SSScout

So now there is a PROGRAM for the kids. Do we have a PROGRAM for the parents? Maybe that's what this really is. The original Cub Scout "program" was supposed to be (as I remember it) a fun thing where the kid had some fun stuff and (without really realizing it) learned some important stuff along the way. Trust, cooperation, teamwork, good ideals, handy skills, pride of craft, ,,,, What else? Ranks weren't so much GOALS TO BE MET, as MILESTONES ALONG THE WAY. The parents we had were folks that had lived thru the Great Depression, the World War, the Korean War, , They knew hard work and sacrifice for others. They knew working together in the community was important, they took us kids along with them to Lions Club Meetings, community fund raising fairs, PTA meetings even. Cub Scouting was really a junior version of all that. The adults were a mixed bag, of course, and some knew THIS and some knew THAT. Maybe I was just lucky.... BOBCAT was a pin one earned for learning the basic Cub Promise, Law of the Pack, Cub Sign, salute, and such. Any kid could join at any age, the Bobcat was the first thing. Not every kid started at Wolf. It was not a PATCH. When the Cub Program jettisoned the Jungle Book references, it lost alot of the fun, imagination of childhood aspect. Was that because of Rudyard Kipling's Imperial connections? His (possible) unfortunate racial/ethnic discrimination inherent in the British Imperial System? One can read "IF" and see in it, as in much of his literature, alot any human could use for ideals.... I'd like to think even B-P learned, overcame his own racial/ethnic prejudices as the Scouting Movement became internationally known.... It would seem that because of the ease with which we allow others to do things for us (cell phones for libraries, push buttons to open doors, cars that PREVENT us from making any traffic mistakes, ) it has become unnecessary for nascent parents to raise (raise?) their children, but trust to a "program" to guide them in that endeavor. Is it really the librarian's sole responsibility to explain why one book is appropriate and another isn't for a first grader? There are now better GUIDELINES, RULES to protect Scouts, if not the BSA organization, from themselves . There still needs to be actively involved parents to guide, protect, example adulthood to the next generation. The hugely expensive and yet absolutely necessary accounting of the BSA's egregious mistakes of the past only goes to show how some parents neglected to BELIEVE their Scouts, even believe their own eyes, and act on that knowledge? Do these newly adopted guidelines and rules absolve the parent from their responsibility to (themselves) guide and help the next Scouts become the next Scout Leaders? Mowgli, please call your office, er, cave....

I do wish they ("THEY") would settle things for more than 3 years this time. Cubs have been staggering along, adjusting, creating, modifying, clarifying, the program seemingly every other year.... Back when the ranks made sense, morphilogically, small mammals to bigger more DANGEROUS ones, and literary references (Akela, Baloo) could be understood, and a DEN was a place for Cubs to live, and the PACK was to be run with I thought belt loops for arrow points were a good exchange. Now, the changes were coming because "we can" and maybe they will be good for the kids (which is what it's for, yes?). I am reminded of a CSDC Director I worked for once ("ScoutSkills"). She said that OF COURSE the Cubs will learn and earn the 8 Knots.... I replied no, if they LEARN really learn and remember the FOUR knots I will teach in a 50 minute session, I will be successful. In the mean time, the Cubs will smile and laugh at my jokes (I hope) and come away with some knowledge of Newton's Fourth (little known) Law of Motion: You Can't Push A Rope....

There it is. Dr. Bourke and company not withstanding, it is up to THE PARENTS, and everyone else to see that what is RIGHT happens. The Guidelines are just that, GUIDELINES. If the people who WATCH and SEE don't speak up, don't say something, the GUIDELINES mean zilch.

Welcome. Pull up a stump. . Did you remember your camp cup and fork? The virtual peach cobbler is over there....

Scouting has OPPORTUNITIES, not REQUIREMENTS . We do our kids a great disservice when we make the wrong things "REQUIREMENTS", especially in Scouting. F'rinstance : Merit Badges.... I firmly believe no SM (or anyone else) should make MBs sound like they are REQUIRED. Scout ranks are not REQUIRED. OPPORTUNITIES can and should be arranged (camp outs, Axe Yards, hiking trips, visits from Park Naturalists, visits from local EMTs, ) with the Scouts participating , nay, ORDERING the schedule. The Scout should be able to see her/his peers making choices to LEARN about proper safe knife and axe use. Choosing to learn about map and compass ("hey Google !"), The SM should facilitate all this but NOT require it....

An organization is only as good as it's human leadership (General Miley, thank you for calling your office). The ideals not withstanding, the past BSA leadership were thinking too wishfully. The present situation is the result. When folks did not believe what they were told, didn't make sure the miscreants were properly held to account, censured, charged, punished and REMOVED from all of Scouting, the present situation had to occur. If the lessons were learned, publically acknowledged, the victims made whole as well as can be done this much later, then we must move forward with the SAME ideals and example to our youth that made Scouting's reputation what it is. Knots need to be tied. Trails need to be hiked. Boots need to get muddy and Good Deeds need to be done daily. What else is on the agenda?

Our Chinese Chestnuts have been really productive this year. We have two types, evidently, but the leaves are indistinguishable to my eye. One big nut , about 1" across, and ovoid, and one about 3/4 inch across and more circular. Very regular , each of the two trees, on opposite sides of our house. Can't eat them raw, but cooked they are very tasty. A neighbor has a very large and grand White Oak, bushels of acorns, much more than "usual" this year. Wife and some friends are going to produce Acorn Flour from them this year. It is quite a process but produces a tasty flour for baking, pancakes, etc.

Hot glue it to a 1/2" pvc pipe, make a heckufa necker slide...

I am, unfortunately, reminded of a Carol Burnett show skit, where an ex Nazi becomes the Activities Director on a cruise ship. "YOU VILL HAF FUN ! "" I have been, am sad to say , witness to this sort of thing and agree with all that has been said, especially the part about the separation of the "earning/approval" of the rank and the "celebration/awarding" of the medal. What hasn't been mentioned is the final say over the Troop/Unit is the CO Institution Head. She/he names the COR, and could as easily dethrone him. I find it hard to believe, in so active and well supported Troop as you describe, that one person would be allowed, much less need to ASSUME (?) so many roles/responsibilities. Has no one else spoken out to this usurpation of power? Then too, as in Band of Brothers, Mr. COR could be re-assigned to other duties by the District Commissioner. He/she assigns Comisshers to Units. Mr. COR can be assigned (!!) to another Unit and the results would be easy to observe, and (perhaps) his Commishun revoked.. It has been done. As to the closer to home problems, it will remain for the rest of the ADULT LEADERS to Band together and remind this , dare I say it, fascist, that Scouting is for Scouts to lead, not the adults. Tie him to a chair and force him to watch Veggie Tales for a while... "It's for the kids"....

Congratulations. A few years to consider the Eagle project....

"" You can find brass neckerchief slides on eBay with the Statue of Liberty and the same tagline, Strengthen the Arm of Liberty. The were available with the Cub and BS logos. "" I have one in my collection, given to me by a (much) older friend.

In my short time at the County Fair, I was able to teach the 4H "Prince", a teen ager, how to tie a SUCCESSFUL bow knot for his shoes.... Curse you, Count Vel....

I visited a local park, my purpose to re-connect with the leadership there. I had once , some years ago, been a trail guide there, but ... another time.... SO, I came into the office and asked for the person I had read was the Educational Program Manager. The young man behind the counter told me that person no longer worked there, would I like to speak with the "NEW" Educational Program Director? Absolutely, I replied. He called him on the radio , and came back to me and said, are you a Scout Leader? Well < I thought , I hadn't mentioned that, but I replied , Yes, I am, that is part of the reason for my visit. He smiled and said, I thought so ! You were the Archery Person at the camp! I mentioned another park where we had held Cub Scout Day Camp, and he said YEAH ! You were great ! I did some quick math in my head, this fellow looked to be about 25, 26 maybe 27.... about right... I said well, I guess I made an impression. He replied, you sure did. I made Eagle a few years later. And now you're working for the County Parks, I smiled. He said yeah. I shook his hand, and then the "New" Education Program Manager came in. We introduced ourselves to each other. I spoke to him about the possiblity of finding Eagle service projects thruout the Park. My "Cub Scout" was able to chime in. The "New" EPM had not been a Scout, did not know anything about Eagle Projects. We exchanged information. I said goodbye to my new/old Cub Scout, and went back to the "real " world with a smile.....

We had a Scout Table at the County Fair this year. It was in partnership with the local college science center, in the "KIDS ZONE". This is because (as often happens) no one else in the Scout county thought to work to have a Scout presence at the fair, other than the Troop that was assisting (to good effect) the car parking.... Maybe next year... Still, we were there, and accosted many kids about Cub Scouting (we had a PWD track and,,, ) KNOT TYING. Demo'd some chain knots, a multi overhand knot trick and taught them some simple knots (overhand, figure eight, square and BOW , for your shoes.... See above..."NOT") And gave them a souvenir ROPE ... Some exhibitors gave you a sticker, or a pen, we gave them a PIECE OF REAL ROPE>>>> Know The Ropes , CSDC KiS MiF.... "Okay, Cubs, here are your ropes... Notice the different colored ends. These are the best, Peruvian Bi-colored, double ended ropes we could get. They were picked from the jungle plantations at the PEAK of maturity. Now remember --- when you go to the store to buy some rope, NEVER , NEVER buy single ended rope. ALWAYS insist on rope with two ends ! ! Trust me, single ended rope is inherently defective , and will cause you nothing but trouble ! ALWAYS buy double ended rope !! If you go to Home Depot or Lowes to buy some rope, make them open the package and SHOW YOU both ends !! " ....about this time, your Cubs will be smiling and tilting their heads and looking at you sideways (?? Wha....??) and you will have them. ***Before the "class" (never call it a class, reeks of school. Session, Skilltime, Rigging, something , anything else), You have cut sash cord (Preverably cotton, ¼”) into 4 to 5 foot lengths and dipped the ends in glue or shellac or wrapped them in duct tape to prevent the unraveling. You have then layed the ropes on your driveway and LIGHTLY spray painted about half of one end a contrasting color (one end red, one plain). This allows a better way to SEE how the knots tie. And you have produced enough so that each Cub may take home his "Peruvian Practice Rope". Then go on to tell them the "Jargon".... ""Right. Now, the men that use ropes all the time , sailors, riggers, crane operators, steel erectors, use a LANGUAGE, a JARGON, and we will learn that language. Here (hold up the rope), this is a rope or LINE. the part that doesn't do much in the knot tying (throw this over your shoulder) is the "STANDING PART" say that ( they say it) What? (they say it LOUDER) . Good. The end that moves around, runs around (throw the rest of rope around alittle), is the "RUNNING END" (""running end""). Good ! If I make a U shape, that's a BIGHT, (they all say bight). If I cross the Running End .... over the Standing Part, that's a" LOOP" . Now, as YOU are looking at it, if the Running Part goes OVER the Standing part, that's an OVER LOOP. and if the Running End goes UNDER the Standing Part, that's an.... Right ! Under Loop, you kids are good... " Go on to teach the Overhand Knot, Figure Eight Knot, Square/Reef Knot, Bowline, , Two half Hitches, etc. Use the Jargon. Give them the pride of ownership and "inside dope". Use your Boy Scout Assistants . HANDS ON, ,,, if you have to, stand behind the Cub and manipulate their hands, DO IT. Teach your Scout Assistants to do this. GET INVOLVED. "Great! Any of you Cubs know who Isaac Newton is? (some of the older ones may) Do you know his Three Laws of Motion? (Here you can repeat them , simply, for review. Look'em up). But did you know... When he sent them off to his publisher, there were FOUR Laws of Motion ! Yep, Seems that somebody spilled coffee on them and wiped out the fourth law, umm umm. We have recently discovered what that Fourth Law is... (throw your Big Rope out to a Cub to hold on) You Can't Push A Rope. (push on it ) Ropes are ONLY good in Tension (pull on it. Play with this for awhile. )" When the CSDC Director says "of course they learned these eight knots...." You can, with authority tell her/him, no, in my 50 minute session, They learned these four knots.... Learned and learned their use. The Den Walkers (Adults !) learned them too ! Insist on their participation ! Don't EVER let the escorts just sit there.... MiF KiS. "MR. SSSCOUT, MR. SSSCOUT ! ! (here the Cub holds up a tangle of rope) What knot is this?" "What's your name, Scout?" "Johnny Smith !" "Well, that's a Johnny Smith knot !" If it is a "class", if the Cubs HAVE to go thru it, if it's a CHORE,,,, do you really think they'll remember it? And if YOU, the Scouter, aren’t having fun doing this, how do you think the Cubs will react? MiF KiS MiF..... And remember, reinforce the idea these are SCOUTS, CUBS, BOYS, GIRLS (!)….. avoid at all cost the “G” word… not ‘guys’, please… Call them by their REAL name…. SCOUT, CUB…. See you on the trail…….

"It depends" Some years ago, a fellow Commisher and I helped a local church (of un-named faith) start a Scout Troop. It was unabashedly a part of their "Sunday School". It lasted exactly three years and then decomposed.... The unofficial evidence was the religious leaders were too heavy handed in their goal of "conversion"....

Dats wat ham tawkin about....

"The work is done by whoever shows up. Therefore, SHOW UP" There is no reason at all why local Scout units can't c-operate and do stuff together. The safety regs need attention, but beyond that, go and make the phone call and knock on the doors. I am often reminded of the PLC I sat in on some years ago. They were newly elected, the SPL and the three PLs, and the SM (not me, I was in the back, a UC). The SM was suggesting activities, and finally, the SPL woke up and said: "you mean, I can make that decision??" SM said "DUUUH". and they had a good year ... Samething. Make the decisiion, go ahead....

Yep. Paid for the "privilege" of staffing the Jamboree. Three times. Bought the tent, the cot, the semi "ambient " temp showers, the pavilion I worked in, bought the meals, bought the necker, the nameplate, the tables and chairs. AND THEN,,,, we paid a fee for the pavilion space for our exhibit.... What would my "labor" have been worth? The Scouts I helped along the way? The other adults I met who needed a listening ear and some re-alignment of their "purpose" there... Scoutson did too. Now, if we had been at a resort, where everything was done FOR us, and the towels were replaced everyday, and the showers were as hot as we desired..... I wonder what the price would've been then.... When I hiked the Camino de Santiago some years back, most of my stuff was on my back, the alberges (hostels) were cheap by any standard, the shower was hot early in the day(!), but it was understood the entertainment was on us Perigrinos, and the alberge was either a local government or nationally supported thing. AND it was equally understood we were dropping alot of tourist Euros along the way....

"It was hot in Los Angeles I was working the day watch. The Scoutmaster was home sick, my Committee chair is making S'mores. My name is Thursday. I'm a Den Leader. " >>> The story you're about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the egotistical and stupid.<<< Please, go tie some knots.... Wow the Cubs ....

Friend Brannigan. From what I glean, reading thru the past (since May?), it would appear that your travails are over. I hope Mr. Monster does not reappear somewhere else. Since he was a Cub Leader, we might assume he had some Cub(s) in the Pack. We therefore also hope they/she/he are doing Cub stuff successfully to their benefit. It does happen, some times, that adults forget the lesson oft repeated by Bob The Tomato (Vegetales): "It's for the kids" All too often, it becomes "It's for ME", meaning the adult.... I am glad your Pack appears to have come thru healthier. Now, go tie some knots.....

CSDC: Scout Skills pavilion. On the day we do "Ecology" , I've had a fellow from the county come out and talk about recycling, etc. Then, I put the Cubs at the corners of the Pavilion and tell them to walk out 100 big steps turn around and walk back to the Pavilion, and PICK UP EVERYTHING THAT GOD DIDN"T PUT THERE> We always collect a very respectable pile of trash, even in the County Park that is swept clean by "professionals".... Six periods, I send the Cubs out in different directions and they LOVE the challenge. And they go out the rest of the day charged up for putting the plastic bottle in the bin, rather than the trash barrel. My hope is the ide sticks with them, caring for the creation.... 5GT, I feel your pain , but somehow the Scouts have to find out that "the work is done by whoever shows up". That lesson is best learned early an by REWARD rather than PUNISHMENT. Reward? Personal "attaboys" and pleasing the mom and dad....And will they be that someone?

Scoutmaster's Minute (or ASM's Minute?)::: What part of the Scout Promise and/or Law applies here? Are your actions in accordance with either? Or do you really agree with the ideals of Scouting? These ideals have been around for a loooong time, in one form or another, not just in Scouting. You want Bible verses? We can find 'em. You want Stuff from the Koran? we can find'em. Code of Hammurabi? Yep, they are there.... Golden Rule? Yep. Treat others as you would want to be treated. How is it FAIR that some Scouts do the work and others sit around smiling.... Ummmm? So. We ask you Scouts to repeat, recite the Scout Promise and Scout Law. What do they mean TO YOU ? Are they just words, or do they MEAN something ?

This is what happens when the CEOs you hire have a Genral Motors mindset. The DE here, if not everywhere, is rated (judged?) on her/his performance. NUMBERS, we need numbers. If not new Scouts, then at least the APPEARANCE of possible new Scouts, which morphs into seeing efforts made, which means a piece of paper that indicates an effort (recruitment at a public place?) was made, at the behest (must not just be the Scouter, god forbid) of the DE. Lord knows, the good DE is way underpaid and (if they are true to their calling) over worked. I attended the RT once upon a time, met our new DE, who spoke wonderfully of his image of Scouting (he'd been one! What a concept!), and encouraged us to keep up the good work. Three months later (3!) , I was at RT and it was announced we would have anew DE next month.... That next week, I was at work in my bus depot, and was asked to lead a tour of new administrative personnel.... Sonofagun, here is DE #1. Took him aside later and we talked. He said he could not countenance the work environment in the BSA, it wasn't Scouting, it was Bureacracy... Here, at least in the county service, the Buracracy was defined as such. He wanted to do SCOUTING for Scouts, not be a cog in a not so well oiled machine. Bear in mind, this was 20 plus years ago.... Tell you about the next DE, who was asked once a question of Scout Advancement, and responded, "Oh, I have people who can deal with that". Guess who he thought were his "People"?