The 4T Trail Hike

  The Webelos II recently took their last outing/hike of their Cubscout career.  It was to make sure that everyone got the requirement of taking a Day  Hike.  Which, really was part of the Outdoorsman Pin.  Most of the Scouts did a Hike at Summer camp.  This hike completed #9 of the Outdoorsman Activity Pin.  Yes, you are reading it correctly, there are two hikes that are needed within the Arrow of Light Requirements.

The Webelos Den Leader chose the 4T Trail Hike here in Portland, Oregon.  It is an urban hike and a lot of fun.  Here are some photos and thoughts on our 4T Hike.  I highly suggest you go to the 4T Trail Website and research it for yourself.  That website has a lot more description on the trip.

I will say that this isn’t a hike for very young kids.  I almost brought my 8-year-old daughter on the trip.  She would have been OK, but I might have ended up carrying her towards the end.  That is unless your family hikes a lot. The Scouts were incredibly tired at the end of the hike.

First up is the trip from OHSU Tram staging area to Downtown Portland by trolley.  You will notice in the picture that the Tram was closed when we went on Sunday.  If you do the trip between May 18th and Sept 14th, it’s closed on Sundays.  We still opted to go, because, BE PREPARED is a motto!  All the best laid plans do not always work.  We were to hike to the OHSU Tram up top and then ride down to here.  We hiked it all.

The trolley ride was fun, you will need to buy your trolley tickets that also double as Max Train tickets before getting on board.  We had a lot of parents with us, so Two-Deep Leadership wasn’t a problem.  However,  we needed to keep the Adults at the front, middle of back of the group since we are in Public Areas.  No issues, but something to be aware of.

The trolley and Train were the easiest of all the sections.

The Train from Downtown to the Zoo, itself was just like the trolley. Fun and Easy.  The Train put you at the Oregon Zoo.

We did have a pit stop at the Zoo for a few moments and also to explain more about the hiking section of the

outing.  Main point was, we were hiking across the parking lot, cross walks, over the highway and down a highway on ramp.  The whole time we talked about “Have a Buddy!”

We finally got to the trail head and the Scouts were off hiking.  This commenced the 4.1 miles of hiking to Council Crest and to the bottom of the Tram.

The Scouts did a very good job of hiking and listening.  We talked about many subjects along the way and we all are very proud of them for completing it.  It was a good way to end the Journey to Arrow of Light.

The last leg of the trip, was by Tram.  Since it was closed, we did not take it.  However, it’s a great leg of the trip.

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BSA Membership Survey

The Boy Scouts of America have launched their “Voice of the Scout” survey, open to all currently active members of the BSA.

The results will be part of BSA’s decision-making process on whether to change the membership policies to allow gay Scouts, Scouters, and parents to participate; so your completion of this survey is critical.

Request your copy of the survey here:
http://scouting.us.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_0lecWOay3bPbczP

To participate, you will need your membership ID number (or if you are a parent, your Scout’s ID number). The survey will close on April 4th, so please request your copy right now and forward this information to other current BSA members.

To participate in this survey, which is conducted twice a year, you will need your membership ID number, also called a BSA ID number. This is the number which appears on your registration card; or which is displayed on your MyScouting profile page. If you are a registered youth or adult with no access to MyScouting or without a paper registration card, contact your unit leader or the local BSA Council to obtain your BSA ID number.

Currently, this is just a sign-up for the survey to come out shortly.

If you are not a member of the BSA as a Youth or Adult and you want your voice heard, please give your thoughts here.

Membership Survey Info from the BSA

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The Last Webelos II Den Meeting

Well, the last Webelos II Den Meeting is in the books.  We have a hike and a Pack Meeting and then AOL/Crossover.  Tonight was the LNT review, how to build a campfire (on school property so, we didn’t really start one), reviewed the basics for joining a Troop.  We also handed out a lot of Webelos Activity Pins and talked about the Troops we visited.  T41, T221, T127, T150, T432, T230 & T110.  That is up from earlier years.  By a lot, at lest 125%.  The boys also played Winker and Steal the Bacon.  The latter was the most fun, I think.  We played with the Webelos I Den.  32 days left in Cub scouts.

I got into a brief chat with one Scout who says he remembers the first meetings as a Tiger and how small he was.  Odd that he remembers that.  I hope he comes on the hike.  I am thinking that I will ask the boys what they remember from Tigers till now.  It’s something that I am thinking about since I have a few moments at Crossover to sum-up their journey.

There is a core group of seven that started as Tigers.  They all will get AOL.   One of them is lite on a couple of requirements, but will get AOL if he does the Hike and Troop visit this week.

The two that joined as Bears, will get AOL. The two that joined this fall, one could get AOL if he pushes, the other will not.  He’s in it for the adventure.  He’s Dad wanted him to experience it.

Of the seven, there really is a core group of six.  Summer Camp each year, going to go-see-its and a lot of events.  They are there.  The last two years saw a friend join, so that’s the Core Seven from the Bear year.

It seems like that most will move onto a Troop.  While they are all special and genuine in their own way, I heard from one that he likes the small Troops better.  You can stand out more in those instead of being lost.

So, even that it’s the last Den Meeting, it is just another stop long their Journey within Scouting.

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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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My Thoughts Part II

Back in July 2012, I wrote a post about what I thought on the BSA National re-affirmation of its policy on Gays.  I still believe in what I wrote then as I do now.  Today, the BSA put out a statement on how it’s going to decide on the matter in the coming days.

My friend Arlen summed up his thoughts on his blog.  I cannot add any better thoughts outside of what he wrote and what I said earlier.  Please read Arlen’s post.

I will close with what I posted on my earlier post on what Lord Baden-Powell’s vision of Scouting (world-wide) should be.

Besides, it was the goal of Sir Robert Baden-Powell the founder of Scouting as he wrote in 1917:  “The roots of Scouting have grown among young people of all civilised countries and are developing more each day. It might be thought that if in years to come, a considerable proportion of the future citizens of each nation forms part of this brotherhood, they will be joined by a bond of personal friendship and mutual understanding such as has never existed before, which will help to find a solution to terrible international conflicts.”  Thus, Messenger’s of Peace.

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How to pick a Troop

  It has been that time for a while for my son, Elliot to figure out what Troop he wants to go to.  Quite frankly, he is the only Webelos II to really get started, from what I can tell.  He has only started, along with one fellow buddy, because I behind it.  While I want to say that  I am not pushing him, I am.  It’s been a goal of mine to look at other Troops than the one the Pack has historically gone to since Elliot joined the Pack in 2008.  I got that vision/goal when I went to Roundtable and met the District Chair.  He welcomed me, asked name, rank and Unit that I was from.  He then went on to tell me about visiting at least three Troops.   I took that to heart.

I wrote another posting about this topic in July 2012.  Not much has changed since that posting or my feelings on the subject.   However, now Crossover is April 6, 2013.    And here is my frustration.  It could be just District related or maybe it’s the same within any Pack and Troop.

Because the Pack has historically gone to two Troops, we do not get asked, invited, offered or even considered for Webelos Recruitment.  I get notices from a fellow Cubmaster who I would have only have met because of the Cubscout Roundtable and Roundtable.  He has turned into a great friend.  (Note: GO TO ROUNDTABLE! It helps with everything!)  While I am the Training Chair for the District, I recently gathered a lot of contact info from all the Packs, Troops, Teams, Crews and presented it at a Roundtable that only One Troop and One other Pack came.  The one that came I had not seen before.  I withheld the info from the District until after Roundtable because I wanted them to show up.  Our District does not have a Membership Chair let along a Webelos to Scout Transition Chair, hence my taking this on.  I highly suspect that in my next role within the District, that I will be in the Membership role of Webelos to Scouts Transition.

If you’re looking for a Troop and your son is NOT in Cubscouts, using BeaScout.org is a good thing.  More than likely a call to the Council will happen.  Hopefully somehow you get connected to a Troop.  Many District websites has a page with a list of all the Scout Units.  Our District does not.  However, that is another reason I put this information together.   However, if you’re a Webelos Den Leader and/or parent, beascout.org is not really want you want.  You need to have communications between Packs & Troops.   Yes, that means even if a Scoutmaster needs to “Cold Call” a Cubmaster or Webelos Den Leader to get info, that should happen.  It is part of the job of the Cubmaster to also find this information and give it to Webelos Den Leaders and Parents.

Knowing about a Troop is essential to make sure your son and his friends get to the right Troop.  Also, they need to know if the Troop isn’t right after they join that they can transfer.  It’s $1 and a Transfer form.  Not another Application!

So, how do you pick a Troop?  In order to not reinvent the wheel, I Googled “How to pick a Troop” and got these good websites.

• Boy Scout Trail
• eHow
• USSSP
• Troop 135

My last piece of advice is to start early and start looking for a Troop.  Ask your son what he wants and likes.  Do not assume.  There are many fine Troops right in our area and I would have no problem sending my son to them.  However, their program might not be the one for him.  The goal of this is to have the Webelos II crossover into Boy Scouts and continue their Journey in Scouting.  It is then up to the Scout to continue on.

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How Scouting is supposed to work

This post from Shawn Cleary, a Scoutmaster in Green Bay, WI is about correcting a wrong and keeping a Scout in the program.  It is amazing to me how wrong a Troop can get a program.  It is good that there are people out there that know the Scouting Program and are able to correct it.

I am reposting through here, so you can read it and understand that there is a correct way on how to use the program to everyone’s advantage.   Scouting is not a program to put limits on a youth.  It is there to help them discover and learn.

Again, another reason Scoutnation is a wonderful thing.

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#Scoutnation Bucketlist

” From our humble beginnings as a #hashtag on Twitter to a community on G+ we are Scout Nation. The adult volunteers in the great organization of Scouting! Sit by the fire and stay awhile, we have questions, answers, stories and laughs. Remember the Scout Oath & Law and you will do fine here!”

The above is the “About” part of Scoutnation on the G+ Community page.  I think that I have following Scoutnation Scouters via Twitter & Websites since about late 2008 when Elliot joined Cub scouts.   I have had the pleasure meeting a lot of them offline and in the “real world”.  Most recently Bryan Spellman.  Funny, both he and Arlen Ward have both been in Non-Scouting areas.  Bryan in Las Vegas. (PS: The Scout shop was closed the whole time! We were bummed.)

What I love about Scoutnation is the instant Brother & Sister Hood we all have when we meet.  There are hugs all around.   As Bryan put it, there are other forums and places that Scouters get mean and nasty about what they think is correct.  We, within Scoutnation love to poke fun at each other and work well together even though we are separated by hundreds of miles.  If it were not for Scoutnation, I would not have been able to grow into the Scouter that I am.  It would have taken longer.

My hope is that sooner than later, I get to meet everyone within Scoutnation.

While our plans did not totally work out together, Bryan and I got to meet and talk.  I was in Vegas with my High School Class and he with his Wife of 20 years celebrating their 20th Wedding Anniversary.  We kept texting each other trying to make it work.  It was still very much fun to be there.

So, the Scoutnation bucket list.  Meet other Scouters.

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