Scoutmaster Podcast

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. If we get ourselves caught in the thicket of policies, procedures, and logistics it’s likely we are coming at the whole thing from the wrong direction, all of these things make sense when we do what Scouts do....

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? Scouting ought to be challenging, but not impossible, nor should it become something stressful – Scouting is about adventure, fun and spending time with your friends! In this podcast I’ll talk about how we can help Scouts manage their commitments and figure out how to continue to have the adventure and fun Scouting offers....

Be a champion of goodwill and cooperation! We could solve most of our problems, not only as Scouters but as human beings, if we simply choose goodwill and cooperation. In this podcast I’ll also share how I would resolve a scary, scary, (okay not too scary) dilemma. Dragonfly PackAvailable at Amazon (note that the availability of this pack can be kind of sketchy – check out my favorite internal frame pack too)...

How do we decide if a Scout is an active Scout? There are very clear directions about how to determine if a Scout is an active Scout in the Guide to Advancement. Why, then, does this cause so many problems? Put on your choir robe and I’ll do a little preaching! Section 4.2.3.1 Active Participation in the Guide to Advancement The Big Three Resources every Scouter should readScout-o-Rama Scout Parents...

Podcast Episode (00:22:51): Listen on Apple Podcasts Is Scouting a system of measurement? Scouting is more, much, much, more, than a system of measurement, yet it has lots of “yardsticks”. Baden-Powell wrote “Scouting is a game. But sometimes I wonder whether, with all our pamphlets, rules, conferences, and training classes we may not appear to be making of it too serious a game. ” How way we use the yardsticks of the Scouting program is all important to reaching our aims, but measurements and metrics are not our focus....

When is a group of Scouts a Troop, and when are they a patrol? We begin answering that question by forgetting everything we think we know and building a logical approach, by serving the interests of the individual Scout rather than the interest of an organizational chart. Small troops are going to function a little differently than larger ones, but both serve to achieve the same aim. What questions do you ask during a Webelos visit to a troop?...

What are the basic principles behind Scouts taking on positions of responsibility in Scouting? Our procedures are based on something more than policy or practice they have to have a basis in principles, in what makes Scouting what it is. If you understand the basic principles the procedures explain themselves. When we discuss positions of responsibility for Scouts we ought to ask if most of the things that happen in the troop at the adult level done according to a job description adhering to a chain of command or do adults mostly just work together cooperatively to do what needs to be done?...

What do we do about outside influences in the lives of our Scouts? To begin with let’s figure out what’s “outside” and what is “inside”? Let’s interpret outside influences on our Scouts as something that is beyond our scope of control and inside influences as something within the scope of our control as Scouters. If you accept the premise that our Scouts are subject to a number of influences beyond the scope of our control, and this is part of the human condition what do we do?...

What do Assistant Scoutmasters do? In this week’s podcast I’ll opine on the reaction to a recent post on a Scouts Duty to God. I’ll also answer email questions on what assistant Scoutmasters do and Webelos dens as Scout patrols. I am an Assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 637 in Onsted Michigan. As an assistant Scoutmaster I am not part of the committee nor am I to sit on a boards of review and in an effort to keep the troop boy led I’m not to have an influence in the PLC meetings....

“Camp is… the real school of the out-of-doors, where all the best in the future man’s character can be brought out and developed” B-P This week’s podcast departs from our usual format (it’s a long holiday weekend!) to explore an idea that could revolutionize the way you approach your work as a Scouter. Dr. Sugutra Mitra is an educational researcher whose TED talk about his “hole in the wall” experiments launched a revolutionary educational idea that has many parallels to the foundations of Scouting....

What’s the most important consideration; process or practice? In this week’s podcast I’ll answer email questions about the difference between processes that achieve our aims and practices that we adopt, young Scouts learning the patrol method, parting ways with a difficult volunteer, and how to resolve a behavior problem. Mac Barron’s Catholic in a Small Town Podcast Sponsored By ScoutmasterCG.com Backers Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS...

Things can get tricky when you are both a Scouter and the parent of a Scout. In this week’s podcast I’ll answer email questions about occupying the role of parent and Scouter, how small troops work, and what qualifies as service for the ranks of Star and Life. The Big Three Resources every Scouter should read. Sponsored By ScoutmasterCG.com Backers Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS...

Podcast Episode (00:35:40): Listen on Apple Podcasts This encore presentation features an interview with Kevin Callan, the happy camper, the most famous camping and canoeing expert you’ve never heard of. Kevin is a Canadian, a famous Canadian on Canadian television and radio, he’s a well-known author; a famous canoeist and camper in a country full of canoeists and campers. There’s a whole world of excellent Canadian stuff that we Americans know next to nothing about (you’ve probably never heard of Ricky, Julian and Bubbles or Tim Horton’s) but we ought to....

Podcast Episode (00:24:06): Listen on Apple Podcasts In this encore presentation I interview Les Stroud of Survivorman about his book Will to Live. Will to Live is written with skill and honesty. I’ve read many survival accounts, accident reports and how-to books, but Will to Liveweaves all of these together. Les gives a detailed account of the situation, analyzes the actions taken and describes practical survival skills in a single narrative thread....

Podcast Episode (00:49:01): Listen on Apple Podcasts This encore presentation features an interview with author Mike Malone about his book about what it means to be an Eagle Scout, *Four Percent.*Mike is an award-winning author and experienced Scouter with an impressive resume of leadership. Four Percent is much more than a simple history of the award – it is a significant contribution to what it means to be an Eagle Scout....

Podcast Episode (00:25:19): Listen on Apple Podcasts In this encore episode I interview author David C. Scott about his book *The Scouting Party;*a thoroughly researched, unflinching account of the founding and first decade of the BSA focused on the lives of Earnest Thompson Seton, Robert Baden-Powell and Daniel Carter Beard. To my knowledge no one has so thoroughly analyzed the events and personalities involved in the founding of the BSA....

I was very fortunate to get to sit and talk a while with Joe Briggs and Alan McConnell from the 91st Dublin Scout Group. The 91st was visiting our Scout camp and touring during the 50th anniversary of the group. Joe is the group leader with 50 years of Scouting experience, and Alan is the group Venture leader. Listen in on our discussion and you’ll conclude that the differences between Scouts are few no matter where in the world you may live....

It may not solve all our problems, but it may be a better way of organizing… A couple of weeks ago a listener asked me to help out with a survey on Cub Packs. The answers we received got me thinking about group Scouting and how our organizational structure has some unintended consequences that effect how we work as volunteers, and those consequences cause us problems. Is there a better way to organize that may help?...

There’s always plenty to talk about when it comes to the Eagle Scout! In this week’s podcast I’ll opine (and preach a little) about our Eagle Scout attitudes and answer email questions about troop meeting chaos and an advancement mistake. The important thing to realize is that once a Scout earns Eagle Rank he begins the lifelong process of becoming an Eagle Scout. Not one of the 2.7 million or so boys who have earned the rank were an ideal, fully formed, “EAGLE SCOUT” when someone handed them the badge; they have a lifetime of opportunities ahead of them....

What does learning to ride a bike have to do with Scouting? Listen to my answer to an email question from a new Scoutmaster to find out, I answer several other questions on this podcast about records, troop size and youth leader accountability. Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS LINKS IN THIS PODCAST Sponsored By ScoutmasterCG.com Backers Get The SCOUTMASTERCG APP Podcast Archive