Scoutmaster Musings

Looking for something worthwhile for scouts to do over their Christmas break to fill some of that down time?
Through December 31, the Red Cross is offering FREE online first aid and CPR training.
It doesn't result in any certification, but it's a great way for your troop to learn, review, or brush up on their first aid knowledge.
See Red Cross page for info and free registration.

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Well, maybe not 'talk', but at least write or type!
There are over 700 Scouting groups looking for Pen Pals on the Pen Pals page. There are over 700 international Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, and Boy Scouts units looking for new friends to exchange greetings.
Many scout rank and merit badge requirements ask the scout to interact with other people in their community or around the world. Here's a great way to connect with other scouting groups out there.
Even if you aren't really looking for a Pen Pal, other activities can be more fun when done with scouts far away. For example, the new Code of the Wolf requirement #4 to send a coded message would be way cool if sent to a fellow scout in another state or country!
Or, the Building a Better World Arrow of Light requirement #10c to find a brother scout unit in another country can be done here.

Sign up your unit, find some Pen Pals, and start talking! (or writing)

Scout On

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Any advice from all of you about what you think of the situation in which a First Class scout named Robert finds himself? Please leave a comment that might help him out.

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hello, I am a first class scout. I wanted help and advice. My parents showed me your website.
I joined my troop 9 months ago and recently made first class. I made first class because I am very motivated and have worked hard to earn the rank. I went to two summer camps and participated in every activity and event the troop offered.
I asked my scoutmaster for leadership projects three times and presented a proposal. He denied it because he feels I am going too fast. Being a scout is very important to me and it is not that I want to go fast. I am very goal directed and plan to be in scouting even if I earn Eagle at 14 which is my goal.
I don't know what to do. Other scouts have been appointed by scoutmaster for positions when they were scouts and tenderfoot but for me he is preventing me from advancing. I guess I wanted to know what you thought.
Thank you.
Robert

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So, can you give Robert any advice before I add my thoughts tomorrow?

Scout On

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The successful Scoutmaster is a big brother to the scouts in his charge.
His role is important but, when done correctly, appears to be easy and not very crucial to what is going on.
These 10 skills will help a Scoutmaster succeed in his role:

1. Fire Starting - Every boy likes fire. A scoutmaster able to create a fire with flint and steel, magnifying glass, battery and steel wool, bow drill, fire piston, ferrocerium sparker, ... gives scouts something to shoot for. Demonstrating the mystique of creating fire in so many ways shows scouts there are many ways to accomplish a goal. See Starting Fires page.
2. Story Telling - Sitting around a campfire, after the scouts have run their campfire program, has been some of the most fun I've had in Scouting. A campfire without stories gets boring fairly quickly.
   Having a few stories ready to prime the pump of the scouts' imaginations, and being able to tell them well, keeps these times interesting and entertaining. Hearing an experienced scout tell a tale to younger guys and realizing he had first heard it from me a few years earlier is one of those fine rewards we get.
3. Walking - Being in good shape so you can walk around camp with the scouts, backpack, and participate in day hikes is essential to fulfilling the role. Walking is the way scouts explore the wild places and that is where we need to be.
4. Iron Stomache - Some scout concoctions created for cooking competitions can cause cancer, canker sours, and cardio concerns. Scoutmasters, often asked to sample food, need to be able to digest a wide range of flavors and textures.
5. Sense of Humor - Knowing whether to laugh or cry will keep you sane, or at least help a bit. The more broad your sense of humor, the more you will enjoy scouts.
6. See Silver Linings - It's easy to view every lashing project that falls apart, every burnt meal, every 57-match fire, and every mis-navigated hike as a complete failure. A scoutmaster sees the one knot that held, the cajun flavoring, the 193 extra matches in the box, and the extra map and compass work as successes.
   It's those small successes that gradually build on each other until a scout is self-sufficient. He doesn't join the gang as an expert - if he did, scouting would offer him nothing.
7. Listening - Scouts, being boys, often don't communicate effectively or even in complete sentences. A grunt, shoulder shrug, or look of the eyes may be all a scout has to say. Being able to listen to this, and hear what's being said, helps a scoutmaster be that big brother needed more by this sort of scout.
8. Sit On Hands - Whether it's an exciting game, food preparation, setting up a tent, or leading a meeting, the scoutmaster that can refrain from getting involved is a step ahead. The fun, challenge, and success of Scouting is for the scout, not the adult volunteer.
9. Live Vicariously - Since the scoutmaster refrains from direct involvement in most scouting activities, he must enjoy watching the accomplishments of others. Some adults push their children too hard to excel and the scoutmaster can't do that. He should make opportunities available, encourage scouts to achieve, and appreciate their attempts. Visiting with past scouts that are home from college, and believing that Scouting has helped prepare them for life, is about the best pay I could expect.
10. Selective Deafness - This is most valuable at night. If you can't sleep through snoring, night noises, and giggling, you will be a grumpy, old scoutmaster way before your time. Ear plugs are an alternative if you are still working on this skill.

What other skills have you found especially helpful in your role as a Scouting volunteer?

Scout On

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Here are two Word Doc files that might be useful to Cubmaster Ramon and anyone else tasked with filling out recognition item paperwork for a large Pack.

When a scout completes one of the new Cub Scout Adventures, he receives a belt loop or pin for recognition along with a pocket card documenting the adventure he completed and date. Writing in the information for dozens of scouts can be quite time consuming, so I created a Word doc that is formatted so it prints the content in the appropriate positions to fill out a sheet of 8 Adventure Pocket Cards.
DOWNLOAD the Adventure Pocket Cards document.

The new Pocket Cards stock are HERE

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Each rank also has a pocket card for documentation. Purchasing adventure pocket cards and rank pocket cards by the sheet is less expensive than individual cards. Even if you have only a few scouts advancing at a time, printing in all the Pack specific info will make the cards look better and save you time. You can just leave the date and scout name blank if you don't know who it's for yet.
DOWNLOAD the Rank Pocket Cards document.

The new Bobcat Rank Cards stock are HERE and all other ranks are available, too.

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Visit RocketIntoScouting.org to sign up for Cub Scouts in Minnesota or South Dakota.
All area elementary schools are scheduled to have Scout representatives on hand from 7 to 8pm on Sept. 17. Let your neighbors with elementary school age boys know about the opportunity.
Scout On

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Cubmaster Ramon is trying to make the new Cub Scout Adventure recognitions a bit easier to administer in his Pack. He has a request from all you fellow Scouters...

Have you created a mail-merge, fillable PDF, or other such document into which you can enter Cub Scout names and print onto the new Cub Scout Adventure Pocket Card stock purchased from ScoutStuff.org? The cards look like this.

If you have such a beast, and would share it, please send it to me and I'll post it for everyone.
The new Pocket Cards stock are HERE.

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Check out my current location on the map. I ran into Jeff and Gracie the Amazing Hiking Dog on the trail. They were out doing trail maintenance and are Scouters from Charlottesville. We had a nice chat and walk, and he gave me a coke. Thanks for the snack and all your efforts for the trail community!

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Entered the shenandoah park. No bears yet, but saw a huge deer. Coverage is getting worse so I may not be able to get posts out. Met a scout and his dad doing their 50-miler hike. They might make it to the shelter I'm staying tonight.

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Oops - here's the pic.

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Check out my current location on the map. Here's a nice view for lunch! I'm at Bears Den rock and hope to go 10 more miles this afternoon.

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If you've been involved in the new Cub Scout program over the summer, I expect you've probably come up with some neat ideas for some of the adventures. If your Pack's program year starts in a couple weeks with the new school year, then you're getting ready to lead scouts through their adventures on the way to earning ranks.

There are hundreds of other den leaders out there that are also doing their best to make this scouting thing fun, interesting, and fulfilling to the scouts in their charge. They could really benefit from hearing what works for you, what games and activities you did to support an adventure, and any planning tips you have.

I'd like to hear what you've come up with, too! I'll add your ideas to each adventure page so others can use them. To encourage sharing of ideas, each month I'll give a $25 scout shop gift card to one person from those that have shared ideas as described on the Share Ideas page. The first card will be given in October since that's when I'll be getting back from my Appalachian Trail hike.

Share a useful idea, help some fellow volunteers, and maybe win a prize!

Scout On

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