jhankins

Trainerlady, I'm sorry your Wood Badge experience wasn't fulfilling. I agree with your PTC is an excellent place to train.

That being said, all Wood Badge courses aren't created equal despite National's best try to make it so. It's disheartening that you had such an experience. I rarely hear such stories, but understand I am blessed with my council's sincerity, creativity, and dedication to providing the very best training possible. The staff here for such courses are considered carefully, educated, and pour their hearts into giving the very best to the participants on the course, not the cult or religion of Wood Badge (as some call it).

I would hope that you find peace in knowing that others are learning heaps from the program and find it beneficial for more reasons than just 2 wooden beads.

Like I said, it's not meant to replace your normal worship, the purpose is to unite Scouts under the scouting banner and to be another method of learning to apply the Scout Oath and Law.

John-in-KC's position neglects to remember the teachings of Christ that are commandments with a promise, such as loving your neighbor as you love yourself -- and I feel are detrimental the unity of Scouting.

"The Boy Scouts of America maintains that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God."

Why do we include religious services? The BSA is ABSOLUTELY nonsectarian in its attitude towards religious responsibilities. Not Nondenominational- nonsectarian. There's a difference now days. Nondenominational terms have been taken over by most Christian churches to mean: Christian, but not of our faith.

Nonsectarian is used to denote a group that doesn't favor one world religion.

IFWS are designed for the boys to have yet another chance to play the game of scouting, have fun with their faith, and learn to be courteous and kind to people of other religions. What you call odd or weird may be a wonderful part to another Scout's religious practice.

There's one religion in particular that can't say the Pledge of Allegiance. The Pledge violates their allegiance "only to God." While this boy can't be a Scout, we should be tolerant of this and teach the boys that while we're all different in our faith, we still deserve respect.

Some religions must wear a hat at all times. To ask them to "Remove your hat to pray" is not something they would do, but by not takiing off their hat when told would be a bigger problem than recognizing their diversity.

What about when a boy at a campout is forced to taste a particular food that he shouldn't partake in because of his religious beliefs? Are they "odd" for that, or should we respect their differences, and include them in the education of our boys?

There's two ways to approach the service in my mind, and I've planned and led both: 1) a mixed religion service with scripture and songs from the religions present and 2) a generic service. You have to take into account that yes, not all needs of all religions will be met by a "generic" service, but that we're not out to meet all of their needs, we're out to meet the needs of the Troop rather than the needs of the church.

We do the services to show that we can be inclusive and tolerant of others' beliefs. If the members aren't tolerant and aren't getting that message, the leaders aren't doing their jobs.

I work with a unit that has members of five different religions represented. They unite under the banner of Scouting, and religious teaching is done in the home. When they have a IFWS, it's an amazing experience, and the boys learn far more about their own beliefs by leading these services sometimes than they do in Sunday School.

You can't require a boy to attend religious services distinct to one faith, but you can't require them to attend a Scout's Own, either. What it does create is an opportunity for them to explore the Scout Law in another way.

Enh... I'm torn on this one.

We have a group of boys (around 80 units) that continuously do service projects at their CO's campground. There's always a list of projects to do, and when the boys get to the EBOR, it seems like the boys felt it was free labor for the CO. Is that really benefiting the community?

Giving isn't appropriate? Look what the scouts of the BSA voluntarily have done through their gifts in the past year from our CSE

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It always amazes me how something that starts in such a tiny way can grow into an initiative of major significance.

In March, I had the pleasure of presenting a check for $52,000 to the little kingdom of Bhutan, a landlocked country in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalaya Mountains. This money gave them the ability to build their first Scout camp.

It was a marvelous trip. The things we saw were both heartwarming and gut-wrenching at the same time. We had no idea how much of a difference Scouting was making across the globe.

Scouting is very new to Bhutan, only about 10 years old, but they have 20,000 Scouts now. Democracy is fairly new to these people, too. Its only been two years since a multi-party democracy was introduced into their monarchy, launched by a very benevolent king. Their first actual election in Bhutan was held on March 24, 2008.

What is so touching about this gift to Bhutan is that those quarters we collect from Scouts during summer camp for the World Friendship Fund brought the joy and adventure of Scouting to this little Third World country.

Our small gift provided for the total infrastructuresewer, water, and powerto build a camp to accommodate 400 kids, something this country had never seen before.

We go through this World Friendship Fund collection every summer, and often dont stop to think about what this initiative really means. It is a wonderful example of how Scouting can help kids around the world.

Share this story. It really brings home how important our movement can be.

Thanks, Bob

My council finally set up a location after I begged and pleaded, emailed the program VP and then resorted to calling volunteers who can twist arms.

They've still not distributed an email, flier, or info on the program.

My son and I will be watching it at home together.

Anyone can donate. We ask for loose change at Day Camp for the World Friendship Fund. At Wood Badge we do the same (albeit more money, but still the same meaning!). During one IFWS, the boys asked if they could send money to the MAC council for the families of the boys from the tornado. Of course we said yes!

We think of it as a tithe-- doing our duty to God and giving up control of what the money if for, but praying that that money does its job to bring someone close to that 12th point of the Scout Law.

Sounds like a wonderful lady. I'm sure she's celebrating in heaven today and she got her heavenly merit badge sash.

Leadership is really an art form. It takes creativity, patience, flexibility and inspiration. But the most important thing to learn about leadership is that by leading first by serving, you'll be more accepted in your leadership role.

My council did company cars with gas cards until the whole money fiasco went down. I received a car allowance and mileage after that. Then it has turned into just mileage.

It's good to tour the potential district they're looking at for you, see the distance between units, and judge the mileage rate accordingly. I was putting 3,000 miles a month on my car, sometimes more because the size of my district and the location of the council office to my units.

Rowdy is subjective.

Just today I was talking to my yellow lab and he was howling back at me.

My dad called this rowdy behavior.

This is just a pull from ScoutNet and MyBSA for volunteers to see.

Your pro can still pull district reports by position straight out of my BSA into excel for you.

There has not been an official announcement from national that Trainer's EDGE completely replaces the TDC. At this point, EDGE is only required for Wood Badge and NYLT staffs.

I wish they would come right out and say that, though.

The figures I read once were that a boy should drink 12oz of water AND sports drink per day for every hour of activity during Jambo. I have a health issue that robs my body of sodium quickly, so I usually salt my water, or drink powerade zero to help replenish the minerals lost through sweating -- I rarely drink just plain water.

One of our council troops decided on camelbaks -- the hose closer to the mouth is more easily used and remembered instead of of a water bottle at the side.

I've heard the water at Jambo usually has a chemical taste to it? If that's the case, putting in a sports drink powder would hide some of that.

TDC is one of the requirements for the knot, so the idea is that the pack trainer get involved in training at the pack level.

We had the same issue with the Pasadena Rose Parade location -- no store! I hope you can round up some patches.

... a non regulation knot, and a patch not in the guide? I'd call and mention that you were looking in the guide for proper patch placement and didn't see anything about those, that you wanted to double check before sewing, then let him deal with the consequences as you've done your job as the customer service person!

Internet rule of etiquette #3, the first person to quote wikipedia loses.

There are a few things at work here:

1) from a business standpoint, a camp should cater to their customers and do their very best to work with dietary needs. You may have to bring a few things (for instance I bring almond milk with me for breakfasts), but not being able to eat 3 squares a day is ridiculous, not when it's paid for.

2) A Scout is loyal, helpful, and friendly and kind. The harsh approach of your council does anything but follow the scout law.

I think it depends on the age and leadership development cycle of a troop to see how NYLT affects the culture and use of the theories from the course.

While one boy may jumpstart the use of the theories and begin to start the changes within the troop, a few years later another boy may buy-in to the youth-led method and begin to vision-cast for the entire group. I've seen this in several troops where the ultimate goals for the troop are set with the committee, but the SPL shapes his vision within that context and away the boys go!

Let me state clearly this is a difficult culture to foster in today's society and it does require the leaders to take more of a backseat. It can be done, though, and all of the tools taught at NYLT merge with the tools taught at Wood Badge (oh no, I said it!). The boys are then truly youth leaders and the adults become the support for that effort.

Leadership and management are two different animals, but they can be combined and the lines blurred between the two by someone that can be effective in both roles.

Leadership is the process through which a person uses social influences to get someone to join in their efforts. Good leaders are inspirational and by their attitudes, actions and traits convince us that they are following the right road.

Management is the action(s) in which get the goals done that are set forth by those in leadership positions.

In the context of a troop, your SPL is your principal "leader," and his staff becomes his managers. Yet, that staff also has to have the qualities of a good leader to get those things done and to get people to work for them. See how they work together?

The great leader and writer, Max DePree said: "Leadership is much more an art, a belief, a condition of the heart, than a set of things to do."

He also said something akin to: "the first responsibility of a leader is to define reality." An SPL who can grasp that concept, teach the boys "This is the way it is, and how we're going to get there" is an incredible asset to a troop.

DePree also said something like: A leader, above all else, is a servant, and a debtor, for nothing he does succeeds without service to others."

It's really amazing to watch boys work when they get that "Aha!" moment and grasp that concept.

I have a friend working at Camp Baker in Oregon Trail Council (the boy scout camp). I will send him a note and get back to you.

Mazucca has put himself in the place of "Chief Scout" while still collecting the pay of the CSE. He's hired more ASE's to do his job while he travels the country and attempts to draw more people to scouting, including businesses and money.

I'd much rather see someone like Bear Grylls out on the professional interview circuit pushing Scouting and visiting with units and giving them a good time. Bob wouldn't go out to Boy Scout camp and do the COPE course, but someone like Bear would be a shot in the arm for program!

I hate to say it, but maybe NYLT isn't meant for every style of boy?

I also think it's in the implementation of the program, how closely the staff sticks to the syllabus, and how prepared and how much fun the staff has.

Before I judge NYLT's program though, I plan on staffing it at least once so I can get a feel for it on my own.

Oi, Vigil selection for adults is a whole other headache. I submitted a name of a former chapter advisor, a guy who attends every ordeal he can (He's the CFO for a huge company and sometimes has to work weekends to rectify books), has run the district camporees, helps at every camp clean up he can (at least 4 a year), and is dedicated to supporting the youth leaders of the lodge with carpools for ceremonies and summer camp, and pushing OA at every commissioner's cabinet meeting.. I was told his Silver Beaver was enough. I was told that since he wasn't in front of the boys and at fall fellowships that he would never be approved and his application came back to me before it was even put to the committee. Then it was said that even though names aren't on the applications, they can tell who is who and it isn't really merit based, it's based on who you know.

I know that defies much of what is supposed to be done, but when I brought that up? I was told that as a woman my application would never make it to the committee, either.

Wow. All that came from just submitting someone I thought lived up to holding a vigil.