jhankins

For anyone that would like, send me a message and I can send you a list of the subject matter used in WB21C and the learning objectives.

I won't be as pessimistic as some, but if you're serious, and you have a group of CORs, say 70% of those in your district, who are willing to put forth the effort, you can actually incite change within the council to make thing better.

Congratulations on completing your goals! Singing the Gilwell song after that moment will truly be a defining moment. Once you've received your beads, it's really only the beginning.

I was quite moved when I had an LDS unit commissioner tell a group of brethren that if they were just showing up to scouting because "it was their calling" they were thinking the right way, but not feeling the right way.

He put it into perspective for me as a female scouter on how I think it *should* be seen by the church: God is asking you to work with the future generations of church members, to help teach a boy that could possibly be the next prophet. Who are you (the people) to scoff at your duties because it's 'just a calling?' You're being asked and entrusted with the most precious gift we can give to the world, another generation of able-bodied men.

LDS units need to follow the rules put forth by the LDS church, but each unit needs to represent the needs and concerns of the local area.

Every Bishop of the church has the flexibility to make the program fit the needs of his constituents, the community he serves. Only have four boys in your church? Recruit outside. Don't have many scouting trained leaders? Invite commissioners and trainers from outside the church to help.

We have one ward who only has 2 church members in the scout unit. The other 20+ boys are from the local community who just want to scout with their friends.

Are there things church leaders can do to better scouting in their areas? Think outside the box when it comes to bettering the young men of the community, not just about your own boys. If the church is truly responsible for every soul in their area, then step up to the plate and show it.

I spent two hours with Brother Pack from LDS/BSA relations this past year and he's one of the most passionate scouters I've ever met. He gave himself goose bumps talking about B-P's legacy and how we can better the church's understanding of scouting. Call him and chat with him. I guarantee you'll get some great insight.

Course Director Conferences are filled with staff that haven't even cracked open the 21st century syllabus and full of area and region volunteers who are just talking out the mouth and not with their actions. Not one four beader from the area level would come take 21st century WB, but they'll sure tell us how it's supposed to be done. It's not helpful at all. CDCs are good for networking and sharing how changes to the syllabus affect the program and how better to implement those changes.

That being said, on our last course, we had two four beaders volunteer to take off their Pre 1999 beads and join us as participants. One took the approach of being a team player, the other took the approach of knowing how WB works and tried to lead his team from the inside out.

Which worked better? The Team player. Did both patrols learn the mechanics of team development by experiencing it? You betcha, but the tea, with the know-it-all 4 beader had a lot more trials to overcome. It was interesting to watch.

Both men, by the way, are almost done with their tickets, and are still wearing their learning neckerchief (even to the International Committee's Japan tour happening now).

It all hinges upon the culture of the local council and the perceptions of Wood Badge therein.

The follow-up is more important than the course itself, as JMHawkins mentioned. That's why a beading ceremony is an important aspect of the Wood Badge experience. Learning to see the needs of the unit and meeting those to your own satisfaction combined with creating a personal culture of leadership are important steps into how Wood Badge can become effective without overbearing.

I cherish the memories, notebooks, stories and insight of anyone willing to impart their knowledge from the "old" Wood Badge. The scoutcraft taught in that setting is still important today, and I wish we can find a way to continue that tradition without losing it completely.

What each person will take away from their time at Gilwell varies as much as the people that go. Some learn life lessons that do change their outlook on life. Some have an encounter with themselves and their role in scouting that transforms everything from their home life to work life. Some still realize that it wasn't the material that they already knew that was good for them, it was the people they shared their journey with. This goes for the "old" as much as the "new."

The "new" Wood Badge isn't superior to "the old," it's just a different method to get the same result, leadership willing to lead by example and understand that a good leader is a servant first.

I do think Bear has a large part in the popularity of scouting. He's out with the youth all over the kingdom, and he's showing them a good time.

But I think the best component is that the youth aren't afraid to show they're having a good time, and they're spreading that fun to their friends.

The course itself won't be boring. The syllabus is designed to keep you busy and having fun with every step you take. You're not just learning, you're living the program while you're on course. My bachelors degree is in organizational leadership and management and much of what the WB course teaches I'd already heard before, but this time I got to hear it, live it, and watch its effect on others (staff, fellow participants, my units).

Go into the course with an open mind and an ear to listen and you'll have a blast

Encourage the COR to take the bull by the horns. He's the final authority on this issue. If the mom doesn't like the choice in Scoutmaster, he can hand over her son's records and say "thanks for all you've done, there's the door."

I don't see what the stink is. If a parent doesn't like the choice of the scoutmaster, they can take it up with the Chartering Organization. If they still don't like it, oh well.

You have your beads, to me, you're already WB trained.

That being said, if you want to understand the material being presented to the boys at NYLT and the changes to how the patrol method is evolving in Scouting since you were a youth and went through Wood Badge, by all means take it again and have fun.

You don't have to surrender your beads, you just can't wear them until you finish working a 21C ticket, which is a cake walk compared to what you went through the first time! The ticket now days is about fulfilling the principles you learned directly to your unit, which you'd be doing anyway.

If I remember right, one of the standards for scout-aged long-term camping has something to do with cots and/or tentage already set up. It's been a few years since I've read through the standards, my memory may be failing me.

With my pack, I'd visit one den meeting a month (they all meet in one building together) and a committee meeting. At invitation, I'd attend a pack meeting or blue and gold. Phone calls were always welcome from the pack leadership and parents!

With my troop, I'd attend a troop meeting and committee meeting a month, and every 3 months a court of honor.

My crew was every 2 months or so, and phone calls to check in.

I've heard some commissioners say they'll only go if there's food. I've heard others still think that quarterly visits are okay.

My DE just sends out a mass email. That's it, no additional training. It's sad, really.

Oh that's so sad. My heart goes out to his mom. She lost her son and husband all in a short period of time. I hope she will always remember that her son's scouting experience touched many lives.

I wish Round Table was run correctly!

Our Round Table has become the fast food of scouting. There's some nutrition there, but it's not the best. 35+ minutes of announcements, Eagle Boards, Commissioner meetings, camporee planning, Trail to Eagle briefing, cub scout RT, venturing crews meeting on site, district members-at-large meetings, OA chapter meeting -- all in the same building.

Many are frustrated that it's become this way, but the concerns have fallen on deaf ears despite people sharing the Round Table planning guides, and training materials from how other districts in our council have succeeded.

The only requirement for having a Wood Badge in my council I've heard of was Jamboree Scoutmaster.

What I'm used to in our council:

Morning Assembly: Activity uniform

Evening Assembly through Campfire: Full Field Uniform

Ya, our national store manager said the pocket is going away very soon. The old pocket shirts won't be discounted at this time, though.

For a $5 shirt, I'll take the bellows

If he can understand the first pamphlet and be able to think on the words therein, he should be fine.

The ladies shirts fit me comfortably loose in the bust based on the shirt size, but I'm pear shaped and find I need to buy a size bigger (then I measure at home) to have room to tuck it in appropriately (they're not blouses like they used to be).

Yep, she miffed it up. Yep, if you're a musician playing live -- if you make a mistake, make it a big one! It happens. She's been singing the National Anthem since she was 11. I was a part of one of the half-time shows in the '90s and during the rehearsal the artist messed up something important to him and asked to repeat it until he got it right. No one's perfect.

Use it as a life lesson on "Practice doesn't make perfect, perfect practice means a shot at a good performance."

If the money and equipment are from a folded unit (ie the CO says no more scouting), the CO doesn't get to keep the assets, it goes back to the council per the charter agreement. Thems the breaks. If you aren't going to use it for scouting's purposes, you don't get to keep it.

I've only seen my local council enforce this rule once, and it wasn't pretty.