Join Night 2012

I now have been at 5 Join Nights at the Pack.  I joined the first one, and got nervous at the rest.  I should have this down, and I think that I do but every Join Night is different.

The Tally:

9 Tigers (including Mission Possible‘s)
12 Wolves  (8 returning + 4 new)
12 Bears  (9 Returning + 3 new)
6 Webelos I Returning No new
10 Webelos Returning. No New

I think that we also have about four adults who will actually sign-up and be Co-Den Leaders or be on the committee.  Over the summer we had a Dad sign-up for the Events Chair as that Chair is moving into the Committee Chair position.  The current Committee Chair is more than likely to be the Co-Den Leader for the Webelos II.

Each year, I want to have about 10 Tigers join.  That is to replace the Webelos II.  We do get boys joining the other ranks and that’s a good thing.  This year, we have 17 boys joining.  Counting the Webelos II that left and those who are returning, it’s about a wash at this point.  We have several inquiries via email and boys who want to recruit their friends.  All those people have been reached out too.

So, with Mission Possible Tigers we have 16 totally new Scouts within the Pack.  Not bad.  Most we have had since I took over as Cubmaster.  Which, actually this is an upward trend for us.

Our historical Scouts on Charter was 80 in about 2005-2006 timeframe.  It sank from there.  2008 when Elliot joined was about 30.  With all the normal Webelos II Crossover & dropout we are on the upswing.  Last year we were about 53?  So, really not bad.

The one good thing about this Join Night is that the Pack is healthy and sustainable.  I do not want a Pack bigger than 60.  50 is a lot.  I know people who are in a Pack that is 100+.   To me, that is a lot of Committee/Den Leader time and Parent involvement.   If you can get it and it works, great.

Seeing the Pack grow  to 50 from 30 when Elliot started, really make me feel good.  This year, as I keep pointing out is my last in Cubscouts.  I am now on the opposite side of where I was in 2008.  I was looking at the Webelos II thinking, its going to be forever till Elliot is that old.

I think that I have seen 80 boys cycle through the Pack.  Pretty amazing.  If you think about the 4% that will be Eagles, there is roughly 4 Scouts that will be that have passed through Pack 221 while I was there.  Hopefully, I get to see that happen.

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Encouragement

My wife and I took the kids to the Oregon Zoo on Saturday.  We had not been there for years.  It was a great place to take them when they were little and also the Grandparents when they visited.   The Zoo has updated and changed a lot since the years.  We took about 4.5 hours to see everything.  We left knowing that we could have seen more.  I kept looking at everything thinking this would be good for a Go-See-It or this would be good for….Yes, Scouting is always present.

However, the one cool thing that happened was out of my control.  As we got to the entrance and got our tickets from the Membership window a Zoo worker asked what Rank my son is.   I was scratching my head on how he knew to ask?  This young fellow asked a few more questions of my son.  It was a good chat.  He ended it by saying, keep going,” I did, I made it to Eagle.”  So, after that, he and I had a quick conversation.  Asked about Troops and where we are located.  Said thanks for the boost for Scouting.  Encouragement from a fellow who is an  Eagle to a Webelos II to keep going.

Oh, yeah, how did he know?  I forgot I was wearing a Cubscout shirt from Classb.com.  I own a lot of Scout shirts, so I try to rotate them.  (tried to find the one that I had up on classb, but could not. It is one that just says Cubscouts and has all the ranks on it.  It is not a Pack based one.)

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Gone over the Edge 2012

Today (June 29th) was the day for the Cascade Pacific Council’s OVER THE EDGE Event.   At my count via an Excel spreadsheet, there were 50 Edgers that went over.  The total amount raised is about $120,000.  I had 42 people who donated in my name to help make this happen.  You would have not gotten me to the EDGE, and I am very thankful.

When I started this journey, I thought, hey this will be fun and cool.  I told my wife that I signed-up.  She was not happy about the tower was 536ft tall.  She was worried about me falling and getting hurt or dead.  She, however supported me.  I am thankful for that, even more.

I spent about 90 days asking people for donations and talking this up and telling myself it would be fun.  I kept telling myself, that there are professionals that will be there and all is very safe.  It’s the Boy Scouts.  Sweet 16.

As I got on site and checked in, started to see a lot of people who I knew from Wood Badge and so many other Scouting Events, it started to sink in.  It was going to happen.   I realized that I was GOING OVER THE EDGE.   Found Jerry, found my Patrol Mate from the 2009 course, he was my guide up to the roof and started getting suited up.  Checked my gear, put on the Helmet Cam and took photos. I even got my photo a couple of times with a member with Patrol Z.

A common phrase was “Falling with Style” was repeated several times along with many other jokes.  I made a lot of them.

The Roof-top Training was good. familiarized myself with how to rappel, land, ropes, gear and all things going down.  More photos and jokes.  We watched the Chief Scout Exec Matt Devore and his buddy go over.  Wonderful…it’s really happening.

I looked over the edge a few times, cracked a few more jokes and knew that I was next.

Then, it was my turn.  Now, I have to say that I got fellow Beaver, Troop Guide Shack Resident, Scoutmaster Jerry to be on Rope 1 as I was on Rope 2 at the same time.  I figured, it would be a lot of fun to do this with a friend.

As I got up to the rope, turned on the helmet cam and started following my wonderful Rope People, fear set in.  I knew that I was safe.  I knew that I had to just lean back and sit.  I did not look down.  The Rope Lady (didn’t catch her name) was there.  I looked a few times at Jerry and at the rope and at Rope Lady.  My life did not flash before my eyes.  I had it in my mind that I COULD NOT DO THIS.  FEAR. I COULD NOT WALK BACKWARDS.  I only needed 3 feet and I was on my way.

I thought of the 42 people who put me ON THE EDGE, NOT OVER.  I thought of Cubscouts in Pack 221, My Wife, That Lady from Wapiti District, the W1-402-11 SPL and her total fear of heights and how she did it already….

Then there was Jerry.  Jerry was over there first giving me words of encouragement.  I was that Tiger or Tenderfoot Scout. Totally unsure of myself. I had no desire to do what I signed up to do.  I could care less about getting to the bottom via Rope.  I called it off. Waved everyone off.  Rope Lady told me to focus and that it’s OK.  Jerry started nagging at me.  Pushing me to go and that I was holding him up.

And then…….

I sat back and everyone started to whoop and hollar….Rope Lady and Jerry yelling more words of encouragement that I just don’t remember. (I have video, and it will come out soon. Just have to edit out the boring parts.)

There are times in someone’s life that words of encouragement take many forms to get someone over the edge and face a fear.  42 people got me TO the edge.  Rope Lady and Jerry PUSHED ME OVER.  While I knew that I would let many people down including myself, these two PUSHED ME.  They believed in me and knew that I could do it.

They helped me face this fear and push me through it.  It was and is very real to me.  It is a fear that I had to deal with, I could not just step aside.  As I went down the side of the building, I realized several things that occurred…

Helpful, Compassion, Courage and Perseverance…..Yes, a Cubmaster Minute/Pack Meeting was taking place.  I don’t have the answer yet.  But, I was shown all of these and used these to get through my fear and conquer it.

The biggest one is: Perseverance: Sticking with something and not giving up, even if it is difficult. I did not intend for the OVER THE EDGE to teach me about Perseverance.  I was here to have a good time.  But I got a life lesson.

I now have a fresher and better understanding of what real fear is and overcoming it and how it feels to do all of it.  I also know how it felt to get that encouragement and that encouragement really is meant for me and given out of being Helpful & Compassion.

So, thank you Rope Lady.  Thank you Jerry.  Thank you for being there and helping be OVER THE EDGE.  I will use this experience not with just the Scouts, but with those I meet along the journey.  I literally could not have done it without you.  This was not just crossing off a to-do item on a bucket list, this was a life changing event that made me realize that I can do something when faced with utter fear.

I did promise my Mom that I would NEVER do this again.  She was incredibly worried.  So, while I won’t go over, I will volunteer to be on site for 2013.  My Mom asked me not to do it again.  She did give to Over The Edge.

Thank you.  Over the Edge was and is very fun. I am very glad I took part in it.  I will be back in 2013 to help.  Scouting, in any form is good.  The Youth within the Cascade Pacific Council will be better for it.  I am.

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The Lorax

  Today is the national release of “The Lorax” and it’s a great movie.  If you have been hiding under a stump or rock, it’s a book from Dr. Seuss.  Who is supposed to be 108 today.
I won’t ruin the movie or book for you, you should read it you know you should. Would you could you? In a box with a fox? In a boat with a goat?

Ok, I will stop.

The main theme of The Lorax is one of Leave No Trace (er, making sure there is a Trace…)  As Scouts and Scouter’s the Leave No Trace theme is one that we know very well.  I spent the movie thinking of how to incorporate it with Scouting.  Yes, I actually thought of a large orange suit and mustache.

Without going through a tit for tat of how The Lorax and Leave No Trace works together, I was struck by the movies last frame before the credits.

I had to come home and Google it.

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
Nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

If you want to change something, it’s going to have to start with you or it will never happen.  Go out and make a difference, no matter how small.  I see it all the time in the people I am around.  I just have to figure out how I can do it too.

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The last day…..

Today wraps up the 100th year of Celebration of the founding of the Boy Scouts of America‘s founding.  It all started with an act of kindness.  Be sure and do your Daily Good Turn.  Do not Drink and Drive!  Be Prepared to step in and help someone home.  The life you save could be your own.

I will be spending my New Years Eve with my family at another families house.  It’s a Lock-in.   So, we are not driving anywhere except there.

Looking forward to seeing all of you in 2011.

Yours in Scouting…..

 

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First Aid/CPR Class

The first Monday after Christmas I took off from work since I still had days to burn.   I had been wanting to take both a First Aid and CPR class for awhile.  I figured that since I am a Cubmaster, let alone in Scouting, I needed this skill and training.

While growing up in Billings, Mt, I spent many winter days Skiing at Red Lodge Mtn Ski Hill.  I loved every minute of it.  Learned a lot.  The one that that helped me ski so much was that my Dad was on the Ski Patrol for many many many years.   A benefit of that is that he got his ski pass free and another one, plus a half price ticket.  Since I skied so much, I got the pass.  My sister got the half price ticket, which turned into a pass.

One of the things that we got volunteered for was playing Ski Patrol training victim.   I got tied up &  bandaged all the time.  Sometimes by really cute patrollers who were in High School!  Total benefit if you were 13!

During one training, I was the person they used to practice loading into the tobaggon and transported down to the Ski Patrol Hut.  During one training, I was flipped over and dragged for 20 feet.  Very interesting experince.  The fun part was that I was the Ski Patrol Hill Chief’s kid at the time.

Through all these experinces I always got “training” by osmosis and not direct.  I did take the Red Cross Infant CPR class before Elliot was born, but that’s it.

As I stated above and in a recent blog post, being prepared is essential when in Scouting.  While this training will not give me all the knowledge in the world about what to do, it gave me the basics.  Did I learn anything?  Yes, it sure did.  I realized that there is a better way to administer CPR.  I also learned Rescue Breathing and how to do CPR for a unconscious choking victim.

As for Scouting and First Aid, I realize that I can now sign up to be a Merit Badge Counselor for the First Aid Merit Badge.  It is also my intention to take and complete the AED & Wilderness First Aid Responder classes so I can be a counselor for the Wilderness Survival MB.

If your in Scouting at any level, you should take both First Aid and CPR.  If you have kids, take CPR.  If you work in an office take these classes too.  If your single, they have classes for singles!  If your a Scout or Cubscout, you can take these Red Cross classes and it will go towards a Merit Badge or the Emergency Preparedness award.

Overall, BE PREPARED!  It’s not for a patch or merit badge, it’s to save a life.

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PackBadges:iPhone Cubscout Tracking App

I am not in the habit of doing reviews of concerts, employees or movies.  However, finding and playing with Pack Badges, seems pretty interesting. It is created by HandyApp.

Pack Badges is created by the same person who created the Guide to Safe Scouting App. Which, apparently has been removed at the request of the Boy Scouts of America. I have the Good Turn, Scout Handbook, Knot Guide, GSS and a Map App.

I have been after a Cubscout Tracking program for the iPhone.  Our Pack currently uses Packmaster and I would love to sync info between the two.  It is possible on non-iPhone phones.  The Apps that I have seen and played with only allowed for one scout to be tracked and was very limited.

Looking at the UI and what if offers as for what it tracks from the screenshots and discription within iTunes, I figured that it was more robust than others.  Since I had a gift card, I downloaded it.  The program is $2.99.  Which, to me is high for buying an App.

What I like is that you can track several Scouts at once.

I  also like the fact that you can send data via email to others.  Apparently you can export it into excel format.  I have not done this as of yet.  I am not sure how you could import data into the App directly.

The software does appear to cover all awards, ranks, pins, beltloops and other awards within the Cubscout Program.

Entering data is pretty simple.  You can click the whole event completed or just the sections.  At the same time you can add your own comments and email it to someone.

What I find interesting is all the data seems to be taken from the Boy Scouts of America’s Cubscout Program, but refreneces the USSP website.  I suspect that is due to licensing based issues.

For me, this iPhone App is wonderful.  I will use it as I do the Scout Handbook and Guide to Safe Scouting…a Guide.  I can reference information while hiking, at Pow-wow, Roundtable or at a Pack/Den meeting when asked a question.

I would love to see the Author of this App become BSA Licensed and get a great UI built into it.  I would also like to have an interface between Packmaster (other Databases too) that will allow me to update over the Internet.

I doubt that Troopmaster, INC will support the Mac OS or iPhone/iPad OS anytime soon.  That is a different set of discussions to have.  I suspect that either my Son, who is a Bear will get his Eagle first or Rush will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Either way, this App is a great start.

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First Aid Pack Meeting

Hot off the heals of December, I am planning the January meeting.
The new Cubscout Pack Guide meeting plans for January call for a Pinewood Derby theme.  Our Pack holds the Pinewood Derby later than most, so this meeting is not going to fit.

The latter months just do not seem to fit. What to do….

First Aid Theme.  During this last pack meeting several Dens talked about First Aid, how to be safe, what do to in case of and emergency…..

So, my thought is to work on Emergency Preparedness pin.  I did a meeting about my 10 essentials last year and being prepared is a core ideal within Scouting.  It’s not selling popcorn or trees, it’s knowing what to do when.

My idea is to have several stations within the gym that the boys will work through and gain skills.  In the end, they should have a built an emergency kit that they can have in their backpacks for school, hiking or where ever they go.  I have 6 or 8oz plastic spice jars that I bought for a now defunct BBQ Spice business that can be used.

My one thought is to have our new Den Chiefs help out on this and maybe teach a station.  While, the cubscouts won’t earn the Pin that night, they will be well on their way in earning it. They should however be able to complete it by the end of the year.  I know that our local Red Cross does have First Aid Classes for Cub scouts.  Also, several of our Den Leaders are actually trained in Wilderness First Aid and also one is a Physician’s Assistant.  I am slated to take the First Aid/CPR Red Cross coarse on Dec 27th.

Overall, it’s not about actually having the pin.  It’s about providing an enviroment for the Scouts to learn a skill that they can use.  Even if they do not use it all the time, when it is time to remember, they will know and will be able to help.

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Respect

The third Monday night is our Pack meeting.  I look forward to those with somewhat of fear and excitement.  Fear because it’s all me up there and I have to deliver.  Fun, because I get to be up there and do whatever I want to do.

I blogged about this Pack meeting on Dec 6th.  I had a plan and I basically stuck with it.  My point for this meeting was to tie in Scouting for Food, Scouting, how we treat others and ourselves.

If you read the BSA December Cubscout Pack plan, I basically used it as a guideline.  I had the Cubmaster Minute/Closing and played the game.  We also say Cubscout Vesper’s.

The that I used was for the boys to take cardboard boxes three-four at a time pushing against each other and relay them down the gym floor while holding them.  The boxes I brought were small blocks, so I gave everyone 7-8 of them.  It took some of the boys a little while and others immediatley got it and get started.  The lapse was, some started before I said go.    Not a problem.  All the boys figured it out and went with it.

Once all the boys had a chance to go through the process, I brought them into the half-court circle in the gym and started my talk about Respect.  I really tried and not preach to them, but ask them about what Respect meant to them.  I asked how they would show respect.  I also asked them if walking the boxes down the gym needed for them to show respect.

They boys responded pretty well.  Some talked about how using a shopping cart would have been better.  I pointed out that using the buddy system is sometimes is better than using a shopping cart since you might not have a shopping cart.  Plus you have to work together.   Some said there were too many blocks.  Which, I explained using the buddy system and communicating with eachother you could have figured out another way to make it work.

I then switched topics in how we help as cubscouts other people.  A Webelos I chimed in with Scouting for Food.  Exactly.  I asked what SFF is all about.  Several boys resoonded.  Yes, we do this as a service to others who are less fortunate than us.

I also asked, do we help eachother within the Pack?  Yes, said the webelos.  We put the SFF bags out to all the houses for Us, Bears, Wolves and Tigers.  Exactly.

Working from these points, I started to remind the boys about the Cubscout Promise and Law of the Pack.  I explained that we as Cubscouts are looked up to when we are helping others.  I also explained that our uniforms are a symbol of respect.  I explained that having a clean, tidy uniform that is tucked in and looks good shows respect.

It was then that I brought out five patches from our Council that is no longer available.  It had the words Character Counts on it.  These were patches that were in our shed and not used for 5-7 years ago.  I used these to award the best looking boy in uniform at that time.  My form of uniform inspection.

A strange thing happened.  They all started straightening their scarves, tucking in shirts and saluting.  Along with being very quite.  As I handed out patches, one hoping that the boy would continue coming and being neat, but also that they would be an example.  It was an encouragement for all of them to try again.

I reserved the last one so the boys would behave for the rest of the meeting.  I would award it to the one who showed respect.

I think that the mesage was taken as it was given.  Showing respect is something that needs to happen all the time.  Slip-ups are ok.

I like the idea of having fun uniform inspections.  Reward the boys for doing their best and they will show their best.

Finally, the ending ceremony of the meeting.  I had the lights dimmed, handed out the electric tealights aka lightsabers and started:

This is the season of lights. It is the time when the days are shorter and the nights are longer. But somehow the world seems brighter. Thousands of homes burn candles to light the way for the Christ child. Thousands more have candles burning to commemorate the miracle of Hanukkah. Thousands will be lighting the candles to symbolize the seven principles of Kwanzaa.

Even the stars in the winter sky seem brighter. But the most brilliant glow comes from the spirit of goodwill that you live all year through the Cub Scout Promise and the Law of the Pack.

We then closed with Cubscout Vespers and ended the meeting.

It was a good meeting. Respect, Scouting for Food and many ways we celebrate Christmas.

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Den Chiefs for the Pack

This week I got notice from our Unit Commissioner who also is the ASM of a Troop that we have two Boy Scouts who want to be Den Chiefs for our Unit.  One for the Webelos I and another for the Bear Den.

I am very happy since I have been wanting just one since summer.  We were offered ones for the Wolf and Tiger Dens, but after talking it over it would not be the best use of their time.  I suggested to the UC/ASM that she look towards another Pack that I know is wanting them.

Our Pack is not very up on what a Den Chief is are does or why we need them.  That I understand.  I forwarded a blog from Arlen Ward about he recent post about Den Chiefs.  It is a great article and has a link to the BSA website about the Den Chief Service Award.

It is my hope that the Den Chiefs and boys bond and learn from eachother.  It is also my hope that  our two units get to do more projects and outings together.  Also, it will greatly help the parents of the Pack to start to understand what Boy Scouts are and do.  It’s not Parent led, but Boy led.

I asked if the new Den Chiefs could attend our Pack Meeting this Monday so I can introduce them.  I know that there is the Den Chief Patch and Cord.   I will be off to the Scout Shop to pick those up and officially install them.  Wow…gotta find a good ceremony for this during the Awards part.  Guess the Denners get to swear them in!

 

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