Posts in March 2016

Reading Challenge 2015

Jabbering All Day Long ·

Back at the start of 2015 I decided to do a reading challenge this is my review of my reading challenge

Issue 476 – March 1, 2016 (opens in a new tab)

Ask Andy ·

________________________________________ Dear Andy, My district has established an "Every Leader Trained" emphasis to encourage volunteers to train for their position. So far, training is up four percent. Looking at individual unit size and the number of adult volunteers, we noticed several units with very large adult registrations and discussed how this would affect training emphasis and…

Freezer Bag Cooking: Adventure Ready Recipes (opens in a new tab)

Scoutmaster Clarke Green · archived copy

Author Sarah Kirkconnell ( Trailcooking.com ) has revised and expanded her excellent book Freezer Bag Cooking with the addition of many, many great new recipes. Freezer bag cooking is a simple technique that is perfect for Scouts, hot water is added to dry ingredients in freezer bag much like one adds hot water to a prepackaged freeze-dried…

Carrick Bend Neckerchief Slide Video

Scoutmaster Clarke Green ·

This slide is based on an idea found in "Whittlin' Jim's" column in the December 1950 issue of Boy's Life . Check out my carrick bend infographic (part if the PDF package ) This neckerchief slide can be made from just about any straight-grained wood, the piece I use in the video is probably the smallest workable…

Looking around, making a plan, and dusting off the ol' domain

A Volunteer in the Movement ·

A lot of life has happened in the last couple years, and this domain has suffered because of it. Well, now I'm about back to a point I can spend some time on it! Changes are coming to the layout, design, and content so stay tuned! –Arlen

Stop flipping them! (opens in a new tab)

Bobwhite's Blather ·

They turn them upside down when they get their Bear badge??" My wife incredulously asked me that as she showed me a picture that a friend of hers, a parent of a Cub Scout, had posted on Facebook. His son was dangling from his ankles as the Cubmaster pinned his badge on. It sounds fairly

Call Me Noah (opens in a new tab)

Scoutmaster Musings ·

Just call me Noah. My wife, eagle scout son, and I volunteered for a week at Camp Noah in 2014 and my wife and I will be doing it again this summer. What's Camp Noah? Camp Noah is a locally hosted day camp for elementary-age children whose communities have been impacted by disaster.

Zeppelin Bend (opens in a new tab)

Scout Pioneering · archived copy

VIEW VIDEO: How to Tie a Zeppelin Bend The Zeppelin bend is such a secure joining knot, it’s reputed to have been used by the US Navy used it to moor airships (zeppelins). It’s easy to tie, will not fail, and most significantly, it’s easy to untie.

Adults teaching Scout skills (opens in a new tab)

Bobwhite's Blather ·

Suppose that instead of a usual weekend campout, the Scouts of your troop have decided to go on a weekend hike – maybe to get a taste of what a longer voyage like a Philmont trek might be like. They'll start out by getting dropped off Friday night, hike to their first campsite, set up

Scouts Deliver Report to the Nation to President Obama (opens in a new tab)

Scouting Wire ·

Scouts meet President Obama in Washington, D.C. (Photo credit: Official White House Photos by Pete Souza) Scouts proudly shook the hand of the Commander in Chief on Thursday, carrying on the nearly century-old BSA tradition, Report to the Nation. The youth delegates met with President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C., to deliver the 2015 annual…

Scoutmaster Podcast 306 – Scouts Planning

Scoutmaster Clarke Green ·

It's all about asking the right question… When it comes to Scouts planning activities there are two major threads of observations I hear about: They don't plan at all, they are incapable OR they plan the same things over and over.

Scouts Support War Veteran Amputee (opens in a new tab)

Scouting Wire ·

Adam Keys, an injured veteran of the war in Afghanistan, said the support he received from Boy Scouts helps him maintain a positive outlook on life. (Photo credit: Lauren Loricchio/Capital Gazette) Fifteen-year-old Boy Scout Ryan O. of the Del-Mar-Va Council has always had a passion for serving veterans.

Cub Scout Grand Prix (opens in a new tab)

Jeff's Scouting Blog ·

Did you know there is more than just the Pinewood Derby for Cub Scouts? There is a triumvirate of races, collectively referred to as the Grand Prix. Pinewood Derby (car race) Raingutter Regatta (boat race) Space Derby (rocket race) And of course the BSA makes official kits for each.

Bottlecutter2.0: making 'rope' from soft drink bottles (opens in a new tab)

Ropes and Poles ·

Image copyright Advocate Egerov From Russia, via Youtube, comes this technique for converting a PET soft drink bottle into a strong 'tape' that can be used for lashings. ??????? ?????? (Advocate Egerov) has two videos that explain how to build the Bottlecutter2.0 device to strip the bottles, and demonstrates how to use the strips to make lashings.

Noah in 2016

Jabbering All Day Long ·

In the year 2016 , the Lord came unto Noah, who was now living in England and said, "Once again, the earth has become wicked and over-populated, and I see the end of all flesh before me. Build another Ark and save 2 of every living thing along with a few good humans."

Issue 477 – March 11, 2016 (opens in a new tab)

Ask Andy ·

________________________________________ Dear Andy, I'm the Chartered Organization Representative for a Boy Scout troop. Recently, our Scoutmaster started demanding access to the troop's checking account. We said no, as it's been our policy since the troop started. But he somehow went around us to the District Executive, who got him placed on the troop's checking account without…

This is my Dinner for Six List

Jabbering All Day Long ·

You will have seen these posts a number of time your top x number for dinner I thought it was a good idea I would write my version. The premise is, and I am sure you have been asked the question may time before, if you could invite 6 people to dinner living or dead…

What’s with the Lark’s Head (opens in a new tab)

Scout Pioneering · archived copy

When tying the basic, oft-used, simple “two-half-hitches” (double-half-hitch), instead of applying a clove hitch around the standing part, there’s a thing about mistakingly tying a lark’s head. This accident rears its head time and again, and many Scouts (both youth and adult) somehow don’t recognize the difference.

Rock Climbing Overnighter (opens in a new tab)

Jeff's Scouting Blog ·

We spent Friday night on an overnight climbing event at a local climbing gym. They do a great program for scouts to earned the Rock Climbing merit badge, and the troop goes every year. It is actually one of our more popular events, I think they like the novelty of stay up all night (the…

The dreaded data dump (opens in a new tab)

Bobwhite's Blather ·

You know the routine. It happens every month. The committee gets together for the monthly committee meeting. The meeting gets off to a late start because the chairman waits for stragglers (not a good idea, and the subject of another article). The treasurer goes into great detail about who has paid for camp and who

Management Speak (opens in a new tab)

Jabbering All Day Long · archived copy

Management Speak 101 Here is a beginner's guide to management speak. Now you can sound very knowledgable in any management meeting. It is very likely you have seen these before but I came across them again and they are still funny. A 404 Someone who's clueless. From the World Wide Web error message "404 Not

Issue 478 – March 15, 2016 (opens in a new tab)

Ask Andy ·

________________________________________ Dear Andy, I've noticed that the activities qualifying for certain segments of the National Outdoor Awards have been changing rather quickly, but a few BSA activities still seem to have been left out. Specifically, can dog sledding at Northern Tier be counted for toward the mileage requirement for the "Riding" activity?

Scout’s First Aid Skills Save Choking Victim (opens in a new tab)

Scouting Wire ·

Scout Ryan V. was awarded the Medal of Merit after he saved a man’s life with the skills he learned in Scouting. (Photo credit: DNAinfo/Mina Bloom) One quick-thinking Boy Scout from the Pathway to Adventure Council is thanking Scouting for equipping him with skills that are not only preparing him for life – they’re the difference…

How Scouting Saved This Eagle’s Life (opens in a new tab)

Scouting Wire ·

Unlike some fleeting childhood hobbies or interests, Boy Scouts of America invites youth to a lifetime of unforgettable character-building experiences that transform them into the leaders of the future. Opening young people to a world of discovery, fun and friendship, Scouting introduces its members to relationships they can count on, forging bonds as strong as…

3 Types of People (opens in a new tab)

Jeff's Scouting Blog ·

I attended the District Awards Night for my district, and it had a great "Scoutmaster Minute" closing by the Council President. He spoke of who his father, and scoutmaster, told him there are 3 types of people. First are the ones who makes things happen.

Compilation of Scout Songs (opens in a new tab)

Scouter Mom ·

Shawn sent in this question: Is there a decent CD or iTunes album of Boy Scout songs? I find the Cub and Boy Scout Songbook CDs quite lacking. A search turns up several Girl Scout albums, and few things on YouTube.

Start a Fire with a Lemon

Scouter Mom ·

When teaching fire building skills, it can be fun to try some fire starting methods other than matches. This video shows how to start a fire with a lemon, copper brads, zinc nails, wire, and steel wool.

An untapped source of adult help (opens in a new tab)

Bobwhite's Blather ·

Boy Scout troops don't seem to have the same drought of willing adult helpers as Cub Scout packs do, but they still need a few to serve in roles supporting the Scouts in running their troop, and a few more to help with the support tasks that the Scouts can't do for themselves. Still others

Cyber Chip: Pack Technology Policy

Cub Scout Ideas ·

Has your pack defined acceptable uses of technology at Cub Scout events? You'll need to so that the boy can earn the Cub Scout Cyber Chip.

Scout Master Podcast 308 – Scout Parents 1

Scoutmaster Clarke Green ·

What should Scout parents do if a child want's to quit Scouts?… This is the first of three podcasts about Scout parents. Just about every child will reach some impasse along the way that will make them reluctant or downright adamant about participating.

4 Knots to Learn Before Summer (opens in a new tab)

Scouting Wire ·

Getting excited for summer yet? So are we! But if the countdown is starting to make you a little impatient, we’ve got just the thing. Pass the time and brush up on your warm-weather adventure skills with these four need-to-know knots for summer: 1.

Veterans' Appreciation Day 2016 (opens in a new tab)

Summit Blog ·

Attention Veterans! In an effort to strengthen Boy Scouts' Duty to Country, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has teamed up with several veterans organizations, including The West Virginia National Guard, Paralyzed Veterans of America…

Issue 479 – March 22, 2016 (opens in a new tab)

Ask Andy ·

________________________________________ Hello Andy, Can an older (age 21) Eagle Scout wear his old Scout uniform and Eagle medal to his younger brother's Eagle court of honor, even though he's no longer active or registered in Scouting? (Ray Pietersen, their dad) All adults who are Eagle Scouts can and should wear their Eagle medals to courts of…

Tripod Straddle Seat (opens in a new tab)

Scout Pioneering · archived copy

Often times at a campsite, there are no picnic tables with benches, or array of thick, wooden discs from downed trees positioned around a fire site, or fallen tree trunks, or a large outcrop of smooth boulders. So, through the years, the answer to the query, “what will I sit on during a camping trip?”

Derby Car Displays (opens in a new tab)

A Scoutmaster's Blog ·

The Cub Scouts of Melrose Pack 68 recently had fun making a project during the March 21st pack meeting. They boys constructed display stands for their Pinewood Derby cars. Each stand is able to display five cars, enough from 1st Grade Tiger Cubs through 5th grade Webelos Scouts.