Scoutmaster Conferences

Scout advancement questions are often easy to answer … … if you simply take things at face value. It’s actually all pretty easy to understand. Problems arise when Scouters don’t challenge their own assumptions after they have read the requirements or directions and policies in the Guide to Advancement. This week I’ll answer three Scout advancement questions you’ve emailed me. As always, I’ll encourage everyone to get a copy of the Guide to Advancement, read it and work to understand what it has to say....

What has a Mesoamerican Step Pyramid got to do with this? Today I want to talk about leadership, but I want to see if I can get you to come along with me and really examine what this means in Scouting. Leadership in Scouting is based on discovery. I have (what I hope is a great) analogy to share with you, and this one is a whopper! It’s a really complicated analogy, you may have to go back and listen to it again....

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...

Here’s an comprehensive look at the Scoutmaster’s conference. All of the references below are official publications of the BSA (the Guide to Advancement 2013 and the [Scoutmaster’s Handbook](../wp-content/Scoutmaster Handbook 33009.pdf)). I have refrained from adding any commentary or opinion because I think the resources can speak for themselves. I will note this explanation included in the beginning of the Guide to Advancement 2013 – Mandated Procedures and Recommended Practices This publication clearly identifies mandated procedures with words such as “must” and “shall....

When a Scout takes on a position of responsibility… … we’ll discuss and agree on a set of shared expectations, and begin what will be an open dialog for their tenure in that position. Reconciling what a Scout did or did not do before a Scoutmaster took on the role is one of the things we’ll discuss in this podcast. We’ll also answer a question about Scoutmaster conferences. What high adventure experience will your Scouts be doing this summer?...

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)....

Fourth in a series of articles about the four steps to Scout Advancement. After a Scout has completed all of the requirements for any rank he is reviewed twice; once in a Scoutmaster conference and once at a Board of review. The Scoutmaster Conference Note that a Scout must participate or take part in a conference; it is not a “test.” Requirements do not say he must “pass” a conference....

Google the title of this post and you’ll find some pretty elaborate plans and opinions for the Eagle Scoutmaster conference. Some of them leave me thinking I should don a wizard’s robes and start boiling up some eye of newt because I am about to do something magical and mysterious. There’s nothing magical or mysterious about it – it’s another (if more momentous) Scoutmaster conference. The Scout I will speak to tonight has completed all his requirements and is four days away from his eighteenth birthday....

Here’s an excerpt from Ask Andy’s December 10th column. Hi Andy: My question has to do with BSA national policies and why so many troops seem to stray… For example, my son recently “failed” his Scoutmaster conference for First Class… His Scoutmaster will quiz the Scouts on all requirements up to the rank being sought. I know of a troop where Scouts are required to present to their Scoutmaster the completed merit badge worksheets for all Eagle-required merit badges, for his final approval, even if the Scouts have signed blue cards from their Merit Badge Counselors....

The Scoutmaster conference is the principle contact with between Scout and Scoutmaster: Why does the Scoutmaster engage in this one-on-one review? The relationship between a Scout and his Scoutmaster is important for the troop’s health and for the Scout’s success. The Scoutmaster must watch the troop’s dynamics to see who is showing leadership, who is holding back, who is shy, who is working with the younger boys, who is skilled in outdoor activities, etc....