The Bloggers
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Day 77: The skills training and big game were done outside at the troop meeting. It's been a long winter, and today it looks like it's not quite finished, but having more daylight and warmer temps means the scouts can spend more of the troop meeting time outside - hopefully the whole meeting.
He is Risen. He is Risen, indeed! I'll be at church this morning, then have the In-Laws visiting us the rest of the day. So, a day off from scouting. Scout On
Day 75: Two crews preparing for Philmont in June had their first 10-mile hike this morning. I don't get to do Philmont this year because there's a surplus of dads wanting to go, but I get to join them on the hikes since I'm the Hiking merit badge counselor.
Day 70: You never know where you'll find someone ready to chat about Scouting. Had my dental check this morning and mentioned to the lady doing the check that I had been camping with Scouts this past weekend. She proceeded to tell me all about her time as a Girl Scout leader - my part of…
Four new scouts survived their first (and probably most miserable for awhile) campout with the troop. Friday evening was cold and windy, but the tents got set up before the rain really started. The rain started, turned to sleet, then snow as the temperature dropped.
Day 67: I guess it all evens out in the long run. Last year, every weekend campout was warm weather. It was so warm in January that the snowhuts melted, everyone wore shorts camping in April. This winter we were camping during the season's deepest snowfall, the coldest night, and it looks like the last…
Day 65: A scout and his dad came over after school to fix a tent pole in his patrol's tent. Only took about 10 minutes and now he can help teach someone else the next time it's needed. He learned a figure eight stopper knot.
Day 63: The Robotics merit badge gets officially launched on Tuesday. I picked up the merit badge pamphlet at the scout shop today and it's pretty cool. You can see the requirements and worksheet on the Robotics merit badge page.
Day 59: Chatted with another hopeful Life scout about his Eagle project idea this evening. We talk about an idea before the scout puts hours into the project workbook only to find out it's not appropriate. We discussed the main topics of: Who benefits from the project?
Day 57: Not a good day for crews preparing for Philmont treks this summer. We have two crews excited to cover miles in New Mexico and they were supposed to put in for their trek choices on the Philmont Scout Ranch site today.
This is just a test of taking and posting pictures from the trail.I hope to post pics from the Appalachian Trail next summer using a cellphone. View my Hike Progress
Day 55: Completed the ARC Wilderness Remote First Aid training for the Engineers Without Borders group this evening. That pretty much wraps up the weekend without much direct scouting going on. Spring Break started on Friday so most scouts are out of town and not looking for scoutmaster conferences or whatnot.
Day 53: I got to present CPR/AED training to MN members of Engineers Without Borders . The MN Chapter has done water and sanitation projects in Ghana, Uganda, and Haiti. They are active in Honduras and Guatemala. Talk about doing a "Good Turn"!
I'm sure you heard by now that the Robotics merit badge comes out this month. But, in a more subdued release, I saw that the Hunting merit badge is available TODAY at our local Scout Shop. I really like the badge design and I think the scouts that have already done Shotgun and Rifle will…
Day 51: Scouts are like a cockroaches. They say after we destroy the planet in a nuclear holocaust, the cockroaches will survive. They get into everything and survive anything. They come in all sizes, about 4,500 species of them. Sounds like Scouts to me!
Day 50: I got to spend most of yesterday doing my own other stuff, mostly researching long-distance backpacking and considering a big trek next year. So, I thought I'd share some Other Stuff with you that this troop does to make its program a little bit different.
Day 49: Met with the outgoing SPL to review his term. He led the court of honor tonight as his last meeting. For the Communications merit badge, he ran the entire ceremony and had his ASPL hand out badges. I just got to sit and watch.
Day 48: Yesterday and today I presented CPR/AED training to two troops in preparation for their summer outings. Also had a Girl Scout leader in the mix. Met with the new SPL tonight getting prepared for his first PLC meeting next month.
Day 46: Three weeks until your taxes are due. Remember to consider the miles driven for scouting as a tax deduction. Your Friends of Scouting contribution and other expenses you had for Scouting may also be deductible. My Exped Synmat 7 DLX sleeping pad arrived!
Day 44: Two scoutmaster conferences and 2 hours reviewing a robust Eagle Service Project workbook. Also lots of emails arranging participants in the seven Red Cross Wilderness & Remote First Aid sessions I'm presenting over the next 4 months. I might need to add another in June for the "Oops, I didn't realize we needed that…
Day 43: Have you every heard a parent say, "But, they're too young to plan and lead all that"? Last night, I spent 90 minutes at a swimming pool watching nine scouts pass their BSA swim test, rescue each other with arms, legs, and ropes, tie bowline knots, and work as teams to swim out…
Day 42: I'll tell ya, I'm really enjoying these new scout conferences! My favorite question is - "So, what do you think you'll be doing this summer in Boy Scouts?" I love the oversized, still-creased, half-untucked, patchless uniform shirt. I love hearing the debates about what patrol name is best - Scorpions vs.
Day 41: Boards of Review, Patrol Meetings, and Troop Committee meeting. We had eight scouts complete boards of review this evening, mostly Tenderfoot and Second Class. The new scout patrol had a meeting. I went through the Joining requirements with one of them and he got it all except the square knot and scout badge.
Day 40: lots of scouting paperwork today. Went through packets of information from summer camp, Seabase, and training. I did talk with a local scouter in a troop just getting interested in backpacking, but with very little experience. I might get to visit with their PLC soon and share some of our adventures and help…
Day 39: I drove 212 miles to home yesterday (34mpg in my 22 year old Mazda 323!) just in time to shower and get to a Star scoutmaster conference. This is one of those scouts you need to be careful that you don't short change on attention.
Day 37: The past two days have been just 'remote scouting' for me - only communicating remotely over the 'net to the scouts and adults back home, replying to emails from site visitors, and adding troop links to my Scouting Links page.
Day 35: I got to visit Troop 342 in Ashland, WI tonight. I'm visiting my nephews and one of them just joined that troop this month. It's good to check out other troops when you can. You get to see what you're doing right, pick up ideas, and see that generally all troops are chaotic.
Day 34: Yet Another Cold Campout - another weekend camping with snow and cold. About 15 degrees colder than forecast. Tying knots and lashings when it's 15 degrees isn't all that much fun so I'm now officially looking forward to Spring and the thaw.
This post brought to you by Victor Pest . All opinions are 100% mine. Occasionally, a troop trailer will be stolen or equipment will be broken but, every year, troops and scouts run a greater risk of losing gear to mice and rodents.
Day 31: Showing up for the first scoutmaster conference, not sure what to expect, or how mean the old guy will be, or how hard it will be to remember everything, or if this is the right troop to be in.
Day 29: Had a conference with a scout for second class. Loaded info for the last new scout into TroopKit.com for events. Had a scout volunteer to plan a 50-Miler trek for July - now he and I can start the fun of figuring out what all is needed.
Day 28: The SPL led his last PLC meeting tonight. At the end, he stood up and took out a piece of notebook paper. He asked if anyone had ever run in a relay race. Then, he asked if they knew what a baton was.
Day 27: Presented Red Cross Wilderness and Remote First Aid training to a bunch of scouters all day yesterday and this afternoon. With the snow and cold, we did it all indoors except the hypothermia scenario. Pretty good way to spend the weekend since the troop wasn't doing anything interesting. Scout On Challenge your Scouts
Day 25: Presented CPR training to a dozen scouters tonight. Scout On Challenge your Scouts
Day 24: Attended district roundtable. So, I guess that's all I have to say about that. :-) Actually, it was nice to visit with some friends. Got some photos from the Klondike ready for the troop Historian to post to the photo gallery. Scout On Challenge your Scouts
Day 23: Turned in forms for IOLS and SM Specific training. Washed dishes from 85 people at church tonight - I guess that counts as a 'Good Turn'. Sent advice about compass use, hiking boots, CPR, and LNT to folks I received email from.
Day 22: When a scout comes prepared, it sure makes life easier for me. A scout stopped by to demonstrate fire making and backpacking stoves. He brought his own box of wood and his dad's stove - way cool! And, he had obviously practiced a bunch because he got right to work and zip, zam, zowie…
Day 21: I Love Mondays! It's troop meeting night! The SPL, along with some other high schoolers, was gone to a ski club dinner tonight so the ASPL ran the show. A first year patrol led the skills time and game time since their patrol is planning the campout coming up.
Day 20: Attended the last Blue Gold of the season and watched a pair of scouts welcome our last new scout into the troop. Had the first scoutmaster conference with a new scout all eager to get going. He completed the Joining requirements and is anxious to get his Scout badge and neckerchief.
Day 19: The new SPL and I met with his ASPL to start his training. We talked about the guys making up their leadership team, our visions for the next 6 months, including due dates when assigning tasks, ways to make troop meetings interesting, and the importance of communication.
Day 18: Spent time setting up CPR and Wilderness First Aid training for troops getting ready for Philmont this summer. I've got 4 sessions scheduled now and possibly 1 or 2 more in the works. Also worked out a plan to have the troop campout, district Outdoor Leader Skills training, and OA ceremony all at…
Day 17: A larger troop means more paperwork, whether it be pulp-based or electronic. More rank advancements, more merit badges, more awards, more logistics, ... and all that takes paperwork of some kind. Honestly, the paperwork is the real boring part of scouting to me and that's why I've got us doing as much of it…
Day 16: Had a fun scoutmaster conference with a Tenderfoot candidate. Great scout moving along a bit slower than he had planned, but appears to be getting a lot out of scouting. Gave a patrol leader some advice on planning next month's campout on Troop Kit .
Day 15: Attended second Webelos cross-over this evening. Two scouts from our troop did the Order of the Arrow's Arrow of Light ceremony. This was the first time for one and 2nd time for the other. After this ceremony, they had to zip across town to a 2nd one for another pack.
Day 14: Had a scoutmaster conference with the scout that had to cancel yesterday. Just in time for him to also have his board of review this evening. I met with the two high school-aged patrols this evening to discuss their general leadership in the troop - and have rootbeer floats. Scout On Challenge your Scouts
Day 13: We got blasted by snow all day, so a scoutmaster conference got cancelled in the evening. It was pretty much a "day off" from scouting and everything. I guess that's ok once in awhile. Scout On Challenge your Scouts
Day 12: The troop held it's Klondike Derby today at a local elementary school. The Duct Tape patrol scheduled, planned, and ran the event - they did a great job! Each patrol built their own sled out of absolutely anything they wanted over the past month.
Day 10: Attended the first of three Blue Golds this evening. We had one older scout (8th grade) and four young guys there to welcome two new scouts. It was great to see this older scout that has never really had much leadership experience step up and organize the younger ones.
Day 10: Two scoutmaster conferences for First Class and one for Life today. A Tenderfoot showed me how to handle knife, axe, and saw and even got a fire going with one match in the cold wind - good job! I think his mom was impressed.
Day 9: I spent three hours researching our troop's history today. Did you know that your council probably has records of all the youth and adult members in your troop since you were chartered? I didn't expect it would be so easy to access them, but it was.
