Exibar

While not exactly songs, I absolutely LOVE "audience participation stories". Google is your friend there on finding a ton of them as I'm not able to post a link right now.

Babbling Brook is a favorite as it requires participation of being a babbling brook and spitting out a mouthful of water... Scouts love that :-)

Mike b

Well, I picked up the extra Rank patches I needed yesterday. I'm pleased to say that the scout shop guy told me it certainly wasn't a problem to purchase a couple extra rank badges for lost or extra uniforms. He said it's only an issue when a leader comes in and has a handful of 7 first aid, 8 computer, 5 shotgun, etc merit badges and claims they are all "replacements".

He laughed a wee bit when I mentioned that I brought an extra advancement form and would be happy to fill it out for the replacement rank patches too ;-)

Mike B

We'll be basically "car-ing" in our troop, so they're on equal footing for packing in their gear.

I had one of my prelim meetings with the troop tonight, trying to get them excited about camping using the patrol method, or as some parents call it "the new way". I broke it quickly to the parents that they are "discouraged" from camping and I also mentioned that they are NOT prohibited but simply discouraged. I explained that if they must camp out, they will do so as a member of the "old goats patrol" and not with their sons. I got a lot of smiles and nods from the parents, I'm pleased ;-)

I must say, that the younger patrol is really shining. Their PL went to NYLT, and it certainly shows! He is really coming into his own as PL! Not to mention his APL as well, he was a quiet lad but he's coming out of his shell and taking on the leadership role well.

The older scouts are doing well also, they are taking a bit more motivation but certainly heading in the right direction.

I think the golden spoon is helping them and I certainly am happy to have that as an incentive.

wow, BSA's biggest myth is certainly "it only requires 1 hour of your time a week!" LOL

Mike B

We'll be camping in our camp that we're fortunate enough to have to ourselves. about 40 years ago the troop was lucky enough to have this camp ground leased to us for a dollar a year for 75 years. It's a really nice spot, with a "cabin" (drying house with firewood stove, and a few tables), huge campfire area, 2 latrenes, water access, pleanty of room for tents and what-not.

The patrol boxes are of the type that two scouts would carry over to their patrol camping area. I haven't seen these boxes ever used, and I don't recall ever seeing them in the cabin. But I'm told they have fold down sides, shelves, and would be about the size of what two scouts would carry.

the troop works pretty well together so far at least. Pretty much I'm gunna model it after my Outdoor Leadership Skills training and take it from there... see what happens :-)

what I'm thinking: The golden spoon would be awarded to the best patrol meal for each campout. At the end of the year, the patrol name gets put on a plaque perhaps named "golden Spatula" or something like that. I want this to be something that the boys WANT to win... I've found friendly competition brings out the best in kids, but only if it's fun :-)

I'm certainly trying hard and putting in a lot of time into the troop.. more so than when I was voted in as CubMaster 5 years ago... I'm hoping it pays off for the kids...

Mike B

I just wanted to spin off a new thread from a previous thread. I'm about to have my first campout as ScoutMaster, and thusly this will be my troops first campout as patrols. They've always had a sort of free for all campout, and the adults provided food, the most cooking that was done was a foil meal and that's about the extent of it. Breakfast was always bagles and donuts because the previous leadership thought cooking breakfast was too much work ;-(

Everyone seems to be looking foward to camping "this new way", even the adults (old goats patrol!).

Part of what I want to introduce is the "golden spool award" for the best prepared meal among the two patrols.

anyone have any other nice little incentives for the scouts for a campout? I want to make it fun for the boys, but they'll also be working on totin, firem'n, etc. They'll also have time to finish up their patrol flags (everything is better when you do it in the woods!).

I'm going to google to see if I can find a good list of what should be in the patrol boxes as well, but if anyone has a good solid list that they use, and wouldn't mind sharing I'd be appreciative. Yah, I have a pretty good idea of what should be in them, but a list to go by would ensure I don't forget to supply the patrols with some critical item I'm not thinking of :-)

thanks all!

Mike B(This message has been edited by exibar)

SF: Exactly my questions too! :-) I guess I could fill one out, and put Duplicate badge needed for second uniform shirt on the form.

I think I'll print out this scout's internet advancement record, bring that in, and just let them know that he's in need of a couple duplicate Rank insignia for Jamboree. I honestly doubt the fellow will refuse, but it is technically against their policy....

Mike B

here's my delema. Scout shop will only allow you to purchase Rank insignia with an advancement form. But what if a scout has 2 shirts? AND what if that scout will be going to jamboree for 2 weeks and will need both of these shirts?

I have an extra Rank badge for this one scout, so this is more of a "how do you folks handle this"? question. I'd like this scout to be in full uniform with his rank and patrol patch on both. but what of the scout store policy? How can I purchase another insignia without a rank advancement form for him without simply filling out a bogus one, which would be deceitful and not very scout like, so I don't want to do that.

thanks!

Mike B

absolutely not being a cold pail of water :-)

the scouts will be watched closely during the activity, and if they meet the requirements they'll be signed off on. Nothing will be signed off on unless the requirements are fulfilled.

Mike B

Page 3 of the new requirements. Sorry, forgot to mention if I saw it in the new or old document.

Mike B

Yes, agreed. If he doesn't fulfill the requirements on his own, he doesn't earn the signoff.

the webelos that have crossed over this year have been acting as a fully functional patrol while they were in Cubs. They're used to the Patrol method, and camping as a patrol for sure ;-)

Mike B

oh my... some of those PDF's that the BSA put out are just aweful :-(

Look at signaling and some of the poor scans from the original book. then look at the Semaphore flag codes... what is the code for Q R S and T? they're blocked out....

anyone else see this? or is it my machine that is rendering the PDF incorrectly?

I'm glad they're putting this out though! Some of my boys really want to get these done, now I have some processes to give them.

Mike B

Thank you all for the replies.

In my question I really meant my signing off as scoutmaster just as a generic term for anyone to sign off on the requirement as completed. I fully encourage my troop leaders to sign off on the requirements of their troops.

I don't know why, but just for some reason it seemed... well, odd?... to sign off on a first class requirement when the young lad hasn't made tenderfoot yet. Even though It appeared OK from everything that I see. That's one of the great and wonderful things about this forum, being able to bounce ideas and questions off of each other ;-)

thanks again! Until my next question! ;-)

Mike B

If one of my new scouts is Patrol grubmaster, and he cooks the meals for his patrol, can I (as Scoutmaster), sign off on req's 4a through 4e for Firstclass for him?

I would think I could, as multiple rank requirements for multiple ranks can be worked on at the same time, but just wanted to check with you fine folks first.

thanks!

Mike B

All excellent replies and advise. I'm still a new ScoutMaster for the troop, and I'm trying to make things better for the boys (not that the old SM was bad, I just want to improve upon the foundation he gave me). This was the one thing that came up at our PLC.

I'm going to re-read the replies and take the best bits and apply them. I did tell the leaders that respect is earned, not given and that it goes both ways. I explained a bit to them about that and they understood.

I also found the PowerPoint for the Troop Leader Training, I'm going to give them this training to help them along. Anyone know if there is a "teacher's" script for the course anywhere? If there isn't I can use the PPT slides as an aid for the training.

thanks again everyone, this forum certainly has certainly helped me through these early months after being CubMaster for 5 years :-)

thanks!

Mike B

I say an email invite with the SM/ASM/or SPL CC'd on the invite would certianly more than meet the requirements.

although, if a scout came to me and told me verbally that they invited Jake his neighbor to scouts but he didn't want to attend, that makes me happy and I'll gladly sign off on the requirement.

really an odd requirement if you ask me.... but I guess national wants to try and spread the word about scouting...

Mike B

How do you guys handle a situation where the younger scouts aren't listening to the older scouts that are in a leadership role?

That was a main concern that was brought to my attention last night.

I told the older scouts to come to me if they continue to have this problem. It's not just with one scout, it's with a bunch of them. Oddly enough (or maybe not too odd if I think about it)

, it's not the new crossovers they're having issues with, it's the scouts that have been in the troop a couple years now....

How should I handle that as ScoutMaster? I would normally have the SPL handle it, but he's one of the scouts that have this issue. What type of consequences should the younger scouts face if they dont' listen to a reasonable request that is made by the SPL or PLs?

thanks!

Mike B

Twocubdad you've hit it right on target, clearly and distinctly.

Mike B

Eamon, point certainly taken. There are certainly times where a practical joke here and there can be done without harm. Like the times that you mentioned.

It can be a fine line between a malicious joke, and a funny joke, and that is something that is very difficult to gauge and has to be on a case by case basis.

short sheeting a bed, tapping someone on the left side and quickly moving to his right side, etc... But even harmless fun can turn into a nightmare for some if repeated to the same person over and over....

It's certainly worth thinking about, and I guess it just plain comes down to moral values and how well we as adult leaders set an example for the scouts and how well the kid's are raised.

The attempt of a crime, is a crime, I'm sure you see those guys every day being a D.O.C officer. Attempted rape, attempted murder, etc. But we're not talking about anything that heinous here...

we do have to draw the line somewhere.

Mike B

ok Picture this...

You just were handed a bottle of apple juice and your about to take a sip of it, all the boys are laughing and pointing at you. How do you feel?

Your towel was just taken away from you while in the shower (presumed all your clothes too), all the other scouts are laughing at you and pointing at you. How do you feel?

The salt cover was loosened and you just dumped the whole salt shaker on your breakfast and have to throw out your food. All the other scouts are laughing at you and pointing at you. How do you feel?

You woke up and put your shoes on to find frog's eggs or pond slime in them. All the other scouts are laughing at you and pointing at you. How do you feel?

All the other scouts are laughing at you and pointing at you. How do you feel?

Scouting should be a safe haven away from harassment of any kind. There simply is NO place for pranks of any kind. You don't know what's going through that boy's head, sure he could be laughing along with you, but he may truly be hurt inside. Things like this can, and has, lead to children killing themselves from being bullied (harassed) at school. Scouting should be a safe haven far and away from any forms of harassment from others.

Any forms of harassment should be dealt with swiftly and harshly. The punishment should fit the crime as well. Putting goo in someone's shoes perhaps washing dishes for a while. But, making someone (or attempting) drink urine should be dealt with much more harshly leading up to expulsion from the troop if those scouts don't shape up quickly.

Attempting to make someone drink urine is almost the same regardless if the victim drank it or not. The intention was there, those scouts would have let the victim drink it, this certainly is not following the scout law.

Mike B

here is the link:

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa311/Exibar/scout-star.jpg

So between '75 and '85 there were patches that had the wrong rank embroidered on them?

These patches have the symbol for the Scout Rank, but they have the words written on them for the STAR rank instead.

Anyone see one of these patches before? It's a SCOUT rank insignia patch, but around the edge it is embrodered "STAR" rank instead of Boy Scout....

what would one like this be worth roughly?

thanks!

Mike B

So SCTDAD, what if it was your son's towel that was stolen and he had to run back to his tent naked? What if it was your WIFE's towel and she had to run back to the tent naked? Would it still be funny then? Now what if the tent was 500 yards away from the showers, through the main gathering spot? Would it still be funny then?

In this case it's Urine in a bottle.... What if it was your son that was given the bottle of Urine to drink ans perhaps told it was Apple Juice? I'll bet that you'd want the perpetrators of this "prank" severely reprimanded up to being thrown out of the troop....

Theft of any kind, and pranks are not allowed for good reason in scouting.

Practical jokes are only funny for those that are harassing someone else with one. They're rarely funny to the victim and thusly not allowed in scouting.

Scouting should be a safe haven, away from harassment like that, period end of story. There is no way I would allow anything like that to occur, nor should it be allowed to occur, this just adds undue stress to the victim of such needless jokes. Look at the boy you referenced, he was so upset he had to go home to avoid it. How is this following the Scout Law???? right, it IS NOT....

sorry, please don't take this as a personal attack, it is NOT meant as such.

Mike B

this is a spin off from another thread. If a scout is to be disciplined for a wrong doing, how can we reprimand them?

Would having them wash dishes for the patrol that night be considered "corporal punishment"?

I had two scouts hide on us when it came time to put the tables and chairs away at a troop meeting. I saw them and righ taway had them take two chairs out, put them in the middle of the floor then put them away. I then had them take two more chairs out and had the ASPL ask them to sit down. I told the boys that if they are caught hiding to get out of their duties again, that they will put ALL the tables and chairs away for a month's worth of troop meetings by themselves. The ASPL then told them to put those two chairs away and to go home as it was the end of the meeting and their parents were waiting for them anyway.

Could that be considered corporal punishment? I didnt' think it was, and one parent was standing right there when I reprimanded the boys.

How do you reprimand boys that misbehave out of the realm of "boys being boys"?

Mike B

anyone know of a free or inexpensive Wordpress theme for their website that is Scouting related?

I'm setting up our troops website and couldnt' find a scouting relevant theme anywhere :-(

thanks all!

Mike B