johndaigler

Number Call-Out Activity level: LOW Needed: Large activity room, lots of players (the more, the better) A leader calls out a number, such as "three" to the group, and everyone scrambles to get into groups of three. Quickly, the leader calls another number to form other sizes of groups, and continues rapidly as players scramble. Variation 1: The leader tells players that every new combination must not include players from previous combinations. Variation 2: The leader asks people to find others with similar characteristics, for example: Find everyone who has t

Backpacker, (I knew I'd get this comment from somone, also the one from Eamonn. You're not wrong about my post, but I would argue . . .) I've been neck deep in disagreements with Rooster and others. And, not so long ago I would have fallen into the same trap that seems to have caught a couple of others. This important topic (and others) are complicated because they are at the core of what each of us believe. If we lose our conversation in emotions that result in hurtful, insulting comments, then we lose something more important than someone's ego, we lose their ideas. As f

Guys, let's put the sticks away. There's no need to verbally thrash someone because you disagree with their ideas. I didn't read where Rooster insulted anyone. Make your case, give your thoughts; but judgements about people have in the past, and will in the future, just get in the way of dialogue. Likewise, let's not get caught up in grammar, language usage and semantics. Several of us have used "mentor" incorrectly -- I believe the intended meaning was fairly clear throu

Men make great mentors for boys! That's one of the most important facets of our program. But let's not try to place more value on the mentoring that men can do for boys vs. the mentoring that women can do for boys. Traditionally, we have this strong "father figure" role model that evey boy needs (would benefit from). But that same tradition, doesn't necessarily do justice to a strong "mother figure". We tend to see "mothers" (female elementary teachers, etc.) as "good" for younger children, for example our cute little Cubs. But, as a boy grows up, he "needs a MAN in his life" (fathers, s

Zip, Interesting can of worms that you're trying to open. I'm VERY curious how it will spill out!!! Let me throw in my two cents, before the place gets crowded and I have to go get some aspirin!!! Please forgive me ahead of time for stepping on toes, or disagreeing with anyone (including the BSA) who knows more than I do. I mean no disrespect. I only mean to offer my thoughts. IMHO, American Scouting, while a Reverence based program, is not a religious program. We don't teach religious beliefs, we encourage (expect?) boys to see religious reverence as character building

Great stories everyone - thanks for sharing. It's interesting and important to remember that invariably Scouting ties last lifetimes, if not generations!! But, you've made me think along a different line . . . Can we tell the same stories about ourselves in everyday working situations with our Scouting peers?? The reason I ask is that I know I would definitely react positively to an unknown Scout in uniform -- for all the same reasons discussed in the original thread. But, I might not automatically feel that same bond, or be so generous of spirit, with Unit peers or when reading p

Great stories everyone - thanks for sharing. But, you've made me think along a different line . . . If your interested, follow my thinking in the new thread "Respect for peers in/out of uniform" jd

9Muckraker7, You ended your post with >>>> "but we would still need to do something constructive at the meetings." Are you asking for help with program ideas?? Are you saying you're still dedicated to using those three months of meeting time to study-up for the Camporee in addition to practice campouts - and what should you do? jd

Smoke20 - Bob White's thoughtful comment just got me thinking about how careful we need to be with our Cubs. No offense or judgement intended - just trying to be Helpful. jd CubbingCarol - Smoke says he's not coming back to read these comments, if you "speak" with him again, please relay my sentiments. john

The adults don't seem capable of getting together and talking it over. That's a shame because it's the only thing that will work to resolve the issue. If the two adults can't see clear to cooperating in the boy's best interest, the poor kid is probably better off not getting in between, even if that means not Scouting. There is probably a plan for visitation and sharing custody - won't that have an impact on the discussion? How about a similar sharing of participation in Scouting? Where's the mom in this discussion, she's definitely going to have to be a participant in the p

Try making your preparation more "true to life"? Instead of practicing the skills, practice the "camporee"? . . . Pre-camporee campouts? What will the actual camporee competitive scenarios consist of? Can you better simulate them? Can you bring in previous years' judges to help make the practice sessions more realistic? It's an educational truth that practicing a whole sustains learning better than practicing pieces of the whole. The learning curve starts out slower, so be patient. The bonus is that the kowledge and skills are better retained for next year's camporee. When

so, TigerDad, How did you resolve your concerns??? Have you ended up with Cubs who over the summer did "too much"?? My guess is that your program is a mix of Fun, achievements, electives, and other award activities (sports and academics, Leave No Trace, etc.). Are the boys enjoying it??? I know this is a day late, but . . . Since there are so many electives, and they can be repeated (with increased sophistication), and a Cub can earn additional arrow points, I find it hard to believe any boys have room and time for boredom. Keep it simple - keep it fun -

Balding Eagle - We try to have our Wolves meet Thumper's standard as well. Observing isn't participating, for us, for this particular requirement. I doubt it's the only answer, but it's ours. If in doubt, and desperate to give our boys the opportunity to meet this requirement, I'd open a Den meeting outside in the yard. Participating in a simpler ceremony better fits our view of 2f, than observing a complicated formal ceremony performed by someone else. (Though, I also agree with Thumper on having them observe well done ceremonies.) jd (This message has been edited by johndaig

CubbingCarol - Bob White's thoughtful comment just got me thinking about how careful we need to be with our Cubs. No offense or judgement intended - just trying to be Helpful. jd

BW - SERIOUSLY CLEAR thinking!!!!! Well played!! Smoke and Carol - First welcome!!! Smart thinking, coming here. If you get help from BW and the rest, you'll save yourself tons of angst. No need to be paranoid, just careful and safety oriented. Like BW says, contact your councils and let your councils make the appropriate contacts and validate the process and the people involved. Even with that, it would be best if you devised a system where the letters actually travel through the Councils and the boys never bothered to discuss last names, addresses, phone numbers, school names,

BTW, is Ok for Very Tall Scoutmasters to have "minutes"????????

2CD - Here's my two cents - and the only validation I can offer my comments is that I'm in the same boat and my unit leaders and I have had all the discussions you're hearing now. My wolf Den is 12 going on 13. August has been very tiring and frustrating, though the boys keep smiling -- I'm looking forward to Oct. 1 for the offical split into two Dens. Even drawing it out that long, I believe, is a small disservice to the boys . . . Sounds like your program is engaging and successful. With 14 boys in your Den, you're putting that at risk (as well as the mental health of several

Zippie - I can relate. My Wolf Den has grown from 7 to 12 Cubbies with our back to school recruiting efforts. We're struggling to find new leadership in order to split into two Dens, but you can imagine having meetings in my 10 month old house doesn't seem like such a good idea anymore! (I hope my wife doesn't read this thread or I'll be down talkin to the deacons in a day or two!!) One approach is to think of tomorrow as if it were a recruiting event or new parent meeting. How would you handle those opportunities? Remember, what works for someone else might not be YOUR best

hey, everyone, I agree with everything we've said above. And I don't think I can add much to the wisdom and sentiment, other than to personalize it. Having just come from one of those tangled threads of misunderstanding, I can testify to our need to be careful...when we write posts, AND when we read posts. I thought I was being careful when I wrote (until my fingers suddenly disconnected from my brain in a bit of a pique!) but I realize now that I wasn't being as careful and generous when I read posts. And once that snowball started rolling down the hill ... I think Eamonn ha

"It is easier to adjust your sails than redirect the wind." But I've also seen it with an added little bit that comes in handy if the conversation heads toward "history changers" like Galileo, Martin Luther, Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, BP, NASA scientists and astronauts, (and many, many others)etc. ... "It is easier to adjust your sails than redirect the wind. But sometimes, ya just gotta BE the wind!" Less practical, but more heroic. . . . Though, we know what often happens to heroes . . . jd (This message has been edited by johndaigler)

I've seen this attributed to Confucious and also described as an Arabian Proverb. The repetitive tongue twister nature of it creates a bit of chaotic fun, but once the kids get it, they keep it. He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not, is a fool. Shun him. He who knows not, and knows that he knows not is a child. Teach him. He who knows, and knows not that he knows, is asleep. Waken him. He who knows, and knows that he knows is wise. Follow him. jd(This message has been edited by johndaigler)

The true art of growing up is leaving behind all that is childish while clinging dearly to all that is childlike.

I think the Scout Account really aids and motivates Scouts who can see their personal efforts bringing them closer to their target activity. A good plan is one that works for you and the other leaders who have to manage it and manage the unit's other funds so that essentials and program are supported as well as individual boys. Eamonn's comments made me remember an idea I've worked on over the last several years... We keep asking for $ and support from the same people over and over again. And it seems to be the same people who give of their time that end up being the most reliable f

Bobwhite ... "Bad Judgements" (you didn't set me up for this, did you?)

bobwhite (and everyone else who has tired of this), My sincere apologies that you think I was speaking to you. My frustration is with boleta. I hope you can see that my earlier post directed to you was composed with the same respect and good faith that you shared with me. I heard what you said earlier and I'm very willing, eager in fact, to learn from people who are capable of discussion and sharing of differing ideas in the hopes of better helping the boys with whom we work. If you re-read my last post, realizing that it was in response to Boleta's words and not BobWhite's, I hop