Why do we do this?
Scouting is not an abstruse or difficult science: rather it is a jolly game if you take it in the right light. At the same time it is educative, and (like Mercy) it is apt to benefit him that giveth as well as him that receiveth."
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February 2014
188 posts, oldest first.
Posts in February 2014
Somethings are just worth sharing.
We find ourselves in Scouting working with young men of every color and stripe. They come to us as they are in the hopes that they will realize the adventure of Scouting. In many cases in their own way. I was bumping around on Facebook this morning and stumbled on this little video.
Scouting Isn't................ (opens in a new tab)
1) Scouting isn't school, yet Scouting has teachers. 2) Scouting isn't a sports team, yet Scouting promotes competition. 3) Scouting isn't physical education (PE), yet Scouting promotes physical fitness. 4) Scouting isn't a cult/gang, yet Scouting promotes group identity development.
February Scout Circle – GreenBar Life
Enoch Heise, Arlen Ward and myself discuss youth leadership in Scouting. Enoch is the author of the GreenBar life articles found at ScoutmasterCG.com. He's a 19 year-old assistant Scoutmaster with a great perspective on helping youth leaders get going and keep going.
KNOTS Caption Contest Winner! (opens in a new tab)
February 2014 What Dreams are Made Of - Such as Giant Rocks Rolling Over You! Winner of this year's KNOTS Caption Contest is Kelly Smith of Troop/Crew 68 in Beavercreek, Ohio! Thanks to all who participated! Kelly wins a by-line for the cartoon, a color copy suitable for framing, a KNOTS Cartoons Book and Knots Retro…
Scouting's triangles (opens in a new tab)
A triangle is the simplest two-dimensional figure and is one of the strongest in nature. The world is made of triangles, from honeycombs to bridge trusses. Three is a magic number in many ways beyond the familiar Bob Dorough song …
Finding the Arrow
I do not talk much about the Order of the Arrow on this blog, and maybe I should. I have not received a lot of requests for OA topics, but over the past few months I have been giving the Order of the Arrow a bit more thought.
Cyber Chip Program (opens in a new tab)
I see younger and younger children all the time with cell phones in their hands. And in many schools, computers are a tool just like a pencil or a notebook. So now more than ever we need to ensure that our kids use technology safely and for its intended purpose.
Scoutmaster Podcast 209 (opens in a new tab)
Sponsored By ScoutmasterCG.com Backers This podcast features a discussion of the parallels between citizenship and leadership; you can't be a Scout without being a leader. We answer an email question aobut what to do about an attitude problem with a District Advancement Chair (Elagle drama chapter 236!)
Arrow of Light Arrows: Review of Vince's Arrows & Special Discount (opens in a new tab)
If you're looking for Arrow of Light arrows that are great quality at a great price, read my review of Vince's Arrows. And the wonderful thing is that Vince is an Eagle Scout!
March Pack Meeting Plan – Pet Pals (Compassion) (opens in a new tab)
The Cub Scout core value for the month of March is The March Pack Meeting Tips from BSA remind us "Everybody has something valuable to offer and nobody likes being left out. Help your Cub Scouts be aware of the needs of others.
I Put On the Uniform............... (opens in a new tab)
Why do I put on the uniform everyday?" Seems to be a question I get asked regularly. So "Why do I put on the uniform everyday?" I put on the uniform because I am a member of a world wide movement.
Life at No 3 (opens in a new tab)
This mean that the house has a number of toys and teddies, I though it would be interesting to create a series of posts life at No 3.
Scouting "Easter Eggs" During the Local Community Theater (opens in a new tab)
I had a hunch I would be receiving a phone call so it did not come as a surprise when the phone rang two days after the first meeting of this year's mystery dinner theater group. I had been in the play two years ago and probably would have been in last year's play if…
Come along side (opens in a new tab)
Yesterday we "Celebrated" Presidents Day… Not sure what that means, but lets go with it. To me Presidents day is the day that we recognize two great leaders. George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. I think in their own right, those two Presidents did more to earn a day than any other in our history.
Tuesday Talkback: Balancing too much adult involvement with too little (opens in a new tab)
This much we know: A unit where Scouts/Venturers do everything without feedback or coaching from adult leaders is taking the "youth-led" concept too far. And a unit where adult leaders plan trips and lead meetings isn't taking the concept far enough.
Eagle Scout Holcomb steers U.S. to bronze in two-man bobsled (opens in a new tab)
In 2010, Eagle Scout Steven Holcomb won Team USA's first medal in four-man bobsled in 62 years, driving the United States to gold. Yesterday, he ended another 62-year American medal drought, this time in two-man bobsled. He and teammate Steve Langton won bronze in the event at the Sochi Games.
Rapid Scout Recipe Videos
These seven rapid Scout recipe videos from Scouts UK are great fun! What true Scout (or Scouter for that matter) wouldn't be tempted to try something called "Armpit Fudge? When my Scouts cook high cuisine is a rarity. When it comes to food they prefer speed to subtlety; so any rapid Scout recipe should be…
Issue 385 – February 18, 2014 (opens in a new tab)
________________________________________ SAVE THE DATE! SATURDAY – MARCH 8th. If you're in the area, consider signing up for the Greater Alabama Council's UNIVERSITY OF SCOUTING! It'll be held on the campus of Jefferson State Community College, 2601 Carson Road in Birmingham. I'm honored to have been asked to be their keynote speaker that day, and I'll also be…
Fun Cub Scout Awards Presentation (opens in a new tab)
Are your awards presentations a "baggie & a handshake?" If so, you'll want to watch this video of a presentation that was a hit with our pack!
Unit Culture
Monday night our Troop held its annual Order of the Arrow election and its six month youth leadership election. Our Troop elections are like most Troops in that we hold the elections for youth leadership. We may differ in this aspect, we only elect the "assistants".
An Unconventional Arrow of Light Award (opens in a new tab)
Stephen made a "light up" Arrow of Light for his son and was kind enough to send in pictures and instructions if anyone else would like to make one. So thank you Stephen for the following! If you have a project you'd like to share on this website, just contact me .
Chicago Eagle Scout to receive Honor Medal for heroism during shooting
A Scout is brave, but what Lawrence D. Sellers did on Jan. 29, 2013, was something beyond bravery. The Chicago Area Council Eagle Scout was shot in the leg while shielding a friend from gunfire during the Harsh Park attack that killed Hadiya Pendleton .
A Legacy of Service – To the Olympics
With the world focusing on the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, I read with interest an article sent to me about how Scouting's commitment to service played a leading role in the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY.
Going on a Bear Hunt
Mandi sent in this question: I remember an echo skit called "Going on a Bear Hunt" The first few lines were: Going on a bear hunt I'm not scared, Got my _________ I'm prepared. Then there were many obstacles followed by can't go over it, cant go around it, must go through it.
Philmont Poem (opens in a new tab)
As you all know I love Philmont. I found this poem on the internet. It is penned by author James Roberts. As I read the poem it took me back… back to the Silver on the Sage, the Country that I love..
What is a Patrol? Part 1 – A Team for Adventure
When the evil Sauron was terrorizing the fictional world of Middle-Earth only the Fellowship of the Ring could stop him. When a comic-book demigod threatened to invade the earth with an evil army, only the Avengers could save the planet!
33 Scouting cartoons from the '60s show what's changed, what hasn't
Ever witnessed a camp-cooking mishap, chaotic den meeting or Scoutmaster slip-up? In that sense, you're a lot like Scouters from 50 years ago, as evidenced by the collection of 33 Boy Scouts of America cartoons printed in Scouting magazine during the years of 1964 to 1966.
Remembering Waite Phillips, 50 years after his death
When Waite Phillips donated the land that became Philmont Scout Ranch, the total properties were valued in excess of $5 million. Adjusted for inflation, that's roughly $79.5 million today. Scouts and Scouters who have visited the beautiful, rugged New Mexico paradise know the real value of Waite's gift, however: It's priceless.
Types of pioneered bridge (opens in a new tab)
All bridges can be classified into one of a few categories , based on how the structure supports the load. Pioneered bridges are the same, and most fall into four categories: Simple or beam bridge: this is the simplest case, a bridge where the deck itself carries the weight of the structure.
30 Day Challenge (opens in a new tab)
30 Day Challenge If you look around blogs during January and February everyone seems to …
BSA Bear Supplemental Den Meeting Plan O – Build a Model (opens in a new tab)
BSA provides Bear den meeting ideas for den leaders on the Scouting.org website. These Cub Scout Bear den meeting plans are step by step guides to carrying out a den meeting. In addition to the basic den meeting plans, there are supplemental plans which can be used if you have additional meetings left.
What's in your Backpack? (opens in a new tab)
I was bouncing around on some of the blogs and found a cool post on a blog that I follow. The subject was something that I think we all do or have, but give little or no thought to… What do you keep in your pack, or items that never leave your pack.
$30K Art Scholarship (opens in a new tab)
As winter drags on, the snow keeps falling, and temperatures refuse to climb, it's a great time for scouts to tackle the Art merit badge. I just found Doodle 4 google which might be a nice bit of motivation for some scouts to try their hand at Art.
@#^$% my Scoutmaster says… (opens in a new tab)
There is a post over on Facebook, I don't know who all is in that group, but in a nutshell (why a nutshell and not a teacup, or a bowl?), the post rabbit trailed a bit from "why did you join the troop that you did?"
What is a Patrol? Part 2 – Fire up Patrol Spirit! (opens in a new tab)
I was Patrol leader when my Patrol competed with dozens of others at our District Camporee. One competition was building a fire with flint and steel under a string tied horizontally about two feet off the ground, the object was to be the first to burn through the string.
So you just got called to be the new Scoutmaster…now what?! (opens in a new tab)
On this day, my 4 th anniversary of serving as a Scoutmaster , I got to thinking about what I might have done differently. What do I know now that I didn't know then? …and what would I change if I had the chance to do it all over again?
7 ways to celebrate Baden-Powell on Founder's Day, his birthday (opens in a new tab)
Chief Scout of the World: There's no cooler title around. That's what they called Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the worldwide Scout Movement and therefore one of the masterminds behind the Boy Scouts of America. B-P was also the first recipient of the Silver Buffalo Award in 1926, the highest award the BSA gives adults.
What is a Patrol? Part 3 – Get Active! (opens in a new tab)
One of my favorite parts of the Lord of the Rings trilogy is the last half of the first movie after the Fellowship is formed. This is the part where the whole team is traveling together on the first stage of the quest.
Founders Day 2014 (opens in a new tab)
Today is Founders Day. A day in Scouting when we celebrate our Founder Lord Robert S.S. Baden-Powell of Gilwell. This would be his 157th birthday. It is fitting that today was spent training Adult leaders this morning and celebrating a Cub Scout Packs Blue and Gold this evening, along with the crossing over of 6…
Ideal Camp According to Baden-Powell (opens in a new tab)
Witnessing His Ideal Camp! “My ideal camp is where everyone is cheery and busy, where the patrols are kept intact under all circumstances, and where every patrol leader and Scout takes a genuine pride in his camp and his gadgets.”
Eagle Scouts Holcomb and Fogt bringing home the bronze in four-man bobsled
As teenagers, they received red, white and blue Eagle Scout medals. This morning, clad in the red, white and blue of Team USA, Steven Holcomb and Chris Fogt got bronze Olympic ones. The Eagle Scouts were two of the four members of the USA-1 "Night Train 2″ team, which also included Curt Tomasevicz and Steve…
How do You fix Lazy? (opens in a new tab)
Here is a question for you… How do you fix lazy? I do not intend this to be a rant, rather a real look into why are people.. in particular.. some of our Scouts so lazy. Yes.. I said Lazy, and if the shoe fits they need to wear it.
Boys' Life Program Planning Package Now Available (opens in a new tab)
Each year Boys' Life makes available to councils key planning materials for the coming program year. Your council's investment to provide these materials to unit leaders and commissioners is a vital element of your council's service to units. The 2014–2015 Boys' Life Program Planning Package includes three notebooks, three bilingual planning charts, and two planning…
Committee chair timeline: March
March is nearly here, and with it longer days and the urge to get outside. But before we lace up our hiking boots, let's talk about some of the business items the committee needs to tend to this month. Your …
Mining in Society merit badge requirements released (opens in a new tab)
Without mining, you wouldn't be reading this blog post right now. That's because the high-tech components found in smartphones, tablets and computers are made of mined minerals. Reading this on a computer? Thank mining for the silicon, copper, gold, silver and aluminum that make it work.
Faith Requirements for Cub Scouts (opens in a new tab)
Amy sent in this question: How do you complete Wolf Achievement 11 if the family does not have a faith, and does not talk about God in their family? This family was hesitant to join Scouts because of the faith component.
Faith Requirements for Cub Scouts and Agnostics (opens in a new tab)
Amy sent in this question: How do you complete Wolf Achievement 11 if the family does not have a faith, and does not talk about God in their family? This family was hesitant to join Scouts because of the faith component.
Changes to Fees for LDS Non-Unit Registrants
In the past, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who serve in stake positions and have registered as non-unit registrants, like unit commissioners, district committee members, district or council members at large, or council executive board members, may have had their annual BSA registration fee submitted directly to the local stake…
These 9 awesome young people are your Report to the Nation representatives (opens in a new tab)
An Eagle Scout from Maryland, the young woman serving as National Venturing President and a Cub Scout from Sandy Hook, Conn., are among the nine young people selected to represent the Boy Scouts of America during this week's Report to the Nation in Washington, D.C.
Scoutmaster Podcast 210
Sponsored By ScoutmasterCG.com Backers This podcast features a an interview with Bess Elwell-Cook, leader of the Cambridge Garden Guides in Sydney Australia . All this and your messages in the mailbag. Listen to Scoutmaster Podcast 210 Podcast Archive
Making a big splash over healthy lifestyles
It's still pretty cold in most of the country to think about swimming, but we've found a great partner to help us promote healthier lifestyles among young people. Healthy living is a big priority in Scouting and has been since we began offering outdoor adventures more than a century ago.
Learn How to Market Scouting Effectively
Are you sending the right message? With new research and strategic insights at play, learn how to market Scouting effectively in your communities. Register now for the marketing course at Philmont Training Center! It has never been more critical that we reach out to families in new ways.
The Road converged (opens in a new tab)
Back in September I wrote how Elliot had decided to leave Scouting. Several weeks ago, Elliot and I were playing card before bed and we talked about Scouting. He brought it up. Elliot loves to play Rummy before bed and is a card shark. He also plays Poker and Blackjack. We talked about his former
Think You Know The Summit?
So. The Summit. If you visit the Summit Blog , you know that last year's jamboree marked the grand opening of a really cool place. You probably know that The Summit is in the West Virginia mountains, within a day's drive of over half the U.S.
Self Portrait and 5 Random Facts – #30daychallenge (opens in a new tab)
30 day blog Challenge day one and it a self portrait and 5 random facts about Kiff.
Obstacles to Objectives (opens in a new tab)
In an effort to "fix lazy" it dawned on me that one of the problems is that our young men, and I am not just talking about Scouts here, tend to get caught up in the obstacles rather than focusing on the objectives.
Cub Scout Awards (opens in a new tab)
Taira asked this question Hi there. I am looking for a list of badges that cub scouts can earn. I can look all over the Internet and I find a few here and there but I can't seem to find a current list of them.
2014 Silver Buffalo Recipients Announced (opens in a new tab)
The National Court of Honor and National Executive Board are pleased to announce that the following individuals have been selected to receive the Silver Buffalo at our National Annual Meeting to be held in May at the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, Tennessee.
Which Scout Summer Camp?
Two troops, same Scout summer camp, same week; one troop has a wonderful time and goes home smiling, one has a difficult time and leaves unhappy. Some of my fondest Scouting memories come from the years I spent working on our Scout summer camp staff and serving as a camp director.
Report to the Nation Snapshots: Part One
I have the pleasure of being in our Nation's Capitol with this year's Report to the Nation delegation . This group of remarkable young people is in Washington to deliver this annual report, which covers the Boy Scouts of America's key achievements from the past year, to key U.S.
Cub Scout Tall Tales for Bear Requirement 4 (opens in a new tab)
Are you planning a meeting for the Bear Cub Scout Tall Tales requirement? Then check out this list of resources!
Boy Scouts of America "The Founders" (opens in a new tab)
I was looking around YouTube tonight and discovered an interesting video about the founders of the Scouting program. Hear is what is written on the page: Uploaded on Mar 6, 2010 Boy Scouts of America Centennial Tribute to the founders of the Boy Scouts of America (Lord Robert Baden-Powell, Ernest Thompson Seton, William D.
Issue 386 – February 25, 2014 (opens in a new tab)
________________________________________ Dear Andy, Why does the BSA want the Scoutmaster to be the "messenger" between the PLC and the troop committee? The BSA Troop Organization Chart clearly shows this relationship. Moreover, the Senior Patrol Leader Handbook does not include as one of his duties contact or communication with the committee.
Mining in Society Merit Badge Launches in Salt Lake City (opens in a new tab)
The BSA's newest merit badge, Mining in Society, launched this week at the annual meeting of The Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration Inc., which was instrumental in the development of the merit badge. The latest in a series of merit badges on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) topics, Mining in Society focuses on mining's…
A Busy Week In Scouting (opens in a new tab)
The Scouting program snuck up on me a little as this week became a bit busier than usual. I guess I knew of everything that was coming up, but I was not really paying attention. Oh well, I can not think of many other programs I would rather spend my time on.
Age Requirements for Merit Badges (opens in a new tab)
Michael sent in this question: What scout age is too young for Citizenship in the Community? I have a couple "younger scouts" who would like to begin the badge but they are only 7th graders and Second Class? Is it my call or do you have a certain criteria?
New, Simplified Annual Health and Medical Record (opens in a new tab)
In preparation for the summer camp season, we are rolling out a new, simplified annual health and medical record effective March 1, 2014. Thanks to many employees and volunteers who provided constructive feedback on how we could make the record easier to use while still collecting the information needed to make sure our Scouts are…
Fall 2013 Voice of the Scout Survey Results
The results of the Boy Scouts of America Fall 2013 Voice of the Scout survey have been published in this executive summary and infographic . You can also access the published results of all VoS surveys . How it Works A Voice of the Scout (VoS) survey is conducted every six months.
Finance Impact e-Letter: March 1 Issue Announces New Friends of Scouting Recognition Program
Click image to view e-Letter The March 1 edition of the Finance Impact Department's e-Letter has been published and is now available online. In this issue, the national office announces the new Friends of Scouting (FOS) recognition program, which recognizes BSA local councils that showed an increase in FOS net on June 30, 2014, over…
Badges – #30daychallenge
I have collected badges of all types for a number of years but more recently I have collected the what are called in the UK pin badges,
FOS
Back in 2009 I had an email exchange with a "Concerned Eagle Scout" about Friends of Scouting. As this month in our Council we are in full swing with our FOS campaign, I thought I would blow the dust off of this post and share it with you again.
January-February 2014 'Where Am I?' winner, location revealed (opens in a new tab)
You don't have to be an astronaut to recognize the terrain in our January-February "Where Am I? – Rise From the Ashes" contest . 284 readers submitted their guess of the mystery location, and we randomly selected lucky number 232 as our winner.
How One Council Increased Cub Scout Recruiting by Nearly 20 Percent
To kick off the new year, we're getting out of The Buzz studio and onto the water, where we're taking a closer look at an innovative recruiting effort that combines an outdoor activity that kids love with some key BSA partnerships.
Patrol Teamwork- Don't be a Hero; Delegate! (opens in a new tab)
In the last series of articles ( What is a Patrol? ) we saw that a good patrol is an active, inspired, team of leaders. How can your patrol become a team of leaders? If a game like ‘Dungeons and Dragons' or ‘World of Warcraft' had only one character it would be a pretty dull game.
Friends in high places: Scouts deliver Report to the Nation to top party leaders
You've met the delegates , and you've read the Report to the Nation for yourself. Now see which of the top power players in Washington got a copy of the report hand-delivered to them this week. As I mentioned on Monday, a delegation of nine of Scouting's finest Scouts and Venturers are in Washington, D.C., to…
Report to the Nation Snapshots: Part Two
The official 2013 Report to the Nation was delivered to Congressional leaders by a delegation of nine Scouts yesterday. Below are more of my favorite shots from the trip. To read the full report, click here. 2014 Report to the Nation // Photo courtesy of BSA Flickr Click "Read more" to view more photos.
Report to the Nation, through the years (opens in a new tab)
A president's busy schedule means he can't always receive the Boy Scouts of America's annual Report to the Nation himself. But over the years, the BSA's scheduled Washington visit and the commander in chief's travel schedule have aligned. Below I've gathered photos of presidents receiving the report.
JTE News: District Dashboard Monthly Reporting; Council Leadership Criterion Deadline
The Mission Impact department has two important JTE updates for councils to be aware of: Monthly Reporting Requirements The JTE district dashboard went live on Feb. 8 and is displaying scores for the past two years. Many of the numbers are coming from the BSA system, but others must be self-reported.
Floating 'Scouts SA' Billboard at Gilwell, Johannesburg (opens in a new tab)
All photos courtesy Terence Vrugtman Gilwell, Florida , is the home of Scout training in Johannesburg , and also home to the Orion Rover Crew, who led 160 Scouts from 8 troops in the West Rand District in building this raft spelling out ' Scouts SA ' at Florida Lake for BP Sunday this year.
Balance (opens in a new tab)
Yesterday I was listening to some talk radio and over the course of the day the recurring theme of child raising came up. I heard a fantastic quote on one of the programs that I thought needed to be shared here.
Question Friday (opens in a new tab)
Well as it is Friday I had some questions I wanted to ask you all
The BSA's looking for a few good men and women to be professional Scouters
As a Scout, I had no idea they paid people to work for the Boy Scouts of America. I just thought the district executives I saw at Scouting events were just really active volunteers who got to wear cool silver shoulder loops.
BSA Arrow of Light Den Meeting Plan 14 – Sportsman (opens in a new tab)
BSA provides Webelos den meeting ideas for Cub Scout den leaders on the Scouting.org website. The fourteenth in the Arrow of Light series of Webelos den meeting plans covers part of the Webelos get a chance to try different sports while working on the Sportsman activity badge.
FL Patch Traders? (opens in a new tab)
A Cub Leader in England left me a message. Tracey will be visiting Orlando, FL (I wonder what's there to visit? :-) ) in April. She has asked if any Scout Leaders in the area would like to swap patches and badges during her visit.
Patrol Teamwork Part 2 – Your "Right Hand Man"
A Patrol was off on a camping trip, and everything was going smoothly until the Patrol Leader twisted his ankle. Thankfully it wasn't anything serious, but it made it difficult to walk. The Patrol Leader couldn't go on the hike they had planned, or do much of anything else for the last day of the…
JTE Leadership Hour to Showcase Members' Digital Experience: March 5
The March JTE Leadership Hour takes a deep dive into the rapidly evolving world of our members' digital experience. Please join Gary Butler, deputy chief scout executive, and our Marketing Team for a revealing look at trends in digital behavior, what's hot, and what's on the horizon.
Dennis Pitta, Eagle Scout and Baltimore tight end, gets 5-year deal
They say once you're an Eagle Scout, you're one for life. For Eagle Scout Dennis Pitta, the same may be true about being a Baltimore Raven. The Super Bowl-winning tight end just signed a five-year deal worth $32 million, according to the Baltimore Sun .