Scoutmaster Musings

I've found that some scouts (ok, just about all scouts) don't prepare for a scoutmaster conference without prompting. When I ask what they've learned in the past 6 months, or what good turns they've done, or how they've demonstrated Scout Spirit, more often than not I get a blank stare.

To make scoutmaster conferences more interesting and valuable, I've put together this Scoutmaster Conference Preparation Sheet. A scout can print this out and complete it before his conference to help him have answers in his head for those questions that the scoutmaster will ask.

If the scoutmaster has scouts turn these in to him, he can keep a history of the scout's thoughts and see how his ideals evolve.

Scout On

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I've heard that some troops don't camp in the winter. I've also seen posts on the 'net from troops down south exclaiming that they got a patch for camping outside when the temperature dropped below freezing.

Now, up here in Minnesota we don't usually make a big deal about cold weather, but I admit that we also have awards for cold weather camping.
At Northern Tier you can earn a patch for sleeping outside as a participant in their Okpik (snoy owl) program when it gets below 0F degrees.
The Northern Tier program is excellent, with dogsledding, snow shelters, snowshoe hikes, and everything you'd expect in deep winter.


Many councils have their own cold weather camping award and the requirements range widely, depending on the locale.
For example, in Minnesota, there is the Zero Hero patch from Viking Council (now Northern Star Council) which you can receive for camping out in sub-Zero fahrenheit temperatures.
Like most council awards, this one is awarded on the honor system and sometimes its awful hard to show scouts that the thermometer says 3 degrees. :-)


Philmont has a cold weather camping program also. Philmont is the only BSA National High Adventure Base where you might experience 'winter camping' year-round - due to their altitude. Kind of strange, considering most scouts think of it as a hot, summer camping location.
The Philmont winter camping program is called Kanik (snow flake) and they teach a lot of useful cold weather camping skills.


So, don't let the cold weather stop you from camping. Enjoy the snow, if you have it. Experience freezing waterjugs, frosty grass, or cold rain if that's all that mother nature sends your way. Whatever you do, do it safely and it can be fun. There is an excellent book available through your local scout shop that is the BSA guide for winter camping. It is titled, 'Okpik: Cold Weather Camping' and currently costs $10.

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I've been talking with the Webelos den leaders and Cubmasters of the three packs our troop usually pulls Webelos from. It looks like maybe half the Webelos will be continuing on to Boy Scouts. This year, I put in what I feel was a very big effort to make sure all Webelos, parents, and den leaders were aware of our troop, our meeting and recruiting dates, and that we are ready to help them transition. This included email, personal visits, and postcards.

We're doing all 12 points listed on Webelos Transition Tips but we are only half the solution. It is so important for Webelos den leaders to see their program as a stepping stone to Boy Scouts rather than a finish line for Cub Scouts.

We'll know for sure in March if our efforts made a difference, but I'm already preparing to meet with the Cubmasters in May to discuss how we can improve the Webelos Transition. I believe the most important thing to do is bring the den leaders to the stepping stone mind set.

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Have you heard of LineRider? One of my sons heard about it from friends at school today. Tonight, they wasted about 90 minutes creating runs with it. Take a look at it Here. There is a site dedicated to it at linerider.org.

If your scouts are into computers, games, graphics, flash, ... then maybe a patrol competition to create the most interesting run would be fun for them. I prefer to stay away from electronics and the like when it comes to scouting, but imagination, creativity, and team construction can happen with this.

It's amazing how something so simple can be such fun to play with.

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I'm sure you've noticed that Google often has special graphics in their site banner for various holidays and dates. Take a loog at them HERE - they're pretty cool.

Anyway, there is a petition to get Google to recognize Robert Baden-Powell's birthday with a custom graphic. If you'd like to sign the petition, go to http://www.petitiononline.com/glogobp/petition.html and add your name. Or, just take a look at all the countries represented in the signatures. There's over 44,000 as of today, and another handful signed while I was writing this message to you. :-)

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These are my thoughts on advancements after reaching First Class that I share with scouts in our troop.

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So no one is surprised at what I expect from scouts advancing through the Star, Life, and Eagle ranks, I have made a list of Eagle Characteristics. These are qualities of character that I believe indicate a scout is closing in on the Eagle rank:

• Aware of self
• Aware of others
• Aware of surroundings
• Recognizes what is needed
• Seeks to help
• Leads through example
• Supports younger scouts, does not reprimand
• Teaches, does not tease
• Guides, does not direct
• Instructs, does not insult
• Demonstrates Enthusiasm
• Puts Group goals ahead of personal requirements
• Has mastered extensive breadth of skills and knowledge
• Has earned respect of others
• Is self-directed and motivated

Advancing from Star to Life to Eagle ranks is not as simple as completing some merit badges, tracking a few hours at a service project, and holding a troop leadership position.

The written requirements for these ranks are purposefully vague in your Scout Handbook. For example, 'Be active', 'Demonstrate Scout spirit', and 'Serve actively' are difficult to quantify, as opposed to 'Earn 6 merit badges' which is obviously completed or not.

As Scoutmaster, I need to evaluate your growth towards the ideals of scouting. I look at how you have grown in your years with the troop and mostly how you have demonstrated scout spirit in the troop. In your scoutmaster conference, I let you know if you have demonstrated what I feel are the required characteristics of a scout your rank or if you need to demonstrate more growth in specific areas. When I sign off for your scoutmaster conference in your handbook, you then need to go through the same thing again with your Board of Review. Those adults involved in the troop are also monitoring your progress and considering your readiness to advance.

Our goals are not to prevent a scout from advancing. Nor do we want to surprise any scout that expects to advance in rank. That is why I have constantly requested that all scouts talk with me at least every 6 months – that is at least, which means more often is even better. I want you to know where you stand in my eyes at all times.

If you are not involved in many troop activities and you do not chat with me, then my efforts are spent on those scouts that are obviously active and involved. You choose how much effort you want to put into scouting and advancement and you receive back a proportionate share.

How do YOU demonstrate trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent?

Scout On!

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Tonight, I get to go on a weekend retreat with the youth from our church rather than with Scouts. It's a nice change from tents to bunkbeds with real mattresses, but it also lets me see what kids outside of scouting are like.
I don't know if the scouts get better because of the Scout program or if the type of boys that join scouts are just 'good', but I see a noticable difference in the levels of self-control, leadership, empathy, and looking out for other people between scouts and non-scouts. This is in a church group where I'd also expect to see these qualities in the boys. I suppose its even more pronounced in a place like school or the mall where all types of kids can be found.

Of course, there are superstars and oddballs in any group, but in general I'm very pleased by what I see in the scouts - both those in our troop and other troops that attend our church.

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BSA is asking for input to the 12th edition of the Scout Handbook. If you've had problems with the binder glue dissolving (like me) or wished there would be more information about rabid animals or winter camping, here's your chance to speak up.

Go to Handbook Survey and tell them what can be improved.

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We are in the Midwest region and this week is our slot to enter the Philmont lottery, hoping for a crew spot in summer of 2008. Last year, our troop only made it onto a waiting list for 2007, so I'm hoping our luck is better this year.

But, from what Philmont staff have told me, it really will be luck that determines our fate. Just because we did not get a crew in 2007, our chances for 2008 are not increased. If this is actually how the Philmont lottery works, then it is possible for a troop to put in for a crew spot every year and never ever get to experience Philmont. I find it hard to believe that such a step backward from the previous system could be in place, but I suppose its possible.

Come January, when we find out our fate, then I'll have bigger concerns if we don't get a spot two years in a row and I'll push harder for a change in the process. But, until then, we rolls the dice and takes our chances - as they say. :-)

Good luck to all you troops playing the Philmont lottery this year. I hope we see you on the trails in 2008. We have enough scouts interested to send 2 crews, just need adults to go too.

Scout On!

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Webelos are working on their last activity pins and final requirements for their Arrow of Light awards. Part of that requires them to visit Boy Scout troop activities.
I enjoy having these visitors at troop meetings because its all new and interesting to them. Since we had scouts join in the spring, by now everyone in the troop is used to the routine and meetings sometimes become monotonous. Having a few fresh faces makes it interesting.
It also points out the need to keep troop meetings interesting for all the scouts. The PLC needs to try a bit harder to ensure fun games and activities are planned. They also need to remind the troop to be welcoming to our visitors and invite them to be their guests for games and such.
Since our troop does not have a specific Recruiting adult, that falls to me. I've written and called the local Webelos den leaders letting them know our meeting times. We've scheduled a special outdoor event just for Webelos. We've also offered to have scouts visit den meetings to talk about Boy Scouts. And, we have two Den Chiefs installed in a local pack.
Now, if the Packs follow through on their end, the scouts will have a good transition experience.

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Yeah! A long day with the new troop leadership team yesterday was just great!

Our new SPL obviously has the respect of his team and they stayed on task very well all day. That was a great sign of a good 6 months ahead of us.

We start the day at 9am with the SPL, ASPL, scribe, and all Patrol Leaders reviewing the troop schedule for the next year and then adding 6 more months of activities to the end. We do this twice a year, scheduling events out 1 year and tweaking anything needing changes 6 months out.
Each patrol is supposed to have a meeting before this session where they come up with a list of ideas their patrol would like to do - well, theoretically that works great but this time not many patrols held that meeting and it showed. Something we can improve on in the spring.

At 11:30, the rest of the troop leadership show up for the Leadership Training part of the day until 3:30. They get an intro to BSA leadership, troop organization, and available adult resources. Then, we break for a team-building lunch. After that, we discuss troop processes (advancement, merit badges, success of new scouts, and positions of responsibility) followed by learning the EDGE teaching techniques.
The SPL and ASPL take their people separately to develop goals and fill out their goal wallet cards, then they each share a goal with the whole group.
We then go over leading games, leading meetings, and teaching skills.

If any scoutmasters would like details about our day, just send an email.

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You might have noticed the Double Prizes link at the top of the pages. I was a bit surprised to find out that the site is generating money, so I'm excited to surprise some good scouting folks out there with a gift.
Starting in October, there will be two winners selected instead of just one. I hope it keeps up so I can continue with the gift card thing.

Hey, speaking of 'two', we've got two boys looking to join our troop. They both just moved into town and one has never been in scouts before. They attended our Court of Honor, so hopefully it wasn't too long and boring - I know the snacks were good afterwards at least!

Scout On

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