Ahh yes... the basics
It seems a theme this year so far is that we all need to get back to the basics a bit... Ok I'll speak for myself and my Troop, but the basics are what got us here, and the basics will move us forward.
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September 2008
138 posts, oldest first.
Posts in September 2008
Leadership: the next big business item. (opens in a new tab)
Man, how time gets away from you. As the popcorn Kernel, I have my big kickoff this weekend. Whew! what time getting popcorn figured out. Since Fundraising is a big agenda item let me give you a few words of wisdom, maybe.
FUN Service Hours (opens in a new tab)
Houston Cy-Fair Lion's Club Nineth Annual Biking for Sight Century Bike Ride This will be the 7th consecutive year that Troop 483 has volunteered with our local Lion's Club in their annual Biking For Sight Century Bike Ride. We provide scouts and parents to be there for the set-up and registering riders before the start…
September 2008 Cubcast - October (Adventures in Books) Theme (opens in a new tab)
The September 2008 Cubcast from BSA National is available (free). It has ideas for den meetings and more utilizing the October “ Adventures in Books ” theme. It also has suggestions for how your pack can implement peer-to-peer recruiting. Link Posted in Adventures in Books, CUB SCOUTS, Reading, Recruiting
Picked this up along the way, thought it…
Picked this up along the way, thought it may be worth passing on. Enjoy- The Boy Scout’s Mother Asked by F. Darnall Daley, Jr. “Where has my little baby gone?” The Cub Scout’s Mother asked, “He went by here awhile ago.
Telling the Scouting Story
A few years back when I was the Sergeant Major on an Infantry Battalion preparing for a long camp out in Iraq, they (the man) sent a group of us Sergeants Major to a class where we were briefed that among other things this war would be a way for us to tell the Army…
Den Chief Training (opens in a new tab)
BSA has developed a nice online Den Chief Training course for Boy Scouts taking on this important role. It is a good way to have the scout learn his job as Den Chief, both what is expected of him and what is NOT.
Merit Badge of the Week: American Cultures (opens in a new tab)
American Cultures" can be represented in many ways. Different parts of America over the past several centuries have seen the influx of peoples from around the world. Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, South and Central America, Australia and hundreds of islands spanning the globe have contributed to America.
September 2008 (New Buddies) Program Helps Download (opens in a new tab)
The October 2008 (” Adventures in Books “) 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 Tiger, Wolf, and Bear den meetings. Link (pdf) Posted in Adventures in Books, CUB SCOUTS, Reading
October 2008 (Adventures in Books) Program Helps Download (opens in a new tab)
The October 2008 (” Adventures in Books “) 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 Tiger, Wolf, and Bear den meetings. Link (pdf) Title corrected: 09-26-2008 Posted in Adventures in Books, CUB SCOUTS, Reading
Spelunking 1997
The first time the Boy Scouts of Troop 68 scheduled a trip to southern Wisconsin to spend a weekend at Eagle Caves we had one young Scout who was very excited about going spelunking. In fact, after a month about hearing him talk about nothing except spelunking we finally had to turn down his excitement…
AIMS
I talk a lot about the Aims of Scouting. Here are the Aims and how they are broken down straight from the proverbial "Horses mouth". As referenced in the BSA Fast Start Training: Character Development Encompasses a boy's personal qualities, values, and outlook.
Perhaps my favorite topic
Recently in the PTCmedia forums a Scouter posted a new topic. It caught my eye, as leadership always does. His post asked several questions: "Who makes up your unit's leadership? Is it current parents? the Old Goat or rocking chair Patrol of people that are retired or semiretired?
Scout Accounts: My position against them for my pack. (opens in a new tab)
In my last post, I breifly mentioned that I was against scout accounts. I had a comment asking why. I think I need to clarify the position a bit. Maybe I'm not against the account as much as I may not fully understand it, or that it really doesn't work well in the program we…
Muffins anyone?
In our never ending quest for better Backpacking meals, stuff that will attack the taste buds while filling the belly or satisfying the need for a good snack, I stumbled on this the other day at one of my favorite sites NOLS..
FastTracks Program for Cub Scouts (opens in a new tab)
BSA has expanded the FastTracks program of Cub Scout den meeting plans. This program provides more advancement opportunity in den meetings rather than each scout working with parents at home to complete requirements. Testing of the program the past two years has indicated that a scout retention improvement of about 20% occurs when using the…
Urban Base Camp
Here is some big news for the Scouts in and around the Twin Cities in Minnesota. The Northern Star Council has plans to open an "urban base camp" near Fort Snelling. Here is a portion of the article found in the Star Tribune: The regional Boy Scout council's plan to create an "urban base camp…
Cub Scout Canoeing (opens in a new tab)
Canoeing in Cub Scouts is a lot of fun. Boys really enjoy being out on the open water and the excitement of paddling in a canoe. But there are restrictions on when and where you can canoe in the Cub Scout program: "Canoeing, kayaking, rowing, and rafting for Cub Scouts (including Webelos Scouts) are to…
JOTI
Jamboree on the Internet. Most of you have heard about Jambo on the Air, an opportunity for Scouts and Scouters to join in a Worldwide Scouting activity! Jamboree on the Internet will take place October 18th and 19th, 2008. Check out this website for more details about how you can get involved in JOTI!
Eagle Board
Last night I had the privilege of sitting on an Eagle Scout Board of review. All Scoutmasters in our District are encouraged to participate when they are available and last night, not only was I asked, but because I knew the Scout I thought it would a good experience.
Scientist Requirements (opens in a new tab)
One of the official suggested Webelos activity badges for December and January is Scientist . Here are the requirements for the Scientist Webelos activity badge : Do these: 1. Read Bernoulli's Principle. Show how it works. 2. Read Pascal's Law. Tell about some inventions that use Pascal's law.
Scouting as an Adult (opens in a new tab)
All too often, we find ourselves, as adults, in the redundant rut of getting up, sending the kids to school, going to work, going home, eating dinner while watching a different version of a familiar sitcom theme, going to bed, getting up the next day….
Spelunking: Cave Ticks (opens in a new tab)
The second time that Melrose Troop 68 spent a weekend at Eagle Caves in southern Wisconsin, we had a crew of seventeen Boy Scouts and six adults. This time we "camped" at one of the higher levels toward the back of the cave, instead of near the entrance like we did four years earlier.
Pioneered Millenium Dome (opens in a new tab)
This beautifully drawn and well explained project is modelled after the Millenium Dome in London. The instructions explain the whole process of construction, including the procedure to make the net which supports the plastic sheeting forming the dome. The net alone requires some 1700 feet (625m) of rope, so this is not a small project…
Don't Max the Minimum
To often we do things just to do things, what I mean by that is that we go through the motions to punch a ticket, fulfil the minimum requirements or just get by on a task. I see this all the time on camp outs, especially camp outs like Camporee.
November 2008 (Seeds of Kindness) Theme Patch (opens in a new tab)
With November’s Seeds of Kindness theme, it may be a good month for your den or pack to do a service project that can benefit your community. Here is the November monthly theme patch. It is $1.19 from BSA Supply Group. Link Posted in CUB SCOUTS, Patches, Seeds of Kindness, Service Projects
Being Green (opens in a new tab)
There is a lot of talk today in the media about "being green". Isn't it funny that Scouting has been teaching some of these principles for decades already? Like conservation and recycling. But just in case you need a few more things to keep in mind, here are a few more green statistics.
Sample Pack Newsletter (opens in a new tab)
Here is a sample pack newsletter like the one we do each month. It has announcements about what is coming up this month, what we did last month, rank badges that have been earned, FAQ's, contact info, and other good stuff to know.
Example Pack Newsletter (opens in a new tab)
Here is an example pack newsletter like the one we do each month. It has announcements about what is coming up this month, what we did last month, rank badges that have been earned, FAQ's, contact info, and other good stuff to know.
Popcorn Tip--Week #6: Sign-up sheets at work (opens in a new tab)
Bringing a sign-up sheet to work is an easy idea. Older Scouts may be able to bring one to their own jobs. Almost every Scout can ask a parent to bring one in, too. Before you do though, parents should check with the workplace to make sure it is OK.
Weekend Patrol Box #4 (opens in a new tab)
Hmmm, looks like a rainy weekend coming up. Better make sure the Patrol Box has things in plastic baggies to keep everything fresh and dry. This wet weekend will need plenty of coffee, a merit badge manual, maybe a video, plenty to read and a project to try out.
To Climb or ‘KNOT’ to Climb (opens in a new tab)
If your troop is full of climbing monkeys like ours is, then you can expect that you'll need to be able to offer them the opportunity to climb at least once, if not twice per year. I can't encourage you enough to look into the training that your local council offers.
The Chartered Organization
The other day while I was training new Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters, we were discussion the Troop Organization. I asked if people in the room knew who the Chartered Organization was for their units, some did, most did not. The Chartered Organization is an important part of the Troop, Pack, or Crew.
OA Conclave 2008 (opens in a new tab)
A week ago, I attended the Totanha Nakaha Lodge's Mustang chapter conclave and it was one of the most educational experiences I've had in scouting. I've been an ordeal member for a couple years, being selected as an adult and doing the Ordeal before either son was elected.
November 2008 (Seeds of Kindness) DMIAB (opens in a new tab)
The November 2008 ( Seeds of Kindness ) 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 “Spread Some Cheer” booklets, a kit that makes ten Seeds of Kindness journals, ten monthly theme patches, and more.
An Hour A Week? #157
Show #157-Chrisbacca Training the new syllabus, Scout Shop findings, uniforming, a Highland Games themed campout, am I qualified to do this show?, turf wars, Philmont Dates for Cub Extravaganza, more Lion den news, positive picketing and fire starting all round out this show. Tonight’s show sponsored by ScoutData
Merit Badge of the Week: American Heritage (opens in a new tab)
American Heritage" should have been awarded a lot more than it has. 4,274 American Heritage merit badges were awarded in 2007, out of 1.89 million. ( BSA Fact Sheet ) When I was a kid, we were taught US History in the eighth and eleventh grades.
Spelunking Injury
The first time the Boy Scouts of Troop 68 went spelunking at Eagle Cave in Wisconsin they had a great time. So it was not a surprise that we scheduled another trip to the cave a few years later. (Pictures of the trip can be seen on our troop website HERE .)