Tigers are so Cool!

Tonight was our first Tiger Den Meeting for the year.  We covered the basics from the Cubscout Tiger Den Meeting list.  I got there 30 minutes a head and got everything ready.  we were meeting up on the stage, since it was away from the Wolves and Fire Scouts.  First there were only 4, but soon grew to 8.  We covered the Pledge of Allegiance, Scout Hand Salut, TWO!, Do your Best and the Handshake.  We made up our own Den Yell.  Ok, it was from the book, but they don’t know.  We yelled it 4 times, but the other Den’s did not hear us cause they were loud!

I showed and explained the uniform and showed a Boy Scout Merit Badge sash that I got from someone at school.  It was their Dad’s.  He is 85.  During the Flag ceremony, I explained what the flag was, and how we got it.  We also worked on a Scrapbook that we are going to draw Scout things in it and record what we do.

Overall, it was simple and took 60 minutes.  A lot of the boys had questions about all sort of stuff.  I found out that they played Soccer, came from the same school as others were there.  Had boys in the same class.  To which, I explained that Scouts are buddies.  We do not go anywhere without our Buddy.  To which a Tiger asked to go to the bathroom and I told him to get a buddy.  He did. The Parents did very well.  They were all there with the sons and worked with them.  It was a good night.

The one thing that I realized tonight, is that I really like being a Den Leader.  Tiger’s were my first.  It’s all about the boys.  The Tigers don’t care about patches or Wood Badge or Training or any of that.  They care about having fun, learning something new and yelling!  All too soon it will be about have a BOR and doing service projects and finding a MBC and then off to getting their Eagle.  It’s great to see the beginning.  Their first Den Meeting……..

Remember, it’s about the Boys and their dreams.  Not yours.

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The Training Chair look at Journey to Excellence.

This year will be the first year that the Boy Scouts of America has rolled out the Journey to Excellence.  If your in a Leadership position within your Unit, and your not aware of this, start your research.  It’s the replacement to the Quality Unit Award program. There is a lot written already about the JTE on several websites outside of Scouting.org.  So, I am not going to re-explain it here.

I am going to talk about JTE as it pertains to my position as the Training Chair within my District.   As the Training Chair, I get a report from Council that shows me all the latest training records for the district.  It also contains all other Districts.  A very interesting set of records.

Using some quick math here are our stats.  554 registered positions. (There are duplicate people since they might be an ASM and WDL or a CC/CM in seperate units.  Hence, I am not using People.)

Within the Packs, there are 189 positions and only 42 are fully trained. The requirements for fully trained are listed here from Scouting.org’s website of www.scouting.org/training.  This covers every program within the BSA.  If your local Council has a different set of standards, please consult your Council Training Chair.  Overall, that’s 22% of the positions trained in Packs alone. In District out of 554, only 147 are fully trained (by Council’s terms).  As a District we are at 26.5%.  To obtain Bronze Status as a District for JTE, it’s 40%.  Last time I was in school 70% on a test was a C.  Pretty lame.

What to do?  Well, I have just written a note to my Program Chair with a copy to the District Chairman and District Executive pointing all of this out.  I stated that my goal for this year is 40%. It’s Bronze level.  Next year it will be 50%.

To point out how simple a task I view this is, let’s look at what Silver is for CREW.

Have an Advisor, an associate Advisor, and a committee with at least three members. All have completed This Is Scouting, Fast Start training, and Youth Protection training or, if new, complete within three months of joining.

That is Silver.  So, why not make it mandatory at the Unit level to have EVERYONE take all that training. You can do this ONLINE as with the Boy Scout, Varsity and Pack training. (this is taken from my personal MyScouting.org account)

For the Pack Gold Level JTE you need  this: Silver level, plus pack participates in BALOO training and in OWLS training. (Note: I could not find any BSA info to link to. )  If you do not have anyone who has taken these trainings, then your Pack will not get Gold in that area, which could be what you need to get Gold as a Unit if your short in other areas.  Currently in the Pack that I serve as Cubmaster in, myself and a Webelos Den Leader both have BALOO and OWLS.  Along with ITOLS.    I will talk more about the difference between OWLS and ITOLS and why they should not be lumped together along with BALOO.

District Training: The district Key 3 and district committee have completed orientation or training plus Youth Protection training (YPT). New members complete YPT before joining and orientation or training within six months of joining.  I believe we all have met this with the exception of District Committee Training.  To which, I have one planned for.  We just need to set a date & time.  If the District Committee does all of this and meets as scheduled, we will be at least Bronze for this year.

So, training is a big deal.  It’s not something that people should take lightly. Granted the Apollo and Space Shuttle programs were bought, built and flown on the lowest bid.  Look at what NASA did with the barest of  contract spending limits.    Now, just think of the barest of training that the BSA can get by with.  Look at what can be done if we give a little bit more of our time and energy to get and be trained at the level we need to be but also EXCEL at!  Look at the reward that the Scouts will get if we do.

The Cubscout Motto says it very well.  “DO YOUR BEST”

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1st Pack Hike 2011

Saturday was our first Pack Hike of the 2011-2012 season.  We have done this for the past three years to get us out of the Gym as soon as possible and also to use it as a get to know you for all the new scouts.  While our numbers are trending to 19 new Scouts we only had four new scouts and four old scouts and my daughter show up.  This included a few parents that I was able to talk too.  One nice thing is that we had a Scout return for Webelos II after one year as a Wolf.  We met at Tryon State Park.   Here is the Friends of Tryon and the State Park websites.  Both are chock full of great info.

Our Pack has at lest for the four years that I have been with them, gone to there to use it to talk about all the different requirements for all ranks. Last year the Tigers used it to earn the Leave No Trace award.  I made this a Wood Badge Ticket item back in 2009 that 50-75% of the Pack would earn the LNT.  Which, we did.

While the hike was there as a mixer, the boys did fulfill several requirements toward their rank and other awards.

Webelos I & II covered:
Naturalist Activity Pin #4

Bears covered:
#5 D
#12 C, D

Tigers:
#5G (Hike with Den)

Wolves:
#10 C

All Completed:
Wildlife Conservation Academic Pin: #1,7,8

Leave No Trace Award:
#1 Discuss LNT with Parent/Leader
#2 (went on one outing)
#5 Can complete if boys agree to sign Pledge.

  What I found really very cool, is that the Ranger that our Events Chair had scheduled to give a talk had a trick up her sleeve that I didn’t see coming.  She was incredibly passionate about Scouting.  She herself is a Girl Scout and also pointed out that her brother was in Scouts as well.  She also mentioned that many Eagle Scouts come to the park to find and complete Eagle Projects.  However, the most impressive part of the talk was when she took out all the animal pelts and asked the boys to figure out what is what.  There was a: Skunk, Mole, Fox, Beavers, Coyote, Mink, River Otter, Rabbit, Squirrel and Raccoon.  They all squeeled when she brought them out, but had a great time with the identification.

Overall, it was a great first Outing for the Pack.  I got to talk to many of the parents, explain a bit of the program and get interest in helping out the Dens and Committee going forward.

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It’s a Book Club, really!

I made a joke the other day about how my wife goes to Book Clubs a lot.  Got me to thinking about all the books that the Boy Scouts of America has and has had over the years.  There is a either a Book or Manual or atlest a PDF for everything. So, if your significant other asks what your doing some night.  Just let them know you have joined a Book Club and your off to discuss what you have read.  These are but of some of the many Books I found.  There are, a BUNCH MORE!

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The 2011 Scout Year has started

Last night was our Pack’s Join night.  It went pretty well.  While setting up a few parents/kids came early.  Which, is great.

You might be wondering what the Iraq Embassy Coin and Wood Badge Coin are doing up there.  My Wood Badge Scoutmaster of W1-492-11 gave each Staffer a coin with their Totem on it. The back of mine is Beaver.  It’s used to remind me to do a good turn each day and what Scouting is all about.  I use it for inspiration.  I really really needed it last night as I was completely nervous.  I always am before a Pack Meeting, since I am on stage.  It helps me calm down.

The Iraq Embassy Coin was given to me by a very long time Scouter that I only know off the Internet.  I figured that with the courage and bravery that it conveys, that I could use it.  Plus, I had hoped to channel some of his knowledge.

After I got the kids settled down and in line for Flag, I started to explain how we start right @ 7pm with Flag.  I asked if they knew the Pledge of Allegiance. Some said that they did not.  Which, I explained that they should remember quickly.  Off we went with the Flag.  The Webelos II or as they are known “Fire Scouts”.

The Fire Scouts did a great job.  The Pledge, Promise and Law.  Exactly as I wanted it to happen for the first meeting of the year.

By that time we were ahead of schedule. YES.

So with about 10 minutes before I dismissed the parents to their meeting and we started our meeting, I introduced a new tradition.  The PACK/DEN YELL.  As I began to explain what a Den Yell was, I asked the boys if they could YELL.  I got a response that only a Mime would love.  So, I asked again.  Better.

With help from the Den Leaders, I started.  WHO ROCKS PACK 221!  As I pointed to the Den Leaders, they jumped up and yelled their Den Name. TIGERS, WOLVES, BEARS, WEBELOS I, FIRE SCOUTS!

Then it was there turn.  WHO ROCKS PACK 221. TIGERS WOLVES, BEARS, WEBELOS, FIRE SCOUTS!  Awesome!

After I explained to the audience and boys (I am going to forgo after this in speaking to the parents during the Pack Meeting in this manner since it detracts from the boys. Thanks to Kevin & Arlen’s info on how they do Pack Meetings) that I was going to make their parents disappear for their meeting that we had a few things setup for them.  The Boys Cheered, and the Parents moved to the Library.

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Finally, at the end, before the Webelos I did the Closing Flag, I had my longer Cubmaster Minute.  More like 5-8.

What I did was the Joining Knot.  I handed out the Salmon (pink) colored rope and the Plum (purple) colored rope to the boys.  I explained the Square Knot and how in Boy Scouts, you use it when you first Join the Troop.   So, getting everyone to find a different color to tie to took a bit as did the tying of the knots.  Which, I expected.  Once completed, we fanned out a bit.

I then started.  (Not verbatium, but…) Tonight we have come here as boys, some of us already scouts.  Tonight, we leave a Brother Scouts.  This purple patch that you will all have on your Uniforms makes you a Scout.  You are a friend to all other Scouts in the World.  There are over 80 Millions Scouts (Made that up on the fly) in 146 countries in the world.  This rope also ties us together.  We are there for eachother, weather at school, meetings or just out in public.  We are also there for others.  So, tonight, we are Brother Scouts.  Thank you for coming tonight, I am pleased that you have decided to Join Scouting.

So, with that, the meeting was over and we rocked it.  I now beleive that both coins helped me through it.  The Cubmaster’s speech came from the Iraq Embassy Coin and the Wood Badge Coin helped me deliver the message of Scouting to all.

It was a good night.  The Pack Committee and Den Leaders did a completely wonderful job in handling all the boys and parents.  I could not be more happier or proud of all of them.  They really made Join Night a wonderful Success!

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The Joining Knot

” The square knot is also known as the joining knot because it can join two ropes together and because it is the first knot Scouts learn when they join the BSA. It has many uses-from securing bundles, packages, and the sails of ships to tying the ends of bandages.” Boy Scout Handbook Page 8.

The Joining Knot as we know is a Square Knot.  Once a Scout masters it, it’s pretty easy to tie.  At our upcoming Join Night, we will be working on this knot with 2.5ft lengths of rope.   Think of the Living Circle that Cubscouts will do at the end of a meeting.  They leave one open space for the Scout that maybe missing, late or one who wants to join.   I will hand out different colored ropes to each Scout. Both old and new.  I will instruct them to find another Scout that has a different color and tie their rope to the others.

What, I am working towards is to show each Scout is a part of one another, tied to each other and  we must work together to get along and where we are going.  Each Rank will use the Square knot at some point.  Why not start at the beginning.  It is also a knot every Scout Leader wears on the shirt if they have Training/Award Knots.  They are Square too!

Yours in Scouting.

Wolf Electives 17a. Learn to tie an overhand knot and a square knot.
Bear 22b. Tie a square knot, bowline, sheet bend, two half-hitches, and slip knot. Tell how each knot is used.
Webelos Outdoorsman #11. …Show how to tie a square knot and explain how it is used.
Webelos Arrow of Light #2 Tie the joining knot (square knot).
Scout #6: Demonstrate tying the square knot (a joining knot).

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The Traveler Activity Pin

In 60 minutes, along with teaching Elliot Google Maps and how to use Alaska Airlines Booking Tool, he has completed the Traveler Pin. He wanted to go to a Waterpark in Hayden, ID (Holiday Inn). It’s the one place he always asks to go to. We first plotted it out on Google Maps via driving. He got into a discussion about why one route was faster than the other. So, we used the little yellow guy and looked at some of the routes. Once satisfied on the shorter route (time wise) we printed it out.

Then, we thought about places to go. He focused in on past trips. Maui, a beach in Mexico (which I can;t spell), the Waterpark and to a pool in West Seattle that he learned how to go off the high dive. (See a trend here? Swimming MB here he comes.)

Once that was all done, we had to plot out a trip via railroad, bus, ferry or airline. Since I fly all the time, we went with the Alaska Airline. It turned out to be $758.80 for the trip since it was leaving tomarrow.

So, out of this, Elliot learned some planning, costing, drive time, how to use Alaska Airline Booking website and Google Maps. Not to bad for 60 minutes.

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Catching the Tiger Den Leader by the Tail…….

Tonight on Facebook a friend of mine in Montana posted this: ” When I told Bob, Tommy was signing up for CubScouts he said “oh great so I’ll have to be the den leader”. I said, “oh no, I am sure they have leaders”… well I was wrong. No Tiger Cub leader of course. Bob…???!!!” (Names have been changed to protect the innocent..;) )   “We have a meeting Sunday to get out popcorn info. If we don’t have a leader by then I guess we all take turns holding a meeting. That’ what they said they normally do for Tiger Cubs and then the next year they have parents fighting over who get to be the den leader. I just can’t take on 20 six year boys by myself.”

I will admit I have been chatting her up in getting her to take her son to Cub Scouts.  It’s what I do.  I have been doing it to a friend down in San Jose…(yes you cool Lunch maker lady!)   What I didn’t say is anything about Den Leaders.  I wasn’t thinking that far.

However, it’s on my mind since our Join Night is coming up on on the 19th.  It’s the one thing that Cubscout Leaders fear.  The boys will come, it’s the parents that we have to work on.  So, I went searching for info.  And I happened onto the Scouting Magazine’s section on Tiger Cubs. (Hence the image as well.)  The big take away from the article and section is this “A Tiger Cub parents meeting before the first den meeting is a great opportunity to help parents understand the shared leadership concept, provide ideas for activities and field trips, and ease the parents into volunteering for den and pack activities.“    That is the Key. Help the parents understand.  Hence my reason of working up a Den Leader Book for just them with a lot of info just for them.  My Cubscout Roundtable Commissioner is almost done with his Wood Badge Ticket.  His last item is to create a whole Den Leader in a Box for the Tiger Den Leader.   This is his photo of one section of the box. (Photo by Allan Campbell)

At Roundtable, he showed everyone there the kit.  Basically there is a plastic bag with each Section that a TDL would need.  The deal is, once the TDL is done with the section, they replish it as needed for next year.  The great thing here is that the TDL can hand it to a Parent and say, you do this, you do that and I will do this.  Everyone has a job.   That will make life in the Tiger Den a lot happier and the Tigers will flourish.

My point being here, is DON’T Freak out the parents right off the bat.  They come in thinking that the pack has it taken care of.  Which we do, we are just looking for a volunteer.  My first year as Cubmaster, we did not get a Tiger Den Leader, so I was Tiger Den Leader for that year again.  I did my best and got the boys through.  They did not go to Camp that summer, because I was not able to.  I kept at the parent the year.  No takers.   Last year I had two Dads who drank to Kool-Aid and totally got into it.  They so rock and I really appreciate them more than they will know.  And it’s not for stepping up to get me out of being the TDL again.  It’s that they did a wonderful job with the Den and the boys loved Scouting.

So, Pack Leaders…..don’t freak out the Parents on Join Night.   I know that I will be doing the first meeting.  Hopefully, I can get the parent into a Parent Meeting sooner than later.  Which actually our Pack is having a Pack Hike/Mixer/Leave No Trace event that weekend. So, we can work on a lot of stuff.

YIS

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Thoughts on BSA Training

Training is a wonderful thing, if done correctly.  It is not someone reading from a book or Powerpoint slide presentation as the participants read from it.  That is Death by Powerpoint. (DBP).  The District Committee Member’s Key is the knot that is shown here.  As most of you know, I have accepted the position of Training Chair for my District.  I am also on the committee for our Program & Training Conference this year.  The Council has done away with Pow-Wow and Advancement Extravaganza and mushed them together.

Along with many of my 2011 Wood Badge Assistant Course Directors (yes, that’s what my certificate says) and a few participants, I am co-teaching a class at PTC.  I am really excited.  It is “How to Use Social Media to promote Scout Units”.  With all of my interactions with those at PTCMedia and SCOUTNATION, it’s going to be pretty easy.  I have been learning from them and others on Twitter & G+.

However, back to the Knot above.   In our district, a lot of us are fresh to the Committee and also fresh to our positions.  That being that case, I realized that we needed training and that a District Committee Training Workshop is what we needed.   I will say that I read about it first before finding out it was a requirement for the knot.  That being said, I emailed both the District Chair and Exec and said we need to do this.  Both agreed.  So, now we just have to find a date and place.

This training will allow us as a District to come to understand more about what we are supposed to be doing and how to be a team.  Just because my Wood Badge ticket is over, doesn’t mean I don’t need another ticket.   If we can do this and come up with an annual District Calendar/Plan we will be soild.

Another aspect to me being a Training Chair is to provide Training to all those who need it, even if they don’t know they need it.  One of the major reasons I wanted to be Training Chair is that I wanted BALOO and OWLS training to be offered.  In talking with several people on the Committee is was apparent that keeping OWLS/BALOO seperate from ITOLS.  They are just NOT the same.  Seeing how different they are, how could you mesh them together.  If you look at what Chief Seattle Council does for OWLS it’s vastly different from what I have heard of and what others tell me.  (You need to click into Cubscouts and then OWLS for the info.  I cannot link directly to it.)  I will be pulling from this site for both BALOO and OWLS.

That being said, my Program Chair/Cubscout Rountable Commissioner asked about having BALOO during two Roundtable sessions 3 hours each.  Six to nine at night?  I suspect we will order dinner or make it while we are there as part of the requirement.  Still working on that.  Next up is OWLS.  Might do this during Cub-O-Ree.  Four hours a day over two days.  That way, everyone is with their Family/Pack for Cub-O-Ree.

Overall, if the BSA National has Knots that can be earned, it should be the respondsibility of the local Council and District to put on these trainings.  This will allow the knowledge flow from those who understand the program to those who want it.  It will end up helping that person, their unit and in the end the Scouts themselves.

If you do not provide training at any level, then how can you have a functioning Scout program?
YIS

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Thoughts about Join Night

I have been doing what I have been doing for the past three years as Cubmaster/Recruitment guy.  I like this time of year, cause I get to reinvent myself and try things differently than before.  However, this year, I have fallen into a RUT.   I do have the benefit of reading and following others within my Internet Roundtable on how they do Join Nights and their successes.   Bad thing is that they blog about them too close to ours that I am not able to change it up.  Ugh.  Point in fact is Kevin Devin’s few latest postings.  Here, Here, Here, and Here.

I have done some of these over the year.  Business Cards were good, just have not gotten them out this time around.  Each year we do do a Join Night 11×85 2011v4 flier.  This one is based off our last years with new info on the back.   One thing that I realized is that this layout really sucks up the INK!  Ugh.  Next year and for other flyers we are going to go off the BSA PPT Template.  So much better.

The great thing is that our Council will print these off for us for free. It’s in Black and White, so that’s just fine.  This year, I wanted Color so I did it off our Xerox Phaser 6280.  Yup, I am plugging my companies product. (Something I normally do not do.)  I wanted to have color on these since Color Sells!  This is the first thing that Parents will see when they are sent home by the kids.  However it’s pretty exspensive.  Next year I am going to print Monochrome and use colored paper.  That will be cheaper.

So, I have been to one Back to School night, two more are slated for after Join Night.  It went well.  Got a few Parents and boys interested.  The flyers went out and I have heard good things.  Even from my son who says that a friend is thinking of joining.  Also, a few other parents who are already in the Pack will be bringing their Tiger son to join.  It’s always good to have those set-ups.

After the Join Night we have a hike in a local State Park that is just down the road from us.  It’s really a mixer for the families to get to know eachother, get the boys on the trail and talk about nature and Leave No Trace.  One of the Committee Members got us a spot for free (usually $75, but since we are Scouts….).  The Park Rangers are going to come talk about nature, trails and LNT.  So, those who come, will get stuff!

So, Join Night is almost in the bag.  I am excited.  My next couple of topics will cover, Webelos Woods & District Training .

Finally, if your so inclined to join those who are in SCOUTNATION on Google+, please follow this link.  It will get you into G+, linked with me and I will then get you hooked up with everyone else.  The great thing about G+ is it allows for deeper conversations within the Circle.  It’s almost the hidden conversation about Scouting.

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