Webelos dens as patrols and more older Scout issues … Catching up on email questions this week I’ll talk about Webelos dens working the patrol method and discuss the causes of at least some older Scout problems. (If you listen very carefully you may detect a rant this week). Over thirty years ago I had 18 Webelos in my Webelos den. I survived that year (as did many of the Webelos)....
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....
*During his lifetime Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the worldwide Scouting movement, wrote many books and articles directed to Scouters.*Each Sunday I’ll publish a selection from his writings in the hope that you’ll draw inspiration and understanding from his timeless ideas. I HAVE lately been renewing my youthful experiences in seeing my boy pass up from his Preparatory to his Public School, and it brought back memories of half a century ago when I left my happy nest in the small school where I was a somebody to find myself a stranger and a worm under the foot of a mass of bigger boys in the big community at Charterhouse....
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...
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 (00:29:42): 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
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
Just last night we hosted a Webelos troop visit. While the visiting Webelos went off with the Scouts we asked the parents to come with us into another room and meet with the troop’s adult volunteers. The committee chairman talked to them for a bit about the basic functions and administrative things involved with having a son in the troop. When I was introduced to the parents I said a brief hello and explained that the best way for them to learn what our Scouts do and experience would be to talk to the Scouts rather than me....
Podcast Episode (00:27:55): Listen on Apple Podcasts ****In this Podcast:****Webelos crossover advice, Scoutmaster’s Minute **Links in this Podcast:**Cliff Jacobsen’s Expedition Canoeing School |
Scoutmaster Podcast 5 In This Podcast Webelos Den Leader to Scoutmaster [2:47] Hiking story [10:01] 5th in the series Instructional Methods for Scouts [14:17] Scoutmaster Minute; Founder’s Day [21:21] Podcast Notes Ask AndyDownload Instructional Methods for Scouts.pdf (65.6K) Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
A recent email asks about Choosing a troop My son and I visited seven Troops, two of them twice for a total of nine visits. We finally found what we feel is the best Unit in the county. This Unit has very strong leadership – two of the dozens of registered adults have over 45 years of experience at this Unit Additionally, they have a large wooded property with a Scout Hut, a campground, a shooting range, a very nice fire ring theater, trailers full of**equipment, a fleet of canoes, and free use of a privately-owned reservation with amenities....
When Webelos and their parents visit one of our meetings we send the Webelos to our Senior Patrol leader who sees that they are welcomed and join in the activities. The parents meet with myself and a couple of Assistant Scoutmasters. I used to have a set program for visiting parents. I would sit with them and go through some standard information and answer questions. Then I would ask the ASM’s to do a pre-arranged talk about some aspect of the Troop program....
We do all we can to help new Scouts transitioning from Webelos – let’s not forget that Webelos den leaders stepping into new roles will need some help too. Thirty-plus years ago I was a Webelos Den Leader for eighteen (!) Webelos. I was recruited to be a Scoutmaster a year later, but it was a while before I stopped being a Webelos den leader and started being a Scoutmaster....
A good discussion of most common questions about Webelos to Scouts transition at Ask Andy: The Webelos bridge crossing ceremony is to publicly show the transition, or crossing over, from a Cub Scout pack to a Boy Scout troop. At one side of the bridge is the pack he’s leaving. On the other side are the representatives of the troop he’s chosen to join (always the Scoutmaster and most often the troop’s Senior Patrol Leader—the highest-ranking youth leader of the troop—too)....