Kayaking Cub Scout Style

Today, I let loose a fire storm on Google+ with a simple question of:
Aquanaut activity badge question: if son does 1-3 doesn’t that also count for #7? Also does a kayak count as a rowboat? I say yes for the latter. He already got swimming beltloop again this summer and one other. So he he just needs to swim with a PFD and he is done besides explaining why.

The first question was answered because I did not read Feet vs yards within the Aquanaut requirements. Done.

Here is the full requirements of the Activity Pin:

• Jump into water over your head.  Come to the surface and swim 100 feet, at least half of this using a backstroke.
• Stay in the water after the swim and float on your back and your front, and demonstrate survival floating.
• Put on a personal floatation device (PFD) that is the right size for you.  Make sure it is properly fastened.  Wearing the PFD, jump into water over your head.  Show how the PFD keeps your head above water by swimming 25 feet.  Get out of the water, remove the PFD, and hang it where it will dry.
• And Do Three of These:
• Do a front surface dive and swim under water for four strokes before returning to the surface.
• Explain the four basic water rescue methods.  Demonstrate reaching and throwing rescues.
• With an adult on board, show that you know how to handle a rowboat.
• Pass the BSA “Swimmer” test:
  • Jump feet-first into water over the head in depth, level off, and begin swimming.
  • Swim 75 yards in a strong manner using one or more of the following strokes: sidestroke, breaststroke, trudgen, or crawl.
  • Then swim 25 yards using an easy, resting backstroke.
  • After completing the swim, rest by floating.
• While you are a Webelos Scout, earn the Cub Scout Sports belt loop for swimming.

So, my son Elliot over the course of the summer and just today has completed the following:
#1: Earned in pool earlier in summer.
#2 Same as above, but he is skinny so he worked at that a bit since he didn’t float like boys who EAT! (He’s very skinny for his age.)
#3 Not done yet. Need to find PFD
#4:Done: He does this all the time when diving.
#5: Not done.
#6: Did it in a Kayak this summer.  He has done this before in a Rowboat, but not as a Webelos. So, I cannot count what he did before he attained Webelos I   rank this June. (At family cabin on a Lake in Montana.)
#7: Not completed as a whole.  Which he needs to do.
#8 Earned the Beltloop for Swimming.

So, I posted this on Google+ and got a lot of Feedback.  Remember Feedback is a gift!

While I am not going to post every response, this one sums it up. “With an adult on board, show that you know how to handle a rowboat.” — it’s not a rowboat, it’s a kayak…not the same device. “  Ok, I got it.  But, I will go futher in what the Boy Scouts of America officially says.

First, Safety Afloat. Under section six: For Cub Scouts:Canoeing, kayaking, rowing, and rafting for Cub Scouts (including Webelos Scouts) are to be limited to council/district events on flat water ponds or controlled lake areas free of powerboats and sailboats. Prior to recreational canoeing and kayaking, Cub Scouts are to be instructed in basic handling skills and safety practices.

It is restated on a PDF for Age-Appropriate Guidelines for Scouting Activities.

So, while I get and understand that a Rowboat is not a Kayak, another Scouter pointed out: Think about why canoes (and kayaks) are discouraged for cubs: they are much more likely to capsize than a row boat because of their narrow beam. So a row boat is mentioned in the requirements because of the higher amount of safety it provides for the boy. There is also one significant difference between handling a row boat and a canoe or kayak: with the row boat you are going backwards and the others you are going forwards. So, in order to control where the rowboat goes you need to know how to pick a reference point.

These are all great points and I would have argued in the end that yes, a Kayak is not a Rowboat.  I see and get that.  In life, I work to follow the rules.  In Cub Scouts, and in the early ranks, I use the “Do my Best” philosophy.  Meaning, if a Cub Scouts really tries to do the activity and makes the attempt, then he gets it.  However, last year a Bear did not write a letter as required for a Communication section for Rank or Beltloop. (I wasn’t the Den Leader I cannot fully remember what it was for.)  However, he was not awarded credit since he did not do it.  Now, the Den Leader sent home the information so he could bring it back and present it to her or his mom.  Nope, did not do it.  So, he was told why he did not get the requirement.  Yes, he was upset.  But he learned.

Hence, my understanding of why people responded the way that they did.  So, Elliot will not get credit for that section of the Aquanaut Activity Badge.  It is still easily attainable to him and he will end up getting it.

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LVI of #100daysofScouting

Today I got to catch-up with a friend of mine that I have not seen in about 11-12 years.  Looked the same. Hopefully, I did too!  The fun part of it was we both are into Scouting and like Disc Golf.  Oh, he’s obsessed with it.  Which is just fine.   We finalized some issues after catching up and see how we were doing.  Yes, I told him about Wood Badge.  He actually hipped me to a couple of facts about a place that does have Disc Golf, but also has family Camping.  That could be a useful thing.  $4 per person. Nice.  He gave me a list of ideas and what to look for.  He also went over what would generally happen for the time of the event.  We just might make this an annual event…;)

Overall, I think that the boys will earn the Beltloop and Pin that day.  Main goal is for them to have fun.  If they are Webelos, it will count for Sportsman Pin!  Which, if they play a sport in the fall, they qualify again for another part of that pin!  Woot Woot!  See, you can do sports and Scouts!

Training: If you follow me on Twitter I started a conversation about BALOO/OWLS/ITOLS being required for 2012 for all Top Leaders. Some asked where I found that info.  It really was on another District’s info page about their upcoming Camporee.  A lively debate ensued which was all positive.  Which all leads me to an earlier interaction I had on another non-friendly Scout forum which was training based as well.  It boiled down to this, if you love Scouting, want to be IN SCOUTING, want to do what’s best for the Scouts you will take and do the training for that position.  If you do not want to take the time or energy you need to leave.  This was actually to a District Commissioner in a different Council.  That shut him up.

Point being, yes the rules within BSA as we have known it are CHANGING.  They have to.  They have to because people who are idiots and do horrible nasty things to children look towards our Scouts as targets.  We need to protect our Scouts from them.  BSA is also changing because there are other Idiots who go out hiking with the Troop into an area unprepared.  Meaning, sudden weather change or not being aware of possible medical issues lands the Troop in the ER and front page and in a Court Room.  Granted freak accidents happen, but if a Scout Master trudges onward and upward because they do not know about Weather…..it’s time for training.

I made a suggestion in the Twitter-verse that our Council provides BALOO at this years Pow-wow.  That would solve SO MUCH at the Pack level.  It would also invite and introduce those Leaders to go for MORE TRAINING within their District or others.

Thirdly:
Last night was my unit’s Den Leader Meeting.  While not a lot attended, a lot was conveyed.  I feel really good about it for several reasons.  First, I found out that the Webelos II who did not go through Arrow of Light is re-thinking Scouts.  I told the Webelos II Den Leader that I would come and perform a AOL Ceremony at the Troop for him.  So, we will see.  Second, I got confirmation that my recent Pack Meeting did go well.  A Den Leader said that what I did was well taken, but some boys were not being respectful.  The tone and attitude that I took was correct.  That made me feel good.  Finally and because of that, I am re-working the May Pack Meeting.  I had canceled the Compass event for May because of the last meeting.  Learning a Compass is boring if your a Tiger.  Having a Treasure Hunt is AWESOME!  Yes, we are going to have the boys go look for JEWELS!  Cubscouts love beads and shiny things!  The Troop is being asked to help with that.

Tthe April Pack Meeting will be based upon GAMES!  I have tasked all Dens to provide two games. As well as the Den Chiefs one game.  This will allow us to pick one from a Den and play it after the normal Flag, Annoucements and Awards.

Not a bad couple of days.  Tonight is the Bear Den meeting.  They are earning the Whittlin Chit and also going over the Emergency Prepardedness items I talked about.  Can I say that I really think  my Bear Den Leader is awesome!

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Pack Pictures Online

This week I stumbled into an area that myself and others routinely do.  Posting pictures online from Pack events.   I try to post only photos with my family in them.  However, within Scouting there is an added air of respondsibility.   As Scouts are all are keenly aware of Youth Protection, Guide to Safe Scouting and the many other publications about keeping the Cub Scouts and Scouts safe.

Because I live  in the Portland, Oregon I am very aware of last summer’s trial against the Boy Scouts and it’s ramifications.  The Boy Scouts of America have as a result stepped up many of their requirements as part of their membership rules.  These are no brainers and should have been there all along.  Because of this, our Pack last summer/fall worked on re-doing a lot of literature updating it.  It was about five years out of date.  During this process we added several photos of the boys to help illustrate “FUN”  within the Pack.  We did ask permission of the parents at that time.

This issue came up again because I am working on a slide show via iPhoto for our Crossover/Blue & Gold events.  I posted it to Youtube via a private access link that only allowed those who had it to see it.   Everyone loved it.  I had only sent it to the Committee & Den Leaders.   A concern was raised about online photos and child protection.

While it does not matter who raised it, it was raised.  I fully understood why.  Not as a Cubmaster, but as a Parent I understood.  I should also mention that my wife was in the Child Abuse Team for the District Attorney’s Office for several years.  So, I get the reasons why.  I took every photo and video down off this blog, my Youtube account and both Facebook accounts. (Yes, I have two).

Thus begun my quest for information about what the Boy Scouts of America has for policy guidelines.  Via Twitter, I found that a few others did too.  So far, I cannot find anything via the BSA has on this subject.  I checked the Guide to Safe Scouting and the website.  These publications and websites do not contain any guidelines on what to do.

What I did find through a posting on ptcmedia.net, was COPPA. I also found a non-Scouting related New York Times article about it as well.    The New York Times article is very interesting.   I have seen articles with a similar outcomes.  Posting photos and having people steal them to create their own online family is horrible.    The COPPA information is generally for companies that have stores or reasons online to collect information.  This link/document is a great resource in helping normal/non-business to create guidelines for posting.

The conclusion that I have reached thus far is this when posting photos of children, your own or otherwise.

1)Do not name your kids in the picture. Tagging them with names is not good. Even if using A.Cox or Robert B.P.  It identifies them.  Identification can help people find them.

2)Full faced photos should not be used.  Use wide angle or off to the side shots.  This will help disguise your child.

3)Photos shot from behind.  These photos still give all the action of the event, but does not compromise the children.

4)Nude shots or shots of them covering privates should never be posted.  (I have seen people post photos of their kids on Facebook and elsewhere like this).  These photos can get the best parent in deep hot water.

5) Get permission from the parents.  If you want to share the photos with someone over Facebook, email it to them.  Better yet, print them off and mail them.  Sharing over Facebook is great.  However, not everyone wants to have their photo “Tagged” on Facebook.

6) If your Unit does post pictures online, find a secure process that allows only those who the parents want to have access to them.   If a parent does not want photos posted of their child, do not post them.  If photos are used for newsletters or non-digital media, then it could be a different story.

Because I am the Cubmaster and write a blog, I work to be very mindful to the wishes of the parents.  I generally do not post pictures of Scouts or Family photos to Facebook.  If I do, my account and photos are heavily locked down and controlled.

In the end, even if your not involed in Scouting, it’s still your duty to safeguard children.  DO YOUR BEST.

 

(Updated March 11th, 2011: From a twitter post from @Scoutsigns there is a link to BSA that talks about Websites & Social Media.  Interesting read.)

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PackBadges:iPhone Cubscout Tracking App

I am not in the habit of doing reviews of concerts, employees or movies.  However, finding and playing with Pack Badges, seems pretty interesting. It is created by HandyApp.

Pack Badges is created by the same person who created the Guide to Safe Scouting App. Which, apparently has been removed at the request of the Boy Scouts of America. I have the Good Turn, Scout Handbook, Knot Guide, GSS and a Map App.

I have been after a Cubscout Tracking program for the iPhone.  Our Pack currently uses Packmaster and I would love to sync info between the two.  It is possible on non-iPhone phones.  The Apps that I have seen and played with only allowed for one scout to be tracked and was very limited.

Looking at the UI and what if offers as for what it tracks from the screenshots and discription within iTunes, I figured that it was more robust than others.  Since I had a gift card, I downloaded it.  The program is $2.99.  Which, to me is high for buying an App.

What I like is that you can track several Scouts at once.

I  also like the fact that you can send data via email to others.  Apparently you can export it into excel format.  I have not done this as of yet.  I am not sure how you could import data into the App directly.

The software does appear to cover all awards, ranks, pins, beltloops and other awards within the Cubscout Program.

Entering data is pretty simple.  You can click the whole event completed or just the sections.  At the same time you can add your own comments and email it to someone.

What I find interesting is all the data seems to be taken from the Boy Scouts of America’s Cubscout Program, but refreneces the USSP website.  I suspect that is due to licensing based issues.

For me, this iPhone App is wonderful.  I will use it as I do the Scout Handbook and Guide to Safe Scouting…a Guide.  I can reference information while hiking, at Pow-wow, Roundtable or at a Pack/Den meeting when asked a question.

I would love to see the Author of this App become BSA Licensed and get a great UI built into it.  I would also like to have an interface between Packmaster (other Databases too) that will allow me to update over the Internet.

I doubt that Troopmaster, INC will support the Mac OS or iPhone/iPad OS anytime soon.  That is a different set of discussions to have.  I suspect that either my Son, who is a Bear will get his Eagle first or Rush will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Either way, this App is a great start.

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October 2010 Pack Meeting

So, I am really planning a head. Way a head.  This stems from a flurry of emails this morning between several Den Leaders and Parents about how we as a Pack going to handle Youth Protection.  This topic came up for two reasons.

First, we are putting together a handout for recruiting and a re-working of our website.  It was said that we should get parents permission to use photos of the boys. Second, it came up due to the fact we live in Portland, OR where the lawsuit happened in April.  Ground Zero for national news.  I have a quick blog about it here.

My wise Bear Den Leader asked if we should do a Pack Meeting about it in the fall.  I instantly thought of having that meeting for October.  It is Fire Safety Month and we can loop it all in together.

This all ties into what I did with the Tigers & Bears did this year for Safety.  They made ID Kits.

In looking at the new Cubscout Den & Pack Resources:

Tigers can work through meetings 1-4. They can also do the skit in #4 for the Pack meeting.

Wolves  can work on # 5 before the meeting.

Bears can then do #4 and possibly help the entire pack during the pack meeting.

Webelos could possibly work on the Citizen Pin through this phase.

 Using the Pack Meeting Plans for October, we can work all of this in.  The gathering activity can be the creation of the Child ID Kits.  I used this website/PDF for the Tigers earlier this year and it was perfect and FREE!

During this time we can have the Fire/Police representative talk about being safe.  With a lot of requirements being met during this pack meeting, we can mark them off and hand out the associated segments and awards to the boys that night.  The Fire/Police can hand them out at the end.

What I am also envisioning is to answer any and all questions from the parents and giving them information about the Guide to Safe Scouting and how BSA Youth Protection Training is currently being used.  I will also encourage them to get trained along side with the Pack Committee and attend other Council trainings.  The more that they know, the better informed everyone will be.

I will let you know after the meeting.

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