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Winter Camping? Do you? It's a yes or no question.. but what I really want to know is this: If you camp in the winter (with your Troop), what kind of training do you do to prepare? What kind of gear do you have and and/or modify to have great winter camping experiences?
Troop 11 won the Punkin' Chunkin' for their class! We were 2nd overall and 1st in our class. We had a great crew of guys who put in many hours to make this a reality. The Scouts who assembled and operated the Trebuchet did a wonderful job and are to be congratulated for their hard…
Here's a fun skit for a Pack meeting or a November campout. It is very easy and can be put on with almost any number of Scouts. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
I found this promotional video on Youtube. It is time to "Be A Scout". Be a Cub Scout. Be a Boy Scout. Be a Venturer. Serve your community. Learn new things. And just have fun. This video was posted to Youtube by BSA100Years in July 2011.
I am a big advocate of the Leave No Trace program. We spend a great deal of time in our Troop teaching and coaching the Leave No Trace principles and and the Outdoor ethic. I stumbled on this video from our friends at the National Park Service and thought I would share.
This post is all about curiosity”¦ and I should say right up front that I am calling no one out, nor am I saying this is right or wrong. I have noticed a lot of blogs out there and other web sites, both Scout related and non Scout related that seem to be making an…
Our Beavers, Cubs, Scouts along with the Brownies and Guides, today paid respect to those who have been killed in wars, by parading round Porthill, led by our drum band and then by joining the congregation of St. Andrew's Church for a service of Remembrance.
Philmont is currently looking to hire a Museum Director. The Philmont Museum Director is responsible for the management, operation and programs of the Philmont Museum and Seton Memorial Library, Kit Carson Museum and Rayado Historical District and the Villa Philmonte.
Wayne found time for some of his other voluntary interests this week before spending Saturday in Birmingham and Solihull Scout Counties.
...Minus the soap:) One of the e-tour's favorite ways to spend time between events is to search out some hot springs and soak for a while. Here are photos from our latest pursuit. We'll let you figure out where these were taken and allow you the thrill of discovery too.
Spent yesterday and today presenting Red Cross CPR/AED and Wilderness First Aid training to scouters getting ready for Northern Tier, Sea Base, Philmont, and troop-planned treks over the coming year. One participant was a Cubmaster preparing for pack camping which I thought was pretty cool.
A lot of the requirements for Arrow of Light have to do with learning about Boy Scouts. So to make this more fun, I made up a set of picture bingo cards. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
If your troop is like mine, you probably have had a few Scouts age out of youth membership and head off to college or military service. Most likely Life or Eagle Scouts, these young men still enjoy being active in …
#275-New marketing campaigns, themes making a comeback, internet Scout Patch, bullies, online training and gracefully leaving Cub Scouts are on tap for tonight's show. Tonight, we discuss derbies – Pinewood, Space and Raingutter. Links: Improve your Scouting for Food drive with these 10 tips- http://bit.ly/fiKKxw Tonight's show sponsored by ALPS Mountaineering Join the forum discussion on…
In case you haven't heard, the 2013 National Scout Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Reserve is going to use a new model for activities in terms of scheduling. So what does that mean for you, the participants? You'll be totally submerged in whatever activities you decide on.
Many young men and women have their first experience firing a rifle or shotgun in the Boy Scouts of America. But earning these two merit badges is only the beginning. The BSA's partnership with the National Rifle Association has extended into national jamborees, weekend activities, and countless summer camps.
Back at the beginning of October, I posted about a contest being sponsored by the BSA to promote the Be A Scout website where interested parents can find a local pack, troop, or crew. The 1 minute opening video on the site is waaay cool with lots of action and some neat stop-motion scenes - you…
IN THIS PODCAST Focus on the Individual Scout LINKS Ask Andy SMM Podcast KEEP IN TOUCH Contact Clarke Green Call and leave a voice mail comment or question at (484) 734-0002 Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes Listen on your mobile device with Stitcher Smart Radio Follow us on FACEBOOK – TWITTER Subscribe to blog posts…
Managing your pack weight when winter camping is a task that seriously needs consideration, skill, and knowledge. I know that most of us are always looking to shave some weight here and there, lets face it, most of us need to shave the pack weight, and body weight too.
Pinnacle Trail, Table Rock State Park, GA...
Outdoor Living Skills Class Montreat, NC. Traveling Trainers have had the pleasure of providing awareness workshops at Montreat College for a few consecutive years. This year was no exception as we spent four days on their mountainous campus which is complete with its own challenging trail system.
Table top displays are a way to show off a hobby, collection, event, or other project. Or you can showcase your unit's program. As part of the Hobbies Troop Program Feature for Boy Scouts, table top displays are used in a hobby fair to show of each Scout's particular hobby.
Bighorn Sheep, near Willow Beach, AZ. Be intentional, not conventional. Tara and Mark
A personal profile on a social media tool that identifies us a Scout Leader makes us de-facto representatives of Scouting in general and the B.S.A. in particular. I discussed youth protection issues in a previous post in this series but the responsible use of social media as a representative of Scouting also requires us to…
October has come and gone, and the Bigfoot Challenge has new winners! Congratulations to the winners of the October Bigfoot Challenge, sponsored by Keen ! Our first winner is Patrick Joyce from Belleville, IL. Patrick writes: "I am the Scoutmaster for the boys of Troop 13 out of Faith Lutheran Church, in O'Fallon, Illinois.
Republican? Democrat? Forget it. I've got an election we can all agree on. Vote for Philmont's Tooth of Time Traders in the SNEWS Outdoor Retailer of the Year awards. The five-step process just takes a minute, so click here to get started.
Well, as promised, here is a video of my gear. A quick break down and then packing it up. It's in two parts and I hope the quality is ok. I will be posting a gear list in the near future with a link on the blog.
An eco-friendly project to rebuild the Scout and Guide hall in Old Basing, Hampshire, has reached the final round of voting for Energyshare funding.
Medford, OR - On Saturday, 35 Girl Scouts, leaders, and parents chose to spend part of their day learning more about Leave No Trace. We explored the 7 principles of Leave No Trace through several activities including What Principle Am I?
Many of you that hit this blog are aware if not very aware of Gregg Hilferding's HalfEagle.com site. It is a great place to keep up with Scouting web sites and whats going on in the online Scouting community. Gregg wrote me the other day saying; If you've spent much time on some of the…
Does your Unit do fundraising as a unit or require the Scout to be thrifty and earn his own way without Unit assistants?
Boy Scouts will make their own short movie when working on the requirements for the Cinematography merit badge. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
At the 2013 National Scout Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Reserve, you can expect to go big with new and improved high-adventure activities. From skateboarding and BMX, to whitewater rafting and zip lining, you won't be bored. On top of the adventure, however, you can also expect some good, old-fashioned Scout activities, like service projects…
Pickens County, SC. While hiking at Table Rock State Park in South Carolina, we came across this signage at the trailhead. This sign does a great job of not only citing the expectations the rangers have for pet owners in the park, but it also explains the "whys" behind the regulations.
In this episode, I talk a bit more about the purpose of this blog, and delve into something that is a hot topic these days-managing change. How do you introduce new ways of doing things at your council or department?
This is the fourth in a series of articles about social media and Scouting; here's the introduction , a post about youth protection issues , my guidelines for appropriate behavior and content . Also be sure to read the B.S.A. Social Media Guidelines .
Backpacker magazine published a good article called "Ultralight Makeover" 12 steps for cutting weight. I found this article interesting and all in all agree with it. Now, I should say that I am not considered a UL guy. I do, as stated ad nauseum, like to keep my pack weight down and take a critical…
I personally appreciate this service project by scouts of Troop 747 out of Tucson, Arizona. The project involved making and installing wildlife escape ramps in livestock water troughs. This lets rodents climb out rather than drowning and rotting in the water.
November's in full swing and now's the time to take the Bigfoot Challenge! Hop on board with one of Bigfoot's three November challenges and support Leave No Trace by doing one (or more) of the following: 1. Like Grand Trunk on Facebook!
My twins are 18 and are getting close to graduating from High School. The other night they brought home a form for documenting Community service. In our State there is a requirement to perform 8 hours of community service. I agree with this requirement, I think it, at a minimum forces today's youth to at…
Want to spark some passion in your Scouts? Tell them about Welding, the next new merit badge from the Boy Scouts of America. When it debuts in the next month or two, it will become the BSA's 128th current merit badge, joining fellow newcomer Chess , which made its move onto the list during the summer.
Howdy, welcome back. This is show #97 and we are talking about conducting shakedowns for your next adventure, a great reciepe for filling up a cold belly, and providing service opportunities for our Scouts during this season of giving thanks.
Shakedowns, Winter eats, and Service Howdy, welcome back. This is show #97 and we are talking about conducting shakedowns for your next adventure, a great reciepe for filling up a cold belly, and providing service opportunities for our Scouts during this season of giving thanks.
Well, it took a while to figure this computer stuff out… and really don't think I have it down yet, BUT.. I did get an update in on the SMMPodcast tab (page). You can now listen to the last 10 or so show right here on the blog.
I thought I'd put all the photos I took from the Remembrance Sunday parade into a video. Enjoy!
Tonight, our Boy Scout Troop is running the Pack meeting for our Cub Scouts. They are going to divide into dens and each den will have several Boy Scouts doing skill instruction with them. They are working on things like knots and outdoor skills which relate to the advancement for each den.
A rather confusing clarification came forth from the national training team recently regarding just what constitutes being "trained." It seems there are two slightly different definitions of the term, and they apply to slightly different things. A Scouter has generally …
Taking an adventure? Wear your Leave No Trace shirt and post a photo on our Facebook page to share the places it went. Shown above: Leave No Trace Development & Membership Coordinator, Dean Ronzoni, getting his pump on at Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.
‘It Happened to Jane' (1959) starred Jack Lemmon and Doris Day. It's an O.K. movie (Ernie Kovaks is the villain). This clip is a little long , but watch the first part. Note the reasonably realistic, chaotic group of Cub Scouts.
San Diego, CA - We spent this week in San Diego working with Outdoor Outreach and the Great Escapes program at Point Loma Nazarene University. Both programs take students on amazing outdoor adventures in the San Diego area and beyond. Outdoor Outreach is a non-profit organization that serves at-risk and underprivileged youth through a variety of…
I think this one image is probably the best promotion of Order of the Arrow and Boy Scouts to come around in a loooong time. Click the image to see it full size or View Gallery on facebook. Mike Fossum ( Meechgalane Sakima ) took his Vigil OA sash into space this summer aboard the space station!
In 2009,the BSA Innovation and Strategy Group conducted a survey to determine the level of interest in various high adventure activities. Four of the top survey responses were banned in the Guide to Safe Scouting. Shortly after that survey was conducted, in 2010 and 2011, select councils were able to conduct pilot for all-terrain vehicles…
2009 Buick Lucerne CXL 63,095 approximate miles Exterior color: Dark crimson metallic Interior color: Titanium leather Asking price: $16,290 Location: Peoria, Illinois Equipment/features: 3.9L V6 SFI flex fuel AM/FM stereo with six-disc CD/MP3 Enhanced electronic four-speed automatic transmission Power windows/locks/seats XM radio Five-passenger seating The price of the vehicle is negotiable.
An Oasis in the Desert Borrego Palm Canyon in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
This is one of our favorite Dutch oven recipes. DS made this recently at a Troop meeting where the Boy Scouts showed off their cooking skills. This recipe also won first prize at a Camporee cooking contest, so I guess it is an "award winning" recipe.
On July 7-9, 2011, the Montana Council's K-M Scout Ranch hosted a camp for Venturers and high adventure. The lone crew to attend this year, Venturing Crew 2861 enjoyed the ranch, even though they didn't meet new Scouting friends. "I liked being able to spend a lot of time at each activity without having to…
Webelos transition or bridge crossing into a Scout troop can be a tricky process. We know that we loose or gain many potential Scouts depending on how well this process is administered. Take a moment to complete the survey and let me know your ideas and experiences: Webelos Transition Survey What is your role in…
I just spent the better part of the morning volunteering in my wifes classroom… well I shouldn't say in the classroom.. in the swimming pool. Each Friday during the fall and winter months the class, along with a number of other classes go swimming at the Middle School's pool.
Trailblazers-the online digest of BSA personnel changes such as new hires, transfers, promotions, and retirements-has been updated and made live on the Internal Communications site on scouting.org. The site now features most personnel changes ranging from July 2009 through the end of October 2011 for national staff, Central Region, Northeast Region, and retirees.
I was planning on hiking 6 miles this morning, but when I hit 3 miles it just seemed like I needed to go further. I'm glad I did. Click the image to see a short video of the three deer I saw, plus one.
It is not enough as a Scoutmaster these days to take boys camping, teach them a few skills, and hand out merit badges. Kids today, like kids in the past, and certainly this will apply in the future as society changes, kids grow up differently, and attitudes and norms change, are different.
Where do you get most of your information to keep current on all that is Scouting? Internet? Scout Office? Professionals?. There are lots of avenues for getting Scouting information.. How do you get it?
Rule No. 41 : In a confrontation between emotion and logic, emotion will win. Rule No. 42 : Either employ the Scout sign or simply shout, "Sign's Up!" To do both is pointless. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dear Andy, Let me be the first to provide you an optimistic letter on the new "active" requirement.
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The core value for Cub Scouts for the month of December is Respect. According to the program helps respect is "Showing regard for the worth of someone or something." [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
An early Father & Son weekend (early 1990’s?) 25 years ago our troop held our first annual father and son weekend. We started the weekend as a way to invite dads that were not otherwise involved to join us for a weekend and see what goes on in Scouts.
String burn station Swat-em; inter-patrol game Orienteering station Dad patrol "skins the snake" The egg toss is an exhibition, not a competition. (please; no wagering.) Happy Patrol Leaders Flat Hat Cup Trophies a hearty breakfast Luncheon sample ready for judging Blind William Tell, suction darts, one shoots, one aims Some happy patrol members in their…
Click to open November issue The November issue of Supply Line newsletter has been published and is available online. In this issue, you can read more about a cool new series of collectible, tent-shaped jamboree activity patches being produced to coincide with a series of blog entries at summitblog.org by volunteer program team leader Russell…
Yesterday and today the e-tour joined the Youth Volunteer Corps of America's Southern Arizona group. Through educational workshops and some down and dirty desert clean up we explored the importance of Leave No Trace in the sensitive desert environment . Along with staffers from all parts of the country and some dedicated, caring local youth this…
Amazon has a pretty sweet deal on Victorinox Swiss Army knives; buy $50.00 worth of Swiss army knives and get $10.00 off. Amazon's pricing is already about as good as it gets for these knives and since you don't pay shipping for purchases over $25.00 it's an unbeatable deal.
The application for the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award is now available on the NESA website (in the far-right column). This year marks the third year of the award. In 2010, Eagle Scouts from 35 councils participated.
This makes a nice Scoutmaster Minute or Cubmaster Minute or even just a good reflection for a family gathering at this time of year. This is based on something in some old BSA program helps [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
When the Summit Bechtel Reserve opens for the 2013 National Scout Jamboree, Scouts, Venturers, and Scouters should prepare to go big with new and improved high-adventure activities. On top of the adventure, however, you can also expect some good, old-fashioned Scout activities, like service projects.
Scouts in the east Midlands turned out in force on Saturday to welcome Bear Grylls, who travelled by helicopter to five events and encouraged Scouts to live out their dreams.
With Thanksgiving just a few days away, I thought that it would be nice to continue a tradition that I hold near to my heart and share it early. What am I most thankful for? I am thankful for God, my health, my family and my friends- not necessarily in that order (other than God…
Thick, thin, stuffed, or Cryptobiotic ? Mark and Tara
Well, tonight, I got a call tonight from the Dad of a scout who wants to crossover to our troop. I will say that I am excited, as this scout is from "outside" the unit that I know. I have been a part of Pack 4363 for the last 6 years, and getting another scout…
It's not often that I see a newspaper column about Scouting that's written right from our playbook, but I think this one from the Charlotte Observer is among those that fit the bill-what a terrific headline: "Eagle Scouts are a big benefit to communities" And I love how the column opens-along with a little Frank…
As an event planner and marketer, are you ready for the unexpected? When hosting council events, do you have a plan in place to handle unexpected emergencies? If not (or even if you do and you're looking for new tips and techniques), join David Burke from the BSA's Public Relations Team for a Marketing webinar…
Do you ever feel like you are repeating yourself when you are teaching your kids table manners? Here is an idea your Cub Scouts can make for their holiday table or even for everyday family dinners. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
Cub Scout leaders and volunteers can expect to see some changes to their training awards and insignia beginning next year. The national training team has received requests and suggestions for simplifying the large number of personal achievement, recognition, training and …
In the world of water sports, one stands above the rest - literally. The sport is known as stand up paddleboarding (SUP for short), and it's one of the fastest growing activities on the water. The History The sport originates, like surfing, from the islands of Hawaii, where surf instructors would stand on their surfboards to…
Fayetteville, NY. On Friday, an extended training lent itself to a hike that explored a plethora of teachable moments. Green Lakes State Park has a trail system, a disc golf course, an eighteen hole golf course, a playground, and an abundance of picnic tables.
IN THIS PODCAST Social Media and Scouting, merit badge questions LINKS B.S.A. Social Media Guidelines Articles about social media on Scoutmastercg: Introduction Youth protection issues Appropriate behavior and content What works Mark Pensky's "Digital Natives" article KEEP IN TOUCH Contact Clarke Green Call and leave a voice mail comment or question at (484) 734-0002 Subscribe…
This last weekend our Scout Troop headed up to Trout Lake, Washington to venture into the longest Lave Tube cave in North America, called Dead Horse cave. We tried to get up to the cave last year, but with record snow fall we could not get to the entrance.
Sorry if this is post bugs you… but I have to test the settings for Facebook. I have had multiple people ask if we could get this blog feed directly to the Scoutmasterminute Podcast page in facebook.. so I am test it now. Thanks for your patience. Have a Great Scouting Day!
Now that we're approaching the end of the first full year of the 2011-2015 National Council Strategic Plan, it's a perfect time to take a quick look at the progress we've made in pursuit of our goals. With that in mind, take a quick look at the holiday season edition of the Strategic Plan progress…
To help Cubmasters and roundtable commissioners develop rewarding, theme-based Cub Scout pack meetings each month, the National Council has created a series of meeting plans centered around the program's 12 core values that use various themes to enhance the meeting environment.
Rule No. 43 : Never give a Commissioner a weak cup of coffee. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dear Andy, How do I create my own website for the Communications merit badge? (Scout's Name & Council Withheld) You start by asking your Communications Merit Badge Counselor. Hey Andy, My son's a pretty weak swimmer.
The BSA has launched the Scouting Alumni Association, giving former Scouts an opportunity to reconnect with the organization that has helped shape the lives of America's youth. For more than 100 years, nearly 200 million men and women have been positively influenced by their experiences with the BSA.
Click to open Dec. 1 issue The Dec. 1 issue of the Finance Impact e-Letter has been published and is available on the Finance Impact website. Be prepared
The Junior Assistant Scoutmaster is a youth member of a Boy Scout troop who serves in the capacity of an Assistant Scoutmaster except where legal age and maturity are required. He must be at least 16 years old and not yet 18.
Bruce Tuckman first offered a theory of group development in the mid 1960′s. Tuckman's model has been a part of Woodbadge training for about a dozen years. Here's Tuckman's three stages: Forming Individuals want to be accepted by the others, avoid controversy or conflict.
When the dreary drudgery of indoor scout meetings during the long winter months start getting to your scouts, remember that poor weather means a perfect opportunity to develop teamwork. Sure, it's discussed at Troop Leader Training and the Patrol Leader Council agrees that it's important, but how about incorporating some team development activities into those…
This weekend we built shelters and practiced wilderness survival. Many of you came prepared and brought with you tarps and sheeting, twine and duct tape, even spars. But all of you brought the one item you need in any situation.
Sometimes the images depicted on state flags need a bit of interpretation. Arizona? No explanation needed. Take a look. Be intentional, not conventional. Mark and Tara
Bears are opportunistic omnivores who follow their nose to the next meal. This skill has kept them fed, but it has also resulted in "problem bears," or bears that associate humans with food. Once this association has been made, a bear is generally doomed.
Last night I sat with a couple Scouts, they just crossed over on Friday and were having their Scoutmaster Conference for their Scout Badge. I love this first conference, it is a great way to learn about the new Scout and a little about where he comes from.
Please be aware that all letters of employment have been updated in the Briefcase and can be accessed through MyBSA > Resources > BSA Resources window . This action has been taken in response to our recommendation that all letters of employment be updated along with your employee handbook for 2012.
Glendora, CA - Earlier this week, Team West facilitated Leave No Trace educational trainings for the staff and volunteers who patrol and educate the general public on the San Gabriel River and in the mountains of the Angeles National Forest of southern California.
