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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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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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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First Aid Pack Meeting 2013

For the past three years, Pack 221 has put on a First Aid Pack Meeting in January.  First Aid is one of the things that Cubscouts and Boy Scouts are known for.  Knowing First Aid is one thing, but knowing what to do when an Emergency happens is key as well.

When I first envisioned this meeting, I wanted it to incorporate the Emergency Preparedness Pin.  We really have never fully completed the requirements for it as a Pack or Den.  I can say that as a Unit Scouter, that I only need to create an emergency kit/plan for the meeting place.  In our first version of this meeting in 2010, we did create Emergency Kits.  I found out that a now Bear Cubscout still has and uses his to this day.  Which, really means a lot to me.  Anytime his Sister’s or Family needs a band-aid, he runs and gets it.

In 2011, while we did the full meeting again, I took a moment to talk about how we plan for emergency’s.  While we have never had a fire drill or a plan for an emergency during a meeting, I did simulate a power outage.  I did this after the Japan Tsunami.  I wanted to let the Scouts know that we need to be prepared for a lot of things.

So, for the January 2013 First Aid Pack Meeting, we created it all again.  This time, we had the 141st Charlie Co Medical Corp from the Oregon National Guard, Oregon Search & Rescue, Troop 127, A Sports Medicine Trainer from the Portland Timbers and a Tiger Den Leader helping us put on the event.

We talking about how to stay put and be safe if lost, control bleeding & and how to stabilize, how to stay fit, what to do for snake bites & poison plants and our 10 essentials.  We did it all in about 50 minutes in rotating stations.  Now,  yes, it is a brief overview but a lot of Cubscouts got good tips on what to do when.  That is the goal.  The Dens can break it down later and work on these skills.  But, we need to put into the Cubscouts thought process of, what to do when.  It just might help them.

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The Future

Last night was my first Eagle Board of Review of 2013.   I am growing to really like these.  They give me comfort and knowing that there are really smart young men who will do very well in life.  While I have now have done only two, it’s very fun.

This young man once I got to talking to him and listening to him, really reminded me of my son Elliot.

Here’s why.  Billy, as I will call him, is deep into STEM activities.  His Eagle Book had all of his Merit Badge Cards.  Outside the normal 21 for Eagle, there were the FUN ones.  I believe he had a total of 27.  He took Aviation, Space Exploration, Metalwork and Rifle, Archery & Shotgun.   Coupled with that, he took classes at school on Physics and Astronomy and is in his fourth year on the Robotics Team.  This young man is very smart.   His book also had his Webelos and Arrow of Light Rank Cards.

So, why does he remind me of Elliot.  Let me explain further.

As his Scoutmaster and Parent said he attended all the Summer camps and really loved them.  He did do some of the Outings, but wasn’t a huge outdoors person.   He does a lot of Robotic Team Competitons, so he’s there a lot.  His Parents are Mazama‘s and go Mtn Climbing a lot.  They think they wore him out.  This is because they took him and his brother and sister out all the time.  They still go out as a family. But  it was clear in listening to Billy,  that he likes the Outdoors.  It calms him from being in the City.  He can think better.  Billy talked about a recent snowshoe outing on Mt Hood that they took.

My point here is this, Scouting is about the personal journey for the youth who is in it.  You do not need to be in a backpacking high adventure Scout Unit, or be one yourself.  Scouting is your own journey.  What the program provides is access to  opportunities to find what you like.  The Merit Badge system.  I told Billy that I was very impressed that he had all these other Merit Badges, and asked what he thought of them and how they helped.  He pointed out that the Aviation was great since he was taking Physics at that time.  His most fun was the Shooting Sports ones.  He took great joy in explaining how he got 25 clay birds to get marksman.  He also got all the Donuts.  Donuts are the clay birds that were altered by the Range Officer to fly wrong.  He got all of them as well.  Not only did he met all the requirements of the Merit Badges, he excelled.  He said, he didn’t know how much fun it was to shoot.  Even his parents didn’t know that he was that into it until he earned them.

So, why does Billy remind me of Elliot.  Elliot loves all these things.  Shooting, building things and exploring.  He loves nature in his own terms.  He is not a huge hiker, but will go on a trail.   Also, it’s Billy’s demeanor and thoughtfulness that got me.  Billy really cares about people.  Loyal is the one point he cherishes.  Billy puts a lot of thought into what he says and does.  He cherishes his family, friends and people that he meets.  Again, Elliot latches onto people who are loyal.

For me, I saw Elliot.  He could be Billy in the future.
I saw what Scouting offers to those who are in it.
Scouting is there to help the Youth excel at what excites them.

Image Credit

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Voice of the Scout

The Voice of the Scout has been out for a while, and I am just now getting to read it. The summary is here. Not sure how that happened.   In reading these, specifically the summary, I agree with a lot of it.

As it relates to the Scout Unit directly you see this:

“• Youth/Scouts overwhelmingly enjoy their experience, citing it is fun, life skills
learned are very valuable and activities are of interest. However, the way in
which the program is delivered is not consistently hitting the mark. The two
themes are meetings are boring and unit leadership is not strong. More great
outdoor activities is a strong request by a majority of respondents.

• Parents echo their sons’ sentiments: Scouting is a critical part of developing
character, but the meetings are not always a good use of time. Parents’
number one area for improvement is better trained adult leaders.

As part of the Cubscout Program you see this: “Needs Improvement: It’s Too Boring: There are numerous negative comments (boring, not fun) scattered throughout the Cub Scout responses in the context of meetings, gatherings, and experience. In the case of Detractor experiences, about 90 percent of those who commented were negative, specifically citing boring and not fun.”

For Training of Adult Leaders: “Training – more opportunities, relevant and improved – was suggested by the Volunteer segments.”

So, what can you and I do to help turn the tide?   For me, there are two things.

First, get more involved if you can.  I am not saying become the Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, Coach, Advisor or Skipper or some big position leader.  If you are a subject matter expert (SMB) then offer your support there.   For the most part the Cub Scout program is the only Adult led program.   The rest of the programs are supposed to be youth-led.

Two points about any of the programs.  Listen to the youth.  We adults are there for them, not us!  If your in Scouting for yourself, you will fail.  When I went through Wood Badge in 2009, a comment that heard and understood was “Ask them what they want.”  It’s their program, they just do not know what or how to do stuff. As Adult Leaders we are charged with providing the program, helping them advance and learn as they do.

All other program we are there to using “guided discovery”.   This is their time to fail and learn.  Failure is generally not an option, but that’s in a life or death situation.  Within Scouting, we learn what not to do the next time.  Which, maybe part of the “waste of time”  or “boring” comments.  People get frustrated if they do not see around the issue.  But, this is the second point. We are using guided discovery with the Scouts to help them find what worked and what failed.  It is the same we would hopefully do within a Lean Six Sigma Master Blackbelt project at work.

Training and Improvement of Leaders.

The Scouters who are in the program, working with the Scouts need to understand what they are providing.  An Eagle Scout is really only as good as where he comes from.  Yes, a Troop and/or a Scouter can severely hamper the advancement of the Scout.  It is also true with those within the Cub Scout level.  The Cub Scout Leaders put on the program.  Den Leaders have a lot more interaction with a Cub Scout than a Cubmaster.  That being the case, each Adult Leader needs to avail themselves to good quality training.

Online training is good for just the basic’s.  IE: If your Cardiologist got a C in Medical School, you might look elsewhere.  You want the person who has the A or very close to it.  That’s online training.   Seek out good face to face training within the District or Council.  You do not have Tigers Scouts using a video to learn how to do a leaf rubbing?  No, you get construction paper, crayons and go for a hike in the neighborhood park to find them.  You look for different leaves.  You talk about each tree and what’s special about it.

Hence, the face to face training, even if it’s “Leader Specific Training” will have more information about that position than you will get from online.

Continued Training: Go to the University of Scouting/Pow-wow/Program & Training Conferences.  Go to the Commissioner Colleges and BALOO, OWLS & IOLS.  Take First Aid, CPR & AED.  Take Wilderness First Aid, even if you’re not going to Philmont.   Take classes on sewing, Geocaching, snowshoeing, cooking classes and other things that have nothing to do with Scouting. Heck, go to the Apple Store and learn iPhone, iMovie and how to create a database.  You can use these within the Scout Unit.  Being well-rounded within Scouting will serve you and the Scout Unit well.  It is what we talk about to the Scouts in what Beltloop/Merit Badge to take/learn.  We need to do the same.

Taking what you know and applying it to the Scout Unit will only enhance the fun that everyone has.

Here’s the but: The District/Council needs to give people who are very knowledgeable about the subject they teach.  Boring presentations will stop people from coming to a training.  You will get people looking outside the District and Council for training.  I know….I was and am that person.  I took on the Training Chair position one and half years ago so I can help make a difference.

Do your best, make the program, unit and position you’re in the best you can.  Encourage others to do the same.  If we do this together, we can turn this next Voice of the Scout in with better results.

If you have not participated within the Voice of the Scout, check with your Unit Commissioner and/or your District Exec to make sure the email address that is in Scoutnet, is the correct one.  Mine wasn’t and I got it changed!

Yours in Scouting.

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A Look Back

   I am trying to come up with a post that talks about all of Pack 221′s accomplishments for the past calendar year.   Outside of the announcement that for the second year in a row, we have attained Gold for the 2012 Journey to Excellence, our program is good.  I know that there are weak points within the Program and within the Committee, but what Scout Unit doesn’t?  If they don’t then well, they are mindless and their compass is defective.  My goal since I took over as Cubmaster is to make this Pack a lot better than I got it.  I have had my Committee Chair say that is true.

I can say that just about every Den has 10 Scouts in it and we basically have grown each year.  The Committee is good and is growing into their positions after adding a few new parents to it.   My replacement was found and accepted the position.  The new Committee Chair is on board as well since re-charter is basically over.

The new Committee Chair is looking into  the 2013 Wood Badge, but the Cubmaster has already signed up.  For me, that is a huge win.  I think Wood Badge will help them understand more of Scouting and get them more information and support than I can.  Not to say that I did not give it, but hearing it from another source than myself is good.

The Committee and Den Leaders as a whole are now functioning way better than what I had as a Tiger Den Leader.  Pack 221 is now in its 62nd year as a Scout Unit.  It is always good to leave something a little bit better than you found it.    While I will not be far after I turn over my duties on April 6th, 2013 when the Webelos II “Tree Scouts” earn the Arrow of Light and crossover, I know that Pack 221 will be in good hands.

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Carbon Footprint and Scouting

I got this from Clarke Green’s website.  In this article he talks about Disposable Propane Cylinders.
Again, as always, Clarke hits the nail on the head.  Also, while I knew about the Solo Stove, I really liked his article about it.  Clarke also blogs/talks about many other Scout related subjects.

If you do not know anything about Clarke Green’s website or Podcast (also on iTunes) and your in Scouting (no matter what part of the Global) it’s a good read and listen.

Scouting’s Leave No Trace program does help teach youth and adults about how to reduce your carbon footprint.  We just need to keep it going so others can enjoy nature.

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Cathlapotle & The Naturalist

The Tree Scouts of P221 went on an outing this past weekend to complete their Naturalist Webelos Activity Pin.  They went to the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in SouthWest Washington just outside of Vancouver.

This is a great place to come to help satisfy many requirements at all levels, even into Boy Scouts.  While the Webelos did learn a lot from our guide and the walk around the Refuge, the side bonus was the Native American Village and Plankhouse of the Cathapotle (Chinook) Tribe.

What I find very fascinating is that this area was a central gathering area of all the rivers that brought many people together.  This Native American Tribe thrived and traded up and down the Columbia River.

Apparently there is a Tree that is supposed to be about 700 years old, next to the Plankhouse and is talked about in the Lewis and Clark Journals.  While I know that Lewis & Clark came through here and wintered at Ft Clatsop, it was neat to know they were romping around where I was.

We did carry out the goals of the Naturalist Activity Pin.  If you really spent a full, long day here, you could complete the Forester Activity Pin as well.  We did that at Magness Tree Farm last year about this time.

Again, another reason to be on the Journey of Scouting.  An opportunity to go some place, learn something and to be outdoors.

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#GoPro Pumpkin Trebuchet Launch

Today (Sunday Oct 28th) Pack 221 held its 2nd Annual Pumpkin Race.  As with anything Oregon in the Fall, it rained.  I few people asked if it was canceled.  I said, nope.. It’s Oregon.   I put a GoPro HD Camera in my Pumpkin that Elliot helped out with.

Here is what happened.

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