LeCastor

Well, I answered my own question: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/training/pdf/Powderhorn_syllabus.pdf

Hi dhendron! I don't have an answer to your question but I share your pain in regards to the Powder Horn website. Since I've just helped organize a Crew, I'm interested in attending a Powder Horn course but there is very little information other than upcoming dates. Have you participated in one before? Assuming you hope to be a course director, it would follow that you have experience with Powder Horn. What is is like? Do the courses differ from one to the other? Is there a syllabus like there is for Wood Badge? I'd appreciate any advice you could give. LeCastor

Thanks, Q, for the humor! And thanks, Cambridge, for the recommendation!

Dear Moderators: I want this thread to be about working with kids in nature. It was never my intention to make this a discussion about evolution: theology vs. science. I don't want to move this to issues and politics, so let's try to keep this on how to get kids back outside.

Oh, Stosh, you're getting caught up in the minutiae here. To borrow another phrase from the Big Lebowski, "[Charles Darwin} is not the issue here, man..." The point is, physical fitness classes are being cut in schools and video games are taking over. I know there is a strong math and science push these days but I don't think it should be to the detriment of our youth's exposure to nature.

Jason, I actually watched that this past weekend. Very pretty. I'd rather the Scouts know a little bit more about what John Muir did during his lifetime, though. The National Parks documentary that Ken Burns did for PBS is long but very well done.

I personally think getting out into the woods and prairies is the way to go. But if a Scout can use his digital camera and take a photo of the plants, trees, tracks, etc in question, he can make a digital nature journal. This is lighter on the land and incorporates nature with technology.

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/151902/Charles-Darwin Yes, he was a British naturalist, Stosh.

As long as we're talking about reading, I'd like to bring this back on topic and say that Richard Louv's follow-up book, The Nature Principle, is on my short list for books to read in the coming weeks. As I was chatting with my Scouts last night none of them knew who Charles Darwin, John Muir, or Horace Kephart were. The naturalists and outdoors visionaries aren't known to the youth anymore....

I think it's an interesting concept. There are definitely sisters who tag along to events anyway, so why not "legitimize" it and invite Brownies along for the ride? The Pack's insurance wouldn't cover the Brownies, I wouldn't think. (That's probably where it would get sticky.) Healthy competition is not bad. And I know that our local council hosts a Circus Heritage Camporee in Baraboo, Wisconsin where both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts are welcome. At any rate, I think mixing the sexes together here in the US is not highly encouraged, as it is in most of the rest of the world. I'm

Jason, you really should take the time to read this book. In fact, I suggested it to the Scoutmasters at our district's roundtable. As the RT Commissioner, I though it would be good to all read Last Child in the Woods during the month of February and then discuss it briefly in March. I bet you could find an audiobook version of it!!

I just finished reading Richard Louv's Last Child in the Woods and I am inspired--more than ever--to become the outdoors advocate that I've been trying to be for my Troop, district, and council. Louv talks about nature deficit disorder, not a clinical term, and how today's youth are becoming more and more disconnected from nature. The overarching themes in the book are that parents are afraid to let their kids play outdoors for fear of injury or kidnapping. Also, public and private governments tend to introduce legislation that discourages outdoor play--again for threats of injury leading to

Hello and welcome to the forum! If you are not having fun you should look for another opportunity. If this Troop is not healthy the Unit Commissioner should know about it and should be helping out. You have no obligation to keep any unit alive and it sounds like you are already given it your all--Cubmaster and Den Leader. So if you really care to help revitalize the Troop, ask the Unit Commissioner for help. Go to the Charter Org Rep and ask for help. Ask your District Commissioner for help. Ask your District Committee's membership chair for help. It doesn't hurt to ask

Has anyone sat down with the Key-3 to fill out and discuss the Troop self-assessment? It's a new tool that commissioners are using to gauge the health of each unit, Pack, Troops, Crews, Teams, etc. I know that we are struggling to maintain membership levels and recruiting has been an issue for many years. That's no surprise. What is really bothering me, though, is that we must grade ourselves (1-5) on our short- and long-term camping program. In the past this was never an issue. Now, however, camping just isn't on the radar for my two Patrols. Sure, a few Scouts love it but the ma

T2, this is actually the last edition. Owen is referring to the newest edition which came out in 2014. There was a thread a few weeks ago about pdf versions and a spotty link. It would be nice if the new edition were available on the Scouting.org site. LeCastor

Don't worry; I'm trustworthy. I wouldn't post if I thought it were false. Here's the FAQ from the official page: http://www.i-m.mx/Hollinq/RadicalBrownies/faq.html I support a dialogue on social justice issues. However, I'm not in favor of exclusionary practices--banning particular race, religion, orientation, etc. Twocubdad, I see you altered your original message significantly...

Hi, SR540Beaver. This isn't the first time I've seen this group mentioned. As I understand it, they are not affiliated with the GSUSA in any way. Also, as a private organization they are free to make their own membership criteria and create their own program.

Hi, kc8vqf. This does happen from time to time but it's usually not done out of malice. In some cases, as horanmm points out, two friends find themselves in different units and decide they want to be together. As Scoutmaster, I never like to lose Scouts before they turn 18. The essential thing, as at least in my book, is that the young man stays involved in Scouting!

Hi, Mashmaster. Sorry to hear of your loss. It's never easy, as you say, to deliver this kind of news, especially to the young ones. As for the memorial, yes, the Scout Law is an excellent way to live. Those twelve little words...

As I said earlier, I don't think bushcraft and Leave No Trace are entirely incompatible. Here's just one thing I found on the Interwebs by way of a "source"" http://midwestbushcraft.blogspot.com/2011/11/bushcraft-vs-leave-no-trace-response.html Romanticizing camping might help enliven the outdoors spirit of youth today who need a little extra "reason" to go outdoors. I'm not saying we have to dig trenches, hipholes, etc. But bushcraft or woodcraft deserves a little extra nudge today. Anyone ever read Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv? If not you should if you are a S

Hey, PbW! My quick survey of each Scout in the Troop was, by know means, scientific, but it helped me get to know the Scouts much better. Here's what I asked each Scout individually in an informal Scoutmaster conference: 1. What do you think of when I say "Scouting"? 2. What's your favorite thing to do in life? 3. If you could do anything in Scouting what would you do? 4. What would you like to see in weekly Troop meetings? 5. What would you like to do for monthly outings? This is what the PL should be doing with his Scouts. But I took an opportunity to do this survey