Posts in December 2008

Evaluate, Review, Reflect (opens in a new tab)

Lone Star Scouter ·

Looking back, looking forward, looking in… Even as our Scouts are looking at what they need to do, what they have done, and what they think they can do, we should be doing the same thing. Evaluating our performance, reviewing our goals, and reflecting on the difference between the two are important aspects of leadership…

Ah Hour A Week? #165

An Hour A Week? ·

#165-Go Your Own Way Tonight-A Pinewood Derby computer game, some ideas from the paid folks, a lack of Unit Commissioners, setting up a big recruitment affair, video uploading solutions and much more. Links: Scouting Innovation Engine- http://ideas.scouting.org Pinewood Derby Game- http://www.pinewoodderbygame.com/ Tonight's show sponsored by Badge Magic

MSPP #57: Dirty Sock Song (opens in a new tab)

A Scoutmaster's Blog · archived copy

Welcome back to the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast. (You know, I think I made the title of this podcast waaay too long.) It is time for the Boy Scouts of Melrose Troop 68 to entertain you once again with another song from one of their Laughs For Lunch Shows.

Looking Back (opens in a new tab)

Lone Star Scouter ·

Looking back, looking forward, looking in… At every opportunity, a Scouter needs to evaluate what he or she is doing. The Scoutmaster needs to evaluate how effective his Scoutmaster Conferences and Scoutmaster Minutes are. The Committee Chair needs to evaluate how good a job the unit committee is doing.

A Scout Is Helpful (opens in a new tab)

Lone Star Scouter ·

This scout law element couldn't have come during a more appropriate week. We always tell our kids that Christmas is more about giving than receiving, but do tell them how wonderful it can be for them to be helpful? Let's all remember to be helpful during this holiday season and not get so caught up…

Get rid of Council Flash in MyBSA (The pro one that is)

BSA Innovation Engine ·

-3 Vote On Idea This Welcome to My BSA from 2005 is a waste of space. ..."This Council Flash window shows information that your council can post for other council employees using My BSA. It's a bulletin board for council news and is especially useful to employees who work away from the office..."

Unit Meeting Info Feed (XML, please?)

BSA Innovation Engine ·

2 Vote On Idea Please allow us to access Unit Meeting Info by a URL Feed. XML would be nice. For example: http://scouting.org/xml/unitmeetings/[council#] will give information like: *Note: please replace scare brackets below with angle brackets. [council number='047' name='Golden Empire Council'][district number='011' name='Iron Horse'] [unit type='troop' number='1'] [meeting place='LDS Church' street='100 Main St' city='Sacramento' state='CA…

Looking Forward (opens in a new tab)

Lone Star Scouter ·

Looking back, looking forward, looking in… In almost everything we do, we spend most of our time looking forward, so you may ask why it's so important to talk about it here. Well, think about the last time you drove to work.

In Case Santa Forgets (opens in a new tab)

Lone Star Scouter ·

For all those sending scouts off to Winter Camp, there are a few things you can pick up for them to make their stay nicer…. in case Santa forgets. Gloves, thin and flexible do nicely Warm Hat, to sleep in Chap Stick, 5 days of wind can be rude to the lips Hot Chocolate, one…

Green Hour (opens in a new tab)

Scoutmaster Clarke Green · archived copy

The National Wildlife Federation website Green Hour advocates "...giving our children a "Green Hour" a day -- a bit of time for unstructured play and interaction with the natural world -- we can set them on the path toward physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

An Hour A Week? #166

An Hour A Week? ·

#166-Join Together Tonight-I hear from the Council, finishing the year, Follow Me Boys come up again, phone trees and getting fired. Links: BSA Branding of Council websites- http://ideas.scouting.org/akira/dtd/6361-2119 Standardized Council Sites Coming Soon – http://www.sitecore.net/en/News/Press%20releases/2008/Boy%20Scouts%20of%20America%20Leverages%20Sitecore%20CMS.aspx?nav=s Jostens will help Eagle Scouts® celebrate their achievement with customized and personalized rings under license from the Boy Scouts of America®…

Looking In (opens in a new tab)

Lone Star Scouter ·

Looking back, looking forward, looking in… Reflection is as important as, and sometimes more important than, evaluating and reviewing. Reflection is what helps a Scout learn to tie a bowline. Evaluation helps he see the mistakes he makes on his first couple tries.

Merry Christmas..No, really! (opens in a new tab)

ScoutSigns ·

Injury, illness, troop ski trip, 3 family trips, shopping for 8 kids and 4 grandkids, pack meeting, troop "cookie and hot chocolate" meeting, and my employer's super-helpful idea that the holidays are a great time for the finance people (me) to accelerate the end-of-year close and processing (but we "can still be off by 5…

Birthday wishes from the Chief (or District/Council)

BSA Innovation Engine ·

1 Vote On Idea Lots of organizations send birthday wishes by email on your birthday. Why not the Boy Scouts? It would be a nice touch. It might make the National organization seem just a little more personable. And it would be a nice opportunity to thank volunteers for their service.

Architecture Merit Badge Overnighter (opens in a new tab)

ScoutSigns ·

[Scouters in Dallas-Ft. Worth TX area--please share in Comments if you have any more data!] OK, this requires some explaining. I saw a comment posted related to "Boy Scouts" and "Architecture". I've tried multiple times on separate occasions to get a link to work for the Museum of Nature & Science in Dallas TX.

Eagle Scout/Alumni Survey

BSA Innovation Engine ·

3 Vote On Idea I am in search of any survey resources that have been created for a company to use in throughout their employees to identify lost Eagle Scouts or even alumni at large. If such resources exist it would be great to have a location that they could be accessed from.

Save money by ordering customized invitations, etc. on-line (vs. paying a print shop)

BSA Innovation Engine ·

-2 Vote On Idea I work in the Development Department and we need to produce invitations and cards for our many special events, and the printing costs certainly add up. My suggestion is to design your own invitations, Christmas cards, etc.

Quote of the Week (opens in a new tab)

Scouting Maniac ·

If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it. Margaret Fuller We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee.

Tying It All Up In Knots (opens in a new tab)

Lone Star Scouter ·

Looking back, looking forward, looking in… A normal program year in a Scouting unit provides plenty of opportunities for evaluation, review, and reflecting. We, as Scouters, should take full advantage of these opportunities to ensure we are doing the best we can for our Scouts.

Deer Tracking (opens in a new tab)

Scoutmaster Clarke Green · archived copy

I must admit that every once in a while I cannot resist this bit of fun (so long as it is not demeaning my Scouts). There's no 'butt' to this joke and everyone ends up laughing. Bring a box or bag of chocolate covered raisins on your next camp out.

The Game of Scouting- Part One (opens in a new tab)

Scouting Maniac ·

It's Not Winning Or Losing Scouting is a game. At least that's what it's supposed to be. Some would even say it's supposed to be a game with a purpose, but it seems to me that there are an awful lot of people out there who tend to go to extremes.

The Game of Scouting- Part Two (opens in a new tab)

Scouting Maniac ·

It's How You Play The Game Imagine what football would be like if all of the effort involved in the game was focused solely on the aims of the game, with no regard to how the rules expect the game to be played, or what is allowed or not allowed.

Online Tour Permits (opens in a new tab)

KISMIF - Awesome Cub Scouting ·

In early January 2009, you will be able to fill out and submit tour permits online via the BSA MyScouting system . At the link below (via the Atlanta Area Council website) is set of instructions on the new online tour permit system. Link (pdf) Posted in ADMINISTRATION, CUB SCOUTS

Christmas Eve Show (opens in a new tab)

An Hour A Week? · archived copy

Barring some bizarre accident or something, I will be online live Christmas Eve. I'll start spinning music around 9:30 PM CST and will join the show when I can; hopefully a little after 10. Chat room will be open and I'll take what Christmas requests I have.

More Architecture Merit Badge resources (opens in a new tab)

ScoutSigns ·

Dr. Architecture contacted me a while ago with more resources for those pursuing the Architecture merit badge . Here are his recommended resources: Becoming an Architect: A Guide to Careers in Design --Amazon link Summer programs listed (Summer 2009 to be updated by the end of January 2009) National Architectural Accrediting Board ( NAAB ) provides a list…

Stocking Stuffers for the Outdoorsman (opens in a new tab)

Lone Star Scouter ·

If your family member is an outdoorsman (or woman) and you don't know what to put in their stocking, let me help you. Several of the items were on my post the other night about things to consider for winter camp: chap stick, hand warmers, etc”¦ Here are a few more: Carabiners; whether they climb…

Stocking Stuffers (opens in a new tab)

Scouting Maniac ·

If your family member is an outdoorsman (or woman) and you don't know what to put in their stocking, let me help you. Several of the items were on my post the other night about things to consider for winter camp: chap stick, hand warmers, gloves, small flashlights, etc… Here are a few more: Carabiners…

BSA Health Form (opens in a new tab)

Scouting Maniac ·

Hopefully your holiday is going great but Scouting for certain individuals never stops and will continue through the holiday Season. As this is the case, National Council of the Boy Scouts of America has released a New Health Form which will replace the under 40 standard health form, the over 40 standard health form, high…

Popular posts and *less* broken Flickr images

HalfEagle.com Blog ·

Another few spare hours, and a few more improvements to HalfEagle! First, this image to the right here has been annoying me for sometime. Why? Because to speed up the site, HalfEagle has to do some caching of Flickr images.

Good Deeds (opens in a new tab)

Lone Star Scouter ·

Especially this time of year we talk about doing good deeds for others, giving of ourselves. While out today in drizzly wet weather, there was traffic, crowds, bad drivers, bad walkers, and people that just couldn't push a grocery cart any better than they could drive.

Merry Christmas (opens in a new tab)

Scouting Maniac ·

Merry Christmas or happy Holidays whichever you prefer. Please as you go through the rest of the nigth and christmas day please remember what the true spirit of christmas is. Yours In Scouting Service Mark W Junior Assistant Scoutmaster Troop 1616

A Reading of "The Christmas Scout"

A Scoutmaster's Blog ·

Late last night, on Christmas Eve, several of us from around the country joined Chris for his live " An Hour A Week " Christmas show. The chat room was very lively as we listened to Chris and the various Christmas music he was playing.

Twas the Night Before Christmas (opens in a new tab)

Scouting Maniac ·

Twas the Night before Christmas, and all through the Camp Not a creature was stirring, not even a cub Scout; Our backpacks were hung by the campfire with care, In hopes that St. nick soon would be there; The scouts were nestled in their sleeping bags so warm Visions of smores and Dutch Ovens danced…

Merry Christmas 2008!

Scouting News ·

Merry Christmas from Scouting News! While things have been quiet on the news front, I just wanted to remind everyone we are still here. Hopefully everyone had a good Christmas Day with family and friends and will have a joyous holiday season!

Flying Colors Party Supplies (opens in a new tab)

KISMIF - Awesome Cub Scouting ·

For your February Blue and Gold Banquet, you may want decorations fitting the official " American ABC's " theme . Here are some Flying Colors party supplies available at the Factory Card & Party Outlet on Amazon.com: 10 1/2″ Paper Plates (8 count) - $2.75 Paper Luncheon Napkins (16 count) - $2.07 9 Ounce Paper Cups (8 count) - $1.77 Shipping is…

Winter Camp '08 (opens in a new tab)

Lone Star Scouter ·

Troop 483 is off to Winter Camp at Camp Strake today. Looks like their week is going to start out warm and rainy. We'll have about 28 scouts and 6-7 adults attending, along with 3 scouts from Troop 658 camping with them.

Scouting (opens in a new tab)

Lone Star Scouter ·

Be Prepared… the meaning of the motto is that a scout must prepare himself by previous thinking out and practicing how to act on any accident or emergency so that he is never taken by surprise. - Sir Robert Baden-Powell

Centennial Quality Commitment and Achievement Form for Unit Award Sheets

BSA Innovation Engine ·

3 Vote On Idea Since the Centennial Quality Commitment and Achievement Form for Unit Award report sheets are set up by the National Council BSA - and since most of the necessary information to fill them out is in ScoutNet - it seems there should be a way for that information (percentages of membership and training, etc.)

Friday Funny: Christmas Edition

Scouting News ·

Welcome to Friday Funny! Every Friday, Scouting News will share a Scouting related joke with our readers. Hopefully you find it just as funny as we did! Sorry this one isn't Scouting related, but it is Christmas related. Rudolph and his wife, Hilga, were shopping in downtown Moscow one day.

The Crew COPEs (opens in a new tab)

Lone Star Scouter ·

As one of our Troop's eight COPE facilitators, I've been very proud of the six boys who are not only Boy Scouts but also members of the Crew. They have had going to COPE as one of their primary goals since inception a year ago.

Methods, Rules and Joy (opens in a new tab)

Scoutmaster Clarke Green · archived copy

Scouting has long been a positive, constructive influence in the lives of young people. This vast potential for good lies in simple, direct methods that have been applied effectively across widely different cultures and systems of belief. These methods need little adaptation, modification or complication - they only require application to create opportunities for Scouts to…

Scout Trivia: Basics and Badges (opens in a new tab)

A Scoutmaster's Blog · archived copy

It is the end of the month, and that means it is time for another ten questions from the 1984 Scout Mania trivia book. The theme this month is "Basics and Badges". In other words, basic BSA Scout knowledge. Keep in mind though, these questions are based on the 1984 Boy Scouts of America Scout…

The Camp Must Go On (opens in a new tab)

Lone Star Scouter ·

It never seems to fail that no matter how little rain an area can get for a season, if you book a campout, it will come. Apparently, this test wasn't failed for Troop 483. Yesterday, a cold front moved through the Conroe and Houston, TX area dropping the temperature and bringing with it rain.

2009 National Order of the Arrow Officers Elected

Scouting News ·

The National Order of the Arrow (OA) Planning meeting is currently taking place down in Dallas, Texas (TX). Part of the meeting is the election of the 2009 National Officers. These young men will represent the Order of the Arrow across the country for the next year, and will have an integral part of running…

Jambalaya (opens in a new tab)

Lone Star Scouter ·

1 (8oz) pkg. Tony Chachere's jambalaya mix 1 (6oz) pkg. frozen, cooked chicken breast strips, thawed 1 (11oz) can mexicorn 1 (2.25oz) can chopped black olives In a lg. pot, combine jambalaya mix & 2 1/4 cups water. Heat to boiling, reduce heat and cook slowly 5 min.

Neutralizing "Bad Apple" Behavior (opens in a new tab)

Scoutmaster Clarke Green · archived copy

Almost all of us have either had the personal experience of working with someone who displayed bad apple behaviors ... When this process starts to unfold at work, it consumes inordinate amounts of time, psychological resources, and emotional energy. ... such circumstances underlie many people's reluctance to fully commit to teams...

Traveler Resources (opens in a new tab)

KISMIF - Awesome Cub Scouting ·

As with all the Webelos activity badges, the best resources for Traveler are the Webelos Handbook and the Webelos Leader Guide . Here are some other Traveler resources that may be helpful: Meritbadge.org Traveler Worksheet (pdf) SHAC Traveler Packet (pdf) [ via Buckeye ] Scouting the Net - Traveler Hendra's Traveler Packet (pdf) [ via MacScouter and scoutingthenet.com ] Pack 152…

Training reports

BSA Innovation Engine ·

0 Vote On Idea It would be great if a report could be run that shows the number of adults who were trained in the year by county. United Way always ask how we used their funding and if we could EASILY tell them the number who received training it would help with the application…

Move Membership & Unit Searches to Home Page of MyBSA

BSA Innovation Engine ·

1 Vote On Idea The most frequent item that I and many professionals need to access on MyBSA is the Person and Unit Search functions. However, those functions are located three layers deep on MyBSA (log-in, click on "Membership", then click on "MS Analysis").

Group Cub Scouts and Webelos by Grade

BSA Innovation Engine ·

0 Vote On Idea I've gotten this suggestion from several volunteers and I agree with it myself. On the unit rosters and on the internet rechartering, it would be great if the youth in Cub Scouts could be grouped by grade and then by last name.

Meeting Info on UCRS system

BSA Innovation Engine ·

5 Vote On Idea As units complete their online re-charter process, there should be a field for them to update their meeting schedule, time and location as stored in Scoutnet. Having accurate information would make it much easier for U.S.E.s and commissioners to gather that same information for use in planning unit visits, recruitments, FOS…

An Hour A Week? #167

An Hour A Week? ·

#167-Problem Child Tonight-Losing Scouts to the economy, New Year's resolutions, Medical Forms and Scout Sunday. Links: Some Ohio Cub Scout Packs See Drop In Numbers- http://www.nbc4i.com/cmh/news/local/article/some_ohio_cub_scout_packs_see_drop_in_numbers/11134/ Tonight's show sponsored by Badge Magic

The Archives are now for sale

An Hour A Week? ·

I have posted the year one of AHAW archive. The other 2 will be online in the next couple of days. Only $5 each… http://stores.lulu.com/ptcmedia

Arena Show

BSA Innovation Engine ·

-9 Vote On Idea One of the highlights of the jamboree is the arena show. One of the tough decisions has to be who will perform. You need to have someone who will appeal to a broad spectrum of people while still doing a "family" show.

BSA ID # on Training/ Progress Record Forms

BSA Innovation Engine ·

15 Vote On Idea There should be a space on all Training forms and Progress records to include the persons BSA ID number. This would eliminate errors and increse processing time. Comments (0) Category/Tags : Volunteers (20) Mark as duplicate

Palindromes (opens in a new tab)

KISMIF - Awesome Cub Scouting ·

Palindromes are a lot of fun. A palindrome is a word or phrase that has the same spelling backwards. (Variation in spacing and punctuation are permitted.) Some examples of palindromic words are: radar , rotor , and level . Here are a few palindromic phrases : "Was it a rat I saw?"

Twitter Me This (opens in a new tab)

A Scoutmaster's Blog · archived copy

The internet has many ways to be "social" in this online world. What began with simple emails has developed into something much more. Now we have sites like Facebook and Myspace to keep in touch with friends and family. One social site I have been using for several months is Twitter ( http://twitter.com ).

Current Membership on Scouting.org

BSA Innovation Engine ·

4 Vote On Idea Place the current membership total on the Scouting.org web page. Similar to the total hours found on the Good Turn for America web page. There could also be counters for: Alumni, Volunteers, Charter Partners,and even Eagle Scouts.

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION (opens in a new tab)

Lone Star Scouter ·

Well, Scouts, did you make any New Year's resolutions? I hope some of you resolved to bring up your grades in school and be more helpful around the house. I'm sure your parents would be delighted with those resolutions. In Scouting, we make a resolution almost every time we meet.

Ten Essentials of Scoutmastership - A Belief in Boys

Scoutmaster Clarke Green ·

The Ten Essentials of Scoutmastership penned by William 'Green Bar' Hillcourt were part of the Scoutmaster's Handbook for many years. A belief in boys that will make you want to invest yourself and your time on their behalf. As Plato said " Of all the animals , the boy is the most unmanageable ".

Visiting the Troop (opens in a new tab)

Lone Star Scouter ·

I had the rare opportunity to be able to visit the troop at Camp Strake's Winter Camp a few days this week. All our scouts were having a good time and I saw lots of smiles. The first few days started off a little rough with wet weather but the week ended with clear skies.

Scouting has been "Green" for 90 years...

BSA Innovation Engine ·

3 Vote On Idea ...and now is no time to stop. With a shrinking economy and shrinking contributions on the horizon, we can take steps now to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels, reduce our carbon footprint AND virtually eliminate our monthly electric bills.

Count Up Timer

BSA Innovation Engine ·

0 Vote On Idea Add a count up timer to the Scouting.org web page that says the BSA is this old. Comments (0) Category/Tags : 100th Anniversary (14) Mark as duplicate