Scouting Changes Lives

A friend of mine up in Northern Idaho, in the Inland Northwest Council sat on an Eagle Board the other day.  He posted his comments in our little Google+ Circle of Scouters.  I asked him to post it to his blog since people needed to hear about how Scouting can change a life.

Please read Phil’s blog post.  It’s not all about Merit Badges and awards.  It’s about helping yourself and others along the way to become the person you want to be.

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The 4%

October 2, 2012.  A Life Scout sat waiting his turn as myself and two others talked to his Advocate, His Father and finally him.  We had reviewed all the documents and his project.

All were in order.

His journey was filled with firsts and with service to others.  A 50 miler at the age of 12 and an avid rock climber.  He is reverent and trustworthy.

His Eagle Scout project was worthy.  It wasn’t a bunch of benches or bridges, but actually giving back to a program that he was a part of for many years outside of Scouting.

He spoke of giving back even after he became an Eagle Scout.  He talked about his future career, family and that he would continue with Scouting when he was our age.

He talked about how it was hard at times, and the fun that he had.  He talked about how you get to know people while camping and that Scouting matured him.

He walked out of the room tonight an Eagle Scout. (Well, after all the paperwork comes back from National.)  Tonight is his date he became an Eagle Scout forever.

Tonight was also my first Eagle Board of Review.  I will always remember this night and this Scout.  Just like I remember all my Scouts.  Yes, even that one Scout.

Thanks

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A Trained Leader

My never-ending quest for knowledge has not ended.  While I am not in the Boy Scout program, I will be after March 23rd 2013.  I took the Eagle Board Chair class today (9/22/12) to better aquaint myself with how not only a Board of Review operates, but how an Eagle Board of Review.   I went in with no clue or first hand knowledge on how it.  The only information that I had from what I have read online and in my virtual internet roundtable with those in #ScoutNation.

I took the Merit Badge Councilor training this January as well.  All of these trainings are great.  I implore you no matter what position you are in or what organization you are (Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts) in or even what country.  It is worth the time and effort since it will help your program, your unit and yourself.

Along with this training, I have done some of my required training for Girl Scout Leader.  While I have just gotten into it, it feels like I am a Tiger Den Leader for the first time.   There is a lot of things being thrown at me.  Lots of surfing and reading and asking questions.

Again, I know that Training for the program is needed.  It helps you give the best fun and learning for those who you lead.

Take the time. Get Trained.

Which, on the flipside, if you provide training, please please please provide good information that does not make people’s butts numb.   The training today was NOT THAT AT ALL.  The Pace was great and information shared just the same.

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It’s not a Scout thing

In and earlier posting about being ready, I made a statement right at the end of “It’s not a Scout thing”.  I want to say that I know what I was saying at this point, and the closest that I can come to putting it down in words is,  my reaction was not based upon being a Scouter.    That nothing that I have done up to this point had anything to do because of Scouts.  That it was all me being a Father and that any normal person would do what I did.  But, it’s not correct.

If you read the comments from the post, you will see that I got called out on that statement.  A few minutes after I read that during my morning coffee, that Scouter dialed me up on his speed dial.  It’s a good feeling to know that I am on a speed dial.

We talked briefly about my daughter and how she was and what happened.  We talked about our recent vacations that our families took.  (It’s tad eerie that they were a bit similar.)

Then he got into the meat of the reason of why he called.  He explained about several First Aid incidents that happened during his vacation.  He realized how Wilderness First Aid played a part of where he was.  He talked about how people go off hiking in flip flops and carry a cellphone 2 hours into the woods thinking that’s their lifeline.

We talked about how the ideals of Scouting do work into our lives.  Leave No Trace, Bringing Food, Water, 10 Essentials on a hike.  How we do a good turn, how it’s a Scout who steps up when needed.  In anything.  Helping out, saving lives, getting a car unstuck….you name it.  A Scout is generally there.

We talked about how we as Scouters always talk Scouting at the drop of a hat.  It covered our excitement of being a Scout, to those who think we are a tad nuts that we talk SO MUCH about it.  I offered up that I have apologized about being TOO SCOUTY. We talked about those who just don’t get what Scouting is all about and it was part of everyday life.  He did not offer an apology.  This is something that I have heard from him before.  It is something that I have said before.  But, I realized something this time.

Why, was I apologizing on being a Scout? Why was  apologizing about what I was taught and how I use what Scouting is all about?  Yes, I talk about earning beltloops and all the Cubscout Awards possible.  But, it is much more that.

It’s Citizenship, Compassion, Cooperation, Courage, Faith, Health & Fitness, Honesty, Perseverance, Positive Attitude, Resourcefulness, Respect and Responsibility.  The 12 Core Values of Cub Scouting.  This are the cornerstone of the Cubscout Promise and Law of the Pack.  They lead into  the Boy Scouts Oath and Law.  Why was or am I denying this?  Why would anyone?

In the end, we both agreed that the now new slogan of the BSA is correct.  “Prepared. For Life.” Scouting prepares us for anything.  First aid, corporate board rooms, leading others, learning and adventure.

So, it was Scouting that prepared me for what happened.  It also prepared my Bear Den Leader. He is an Eagle.  He also was awarded the Heroism Award as a Boy Scout. Who is now a Physician’s Assistant in an ER.

Scouting prepares the youth and adults for life.  Yes, I am a Scouter and it IS a Scout thing!

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A Tiger by the Tail

  The Council that I am in, recently put on a program called Mission Possible. Simply put, it’s a Spring recruiting drive for Tigers and Wolves.  Along with getting Cub scouts to summer camp and getting the Pack to put on a Summertime Award Pack Events.  As I pointed out in the above linked post, the Pack generally does all of this.  However, we do the Fall Join Night instead.  I have wanted to do a Spring Join Night, so here is our chance.

The join Night was held this Monday at the Gym and it was a huge success.  I did not send out one flyer.  I used what our Council Scout Exec said during the Kick-off event.  He asked his son at the time, what seven friends do you want to join Cub scouts with you?  He called those parents and invited them.

I took that and got a mom who is my daughter’s Girl Scout Leader (Girl Guide from the UK) and got her son’s buddies.  I also sent an email out to the Pack asking if they knew anyone.  I got three boys that way.  Two were brothers.  The third was a friend of my Bear Den Leader.

So, I held a 60 min Den meeting for 9 of the tiniest kids you ever saw.   Got them excited about Cub scouts, Pinewood Derby and all things Tigers.

Out of that I have 6 firm applications. 4 (since one did not make it last night) are still coming.   One mom asked about her Twin 2nd graders. Yup, they can start anytime.

Two boys are brothers of Wolves.   A Wolf Dad picked up an Adult Application and will turn it in at the Pack meeting.   Another Dad said he would be the TDL.   He’s an Eagle Scout, OA, SPL, Den Chief & Marine from Olympia.

Another Mom said she would do what she can to support the Den. (She’s the one who organized everyone to come). The mom of the Twins tell her husband is interested in helping. He’s a Webelos, but does not want to be in front.   Told her, we have a committee spots.

So, for a Spring Join Night, I have 11 new Scouts, two Den Leaders and a possible Committee Member.

Oh, and what did we do at the meeting?   Played a game, built Rain gutter Regatta Boats and talked about what we do in Scouting.   Also a lot of laughing and giggling. I think I know all their names too!   I showed them a 3 min video off the iPod of what we did as a Pack the other year.   They liked the BB Guns, Archery, First Aid Pinewood Derby and Water Bottle Rockets.   I showed them all the segments & belt loops that they could earn.   Told them whatever they liked, they could get a badge/Beltloop for it.   I got pelted with how about this, that…I kept saying yes.

My only sad point was, this is going to be my last year as Cubmaster and these guys are the last ones I actively recruit as Cubmaster.   Yes, I will keep an eye out for them.

So, here is the cool part.  My new Tiger Den Leader has already taken Youth Protection and the TDL Online Training.  In email conversations with the other Den Leaders and Committee Members he’s helping the Pack at the next Pack Meeting.  This is going to be a great next year.

Now all I need is to get a couple of current Tiger Den  Parents to step-up to be the Wolf Den Leaders so my current TDL will step-up for Cubmaster.  I also need an Ast Cubmaster as well.  I do not want her to do it alone.

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Arrow of Light 2012

  This weekend was the Arrow of Light and Crossover Ceremony for the Fire Scouts of Pack 221.  It was held as a Pack overnighter at Scouter’s Mtn which is about 40 minutes from the School.  Pack 221 has held it there for the past three years.  This is our second time since I was a Tiger Den Leader in 08-09 that the Pioneer District Wanua La-Mon’ tay Lodge Chapter  of the Order of the Arrow did the ceremony for us.  Apparently, it’s the first time this OA Ceremony Team has done it at Scouter’s Mtn. (It might be longer, but what I have heard they do it at schools a lot more.)

They were fantastic.

The weekend started out with a rocket shoot with the Webelos I Den.  The Pack opened it up to everyone to bring a rocket, which several other Scouts did.  It was a solid hour of fun.  We lost one or two, but watching them go up has a blast.   During a recent Den meeting the Webelos I (Tree Scouts) worked on building the rockets.  Our Fearless Webelos Den Leader was not able to be with us this weekend due to the Flu bug.  But he got the boys to build the rockets.  One main thing that happened in most of the rockets was that the wadding was not placed in the rocket between the engine and parachute.  The end result of that was a melted parachute and a very rapid decent.  Which, after a few went up, we knew it was not an isolated issue.  Good skills on STEM!

The parents had such a good time watching them, we all decided that a Rocket Day would be in order next year.  Just have to figure out when.  We have the where.

As I said, this was the weekend for our Arrow of Light.  It’s the big deal and it’s one thing that I keep telling the boys to work towards besides their own rank.  It’s their Eagle in Cubscouts.

It was also the time that I had to say good bye to our Membership Chair and two Webelos II Den Leaders.  All three of them mean a lot to me.  They have done their best and it’s time to move on and take a break from the weekly Den Meetings and such.  I was able to get them each a small reminder of their time spent within the Pack.

The OA was able to work with us on a few interjections of personal commentary.  We had Arrows given to each boy from the Den Leader via their parents.  We had the boys give the parents pin to their parent.  Our Den Leader had a part for me to read about the Seven Rays of Light, which worked out perfectly since I personally gave them each a Arrow of Light Coin.  It was my Cubmaster gift to them.

It was a great ceremony.  The Troops that the boys are going to will be a great place for them to flourish. So, end of a great Cubscout career for the now Boy Scouts and retired Webelos Den Leaders and Membership Chair.  I will miss them all.  Hopefully, as I told the Scouts, that I would like to asked to their Eagle Court of Honors.

Signed

Your Old Cubmaster.

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Scouting will give you Job Skills

While I am not in the Boy Scout area, yet.  I find a lot of the skills that the Scouts could learn very good.  Hence, I am glad about this new Merit Badge.  Welding.  I have actually looked at classes for this.  I find it very fascinating.  I took shop when I was in 7th & 8th Grade.  I also went to the Vo-Tech Center for Graphic Arts.  As most of you know I went to Culinary School and worked in the restaurant world for 9-10 years.

So, when the BSA announced Welding, I was very happy.  Bryan on Scouting has a great article on it.  The American Welding Society also has a note about it.

While I currently as of this writing, do not see requirements yet posted to the BSA Merit Badge section, I think it will be very valuable.    However, if you do not want to take my word for it, take it from Mike Rowe.  You know, that Dirty Jobs guy who is an Eagle Scout….  It’s a good lesson also on how there is employment, but in fields that many do not consider these days.   There are many professions and all require knowledge.  Most are not as sexy as being an Astronaut or Rocket Scientist or Heart Surgeon.

So, if you turn a wrench, good for you.  You cannot be replaced by a Script.  People still need to repair the robots and machines that process all the crappy food we eat and to the things we buy to sweat it off with.  You might need a lawyer to sue the guy who made the hot coffee, but that lawyer will need a Printer Repair guy to fix the printer that produces the lawsuit papers and a Desktop Support Guy to install the printer on the computer.  So, gain knowledge in any field.

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Called to the Carpet

  On Sunday our Pack Committee Meeting.  It was a good meeting.  We have an agenda that we plow through.  Figuring out what needs to get done, by who and when.  Some discussion about events and projects that we want done.  There are reports on all the den activity and progress.

During this meeting I had to defend my stance on why the new boys were getting their Bobcats.  Point was that generally none of the current boys really could give you the Cubscout Promise or Law of the Pack.  Yes, it’s pretty sad.  Most of the boys cannot say it without prompting with some more than others. That is why I started having it with the Opening Flag and doing it at every chance we get.

Within the Pack, when Elliot was a Tiger,  all we did was the pledge, flag, awards and a brief talk and maybe a game.  That was all we really did.   So, for the most part I followed the agenda of the meetings but I kept putting in stuff that I wanted to see.  Remember, I was only a Wolf and I this is the start of my fourth year in the Pack and third as Cubmaster.  So, I have learned a lot of what I want to do from Roundtable, Wood Badge, Pow-Wow, PTCMEDIA and surfing the Internet.  I still have a lot to learn and do.

Towards the middle of the year, I started to inject the Promise and Law as much as I could.  Hindsight, I should have done it earlier and and required at all meetings.  At the end of the year, I had placed it in the Pack Meetings and now require it at all openings.

Back to the defensive stance.  I explained that as our tradition the boys getting the Bobcat will get it.  I will ask them several questions, but slacked on the Promise & Law.  I got questioned on why.  I explained that Tigers generally cannot recite it.  Once in a great while a Tiger can.  I walk them through the sign, motto, handshake, WEBELOS and then had it out.  This year is a tad different since I am going talk them through the Promise and Law.

A few Committee Members got on me about how their son could not recite it publically cause they do not know it.  I explained that is why I am doing it at Openings and that I am getting back to what a Tradition Pack SHOULD BE!  They all understand and agree that it needs to be done.  However, a debate ensued of “Did they earn the Bobcat?”  I explained that in the Tiger meetings we went through all of it, having them repeat it several times, asking them what each line ment.  Several of the less shy boys stepped up and explained  what they thought it meant.  So, we did go through the whole process.

Then, it came.  I got called to the carpet.  I was asked by the Committee Chair as Cubmaster to recite the Promise and Law.  He did it right there. Crap….my worst fear.  Asked for the Promise and Law…..  On the Carpet and failed.  Yes, it’s something that I just have not worked at, and it should be something that I should know by heart.  My Committee Chair does.

So, I am starting to practice the Promise and Law.  If the Cubscouts are required, then the Leaders will be required as well.

Yours in Scouting….

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Gathering Activities for Cub Scouts

The key to hopefully controlling or attempting to control Cub Scouts before a meeting, is to play a Game.
Where our Pack meets is at the school gym.  In that gym there is a door.  In that door is a room.  Within that room there are balls, scooters, hoops , hockey sticks and other things that bounce.  Every meeting, each Scout runs to that room and pulls out something and plays with it.  To me, it’s really not gym class and they are not in school so they should not be in there.  It also bothers me that the boys do not respect the School’s property and think that “we are not in school, so rules do not apply to us” type of thinking.

It’s one thing that I am going to bring up at the Annual Pack Planning Meeting.  Boys don’t go into the room.

Suffice to say, having a gathering activity is what is needed.  In the past, I have been somewhat successful.  paper airplane flying the farthest contests, throwing paper balls towards a mouse trap area and setting them off and other ideas .

I recently found a website that has a lot of ideas for Skits, Songs & Games.  I have picked the Ah Soh Gi game for maybe Join Night.  But, it’s now in the rotation.  I will also use the Ring of Fire game that was played at our Disc Golf Summertime Activity Event.  Ring of Fire is basically the boys standing in a circle around a Disc Golf Hole and trying to get their Disc’s into it.  Those who accomplish it, get to take a step or three back and try again.  This is repeated until the last Scout gets their Disc in.  They win.  It’s an elimination game.  It’s a skills game.

While Mike Rowe will tell you that he learned a lot from British Bulldog, we need to have safer games in general.  Many of the boys in the Pack do not like things flying towards them and others have a medical condition that if hit would cause serious injury.  Hence, my cause for worry.

Also, the boys like to play Tag a lot.  Usually it’s Toliet Tag or something not very Scouty.  I generally stop these because of the non-scouty part, but also I had one boy fall flat on his face and smack his teeth on the ground.  It resulted in a lot of pain and I thought he chipped a tooth.  He was fine afterwards, but it has stuck with me.

So, here is another game that is a game that they need to pay attention to, but is a lot of fun.   Ah Soh Gi Game.  There is a video on the website that shows how to play.

++++++++++++
Everyone sits in a circle, and learns the 3 commands and their movements.

1) Ah! – the person says “Ah” loudly, and puts their left or right hand across their forehead in a saluting motion, with fingers pointing at the person next to them.

2) So! – the person says “So” loudly, and puts their left or right hand across their chin in a saluting motion, with fingers pointing at the person next to them.

3) Gi!– the person puts both arms together in front of them in a clapping motion and points to someone else, anywhere in the circle.

The phrases must always go in that order, and each phrase needs its correct hand motion. You go when you are pointed at by someone next to you using “Ah” or “So,” or by someone across from you using “Gi.” When you are “Gi”ed at by someone you start the sequence over again.

When someone makes a mistake (ie, goes out of order, uses the wrong hand motion, hesitates in confusion for too long) they are out.

When someone gets out, each member of the group puts a hands in the middle with thumbs up, and calls “You’re outta here!” – like a baseball umpire.

That person leaves the circle and the group closes in the space. The person who was on right side of the exited person starts the sequence again, by saying “Ah!” and pointing to the left or right.

The game continues until there are two people left.

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Scout Stats

I got this from a Facebook posting: Passing it along.

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For Every One Hundred Boys Who Join Scouting…

Of any one hundred boys who become Scouts, it must be confessed that thirty will drop out in their first year. Perhaps this may be regarded as a failure, but in later life all of these will remember that they had been Scouts and will speak well of the program.

Of the one hundred, only rarely will one ever appear before a juvenile court judge.

Twelve of the one hundred will be from families that belong to no church. Through Scouting, these twelve and many of their families will be brought into contact with a church and will continue to be active all their lives.

Six of the one hundred will become pastors.

Each of the one hundred will learn something from Scouting. Almost all will develop hobbies that will add interest throughout the rest of their lives.

Approximately one-half will serve in the military, and in varying degrees profit from their Scout training.

At least one will use it to save another person’s life and many will credit it with saving their own.

Today, four of the one hundred will reach Eagle rank, and at least one will later say that he valued his Eagle above his college degree.

Many will find their future vocation through merit badge work and Scouting contacts.

Seventeen of the one hundred boys will later become Scout leaders and will give leadership to thousands of additional boys.

Only one in four boys in America will become Scouts, but it is interesting to know that of the leaders in this nation in business, religion and politics, three out of four were Scouts.

This story will never end. Like the “Golden Pebble” of service dropped into the human sea it will continue to radiate in ever-widening circles, influencing the characters of men down through unending time.

Scouting’s alumni record is equally impressive. A recent nation-wide survey of high schools revealed the following information:
85% of student council presidents were Scouts
89% of senior class presidents were Scouts
80% of junior class presidents were Scouts
75% of school publication editors were Scouts
71% of football captains were Scouts

Scouts also account for:

64% of Air Force Academy graduates
68% of West Point graduates
70% of Annapolis graduates
72% of Rhodes Scholars
85% of F.B.I. agents
26 of the first 29 astronauts

AND a previous survey of leaders revealed that:
-    seventeen of our United States Senators
-    over 60 of our Congressmen
-    eleven of our state Governors
-    fourteen of our senior military officers
-    over 1700 chief executive officers/presidents/heads of corporations are all Eagle Scouts.

Of the 214 former and present astronauts, 142 have taken part in Scouting. 33 became Eagle Scouts, including Neil Armstrong who said “Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.” He also was the 1st man ever to step onto the moon and while doing so said, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” six and a half hours after landing.

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