Scoutmaster Podcast

This questions starts some pretty dramatic conversations! In this week’s podcast I’ll explain my answer to the question ‘What is an Eagle Scout?’ in Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes or Less and answer two email questions about Eagle Scout advancement. Our role is not safeguarding Eagle from the unworthy, or trying to make it something it isn’t, but understanding exactly what it is and sharing that understanding with our Scouts. Music on this week’s podcast...

So Far, So Good! Lot’s of catching up to do! It’s nice to be back after a two week hiatus! In this podcast I’ll tell you about my new book, So Far, So Good! and answer email questions about how to keep a vision for all age divisions of Scouting, the program changes coming this year, sorting out how to bring older Scouts and younger Scouts together, and how to keep up with an ambitious senior patrol leader, and a great way for setting up patrols....

Next week is Christmas and the following is new year’s, so for the next two weeks the podcast will be on vacation right along with you as you enjoy the holidays with your friends and family . I’ll return on January 5th with Podcast number 249. You can listen to our archived podcasts here Music on this week’s podcast by the Pine Street String Band Banjo Christmas A New Scoutmaster (chapter one)...

What’s the difference between demanding compliance and getting voluntary obedience? The answer may have a lot to do with the tone of your voice (literally and figuratively). In this podcast I answer emails about an particular Eagle Scout Board of Review, where it looks like the Eagle Scout candidate may be being set up for an ambush. I also answer questions about Scouts volunteering to raise funds for other organizations, and a couple of questions about newsletters and backpacking....

Another agonized alliteration! In this podcast I answer emails about merit badge classes, patrols cooking their own chow, a Scoutmaster worried about Scouts who change troops, Scouting’s chimeras (or urban legends), and a little troop leadership election chicanery. Hows that for one jam-packed alliterative podcast? Here’s the first chapter of the narrative: A New Scoutmaster. Here’s the Three Secret Weapons I mentioned Sponsored By ScoutmasterCG.com Backers Podcast: Play in new window | Download...

When the Emperor has no new clothes… it’s sort of embarrassing for everyone isn’t it? Listen to my response to those (thankfully few) troops who decide to create their own requirements. Adding to the requirements is as misguided as subtracting from them, and sends a mixed message to the youth we serve. In the email segment of this podcast we answer questions about whether a Scoutmaster should step down if his son becomes the senior patrol leader, Scouting urban legends, resolving conflicts with parents, how much the Scoutmaster is involved in Eagle paperwork, disciplining Scouts, and more on the mechanics of patrol formation,...

Listen to your Scouts… and you’ll hear lots of answers! I discuss listening in this week’s “Scoutmaster in Seven Minutes or Less”. In the email segment of this podcast we answer questions about activities that fulfill more than one requirement, how adults can train youth leaders to provide a good, quality program without taking it over themselves, unit leadership elections, the formation of high adventure patrols, and finding a position of responsibility for a Scout who wasn’t elected to one....

What is the context of Scouting, and why does it matter? The game of Scouting has it’s own set of rules, it’s own playing field, or context. I discuss a couple of common questions that are answered by understanding this context. In addition we’ll discuss conflicts of interest for an Eagle board of review, whether one advancementrequirement automatically means you’ve completed similar requirements, when offering advice is interfering with your leadership, patrol selection, and Scouts asking for boards of review....

Campaigning, Conduct, Camping (with Webelos), and Content of troop meetings. Listen to my answer to the question: should we be teaching Scouts conflict resolution? (spoiler- yes and no!) In addition we’ll discuss campaigning for youth leadership elections, what standards apply to Webelos camping with troops, and whether or not merit badge instruction is the right content for troop meetings, and sneak in another aspect of boards of review. Here’s a couple of resources I mentioned; Pack Overnighter Site Approval Form , OWL training, and the post on Constructive Scouting Discipline....

Reviewing, Retesting, O.A., and Webelos More questions and answers about the Scoutmaster’s conference and our review process. In addition we’ll discuss Webelos woes; how can we get them excited about being in a Scout troop?, encouraging cooperation between Order of the Arrow and the troop when it looks like O.A. responsibilities may be cutting into Scout’s responsibilities in the troop, and how a new Scoutmaster can get older Scouts on his side....

Elections, Boards of Review, and Conferences Should a Scout be denied a Scoutmaster’s conference because, horror of horrors, he’s wearing white socks? I hope you know the answer to that already, but in this podcast I answer an email question from a parent whose son is having a problem with getting though a Scoutmaster’s conference because the adults conducting them have no idea what they are doing (this answer includes some advice about finding a new troop)....

Help! Everyone needs help, right? Most Scouters, at one time or another, find ourselves overwhelmed, discouraged and helpless. Don’t worry, you aren’t alone, and there’s a way out! See if the email answer about getting volunteers to help in this podcast helps you. In addition I’ll offer some advice about how a troop handles Eagle courts of honor, how changes are made when a senior patrol leader who is not performing as expected, what to do when it’s time for leadership elections, what qualifies as camping for first class requirements,whether or not a troop can require that Scouts request a board of review(here’s the three “secret weapons” every Scouter ought to have I mentioned in my reply), and how to handle the challenge of a large group of new Scouts....

Podcast Episode (00:43:43): Download MP3 Listen to Scoutmaster Podcast 238 | What, exactly, is the Patrol Method? Why did our founder emphasize the importance of the patrol method over all else in Scouting? In this week’s podcast the fourth of four installments that discusses how basic ideas to practically apply the patrol method. I also answer email questions on how to have Scouts form patrols, how to address bad behavior that happens outside of Scouting, and what positions of responsibility are elected, which are appointed, and if a Scout can hold more than one such position....

Podcast Episode (00:33:20): Download MP3 Listen to Scoutmaster Podcast 237 | What, exactly, is the Patrol Method? Why did our founder emphasize the importance of the patrol method over all else in Scouting? In this week’s podcast the third of four installments that discusses the typical objections raised when the patrol method is applied. Three different email questions on the theme of focusing on the individual Scout, one has an over ambitious parent and an attitude problem, one has special needs, and one is going through tough times....

Podcast Episode (00:26:23): Download MP3 Listen to Scoutmaster Podcast 236 | What, exactly, is the Patrol Method? Why did our founder emphasize the importance of the patrol method over all else in Scouting? In this week’s podcast the second of four installments that describes te adult role in applying the patrol method. I also answer an email from a Cub Den Leader and parent who is concerned with about his son having the same great experience in Scouts he did as a youth and navigating all of the various activities available for children outside of Scouting....

Podcast Episode (00:19:49): Download MP3 Listen to Scoutmaster Podcast 235 | Sponsored By ScoutmasterCG.com Backers What, exactly, is the Patrol Method? Why did our founder emphasize the importance of the patrol method over all else in Scouting? In this week’s podcast I’ll begin a series of four installments that establishes the patrol method as the character school for our Scouts and relate a story about how things can go wrong if you don’t understand patrol method principles....

Podcast Episode (00:23:53): Download MP3 Listen to Scoutmaster Podcast 234 | Sponsored By ScoutmasterCG.com Backers Getting along has more to do with us than others… I get plenty of email from folks who are having problems getting along with their fellow volunteers or Scouts. Is there a simple answer that would resolve most conflicts and difficulties in Scouting? I think there is! Join me in Kandersteg next summer! Details Here....

Podcast Episode (00:37:32): Download MP3 Listen to Scoutmaster Podcast 233 | Sponsored By ScoutmasterCG.com Backers Working with the patrol leaders’s council is a Scoutmaster’s single greatest responsibility… …listen in to a recording of my patrol leader’s council at camp this summer. I answer emails about motivating older Scouts, dealing with interference from parents, and helping define Scout camping for new parents. Join me in Kandersteg next summer! Details Here....

Podcast Episode (00:26:45): Download MP3 Listen to Scoutmaster Podcast 232 | Sponsored By ScoutmasterCG.com Backers Hello! Back home and lots of catching up to do! I answer emails about signing requirements, Troop Planning, Eagle projects, and advancement. Plus an announcement for those of you interested in going to Kandersteg, Switzerland! Get The SCOUTMASTERCG APP Podcast Archive Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Sponsored By ScoutmasterCG.com Backers What kind of an internal standard is the aim of our work? In this podcast I answer email questions about positions of responsibility , leadership and other subjects , plus (of course) your messages in the mailbag! Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS