Mölkky (pronounced mulkey) is a Finnish game reminiscent of kyykkä, a centuries-old form of skittles. Mölkky is easy to learn, and can be played indoors or out. The pins and throwing stick for mölkky can be made from tree limbs or sticks approximately 2 1/2″ in diameter. Players throw a stick (also called “mölkky”) at pins marked with numbers from 1 to 12. The pins are placed in a tight 3–4 yards from the throwing line....
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....
Like Hannibal Smith “I love it when a plan comes together” and I think planning is an important skill, but the repetition of the same plan, over and over again, can wear a rut in the floor. Somewhere in the dim, dark past the Troop meeting plan was created; preopening 10 minutes, opening 5 minutes, instruction 20 minutes, patrol meeting 20 minutes, game 20 minutes, closing 5 minutes. There’s a lot Scouts can get out of meetings that follow a predictable plan, but there’s also room for breaking the mold now and again....
Podcast Episode (00:20:16): Listen on Apple Podcasts Sponsored By ScoutmasterCG.com Backers | | | Scoutmaster Podcast 203 | In this podcast we share thoughts on merit badges at Troop meetings, an email question on Troop elections and crickets in the mailbag! | | | Links | | | | Podcast Archive Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
Parents (especially mothers in my experience) are the family scheduler; keeper of the family calendar and maker of schedules. We need a direct, accessible and detailed line of communication with parents (again, in my experience, especially mothers) if we expect to have Scouts attending outings and meetings. Shouldn’t the Scouts themselves be responsible for this? Shouldn’t they know their own schedule and make plans accordingly? In the best of all possible worlds I would like to see that happen but it’s not likely the way that most of the families we serve conduct business....
Some of us spend an inordinate amount of time worrying over the entertainment quality of troop meetings. Some of us are actually running the meetings – this is a big no no. A Troop meeting is not a television show hosted by the Scoutmaster. Here’s some thoughts from an old Scoutmaster’s Handbook on Inquiry.net As the years have gone by, some Scoutmasters have set this Troop Meeting upon a too elevated pedestal....
Every so often we dedicate one Troop meeting to inter-patrol games; an evening of skill, spirit and leadership competition. These evenings are designed to be very loud, continuously active and, as a result, are tremendously popular with the Scouts. The Scoutmaster must maintain a brisk pace as the evening proceeds to keep up the excitement and to keep the Patrol Leaders on their toes. One of the most important aspects of the challenge is how Patrol leaders prepare and lead their patrols for the event....