It sells itself
Last night I was asked to speak at a local Cub Scout Packs meeting/ recruiting event. It was fun to go hang out with the Cub Scouts a bit, but even more fun to see the young faces of Scouting's future.
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The Scoutmaster Minute
- Active 2008–2017
- Posts 1,066
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Showing 901–950 of 1,066 · page 19 of 22. Each title opens the post in a new tab.
What's in a name?
A couple weeks ago while at Camporee a group of Scout leaders and I had a discussion regarding discipline in their units. I had mentioned that our three goals for Camporee this year were to 1. Have Fun, 2. Drink lots of water, and 3.
Today is Memorial Day ! On this Memorial…
Today is Memorial Day ! On this Memorial day I would like to share with you a speech. This speech was delivered by MG (Ret) Robert H. Scales at Gettysburg on Memorial Day 2007. I present this to you as one of the people he is speaking to and of in the speech.
A short Video to say thanks
Tomorrow is Memorial Day. A day to say Thanks to all of those men and women that selflessly serve our Nation. Thursday evening the Scouts of Troop 664 joined the rest of the Thunderbird District at Willamette National Cemetery to participate in the Flag placement Ceremony and then place an small American Flag on the…
To be so Honored
In my life time, I have had the opportunity to be honored for many achievements. Not tooting my horn, but it is fair to say that in 21 years in the Army and many years a Scouter, accolades and recognition comes your way.
Pride and Community (opens in a new tab)
Ok... so based on the title.. where is he going with this? Pride in the Community? Pride for ones Community? Proud to be a part of the Community? None of the above. Or all of the above. This week is a proud week for me, there are a lot of events and gathering that foster…
Camporee 2009 Video
He a quick video of a group of Scouts I am extremely proud of. Going into Camporee this year our goal was simply to have fun. With as many new Scouts as we have, the expectation of Top Troop was unrealistic, and that's ok.
Meal of the week (opens in a new tab)
A real fast and easy backpacking meal. Chicken Tetrazzini 1 cup water 1 pkg mushroom soup mix 1 pkg Ramen noodles 1 can chicken (5 oz) BEFORE CAMP: Mix dry ingredients at home. (Do not include Ramen noodle sauce mix.)
The Scoutmaster Minute Show #33- FINALLY!
Planning and Preparing for your next out door experience should start with Leave no Trace. Leave No Trace is a Nationally recognized program that has been adopted by the Boy Scouts of America to enhance our out door ethic and reinforce in our Scouts and attitude about good stewardship and respect of our back country.
A little Elbow grease (opens in a new tab)
It's amazing how a little elbow grease proves to come with many rewards. I had a discussion recently with a parent of one of our Scouts. The parent was concerned about their Scouts lack of... well lets say... enthusiasm when it came to chores around the house.
Selfless Promotion (opens in a new tab)
After a month of domain issues... broken links... weird feed issues.. and of course yours truly being a total dunce when it comes to all things computer... I think I have finally (cross your fingers) fixed the issues. And I am back in the mix.
To Selflessly Serve (opens in a new tab)
Do a Good Turn Daily... thats the Slogan that calls all Scouts and Scouters to look for opportunities to "Help other People at all times." Opportunities to help are all around you. Holding a door open for someone, carrying a bag of groceries, or just simply offering a smile to someone that looks down.
BP Journey Blog
I updated my Backpacking blog today. Some pictures and a somewhat review of the Backpack trip up Eagle Creek. You can check it out at www.thebpjourney.blogspot.com Have a Great Scouting Day!
Hero's Memorial Dedication (opens in a new tab)
A special thank you to all of you Scouts that made the Troop very proud today at the Gresham Hero's memorial. John, George, Josh, Parker, Ethan, Lucas, Joshua, TJ, Terrance, James, and Doyle! You all made us proud as you participated in one of the City of Gresham's finest hours.
Adult Leader Roles (opens in a new tab)
Tonight at our Troop Committee meeting I reminded the Committee that we are in need of a 5th Assistant Scoutmaster. It prompted the discussion of roles of the ASM's. We have had this discussion before, but in light of the size of the Troop it was worth bringing up again.
SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE
Alvin Townley , author of Legacy of Honor has completed his second book. I was fortunate enough to be contacted and received an advanced copy (proof) and then a completed copy. Let me tell you that Alvin wrote a winner here.
Boys are Boys
While on a recent Backpack trip with my Troop I had the opportunity to do something that I really love... Learn. Yes, I learned something about young men. The bottom line up front is that Boys are Boys. Let me explain.
Slight name Change
As you may see the sight is now.. www.thescoutmasterminute.net I have been fighting what seems to be tooth and nail with the domain host and finally just caved in and went a new route. Sometimes that is just the best course of action.
A Real Scouting Hero
Have a Great Scouting Day!...
and a Word of Thanks
Sorry, I should have mentioned this in my last post.. but thanks to all the great Scouting Friends out there that have sent emails and twits... (I think that's what you call them). Everything is fine, like I said, just needed a break.
Still alive... just needed a break
Hello everyone . As you can see by the dates on the blog, it has been a while since my last post. Call it what you will.. I needed a break... I took one, and now I am back. A few days at the beautiful Oregon Coast, some time to think and reflect and I am…
Backpacking Tip of the Week
This Backpacking tip of the week is from my good buddie Gary J. He sends a tip about the ever so famous "Sham Wow!" Carry a large ShamWow towel and use it as a clothes wringer. Wash out your t shirt, sox, etc.
Auto renew and the PCT
It looks like the "AUTO RENEW" feature from Blogger is less than effective. The statements says it was renewed, but the site failed to do so. So... it looks like I will be using the old format for at least a while till it is fixed.
Something seems to be wrong
For some reason www.thescoutmasterminute.com is not working properly. I am working on getting this fixed. Please be patient and we will get to the bottom of this as soon as possible. Have a Great Scouting Day!
Scout What we are
Just because... this is worth the time to watch. What and who we are.
Plan Ahead and Prepare
Wilderness is a necessity...a fountain of life... thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people who are beginning to find out that going to the mountain is going home; that wilderness is a necessity; that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life."
A recent find... we could learn a lot from!
From the Chief Scout Yarns January 24, 1920 THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE SCOUTS The story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves is really an old Arab tale, and was first written in Bagdad. The Boy Scouts of Bagdad recently got up the play of Ali Baba.
Wow, it's been a week
Its been a real busy week for me , as you can tell, it's been a week since I last posted. So today I thought I'd drop a note and give a little recap about whats going on with me and Scouting.
Super Hero
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A Burning Word
Here is a message from Baden Powell from the Chief Scout yarns... from 1919 to today.. timeless message. April 05, 1919 A BURNING WORD There was a man named Garnier who wanted to know whether monkeys talked to each other with any meaning when they chatter.
Showing Respect (opens in a new tab)
To get Respect you have to give respect. It really is that simple. As a Scoutmaster, I think it is important to show how to live by showing the Scouts how I live. My actions speak louder than my many words.
How much can you get on the plate
The Full Plate" always the go to analogy when talking about how busy our lives are. We hear the excuses, or the justifications for a life filled with activity, work, and chores that preclude us from participating in one thing or another.
Friends
I recently listened to a podcast about a guy that thru hiked the Continental Divide Trail as a Yo Yo.. that is when you complete the hike, then turn around and do it again, returning to where you began, in one trip.
Wood Badge thoughts (opens in a new tab)
Yesterday I attended the new Nationally required Trainers EDGE course. It is a requirement for all Scouters that wish to Staff for Wood Badge. It was just what I needed to get my Scouting Batteries charged and pumped to take another path on Scouting's amazing trail.
Paddle your own Canoe
A canoe trip is like a voyage of life. An old 'un ought to hand on piloting hints. The only true Success is Happiness. Two steps to Happiness are: Taking life as a game and giving out Love. Happiness is not mere pleasure not the outcome of wealth.
J Falk Wood Fuel Stove
Another fantastic camp out with the Scouts from Troop 664. I took the opportunity to try out a J Falk Wood Fuel Stove this weekend. Jason Klass from Gear Talk sent me one to try out. I really like the stove.
Courteous
The 5th point of the Scout Law tells us to be Courteous. The other night as our Troop camped on the Oregon Coast we had an opportunity to discuss this fine point of the law. You see, it seems that some of the Scouts did not understand the difference between having fun and being disrespectful.
Backpacking tip of the Week
Tip of the Week went a bit more techie... well it's on video anyway.. Enjoy. Have a Great Scouting Day!
Concerned Eagle Scout
I received an email from a "Concerned Eagle Scout" Today. Mr. "Concerned Eagle Scout" has concerns about justifying FOS dollars. And I can appreciate "Concerned Eagle Scouts"concerns. His biggest issue seems to be the cost of Scouting. Well.. let me share his email with you.
I'll share my Spoon
A holy man was having a conversation with God one day and said, "God , I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like." God led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in.
Program.. Program.. Program...
The secret to a successful troop ... Program, Program, Program... Well that is at least a big part of the equation when looking at a successful troop. Here is what I mean. I call it the "Field of Dreams" philosophy. IF YOU BUILD IT THEY WILL COME!
Crossing the Green Line
You know that I love sporting analogies... In baseball the Coach or Manager always has to remember the "White Line". The "White Line" is the base line that the manager is not supposed to cross the white line during the course of the game.
Yagoddawanna
In the great Northwest where I live, I met a mountain man and he knew how to get many things done with very little resources. He had almost nothing to work with, but accomplished great things. Whether the task was to build a fire underwater or stop a waterfall from falling, it seemed he could…
The Hiking Stick
The hiking Stick or Stave or staff traditionally has been a part of Scouting. Baden Powell talked of the hiking stick and its many uses when he started the Scouting Movement. The Hiking stick is made of strong wood, not just any old stick, it is solid and steadfast.
Weekend Recap
Well it was another great weekend of Scouting. Busy, but lots of fun and I got to do what I love to do the most in Scouting... Recognize those Scouts that work hard and participate in this wonderful program. First, our Order of the Arrow Chapter held it's annual Pow Wow weekend.
Example of Leadership
As I am a student of leadership, always wanting to know more and constantly on the look out for examples of good leadership, we have recently been handed a great example. Last month Captain Chesley Sullenberger landed a fully loaded airplane on the Hudson river.
Giving back
I often talk, or write, about developing the value of selfless service or giving back in our Scouts. In our Troop we have a couple Scouts that are in the process of earning their Eagle Award. If you look at the requirements for earning the Eagle Award you will find that it requires the Scout…
An Election of their Peers
Throughout the year we hold elections in the Troop. (Adults never get a vote) We elect Patrol leaders, Senior Patrol Leaders, and within the Patrols they hold all kinds of "elections" to get things done. There is one election we do each year that the boys seem to take just a bit more serious, and…
You can't turn it off
Being a Scoutmaster is a great privilege, and one that I do not take lightly. At a recent Scoutmaster/Assistant Scoutmaster training event I was talking with a group of soon to be Scoutmasters and ASMs. We were talking about our roles as they apply to activities out side of Scouting.
Merit Badge program question
First I want to thank all the readers of the blog and listeners of the podcast for having the confidence in me or at valuing my opinion. The reason I write this is because over the last year or so emails flood my inbox asking questions, giving me feed back, and asking for my opinion.