Scoutmaster Musings

• Cockroaches live in a wide range of environments around the world. Cockroaches adapt readily to a variety of environments, but prefer warm conditions found within buildings. Many species prefer even warmer environments and do not fare well in the average household.
• They have specially developed legs for locomotion on difficult terrain. They help each other find food and water sources.
• Research has shown that group-based decision-making is responsible for complex behavior.
• Cockroaches are among the hardiest insects on the planet. Some species are capable of remaining active for a month without food and are able to survive on limited resources like the glue from the back of postage stamps.

• Scouts live in a wide range of environments around the world. Scouts adapt readily to a variety of environments, but prefer warm conditions found within buildings. Many prefer even warmer environments and do not fare well in the average household.
• They have specially developed legs for locomotion on difficult terrain. They help each other find food and water sources.
• Research has shown that group-based decision-making is responsible for complex behavior.
• Scouts are among the hardiest beings on the planet. Some are capable of remaining active for a month without food and are able to survive on limited resources like the glue from the back of postage stamps.

• Coup Beads: patrols receive pony beads to string from their patrol flag for scouting accomplishments. Some patrols have 4 or 5 stringers of beads, bells, and feathers now.
  The ASPL hands out beads at troop meetings.
• Patrol Spirit: patrols accumulate points over a 3-month period to determine the top patrol in the troop. The points are mostly for participation, so any patrol can win. The short timeframe allows many different opportunities each year.
  The Scribe tracks the points.
• Scout Challenge: each year a new set of tasks is presented as a challenge to the scouts. Those that complete enough tasks earn the patch and a pin for each year. This helps expand scouting to their everyday lives and promotes specific activities or behaviors each year.
• Troop Muster: Each January, a troop meeting is set aside for reviewing the past year and looking forward to the new. Each scout signs his 'Patrol Charter' indicating he will participate in scouting this year. Parents pay feeds. Volunteer roles are filled. Pictures are taken.
• Scout-o-rama: Webelos are invited to spend a day doing scout skills with local troops around Halloween. This troop has put on a scout-o-rama for six years, just last year opening it up for participation from other troops. It's a fun way for 5th grade Webelos to see what's ahead for them.
• Order of the Golden Pen: higher ranked scouts are allowed to sign off T-2-1 requirements in this troop. To remind them of their responsibility and make it more fun, I spraypainted some Bic Pens metallic gold and made up the Order of the Golden Pen membership cards. There is a little training that goes with it and assistant scoutmasters can be members as well. Now, I have new Star scouts asking to get their golden pen just as soon as they have their Star patch. :-)
• Tech Chip: the technology revolution is over and if you are still 'banning' electronics in your troop, you've lost. We've embraced the digital age in this troop and use the Tech Chip program to educate scouts on expectations of proper use. We seldom have problems now, and when they do occur, the scouts take care of it rather than adults confiscating items.

This post brought to you by Victor Pest. All opinions are 100% mine.

Occasionally, a troop trailer will be stolen or equipment will be broken but, every year, troops and scouts run a greater risk of losing gear to mice and rodents. Tents, sleeping bags, rainflies, and the like are fine nesting spots for the little critters and cooking items not thoroughly cleaned can smell like a free meal.

At summer camp last year, we had a mouse actually get into a patrol box, shred paper towels, and make a nest. Everything non-metal in that box got thrown out and everything else was totally sanitized before being used again.

I just found out that Victor has some way cool high-tech rodent control options that are perfect for scout troops like ours. There are electronic traps and ultrasonic repellents, both more humane, effective, and clean than old style traps.

The Victor electronic trap uses a couple AA batteries and instead of squishing the mice, it quickly shocks them. It has an LED letting you know if it caught a mouse or not. Two of these in your troop trailer or shed or other place you store your gear that has no electricity will do the job. To empty and reset, you just turn it upside down over the garbage can and set it back down - pretty simple.

The Victor ultrasonic repellents, called PestChasers, are great for your garage or room with an electric plug. These Pest Chasers are safer than poison, cleaner and kinder than traps, and prevent rather than correct problems. A sound is produced that repels the rodents but is inaudible to humans and non-rodent pets. Just plug it in and that's it - mice stay clear of the area.

Now that winter is winding down, new scouts are joining the troop, and patrols are gearing up for summer camping, you and the quartermaster are probably evaluating equipment and cleaning the storage area. This is a perfect time to ensure the equipment is safe from rodents for the year ahead with just a little effort. Victor has a special promotion going on now that could fit a troop's needs well. It's called the "Protect Your Space Combo Kit" and includes:

• 1 Sonic PestChaser Heavy Duty
• 2 Sonic Mini PestChasers
• 2 Electronic Mouse Traps
• Free Shipping

For $99.99, you could provide six years of rodent control for your troop trailer, garage, and two other storage areas.

Check it out at: Victor Combo Kit page.

Scout On