I took a hike #100daysofscouting

Today, I drove from Eureka to Sacramento.  On the way down I went through the National Redwood Forest.  I stopped and took a 1 mile walk.  I would have gone more, but I was in my work clothes and needed to keep going.  It was a great stop and break.

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Hornaday XVI of C for #100daysofscouting

Today, I got confirmation and introduced to our Hornaday Advisor!  I am very excited.  Been working on this for awhile.  Hoping to meet with him soon and get the ball rolling.  I am the idea guy and love to make things happen.  Hopefully, I can get our Den Chief’s involed as well.  I know the rules about having the Pack participate at 60% to earn the Certificate.  However, it just might inspire a Boyscout to go for a Hornaday award too!

Here is my blog post about Hornaday.

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Friends of Scouting XV of C #100daysofscouter

Friends of Scouting is a good thing.  Yes, it is.  I know that a lot of us RUN FAR AND FAST when the District Exec shows up with envelops saying “A Scout is Thrifty”.
For most all of us who are currently reading this blog, WE GET FOS!  I do not need to sell you FOS and why it is a good thing.  Granted we give of our time as Scouters in many many ways.  Driving boys to camp, getting supplies, advancement for unit, Tiger Den Leader, Popcorn Chair…the list goes on and on and on.

I have been asked to be on the FOS Team for our District.  I am doing it for several reasons.

1) Help deliver the message better.  I do not like people just coming up and asking for money and leaving.

2)I want to get to know more about how the District works.  (I suspect at some point in my Scouting career that I will work at that level.)

3)Need to explain what resources are used within the Council. Our camp fees and FOS within our Council is very low compared to California.

So, why do I give to Friends of Scouting?

I do not have to.  I have historically NOT given to charities and other organizations who ask for money.
My wife and I do participate in our children’s school auction and give old clothes to charities.  I have given in the past to my school that I went to in Minnesota.
I give to the local Council’s FOS because it directly supports Scouting.  I know that that money is used for Camp upkeep, Staff within the Council, supplies and other items.  I have used Council resources such as the Tiger Truck, printing flyers for the pack and renting posters to use in recruitment.

So, why do people get all wierded out about FOS?

It’s money. It’s the giving of it.  We are easier texting $10 to cute fuzzy animals, flood victims and other causes faster than things or people we see RIGHT IN FRONT OF US!  Out of sight and out of mind and easy to give.  I like to see something done with my money…in general.  Scouting gives you chance to see what can happen almost in front of you.  It’s tangible.

The hurdle of FOS within Cubscout Units is that if they do not get out and Camp as a Pack, a lot of the gift is lost on them.  In our Council, FOS allows them to camp at council sites for free.  That takes a lot of coordination of sites down.  It also allows for all the families to be in an area that is protected from other campers who party all night.  Within the Troop Units, it allows the same function, but in a lot more sites.  It’s easier for a Troop to ramp up for a weekend than a Cubscout pack since Troops CAMP!

One thing that I ran across on the Internet via Twitter is the Last Frontier Council’s FOS Youtube Update. I wish that my Council would do this.  It helps gets the message out to not only to their Scouts, but to others.

Overall, FOS is a good thing.  If you enjoy Scouts, support them.  You do not have to give the Council’s “Suggested Gift of X”, but give what you can.

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A Game with a Purpose

Today was our second Woodbadge Staff Development meeting.   A lot was covered and explained.  My head is exploding on what the Troop Guides get to do.  A lot of information of what I went through is flooding back into my brain.

I am very excited.  The Troop Guides grew closer as a team today.  The principles of Woodbadge are very evident during the day.

We now have 50 slots out of 56 filled.  If you are thinking of signing up for Woodbadge W1-492-11, DO IT NOW to confirm your slot!  You will have a lot of fun and learn a lot.

Suffice to say Baden-Powell said it best “Scouting is a game with a purpose”.

 

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A Scout is Dirty

I missed my chance to do a Good Deed the other day.  It actually kinda bums me out.  For those who follow me on Twitter, I travel a lot for work.  I cover Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, California and Alaska.  It can be a lot of fun. I do get to see friends and family as I go.

I was up near Bellingham, Wa the other day when my Good Deed was supposed to happen.  Driving down I-5 I saw a young mother and toddler daughter walking down the highway.  Mom had car problems and was going to get help.  Daughter was in tow.  Mom had the car seat in her hand.   For whatever reason the car was not working and emergency lights were on.

I drove by pretty fast and realized what was going on.  I could not stop, but took the next exit down. It was a mile away.  The one thing that got me was how messy my car was.  Really messy.  There was no way I could stop and offer assistance.

So, I cleaned my car as quickly as I could.  Got back in and headed towards them.  As I got there, I saw that they were gone.  I spent 5 minutes driving around the on/off ramp looking for them.

Gone.  I hope that they were safely delivered to their home.

So, Be Prepared. A Scout is CLEAN!  If I was, I would have done a good deed.

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