Posts in August 2014

What Makes an "Active" Scout? (opens in a new tab)

Jeff's Scouting Blog ·

As a new Scoutmaster, I find some there are some questions that I don't have a good answer too, at least not yet. One of the challenges I face is what is the borderline to be considered an "active" scout, in particular for the rank advancement requirements at the higher ranks.

WASP - West Australia Scout Pioneering (opens in a new tab)

Ropes and Poles ·

West Australia Scout Pioneering is part of Scouts Australia's West Australia Adventurous Activities team. The team runs a pioneering course aimed at Venturers, Rovers and Scouters, and also offers their services putting structures up at community events. I have featured the pioneering course before, with some photographs of an hourglass tower built by them, but…

Tiger Elective Adventure Requirements: Floats and Boats

Scouter Mom ·

[cs2015] Floats and Boats is one of the Tiger elective adventures. In the current Tiger Cub program, it is most similar to Tiger Elective 40 – Fun in the Water . For this adventure, Tiger Cubs and their adult partners learn boats, swimming, and water safety.

Adventure Recap: USS Pampanito (opens in a new tab)

Jeff's Scouting Blog ·

I had the great pleasure earlier this year of leading an overnight excursion with Thing 2 and his Cub Pack to visit the USS Pampanito . Our pack tries to do some kind of fun getaway overnighter like this each year or so (a couple year ago Thing 1 and I stayed on the nearby Balclutha…

Bear Elective Adventure Requirements: Bear Picnic Basket

Scouter Mom ·

[cs2015] Bear Picnic Basket is one of the Bear elective adventures. In the current Bear Cub Scout program, it is most similar to Bear Achievement 9 – What's Cooking . For the Bear Picnic Basket adventure, Bears learn to plan, shop for, and prepare healthy meals, both indoors and outdoors.

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure Requirements: Build My Own Hero

Scouter Mom ·

[cs2015] Build My Own Hero is one of the Webelos/Arrow of Light elective adventures. In the current Webelos Cub Scout program, it is most similar to the Citizen Activity Badge . For the Build My Own Hero adventure, Webelos learn how to be a hero in their own communities, recognize real life heroes, and design their…

Future Superheroes (opens in a new tab)

Jeff's Scouting Blog ·

This is still one of my favorite images in all of Cub Scouting. I came across in on Pinterest one day, I think it is an edit of one of the official promo pictures from the BSA. But the tagline moves me. As they say, the children are our future. Mine are my heroes.

B.P.'s Blog – On Camping (opens in a new tab)

Scoutmaster Clarke Green · archived copy

During his lifetime Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the worldwide Scouting movement, wrote many books and articles directed to Scouters. Each Sunday I'll publish a selection from his writings in the hope that you'll draw inspiration and understanding from his timeless ideas.

Agreement without argument (opens in a new tab)

Bobwhite's Blather ·

It seems like every time you turn on the news or look at the paper, you see a story about how our national elected leaders seem to be incapable of getting any work done. Far worse than what was labeled as the "do-nothing" Congress of the Truman administration, our representatives seem to be constantly in

Wolf Elective Adventure Requirements: Cubs Who Care

Scouter Mom ·

[cs2015] Cubs Who Care is one of the Wolf Cub Scout elective adventures. In the current Wolf Cub Scout program it is similar to the Disabilities Awareness Belt Loop and Pin . For the Cubs Who Care adventure, Wolves learn about the challenges faced by people with disabilities.

Scoutmaster Podcast

Scoutmaster Clarke Green ·

Sponsored By ScoutmasterCG.com Backers I'll be on vacation August 1-8th and at Kandersteg International Scout Center From August 9-18th. The 232nd edition of the Scoutmaster Podcast will be published on August 25th. Until then you can listen to podcasts in the archive and be sure to tune in for Dispatches from Kandersteg starting on August…

Your Legacy – Mentoring (opens in a new tab)

The Scoutmaster Minute · archived copy

When teaching leadership to both our youth and adults, we spend a fair amount of time discussing what it is that leaders do. Being a Teacher, Coach, Trainer, and Mentor is found within the job description of any leader. We find ourselves as leaders focusing on being a good teacher of skills, coaching as those…

Getting Kids to Camp

Chief's Corner ·

I just received and read a story about a terrific fundraising program organized by a Tucson, Arizona newspaper to help get young people into the outdoors, and wanted to share it with you. Thanks to the outreach efforts of the Arizona Daily Star and its generous readers, The Arizona Daily Star's Sportsmen's Fund Send a…

Tiger Elective Adventure Requirements: Rolling Tigers

Scouter Mom ·

[cs2015] Rolling Tigers is one of the Tiger elective adventures. In the current Tiger Cub program, it is most similar to Tiger Elective 37 – Take a Bicycle Ride , Tiger Elective 38 – Bicycle Repair and the Bicycling belt loop and pin .

New Tools in Guide to Safe Scouting

Scoutmaster Clarke Green ·

Keeping Scouts safe is a key responsibility of any Scouter, and Safe scouting requires we understand and mange the risks involved in our activities. Scouter Walter Underwood has posted an excellent overview of recent changes to the Guide to Safe Scouting that include a Campout Safety Checklist (PDF) , Event Safety Checklist (PDF) , Incident Information Report…

Issue 408 – August 5, 2014 (opens in a new tab)

Ask Andy ·

________________________________________ Dear Andy, We have a serious situation brewing at our troop. Our Committee Chair, who took over at the beginning of the year, is verbally abusive toward other committee members, the Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmasters, and—worst of all—Scouts. He has numerous medical issues, yet insists on going on troop outings.

Stay Safe Out There.

ScoutStuff Blog ·

With the wild weather phenomena we've been witnessing (and experiencing) recently, we think it's the perfect time to brush up on thunderstorm safety. Here's a great overview and checklist from the Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/images/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m4340185_Thunderstorm.pdf

Why? Because I Believe. (opens in a new tab)

The Scoutmaster Minute · archived copy

This summer our Troop went on a great adventure. We backpacked in the Olympic National Park. We.. the whole Troop. We broke up the Troop into three crews, that way we could maintain Wilderness area policies of no more than 12 heartbeats and good leave no trace principles.

Wolf Elective Adventure Requirements: Digging in the Past

Scouter Mom ·

[cs2015] Digging in the Past is one of the Wolf Cub Scout elective adventures. For the Digging in the Past adventure, Wolves learn about dinosaurs and fossils. The requirement for this adventure are shown below. Upon completion of this adventure, Wolf Cub Scouts will receive a belt loop.

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure Requirements: Fix It

Scouter Mom ·

[cs2015] Fix It is one of the Webelos/Arrow of Light elective adventures. In the current Webelos program it is most like the Handyman Activity Badge . For the Fix It adventure, Webelos learn to do simple repairs and home maintenance. The requirement for this adventure are shown below.

Ball in Cage Neckerchief Slide

Scoutmaster Clarke Green ·

An old whittler's puzzle the ball in a cage can be adapted to make an interesting neckerchief slide. Here's pictures of one I carved many years ago: Here's some whittling resources that will help you get started. The Ball in Cage Neckerchief Slide and over 40 more infographics and helpful PDF documents Are included in…

An unexpected honor (opens in a new tab)

Bobwhite's Blather ·

Our troop held its first-ever summer court of honor this week. I realize that most troops meet year-around, and hold four courts of honor to recognize their Scouts for their accomplishments. Our troop, however, has long had a policy of not meeting when school is not in session. I suggested last year that the Scouts

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure Requirements: Game Design

Scouter Mom ·

[cs2015] Game Design is one of the Webelos/Arrow of Light elective adventures. In the current Webelos program it is most like the Video Games Belt Loop and Pin . For the Game Design adventure, Webelos create a game and teach somebody else how to play it.

What the outdoors can teach us

Chief's Corner ·

I recently read a great blog about the " Power of the Outdoors " and wanted to share it with you. It documents the progress of a Scout who is "the one who's always there." Sometimes his pack is too heavy, or he gets wet, cold, tired and miserable because he didn't pack the right gear.

Tiger Elective Adventure Requirements: Safe and Smart

Scouter Mom ·

[cs2015] Safe and Smart is one of the Tiger elective adventures. In the current Tiger Cub program, it is most similar to Tiger Achievement 2 – Where I Live , Tiger Achievement 3 – Keeping Myself Healthy and Safe , and Tiger Elective 28 – Smoke Detectors .

Camp See-Saw (opens in a new tab)

Scout Pioneering · archived copy

Camp See-Saw as a Festival Exhibit CAMP SEESAW VIDEO AND PHOTO MONTAGE UNDERWATER See-Saw We were introduced to and adapted this project thanks to the great Pioneering Made Easy website. It was inspired by Fun With Ropes and Spars by John Thurman who, with his inimitable approach to providing pioneering challenges and robust Scouting activities…

Wolf Elective Adventure Requirements: Finding Your Way

Scouter Mom ·

[cs2015] Finding Your Way is one of the Wolf Cub Scout elective adventures. In the current Wolf Cub Scout program, it is most like the Map and Compass Belt Loop and Pin . For the Finding Your Way adventure, Wolves learn map and compass skills.

Kandersteg Dispatches – Day One

Scoutmaster Clarke Green ·

I'll be sending you dispatches from Kandersteg International Scout Center August 9-18. Get in touch with me and I'll mention you in one of the dispatches!

Where's Waldo? (opens in a new tab)

Scoutmaster Musings ·

With the blog being dormant for the past few months, I've had a few folks ask, "Where are you?" - not many, but a couple. Well, that little thing called 'life' has gotten in the way of blogging. And, unfortunately, not much of life has involved Scouting.

Tiger Elective Adventure Requirements: Sky Is the Limit

Scouter Mom ·

[cs2015] Sky Is the Limit is one of the Tiger elective adventures. In the current Tiger Cub program, it is most similar to the Astronomy belt loop and pin . For this adventure, Tiger Cubs and their adult partners learn about astronomy and do some star gazing.

Kandersteg Dispatches – Day Two

Scoutmaster Clarke Green ·

I'll be sending you dispatches from Kandersteg International Scout Center August 9-18. Get in touch with me and I'll mention you in one of the dispatches!

Build it and they will come (opens in a new tab)

Bobwhite's Blather ·

About four years ago, our community voted on itself a tax increase to build a new library. Even though it was only twenty or so years old, the former library building was way too small. There was hardly any space to hold the burgeoning collection of materials and provide room for modern technology such as

Scouting Has Odd Laws (opens in a new tab)

Scouting Rediscovered ·

When you've been in Scouting for a while, it's easy to recite the Scout Law and not think twice about the way it is worded. When you examine it closer, you see that when Baden-Powell first drafted the Scout Laws he made them quite different from what most people commonly think of as ‘laws'.

Kandersteg Dispatches – Day Three

Scoutmaster Clarke Green ·

I'll be sending you dispatches from Kandersteg International Scout Center August 9-18. Get in touch with me and I'll mention you in one of the dispatches!

What's in a Name? (opens in a new tab)

Jeff's Scouting Blog ·

So Thing 2 is a Webelos now as I may have mentioned. His den meeting was tonight, and one task I wanted to wrap up was having them pick a patrol name. I had previously sent links to the parents to the various patch companies so the scouts could browse them for ideas.

Issue 409 – August 12, 2014 (opens in a new tab)

Ask Andy ·

________________________________________ Last week, I answered a question from Doug Niebch about the Chartered Organization Representative (“CR”) position and searched for the CR position patch. I was pretty sure there was one, but when I checked the Index in the GUIDE TO AWARDS & INSIGNIA, I came up with nada.