mdlscouting

I'm not positive, I've only used it for a cub scout website, not a Boy Scout one. I'm fairly certain the permissions are setup differently between the two. (With cubs, the assumption is that only parents will login)

Scoutlander.com is free, and fairly user friendly. (Requires no HTML knowledge, etc.)

GernBlansten Wrote: "This course must be focused on Boy Scouting (serving 11 to 18 Ylds) and cannot be diluted to be relevant to the younger Cubs or their leaders."

While I'd tend to agree with you on most of what you said, I think it should be emphasized that promoting scoutcraft/outdooring skills among cub leaders should be a high priority. (Although, as you said, not in the scope of this particular course)

It's very easy for cub leaders to turn scouting into arts and crafts central. I think one long-term method of helping beef up the scoutcraft/outdoors skills of Boy Scout leaders is to do a better job building those skills among Cub Scout leaders. Again, outside the scope of this course, but possibly a good lead-in to this course.

This troop website has some docs about it. Not sure how official that is, but it might help you get started.

http://bsatroop994.org/html/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=76&Itemid=133

My son is a Wolf, and I'll be leading one of the Wolf dens in our pack this upcoming year. (I was sort of the unofficial assistant DL for tigers last year)

No real Scouting experience, (or Outdoors background) for that matter, but I'm really eager to learn.

Online I've done YPT, Den Leader Fast Start and This is scouting. I'm planning to attend the leader Specific training and BALOO when it is offerred this fall, and if there is a local university of scouting, I will try to attend that.

Is there anything else that I'm missing?

I've been told by some that Wood Badge would be really great for me to take next summer, while others have said that It would be much better for me to wait until I have 2-3 years as a scouter to really get the full impact from it.

Our Pack and Troop are both very new, and very close knit. (Less than a year since our troop formed, and most of the troop families have younger siblings in the Pack as well)

A couple of us leaders were kicking around the idea of a trip to DC, and I was wondering if anyone had any ideas about combining something like a tourist style sightseeing trip with a camping trip.

It would be a family camping trip, probably with some good amenities like accessible showers necessary. (We aren't talking high, or even medium adventure here, but I'd like something that doesn't involve using an elevator to take the gear to our hotel rooms...)

Any ideas about this?

Well, if you are only using it 1x per year, it probably is a bad purchase.

If you are an active camping pack, it can be very helpful.

If you buy the right type, it can also be used for storage, avoiding rental fees fom a local storage place.

By the official uniforming rules, this is not allowed.

However, I'd love to see a custom hat and necker as options that could be chosen at a pack level.

I know on of the reasons this is encouraged at the BS level is that it encourages Troop cohesion. I'd think it would do the same at the pack level as well.

I don't know... If we could spend less time on popcorn, I might take a few corporate sponsor logos on my uniform.

(Kidding, only kidding!)

Well, it may not aid in the leader selection process, but I can definately see how it would prompt some parents to step up and volunteer, when they may have hesitated before.

From what I understand, their complaint (among others) is that some GS units allowed members to substitute or remove the term God, to fit their personal beliefs, not that the God part was removed from the GS Promise for all.

BTW, what exactly is a "Memorandum of Mutual Support"? Does it have any real impact or influence on how the BSA/AHG operate,or is it just the equivalent of saying "We like what your organization is doing"?

I could see this as an opportunity, but I fear it will be taken the wrong way by many, particularly those looking for a reason to criticize the BSA, or those with strong traditional (although not neccesarily moral) ties to GSA.

I'm currently active in a relatively New Den, that so far has only had 1 group of Webelos cross over. Our affiliated Troop is of course, very small, and very young.

In most troops, the Patrol method is used in ways that let the older scouts take some leadership responsibilities, and they have been working toward this for a while.

In a situation with a small, young Troop, where at most you have 1/2 a year's worth of experience as Boy Scouts, what can be done to encourage the boy-led behavior?

I can see where we are now, and what the eventual goal is a few years from now, but I'm not entirely sure what are the best steps to get from here to there.

If I understand correctly, There is quite a bit of latitude allowed to Adult Leaders in Cub Scout packs.

As a DL, I would be allowed to wear the Bolo, the Blue Den Leader Scarf, or no Neckware at all. Are there any other options other than those, either officially issued via supply division, or something custom that is allowed? (Excluding stuff you must earn like the Woodbadge Scarf, etc.)

Thanks for any advice.

(Also, if this differs for BS Adult Leaders, I'd be interested in knowing the distinctions)

"The emphasis on critical thinking is epitomised by a test called the Invisible Unicorn Challenge. Children will be told by camp leaders that the area around their tents is inhabited by two unicorns. The activities of these creatures, of which there will be no physical evidence, will be regularly discussed by organisers, yet the children will be asked to prove that the unicorns do not exist."

By This Logic, we could send kids on a snipe hunt as part of the requirements for a Critical Thinking Merit Badge.

Lisabob said: "Set up a few district coordinators for Tiger Cubs. Maybe even someone who will help a pack by running a couple of Tiger den meetings to teach new families what to do. One of the biggest stumbling blocks for many packs is setting up a functional Tiger den. They get all these really excited little boys and their parents (who usually know little or nothing about cub scouts yet), but nobody is in charge and things flounder for a couple of months. By that time the pack has lost half the new recruits and they aren't going to come back."

Exactly. If I can expand on this a bit, Have those people available as Mentors later on, even after they step back from the program. For those who are already familiar with the program, they have no idea what it's like for a newbie scouter to come in with zero preparation and background, be handed a Tiger handbook and a pat on the back. Last year, we lost way, way too many tigers. We had 20 kids in total between 2 packs, and we were down to 8 by the end of the year... largely due to leaders with no experience. (My wife and I were unofficial Tiger ADLs, and I count us in on that lack of help/training)

I'm coming into this from a beginner's POV. (Just signed up as a DL, little or no outdoors skills, no scout experience)

One good start would be a Training Packet that could be handed out to all new Leaders, or for that matter all pack parents, informing them of wht training is available, with local dates, both for your district/council, and nearby districts. This should be given out to leaders ASAP, when they join. (Could be available online as well, in addition to packet form)

Position specific training would be a great thing to have early fall, maybe a couple different dates, to make sure new leaders can get in ASAP.

An "Intro to camping" course for families made into a weekend campout would be a great addition. Let the kids have fun, and the arents learn some new stuff. Lots of leaders have little or no outdoor skills at the cub level, and it would be a lot of fun.

(Need some good wow factor stuff here too, like the paper bag breakfast, etc.etc.)

One of the more memorable events of my brief career as a cub was going on Scout Sunday to a Catholic service (Our CO was a Catholic church) where probably 3/4 of the boys were protestant. In retrospect, it was very odd having our DL pull us out of line to get communion, but at the time, it was very odd, because at that age I just couldn't process the idea of a church where only members were allowed to receive communion.

It's definitely an area where people should tread lightly, lest they step on someone's toes inadvertently.

"I can see a purpose for targeting units when the target groups has needs that require operational adaptations away from the "default" troop style. We need to be careful about over-targetting for each demographic, though."

I think that if targeting like this will get kids into the program that would otherwise not be involved, it's probably good. But I'd hate to (for lack of a better term) "Segregate" ourselves out, especially on Racial lines.

The choice is between No scouting presence in the African American community, vs. Approaching A-A Churches to become COs for packs/troops, then I'd say approach them. However, if there is a possibility of having packs/troops that cross racial/ethnic lines, and recruit from a whole community, I'd much rather do that. (likewise with other racial groups, etc.) And I think one of the priorities of any district with such units should be to make sure to encourage interaction with other units heavily.

My Daughter was adopted from China, and our local "Families with Children from China" group sponsors a GS Unit specifically for girls who came to their families via adoption from China. (My Daughter is still a few years too young for it now)

I know the LDS especially has a lot of involvement on the BS side of things, with units specifically targeted toward their denomination.

I've also heard of other Cub/Boy scout units for kids with special needs.

How common are these sorts of "Targeted" (for lack of a better term) units? I know that the vast majority of scouting units are not of this sort. For those with special needs, I can definately understand the importance and difference in approach that would be needed. For the other two examples, I can see how the shared religion or cultural background may be something that is important to focus on... But I'd hate to see that focus weaken or over-dilute the scouting program as well.

Do these sorts of targeted units do well over the long run? Does anyone have experience at incorporating some sort of shared cultural background within a unit, while still keeping the Scouting end of things well run?

I know that our local district only does Day camp for cubs. How common are resident camps for Cub Scouts?

The following thread has a list:

http://www.scouter.com/forums/viewThread.asp?threadID=235862

If you do find any kind of list, I'd appreciate it if you could paste a link here. My son loved Day camp, but was really upset to find it wasn't resident camp.

Is there a cub version of Troop Track, or is it BSA only?

I was wondering if anyone had looked at these options recently? We are looking into this as well. It looks like Scoutmate is no longer making updates.

We would prefer an online option, rather than something that requires installs on individual PCs. We are probably looking at either Scouttrack, Scoutmanage or Scoutingplanner. Any feedback from those who have used them recently would be appreciated.