Elliot visits a Troop

Tuesday night, Elliot and his buddy went to their first Troop visit.   It was his first foray into Troop Life.  While he has been around Boy Scouts before, this was the first meeting.  Yes, he went to Webelos Woods in 2011.  He went to a day of a Camporee at Wapiti in 2009 as a Wolf and had a blast.  But, this was the first time he was there because he might crossover into this Troop in March 2013.

I did arrange it and get his buddy to come along with his Dad.  It was just as much for the boys as it was for the Parents.  While I think that I understand Troop life, it was good to see it in action.  There was no “Webelos Open House” type stuff.   I wanted normal mayhem.  We got it.

I felt myself wanting Elliot and his buddy to tie knots, learn First Aid, have a Scoutmaster’s Conference, cook something….nope, they played games and teased each other.  They talked to the Scouts, some of which came from our Pack this last March.

Yes, Elliot got bored in the beginning, but I get to meetings early.  He got questions, he was introduced to several people and he was himself.  Elliot and his buddy got brought up in front of the Troop and had to answer three questions.  What’s your name, What’s your favorite superhero and what kind of Peanut Butter do you like?

We got to see an Eagle Scout get his Official Certificate (ECOH is later) and a new Scout join and his swearing into the Troop and Scouting.

Then it was off to Troop life.  Scoutmaster Conferences, Advancement confirmation with Advancement Chair (my old Webelos Den Leader is now it!) and planning for a climbing weekend.  The younger scouts did playing and some working on skills.  Yup, its normal stuff.

The Dad and I got chatted up by many people.  They have a Parent Unit Leader who coordinates Parent involvement.  All the Dads came to say hello and introduce themselves.  I found that many of them were Cubmaster’s.  (Is there a Club? I want to join!)

I know the Scoutmaster.  He’s a great guy and it shows within the Troop.  We all got invited to go on camp outs with them.

On our way home, I asked what Elliot liked and did not like.  Apparently he thought there would be smore’s so he did not like that.  He like the Scouts and the games.  He knows that it’s up to him to decide.  He asked if we were going to see them again and see others.  I said yes.  He said ok.

Will he pick this Troop?  I have no clue.  Does he understand Troop life better?  I don’t know.  Do I have a better understanding of Troop life?  Yes.  From all the blog reading and podcast listening I have done, I have not been at a Troop Meeting.  I learned a lot.

Overall, I have seen Elliot mature a lot these past few weeks.  Tonight he matured again, but still was that goofy kid that I love.

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Finding a Troop

I know that this blog is read by a few Troops within the district.  Please do not read anything into this post.

It has been about fours years since Elliot started Cubscouts with Pack 221.  He is now a Webelos II.  I have been the Tiger Den Leader and now am entering my last year as Cubmaster.  It is that time to really start looking for a Troop.

While, I have been on that search since my second year as Cubmaster, Elliot has not.  Nor should he have.  Traditionally since we started with Pack 221, the Scouts have gone to one Troop.  Fine.   This last year, the Webelos II went to two different Troops.  The traditional and then one that took me by surprise.  I thought that another Troop had the lock on a few.  Nope, they all minus one went to one where our family buys the Christmas Trees from.  No worries. It’s a great Troop and my Webelos II Den Leader was made ASM.

Here is my worry.  Elliot might go to a Troop that is way more into High Adventure than he really wants.  He is not into a 50 Miler.  Unless it’s on a horse or maybe a kayak, canoe or a bike.  He’s not into HIKING!  He is much more at ease with car camping with some light hiking.

I need and want him to get into Boy Scouts so, those Older Scouts can help mentor him and have them teach him what he needs to know.  I am becoming a bore, burden and not fun in Scouting.  I know this.  He likes Scouting when it’s on his terms and it’s fun.  He has to go because he is the Cubmaster’s son.  It was good when he was a Tiger and Wolf.  But towards the end of Bear and in Webelos I I have seen the tide changing.

I get and understand that.  I have had to learn to pull myself back.  Only in the past two weeks, did I talk about Summer Camp.  I barely touched upon what he’s interested in as it relates to going to Boy Scouts.  He’s first thing he said, is that he would go if his buddies went.

I asked, which one he would like to go with.  Got the name.  Made perfect sense.

Now, with all my conversations with Scoutmasters, ASMs and others in the Internet Virtual Roundtable, I have listened to what they have said.  I have asked questions.  I think that I understand what makes for a good transition.   Hence, my ask of Elliot of who he wanted.  I briefly talked to that Scout’s parents.

A note about that Scout.  He’s good.  He’s one of those that you know will go all the way to Eagle.  I know this because as a Bear, he told me on the way to Summer Camp that year, that he cannot wait until he gets his Arrow of Light.  His Dad also told me that on a vacation through an airport once, they ran into a Troop flying through the Airport.  This Scout went and talked to them.  Asked a lot of questions.  That Troop took him in and answered them all.  I will be an Eagle Court of Honor.

All that being said, I ran into a ASM of a Troop today at the Scoutshop that I had not seen for a while.  Swapped stories about where we were going to Summer Camp.  Then I asked what Troop he was with again.  I asked what they were all about and what they did.  Got the location of the Troop Meeting.  Ok, not too far away.  Same area as we are, but closer than the Troop the Webelos II crossed over too this year.

So, tonight I started the process of reaching out to three different Troops.  One that the last Webelos II went to, and two others.  I have no real understanding of one of the Troops.  But, I know two of them.  Elliot will have a choice of about five Troops all together.  I really do not think that he will go to the two traditional ones.  Which is fine.  Both are good Troops.

Overall, I am trying to stay out of making the choice for him.  It needs to be his choice.  I know that once he moves on to any Troop, that at some point I will become a part of the Troop.  I have no real wish to be an ASM.  I would rather be a Committee Member at this time.  I will become a Merit Badge Counselor and continue on District Training Chair.  I will start the process on becoming more involved with the Troop for Board of Reviews as well as on the District level.  As District Trainer, I will focus more on the Cubscout Training as I see a huge gap there.

For me, it’s an exciting time for Elliot.  It’s a transition and turning point.  While he has had several choices put before him, this is the first of what HE wants to do.  It’s not, hey do you want to play soccer this year?  NO.  What about La Crosse. NO.  Piano? No.  Wii? YES.

Also, this year at Camp, I am letting him choose what he wants to do for electives.  Then, I will let him go and follow as needed.  Camp starts on this Sunday @ Noon.

See you on the flip side of Summer camp.

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The weekend of being a Dad.

  This weekend was our District’s Webelos Woods.  It was located up at Camp Cooper.  Camp Cooper has not been in the Boy Scout Summer Camp rotation since 2005.  It is now generally used by Troops for weekends, OA for events, Districts for their events and training courses.  It is where I went through Wood Badge in 2009.  In 2011, the second weekend of Wood Badge was held there.  Rumor has it that Camp Cooper is going to be put back into rotation for the 2012 Boy Scout Summer Camp season.
To me, Camp Cooper is a magical place.  It’s a place that I came to realize what Scouting is all about.  So, it’s special for me.

I first heard Webelos Woods was going to be put on at a May or June Roundtable.  The moment registration was open, I signed Elliot and I up for it.  I promoted it lightly within the Webelos I & II Dens before the end of school and towards the beginning of school.  For various reasons the Webelos I did not sign-up.  Think Sports.  The Webelos II did not sign up due to the fact that they went last year (to a different District’s Webelos Woods) and they had an invite from a Troop to go Crabbing this upcoming weekend.  I get that.  So, Elliot and I were the only ones going to Webelos Woods.  The Webelos II need to camp with a Troop for their Arrow of Light and to check-off other requirements needed.  The Webelos need to see if this is a Troop that they want to join.  It’s a natural process.

So, I was pumped to go, but Elliot was not really.  He said that he wanted to go, but swapped back and forth a lot.  After explaining what Webelos Woods is, what would go on there and the promise of going to a Waterpark afterwards, he said he would go.  Yup, I bribed the kid.  To which he said as I left his room “Dad, don’t take offense at this, but your kinda nuts about Scouting.”  I explained that I was not offended.  We both laughed about it.

Well, that’s a wake-up call.  Something that I have known for awhile.  I had laid off a lot of Scouting stuff over the summer, but I plotted about what “he” was going to do for Webelos.  Plus, I had worked up a lot of stuff via the Summertime Pack events that any Scout would be able to use as a requirement for their rank.

Towards the end of the Summer and the beginning of the school year, Elliot did work out both the Traveler and Aquanaut Activity Pins.  I have given him those pins.  He also has the Bear Summertime Activity Pin. These were paid by myself and not out of Pack money.

Going into Webelos Woods, I had planned on him earning the Outdoorsman Activity Pin.    In light of that conversation, I realized that I was not going to push it.  During the weekend, I point blank asked him if he wanted to work towards stuff.  He replied, No.  Clear answer.  Message received.  I stopped.  It was just a weekend of Dads/Moms with their Webelos son.

I spent time talking to other Dads and going through the Lo-Cope course that they had, which was completely amazing.  It was very Wood Badge-ish and I learned something that I am going to take away and use at the Pack Meeting. I also participated in the Webelos to Boy Scouts talk from the Scoutmaster.  While, I have seen this online and read a lot, I got a ton of information. Grouping both activities together, all the information came together on what to look for in a Troop for your son and how to NOT become a Helicopter Parent.   The Troop that was putting it on was there on display for the Webelos & parents.

So, for the rest of the weekend, I was Dad.  We had a great time. It was early in the weekend that this happened, so it was good.  Elliot was able to hang out with another Pack that I knew and he made fast friends.  So much so, he asked me to have a playdate with one of them.

Overall, the weekend was an eye opener on several levels.  This, is just the first one.  Being a Dad and not a Cubmaster or Scouteradam.

So, more to come on the other levels in the coming days.

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Top Ten List: #Scoutnation

So, this post is dedicated to the two fine fella’s of Scoutnation.  They are Shawn Cleary  and Bryan Spellman.  Both Scoutmaster’s.  One has a small Troop, the other about 120 Scouts.  As I pointed out in my last Post, as a Cubmaster and sometimes the Troop stuff gets lost on me.  However, when listening to the Scoutnation Podcasts and also Shawn’s other Podcast True North, there is a lot that I get out of it.

The one thing that I am going to focus on is how a Troop views Webelos and recruiting.  In both cases of these two Troops, they look to Webelos and Packs.   They are active within the Packs and willing to do something.  This can be a demo at a Pack meeting or going to Camporee.  Both very different, but vital.  Yes, being in a Troop and a Boy Scout is very fun and exciting.  But showing the Webelos and Cubscouts what is later after Arrow of Light and also having an Eagle Scout work with a Tiger is a huge cool thing.  Many of the cubscouts talk about being an Eagle, but sometimes they have never seen one.  Ok, Dad or Grandpa, but they are OLD.

Having a Troop take the time and work with a Pack also helps the parents understand what the difference is and will be once their son crosses over.  For that, both Shawn and Bryan go into how they deal with “Heliocopter Parents”.   They are the well-meaning Cubscout parents who have yet to detach.

Having the Troop perspective on Webelos & their Parents is a great insight.  It has helped me start to work towards conditioning myself when it comes time to crossover.  It also has allowed me to reachout to the Troops in my area.  I generally won’t wait for them to come to me.  I will go to them.  If a Troop is receptive of my communication and invites, then they get more time.  If not, well, then they don’t.  It’s their loss since I will have made up my mind about them.  As Cubmaster, I carry weight with the Parents and Den Leaders as to where I am going to go afterwards.

Before I start getting hatemail about how it’s not my choice, but the Boys’s Choice to where they go, your right.  It is the Boy’s Choice.  However,  as a father to my son, I will question him in why he likes one or the other.  This will be one of his first important decisions of his life.   I will take him to several Troops to see what they are like.  I will give him time to figure it out and will help him with his questions.  This could turn into being a hard choice for both.  However, it’s his Troop, not mine.   Point being is that I do have influence, but it is guided discovery.  As to the other boys and parents.  It’s up to them.  My son might not be into hiking in Philmont, but just camping in sight of the parking lot.  Who knows.  I really suspect that isn’t the case.

But as Cubmaster and being the Cubmaster’s son, people will notice. I know that as I write and post this, that there are Troops in my area that read this blog.  Please do not read into things one way or another.  I am going to be fair and give equal time to all. I will go where my son wants to go.

Overall, the Scoutnation guys have really helped me see Scouting from their side looking at the Pack system.  Good insight.

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Butchery

Alright, so this is not Scouting related. It’s more food related.  Why am I blogging about this in this Scout focused blog?  Try as I might, I cannot think of a way it’s Scout related.  Could it go for a Cooking MB? Maybe Tracking MB?  Or a Cubscout requirement after the Whittlin Chit for cooking?  Who knows.

But this is one skill that is being lost.  It did it while in Culinary School and in my restaurant career.  I love this skill.  However, I do not get a lot of chances to do it at home.  Generally, I will filet a Salmon or bone a chicken and BBQ it right there.

So, today when reading a local Weekly, I came across an article that got me to this website. PDXMEAT.COM  They have classes on it. This is what I have been looking for for awhile.   One of my jobs that I wanted at one time was to be a Butcher.  The job I wanted most was to be in a Bakery.

So, for all those out there who might be looking for a career change…being a butcher would be awesome!  You could even go up to Alaska and cut fish for a couple of seasons and make a lot of money!  I had a few friends do that in college for college.

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Treasure Hunt Pack Meeting

This Monday was our Pack meeting for May.  The Bears got their Rank and a few other Cubscout Bling.  The Tigers earned the Leave No Trace award along with some Tiger Badges and a Bobcat.  The opening was minus a flag, but we used all faced the direction of the School flag and did the ceremony.  I used my iPhone to help me with the Promise and Law.  It was all good.  For whatever reason, I just do not do it for the meetings.  We need to do it everytime.  In the Troop, they do it all the time.

So, this month, I invited Troop 41 to come help us do a Map & Compass Beltloop  activity.  Troop 41 has historically been the Troop that Pack 221 has gone to.  The Webelos have also have gone to Troop 221.  Many of the Den Leaders are now the Scoutmaster, Troop Committee and ASMs for both.

I introduced the Scoutmaster and he explained who he was, when the Troop met and several things that they do.  I wanted them to come for two reasons.  One, I wanted to get outside of the Gym and do something.  Secondly, I wanted the Boys to see what a Troop is and have their involvement.  The Troop really stepped up and made it happen.  Boy led all the way.  It was headed up by the SPL and 6 other Scouts.  Most all had their Arrow of Light and one was an Eagle.  I made sure to point it out.  I also asked what Cubscout Pack they came from.  They all said Pack 221.

The Treasure Hunt went off very well.  The Troop explained the Compass, Compass Rose, Cartography, Pacing and many other things.  I had asked to have them covered and they did.  We had 6 different stashes that the boys had to pace out, point the compass towards and walk it.  Now, it’s not a Geocache and the beads were not hard to find.  However, it introduced all the concepts to them.  The one great thing is that at the end, one of the ASM’s had chocolate coins for the boys and a golden star bead.  Not sure which was more interesting!

As BP said, “A game with a purpose.”  This had two or three.  First, introduce the Boys to a Troop.  Second, learn about Map & Compass.  Third, have the Troop use the Edge method.  Teaching something that they know to others.  The Scouts in the Troop were all what you expect when you say “Boy Scout”.  The Eagle Scout that was there, was an Eagle Scout.  He help remind my son several times how to act accordingly.  He was nice about it.  I talked to most all the Scouts during the whole event.  It was not adult to teen, but as a peer.  They were the experts and they were conducting the event.  I just sat back and watched.  I went around checking in with the Cubscouts and making sure things were OK.  They were.

This was Scouting at it’s best.  Up next is a Bike Rodeo with Troop 221 for June.  Our Den Chief’s are from there.

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The Bully #100daysofScouting

I started a blog post about how a scout within the pack has decided to leave due to what I believe is related to bullying.  I however could and can be wrong about this.  From what I have re-read in some of the emails is that he felt like an outsider because the boys did not include him in activities, others complimented their friends and is not good in sports.

Because of this, I have reached out to the parents of the Scout letting them know that I, as Cubmaster know and am concerned about them and their Scout.  While I am in charge of the program of the Pack, I am also to help guide the scouts in goodwill and support the Den Leaders.  This is such a case.

We as Scouters are charged with helping those within the Cubscout Pack to help them in Character Development.  Within the Cub Scout 12 Core Values, Compassion, Honesty and Respect are key.  These values are reflected directly within the Boy Scout program in the Scout Law. A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
As shown from Scouting.org’s website:
Compassion:
Being kind and considerate, and showing concern for the well-being of others.
Courage:
Being brave and doing what is right regardless of our fears, the difficulties, or the consequences.
Respect:
Showing regard for the worth of something or someone.

However, what can Leaders and Parents do about Bullying.  From the story from Scouting Magazine “The Troop Bully”.  “Find the PowerPoint presentation “Bullying: Prevention and Intervention Tips for Scout Leaders and Parents” at scouting.org/filestore/ppt/bullyingprevention.ppt.”  Hindsight is 20/20 and when reading the PPT, it is clear that bullying happens within the pack.  But it is also apparent that there are things that “WE’ as Scout Leaders need to do within the Pack.   Our Webelos and Bears recently viewed “It Happened to Me”.  While that was great and we got the boys to start to understand what Youth Protection is all about, we as Scouters (in any unit too) need to look at ourselves and be aware.

Because of this incident and what I have been reading, this months Pack Meeting will still go on as planned, but will include a segment of what the Cubscout Promise  and The Law of the Pack is and how we need to live it.  I am hoping to only speak about it for 5 minutes or so.  Call it an elongated Cubmaster’s Minute, but I will start it off with the Cubscout Promise and The Law of the Pack.

Overall, it saddens me that a boy has ended his Scouting life due to bullies.

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LVIII of #100daysofScouting

There are three Pack meeting left in our school year for Cub Scouts at our Pack.  Wow, what a year it has been.  It’s not over yet, but it’s winding down and we have accomplished so much.  Every year is completely different.    I have no idea what next year will bring.  Do I have a plan. Yes, in general.

Today, I went to the Scout Shop and started poking around.  I picked up several items, but put them down.  I figure that I will get them on Friday.  I need to get my son his Webelos Tan Shirt & green pants, myself another shirt along with all the correct patches.  I thought about getting him a Webelos Hat, but they have a cool hat with lights on it.  It’s Blue with the BSA logo on it.  It should work just fine for Scouts and also family camping.  He loves flashlights…;)

Secondly: I also went upstairs to where the District Execs hang out.  I had a really good talk with one of them.  It was about how Troops operate and work.  This is about some of the local ones within my District.  One’s that my son and others “might” go to when they crossover in 2013.  Our Pack has been a feeder pack for two Troops and it’s my job to make sure that the Pack has Troop involvement so the boys can make up their minds on which one to go to.  Can I influence the boys?  Sure.  Do I want to? No, not really.

By that I mean, I am not going to play favorites.  It’s not my Scouting experience that is at stake.  It’s theirs.  Which brings to me to an odd cross road.  This morning as I was getting ready to head out I listened to Cubmaster Chris’s Podcast “An Hour a Week #256″ In there, CMC talks about how he is working through issues of how he has prepared the Cubscouts for Boy Scouts.  Did he do it right?  This was also commented to my by the DE today.  Though, it was in a fashion of how the boys made the transition from the Pack to the Troop and did not realize the difference and that made it hard for them.  They ultimately left Scouting because it was not Cubscouts.

Now, this is two different people who both love Scouting, but are geographically apart.  I suspect the DE does not know about CMC.  It got me thinking.  There are Trail to First Class.  Trail to Eagle and a Crossover.  But, there really isn’t any Webelos to Boy Scout Trail. (that I am aware of).  The parents/Den Leaders are just doing their best to get the boys through the meeting and requirements.  In Boy Scouts, it’s the BOYS who do it.  It’s almost like waking up on your 18th birthday and POW, your a legal adult but in someways still a kid that is learning.

I do not have an answer to all this.  However, it’s made me realize that I need to pay attention to it.  I need to call it out to the boys and parents within the Pack that it’s going to happen.

Finally, I have two things that I am going to do (hopefully) at the next Pack meeting besides what is already planned.  We are going to have another Uniform Inspection.  It’s going to be the Adult Scouters and Scouts.  The Adult Scouters are also going to do the Flag Ceremony.  This should show, how a uniform needs to look like and also how a Flag Ceremony is performed.  Along with that, I am going to re-introduce the Beltloops to the boys.  I did it last year and blogged about it.  I am also going to explain the BSA Family Program. I believe that my Webelos I Den Leader has been working with it for awhile.  I also think I bought a copy of it.  Since Cubscouts is a Family program, this should help spark things for the whole family to do.  I know that sometimes I just try to think of things to do and I just sit there.  The one great thing is that it’s spring and it’s Baseball Season.  A lot of the boys are in Baseball, even LaCrosse.  This allows them to make more new friends and do other things.  I completely encourage boys to do that.  I told them last year that if there are things that excite you outside of Scouts, that more than likely it will count for rank advancement within Scouting.    It’s not ALL or NOTHING.  It’s Everything.

Overall, Scouting should not conflict with outside interests.  Those interests can include Scouting.  It’s an additional outlet to help boys grow and learn.  It’s year round with seasonal things thrown into it.  Learn the system within Scouting (by this I mean Girl Scouts, Campfire, Blue Bird, Venturing, Sea Scouts. Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts) and you and your son/daughter will flourish.

Remember, it’s a game with a purpose.

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Webelos & Den Chiefs: XXIII of C #100daysofscouting

Our Pack has two Den Chiefs.  We are getting off to a slow start, but that is to be expected since we are all new to this.  I am not worried.  One of the things that I am hoping is that both Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts is that they help eachother.  The relationship between the Pack and Troop can only grow stronger because of it.  The understanding of the Cub Scouts will get shaped by the Den Chief. The wonderful thing is that while one teaches the other, they both earn rank requirements and also have fun.

In the past few days both sides have expressed communication issues.  Again, understandable.  Today’s blog post is a reply from my Webelos I Den Leader to the Den Chief.  The WDL copied in everyone since it is what I asked due to Youth Protection.  Below is the email.  I have changed the names due to Youth Protection.  What I like about this email is how the structure of this Webelos I Den is working.  What the Den Chief can provide and what the Den is doing.  This is a Webelos Den Leader and Den that gets Cubscouts and Scouting all together.

On Mar 1, 2011, at 12:37 PM, Baden-Powell wrote:

T. Perez — hope your exam and report went well a couple weeks ago!  We are
excited to have you as our Den Chief.  I’m hoping you will be able to
join our den this coming Monday at 6:30 pm at the Gilwell Field.
Unfortunately, I will have to be away that night on business,
but our co-den leader James L West will be there.  I’m not sure if you
got my message about helping introduce the boys to the Boy Scout
program.  The boys are almost done with their requirements for the
Webelos badge but we still need to learn about (but not memorize at this
point) the salute, sign, handshake, oath, law, and motto.  I think it
would be a great way to introduce you if you would tell them about what
you do as a scout and what you like best.

Typically, we start the meeting with the Cub Scout promise and then go
over some logistics — calendar and so forth.  James will lead that.
Then we could introduce you and have you talk about the scout stuff.
What do those things mean and how do we apply them in life?  The boys
are 10 with shorter attention spans, so brief is good and anything you
can do to make it more like a game would be great.  I’d like you to
especially focus on the loyal, helpful, friendly, and courteous parts as
we are having a little issue with bullying and disrespect that needs to
be addressed.  James will say a few words about that and I’ll reinforce
it the following week.  Then they’ll play a game.  Typically, we have a
cub denner who chooses the game and brings a treat, but I think we may
have run out of scheduled denners at this point.  Perhaps you or James
could lead a group game?  Please let me know asap if this will work as
we’d need time to arrange something else if you are not able to attend.

I’d also be interested to hear if you have any special things you would
like to lead or help lead in future meetings — hobbies, interests,
skills, etc you would like to share.  I have a few ideas.  One would be
to build on the first aid you started in the January pack meeting so
they can earn their Readyman pin.  Another is to build on their cub
scout “Leave No Trace” to learn the Boys Scout outdoor code.  I’m trying
to schedule a March 18 (school is out) morning tour of the Salem Capitol
building and then a noon hike (Silver Falls?).  Perhaps if you are
available you could help do some outdoor code then?  Check your schedule
and let me know your thoughts.  When you email me, please copy your
parents, scoutmaster, and James L. West (FOS@BSA.ORG).  Thanks.

Lord Baden-Powell
Pack 221 Webelos I den co-leader

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A Game with a Purpose

Today was our second Woodbadge Staff Development meeting.   A lot was covered and explained.  My head is exploding on what the Troop Guides get to do.  A lot of information of what I went through is flooding back into my brain.

I am very excited.  The Troop Guides grew closer as a team today.  The principles of Woodbadge are very evident during the day.

We now have 50 slots out of 56 filled.  If you are thinking of signing up for Woodbadge W1-492-11, DO IT NOW to confirm your slot!  You will have a lot of fun and learn a lot.

Suffice to say Baden-Powell said it best “Scouting is a game with a purpose”.

 

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