Scoutmaster Musings

How are electronics handled in your troop, pack, or crew? Are they banned, allowed only at certain times, or permitted? just scouts, or adults too? All electronics, including GPS, flashlights, watches? A specific list of devices that are illegal?

I noticed quite a bit of online discussion about electronic devices on scout outings over the past year. Some adults just ban them altogether. Others let the scouts decide. Others ban them from scouts, but not adults.

In our troop, each newly-elected Sr. Patrol Leader determines how electronics should be handled. Long ago, none were allowed on campouts because they were just radios and music. As cellphones became more common, scouts snuck them along. This caused friction between the scouts. More recent SPLs have allowed electronics, but only in the cars, or only at specific times, or only for certain uses such as clock or emergency light - which has been difficult to manage.

Most recently, we've reached the consensus that electronics are too integrated into our daily lives to toss them away for a weekend. Setting expectations on how technology should be courteously and safely used in scouting has been our direction. Over the past couple months, we've created a short training program called Tech Chip, in the spirit of Whittlin' Chip, Totin' Chip, and Firem'n Chit. It is about 20 minutes of skits and discussion to ensure everyone understands the expected use of electronics at our scout events. At the conclusion of the training, each participant receives a wallet card.

At this past weekend's campout, I presented the training to the SPL, ASPL, and a PL. They then presented it to 15 other scouts. Everyone that I asked was excited about getting to take their devices now and they all could recite the expectations to me. Some of them were just excited to have a cool wallet card even though they didn't own cellphones. :-)

See more about the Tech Chip, training outline, and wallet cards you can purchase for your Troop, Pack, or Crew at the Tech Chip Award page.

If you have suggestions for improvement, please email them to me.

Scout On

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A Tenderfoot has been trying to find time to complete his Second Class 5-mile hike requirement since September. With his involvement in sports, poor weather, and whatnot, we finally got it done yesterday.
None of his buddies needed the requirement and he couldn't get any to join him, so it was him, his dad, and myself - poor scout stuck with a couple old guys for 2 hours. But, with 21 degrees and beautiful blue skies, it was a great hike.

He had an aerial map of the park with hiking trails and ski trails marked. I asked him where we were on the map and then asked him to take us to a creek on the map so we could see if it was frozen or not.
After we discovered that creek and that it was emptying the lake, I asked him to take us to the creek that feeds the lake. Finally, I decided I would like to play a game of snow baseball so he took us to a ball field and then back to the starting point.

Along the way, he oriented the map a half dozen times, figured general direction without his compass, learned and then demonstrated triangulation, figured distance traveled using a map scale, and discussed general winter safety as well as crossing frozen water.

We even tried out my cardboard eskimo sunglasses I made yesterday morning. They aren't a great fashion statement, but they sure cut out the snow glare.

When you have just a couple scouts around, you can pass on a ton of skills, tips, experience, and knowledge, so be ready for those great opportunties.

Scout On

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Four old-time merit badges are being resurrected for the BSA Centennial celebration. In 2010 ONLY, scouts can earn Carpentry, Pathfinding, Signaling, and Tracking - the last three being dormant since the 1950s! Of all the planned hoopla, I think this is about the coolest - not many scouts will be able to show off these few patches.

Final requirements and patch designs are supposed to be ready by the end of January, but right now is time to line up merit badge counselors for these skills. Since scouts must complete their requirements by December 31, you should get the ball rolling asap.

I'm soliciting counselors this week so we can announce the counselors at our troop recharter event next week and hand out blue cards to scouts that want to do them. You might have a challenge finding adults with skills to counsel for these badges.

See the Merit Badges for details. The info is preliminary for now, until the BSA posts final requirements.

Scout On

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The troop did a real cool thing last night, taking advantage of a great sale at the scout shop.

Using TroopKit.com as our event and meeting planner, the SPL set up a Moccasin Making Meeting. Scouts signed up for the moccasin size they wanted to make. After the deadline, I went to the scout shop and purchased the 1/2 price kits for everybody at the end of November.

Then, at last night's troop meeting, the kits were distributed and over 20 scouts started making their own pair of moccasins for wearing in camp on this year's campouts. For under $10, the scouts have fun footwear.

It was a very hectic, lots of fun, half hour getting them all started so they could finish at home. The troop had made moccasins just like this 3 years ago so the many of the older scouts already had them and just helped the younger guys get started. I expect/hope we'll do it again in 3 years.

In case you didn't know, moccasins are great for in-camp footwear during the summer. After wearing awhile, the soles harden a bit but are still soft and flexible enough to promote Leave No Trace. Your steps make less impact than hard-soled boots. And, they are dry and comfortable after hiking all morning. And, they weigh practically nothing. And, They look way cool!

My two nephews (one is a Webelos) are visiting this weekend and will make their own moccasins since we had a couple pair left over. That should keep them busy awhile.

Scout On - and keep an eye on those www.ScoutStuff.org sales.

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Eleven scouters and two scouts got certified in in my WFAB session yesterday. WFAB = Wilderness First Aid Basics training from the Red Cross.
That will help make 2010 a little safer around here, at least. The two scouts were guys in our troop so I'm happy they've increased their skill level a bit more.

WFAB or its equivalent is now required to trek at Philmont and Northern Tier. I expect Seabase will require it rather than just recommend it very soon and the Summit will require it too. So, don't wait to get some members of your 2010 crew trained now - the WFAB sessions can be hard to find later in the spring. It would be frustrating to cancel your trek because of inadequate training.

Now is a good time to review the CPR, Youth Protection, Safety Afloat, and Safe Swim Defense certification expirations of your unit - those all have short expirations. Ensure you have appropriately trained adults and youth leaders to make your adventures safe.

Scout On

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Now that the boys are older, Christmas morning doesn't come so fast around here so I'm just waiting for people to wake up while I check the weather. The big news around here is the snow and we're supposed to be visiting relatives soon, so I want to travel at the safest time. It looks like we're going to get lucky and have an open window.

Snow and winter weather provides great opportunity for scouts to do some good turns over their holiday break from school. Our troop doesn't meet as a troop over break, but I encourage the patrols to get together on their own for something fun and/or service-oriented.

Individual scouts can easily see if driveways and sidewalks of their neighbors have been cleared. If not, they can offer to do it. Maybe their dad or little brother can be their buddy and help out too.

Scouts should know if they have elderly neighbors. If they do any door-to-door fundraising, or just through exploring their neighborhood, they should remember who lives where. Offering to pick up mail, take garbage cans to the curb, take a pet for a walk, or help with other errands can be a big help in slippery conditions.

Fire hydrants should be kept clear of snow. Many people don't realize this responsibility. A great service project for a patrol is to canvas a neighborhood, clearing fire hydrants after asking the homeowner for permission.
The same is true for groups of mailboxes and entries to sidewalks - it helps to have the snow cleared away, but people often forget.

Snow provides many opportunities to help others. A scout providing assistance without pay or reward is being helpful and kind, and hopefully also cheerful since it's such fun getting out in the snow!

Scout On - and here's a happy, safe, and restful holiday to you

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Cub Scouts 2010 - if you're a Cub Scout leader, you really should check this out. It is a new step in the evolution of the Cub Scouting program that's been tested the last few years, resulting in huge increases in retention of scouts.

It's still early, but Cubmasters and den leaders should start planning on how their pack will implement this new program for the 2010-2011 school year.

Scout On

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Why don't we have a sewing merit badge?
There should be a skateboarding merit badge.
When will we have a hunting merit badge?

Have you ever had or heard similar questions? Well, BSA has posted an email address where you can start the process of creating a new merit badge.

When you have an idea for a new merit badge, the first step is to complete a proposal form, which you can get by e-mailing merit.badge@scouting.org

Proposals that fit merit-badge criteria and rank highly with youth members are sent to a volunteer task force and the Program Content Committee for review and development.

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Our lottery submission for a 2011 Philmont trek wasn't a winner. :-( Got a rejection email yesterday, saying we're on the waitlist, so it's a gloomy day. We had two crews worth of people ready to go. I hope some of you had better luck - let me know.

Now, our options are:

• See what our position is on the waitlist and hope for some troops to cancel
• See how many scouts can go on the date reserved for our council contingent crews and snag one of those crews
• Put in for Philmont 2012

I sure hope the opening of The Summit in WV has a significant effect on availability of treks in the coming years.

Scout On

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Tune in tonight to audiocast.scouting.org and listen to the 100th anniversary Kick-off Rally at:

• 8-8:30 p.m. (EST)
• 7-7:30 p.m. (CST)
• 6-6:30 p.m. (MST)
• 5-5:30 p.m. (PST)

I'll be listening in with you to hear Chief Scout Executive Bob Mazzuca, National President John Gottschalk, and National Commissioner Tico Perez.

But, don't worry about winning the trip to DC for the big black-tie affair - I've already got dibs on that one. And, as soon as they announce my name, I'm buying my 100th Anniversary bow tie and cummerbund

Scout On

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So, have you seen it? How was it?

Scout Camp the movie - from the trailer and videos looks like an interesing comedy about Boy Scout summer camp - another angle on the usual "underdog group vs. popular group" theme.

There's a music video on YouTube with scenes from the show. They've made high use of actual BSA uniforms. I love the fire starting scene - has never happened in our troop. :-) :-) :-)

"Hey guys, Sign's Up!" - classic. :-)

Trailer, Swim Test, Pledge of Allegiance, Rifle Range
Gee, I guess you don't really even need to see the movie - it's all on YouTube. :-)

Scout On

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Due to the comments contributed to my previous post, I'm curious what people mean when they say "Eagle Factory". So, what is it?

I could find just a couple troops that refer to themselves as eagle factories on the 'net, with the general meaning that they have a focus of 'directing' scouts to eagle rank.
I could find hundreds of instances of troops and scouts posting that they are not eagle factories or a product of one.
But, I could find very few descriptions of what an eagle factory is. I expect everyone has their own definition, very few of them positive.

I just figured our troop's percentage from data in Troopmaster and it looks like almost 40% of all scouts that joined from 2002-2005 will make it to Eagle. I imagine that just that number will cause some readers to say "eagle factory". But, it would be interesting to hear from you what characteristics an eagle factory troop has.

Here are a couple descriptions I could find:

• Andy Anderson - An Eagle Factory troop has a routine program that "processes" boys to get Eagle. The boy only needs to show up, do what is asked of him, and he gets Eagle. Boys from these troops can achieve Eagle at age 14.
• Bob McCown - Its mostly an Eagle factory to get 'Eagle Scout' on college applications. Merit badge classes are a rubber-stamp joke, for the most part, and the whole "Scout Spirit" bit is shown just by showing up, not actually being a 'good scout'.
• Troop 20 - an Eagle factory, with its sole focus on obtaining Eagle.
• Guy Noir - the scout troop that’s an Eagle factory, focused on numbers but not the participants.
• Bob Hearn - an Eagle Factory Troop (get Eagle fast and Eagle out)
• Scouting Magazine - a 1995 article.

What's your definition?

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