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This weekend marked the first Leave No Trace Trainer Course for Team West in the 2011 season. Eight participants came out and were eager to learn about the principles of Leave No Trace. We had six students from local San Diego colleges including trip leaders from University of California at San Diego , Point Loma Nazarene…
Yesterday, the last living American WWI veteran died at age 110. Frank Buckles lied about his age to join the Army in 1917 and went to war as a 16 year old. He volunteered to drive ambulances because he heard that was the fastest way to get in the action.
As you know, the Boy Scouts of America places the greatest importance on creating the most secure environment possible for its youth members. Join us as we catch up with all the latest safety information with Richard Bourlon, the Health and Safety Team leader at our national office in Irving, Texas.
Faith. It's such a nice topic, but how do you put into words or teach your dens and packs about it? Reverend Dan Wolboldt has been involved with Scouting for 55 years and has held several positions in the Chief Corn Planter Council in Northwest Pennsylvania.
Verified with County parade committee that the Troop and Pack are both registered to march in the annual St Patrick's Day parade; >> Got scheduling info for an upcoming First Aid/CPR/AED class; I used to be an EMT but that was when I had a Scout's build so it's past time I get re-trained.
No, it's not the Stuart Scott catch phrase, it's the name of a type of soup, made locally in Wisconsin. Basically, it's a chicken soup, usually without the noodles, made from...well, follow this WIKI to find out more. I got word tonight that the Moose Lodge is going to help us out with a Booyah…
National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) is an intense week long leadership training class for youth
Greetings Scout Nation! Our 2nd episode of Scout Nation is doing very well in the downloads. And it is getting some feedback on the forums too, so thank you! Yesterday was my decompress day after TLT...didn't last long as I have the start of a cold/sinus infection :( - talked to the CC about our upcoming District…
Last night I participated in a Scoutmaster Conference for a new Scout. It was obviously his first Scoutmaster Conference as a Boy Scout and he was trying to earn his Scout Badge. Here is why I am posting this... The excitement that he had was over the top and its not just him, but I…
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.
Yesterday, Team East had the opportunity to visit the The Parish School in Houston, TX. The Parish School specializes in teaching children with language and learning differences. We worked with the after-school program, Adventure Play , where students create their own playground and build it themselves with the tools and supplies that are available.
Last fall, 17-year-old Saun-Shane "Ikaika" Suzuki was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer and told he had just three years to live. But Suzuki didn't let that slow him down. The Boy Scout from Hawaii persevered and earned his Eagle Scout award last month.
Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge The first day of the month is great for Scouting. I get to look forward to all the fun we are going to have this month. New themes, new weather (warmer!), new experiences in the outdoors!
It's time to announce last month's Scouting photo contest winner. Our judges looked over the pool of flickr submissions and selected the following finalists… All of these pictures were excellent in their own way, but since February is Scouting History month, we decided to go with a vintage photo to claim the $100 ClassB Gift…
Distributed information to Troop (email and updated Troop website) regarding plans for summer camp including costs and weeks available. I wanted to get the information into the Scouts and Parents hands as soon as possible so camp can be included in their summer vacation plans. Council is coming to do a presentation on the camps
Wayne keeps up the meeting count, celebrates Founder's Day, and looks over the many examples of Big Adventures that took place last year.
The Scout Association has closed down the Scoutbase website this last week and transferred its content to the Member Resources section of the main SA site . Scoutbase was the SA's first presence on the internet and was started way back in 1996!
Tonight, I attended a Tiger meeting...you see, I have changed my role with the pack, and I am the 2nd Assistant Cubmaster, and I am overseeing the Tigers and Wolves. The Wolf den is going pretty strong, so the occasion phone call will suffice, but the Tiger den WAS in dire straits.
This entry to the YouTube Tuesday Boy Scout video was actually placed online two year ago. It features Boy Scout Troop 80 singing their song about root beer to the Cub Scout Scout pack. I had never heard this before and got a chuckle out of it so I thought I would share it with…
Today is Dr. Seuss's birthday. He was born on March 2nd in 1904. It is also the National Education Association's Read Across America Day. So today I am promoting the Reading merit badge.
The Baloo's Bugle for FAITH is on line!! Info on the new Tour Plan Games and Activites for FAITH Read & Enjoy Copyright - U.S. Scouting Service Project | Visit us at http://usscouts.org | News at http://usssp.blogspot.com
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…
Tuesday's are the busiest day of the week for Scouting. All the week's preparations lead to this... - printed out the new Top Chef Rubric that the PLC came up with at TLT - printed out the new Scouts roster for the Troop Guides - approved 1 Eagle Project involving helping wounded veterans - talked to 2 Life Scouts…
How'd you do with last week's Name That Council ? There were exactly 64 of you who correctly guessed that the mystery council was the Cherokee Area Council , based in Bartlesville, Okla., about an hour north of Tulsa. Several correct answers, but, alas, only one can be the lucky winner.
The Leave No Trace e-tour team is ready to hit the road and we are seeking a dynamic duo of educators to join our crew! Sponsored by the Coleman Company, The North Face and Subaru, the e-tour brings hands-on Leave No Trace demonstrations, interactive activities, and general Leave No Trace education to schools, camps and…
Citizenship in the Nation Wednesday again, the busiest day of the week. Our rescheduled Blue and Gold is tonight. We do it very casually, quick awards, Friends of Scouting presentation, and then a potluck dinner. Everyone has a good time, and I get to touch base with all the families and scout out all of…
Today I: Emailed the parents of the top two Pinewood Derby racers from each rank to get their confirmation their boys would be able to attend the District race later in March. Heard back from three of them. Updated the blog’s theme and added another 100 Days of Scouting blog ( A Day in the Life……
A busy Team West wrapped up February with an awareness workshop in Cudahy, CA at the Ellen Ochoa Learning Center working with an excited group of 70 sixth grade students. Following a comprehensive introduction to the Leave No Trace PEAK (Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids) Program , the students were instructed to select one of the…
It is the fourth week of 100 Days of Scouting . That means it is time for another trivia quiz about Boy Scouting, based on the 1984 edition of the Boy Scout Handbook. Will you do better this week then you have with the previous quizzes?
Just like the title says, nuttin'...nuttin' that I really care to write about. Right about now, I am in a state of confusion, as we lost a really good DE today, and to be honest, I don't think that our district is going to recover for some time.
Even though we are not heading south to Philmont till 2012 it is never to early to get ready. Our deposits are in and we have secured our 2 crews, the excitement is building! The other night we met with many of the Scouts going, we are going to start our preparations this summer, more…
Sometimes it feels like a lot of my work as a Scoutmaster is administrative. I do these things because I want to enable as much boy-led activity as possible. I provide the sneakers – it's up to them to run with it… Printed menu, duty roster and activity planner worksheets for Troop to use to
One of our Guide and Outfitter Partners , Boots N Paddles from Scotland recently wrote us to let us know about a Trainer Course they are offering at the end of the month. Boots N Paddles will be running a 2-day Leave No Trace Trainers' course in March.
Group Activities" is one of the BSA methods for Venturers.
New Award for All 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.
You would think the day after a Troop Meeting is an off day. But it is not. - I applied for 3 Scouters to earn the Scouter's Training Award - talked to several adults about being active in the Troop and taking charge of a few things - more data entry into TroopMaster AND played with TroopMaster Web…
Here's a great opportunity if you're headed out canoeing this summer: Taking the troop to the BWCA this summer or on a river paddling adventure? Dreaming of an extended wilderness trip? Perhaps you really need a refresher covering the fundamentals.
Photo by Horrgakx on Flickr When Baden-Powell said "Be Prepared," I'm pretty sure he wasn't talking about income tax returns. But still, there's no better advice than that two-word phrase during tax time. Scouters who heeded the Scout Motto last year remembered to track and document their Boy Scouts of America-related expenses.
Citizenship in the World Ever have the sense that Scouting and your life have become indistinguishable? Last night after the Blue and Gold, and getting buried under a ton of non-dairy whipped topping pies for the top popcorn sales in our pack and troop, and the troop meeting...and cleaning up the finer details of the…
The Great Gear Giveaway goes miniature this week with four Leatherman keychain multitools. They're the latest prize in Scouting magazine's weekly gear giveaway. As I've told you, I'm trying to clean out my office, and I'm passing along a bunch of outdoors gear to Scouting magazine readers.
Helena, AR - Team East visited the 5th-8th grades at the KIPP Delta College Preparatory School . The students in attendance were learning more about responsible outdoor recreation and their role as stewards of nature in preparation for their end of the year trip to a number of national parks out west.
The Scout Association's response to the inquest into the death of Beaver Scout Alan Lock.
Wow! I never expected to see something like this posted to Youtube by the BSA. But I think it is very well done. Welcome to Patrol Z, an action comic strip to promote the next Jamboree at The Summit. This video kicks off a program by the BSA to recruit Scouts with tech savvy skills.
So tonight was a bit more special for me when it comes to a Board of Review. My son went for and passed his Tenderfoot Board of Review. Our troop also got Tyler his Tenderfoot rank tonight. The road for the last year has been long, but it's starting to pay dividends.
Last night was the first meeting with the newly crossed over Scouts. We added 5 to our Troop and they are now all members of the Phoenix Patrol. All 5 showed up ready to go with books and uniforms. One of our existing Scouts missed the meeting because of a Youth Group meeting at the
This was one of their favorite recipes. They all made their own quesadillas, and so our vegetarian just didn't put chicken in his. Everyone was well fed and happy.
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
It has been a long week at work but a great week for Scouting. With the introduction of 31 new Scouts we've been busy prepping for them and the first meeting really paid off. Day 24 Task List: - talked to a few MBCs - went to the DelMi District Awards Dinner: there we honored the 106…
Assistant Scoutmaster Michael from Troop 2000 in Brockton Mass. asks: Can Scouts use power tools? I'm confused because I've been told they can't yet the BSA guidelines say they can. My other problem is that these guidelines are completely void of any specific information as to which tools are allowed and which ones are not.
by 'Graham', from page 107 of Scout Smiles, edited by EGW Wood, published in 1950 and long out of print (but possibly available second hand on Amazon.com)
Boy Scouts will do a lot of things for the first time. It could be the first time tying a bowline, or the first time climbing a wall, or the first time away from home for a whole weekend. Even adult leaders will do many new things for the first time.
Millions of Americans-including several of your coworkers, friends, and family members-were involved in Scouting at one point in their lives. The trick is tracking these former members down and asking them to reconnect with the Boy Scouts of America. That's where you come in.
Leave No Trace Crime Scene at the 27th Annual Elk Camp, Hunting, Fishing, and Outdoor Expo in Reno, NV. This event is sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation .
We need your help to get a $10,000 gift from Fetzer Vineyards. Fetzer has pledged to give Leave No Trace $1 for every person who joins the Leave No Trace page on Causes.com from now until May. Between the months of March to May, for every person who joins the Leave No Trace Cause and…
Climbing Merit Badge Twenty-five percent of the way through the 100 Days of Scouting . Good momentum, good energy and good reading with all the other participants this year. Today has been busy doing one thing, aside from work of course--getting ready for the Eagle project tomorrow.
posted my recap of last nights troop meeting for Day 24; sent troop info packet to parent who may have 2 more recruits for us; sent a carefully crafted email to new parents about the values of a boy led troop, where that leaves them… and included this; had to find a reference in the
Day 25: Presented CPR training to a dozen scouters tonight. Scout On Challenge your Scouts
This is the site that I have been using lately...especially now that I have paid my fees. I am getting really excited... Wood Badge - Advance Training for Adult Leaders
As Scout leaders we teach our scouts to learn and develop skills that will last their life times. Even in the mission statement of the Boy Scouts of America it states that The Mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by…
Not too big of a Scouting day here today – was working on my own Home Repairs merit badge but still managed to get a few Scout related things in: >> took the house Scout for new hiking boots; daughter went for paddle boat ride and played in a tent – too bad it was
This is an overview of the second Tiger den meeting plan from the BSA program helps. I've included some additional information I think would be helpful.
Not a lot of Scouting today. I did see some Scouts at the Band Community Event where the 2 High Schools preform. My laundry list of the Scouting Day: - confirmed order with ALPS Mountaineering for some new tents and gear (great people to deal with) - got a call from local organization planning 10th Anniversary of…
The position of the Junior Assistant Scoutmaster is one that I find debated frequently. The debate ranges from what rank he needs to be to the age he needs to be and then as to what his job is within the Troop.
Gauteng's annual Kontiki raft competition is on at the moment. Our troop is not attending this year, but I went down for the day with my Rover Crew. The theme for this year is Rome, and one of hte more striking rafts is First Horison's chariot shown above.
Coin Collecting Merit Badge Long night without much sleep. Warm enough night for camping, but I just couldn't fall back asleep at midnight. But today is a new day, and will be filled with working on an Eagle Scout project.
The lyrics in the post are the ones we used at the pack meeting. Feel free to add your own variations in the comments.
Right after I posted the last entry to the blog I looked over to the achieve section over on the left column. I rarely pay attention to it unless I am looking for something. But what I noticed and it is no surprise, but since we started participating in the #100daysofscouting activity, the number of…
So, I didn't keep up with a post-a-day-for-100-days. I went with my boys yesterday to go sledding on our family's property, and by the time I got home, cleaned up, put all bodies to bed, I was beat, and never hit the PC except to chat with Jerry for a bit.
This year marks the 25th Birthday of the Beaver section. Beavers have been official members of the Scout Association since 1986, but had in fact been around for some time before that. A younger section than Cubs was seen to be needed for some time and was done so in a similar way to which…
Today the Scouting Blogosphere has been pretty quiet, Been working on the next podcast. We are going to be talking about Den Chiefs, training Den Chiefs, and how Den Chiefs benefit your unit. Well we are talking about Den Chiefs anyway...
Today was the Eagle Court of Honor for the 6th Eagle Scout of Troop 83. Of the past 6 I've had the privilege of attending 4 of their Courts of Honor and had the privilege to serve as emcee for the last 3. Our last Eagle CoH will be next month and then presumably we
Collections Merit Badge Rain, and lots of it. Glad we finished that Eagle project yesterday ! This was a light day for Scouting...which is just what I needed to recover from yesterday. Today I: Helped a Scout finish off his Personal Management merit badge .
Better late then never... Saturday, lazy Saturday - unloaded some wood delivered to the house for Nate's Eagle Project - got a shipment of tents for Philmont! That is all...sometimes you need an off day! YIS Bryan Permalink | Leave a comment »
I sat with with Dakota, the troop's next Eagle Scout, this weekend to begin work on the slideshow presentation that will be shown at his court of honor next month. We quickly discovered this was not going to be as easy as past slideshows.
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
The Cub Scout core value for the month of March is compassion. Here is a brief Cubmaster minute to help Cub Scout understand the meaning of compassion.
Me talking about our Blue & Gold. Tonight's show sponsored by Badge Magic Join the forum discussion on this post Share with Others:
If you have been following me on this blog, you know I like to collect Scouting patches. On this Memorabilia Monday I would like to present my collection of Order of the Arrow lodge patches. Of course, I am not going to show the whole collection.
Today was a busy Scouting Day for my family. Today was the big push on my son's Eagle Project. It's something he has been working on for a while but finally reached finish point. He had some Scouts come in the morning and started on the base for his restored bell.
Many of us stay in touch with "the rest of the world" by using Twitter. What you're doing, what you're making, who you're with. One thing that I like about it, is how the scouting community has embraced it to use for ideas and for sounding boards.
Bag It Intro from Suzan Beraza on Vimeo .
The Villa Philmonte (photo by "the third dream" on Flickr) My first visit to Philmont was for one of the training center's stellar family programs. It wasn't my last. During that week there, I met new friends, hiked in the beautiful Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and became inspired to return to Philmont again and again.
Communication Merit Badge Monday is always Monday. Too much to do, too little time to do it...and the sun is shining bright enough to make me want to skip work...or at least invent a reason to go to lunch. Today I: Caught up my Advancement Report for merit badges Scouts have earned since the last…
Hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts stormed the Sparks Convention Center in Reno, NV for the 27th Annual Elk Camp & Hunting, Fishing, and Outdoor Expo , sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. For four days, the exhibit hall was brimming with people young and old, and the sound of elk bugling filled the air.
Mental Health Awareness, moms and summer camp Scoutmaster Podcast 59 Links in this Podcast Cliff Jacobsen's Expedition Canoeing School Download Mentalhealth.PDF.pdf (81.5K) National Mental Health Information Center A mother's take on summer camp You can participate in the podcast by calling (484) 734-0002 and recording a voicemail message .
It was a Camporee right after my son crossed over to Boy Scouts. We were the only attendees from the Troop. Just like Tigers all over again I'd said. Just my Scout and I. In the afternoon the Scouts were off doing part of the COPE course and the leaders were learning the dice game
Today I: Continued recovering from the “goo” Started reconciling the pack’s bank account and tabulating the next deposit Looked over the Tiger requirements for our youngest son. There may be some significant changes coming for him and school that directly impacts him and Cub Scouts Read up on more 100 Days of Scouting and other…
I was recently given an article about vandalism in the Nevada Red Rocks and was interested in what it had to say because I have a strong past with the Red Rocks. The Nevada Red Rocks were my backyard for many years when I was a young.
So the last couple of weeks Scoutmaster Steve at A Scoutmaster's Blog and Bryan at Bryan on Scouting have been blogging each Monday about scouting memorabilia. So I thought I would join in on this series. Today's patches are from Conclave 2010 which our lodge hosted at Camp Russell.The theme for this conclave was Arrow…
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.
Troop Guide is another important youth leadership position in a Boy Scout troop. A troop guide is an older scout who helps new scouts learn the "Boy Scout way" of doing things, which is much different from the "Cub Scout way" of doing things.
I know the 2010 National Jamboree is now a part of history, but there is a video posted by the Boy Scouts of America that packs a lot of activities into a minute long video. It is called "Dear Mom", and it is this week's featured video.
Monday is always a terrible day for me....going back to work, waking up early, and prepping for Scout Tuesday. Got to make sure the guys are ready for the meeting and that I have what I need to make my part successful.
This week at the Troop meeting we worked on Rifle Marksmanship. We will be shooting at our next camp out, so in order to spend more time sending bullets down range and not sitting in a class, we brought the rifle in to the meeting and worked on all of the basics in our meeting…
Helena, AR - Last weekend March 5th and 6th, Team East instructed a two day Trainer Course with Leave No Trace partner Quapaw Canoe Company on the banks of the "Big Muddy." The weather forecast over the weekend was stormy, but the 13 course participants from Mississippi, Tennessee, and Arkansas stayed positive and enjoyed the Helena…
We are coming upon national volunteer month in another few weeks, so thought I'd take this opportunity to recognize our awesome State Advocate volunteers. These individuals serve as volunteer coordinators in their state, assisting Leave No Trace educators and volunteers with local efforts to promote and teach minimum impact outdoor ethics.
Our local community access television station, Mel-TV, and Boy Scout Troop 68 have worked together during the last 23 years to provide programming about local Scouting. Courts of honor, troop outings, and Laughs For Lunch Shows were regular features. It was a great way to keep Scouting in the public eye.
Don't let this photo fool you. Buying gas is not a pretty sight right now. (Photo by vl8189 on Flickr) When your pack, troop, team, or crew sat down several months ago to create a budget for your next big trip, you and your Scouts thought of everything-except soaring gas prices.
Composite Materials Merit Badge Under the weather today, but still looking for a way to serve Scouting. And I'm not having to look hard! Lots of things popping up...if I can keep finding the juice to get them done today.
