy Scout troop and also because of my Commissioner responsibilities (she is too young yet to stay home alone).
I once was a part of a conversation, while at work, on what the most amazing thing in the world was today. One of my friends was talking about the new medical techniques now available to people that allow people to have major surgery and not be layed up for an extended periods of time…
As a Commissioner for Voyageur District, I get the luxury of visiting several boy scout units that I service and I often will visit some of those units attending camp at one of our many Council camps. Usually the visitations often come with an unplanned meal.
This is the time of year that I dislike the most...Sprinter. You know the the time where Mother Nature gives you a taste of 40-50' weather one day and a snowstorm the next. This is the time where the snow looks dirty, the ground is soggy and you can not get comfortable camping in the…
Did I get your attention? In all of the years of scouting, that I have been a part of, I found that the scout camps that I once went to are haunted. Sure, we had our ghost stories but this is much different.
Most drivers when approaching a Bridge Out sign would know that they must stop before they run out of road or put themselves into immediate danger. Are we doing that with the transitional scouts? ...Could be. Many scouts will drop from the program because they have not been give the full information of what lies…
Happy Thanksgiving one and all! What!?! Did I read that right? Yes, February is a time for all scouts to give thanks to our Founder of the Scouting program: Lord Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell. Lord Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell was born on Feb 22, 1857, and the world celebrates Founder's Day on the 22 nd…
When I was first approached, by Rod Goldhahn , to take over as the Voyageur District Chairman for the Webelos to Scout Transitions program, I had many initial misgivings. No one had been doing that job for almost 20 yrs. Webelos Woods was no longer a part of the Voyageur District program and worse yet was…
JOTT is fast approaching again and this year the event is Saturday, May 9 th , 2009. Jamboree on the Trail is an international scouting event where scouts and scouters take to the trails in their areas to promote scouting in the outdoors.
...Let's see: Scout Shirt....Check. Scout Pants...Check. Scout Socks...Check Garters and tabs ...Check and check again. Scout Belt......Check. Neckerchief...Check. Woggle ...........Check. Scout hat...... (garrison, red beret, or campaign) Check. Merit Badge sash....Check. Scout Book...Check. Progress pocket book...Check. Scout boots...Che....what!?! There were Scout hiking shoes?
It's that time of year again where the volunteers go out and solicit for funding for the world's oldest youth movement. Friends of scouting is upon us and the program cannot survive without the additional funding from families and the corporate world.
