Posts in November 2015

Little Asides

Jabbering All Day Long ·

I have noticed that bloggers like Seth Godin tend not to write mammoth 10 page posts they do simple 10 liner little asides.

B-P's Blog – Scoutcraft (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.

Troop 150 at 30

Scouter Adam ·

Just got home from an evening of fun and celebration with Troop 150. It is the Troop that Elliot is in. The Troop is 30 years old as of October 30th. All four Scoutmasters were there. Each had a few …

Making meetings less painful (opens in a new tab)

Bobwhite's Blather ·

Scouters seem to be addicted to meetings. In your unit, you either conduct meetings with the youth (den and pack meetings, for instance), or hover way in the background during troop and patrol meetings. We have meetings of our own, too – committee and leader meetings, district committee and commissioner meetings, Roundtable, and all sorts

Podcast 291- No Time for Scouts?

Scoutmaster Clarke Green ·

A lot of our Scouts are subject to many demands on their time… .. and some are under extreme pressure from their parents. What if one of our Scouts wants to quit because they say they have no time for Scouts?

Do What Scouts Do

Scoutmaster Clarke Green ·

Imagine, for a moment, there is nothing called "Scouting", no program, no troops, no councils, no districts, no uniforms, no badges. Someone comes up with an idea for helping young people develop character by getting outdoors and going camping. They share this idea with young people who get pretty excited about it.

Why This Life Scout Encourages Others to Join Scouting (opens in a new tab)

Scouting Wire ·

Scouters, volunteers, and parents know the positive impact Scouting has on youth. In fact, in our Families Like Yours video series families across the nation shared what Scouting means to them and how the program has changed their lives. And just recently, Scouting Wire shared a study which scientifically proves the value of Scouting .

Reading More Book

Jabbering All Day Long ·

The other day I hear on the radio that Mark Zuckerburger had set himself a New Years Resolution to read 26 books in 2015 - Can I do it?

Issue 459 – November 3, 2015 (opens in a new tab)

Ask Andy ·

________________________________________ Dear Andy, I usually agree with most everything you have for us out here in the field, but I disagree on the point you made in your October 22 issue (No. 458), when you said, "One of the saddest things I ever heard was just a few years ago at an Eagle court of honor…

Get outside

Jabbering All Day Long ·

That should be my 2016 goal to look up more and not spend my life looking down and spend more time outside.

Poisonous Plants Quiz

Scouter Mom ·

Boy Scouts working on their Tenderfoot rank need to learn about poisonous plants. Being able to identify hazardous plants will help all Scouts who are in the outdoors, so this knowledge is not just for rank advancement. The link below will take you to a nice quiz on the Boy's Life website which will teach…

NOAC 2015 Recap: Day 2 (opens in a new tab)

Jeff's Scouting Blog ·

Day 2 (Sunday) Day 2 started with trying to figure out how the group dynamics would work getting the clans to breakfast and getting all 88 people feed in a timely manner at the small hotel restaurant. Then we headed off to the local water park, apparently Illinois's largest (though similar in size to the…

Pack Annual Report Template (opens in a new tab)

Jeff's Scouting Blog ·

Looking over the blog, I saw that I had thought at one point to include some more file templates people could use. When I was committee chair, the first year in the role I thought it would be cool to publish a "Pack Annual Report" to describe all the cool things we did that year.

B-P's Blog – I Was A Boy

Scoutmaster Clarke Green ·

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.

Podcast 292 – Do What Scouts Do (opens in a new tab)

Scoutmaster Clarke Green · archived copy

If you are wondering what to do next, the answer is always "do what Scouts do". Can it be that simple? Actually, yes! It's just that simple! When Scouts do things Scouts do they develop character as an after-effect. Don't get sidetracked by anything else or you may miss powerful experiential opportunities.

Technical Review

Jabbering All Day Long ·

Back in 2014 I was contacted and asked if I would carry out some technical reviews of products to be included in a website

The Value of Customer-Facing Employees (opens in a new tab)

BSA Innovation Engine · archived copy

Are you an organization trying to find a way to innovate and respond to the needs of your customers? It could be the key to doing so is already under your own roof, so to speak. If you work with customers, it means you have employees who interact with those customers, which makes those employees…

Nominate All-Star Scouting Alums for This Major Honor (opens in a new tab)

Scouting Wire ·

Do you know a stand-out Scouting alum who’s made an extraordinary difference to the nation? Now’s your time to recognize that person because nominations are now open for the National Alumnus of the Year Award! This award is the Scouting Alumni Association’s highest recognition and was established to recognize alumni of the BSA who, over…

Josh Cochran's "B-B-Bear!" (opens in a new tab)

Summit Blog ·

The Summit's Scott Visitor Center has a new attraction — a giant mural entitled "B-B-Bear!". Josh Cochran and his assistant Courtney Menard spent a whole week here at The Summit and built an amazing mural showcasing the wide variety of offerings we have here at our Scout Reserve.

Issue 460 – November 10, 2015 (opens in a new tab)

Ask Andy ·

________________________________________ Here's more on the idea of parents tagging along on every possible Boy Scout outing… Hi Andy, "Amen" to discouraging continual parental accompaniment! Thanks for discouraging continual parental accompaniment on overnighters and outings. In addition to interfering with peer-to-peer relationships (Senior Patrol Leader, Patrol Leaders, and patrol-mates), as you pointed out, here are a few…

A Man of Many Jackets

Jabbering All Day Long ·

I am a man of many Jackets; I have hard shells, soft shells, fleeces. all taking up space in my cloakroom. Could I have just one

Remember (opens in a new tab)

Nick's Ramblings UK ·

In Flanders Fields In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now…

12 Things You Can Learn from a Scout (opens in a new tab)

Scouting Wire ·

Some people think the Scout Law only applies to Scouts – but in reality, you don’t have to be a Scout to live by the key principles of Scouting. The 12 pillars of the Scout Law are universal guides that anyone can take inspiration from to be their best self.

Honoring Our Veterans (opens in a new tab)

Scouting Wire ·

Veterans’ Day for the Surbaugh family brings back proud memories of my grandfather who served in the Navy in World War II and in Korea as a Quartermaster. He and a number of our family members served our nation in military service, and we honor them on Veterans’ Day as millions of others also take…

Eight Knot Contest (opens in a new tab)

Scoutmaster Clarke Green · archived copy

The eight knot contest can be an individual or patrol contest, it's one of my favorite inter-patrol competitions. To hold the eight knot contest you'll need four ropes of equal diameter, three six foot long, one twelve feet long. A two foot long log about six inches in diameter, and two trees 12-16 feet apart.

Chaplain's Aide Training (opens in a new tab)

Scouter Mom ·

Here's a question from Marie: I've been asked to take over the Chaplain's Aide training for our council, but they have no training materials from the previous coordinator. Can someone please share with me how you run training for Chaplain's Aide?

Carnival Ideas for Grin and Bear It (opens in a new tab)

Scouter Mom ·

Jason sent this question: Curious as to what others had done for the putting on a carnival (Bear Requirement for Grin & Bear It). Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! Good question! Here are a few simple ideas: Ring toss – Use glass soda bottles and shower curtain rings.

Scout Family Threatening Leaders (opens in a new tab)

Scouter Mom ·

Megan sent in this question: Recently my husband who is the Scoutmaster had a father of a scout show up at our door and threaten my husbands safety. The father also went to the Boy Scout meeting looking for my husband who was not there and gave another threat to his safety to another leader.

Completing Elective Adventures (opens in a new tab)

Scouter Mom ·

Liz sent in this question: My son is a Weeblo first year. He will have completed all his requirements by December. I understand that I cant do his next advancements until after May graduation BUT can I keep doing electives and getting credit for them?

Social Media and me

The Scoutmaster Minute ·

Hey all… Needless to say it's been a real busy time here and I have let my posting slide.. know that you have heard that before and I make no apology. After all, you understand what is important and not so much.

Your Scouting social network (opens in a new tab)

Bobwhite's Blather ·

The rise over the last several years of social networking in the form of online services like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have revolutionized the way we communicate. Regardless of where we are in the world, we can keep in touch with our network of friends back home or anywhere else. Networking is not new to

Podcast 293 – Peace Scouting

Scoutmaster Clarke Green ·

Peace Scouting is nothing new, and it's very simple… In this podcast I'll share some thoughts about peace Scouting as described in an address Baden-Powell made to what would later become the World Organization of the Scouting movement in Paris in 1922.

Western Region Area 1 Training

Scouter Adam ·

The weekend of November 13th and 14th 25 volunteers and professional Scouters attended Training at Camp Thunderbird just outside Olympia, WA for Western Regional Area 1 Training. I was invited by the Cascade Pacific Council Commissioner Dolly Olson to attend. …

Appalachian Mountain Range Reads (opens in a new tab)

Summit Blog ·

What does The Summit's Aquatics Program Manager Isaac Colvard like to read on his (minimal) time off? Well funny you should ask, he is a huge history buff and when I asked him this very same question today he shot me back two links to some of his favorites books.

Compass Points Podcast

Scouter Adam ·

For regular readers and followers of this Blog, you will no doubt recognize this guy to my left. Jerry Schleining-Jr. I have known him as a friend since about 2009 after I took Wood Badge with one of his ASMs. We …

3 Reasons to Submit to Innovation Management Awards by This Friday!

BSA Innovation Engine ·

The deadline to submit your applications for the 2015 Innovation Management Awards is this Friday, November 20 ! In this third annual competition of accomplishments in innovation management, three categories are open for submissions: Best Engagement Strategy, Best Moderation Strategy, and Best Innovation.

Being Mentally Awake

Scoutmaster Clarke Green ·

I cannot teach anybody anything. I can only make them think" ? Socrates On a long November night our group of eight was crossing Indian Pass in the Adirondacks when all but one of our flashlights quit in the cold and rain.

Great Projects for Scouts (opens in a new tab)

Scouting Wire ·

We know you love working on projects, building things with your own two hands. That desire to make and build has been a big part of Scouting for millions of young people. Maybe you’re looking for that next project to take on, or you might be on the hunt for a great science project idea…

Scout to Become Its Own Rank in 2016 (opens in a new tab)

Scouting Wire ·

The Scout badge will soon be more than the initial patch given to new Boy Scout members. Beginning Jan. 1, 2016, Scout will become its own dedicated rank. Bryan on Scouting recently shared an article about the upcoming change. The article explains that the requirements to earn the Scout rank may be more challenging than…