Scoutmaster Musings

Day 43: Have you every heard a parent say, "But, they're too young to plan and lead all that"?

Last night, I spent 90 minutes at a swimming pool watching nine scouts pass their BSA swim test, rescue each other with arms, legs, and ropes, tie bowline knots, and work as teams to swim out and rescue victims. It was great fun in the tropics as the snow was falling outside.

And my part in getting this activity going? Not a thing!
A Tenderfoot scout needed his Second Class swimming requirement so he found out when the pool was open, told all the other younger scouts, and asked me to come and sign off. So, I showed up and did that. I also did a little teaching of the bowline for a couple guys, but that was about it. There were three adults there - we each worked with three scouts.

I'm sure the scout's dad assisted him, but the view from the rest of the world was that this scout did it all. He was the only one interacting with others to get it organized. That's important because those other eight scouts see that they too can plan something if they want to.

With a reason, some encouragement, and a little guidance, any scout can put together and lead a scouting activity or event. This swimming evening is an example. Another is our local 50-mile backpacking trek this summer being organized by a scout that hasn't been able to go on our remote high adventures. He has a reason, he's been encouraged, and now I'm just here to guide him as needed.

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Day 42: I'll tell ya, I'm really enjoying these new scout conferences! My favorite question is - "So, what do you think you'll be doing this summer in Boy Scouts?"
I love the oversized, still-creased, half-untucked, patchless uniform shirt. I love hearing the debates about what patrol name is best - Scorpions vs. Black Widows right now. I love hearing "... physically strong, morally awake, and mentally straight" and watching the gears turn as he decides if "Be Prepared" is the motto or slogan. I love seeing a square knot tied right, whether it's the first or fifth time. I love seeing fidgety fingers and swinging feet gradually slow down as the scout and I get to know each other a little and he realizes I'm not like a principal or drill sargeant.

Most of all, I love wondering how this pipsqueak of a kid sitting here is going to grow over the next six years and how I can help make his Scouting experience the best it can be.
The mom of one of those ex-pipsqueaks called me this afternoon, getting his uniform current for his Eagle board of review. He'll be graduating in a couple months and heading off to the Air Force Academy a couple weeks later. He'll be a Falcon then, but he'll still be an Eagle.

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Day 41: Boards of Review, Patrol Meetings, and Troop Committee meeting.

We had eight scouts complete boards of review this evening, mostly Tenderfoot and Second Class.

The new scout patrol had a meeting. I went through the Joining requirements with one of them and he got it all except the square knot and scout badge. So, he'll take care of those at the troop meeting next week. We had a nice talk about Wii, Pokemon, and stamp collecting.

The main topic of discussion in the committee meeting was dividing the troop. After yet another very lengthy discussion, the decision was made to do nothing except inform the scout families that anyone can join any troop at any time. If someone wants to start a new troop, that is up to them.
So, the troop will continue on at its present size of ~75 scouts and see if it continues to grow or not. Since I've expressed my opinion that this is the incorrect road to take to provide the best possible experience for the scouts, it makes sense for me to speed along the ramp-up of the next scoutmaster and turn it over to him as soon as possible.

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Day 40: lots of scouting paperwork today. Went through packets of information from summer camp, Seabase, and training.

I did talk with a local scouter in a troop just getting interested in backpacking, but with very little experience. I might get to visit with their PLC soon and share some of our adventures and help them get started. That would be a lot of fun, so I've got my fingers crossed.

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Day 39: I drove 212 miles to home yesterday (34mpg in my 22 year old Mazda 323!) just in time to shower and get to a Star scoutmaster conference. This is one of those scouts you need to be careful that you don't short change on attention. He's so on top of things that he needs little direction, motivation, or encouragement. It's easy to just sign off and move on to the next one since my help isn't needed. Just taking the time to hear how he loves Scouts and his plans for summer is refreshing and relaxing - aaaaah.

The new SPL decided to have his Troop Leader Training start at 8:00am today. Oh well.
He's an 8th grader with a great team pulled together with three juniors, a sophomore, and a freshman to provide advice and support. All these guys did a super job of offering ideas and coaching the other 10 scouts on how things should be done for the next six months.

They discussed traits of good leaders, reviewed EDGE, covered their position responsibilities, made personal goals, and stayed awake the whole time.

After lunch, the patrol leaders planned out six months of troop outings for 2012 and assigned patrols to lead the planning of each one.

A very productive day.

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Day 37: The past two days have been just 'remote scouting' for me - only communicating remotely over the 'net to the scouts and adults back home, replying to emails from site visitors, and adding troop links to myScouting Links page.

It's really pretty amazing how we can instantly communicate with practically anyone at any time. Our advancement chair had a question about a scout completing rank requirements. I got on my laptop wirelessly connected, opened Troopmaster which connected to their website, updated the requirement completions, ane emailed the advancement chair back. Even though I'm hundreds of miles away, it all just took a few minutes.
A couple scouts set up scoutmaster conferences through Troop Kit for when I get home.
I'm electronically planning our Troop Leader Training for this weekend with the SPL.

I just watched "UP" with the nephews and niece last night. Russell, the Wilderness Explorer, used his GPS to steer the balloon-lifted house to South America. Technology fits into Scouting just fine when used as a tool to supplement skills rather than as entertainment which should come from participation in scouting activites, or as a crutch to make up for lacking skills. Allowing technology in your troop and educating scouts (and scouters) on its proper use is a better solution than trying to prevent its presence. The Tech Chip card is an example of integrating technology into scouting.

The BSA appears to be thinking along similar lines of promoting technology through Scouting. A new STEM-NOVA Award is in the works. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Various awards, patchs, and pins will be available to Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venturers. The program is to be announced in May and fully developed over the next two years. Read more at this page.

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Day 35: I got to visit Troop 342 in Ashland, WI tonight.
I'm visiting my nephews and one of them just joined that troop this month. It's good to check out other troops when you can. You get to see what you're doing right, pick up ideas, and see that generally all troops are chaotic. :-) This troop's scoutmaster does things much differently than I do, but the scouts certainly have opportunity to lead.

It was great to see some 16 and 17 year olds welcoming the new 5th graders that just crossed over. I imagine this scene is unfolding in thousands of troops across the country this week. Guys barely up to the elbows of the Life and Eagle scouts learning two half hitches or trying to do a pull-up or two, and being obviously impressed by the skill and leadership of the older scouts.

I got to chat with an Eagle scout volunteering as assistant scoutmaster now. He showed me their gear room (I'm jealous!) and told me about their fundraising, summer camp, and usual weekend campouts. There are many logistical differences between a troop of 20 scouts and 80 scouts, but the individual scout challenges are identical - how do I motivate this one to step up and lead? why doesn't this one ever bring his book? how do I spread this one's enthusiasm to the rest?

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Day 34: Yet Another Cold Campout - another weekend camping with snow and cold. About 15 degrees colder than forecast. Tying knots and lashings when it's 15 degrees isn't all that much fun so I'm now officially looking forward to Spring and the thaw.

The guys had some fun, learned some stuff, and got dirty - it was a success. I held four scoutmaster conferences on the campout so that was fun for me. One of the new scouts joined us as a guest of an existing patrol since he's not received his patrol gear yet. He did complete his Joining requirements last night.

Hopefully, next month's campout will be rain rather than snow. :-)

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Day 31: Showing up for the first scoutmaster conference, not sure what to expect, or how mean the old guy will be, or how hard it will be to remember everything, or if this is the right troop to be in. And, that's just the mom's thoughts!
When a new scout shows up for his first scoutmaster conference, he's kind of in limbo. His blue shoulder loops were replaced with green ones and he was given a Scout Handbook. But until he completes the Joining requirements, he doesn't have a troop neckerchief and slide or troop numerals to wear. He really, really, really wants that neckerchief and to belong to the gang.

I ask if he has any pets. Oh, he does! That's always a great place to start, sharing stories of pets. Then, I coax a bit about his family out of him. See how he likes school - or not. Finally, we work our way around to the joining requirements.

I just go down the list on page 17...
How old are you? Check
Did you find a troop to join? Check
Let's say the Pledge of Allegiance. Check
See how easy these requirements are? Nothing to it when you know your stuff.
How about that Scout Sign? Check
Salute? Check
Handshake? Check - by the way, when you shake with those older scouts in the troop, make sure you have a good, strong grip. Yeah, that's it!
See this cool scout badge - what do you see on it? What does that Eagle remind you of? What is a shield used for? Does this scroll look kind of like a smile? Have you ever heard of someone tying a string around their finger to remind them of something?
Do you have the Scout Law or Scout Promise memorized yet? No, that's ok, you don't need them memorized until Tenderfoot. Have you seen the movie "UP"?

I've found that pretty much every kid has seen "UP" by now - if you haven't I think you should. The scout, Russell, exemplifies pretty much every point of the Scout Law. So, I ask about a scene from the movie, for example when Russell was hanging from the hose, or when he was all covered in dirt, or when he first met the old man. And, we figure out if he was being brave, or clean, or courteous.

On this day, I got to have a great chat with a new scout. He's a great little kid with messed up hair, glasses, and a lot of something they used to call "spunk". I can hardly wait to see what sort of man he becomes. Let's get started...

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Day 29: Had a conference with a scout for second class.
Loaded info for the last new scout into TroopKit.com for events.
Had a scout volunteer to plan a 50-Miler trek for July - now he and I can start the fun of figuring out what all is needed. I'm looking forward to working with him on this little project.


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Day 28: The SPL led his last PLC meeting tonight. At the end, he stood up and took out a piece of notebook paper. He asked if anyone had ever run in a relay race. Then, he asked if they knew what a baton was.
He drew a racetrack on the paper and marked off an area where the baton could be exchanged from one runner to the next. He explained that if the runner just stood there, there would be a collision. If he took off without the baton, he'd be running for no reason. So, the old and new runners need to work together to optimize the transition and to accomplish it inside the boundaries of the exchange zone.
He then told all the patrol leaders that they needed to pass off the baton to their replacements. They needed to help them start running and make the pass as smooth as possible and within a certain time.
I thought it was great guidance and a super way for him to wrap up his time with this team of his. And, I'm pretty sure I'm going to use his words for my scoutmaster minute next week. :-)

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