infoscouter

There are hiking safety rules listed in the new Sports & Academics book. You need a copy of the new book.

The methods of Cub Scouting are:

1.Character Development

2.Spiritual Growth

3.Good Citizenship

4.Sportsmanship and Fitness

5.Family Understanding

6.Respectful Relationships

7.Personal Achievement

8.Friendly Service

9.Fun and Adventure

10.Preparation for Boy Scouts

So its cool when boys have fun on a campout. It *is* a method - but as you can see, its not the only method. The program needs to be a balance of the methods, not all of just one thing.

A program that is too unstructured has a lot of pitfalls in it. First, believe it or not, is that the boys won't have fun. You'd think if you let them go without structure for a few hours they'd have a great time, right? Not really. For one thing, not as many kids know how to do unstructured play these days. For another, without some structure, they may actually get bored. Finally, for some boys the structure is reassuring. Face it - these are kids who spend 200+ days a year doing math at x time, going to lunch at y time, having Music class on Mondays and Art on Wednesdays and Gym on Tuesdays and Thursdays. All of a sudden giving them *no* parameters is actually scary.

Another risk is that the parents will be unsatisfied - something that can turn ugly. In general, they will perceive "unstructed play" as disorganization on the part of the leadership. (Even if its listed as free time). If they have attended previous pack events or district or council camps, they have an expectation that program (i.e. organized activities) will be provided.

Unstructured time with a large number of Scout aged kids can also lead to behavior issues. You risk fights, lost boys, injuries from boys running/climbing/exploring places they should not be. I know, I sound like a kill-joy. But one of your jobs as a leader is to keep them safe. If by using a stuctured program, you provide them with fun AND keep them safe and healthy then you've done a good job.

Supply has recently reintroduced some neckerchiefs which they claim are the "old" dimensions.

"Design reverts back to the standard larger size offering a variety of uses, as a sling, signal, bandage, belt, patrol ID, and more. Standard size is now 49.5 inch X 35 inch X 35 inch. Available in five solid colors featuring Universal Emblem embroidery and stitched-edge trim in complementary color."

Item # 64054-64058

Way beyond what you signed on for. You need to talk to his parents, ASAP.

Oops that didn't come out right - there should be an open space in the middle.

We like this arrangement, because it puts the Cubmaster within a few feet of the Scouts, allowing eye contact and helping increase attention. It shortens the distance the Scouts have to travel to reach the front for songs/skits/awards and uniform inspection. Also when their parents are sitting right behind them, the parents have immediate access to the Scouts for mis-behavior.

We use the layout suggested in the Cub Scout leader book. It is a horseshoe formation, with the boys sitting in the front row by dens and their parents sit behind them. Sort of abbreviate version below

P P P P P P P

P S S S S S P

P S S P

P S S P

P S S P

P S S P

CM

P = parent

S = Scout

CM = Cubmaster

In 20 years of being affiliated w/ our Cub Scout Pack, I've never seen a professional have anything to do with our Join Scouting Nights. Our pack has always run its own, and units are encouraged to run their own. Now, assistance is available if a pack needs it, but it is almost never from a paid staff person. Our district has a group of volunteers who will go and help a pack, if their leaders request it. Only thing the DE does is collect the $$ and applications, and even then, most of that is done by the Commissioner Corps and handed to the DE at the end of the night.

Check your council's web site and see what support they offer. Do they print flyers? Do they provide handouts for parents? In our council, each unit gets a crate from the council with a parent guide book, applications (youth and adult), signage, brochures, posters,etc.

http://www.northernstarbsa.org/JoinScouting/Recruit.aspx

We also have special web site where we can post information about our pack, and our recruiting events. A special page on that site, controlled by password, allows us to order fliers and other promotional material.

http://www.adventureiscalling.org/UnitDetail.aspx?unitID=1089

Ideally, your district has a volunteer membership chair, whose team includes one or more volunteer Cub Recruiting coordinators. See if they offer a recruiting training session (we do). If not, perhaps they can at least meet with you and give you a plan for your sign up event(s) and other suggestions and resources.

If your council doesn't have a lot of resources to offer, there are some materials on this page:

http://www.scoutparents.org/Resources.aspx

which you can download and print. And I highly recommend this parent guide: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/520-259.pdf

AFAIK, there isn't a BSA policy which says "these people can camp with the troop". The Guide to Safe Scouting says: "All aspects of the Scouting program are open to observation by parents and leaders."

So what is "observation" - may they camp, or just visit to make sure their kids are O.K.?

""Carefullly selected and extensively trained" makes me chuckle. We ask for volunteers and if their application passes the background check they are accepted. We then ask them to go to training. If some choose not to get training there is no recourse other than to find another leader but if no other parent is interested you stick with what you can get."

Really? You settle for that? Our leaders are selected using the BSA leader selection process and required to go to training. Some of our dens use a FastTracks type of approach, but most use Program Helps. We have 85+% retention and for the last 10 years have crossed over more than 90% of our Webelos to Boy Scouting.

IMO, part of the problem with retention and program quality lies in the fact that too many units **do not follow** the selection process as laid out by the BSA, and let leaders choose whether or not they will go to training.

The new Sports & Academics book doesn't define trail signs.

It lists these points of Hiking Safety.

- Always tell someone where you are going and when you will return.

- Never hike alone or at night; use the buddy system

- Dress properly for the weather and environment

- Wear sun and insect protections

- Take an extra pair of socks in case you need to change

- Obey traffic signs and signals

- Avoid hiking along roadways

- Stay on the trail

- Be alert to your surroundngs

- Don't litter as you hike

- Be alert to dangerous animals, insects and plants. Never touch a wild animal

- Take 1 pint of water for each hour you will be hiking. Never drink untreated water

They also link to: http://www.americanhiking.org/default.aspx

Permission slips can serve more purposes than just the permission to participate in an outing/activity.

They can serve as a communications device and reminder for parents and Scouts. If designed with a top portion with the event details and a bottom portion which is detached and turned in, the family now has a reminder of the event, the drop off and pick up times, and how to contact their Scout in the event of an emergency.

They can also serve as a committment form for the event/outing. The Scout who turns in a permission slip for a particular event is committing to participate in that event (thus becoming a sign up mechanism for the event)

So they may not be neccessary, but if designed and used effectively they can serve a good purpose.

There are guidelines for unit web sites:

http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/Home/Marketing/Resources/UnitWeb.aspx

And for units who use social networking sites:

http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/Home/Marketing/Resources/SocialMedia.aspx

However, as you stated, you can't really control what other parents do with pictures of your kid taken in a group situation. Or for that matter, proud grandparents! You can hope that they don't identify your kid by name, and that they control who can see the pictures. You probably can see the photos because you're a "friend" of the poster - or a "friend of a friend". Of course if the Facebook member has their photo access set to "everyone" then they're out there for the world to see.

I believe now when you upload, you get asked who can have access to the photos. I would hope that parents would care enough about their own child's safety that they would protect those pictures, and then by extension their friends.

We recognize three separate events. They may or may not happen in February at the B&G.

Awarding the Arrow of Light. This is done with a special ceremony, separate from the crossover.

Graduating from the pack. This recognizes the end of the Scout's career in Cub Scouting whether or not he joins a troop (although for the last 10 years, we've only had one or two Scouts in this situation).

Crossing over into a Boy Scout troop. This deserves a separate recognition from the other two events. While symbolic, it represents a significant event which stands alone. I know of several packs in our area which reserve B&G for the Arrow of Light, and have the crossover ceremony in March (in fact, three of the five crossovers in which the troop I serve will be participating are in March).

We made photocopies of the relevant pages from a copy of the new book, and let them tape to their existing books or tuck them inside the back.

From the online Boy Scout Handbook site:

Bugler

The bugler plays the bugle (or a similar interest) to mark key moments during the day

on troop outings, such as reveille and lights out. He must know the required bugle calls

and should ideally have earned the Bugling merit badge.

http://www.bsahandbook.org/PDFs/troop.pdf

Non-profits don't make a profit, they have a "surplus" ;-)

In our council the surplus helps pay the salary of the staff person who has to

- reproduce the registration packet for distribution

- enter the info about who registered in ScoutNet, record the money received, reconcile differences between money received and money owed, issue receipts to units/parents

- send all the registration info to the camp director (me)

- handle late sign ups

- and just help us make the event a great experience

And no - that's not the DE, its his assistant.

Then there are the people in accounting who issue the Purchase orders we need, and then pay the bills for craft supplies, patches, food, etc.

And the IS guys who maintain the web site where we advertise the event, and the janitor who cleans the building they work in.

It also helps pay the salary of the ranger at the camp, so he can make sure the facilities we use are up to date and safe and the BB-guns and archery equipment aren't broken, and that there are enough targets and BBs and arrows.

In most cases, the "extra" money in your camp or event budget (sometimes called a service fee or contingency fee) isn't a profit to the council - it helps pay the hidden costs that parents and unit leaders don't see that go into making the event possible.

In our council, for our fall and winter day camps, we also hire staff - another cost covered by participant fees.

Event fees pay for what it _really_ costs to run the event, not just the obvious expenses.

The female patch placement is an artifact when most females in Scouting were Den Mothers. At various times the Den Mother uniform had pockets on both sides of the front, or just on the left side (I have vintage uniforms in both configurations).

At the point when all female Boy Scout leaders were changed to the tan blouse (versus the yellow originally designed by de la Renta), the blouse was designed to look like the men's shirt. The yellow blouse also had a pocket added at that point.

I seem to remember that orginally the "above the strip" option only applied to female Cub Scout leaders. The inspection sheet was changed a few years ago to include all female leaders, and now apparently to all Cub leaders. I suppose this is because some female leaders feel the patch on the right pocket is too prominent, but I rarely if ever see anyone exercising this option.

Tried to post yesterday and had the password wrong.

Two Cub has it right - you may have to call. But the Southern Region office moved to Irving (along with all the other regions

Number is 972-580-2000

In addition, to the other things mentioned, I found having a few craft supplies (for a den flag) - fabric and markers. A Pow Wow book or two might be useful for theme ideas (although there will be a suggested theme)

Be prepared to sing, do skits, and general Cub Scout stuff.

If your council maintains a list of approved camping sites, camping someplace that's not may be a problem. However, there is a form you can submit to try and get the site approved.

http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34-65.pdf

http://srbsa.org/public/services/program/camping/2010/2010-ncs-schedule-all-regions.pdf - see p. 6

http://srbsa.org/public/services/program/camping/camp_school_resources/equipment-list.pdf - old but probably useful

http://srbsa.org/public/services/program/camping/2010/2010-ncs-broshure.pdf

Webelos Scouts are allowed to **visit** Klondikes and camporees - that is go and see what the Boy Scouts are doing. And the Arrow of Light requirement is to visit a Boy Scout oriented outdoor activity. So bchan has the right idea.

However, Twocubdad has the camping part right. Webelos Scouts can't _camp_ at those Boy Scout oriented outdoor activities. They could do requirement 5 as part of a joint Webelos/troop campout.

That photo was from a publicity opportunity the BSA and Oscar de la Renta put on, at the time of the new uniform design. Ms. Hall is wearing the female *Boy Scouter* uniform, not with Mr. de la Renta's hat, but with the previous overseas style hat.

The original 1981 uniform redesign had both female Boy Scout and Cub Scout leaders in a yellow blouse. Boy Scout leaders wore green trousers/shorts/skirts. Cub Scout leaders wore blue. A couple years later was when the tan blouse, with a strong resemblance to the male shirt debuted.

The collarless shirt was eliminated when the Oscar de la Renta uniform debuted, I believe. At that time the decision of a troop to wear or not wear a neckerchief was made optional.

While all Cub Scouts are supposed to wear a neckerchief, not all Boy Scouts do, many leaders do not, and Venturers generally don't. So a collarless shirt doesn't have much market in some of our programs.

In general I think most boys would reject one, unless it was more like a t-shirt, as being odd looking.

Scout units have no need for Roberts Rules. If you look at the Cub Scout leader book or the Troop Committee Guidebook, you will see the structure of a unit committee meeting. No where are the words motion, second, quorum or vote mentioned. Why? Because that's not how BSA unit committees work.

Each committee member has a job, assigned by the committee chair (who is selected by the Chartered Organization). The committee chair is vested with the authority by the CO to run the unit according to the policies of the BSA and the CO. The Committee Chair delegates responsibilities to the committee members according to the positions they hold. The body of the meeting consists of the committee, under the direction of the chair, reporting on what they have accomplished on their responsibilities the previous month. The committee then takes up new business, again based on their responsibilities and completes that part of the planning for the month which falls within their responsibilities. (Of course, not taking program functions from the Boy scouts or Cubmaster, depending on the unit. There is little or nothing which would require a vote.

Does a unit need **policies** regarding dues, Scout Accounts, parent recruitment? Yep. Calling them bylaws is a BIG mistake IMO. Why? Because it gives parents (and to some extent Scouts) the idea that these policies are indeed "laws". In other words - there is not a mechanism to enforce them. Other than the goodwill of the participants - there really isn't. There's no way for a parent to "appeal" to the council office, DE, or Unit Commissioner, if they don't like the way a unit is operating (unless we're talking about abuse or blatant violation of BSA policy)

The following are all covered by various BSA publications - including them in "bylaws" or even unit policies is superfluous:

Who sits on the committee?

How are they selected/vetted/approved?

How does the committee make decisions?

How are committee jobs chosen/assigned?

How does the CO/COR/IH interact and what are the reporting requirements of the unit to the CO?

How are unit leaders and assistant unit leaders selected/vetted/approved?

What are the training requirements for positions?

What is the term of office for positions? Term limits?

What are the procedures for handling "hard cases" like a decision to remove a scout for disciplinary reasons. What are the procedures for recommending removal of a leader, committee member or parent?

I serve on three different unit committees (and in one case have done so for 20 years). In all that time, I have never seen a need for anything beyond simple policies that cover dues & fundraising, parent participation and a few other things. Our pack policies are one page - and even some of those are redundant w/ BSA publications - we put them in since parents don't typically read the Guide to Safe Scouting.

I can count on one hand the number of times we have "voted" and even then, those votes were really affirmations of previously planned substantial budget expenditures or adoptions of the policy document itself, which had been extensively discussed and was a consensus document.

Ah - but National Supply has heard our cries. The standard Boy Scout neckers from the Scout Shop are now larger. There was an announcement in November:

"Design reverts back to the standard larger size offering a variety of uses, as

a sling, signal, bandage, belt, patrol ID, and more. Standard size is now 49.5

inch X 35 inch X 35 inch. Available in five solid colors featuring Universal

Emblem embroidery and stitched-edge trim in complementary color. "

We are now making our troop neckers in the same dimensions.