Beyond Gilwell

The past few days, I have thought about what Wood Badge teaches you.
I am reminded of the tenets of Wood Badge, which I have my Challenge Coin to help.

Bring the Vision to Life.
Leading to make a difference.
Models for success.
Living the Values.
Tools of the Trade.

The goal of Wood Badge, these days as I see it, is to find something you are passionate about that you can apply the SMART method to and get is accomplished.  However, what is important to you?  Is it based upon your current Scouting Position, your home life or within your employment?  It is all of those.

Earning your Beads, is a goal.  It’s not the END GOAL!  I have written about this before.  This is my last year as Cubmaster for Pack 221.  I am now the Pioneer District Training Chair.  What do I want to do going forward.

In the past couple of days and weeks, I have come up against several challenges to what I believe is my personal goal for the Pack, District and myself.   I have been reminded what it is all about.  It’s about the Youth.  It is also about my family and those around me.

What’s the benefit to me?  Is that selfish?  I do not think so.  Scoutmaster Clarke Green recently blogged about it.  I get that sentiment, perfectly.  I know of several Scouter’s recently who have told their Units that they are stepping down.  It was for the right reasons.  I also know several Scouter’s who have stepped down from District positions, again for the right reasons.

To me, it’s Family, Work, Unit, District and then Council that gets my attention.

I have done what Council has asked because it’s what I do.  The same for the District.  The Unit is more important above all.  My family overrules all things.  There are not excuses, but reasons of why I do things.  I try to guide myself by this.

While, I cannot do everything that I want to, I do what I feel will show my family the direction I want them to take.  Scouting allows me that opportunity to make it happen.

So, what is beyond Gilwell?  Do I follow those principles?  We all know the Scout Oath and Law or the Cubscout Promise & Law of the Pack.  Do we live it personally or do we pay it lip service?

It is a constant struggle.  I will leave you with this, that I found on Scoutermom.com.  I found this Cubmaster Minute in my research for the upcoming Pack Meetings.

Make a Difference to One

A man was walking along a beach with a friend. There had been a storm the night before and thousands of starfish were stranded on the beach, unable to get back to the water.

The man began picking up starfish and throwing them back into the ocean.

His friend said, “What are you doing? There are thousands of starfish on the beach. You can’t possibly get them all back in the water. Why waste your time? You won’t make a difference.”

The man looked at his friend, picked up a starfish, and threw it back into the ocean. All he said was, “I made a difference to that one.”

In our lives, we encounter many other people and have many chances to impact their lives. Don’t wait for opportunities to make a huge impact on the world. Do what you can in your own community, and you might make an difference on someone who really needs it.

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Quail Forever!

March 19th & 20th were the beadings of Ken and Andy. They are my Peeps of the Bobwhite Patrol of the Woodbadge Course W1-492-11 in Cascade Pacific Council.  I am very proud of these Bobwhites for many different reasons.  There are a total of 6 Bobwhites within the Patrol.  Russ is slated for June and Barry is slated for April Beading Ceremonies.  The other two Bobwhites are close behind.

Every participant has their own story to write.  I am proud that I got to follow their story.  One great thing is with all the beadings that I get to go to, is to see how other Scout Units hold Arrow of Light and Court of Honor ceremony.  It’s the reflection of how each unit honors their Scouts and Leaders.  Scouting is very fun.  I look forward to having the whole Covey beaded!

Quail Forever!

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Working the Tickets

Today, on Leap Year no less, I was notified by two Bobwhites that they are done with their tickets.  On Monday of this week I got my first notice that one was done as well.  Now, I pretty much knew that they were close.  A good Troop Guide keeps tabs on his Peeps, er Patrol.

The Bobwhites are from the W1491-11 Course in the Cascade Pacific Council.  There are six Bobwhites within the Patrol.  They are all great men and I count them as friends.  Yes, some of them do follow this blog and friend me on Facebook and Google+.  I do get to see some of them around the Council and even bumped into one of their wives.

I have reached out to several of them for help within my own Scouting career and asked for advice.  Just because I am a Troop Guide, does not mean I know it all.  If I did, you all should run away.

Today was a good day within the world of Scouting.  Our course has been over for about nine months.  We have nine months to go and half of the Patrol have completed their tickets.  I am proud of them all.

I am a Beaver and a good ol Beaver too.  But I am a proud Troop Guide of Bobwhites!  They are my Peeps!

+++++++++++++++++A note about Wood Badge++++++++++++++++++++

Wood Badge courses are given throughout the United States of America and in Council’s overseas.  If you have gone through Wood Badge, you understand what it can and will do for you, your Scout Unit and your life. If you do not know what Wood Badge is or what it can do for you, please contact your local Wood Badger.  Hopefully they can tell you what it did for them.  Wood Badge can change lives. It can make you closer to your family and help save your Scout Unit.  I have seen it happen.

I will say that before you go to Wood Badge, that you should avail yourself to any and all of the training that Scouting has to offer.  Whether you take it online or in person at a Pow-wow, Program & Training Conference or University of Scouting or other District event, get trained.  You will understand your position and how Scouting is supposed to work before you get to Wood Badge.

Wood Badge isn’t Lean Six Sigma. LSS is highly boring and in my estimation helps people find faults and figures how to get rid of them.  Wood Badge helps you find what you love or what you want to correct and/or enhance and puts you to work.  It’s not boring, it’s Fun!

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Catch the Leadership Dream

During Wood Badge there were several people who were video taping.  It was a great thing.  This is our opening activity which set the stage for the whole course.  All the Troop Guides participated and it was completely awesome.  The Troop Guides went back and forth a few times on the delivery, but from the beginning of when we first met, we were on fire.

Watching it really takes me back, but it still holds true to what I believe.

(You might want to click on the video and open it at the youtube website since it’s kinda squished in this blog)

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The Wood Badge Song

In a Linkedin forum, someone posted their Cubscout version of the great song.  The School is Gables, hence that name.  But wanted to post it here for fun.  I might alter it for my use.  If there is a way to sing, let’s do it!

I used to be a Tiger
A good old Tiger too!
But now I’ve finished Tigering,
And I know what to do.
I’ve done all my Achievements
And can Tiger no more,
So, I’m going to be a Webelos yes I am!

Back to Gables, happy Land!
I’m going to be a Webelos yes I am!

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A Course to remember

I am still coming down, if ever from being a Troop Guide at W1-492-11 in the Cascade Pacific Council.  This was my first time on staff.  You will only have a one first time for anything.  I have 18 new and very cool friends. Some are closer than others.  I met many of them on the WE1-492-09 course, but they were people I knew who were at Wood Badge.  The rest, I met here.  Every person on staff is special in their own way. To say that you know it all and that’s why you come to be on staff, is falling very short.  Just because you get your two beads does not mean you know it all.  You get why Wood Badge is special and you use the tools given to you in your everyday life, work and in your Scouting career.  To be on staff, no matter how many times, you always learn something new.  That was the case with W1-492-11. Seasoned veterans of Wood Badge learn something each course.
It was said several times during this course, that there was something very special happening.  Myself and others on staff felt it.  Granted I had nothing to compare except the 2009 course when I went through.  But, I felt it.  We as a Staff and all the Participants came together quickly and had a lot of fun.  The normal forming, norming, storming and performing happened, but it was quicker.
If, you ever think that you do not have enough time for Wood Badge, think again.  It’s not all about telling critter jokes and who has a better critter than the other.  It’s about coming together, finding what is personal to you, what your values are, what you stand for and making it happen.  I am a Beaver, the Troop Guide to the Bobwhites, a Wood Badger and a Scouter.  Most of all, a friend to all.
I made some pretty deep connections to both staff and participants during this time.  I will cherish them all.  These connections happened late at night at the Male Troop Guide Shack, the late night Scribe Shack session, Staff Development & at Staff Meetings on course. Finally, sharing an experience in just sitting at the campfire bowl watching a Beaver swim across the lake getting branches to build the lodge….in the rain waiting silently for the Troop.

Make your connection where ever you go…….it will only make you richer in ways you never ever thought.

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Back to Gilwell @ Camp Cooper & Day XCIII of C #100daysofscouting

I leave for Camp Cooper the site of Week #2 of Wood Badge Course W1-492-11.  I think that I am packed and ready to go. By the time this posts on Day 93, I will be there.
I am excited to be there.  I am excited to start this week and then kick-off their journey in having the Mighty Bobwhite Patrol work their tickets.
As I read through many of the blogs of the #100daysofscouting, I find it odd that my last few days will be at Gilwell.
While I have blogged during this time and met a lot more people, i know it really will not end.
Several people are saying they are looking back on their past 100 days to see what they have done and accomplished.  This in of itself is a ticket of Wood Badge.  To create a journal of what you have learned.  One could some how take all their posts and create a book about it.  Just as people do with Songbooks and cookbooks.
What might be fun, is if someone took Everyone who blogged about their #100daysofscouting, and made a book about it.  Now, that would be fun.

So, I will be going dark for several days.  Once I re-appear, I will reflect back upon my #100daysofscouting and what I have learned.  We have all been enriched on this journey.  And, it’s still going.

FYI: I am posting this @ 12.34pm PST.  Which, is my favorite time of the day. 1234.

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Random LXII of C of #100daysofScouting

I spent Sunday afternoon working on how to make a Turks Head Woogle.  This is one that I made and had my son model for me.  I realized that it’s a tad big.  Need to be smaller.  Also the cord is not really want I want.  All and all, a good start.  My plan is to make about 75 of them between now and the beginning of the Fall Cubsout 2011-2012 season.
I am going to give them to all the returning boys and induct the new tigers with them.   While having slides is fine, I think that giving something to the boys, explaining what a woggle is and it’s meaning will have them learn what tradition and ownership is all about.

Leave No Trace.  I was in REI the other day looking for presents for my Patrol during this Wood Badge.   While there I saw these.  It’s “key” that will release the pressure from unspent gas and take out the nub where the fuel comes out.  This will allow the can to be recycled.  I really like this idea.  I use the Jet Boil system.  If you use Jet Boil, you should get this key “Crunch-it“.  It is also sold seperately for $6.

Finally (again), today I am in Redding, CA on business.  As I do normally, I seek out different councils.  Today, I find myself at the Golden Empire Council.  I spent about 20 minutes there talking to the District Exec and Admin staff.  The Admin gave me this patch just for coming over.  I promised to send her a patch from Cascade Pacific.  Apparently this is a renegade patch.  I have one that is similar from CPC.  It’s a Cubscout CSP.

I find it amazing that an English General in 1907 thought it would be cool to have people learn Scouting.  Because of him, this happened.  All because we are Scouts.

Finally, in watching my Twitter feed, I am seeing the people who have come back from the 2nd  weekend of Wood Badge.  They are popping with eagerness and excitement to start working their tickets.  Again, an English General figured that Training was needed to continue Scouting.

What can you do to continue something you beleive in?

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One year later: XLIX of C of #100DaysofScouting

Today is my one year anniversary of getting my Wood Badge Beads.  My fellow Beaver Kent also got his Beads a the same time.  He invited me to his Troop’s Court of Honor to have the Ceremony.  All but one us got their Beads.  Kent and I went to all but one of our Patrol mates Beading ceremony.  Not a bad track record overall.

Here is a blog about the Beading event.  To me, it is pretty amazing that it happened.  I am very grateful to all who were there and helped me accomplish the goals within my ticket.

I started my journey in September 2009 and I am now on staff for W1-492-11 as a Troop Guide.  I have grown and learned a lot.  Am I smarter?  I could be.  I just understand more about Scouting and understand more about the game. I am very excited when I hear and see other friends who are going to, signing up, coming back from Wood Badge and working their ticket.  I have had the pleasure in helping one person complete a ticket item.  I know that when the Patrol starts theirs, I get to see them accomplish their dreams and affect the lives of those who they serve.

Here’s to eight more beadings in the next 18 months!

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WE1-492-11

Today starts the first Staff meeting of WE1-492-11 for the Cascade Pacific Council’s Spring Wood Badge course.  While I am and always will be a Beaver, it is now a time to come together with all the other Patrols and deliver the message to others.  Today, we are at Gilwell getting prepared for our soon to be fellow Wood Badgers.

In honor of our Course Scoutmaster:

If the only thing you remember from your honeymoon is the herd of Antelope you drove by in Wyoming…
You Might Be A Wood Badger!

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