Stuff Adult Leaders Say Tee Shirt

I am posting this to those who read this  blog to help out a fellow Scouter get a really cool shirt made.  No one is profiting from this endeavour except the people who order and wear the shirt.  Be the hit of your next Camporee, Troop Hike, Wood Badge or Roundtable.  You know you want one.

Oh, and read his blog too!  I learn so much.

Read Full Post »

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!

Read Full Post »

Trained Tactical Scouters

Tactical Scouters:  Combat troops, together with any service troops required for their direct support, who are organized under one commander to operate as a unit and engage the enemy in combat.In the Scouting world this would translate to: Scouters who together and  who are trained for their position within their Scout Units are organized under guiding principle to help build character, leadership and to offer a quality WOSM based program to the youth they serve before, during and after each Scout Event and Meeting.

So, why this title and posting?  Over the past couple of days I have been on a Training kick within Scouting and also at work. I also got involved in a small discussion on the Scouts Canada Facebook page.  They let me in there and I generally lurk about, eh.  We all follow Baden-Powell and like to wear Uniforms, use Dutch Ovens, like bacon a lot and sing really badly.  Oh, and then remember it’s for the Boys (or Youth in SA’s case)!  But one thing we have in common is training and why we should take it and why we should not be required to take it.

I am think that training should be taken.  Yes, I have taken BAD training that I really have never used.  But, that was on the clock, so I did get something out of it! Yes, I have sat through boring Scout training too.  Ugh.

So, I got excited as only a Trainer would be when the LDS came out with an updated document on LDS and Scouting.  This page also talks a lot about how Training is supposed to happen within the LDS.  Ok, I am not LDS and I know very little about it.  I know as much about it as I do being Jewish, Catholic or Hindu.

Now, what I really like is how the LDS Church looks towards training.  Being the Charter Org, this document has it right.  Now, each position is a Calling within the LDS. It’s an honor to be Called for a position.  The LDS even go so far to say, they will pay for any training and that Roundtable is a Good Thing!  There is even a LDS Cubscout Den Leader PDF Training off the Scouting.org site.

So why all the excitement about LDS?  I am not LDS….  Well, here is why.  The LDS have put Scouting as part of their mission to help their Youth.  Working with their program and the BSA’s there is good documentation and processes to help them offer a quality program.  As District Training Chair, I need to know when there is a difference so I can give them the correct information.

Which in the end will help me offer a better program to the Youth I serve.

Ok, so you might feel like, what’s up with the Tactical part of the title of this posting.  As Trainer’s we are charged with providing good information to the Scouter’s who will guide the Youth.  We support them with quality training, quality answers & information for what is needed.  Every Scouter is a Trainer to the Youth.  So, it is incumbant of each Scouter to Be Prepared for the meetings, outings and events that we go to or put on.

We are all in this together.  We are all Trained Tactical Scouters in support of each other for the Youth.

Get Trained.

Links:
Adult Training on Scouting.org
Training Team on Scouting.org (off to the right hand side is a link to the Training Times. It’s where the BSA National Training Team communicates to Everyone! They are on Facebook too!)
Other Adult Training Info on Scouting.org
Publications of most every document and/or Book the BSA has printed. Even ones for sale at the Scoutshop! (Download these and put on your Laptop/iPad/Tablet/iPhone or whatever you use. This is a great resource and cuts down on paper & 3-ring binders/books to carry!)

Read Full Post »

The Silver Pretzel

Last night at the Pioneer District Dinner, the District Awards were handed out.   It was a great time to reflect upon what the Scout Units did over the past year.  The District Chairman and Commissioner gave their thoughts.  Our Exec did the same too.  But, he added points that really helped me.  See we as a District are in transition.  He came in two years ago and he’s been going UP all the time.  Membership is growing in Pack, Troops & Crews. (It’s a Council Metric).  The last time we had growth was 2000, 2007 & 2009 in all three categories.

Our Council President who resides in our District was also there.  He talked about three goals that the Council is working on. Growth in Summer Camp Participation at the Cubscout level, FOS and building relationships within local Businesses.

It all got me excited to be a part of the District and Scouting.  While I do not like where we are within the District, I like the fact that I am part of a group within the District that is affecting CHANGE and that I will be able to say I was there and helped make it happen.

Which, brings me to “The Silver Pretzel” award.  I like this part of the dinner.  I generally do not know who is going to win.  The Advancement Chairwoman (Lois) gets to hand these out.  She creates a little story based upon the info given about the Scouter who gets it.  She keeps the name out of it so we all can guess.  This year was awesome and all those who got it deserve it.  It is one thing that I measure myself as a Scouter against.  Am I doing my Best? What do I give to the District, Scouters and the youth.  How did I serve them today and how will I in the future.

I nominated my friend Allan Campbell.  He is the Cubscout Roundtable Commissioner, OA Vice Chair/Advisor & Vigil, Program Chair (incoming Advancement Chair as of June 1, 2012) Trainer,trained at POW-WOW and now Program & Training Conference, was Tiger Den Leader, Bear, Wolf & Webelos DL.  Current Cubmaster and staffed several things at Council.  He also brought back the Cuboree to the District and started and ran the Geocaching program within the Council in 2010.  He is all that.  Oh, and he put on the District Dinner and did the dishes.  His wife was right along side of him as well.

His fellow Silver Pretzel winners are George Stephan and Virgle Pierce.  Both had very outstanding resumes within Scouting.  Looking at these great Scouter’s there is a lot happening and the Scouts are far better for it.  I am proud to know them.

Read Full Post »

BALOO for you!

A friend and fellow Scouter up in the Seattle Council put on a BALOO training the other week.  He just published a blog about it and included his Powerpoint slides for it.  It’s Great!  This is something that I have wanted to do for a while.  Yes, I am stealing it…ok well, he put it out there and I am taking it!

Kevin Devin’s BALOO Blog Post.

He also teaches at the Seattle Program and Training Conference in October.  Hopefully I will be able to get up there and take a class.

 

 

Read Full Post »

The Great Outdoors

In my last post, it was about The Portland Outdoor School and what School District and City of Portland is doing with it.  Like I have said, it’s not a bad thing and it should be there and funded properly.  But what about OTHER camps and solutions and things that can happen to NOT have to go through this School?  Maybe a better solution is sitting right under your nose and you just do not know it.  Why does the Outdoor School only happens once a year.  Why can it not happen every week or every month?

In the quick googling of camps, Portland and Oregon I found a few that are cool, besides the Outdoor School.
TrackerPDX: This one seems to be geared all year round and for the home schooled crowd.  I like the Zombie First Responder class!
The Audubon Society of Portland is another.  These are basically day trips and wildlife based.
There is even Outward Bound.  Very cool stuff.

So a lot more in and around Portland.  I highly suspect the same is in your area where you, the reader are now in.  These activities and camps take a lot of money to send your child or children to!  It’s Gymboree or a Playdate.  These are classes/camps that teach you something, get you outdoors and experience things that make you stretch.

I am not going into the Sports Camps or Math Camps or other Academic Camps that you could go to.  Those are good and worthwhile.  I went to a few of them in my day as well.  Heck, I even went to a speed reading class for a summer.

All of these classes above are good.  But, why not do them ALL YEAR LONG?  Go on field trips called Go-See-Its to the Police Dept, Fire Dept, TV Station, Newspaper, A Tree Farm, Ape Caves (Mt St Helens) go to a Science Day at Intel.  Go hiking along a river, in a wildlife preserve, go to a Zoo and even sleep under the Spruce Goose. We had the normal Pinewood Derby and Raingutter Regattas.  During Summertime Activities, we learned about water bottle rockets and Disc Golfing.    All of these dealt with Nature, Science and how things worked.

All of these outing, expeditions and activities were through Cub scouts.  Specifically within the Pack I am Cubmaster for.  Scouting at any level (and there is Cubscouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity, Venture & Sea Scouts) is full of adventure, fun and learning.  My daughter is in Girl Scouts and is having similar fun and has gone to camp as well. While I am not knee-deep into Girl Scouts, I know that Girl Scouts has  similar offerings and Camps.

The whole Scouting Program offers all the items within its program, year round that the Outdoor School does several times a year.  The other Camps that cost a lot of money do to, but you do not build off a year round program.  Scouting as the youth progress gain leadership skills, build character and learn skills that can lead into hobbies and even careers.  While not every Scout will be an Astronaut, they will  have the basis to meet any of their goals and reach for their own star.

So, Outdoor School is good.  But, it’s my contention that Scouting via any program for any youth is good.  It is known throughout the entire world and was founded on helping promote peace and understanding to all.  To me, having instant friends in Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Brazil, Taiwan, Japan, Libya, Mexico and any of the 140 nations is wonderful.   Be Prepared to have more friends and fun along the way.

Having a year round program that gets the youth out into the wild year round for very low-cost will be a great benefit to all. Scouting is your answer.

Read Full Post »

Two years later

Back in 2010, there was a landmark case that changed the Boy Scouts of America.  It was the case of a former Scout charging he was sexually abused by a Scoutmaster in the Troop back in the 1970′s.  I wrote a couple of articles about it.  Oddly enough, this is one that I published two years ago today.  More recently, even Scout Canada has had issues with Youth Protection.  I really like their active stance on it.  Their National Commissioner stood up and took responsibility for it. There were several other Bloggers who were talking about this.  Scoutmaster Jerry had a few good ones.  Even a Podcast as well.

I am not going to rehash the whole event of the trial or the events.  While it’s in the past, I am focusing in on what’s changed in the past two years.

A lot actually.  The BSA has stated and enforced the mandatory Youth Protection Training.  It can be taken online or in person.   Also, the BSA has created a set of Social Media Guidelines for Twitter, Facebook, Email and many other outlets.  Scouts are online and so are those who wish to do them harm.

During the time I was a Troop Guide for the 2011 Woodbadge within my Council, I talked about how people communicated and pointed to those guidelines.  I explained that if you email a Scout information that is one on one communication.  The simple solution is to copy another Adult, even the Scout’s Parents on the email.  that way, your adhearing to YPT.

In my own life and within the Pack & District, I have become more sensitive to how YPT is played out.  While no serious violations, even minor ones have happened, there were learning moments.  Meaning, a well-meaning parent was with a couple of Scouts by themselves at a Scout camp as they moved from one section of the area to another.  I know the person and all the Scouts were just running around, but I pointed it out.  Harmless, yes.  But, I need to bring it to their attention.

Within the Pack many of the Dens have watched “It’s Happened to Me” and have had disscusion about YPT.  I have also talked a lot about how Scouts look out for eachother and be respectful of eachother and those that they might meet.  One was just recently on how to work together as a team.

So, what else is the BSA doing to help in the Youth Protection game?  The Scout-Wire website has started to publish articles on the subject.  It’s a great start.

So, what can you do?  If your an Adult Scouter, log into Myscouting.org and take the Youth Protection Online Training.  It’s 25 minutes.  If your a Scout parent, but not a Scout Volunteer, log into myscouting.org, create an account and take the Youth Protection Training.  The more you know, the safer everyone can be.

If your Youth Protection certification ends before 12/31/12, then you need to take the training again.  YPT is good for two years.  Adult Scouters need YPT every two years so the Scout Unit can re-charter.

Read Full Post »

It all starts with Camping

Today, while stopped at Starbucks in the middle of a bike ride, I was reading all the Twitter posts.  I follow ScoutCanada’s Twitterfeed and they reposted a blog from a young man in the Venturing program.  He talked about how his first Summer camp was crucial for him staying in Cub Scouts.  His Pack was boring and the Akela was too. (Note to self…boys like FUN!)

Here is his Blog post.  Read it. It’s great.

This post goes to the heart of Scouting.  Boys want to have fun and will move on if not.  Scouting will also provide a lot of skills to those who participant.  Along with Camping skills, also a lot of social skills.  Yes, the boys will do what Bryan did, but they will come out with life long skills that will help them.

I follow several Canadian Scouters and they all seem to be having a lot of fun.  Someday I will get up past the border and see them.

Read Full Post »

Notes from the KYBO

Well, I didn’t have a catchy title and that’s the first thing that came to mind.  Don’t worry, I am in the kitchen having coffee and not writing this on an iPad from the KYBO.

The 100 Days of Scouting have started up again.  The orginator has started it up again and I really like reading them.  Another Scouter Josh Nay is following suit as well.  While I am not going to write everyday, since for me that is a lot.  I think it’s important to support and read these blog posts.  It is one of the reasons that I am on Twitter and have developed friendships with other Scouters to this day.  We all wear the purple patch and subscribe the to the same Kool-aid.  I learn a lot from my Internet Roundtable. (Check out the list of Scout Blogs I follow on the bottom left hand side of the website for more)

A fellow Scouter Allan Campbell last night during the Pack’s Blue & Gold received his Beads for completing his ticket.  It was a great time.  Many of the Wood Badge staff and other Wood Badgers were on hand along with several of his patrol mates.   Three things happened there that were notable.
First: I had a great insight into how another Pack does Blue & Gold, Rank advancement (A Webelos Badge and the Arrow of Light badges were handed out) happened.  Every Pack does it differently.
Second: I got to connect with a Bear Patrol Member who is an Assistant Cubmaster who had questions about his ticket.  I gave him ideas about other topics.  He is stuck since one needs to be rewritten.  Also, invited him to our Pack meetings so he can see how we do it.  It’s one of his ticket items to visit other Packs for that very reason.  A very smart ticket item.
Finally: I was made aware of another Troop that is in my immediate area that I was not too aware of.  They have 8-10 Scouts and are dying. I was invited to come to the Troop and bring the Webelos I & II.  The person who invited me is a fellow Wood Badger from the 2012 course and is trying to save it. He and I swapped info and he forwarded me an email from the SM/CC with their info as well.  I passed it along to my Webelos II DL.

Finally, one of the members of the Bobwhite Patrol that I am a Troop Guide for is just about done.  He forwarded me his last ticket item that deals directly with Training within the Troop and the record keeping/training promotion.    It is so good that I am going to swipe it and use it for the District.  It basically bugs me to no end, as does him (I take it) that people do not get trained or avail themselves to it.  In a very recent blog post from Scoutmaster Jerry, he is up the same tree about JTE.  Stay tuned for a post about what I am proposing to do within my District about Training Records.

Read Full Post »

Scouteradam’s First Podcast: Bobcat

Image via Wikipedia

So, I am having a go with Podcasting.  Blame Jerry and everyone else at PTCMEDIA for giving me the idea.  I am still figuring out how to create an RSS Feed and publish it via iTunes.  I have a friend of mine who I am working with to host it at his server and then push it.  I have already asked a few Cubmasters to see if they wanted to do a Cubmaster’s Roundtable just like the big boys and girls do over at Clark Green, Leaders Campfire,  Scoutnation & the MISS Show.  There is always inspiration out there and these guys/gals rubbed off on me.So, until then…..

Read Full Post »