Jonathan Fillmore, of North Providence, and his son Jonathan Jr., who just signed up last week with the Scouts, take advantage of a special trail built by the Scouts and the Appalachian Mountain Club that is designed to be handicapped-accessible. Children are hard at work making bottle rockets at the Scout-O-Rama on Sunday. Getting his bottle rocket ready for launch is Matthew Previte, 10, of North Providence who is thinking of becoming a Boy Scout....
It’s catch-up time! In this week’s podcast I’ll catch up on email questions concerning approving requirements, relationships between Cub Packs and Troops, moving to a new Troop, unit policy manuals, how Scouts address Scouters, and determining what activities best achieve the aims of Scouting. Links in this podcastThe Big Three Resources every Scouter should read Music Chirstine Lavin – Camping Sponsored By ScoutmasterCG.com Backers Podcast: Play in new window | Download...
Scouts Canada has created a clear, uncluttered, engaging process in the “Plan-Do-Review” component of the Canadian Path. Scouting is made up of intuitive principles that are intended to be taken at face value. Simplicity can be elusive; we tend to prefer complications. At first blush there’s nothing groundbreaking or new about this approach. It’s so intuitive and simple I think most of us would pass it over with a “sure, I get that” and start looking for a ‘Plan-Do-Review” training syllabus or PowerPoint presentation, but you won’t find one – it’s just that simple!...
Are you in danger? I know that a title like “troop program death spiral” sounds dramatic, but I got your attention, right? I’ll explain what the dreaded troop program death spiral is and help you avoid it as well as answering email questions about Eagle Scout advancement, Advancement policies instituted by a troop, and “Webelos Purgatory“. Links The New Scoutmastercg Android AppTroop Program Death Spiral Article Sponsored By ScoutmasterCG.com Backers Podcast: Play in new window | Download...
… if we have youth leading Scouts who do we lead? Find out who the Scoutmaster leads and directs in this podcast as well as answers to questions about merit badges, Webelos wearing sashes, and adult supervision of patrol meetings or activities. Links in this podcast Blue Card InfographicThe Big Three Resources every Scouter should readGuide to Awards and Insignia Guide to Advancement 2013 Guide to Safe Scouting Music in this Podcast...
What do you think? In this week’s podcast I’ll answer email questions about young Scoutmasters, modifying advancement requirements for Scouts with disabilities, the Alligator River game, Webelos going to Scout events, and a full-year troop program. LINKS Cub Scout Outdoor Program Guidelines Guide to AdvancementAlligator River InfographicSo Far So Good, a New Scoutmaster’s Story MUSIC I Love Camping The Not Its Sponsored By ScoutmasterCG.com Backers Podcast: Play in new window | Download...
*This is the fifth of a five-part series,***Part one Understanding Cubs****Part two Understanding Meetings**Part three – Understanding VolunteeringPart four – Blessed are the Den leaders I’ve been a Cubmaster, and a den leader for Wolf, Bear,and Webelos dens. Volunteering as a Cub Scout leader ought to be a lot of fun, and it is, most of the time. I want to share thoughts about things that often don’t get a whole lot of attention in formal training, the things we talk about in the hallway or the parking lot after the meeting....
*This is the fourth of a five-part series,*Part one Understanding Cubs Part two Understanding Meetings Part three – Understanding Volunteering Part five – Understanding Parents I’ve been a Cubmaster, and a den leader for Wolf, Bear,and Webelos dens. Volunteering as a Cub Scout leader ought to be a lot of fun, and it is, most of the time. I want to share thoughts about things that often don’t get a whole lot of attention in formal training, the things we talk about in the hallway or the parking lot after the meeting....
**This is the third of a five-part series,****Part one Understanding Cubs****Part two Understanding Meetings**Part four – Blessed are the Den Leaders Part five – Understanding Parents I’ve been a Cubmaster, and a den leader for Wolf, Bear,and Webelos dens. Volunteering as a Cub Scout leader ought to be a lot of fun, and it is, most of the time. I want to share thoughts about issues that often don’t get a whole lot of attention in formal training, the things we talk about in the hallway or the parking lot after the meeting....
**This is the second of a five-part series,**Part one Understanding Cubs Part three – Understanding VolunteeringPart four – Blessed are the Den Leaders Part five – Understanding Parents I’ve been a Cubmaster, and a den leader for Wolf, Bear,and Webelos dens. Volunteering as a Cub Scout leader ought to be a lot of fun, and it is, most of the time. I want to share thoughts about things that often don’t get a whole lot of attention in formal training, the things we talk about in the hallway or the parking lot after the meeting....
*This is the first of a five-part series,***Part two Understanding Meetings**Part three – Understanding VolunteeringPart four – Blessed are the Den leadersPart five – Understanding Parents I’ve been a Cubmaster, and a den leader for Wolf, Bear,and Webelos dens. Volunteering as a Cub Scout leader ought to be a lot of fun, and it is, most of the time. We had a “normal” Cub Pack, (if such a thing exists). We always needed more help, we struggled with recruiting, we had our parent drama; but our Cubs had a great time, and so did I....
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....
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....
I recently learned of a new Scouting blog authored by Jeff Freeman: So I’ve thought about a blog for a long time. Either as a representative of my pack, or now of the troop I’m in. Or even for my daughters Daisies. I’ve dabbled with twitter, but never kept at it posting. But with a blog I can share more things I think. So let’s mix them all together. Just about every day, a little bit of Scouting in one fashion or another goes on....
Podcast Episode (00:29:42): Listen on Apple Podcasts Sponsored By ScoutmasterCG.com Backers | | | Scoutmaster Podcast 204 | In this podcast we share thoughts on evaluating Scout Spirit, Brick Mason ties a bowline and we answer an email queston about when Scouts cross over from Webelos, all this and your messages in the mailbag! | | | Podcast Archive Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
Here’s this month’s ScoutCircle, a solo appearance! Here’s the resources we discussed The New Parents Quick Guide Webelos_to_Scout – BSA information webelos-to-scout-transition-plan-1 Heart of America Council WebToScout Webelos to Scout Transition: A Parents’ Guide
Where do you go find answers to Cub Leader questions? During the years I spent as a Cubmaster and Webelos Den Leader formal training sessions helped , but the most valuable advice I received at the time came from those long talks in the parking lot with folks who had been there and done that. Wm. David Levesque’s new book, “For the Love of Cub Scouts”, contains the hard-won ‘between the lines’ sort of information and advice that can only come from an experienced Cub Scout Leader....
This email about one Webelos crossover to a troop needs little introduction or explanation, but one part bears repeating; Meetings don’t cut it, selling the parents on how great a troop is doesn’t cut it, your “reputation” of being a strong troop doesn’t cut it. What does? Read on; Clarke – I recently stumbled across your podcast and blog. I have been listening my way through the podcast archive. I just listened to one show about visiting Webelos....
Podcast Episode (00:32:19): Listen on Apple Podcasts In this podcast we discuss a Webelos troop visit and keeping older Scouts engaged, we answer email questions about the patrol method, replacing a Scout handbook and who signs merit badge cards – all this and your messages in the mailbag. | Past editions of the show are available at the PODCAST ARCHIVE