Expertise and experience are overrated Scouts need Scouters with energy and vision more than Scouters with expertise and experience. Scouts don’t care what you know, they respond to who you are. In this podcast I answer three email questions. The first (begins at [1:05]) comes from a new Scouter contemplating becoming a Scoutmaster, but is concerned they are inexperienced. I was a very inexperienced Scoutmaster, so I know you can do this....
There’s always more questions about merit badges… … then I have useful answers because the vast majority of problems with merit badges are structural rather than procedural. But I hate missing an opportunity for a good, old fashioned rant. Listen in while I climb on my soapbox and opine about what I think the problem is, and how it could (but likely won’t) be fixed. I’ll also answer an email about another troubled troop....
How do you decide who is right for the job? I think it’s a mistake to select a new Scoutmaster as you would hire an employee with interviews, applications, etc. This is something very, very different. I wouldn’t choose a new Scoutmaster based on knowledge of the outdoors, training, or experience because those are very insignificant aspects of the work. There are lots of trained, experienced, meritorious volunteers who may or may not get the spirit of the work or be particularly well suited to the role....
Can a Scout fulfill more than one requirement with a single activity? The answer is always clear after a careful reading of the Scout requirements and the directions in the Guide to Advancement 2015 – 4.2.3.6 Fulfilling More Than One Requirement With a Single Activity From time to time it may be appropriate for a Scout to apply what was done to meet one requirement toward the completion of another. In deciding whether to allow this, unit leaders or merit badge counselors should consider the following....
We prepare our Scouts, but how about their parents? How can we help parents make it though the first week of summer camp? Entrusting the full-time care of your child to someone for such a long time, for the first time, can be challenging for parents. In this podcast I offer some ideas you can share with parents tp make their child’s stay at summer camp easier on the folks at home....
“Merit Badge Counselor”, taken literally, describes someone who counsels a bit of cloth called a merit badge. I know nobody actually counsels inert bits of cloth, but it makes you think doesn’t it? We don’t counsel merit badges, we counsel real, live, individual Scouts. Scouts may have a lot in common, but each deserves individual attention. Merit badges are much more than a great way to learn about a given field of endeavor....
Can a Scoutmaster save their brains by using their ears? Baden-Powell thought so! In this podcast we’ll explain and discuss the art of Socratic Scouting. I’ll also answer email questions about merit badge blue cards (there’s always a question about them!) and who can or should be conducting Scoutmaster Conferences. LINKSMerit Badge Blue Card Infographic Kandersteg 2016 Guide to Advancement Listen – Baden-Powell MusicHello Muddah, Hello Faddah by Public Parking...
… 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...
Behavior problems can be challenging, but… … understanding the basic principles behind addressing difficult behavior helps us resolve them in the best interest of the Scout. I’ll answer an email about bullying and another about concerns over merit badge counselling. Scoutmaster Training Syllabus – see appendices G and H for information on the Scoutmaster Conference Sponsored By ScoutmasterCG.com Backers Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
What do you think? In this week’s podcast I’ll answer email questions about [anxious Scouts,](https://scoutmastercg.com/tag/behavior-problems/) liability insurance, cell phones and whether we should be using merit badge books or unofficial work sheets and workbooks. The Big Three Resources every Scouter should read BSA statement on liability insurance Article on merit badge workbooks and worksheets. Sponsored By ScoutmasterCG.com Backers Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS...
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...
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....
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
Here’s a Cooking Merit Badge infographic that you may find helpful: Download a printable PDF of the Cooking Merit Badge Infographic The Facts: As of January 1, 2014 Cooking Merit badge is required for Eagle. A new set of requirements have been published and new book will be available in January. During 2014 Scouts working on Cooking Merit badge may choose to use the new requirements or the old requirements. After January 1 2015 anyone Scouts Starting Cooking merit badge must use the new requirements The official Scouting Magazine Blog has announced the new Cooking Merit Badge requirements....
Reading the requirements for sustainability merit badge got me to thinking about merit badges as tools to achieve the aims of Scouting in general and Eagle required merit badges in particular. Faithful readers will understand that I like to think about these things and write about possibilities, take it all with a grain of salt. Before diving in I’d also like to reiterate that I am not an official of the BSA, just a Scoutmaster with a blog....
Before long (January 1, 2014) the list of Eagle required merit badges will change slightly with the addition of cooking as a required merit badge and the new sustainability merit badge as an alternative to environmental science. Here’s an overview of the current and new lists: Current list of Eagle-required merit badges Earn a total of 21 merit badges, including the following: First Aid Citizenship in the Community Citizenship in the Nation Citizenship in the World Communication Personal Fitness Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving Environmental Science Personal Management Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling Camping Family Life List of Eagle-required merit badges, effective Jan....
What are your expectations for summer camp merit badges? To most of us and to nearly all of our Scouts the central feature of the week at camp is earning merit badges. But what if it wasn’t? What if Scouts exchanged earning summer camp merit badges for learning and doing the things that actually interest them, the kind of things that Scouts do, instead ? Want to take your patrol on an overnight hike in some remote part of camp?...
The merit badge blue card serves many purposes: Certifying the unit leader has helped the Scout locate an approved counselor. Tracking requirements completed Checking that the badge was recorded and presented Serving as a record for the Scout, counselor and unit that the badge has been earned Here’s a basic look at the process of earning a merit badge and how the blue card is used along the way. The official name for the blue card is “Application for Merit Badge” and it consists of three parts....
The old merit badge blue card; The new merit badge blue card; This announcement from the latest Advancement News is self explanatory: Merit Badge Blue Card Revised A new version of the “Application for Merit Badge,” No. 34124, commonly referred to as the “blue card,” is being released later in January 2013. The availability of the new card will vary locally, and the old cards are still acceptable as councils exhaust their inventories....
Judith Bruner was the love of my life in second grade. Miss Bruner was a young, idealistic new teacher who played guitar. In 1968 she taught me how to play chess. I will never forget her for it. I was on our high school chess team and played a great deal during those years. Now I play chess when I get the chance; not so often anymore. A chess set goes on most of our camping trips and has filled many a rainy afternoon....