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I'll be heading out tomorrow night to finish my ASM/BSM Outdoor Leader Training. As I mentioned a few days ago, the weather is supposed to be spectacular and I can hardly wait. There is an added bonus in that they're holding a dual training session of ASM/BSM along with Outdoor Webelos Leader Specific (OWLS).
The November 2008 ( Seeds of Kindness ) 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 den meetings.
This weekend, Scouts and Guides from around the world will be gathering around the world for the annual Jamboree on the Air and Jamboree on the Internet. Around 570,000 Scouts and Guides took part last year, in 121 different countries.
That’s the Jamboree on the Internet! This is happening this weekend and I’ll be around on and off all weekend. This is a great place to meet people all over the world. So hello world! If anyone wants to send me a validation card, just send one to user porthill and I’ll send you one…
One of the official suggested Webelos activity badges for February is Scholar . Here are the requirements for the Scholar Webelos activity badge : Do this: 1. With your parent, guardian, or Webelos den leader, complete the Positive Attitude Character Connection. a.
I received an invitation by email in August, 2007, to participate in a Scouting-related podcast called The Leader's Campfire . The subject of the podcast would be Webelos Transition, and would include five pack and troop leaders from around the country.
Wow, the fall colors are out in great form this weekend. I just returned from a trip, and need to get the Patrol Box out before the weekend fades into the sunset. We have a Patrol Leaders Council at my house tonight, so there is a lot to get packed in quickly.
The tent is hung and the gear is stored. Another camp out in the books and sealed in the memories of our Scouts... and leaders. This weekend was our annual Webelos Woods Camp out. Every year we put together a nice event, when I say we, I mean the Troops of the District under the…
What does that mean exactly? Does it mean I'll do anything differently at the troop level now that I can stitch the ‘Trained' emblem to my shirt? Not necessarily because I've been surrounded for a few years now by strong leaders in the troop who have graciously shared their knowledge with anyone who would listen.
Metal wind spinners in action are pretty cool looking. Now you can get one to hang on your back porch that features the Cub Scout logo . It is $19.99 plus shipping from BSA Supply Group. Link Posted in CUB SCOUTS, Merchandise
Ah, the closing campfire program at summer camp. The final bit of fun and laughs. The place were awards are presented from a week of adventure. The last gathering of the campers and troops. And, if your troop is doing a skit or song, it could be the last time at camp for the Scouts…
Well, nothing left to sell. You are just waiting for the final delivery so you can pass out your popcorn and collect the money to turn in on time. A few folks might want to reorder, or add to their order.
Selected for it's 10X zoom my digital camera has recorded many Scout outings over the past several years. Every once in a while I wish it had a wider minimum angle to capture more of a big scene. I repeatedly find that I must zoom out to the widest angle in my approach to Scouting…
Thank goodness my portion of the weekend popcorn sales are over. Ok, it's for the most part that I'm done. I'm popcorn kernal so I'm still work on popcorn until December, argh. I know a few people follow me on twitter.
Show #160-Feelin' Satisfied Tonight-Lion Cubs from an international perspective, more inspiration, starting campfires, a new uniform Inspection Sheet?, a rookie Cubmaster question and staying on top of communication. Cool Website of the Week: KISMIF.org Tonight’s show sponsored by Badge Magic
Old North State Council (ONSC) is teaming up with Trone to focus on the Boy Scouts of America’s 100th anniversary campaign.
1. Making things more efficient Changes that compromise the responsibility of the scouts to do for themselves may make things more efficient, but they are inimical to the spirit of what we want to accomplish. Inefficiency 2. Applying uniform standards "Our standard for badge earning—as I have frequently said—is not to attain a certain level…
I must have been about 10 years old the time my Dad and I went camping alone for the first time. I don't remember much about the trip other than the fact that my Dad seemed to have everything down to science.
These Christmas Tree Lantern Craft Kits f rom Oriental Trading would probably be a fun activity for Tiger, Wolf, or Bear den meetings in December. Light from a flashlight can shine through the cutout stars. The kits are $7.99 plus shipping for a set of twelve.
Eagle Scout selected as reciepeint of Eagle Scout Scholarship from the Souther Region Trust Fund.
Each year, our troop volunteers at WTSE (Webelos to Scout Expo) and this year will be no different. A few adults and several scouts will trek up to Camp Bovay with equipment in hand to build a Pioneer Monkey Bridge.
President Bush has signed into law the Boy Scouts of America Centennial Commemorative Coin Act which authorizes the production in 2010 of 350,000 silver dollars commemorating the 100th anniversary of the BSA . The commemorative design of the coin will be reflective of the first century of the Boy Scouts of America .
A task force was put together by the National Health and Safety Committee in order to come up with immunization policies for participation in BSA activities.
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The final report of the 21st World Scout Jamboree, which took place in 2007, has been released.
The 2008 Scouting Gifts catalog is now available to view online. The BSA Supply Group catalog includes many items for Cub Scouts and Cub Scouters including clothing, gear, crafts, and commemorative gifts . Link Posted in CUB SCOUTS, STUFF
Last night my son and I settled in and watched a football game that I would probably not otherwise watch. But it was Tuesday and it was the only Football game on.. so being the football fans that we are, we watched the Temple Owls play the Ohio Bobcats in a pretty ugly game.
Back when my son started in kindergarten, he went to a brand new school. So the council founded a brand new unit. I'm foggy about this first year. I think most of the people who stepped up for the big roles were military.
In order to make the 2010 National Scout Jamboree "The Best, Most Exciting, Fun-Filled, Safest Jamboree Ever" the services handled in the past as "Health and Safety" has been split into two separate services.
Last night I had the pleaseure of watching my son grow. Now I have this priviledge everyday, but it is often akin to watching grass grow or paint dry. My son has a bunch of opportunities his friends don't have.
I do not subscribe to very many magazines. I receive Boy's Life and Scouting magazines, of course. I own a Macintosh computer so I receive Mac/Life and MacWorld magazines. I also get Entertainment Weekly just for the fun of it.
As with all the Webelos activity badges, the best resources for Scholar are the Webelos Handbook and the Webelos Leader Guide . Here are some other Scholar resources that may be helpful: Meritbadge.org Scholar Worksheet (pdf) Buckeye (SHAC) Scholar Packet (pdf) Hendra’s Scholar Packet [ via MacScouter and scoutingthenet.com ] (pdf) Scouting the Net - Scholar Pack 152 - Scholar…
Archaeology. Visions range from digging in the endless heat and sand of the desert, to the swashbuckling adventures of Indiana Jones. Dinosaur bones, ancient sea beds, pottery shards near a riverside, Egypt, giant ants that carry you off into the ground...OK, that was the last Indiana Jones movie.
I had this very tasty treat at my training last week and just have to share. Caramel Pineapple Rolls 4 TBS Butter 2 Cans Crushed Pineapple 1 Cup Caramel (ours used the ice cream topping) 1 Pkg Frozen Bread Dough 1 Cup Chopped Walnuts In a sauce pan, melt the butter, pineapple, and caramel and…
Many of you will be familiar with this small addition to the Scout Law: A Scout is hungry. Anyone who has been camping with them surely knows it. Next Tuesday (28 OCT), Major League Baseball and Taco Bell are here to help you out. More at Steal A Base Steal A Taco . Slide on in!
Loy shared a great explanation of how his group built their radio tower last year.For JOTA this year, they have built another radio tower, and pictures of the tower, as well as the rest of their weekend, are available here . Thanks for sharing, Loy.
I've featured a few JOTA towers , but no JOTI pioneering.. until now. :) We were relying on a wireless internet connection this weekend, so the modem needed to be placed high up for good signal. So here is the modem, securely lashed to the wan router , both suspended from a window in our Scout hall.
The National Catholic Committee on Scouting® is pleased to announce its high adventure leadership program for older Catholic Boy Scouts and Venture Crew members at Philmont Scout Ranch.
By now those of you that follow Scouting on the Internet have read the story of one Coleman Carter. Coleman is an 18 year old Scout that has earned 121 merit badges. That is far and away more than the average of 30 that your typical Scout earns.
At thebestkidsbooksite.com , they have instructions on how to make this Hanukkah menorah construction paper craft . The instructions include a cut-out template . This would probably be a fun December project for your Tigers or Wolfs. Theme: Holiday Lights Link Posted in Crafts, CUB SCOUTS, Holiday Lights
New ecommerce platform enables Boy Scouts to extend their fundraising efforts online and via email, expanding the reach of their flagship popcorn fundraiser..
The weather is changing, getting colder and wetter as we approach winter. It is time again to look at the clothing that we wear on our outings, whether it is a backpacking trip or a close to home camp out, we need to be aware that what we have on is just as important, if…
This is the last weekend before Hallowe'en, and then the holiday rush begins. Our regular meeting times are on Wednesday nights, so Thanksgiving rushes our month a bit. The same thing happens in December, with Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve falling on a meeting night.
Eagle Scout worked to get mixers donated to help assist U.S. officials in teaching Afghans how to prepare "Strong Foods" in order to fight malnourishment.
The year 1980 will always be a special year for me. It was the year I began life on my own, and began life as an adult. I was nineteen when I graduated from vocational college in April. I moved into a apartment.
In a last minute dash to be sure I had plenty of sources available for the scouts tomorrow, I went on a quest tonight for good diagrams of lashings and knots. Of course I'll have two copies of the Pioneering Merit Badge Handbook with me, but I want them to have easy to follow guides…
One of the official suggested Webelos activity badges for April is Sportsman . Here are the requirements for the Sportsman Webelos activity badge : Do these: 1. Show the signals used by officials in one of these sports: football, basketball, baseball, soccer, or hockey.
There was a lot of Buzz about the Atlanta Area's Council "Boy Scout Hour" radio show at the beginning of the month. Learn more about the show and see what they are talking about after three weeks of broadcasting.
“Show me a poorly uniformed troop and I'll show you a poorly uniformed leader.” - Sir Robert S.S. Baden Powell Ladies and Gentlemen I give you the methods of Scouting... and the Uniform of the Boy Scouts of (Insert Country here).
A recap of Pack 333's trip to Ft. Snelling. Includes history of Ft. Snelling, told by the Cub Scouts.
The Grand Canyon Council, Boy Scouts of America is proud to present the 3rd Annual Exploring and Learning for Life 10K and 5K Race.
Twenty years ago I bought a game called Scouting Mania, which is a trivia game based on Boy Scouting and camping knowledge. We used the game as an interpatrol activity for many a troop meeting. Now the trivia book is somewhat out of date, but much of it could still be used.
The National Honor Patrol Award is a great way to recognize patrols that are working together to a common goal and supporting their patrol leader. In our troop, we've had one patrol earn this award last year and three newly-elected patrol leaders have told me a goal in their 6-month term is to earn the…
Courage, Competence, Candor, and Commitment are four leadership traits that are valuable in the leaders tool box for effective leadership. You can hear more about them on my latest show on the Scoutmaster Minute Podcast. Listen here. Thanks to those of you that have expressed concern.
Pack Meeting on Monday, Troop Meeting visits on Tuesday, Leader Meeting on Thursday. And we're just getting together from the campout this weekend. I'll be back next week.
Here is a skit you do not see very often anymore. At least I have not seen it performed by a troop outside of Troop 68 for a number of years. This post to the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast features the Submarine Skit.
A news clip about Mathew, a 41-year old man with Down Syndrome who became an Eagle Scout.
Paul Auerbach at Medicine for the Outdoors reviews Wonder Wash and Hand Sanz Wonder Wash is a biodegradeable and concentrated all purpose soap from All Terrain that comes in peppermint scent or fragrance free. It is advertised to be for "washing anything, anywhere, anytime," formulated to be gentle on skin, pH neutral, and sufficiently mild…
It's great to be a volunteer for scouting or other worthwhile organizations. But sometimes volunteering to do something that you can't do well or adequately can actually be worse than not volunteering at all. The best thing to do when you are approached with another volunteer task, project, or position may be to say "no."
This past week was a great one for Pack 19. Last Saturday, we hiked a two-mile trail in the Ouachita National Forest . The trial connects the Old Military Road picnic area to Talimena State Park , near Talihena, Oklahoma. We hiked the two-mile trail to the state park where we ate sack lunches.
Many times we need to get things started. We need to get the meeting going. we need to get the pack involved in belt loops, district activities, training, council events. As Chairman you can take the pack to the bug juice but you can't make them drink.
The troop was extra busy this weekend as they not only volunteered at WTSE, they also set up, worked, and tore down the church fall festival at our charter organization church. I had the older scouts and three other Asst Scout Masters with me at WTSE.
This story by KXAN shows Boy Scouts from Troop 4277 in the Capitol Area Council, building a wheelchair ramp for a man with no legs and missing his lower right arm. Community service is a key to the Scouting program, and Scouts are always looking to "do a good turn daily".
Gregg Shupe Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 12 in Framingham Mass. has come up with a great Patrol Box Wash Station . The station holds three wash basins for cleaning rinsing and sanitizing - looks like a great idea! Associated posts at Scoutmaster Chuck Boxes More Camp Kitchens Patrol Box Design Two Patrol Boxes Even More Chuck Boxes…
According to The Telegraph, Trails West Council is discussing the possibility of a merger with Okaw Valley Council.
Boy Scouts of America: A Centennial History Book" is available for preorder from BSA Supply Group. The 300-page limited edition book covers the entire history of the BSA from its origins in the U.K. through the Depression, both World Wars, and into the present day.
As we get ready for our winter camping we need to exercise the Scout motto.. Be prepared. Camping in the winter months presents different challenges and requires more skills. Winter camping requires a camper to pay closer attention to the details.
Archery. Let's get to the point. I've just finished a very good series of novels that take place in the 14th century, following an English archer (not Robin Hood). Seems that English archers were widely feared due to their prowess with the longbow in the Hundred Years War .
It is time to announce the Buttons '08 campaign! After all, isn't it time we put someone in the White House who is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent? Isn't it time for real change?
On October 2, 2008, the fiftieth video was posted to Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast. As a part of the video, Buttons, the radical Scout, gave instructions on how to enter a contest for a dvd to be given away this month.
This was a live report done by News 8 Austin's Amy Hadley, profiling opportunities for kids in Boy Scouts, Sea Scouts and Cub Scouts. Anyone interested in joining Scouting in Central Texas should visit www.bsacac.org and click on the "Join Scouting" link.
While I have managed to avoid blisters myself one or two usually show up on someone during the course of a Troop backpacking trip. Dr. Paul Auerbach has posted a very comprehensive treatise on preventing and treating foot blisters : To prevent blisters one must minimize friction generated by the normal biomechanical forces of walking and…
The Northern New Jersey Council is proud to welcome our new Scout Executive, Douglas W. Dillow, as of October 1, 2008. Doug will lead the council in an exciting initiative to bring enhanced programs of the Boy Scouts of America and Learning for Life to an increased number of boys and girls in Bergen, Essex…
The October 2008 Cubcast from BSA National is available (free). It has ideas for den meetings and more utilizing the November “ Seeds of Kindness ” theme. It also has suggestions on improving your pack's popcorn sales . And the program has an interesting training note.
Dr. William H. Smith, 88, of Katonah, died on October 22, 2008. Dr. Smith ("Doc") was born in New York City on December 16, 1919 and was raised in Cold Spring, New York. He attended the University of Rochester School of Medicine and interned in pediatrics at the University of Chicago and the University of…
A Bag of Bags! Keeping your pack organized is important for many reasons. You need to know where your gear is. When the weather gets bad, you want to be able to get to clothing, shelter, and those items that will help you get through the conditions.
Hi fellow Scouters, E-mail is a crucial part of being involved in Scouting. I have no idea how they did Scouting before the days of the Internet and e-mail (the dark ages). How do you handle e-mail accounts? I learned early on as a leader that I'd rather have a separate Scouting e-mail vs.
Some of you may remember hearing about the Boy Scouts of America preparations to launch a Social Network site for its members. This fall, the BSA plans to launch its first social networking site where volunteers and Scouts can sign up to receive information about the program.
This story by KXAN shows a Capitol Area Council Boy Scout in Burnet, Texas, performing his very cool Eagle Scout project: repainting and restoring an F-100 fighter jet that's a static display at Burnet Municipal Airport.
First it was Facebook ... now it's Scouting Own Online Community . If you have not seen it yet.. it's worth a look see. What will you get out of it? Probably nothing unless of course you want to broaden you Scouting horizons, meet some great Scouting people and stay in touch with friends in the Scouting…
It is time for Eagle Scouts to start working on their 2009 National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) Scholarship applications. NESA offers two types of scholarships, Academic and Merit. Today's article is all about the NESA Academic Scholarship, we will be focusing on the Merit Scholarships tomorrow, and "other" Eagle Scout Scholarships in two days.
BSA National has announced recently that it is planning to launch a " MySpace-type social network site … that will allow Scouts, volunteers and alumni to connect and share stories ." (See this ( link ) August 12, 2008 Dallas Morning News article.) It appears that the new online service in beta is up and running .
Hello fellow Scouters, A lot has been said about Webelos to Boy Scout transition. As a Webelos den leader, it's vital that work hard to make sure you boys go into Boy Scouts. Since much has been written about this topic, I won't go into too much detail.
For all prospective County Pulling Assessors, there is another UKCC Level 2 course being organised nationally between the Amateur Rowing Associtiona (ARA) and The Scout Association.
The National Scout and Guide Symphony Orchestra have announced dates and opened applications for their 2009 course.
This is the weekend video from the 50th anniversary of Pipsico Scout Reservation.
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 balancing comfort, safety, and Leave No Trace principles.
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 Merit Scholarship. Each BSA region reviews applications and awards a varying number of these $1,000 scholarships.
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 SCOUTS
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 scare up some candy from the neighbors.
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 their adventures tonight.
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.
