Eagle74

Check with your local FD to see if they offer a fire-safety program that is or can be tailored to fire-safety as related to Boy Scouts. Another source is a Dept. of Natural Resources (or whatever it's called in your locale) ranger. Speaking from my fire/emergency services background, ask for details about the program before you accept. Many have a canned program that will not relate well to boys in Scouts - safe and proper campfire setup, safe fire starting, etc. I would steer away from a program that emphasizes the "fear factor" to extremes or includes live demos of things like lighting h

Leadership is not about teaching. Leaders do teach but teaching is not the essence of leadership. OK The essence of leadership is to command. The essence of leadership is to lead. The essence of being a commander is to command. A commander is not necessarily a leader. This means that you don't have a clue on what leadership is. Pot calling the kettle black?

Thanks for the input and suggestions.

Second Class: 8. Participate in a school, community, or troop program on the dangers of using drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, and other practices that could be harmful to your health. Discuss your participation in the program with your family. The boys attending our public school system meet this requirement by participation in the D.A.R.E. progam through the schools. Our troop membership includes a significant number of home-schooled boys. There is currently no "program" of this type in which they participate. At my suggestion, one of the home-school parents had spoken with the sc

And an informative spin it was.

Last summer was our troop's first at Crooked Creek. Before deciding on CCC, my wife, younger son and I checked out CCC and McKee. McKee was in the middle of a major renovation project, but most of the aging facilities still existed. We decided that CCC was the better bet of the two. For the previous six years or so we went to Chief Logan in southeast Ohio. As a scout I went to Camp Friedlander (original) on the east side of Cincinnati. As an ASM in the late 70's, early 80's took in a couple of others. We have not been to summer camp at the new Camp Friedlander, but are very familia

It's a deal. I'll buy :-).

Our troop will be there the week of July 11, but I'll not be making the trip this year. As the ASM for the NSPs and since my son decided to go to Crooked Creek this year, I'll be doing Crooked Creek the week of June 29. It was also a little too much for me to get two different weeks off work two weeks apart; plus I plan to be in the middle of a major home remodeling project during that time. I think I'd rather be going to Haliburton, but being the martyr !!!??? I'll take the hit this time around. We have given serious thought to either having the entire troop go to Haliburton next year

Thanks mk9750. The seed was planted a couple of years back by one of our former committee members who had been to Haliburton with one of his previous troops. He and former troop had nothing but good things to say about the experience. This is the year we make it happen, as the PLC decided last August that there were enough boys interested in putting forth the extra effort needed to make the trip. We are blessed with a number of adults who are well qualified as merit badge counselors. But, as BobWhite mentions in one of the other threads, our aim with Haliburton is more to take i

Generally, I also find that some summer camp merit badge sessions suffer from a race to finish in a week or lack of focus on the individual scout's knowledge/skills/abilities due to the group teaching approach. Several of our Scouts have started various merit badges at summer camp and gained partials, only to have the local merit badge counselors who they go to to complete the requirements find that them lacking because they did not really complete requirements or exhibited poor (or no) knowledge. Some summer camp merit badge counselors do an excellant job, others leave much to be desired.

Our troop will be doing two summer camp experiences for the boys this year. All troop members will be able to attend camp at Crooked Creek in KY. 1st Class and 13 y.o. can attend camp at Haliburton in Canada (either; or; or both). Anyone been to Haliburton? Pros? Cons? Likes? Dislikes? Advice? It sounds like a great place for camp, but we have no prior experience and limited references.

Congrats also, from the Eagle Class of '74. You should be rightfully proud of your successful completion of the Trail to Eagle. Reflect now upon what it took to get there and the support and help you received along the way. Then begin the Eagle Trail, a trail of service to others, a trail where you give more than you received. You are at a pinnacle from which you will jump and soar high; high where others will look up to you. Your new trail follows the sun, moon, and stars. The Eagle Trail is the one you will follow for the rest of your life, facing new challenges with courage,

My apologies mk9750. I just had time to reread your post thoroughly. It would actually be just the opposite. "If the person to be lead has no need to be taught, coached or convinced that the leader should be the leader, or that that task must be done, directing can be an expediant way of accomplishing the task." This would indicate any of the styles other than directing. The simple way to think of it is that directing is a task-level, hands-on, instructional approach. In your example, you would take a "here's the goal/objective, make it so, let me know how it goes" approach. "If

OK craneace, I answered your first question even though I saw no compelling reason to do so. As for your second set; goodbye and good luck, for I too question your (unannounced) agenda. BW, I liked that; that was good.

In a nutshell that's pretty much it. Just realize that the goal (usually) of directing is to move the learner (or subordinate) to the next level of development which allows the leader to move on to a higher - less directly engaged and usually more efficient - level of leadership. Unfortunately, some followers/learners never move forward in their developmental level - they always need to approached with a directing style of leadership. And conversely, some leaders never move out of the directing style - they are often called micromanagers. Also, the style of leadership usually needs

Ok, Ok. Slaphappiness aside: Baptized Catholic, raised Lutheran, attending United Methodist church on a less than regular basis at the UMC that is our troop's CO, but still consider myself Lutheran at heart.

Close. Do I detect a disdain for Cincinnati Chili? How about "Sliders" or "Belly Bombers"? That was my close second. (That would be White Castle hamburgers for those of lesser cuisinary experience.) Cuisinary - is that a word? lasteagle83, would that be a directing or coaching style of leadership? Have we totally destroyed this thread yet?

OGE, right on the mark! Was that a veiled shot at me?! I'm appalled! I throw down my neckerchief - scout knives at 20 paces! Or better yet - wood badge woggles at 50 paces. Cincinnati-style Chili. I know, I know. What in the world is "Cincinnati Chili"?

Sorry, I have no idea what happened to the description of #4 in my post above - maybe a directing or coaching style of leadership from someone would be appropriate! Here is what it was supposed to be: #4 The Scout knows knots and lashings, has built a towel rack before and is good at pioneering. "We need one at each of three wash stations. How about it?" "Mr. Patrol Leader, have somebody else do them, I want to go fishing." "Our campsite inspection is in 30 minutes and nobody else is available right now to do it; they're all busy doing other things. Can you help me out?" "Only if I

Situational Leadership - Four Examples, the first of which is Directive: "Follower" - First year Scout, very new, no previous Scouting experience. Task - Build a (lashed) Towel Rack Task Knowledge - Low, has never seen one before, has never built one before, has never seen anyone else build one. Transferable Skills - Low, can do square knot and tautline hitch, but hasn't yet learned clove hitch or lashings. Motivation Level - High, wants to do it, willing to learn anything. Confidence - High, "I can do this". Developmental Level of Scout (based on evaluation of

Something to think about: If what is posted in this thread by BW (and others on that side of the fence) is true, is not the organizational chart posted in another thread upside-down?

Thank you dsteele. An underlying implication here has been that the directing style of leadership is "bad". It is not. It is simply one of four styles, all of which are appropriate when applied appropriately based on the situation. Hersey and Blanchard developed their Situational Leadership principles on the basis of research that concluded that there is no one "correct" or "best" style of leadership - the most successful leader has a "style of leadership" that fluctuates and adjusts to the development level of those being led. I hope to have enough time soon to post some more on this.

Eagle Scout - Class of '74

Positive reinforcement encourages and helps individuals along to the next level of behavioral development. Also, with further development of followers, leaders will find that they can change their style of leadership; moving from directing to coaching, coaching to supporting, and ultimately from supporting to delegating. Some pointers for positive reinforcement: - Praise immediately. Praise when the positive behavior is observed. - Be specific. Specifics show you really were paying attention. Tell them exactly what is was they did well. - Don't add more work. We of

Much like you I am satisfied with and much happier with a simple "thank-you." But, I think of it the same way as I think of a funeral. Funerals are for the satisfaction of the living; it doesn't really matter to the guy in the casket whether it's a simple goodbye or a lavish affair. Somewhere along the way I learned that my gracious acceptance of a thank-you or gift often times gave as much (or more) satisfaction to the giver than the gift did to me. If your wishes are taken to heart, great! If not, smile, graciously accept, and move on. I affectionately tell my wife that at