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

We all know what has driven this' date=' right?[/quote']

 

 

Without getting into "issues and politics" territory, yes, it's pretty obvious that this is to work around the membership issue when members turn 18. Personally, I think it's a mess.

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.

And while Richard Louv has penned a provocative number of books and is regarded by many as being skilled in a number of different mediums' date=' his degree training is in journalism. His work is observable, and the conclusions he draws can be retested and proven and thus he is considered quite knowledgeable on the subject of nature and the development of children in our society. So his work is scientific, not theological in nature. Excellent book by the way. Something every SM should have a basic understanding of. Stosh[/quote'] Whew, glad we're off that Darwin rant!

When I take youths on hike and go exploring its a whole new world to them. Instead of JUST hiking i am looking for cool things to show them. Mushrooms' date=' Funnel Spiders, holes in the trees these kids EAT this stuff up. I love taking the boys into the woods to explore [/quote'] Awesome, Jason! That's what you should be doing. Green Bar Bill said every hike should have a purpose! LeCastor

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.

 

Have them watch that Hiking show on Netfix about the Muir Trail

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.

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 glad I was able to get our new Venturing Crew up and running in January so that our Scouts' sisters could finally join them on the adventure. (Our Venturers are the older boys who came up in the outdoors-centric Troop.)

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 potential lawsuits.

There's a brief section in the book, about half-way, where Louv mentions that we, Scouters, are in a unique position to get out there and push for a back-to-nature lifestyle. Indeed, our whole MO is getting kids out in the outdoors. I certainly have my work cut out for me, as I've mentioned in other posts. My current Scouts aren't "into" being outside and are content playing video games or playing on their portable tablets. Lately, I've been incorporating these electronic devices into my attempts to encourage the Scouts to explore nature. In fact, this week I will challenge each Scout to spend at least 10 minutes outside, take a picture of something natural, and write a few words about how they feel about that photo.

LeCastor

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 but if you don't make the effort it likely won't happen on its own, unfortunately.

LeCastor

My issue is this' date=' it's indoctrination. I know there are those who would make the same claim with the BSA, but I would argue the point with them. Over all, we do have things like "reverence" and expectations of duty to country. But we do those in a fairly generic way. When we teach Citizenship merit badges, it is teaching about the role of government and our rights, not a preconceived agenda........and certainly not to grade school children. Scouting really does make a serious attempt to be diverse and inclusive. Can we do better? sure. But would you call these Radical Brownies diverse and inclusive? Are they teaching values and principles that foster character, independence, citizenship, etc.? I believe that the leaders think they a good thing, but I think they are doing more harm pushing an agenda as opposed to teaching principles that will serve youth thru their life.[/quote']

 

 

Yo, Beaver! You are correct. It's in their name: "Radical". I do believe that BSA is making an effort to be diverse and inclusive but it's not a rapid process. There's work to be done and changes to be made. The Radical Brownies do not appear to be diverse or inclusive, but that's their prerogative, as Bobbie Brown would say.

 

The BSA also has 105 years under its belt as opposed to the Radical Brownies who've only been around for a few months.

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 majority of the Troop is content with a) not doing anything or b) day activities that don't include sleeping outside.

My background if heavy in camping, nature, and general outdoors-i-ness. And to have to assess my Troop as severely lacking in short- and long-term camping is a blow to my heart.

We are seeing STEM take over in many areas. I wonder if that will eventually become the category with camping going by the wayside? I just don't know.

The whole thing is available online: http://www.scouting.org/Home/BoyScouts/Resources/TroopProgramFeaturesVol_I_III.aspx

 

Why every council office doesn't know this is beyond me.

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

 

Interesting if true.

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 Scouter today.

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 then compiled the results into a spreadsheet. I gave each PL a copy of what his Scouts said and asked them to use that information as they saw fit. It's not perfect but I think they get the idea.

LeCastor