Scoutmaster Musings

Last day to get an entry in for January's random Boy Scout Trail drawing for three prizes.

Hey, it's a lot easier than a Hot Dog Eating contest! All you have to do is type in your email.

Go to Scout Contest page to enter.

Prizes:

• $25 Scout Shop gift card
• $50 ClassB.com coupon
• Cobra Braid survival bracelet

Scout On

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Influence the decision by sharing your opinion with the national Boy Scouts of America leadership.

There are three ways you can get your opinion to the BSA folks working towards a decision on the national membership policy. As a member of the organization, in this democratic society, it's your responsibility to participate in the decision-making process. The BSA has set up these avenues for you to get your opinion to them - di it in the next couple days if you want it to count.

1. Email -NationalSupportCenter@Scouting.org
   


2. Phone - call (972) 580-2000
   


3. Web Form - complete the form at BSA Contact Us
   

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See BSA Media Statement

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Boy Scouts of America
Monday, Jan. 28, 2013
Attributable to: Deron Smith, Director of Public Relations

For more than 100 years, Scouting's focus has been on working together to deliver the nation's foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. Scouting has always been in an ongoing dialogue with the Scouting family to determine what is in the best interest of the organization and the young people we serve.

Currently, the BSA is discussing potentially removing the national membership restriction regarding sexual orientation. This would mean there would no longer be any national policy regarding sexual orientation, and the chartered organizations that oversee and deliver Scouting would accept membership and select leaders consistent with each organization's mission, principles, or religious beliefs. BSA members and parents would be able to choose a local unit that best meets the needs of their families.

The policy change under discussion would allow the religious, civic, or educational organizations that oversee and deliver Scouting to determine how to address this issue. The Boy Scouts would not, under any circumstances, dictate a position to units, members, or parents. Under this proposed policy, the BSA would not require any chartered organization to act in ways inconsistent with that organization's mission, principles, or religious beliefs.

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My biggest concern about bad weather when leading an outing is lightning. Everything else takes time to build, or is avoidable, but lightning is common, unpredicatable, and deadly. So, I keep a thought towards lightning when hiking, choosing a campsite, and scheduling activities.

You should begin to prepare for outdoor adventures by completing the online BSA Weather Hazards training. It takes about 45 minutes to go through the ten sections and print your certificate.
This training is a quick overview of potential weather dangers you may encounter on outings. Extending your knowledge about hazards in your area would be a good next step.
The training starts with a set of questions which is a good way to review what you already know. This is followed by ten sections, each with pictures and narrated text about the weather hazard and then some review questions or activities to check your understanding.

The sections covered are:

1. Planning
2. Lightning
3. Cold Weather
4. Hot Weather
5. Hail
6. Flash Floods
7. Tornadoes
8. Windsotrms
9. Weather Signs
10. Hurricanes

A complete tour plan requires someone currently certified in Weather Hazard training. Now, before your spring outings, is a great time to have everyone complete this training at MyScouting.org It might be a fun training topic at a troop meeting for all the scouts, or a crew meeting for the guys heading out on a High Adventure this summer.

The Weather merit badge pamphlet is another good resource for learning more about reading weather signs and anticipating adverse weather conditions on your treks.

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I always have a bandana along in the wild. I can't think of a more versatile item to have in my pack. It takes little room, weighs nearly nothing, and can be used over and over for many different tasks.

On my 2nd day hiking through Arizona, I used it to keep my face warm from the blowing snow - that was a surprise! Here's 10 uses, plus a couple dozen more - you may not want to use your bandana for the tasks in the order listed. :-)
Leave a comment if you have more ideas to share!

1. Keep dust out of your mouth
2. Warm air before breathing it in
3. Bind a wound
4. Filter debris from water
5. Wipe off sweat
6. Wash yourself
7. Soak and wrap around your neck to cool off
8. Protect your head from the sun
9. Strain food bits from waste water
10. Emergency toilet paper
11. Collect pop-tart or ramen noodle crumbs when you open the package
12. Blow your nose
13. Wipe your eyes
14. Dry your feet after crossing a stream
15. Signal a rescuing airplane, helicoptor, or boat
16. Fix broken tent pole
17. Hold up your pants
18. Hide your identity
19. Keep your ears warm
20. Ultra-light pack
21. Replacement kite tail
22. Capture the Flag flag
23. Parachute for nut-n-bolt soldier (untold hours of fun as a kid)
24. Plug a leak
25. Open a tight lid
26. Hot pot holder
27. Dish rag
28. Practice knot tying
29. Sling for broken arm
30. Binding for splint
31. Tourniquet
32. Hand warmer
33. Hat band
34. Leg gaiters
35. Molotov cocktail fuse

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Scout Sunday is sneaking up quick this year. It is the Sunday on or before Feb. 8 and that comes earlier in 2013. If you've not gotten to it yet, you're right down to the last chance to start planning how the Scouts can participate in your church's observance.

Individual congregations can hold their Scout Sunday on some other date in February if the pastor feels that would better fit their schedule.

There is a nice set of Resources for a service on scouting.org which might be helpful.

Scout Sunday is a great opportunity for your congregation to touch base with the Scouting community. Scouts helping with the service by ushering, reading, or praying are all ways to show the impact of Scouting on the youth of the church.

Scout On

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Don, John, and Denise won prizes in the monthly Boy Scout Trail giveaway yesterday. You can enter for this month on my Contest page.

Scouting magazine is having a giveaway this month also. One winner will get a two-person REI Cirque ASL 2 tent, a Kelty Mistral Minus-20 sleeping bag, and a Therm-A-Rest Z Lite Sol sleeping pad.

Click this Scouting Contest link to enter. Bookmark the link and enter every day to increase your entries.

Scout On

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