It’s the Program Reflection Pt#2

My original plan for being the Cubmaster was for just two years and then become the Webelos Den Leader for the remaining time.  My goal was to get the Pack on course and pointed in the correct path and step-down.  I am not sure when it was during my tenure as Cubmaster, but I realized that what the Pack needed was consistency.  I do not know much of the history of the Pack before 2008 and how it operated, but it was not strong.

I took over as Cubmaster in April 2009 and attended Wood Badge in the fall.  I was beaded in March 2010.  Yes, it was a quick set of items for the Ticket, but they were completed.  It was geared towards the Pack and making it stronger and more traditional.

What my Wood Badge Ticket and University of Scouting classes have taught me is that consistency is a good thing and having a program is very important.  Getting out and doing things creates fun and retention.  Without that, you have nothing.

With all of this change, Committee Meetings started to happen more often.   I kept pushing them and getting us together.  Winging it isn’t an option.  Sometimes it would just be a few Den Leaders or Committee Members.  Now, it’s both.

The planning started to happen because I wanted to have Summertime Pack Events, Bike Rodeo, Raingutter Regatta, Den Chiefs, Hikes, Outings, Overnights.  One of the best things to come out of all this was my quest to have the Scouts earn the Emergency preparedness Pin.  While no one in the Pack since I have started has earned it, we incorporated a lot of fun into the Pack Meetings.  One of our most fun is the First Aid Pack Meeting.  We have had Combat Medics, Ambulances, Boy Scouts, Search & Rescue come to help put it on.  Some of the Scouts still have & use their Emergency Kit that they made the first year.

The photo is of a Pack Meeting that was “geared” toward cooperation and imagination.  The goal was to have the boxes, tubes, tape and other items made into a Robot.  The Scouts were broken up into groups that had Tigers, Wolves, Bears, Webelos I & II.  It was not a Den vs Den set-up.  Scouts had to work with others that they did not know.  They had to help each other.  This group actually used a Scout and built a Cyborg.  They used their imagination and cooperated to get a task done.  I took this right out of the Pack Meeting plans and also Wood Badge.  A Game with a Purpose.

These style events is what I wanted to do.  It continued for the next four years with events like this.  I even started holding Pack Meetings outside.  This is after the U of Scouting class that I took called “Putting the OUTing in scOUTing!”  Map & Compass with a Geocache style hunt.

Yes, I did want to be Webelos Den Leader, but I found that being the Cubmaster help me with creating consistency within the Pack.  It also helped me recruit Tiger Cubs and Tiger Den Leaders and volunteers.

The program was happening and it attracted a lot of boys to the Pack.  I believe when Elliot started there was about 25-30 Scouts.  At the time of the 2013 Crossover, there are 57.  A lot of boys have come, crossover, or dropped but the Pack has grown.

Program Program Program

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The Final Countdown

As I pointed out last week in a post, the Pack Committee submitted me for the Unit Leader of Merit Award as Cubmaster.  It is and will always be one of the great highlights within my life to be a part of Pack 221.  To be honored as such at the Blue & Gold, was just that, an Honor.

People have joked with me as what am I going to do after Cubscouts.  “Hey, you’d make a great Scoutmaster!”  True, maybe someday.  While I do look forward to not being at a meeting Monday night, or a Committee meeting Sunday night or figuring something out, I will miss it.

I am very glad that I have my replacement.  She’s a retired US Army Major in the JAG Corp.  My joke is, she is able to take you down and read you your rights at the same time.  She’s very organized and full of ideas.  Some of the photos she sends are great.  Campfire cookout at her house with the Wolf Den! She is energetic, loves Scout songs and does wear the Scout Uniform.  One of her first emails/questions was, “what patches do I need and where do they go?”   Oh, lord…I was in heaven.   And now, she will be at the W1-492-13 Wood Badge Course this April.  Perfect.  The Pack is in good hands.

Equally important is the Committee Chair.  He’s new to it, but been with the Pack for now two years. Equally organized, he’s full of ideas and taking charge in the back office.  They make a good team.  They are both new to Scouting, with their 1.5 years in.  But, heck, I took over as Cubmaster after 8 months.

My greatest worry were two things.  First, that the Pack would spiral downward into chaos and fold after 62 years.  Second, that the program would just suck and not be any fun.  Both still could happen.  But, I realize that a Pack has its own course of destiny.  I know this because of that Crazy Den Mother from Den 8.  I met her.  She’s fun.  I realize that the Pack is totally different that it was that 20 years + ago when she was in it.  The Pack survived and is thriving.

This blog was started after I went to the WE1-402-09 Wood Badge and to help me keep a journal of my journey within Scouting.  It will continue into that next Chapter.

I am honored to have been one of the Cubmasters within the 63 years of Pack 221.  It’s been a great ride.  I am eager to see the Scouts of Pack 221 come through Boy Scouts in the coming years.  Hopefully, I get to sit in on their Eagle Board of Reviews.  Hopefully, it’s one of the Scouts that I was their Tiger Den Leader.

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The Webelos Journey

The Journey of Scouting includes the Journey of Webelos Scouts. It is vastly different from that of the Tiger, Wolf and Bear Cubscouts. First, there is the Webelos Rank itself.  Then there is the Arrow of Light Rank.  All obviously must be completed before the awarding of each Rank.

Over the past 18 months or so, I have written about how I look at Webelos and what I am doing with my son.  The first was back when Elliot was close to moving up from Bears to Webelos I and also another post about just explaining what Webelos requirements are.   I even had a couple posts about the Webelos Summer, and how to work with Beltloops as a Webelos.  I think that the most fun of all the Webelos outs we had that worked on advancement was when the Tree Scouts (as they are called) went to the Ape Caves in the fall.

So, why all of a sudden blogging about Webelos Rank Requirements?

In a Linkedin Forum that I take part in a Cubmaster posted a question about what are the requirements of the Arrow of Light and when can the Scout move on from Cubscouts to Boyscouts from the fourth grade.   With a lot of back and forth between several people, it came down to this:

4.1.1.9 The Arrow of Light Award

“The Arrow of Light Award may be completed only while the following four conditions are met: (1) The Webelos Scout has been registered and active for at least six months since completing the fourth grade or since turning 10 years old; (2) he is still registered in a pack or as a Lone Cub Scout; (3) he has not yet joined a troop; and (4) he has either not yet graduated from the fifth grade or has not yet turned 11, whichever is the latter.”

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/GuideToAdvancement/MechanicsofAdvancement/CubScouting.aspx

There is not a pick one and fulfill, it’s “While the following four conditions are met!”

Seems pretty simple enough?  Insert monkey wrench here.  A few people came up with situations of a boy held back to repeat the 4th Grade.  Or what about Home Schoolers or boys that skip a grade due to being very smart.  Ok, you got me.  But, here is my response.

As to the Scout who repeated the 4th Grade.  He would be in the 5th Grade if his grades were acceptable.  He isn’t held back within the Pack because of grades, he moves with his buddies since he earned/completed the Webelos Rank requirements.  Use the Age Requirements as your guide.

The same will be fore the Home Schooler and those who skip a grade.  You must also look at the time in rank requirements.  Webelos must be active for 3 months.  Webelos 6 months.

In my son’s case, he is 11, but has not graduated from 5th Grade. He has at this time fulfilled all requirements and Activity Pins for Arrow of Light.  He is crossing over with his buddies.  Yes, I could make an issue of it and push him to a Troop sooner than the rest, but it’s his Journey and his buddies would not be there until they cross.  He has told me, he wants to go with his buddies.

Now, there are parents who will want their son in the Troop so they are start working on the Eagle for various reasons.  There are parents who will say their son is bored, that everything is done or the completed everything early and there isn’t anything to do.

First: Eagle is a journey, not a destination.  What happens after the fact he becomes an Eagle Scout?  Secondly, isn’t the Scout who is earning it and NOT the Adults?

Which, really brings me to a point made by a fellow Beaver and Cubmaster in the Denver Council.  Five Ways to Help Webelos Transition to Boy Scouts.  If, we as Cubmasters and Den Leaders read the book, understand the Webelos Program and know what is in store for them, then everyone is successful.

If we do not understand and are not “Prepared”, then we have collectively failed.  It is not our Journey, it is the Scout’s Journey.

Unfortunately, as Cubmasters and Den Leaders cannot save a Scout from his Parents.  We can just show them the BSA literature that guides us and hope they understand.  If not, maybe they will reap what they sew.

I know that within the District our Pack is in, there are 14 others.  Each Webelos and Pack Program is carried out different.  It is the same throughout the BSA Scouting Program in every Council.  Everyone does it differently.  Some, are drastically wrong and make for horrible war stories during trainings.  Others, are gleaming lights of inspiration that only Green Bar Bill and Baden-Powell themselves would be in awe of if they saw it.  My hope, is that our program meets the need of the Webelos that are in the Pack.  I know it does.

Just make sure that if your Pack is doing it wrong, that you step-up and correct it sooner than later.

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A Scouting Tradition

This Monday night was the Pack’s Blue & Gold.  Our Pack has been around for since 1951.  We have had many Blue & Golds celebrations.  However, as of late, we have been pretty lax on them.  It changed on Monday night.

The theme in the back of my head was Tradition.  I spoke to everyone about how Scouting in the US was started.  I spoke about how we had certain traditions that we do and why.

The Den Leaders then after a while broke into song.  Der Top Knocker was the first.  Second was the our guest of honor and many of the Den Leaders.  We sang “if I were not a cubscout”.  It was a huge hit.  The guest of honor played the statue.  I played a Preacher!

Then, it was time for our Guest of Honor and Speaker for the night.  I invited my fellow Beaver and Wood Badger, Jerry Schleining to speak.  When I first asked, it turned out that Monday was his birthday.  But, he came anyway.  He didn’t have to.  His wife Theresa came as well, and I am glad she did.

I wanted the Scouts, Parents and Leaders to hear about his Scouting Journey.  He ended up speaking about the little purple patch and his experience from being in the Trans Atlantic Council to Cubscouts and Boy Scouts.  He spoke about Wood Badge and his current position.  He also wove in a story about his son who is in the Army and how Scouting helped him.  He also spoke about that staying in Scouting is a good thing and why.  He spoke to the Parents to help the boys  stay in and the benefits.  While,  I had heard this before, it was good to see him tell it.  It was good for this Pack to hear it.

After his talk, I brought him back out and explained to the Pack that since it’s the BSA’s Birthday that we need to sing Happy Birthday.  But, I also explained, that Jerry took the time also on his Birthday to be with us. The Pack did not know that he did it.  So, we sang to Jerry as well.

After the speech, we handed out the Journey to Excellence Gold Award patches.  I told the Pack, that this is our fourth year earning it.  Two at Quality Unit Award.  I told them, that because of what they do, they earned it.  I also told them that out of 15 Packs, we are of but Two that earned Gold.  Another Tradition.

Our wonderful Blue & Gold Chair, Donna Marie, then brought everyone up and gave a quick talk about how she believes in Scouting and that it’s the parents/leaders that help make it go.  She and Jerry I know did not consult on notes.  It was great.  She got the entire Pack to stand and clap.

So, before the Closing Flag and a couple of songs, the Committee Chair asked for a moment.

On Monday, he awarded me on behalf of Pack 221, the Unit Leader of Merit Award.  My time in the Cubscout Pack is ending and this really means a lot.  I choked back the tears that were forming and I thanked him, the Leaders, the boys and parents.  Told them that I love Scouting and Pack 221 and that I would always be around.

Again, a Tradition.

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Changes

During the Pin College, I saw one of my old Webelos II from last year.  He was a kid that never wore a shirt and talked back a bit.   Now, he’s a good kid and he worked his way through earning everything he needed to for Webelos Badge and the Arrow of Light.    I did not really know him well, but as any good Cubmaster, I looked after him as best as I could.

Fast forward to this weekend, I saw him again.  Same face and smile.  But he had a full Class A Uniform and Troop Scarf.  I told him hello and that it was good to see him.  I seem to remember that I was glad to see him in uniform.   He then came up and showed me the Woggle that I made him and the Pack back in October 2011.  I made the Turkshead for every Scout that year.  I did a small ceremony that I inducted everyone into the Pack and the World Brotherhood of Scouting.  I told them, everyone including the Adults are part of the World Brotherhood of Scouting.  We are all friends no matter where we are.

This Scout showed me that Woggle.  I shook his hand and he was beaming.   Soon after the Scoutmaster told me that he asked him about the Woggle.  He said the Scout told him “Mr Cox made that for me.”  Also relating that he is very proud of that Woggle.

Something stuck with that Scout that day.  That makes me happy.  Remember, your actions will come back to you.  Sometimes sooner than later.  But, they do.

I need to make more Woggles!

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Finding a Troop

Reblogged from Scouter Adam's Blog:

I know that this blog is read by a few Troops within the district.  Please do not read anything into this post.

It has been about fours years since Elliot started Cubscouts with Pack 221.  He is now a Webelos II.  I have been the Tiger Den Leader and now am entering my last year as Cubmaster.  It is that time to really start looking for a Troop.

Read more… 850 more words

I re-read this again tonight. I needed it. I need to stay on the path and let my son be the one who guides in this endevour. Will get back out visiting Troops after Christmas break.

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The Harvest

This is the 400th post on Scouteradam.  I started it back in 2009 and now over three years later it’s still going strong.  At about 38,682 views (since moving from Blogger to WordPress) later as I type this it’s been a great journey.

I am not leaving and this blog is not going to fade.  Yes, it will continue.

I have written about many subjects as it relates to my journey as a Boy Scout Volunteer.  Fresh from Wood Badge as a participant and staffer, to being a new Cubmaster and District Training Chair.  I have been opinionated, depressed about what to do and excited about what has happened and what will happen.

I have met people both in the Virtual Internet Roundtable in the Twittersphere, Facebook, Linkedin and Google+ worlds and in real life because of my interactions.  I cherish and value them. Even if some of them are just dead wrong. (Mainly Linkedin)

I wanted to write a profoundly awesome post for the 400th posting.   I wanted to take what I have learned and also what I was feeling and put it down so you can understand it and that I can re-live it years from now.  So, here goes.

No matter what you do in life or what you volunteer for or how you want to be remembered,  “What you Plant now, You will Harvest Later“.  I got that from the BSA Licensing Facebook Page off a photo they posted.

It is significantly simple. In the picture is the words “Do your Best” with Always in front.  Do you Best is the Cubscout Motto.

You do not have to be a Cubscout or a Scout to Do your Best.   You just have to do it.

That sentence does a lot for me.  As a parent, I try to make sure my children understand right from wrong, the golden rule and manners.  I also try to show them the outdoors and that the world is not viewed through a TV, Monitor or an iPad.  I also try to carry myself in the same way my parents wanted me to be.  I still remember my Grandfather, Bill Trask showing and explaining how to shake hands and it’s meaning.

Whether you are in Scouting or not, these traditions, values and character traits ring true in how we would like to pass on to others.

Please take a moment or a few, and look at what you are planting.  How are you planting it and why are you.  Is it for your children, your community or something else?

Because what you Plant, will grow and you will Harvest it.  Let’s just make sure that we tend to it.  So, like any investment in a 401k or 529, make good choices.

Yours in Scouting.

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Join Night 2012

I now have been at 5 Join Nights at the Pack.  I joined the first one, and got nervous at the rest.  I should have this down, and I think that I do but every Join Night is different.

The Tally:

9 Tigers (including Mission Possible‘s)
12 Wolves  (8 returning + 4 new)
12 Bears  (9 Returning + 3 new)
6 Webelos I Returning No new
10 Webelos Returning. No New

I think that we also have about four adults who will actually sign-up and be Co-Den Leaders or be on the committee.  Over the summer we had a Dad sign-up for the Events Chair as that Chair is moving into the Committee Chair position.  The current Committee Chair is more than likely to be the Co-Den Leader for the Webelos II.

Each year, I want to have about 10 Tigers join.  That is to replace the Webelos II.  We do get boys joining the other ranks and that’s a good thing.  This year, we have 17 boys joining.  Counting the Webelos II that left and those who are returning, it’s about a wash at this point.  We have several inquiries via email and boys who want to recruit their friends.  All those people have been reached out too.

So, with Mission Possible Tigers we have 16 totally new Scouts within the Pack.  Not bad.  Most we have had since I took over as Cubmaster.  Which, actually this is an upward trend for us.

Our historical Scouts on Charter was 80 in about 2005-2006 timeframe.  It sank from there.  2008 when Elliot joined was about 30.  With all the normal Webelos II Crossover & dropout we are on the upswing.  Last year we were about 53?  So, really not bad.

The one good thing about this Join Night is that the Pack is healthy and sustainable.  I do not want a Pack bigger than 60.  50 is a lot.  I know people who are in a Pack that is 100+.   To me, that is a lot of Committee/Den Leader time and Parent involvement.   If you can get it and it works, great.

Seeing the Pack grow  to 50 from 30 when Elliot started, really make me feel good.  This year, as I keep pointing out is my last in Cubscouts.  I am now on the opposite side of where I was in 2008.  I was looking at the Webelos II thinking, its going to be forever till Elliot is that old.

I think that I have seen 80 boys cycle through the Pack.  Pretty amazing.  If you think about the 4% that will be Eagles, there is roughly 4 Scouts that will be that have passed through Pack 221 while I was there.  Hopefully, I get to see that happen.

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Back where we started

Standing in the middle of nowhere,
Wondering how to begin.
Lost between tomorrow and yesterday,
Between now and then.

And now we’re back where we started,
Here we go round again.
Day after day I get up and I say
I better do it again.

-written by Ray Davies of The Kinks

We are now into September.  The historical start within many Council’s to the Cubscout Calendar year.  It’s a whirl of recruiting new boys, convincing some parents to be Den Leaders/Committee Members and Back to School night events.

The beginning of the Cubscout year is very important.  It almost sets the tone for the year.  A good first impression is all you get.

For us Seasoned Veterans of being in a Cubscout Pack, it’s almost a cake walk.  We know what to do and how it will be.  It’s a tad unnerving for those who have not lived it or their first time through on the Committee or Den Leader.  Granted I will get nervous at the first meeting and as we get closer.

Hence, I thought of The Kinks as I started to write this posting.  It’s a song that I had on my Walkman while growing up.  It’s a great song and one that I identify at this time.

This is my now fifth year within the Pack and fourth as Cubmaster.  It’s my last of everything.  The final tour.  I am very much looking forward to seeing all the activities, outings and accomplishments that happen this year.   My original goal was to be Cubmaster for two years and then take over the Webelos Den Leader position.  I realized during the first year that was not going to be possible.  I am glad that I stayed on as Cubmaster.

As the song’s theme of “Back where we started” plays out, to me it’s about the drudgery of going to work day after day and being lost in doing it.  I understand that theme.  However, that is much more of a “Groundhog Day” theme.  I am not Bill Murray and I am not re-living each year over in a generic non-changing format.  I use this song as, yes, we are back where we started, here we go round again as one of continuity and one of delivering the promise of Scouting to everyone.  A lot of it is the same, but what we offer is slightly different but the Scouts have moved up to new challenges for their rank.  The bonus is the New Tigers!  They keep it fresh and exciting.

So, while everything changes, it stays the same.

The two huge changes within the Pack is the Program and the People.  Taking what I learned within Wood Badge from the WE1-492-09 course and applying it, the program has greatly improved.  I took my desires and dreams and worked to make it happen.  Also, the Pack Committee.  We went from basically a committee on paper to a very real hardworking Pack Committee.  Our Committee Chair came in last year with bring us back to what a Pack should be.  He also stated he wanted to do Six Service Projects.  He championed many of them and enhanced others.  We continue to grow because of the volunteers to give of their time and efforts.

Is the Pack perfect? Nope.  Is it bad? Nope.  Does it deliver the Scouting Promise?  YES!  We use the tools within Scouting to help us move forward and improve the Pack, Scouts and those who volunteers.

This year will be a ton of fun and I cannot wait to experience it with everyone.

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Make Time for Scouting

 

It is the season in the Cubscout world that Packs are starting up.  Some are already going due to the school calendar.  Within Cascade Pacific Council, there is a huge push for getting Tigers and Wolves.  It is called Mission Possible.

So, today as I was checking Twitter today, I found a great video that another Council re-tweeted.  On my Google+ page, a fellow Scouter pointed it out and had sent it off to his Scout Exec.  Guess, you are on a first name basis when you’re the District Commissioner.  So, I sent off a quick note with it to my DE, SE and the SE’s Exec Admin.  My hope was that it will get blasted out through our District’s Email list.

What I like about the video is that addresses several things about why Scouting is a good thing.   However, the one theme I liked is that Scouting and Sports go together.  There are so many times that I hear from Parents that it’s hard to go to Scouts and Sports.  Many of my fellow Scouter’s have blogged about this same them.   I tell the Parents that their children should be in sports.  They also can be in Scouts at the same time since many achievements will use sports to help earn them.  Plus, Sports still uses Leadership, Character, Good Sportsmanship…many of the same ideals that are in Scouting.

So, take a look at this video.

 

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