SSScout

I have been moved to open the discussion on how , assuming we SCOUTER.COM posters agree that Scouting is something to promote for our youth to participate in, we can eliminate the Invisibility of Scouting. I have seen suggested service projects, wearing the uniform more, school presentations, ... I will open things by posting a collection we gathered at our RT: ~~Stuff To Do To Spread The Scout Gospel, And Invite Boys (and parents!) To Your Troop It’s not JUST for September! If Scouting is such a good thing, why are you keeping it a secret? And don’t do it (recruit!) just once a year! Boys can join any time! Get your Committee to work! They can’t (and won’t) join if they don’t know you’re there. Suggestions we have collected: 1. Article in local community newspaper. Did you go to Philmont? The Summit? AT hike? Call the Gazette or the Sentinel! Don’t forget the photo and contact number! 2. Let Church members know about the Troop. Church Bulletin? YOUR House of Worship, not only the CO! 3. Flyer/ table at local middle school's Back to School Night. (Coordinate with Cub Scouts!) Check for Public School Disclaimer paragraph! 4. Letter sent to all graduating 5th graders inviting them to join Boy Scouts (check with the Principal, see above) 5. Boy-to-boy recruiting - most successful method for us. Create a card to pass out to friends. 6. Web site that people can find by Googling ( Is your http://www.BeAScout.org account accurate? If not, inquiries go to the Council office.) 7. Pass out cards @ sporting events, parades. 8. Flag ceremony for PTA. Presentation to PTA. 9. Sign outside your CO: “Home of Troop , Crew, Ship XYZ†10. Make contact with the Middle School Counseling Office. 11. Demonstration/exhibit at Library. Check with Head Librarian/ Media Specialist. 12 Sponsor /Donate a Boys’ Life subscription to the Library. 13. Speak to Scouts about their “angst†at wearing uniform “in publicâ€Â. 14. Make sure everybody has “Class B “ T-shirts or sweaters. They can be worn anytime, not just to Scout events. 15. Listen to Scoutcast podcast. See Brians Blog: http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2014/08/05/recruit-older-scouts-venturers/#more-28161 16. Make sure you have a “Boy Led “ Troop, and a quality, high energy program. The successful, large Troops are active, going places and doing stuff every month. If a boy joins your Troop, why should he stay? Your Patrols should be encouraged to do stuff AS A PATROL, don’t wait for the Troop to go out. 17. The Adults can wear their Scout belt, cap, jacket outside of “campâ€Â. Conversation starter. 18. Den Chiefs. Appoint to local Pack. Make that connection. Cubs watching and looking up to “big brother†Scouts in their Cub Dens. 19. Offer to do a “Whittlin’ Chit†class for the Pack’s Webelos and Bears.

*sigh* Ah, the good old days, when we were naïve and well meaning.... Waaaay back in about 197something, I was the designated driver for the American Youth Hostels in the DC area. The fellow that owned our van (yeah, he owned it, charitably loaned it to us and other groups) kept track of the maintenance and oil changes etc. I remember one particular trip, we were going out to the Shenandoah for a weeklong canoe camping trip. I was the take out and pickup fellow. I loaded up ten teens (not Scouts ) , all the gear, lashed 5 (five!) aluminum 17' Grumman canoes to the home made rack on the roof of the Ford E450 van (clamshell doors on the right side, motor right up next to the driver), and headed out, up and over the Skyline Drive, thru the Shenandoah National Park. Almost over heated on the uphill on US33. No seatbelts, just slow driving.... And ten days later, back to Harpers Ferry to pick them up, same thing.....

No reason someone shouldn't serve as CC with no child in the program/unit. Our Troop CC has been a wonderful CC since his boy aged out umpteen years ago. We just feted him at a CoH with a plaque and dinner certificate. I calculated 23 years of service. Now if the CO and COR sense a lack of satisfaction with the current CC and there is/are worthy replacements , perhaps a similar celebration of his years of service would help ease the transition. A coffee sitdown with someone he respects (if such could be found) would seem to be in order. The CC should be a "uniter" not a "divider".

Way back when, our Cub Pack was going to rent the school gym for a recruiting night of PWD, camp displays, games etc. We thought, hey, the Girl Scouts might like to take half the gym, so we looked up the Brownie leader (who happened to be the PTA president). When we suggested the joint "join Scouting Night", her response was , "Oh no, we have enough Scouts, we don't need any more". Her words. That was my introduction to the difference between the BSA and the GSUSA philosophies. I suspect there are other GS leaders with a different outlook, but there you are.

Hey, we could make it easier by wearing a central computer ID .... Make it retina accountable.... updated everytime you renew your Drivers License.... Hook it to your Voter Registration, Passport, school registration, retinal scans don't change much, we could do it at Kindergarten first thing, kid would never have to worry about his criminal record (or lack of) ever again,.....just include it in the taxes ... I wonder if the new wrist ID bracelet will fit under the sleeve of my coat..... Shades of Brave New World.....

The Feds may have some say in the Mississississppi (oh heck) bus bill. The CDL laws were mandated to be uniform across the country.

Second Class, req.#6: .Identify or show evidence of at least 10 kinds of wild animals (birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, mollusks) found in your community. Can your Scout use a cellcamera to take pictures of these critters to show you to pass the requirement? Or do you ask them to walk thru the woods with you and point them out "in person"? How about First Class #6? Is a picture worth a couple of finger pointings?

Okay, okay class, settle down..... We are studying how to bring the BSA into the twenty second century. Who has an idea? Yes, Stanley? = Howzabout having a Merit Badge College? We could teach the "science merit badges".= There are science merit badges? Don't you remember the "outing" in Scouting? We only work with Pioneering, Hiking, Bird Study....Yes, Oliver? = Oh, I think Stan is talking about Chemistry, Nuclear Science, Geology, Astronomy, Space Exploration , ...= = And didn't they rename Computers as Digital Technology?= Yes Archibald, I believe they did that some years ago. What do you say then? Should we plan on a new Merit Badge College? Would that make it easier to earn these badges? Say, a STEM Scout Day? Get a bunch of scientist type folks together just for that? = Hey, I don't want to go to SCHOOL , I want to go CAMPING...= That's a good idea, Ollie. Maybe we could do a summer camp type of thing, give us a way to make the Mammal Study merit Badge , and Nature Study, and... = No, Mr. T, I don't think they mean those outdoor types, they mean the electronic and building type. Like Welding, and Metalwork and Electricity and Electronics and Robotics and...= There's a Robotics badge? = Yeah! and Medicine and ...= Ah! Mr. Q. , our principal, welcome, sir to our class... > Yes, I overheard your discussion . Well, can't a Scout earn these badges if they want to? I seem to remember that the Scout was supposed to pick a topic, find a Counselor and work with that counselor to earn the badge. Why do we need a special "college" or "camp"? Oh, I'm sorry. There's the bell. I'll see you all next week. Don't forget the homework assignment, to read the Handbook for Boys, 1952 edition for the Heritage Merit Badge... S'long....

Oh, a CDL class B with P endorsement. Isn't the bus owned by the Moose lodge? Then it is their responsibility. Nice to have that resource, but I like to think the parents would want to be the transport. Cheaper in the long run, what with maintenance, licensing and all. You can take the CDL test (do you already have a licensed driver to go with you to practice and take the test?) and presto, you have a fall back job. I mention this to Scouts all the time: There are three skills to have, and you will always have a means to support yourself: One is cooking, the other cleaning, the third is driving. If you are skillful and responsible in these activities, you can almost always find someone who will hire you to do it. Learn the first two in Scouting. Read that CDL manual.....

The demise of a previously successful Troop is sad. If the ideals of Scouting are worth the effort, then here is my advice: 1) Go to your CO's leadership. If this "25 years of Eagles" institution is at all interested in continuing it's tradition, then you need to enlist their aid. Any kids in there? Any Youth Ministry (might not be a House of Worship?).? Find out if they want to be more "hands on". They may be the place to get the help you need in rebuilding the Troop, if it's worth rebuilding.... Then you need to consider the next things: 2) Publicity. Merely assuming the Cub Packs will provide the boys is always short sighted. Make sure the community at large is aware of you . The opportunity may be there, but if no one knows about it..... The CO's newsletter, local Gazette, even a sign out front would help. Library display? Get a "Join Scouting " night at the library on their calendar. Upcoming town parade? Service project? Write up in the paper? 3) How Scout friendly is the local school? Any chance of making a presentation at the school assembly? See http://www.inquiry.net/adult/recruiting.htm for a real good discussion of how to do this. Posters? Handouts on the office table? Contact the school Guidance Office.... 4) Make sure your local DE and Commissioners know about your concern. They can (and should!) help. At least, they can give you free printing! And they can help with the legal clout in gaining access to the schools for publicity. 5) Think about this: Are you in it for the boys, or are you more concerned about the continuance of the Troop? There's a difference there. The one may not equate to the other. But again, if you can provide a quality Scout program (see #1), then people need to know it is available (see#2 and 3). 6) Lastly, remember you should not be in this alone. See the above. If it ends up that only YOU are involved, then it may well be time to (a) join another Troop, or (b) merge the remnants of the old Troop with another Troop (a new Patrol?) or © go family camping more often. As Red Green says, "we're all in this together. Keep your stick on the ice. We're pulling for ya." Good Scouting to you!

Slowderby: Well noted. I always like to go back to the original: ~~“â€ÂReverence to God and reverence for one's neighbour and reverence for oneself as a servant of God, is the basis of every form of religion. The method of expression of reverence to God varies with every sect and denomination. What sect or denomination a boy belongs to depends, as a rule, on his parents' wishes. It is they who decide. It is our business to respect their wishes and to second their efforts to inculcate reverence, whatever form of religion the boy professes.â€Â†= Robert Baden-Powell, “Aids to Scoutmastership†= Give credit for an "activity"? If that is the Troops "culture", then give that credit. To expect or require a Scout to attend a specific religious service or participate in a specific religious ritual, that is just WRONG. I once was asked by a Scout if he HAD to go to the All-Camp "Scout's Own " Vesper service. I said no, but we thought it would be a good thing, and he might learn something new. He (and the rest of the Troop, too) went and there was no problem. It was a prayerful, spiritual service, with no specific, religious direction, maybe 20 minutes, I thought well done. Seemed to be a choice between either attend the service or stay back in camp and play Hearts.

""~~ about how to care for donkeys"" Q: Is that the bit about "getting the beasts attention first"?

Would Scouts join and STAY in Scouts if there was ONLY advancement? Earning little colorful scraps of cloth? What is the PURPOSE of "Advancement" ? One of the methods? Methods for WHAT? Is a Merit Badge, all by itself, "advancement"? Does a Second Class Scout really show he has "advanced" if he is awarded the First Class patch? "Advancement " , the word implies going forward, or improving.... forward ? from what lesser state? Improving? Getting better.... at what? Building a fire? Tie a knot better? Faster? Be ready to apply first aid? If some one KNOWS you are a Scout, does your "advancement" to a higher rank mean they should expect MORE from you, as a Scout? Just a few questions for your discussion......

The world is different. I served as the tempo SM at summer camp. Scout (13, First Class, PL) comes to me and asks if I would please sign a note attesting to the idea that he knew his CPR skills for his Emergency Preparedness MB class. I asked why, he said he had forgotten to bring the CPR card (a prerequisite for the MB) from the class he took before camp. I said I would review the CPR stuff with him, go get your ScoutHandbook. He said he didn't bring it with him to camp. EPrep MBBooklet? Nope. Then go borrow a ScoutHB from one of his buds. He returned with the book and we sat down. OK, I said, turn to the CPR section. He couldn't find it, it wasn't listed in the table of contents. Ok, turn to the index. What's that? He said he had never used an index. I flipped to the index, mmmmmm, CPR, page ... and there you are. Scout was impressed (!). We went over the CPR skills, he was good to go with them, and I gave him a note after extracting a promise he would attend the CPR class in camp later in the week. Index? Our Troop Scribe sent out emails about the past Troop meeting . Labeled them "Troop XYZ Minuets" Well, I thought, FINALLY our Scouts are learning some etiquette and social graces.....

"It depends".... Scoutson once complained to me about the amount of school work he had. He said ,"dad, it isn't fair. You had so much less history to learn than I do............"

Loan? LOAN? What about the need to get a return on the investment? What about the "best and usual" cost return necessary? Where is the RENTAL on this perfectly good, practically new, well maintained and conditioned (not to say the acceptor was fully capable and well experienced in the use and care of this) technically complicated and skill set required conveniently accommodated piece of necessary equipment? Ah? Not just ANYONE can be trusted with the use and care of a J.C.Higgins campstove and tent....

~~""How does WB relate to venturing? patrols? (none in crews) Which uniform? . if i wore our "official" crew uniform I'd stick out like I had two heads. "" WB is a Leadership course. It's lessons can be applicable to any Scout program, church program, work site or (shudder) family dynamic. Wear your uni and be proud. One of my courses had Venture folks, Cub folks, BScout folks, and a SeaScout Skipper. Talk about diversity!

This is a real "It Depends" thing. It depends on the responsible adult , it depends on whether they are Tigers or Webs, it depends on the tools available, workshop/garage/porch available..... When you settle on a project, be it "personal" or a "group" thing, make sure the boys have a hand, first in the choosing, and second in the interpretation (if not the creation) of the plans.... Hand tools , for sure. Home Depot can provide good simple projects, small step stools, bird houses, kitchen spice racks.... And this is definitely not a PWD thing. You need to find a REAL project, something that is USEFUL. A bookcase.... One of the hardest things is finding the hand tools. So many folks have collected powertools of various types. A 9 year old who has learned to handle a handsaw and cut a straight kerf is a kid who has gained no small amount of confidence and motor control. Hand drill? Brace and bit? Holding and pushing a block plane? This brings up the need to teach proper use. Never let the boy hold or use a tool unsafely or improperly. It is a TOOL. Respect the edge. It is not a "gun" or a "boat" or ... Howzabout building a fence for your CO? Ever see a 8 or 9 year old use a posthole digger? It is a joy (to me) to see him lift and push that thing, and then "help" his dad/uncle/CM to get it deep. That is satisfaction, getting a deep hole! Or a play ground set? Play Castle ? It should be a project that is relatively "mistake proof". That is to say, if the nail isn't exactly straight , or the cut perfect, it will still go together and function. Hence, a sturdy, simple step stool is good. You definitely let the boy try to cut with the saw, but if dad has to complete the job, that's okay. You make sure you make it clear that the boy has done a good try. As my dad, the one armed carpenter, use to say, putty and paint, glue and screw can hide a multitude of sins.... Building Cub Carts can be a fun thing. You get to "race" them afterward. The problem with these, tho, is who takes it home? It just seems so many boys have no chance to use their hands , to stack and put together. When I do CSDC, I am always surprised (why? I've been doing this so many years) how so many of these boys seem to have no sense of where their hands are. Their lack of a proprioceptive sense becomes apparent in Archery, Crafts, even folding flags. It becomes fun for them as if they have had no previous chance of throwing a rope or ball (at age 7, 8??) . Make the opportunity and watch the smiles....

Baggss: Nothing of the sort. I dug it out of the files. It reads like this: "Dear Ms Boss: The purpose of this letter is to commend one of your associates and to make you aware of the tremendous community service he has performed. J SSScout volunteered a week of his valued vacation time to spend with his Cub Pack at Heritage Scout Reservation ..... This unselfish service to young people reflects admirably on him as an individual , as well as upon you , the employer..... ...Everyone in our community has been enriched because he cared enough to help our children grow into better persons. The Scouts who participated in the week-long experience of outdoor living will be far better prepared for life, having developed self-reliance, learned the importance of individual initiative, and mastered Scoutcraft skills that will last a lifetime. Over 7,000 boys will have enjoyed this growth experience by summer's end . Sincerely, Robert J. Mazzuca Yep, I did that.....I think four of the eight Webs I went with stayed in Scouts....

"Use it or lose it". I MBC Bugle MB, and I surprise some people by encouraging the boy to "Be the Bugler". Work with the SPL for the communicative ability the bugle can give. No need to yell! Play "Attention" or "First Call" as appropriate. I offered my services to the WB course, and , wow, I was gratified by the compliments I garnered. It is ultimately up to the bugler to offer the services, rarely does the camp or ceremony or SPL or SM come asking.

Our CSDC is famous for it's fun and adventurous activities. Lots of Scouty stuff, lots of just fun stuff. On the last day (Friday) we had a "Water Fest": Lots of slip and slides, "helphelp throw me a rope" (and get pulled up a soapy plastic chute), water gun target practice (and the DE is the target), popcicle tag (gooey), tug'o war over the mud pit, and such. At the sound of the horn, take your Den to the next station. Lady comes up to me and says "this is the most unorganized thing I have ever seen! It's too messy! I can't see where we should be or when. I can't find my son ANYWHERE. What is the purpose here? What are we supposed to do"? I asked her what Den her son was in, she told me, I checked my schedule and pointed out where her son's Den was pulling on one end of the hawser and being dragged thru the water pool, laughing the whole time. I said, I thought her son was having a good time. She replied she couldn't see how, it was too chaotic, too disorganized..... "The work is done by whoever shows up". If your boy is not having a good time, if YOU think he's not having a good time or not learning the ideals and skills of Scouting, the two (or three? Mom too?) of you need to have a talk. Another Troop with different philosophy may be in the future. Do you have a Scout background? Were you a Scout way back when? Are you comparing that to now? If you see a difference between what you understand Scouting should be and what you observe in the real time operation of the Troop, then, certainly, speak up , politely, truthfully, diplomatically (pray over it first?) and see where the Troop leaders are coming from. I once wanted to join a club (not BSA) that interviewed me for membership. The interviewers were , shall we say, less than serious in their questions. I mentioned that if their attitude was indicative of the way the club operated, it certainly was not what I was expecting from their public pronouncements and reputation and I did not want to continue. I got up and left. They called me back, they apologized, and I joined. I was put on the interview committee. The club did good works, and we both gained from that exchange, so they said. You can have a good effect, but go slow and be upfront.

That is wonderful. More power to them.

Back in High School (you all remember High School, right?), I was the AV guy. Even was trusted with door keys. I helped with "movie nights", 16mm projectors, sound systems, extra exciter bulbs, etc. I have a (foggy) memory of the rental agreements involved.... if the movie was NOT Disney, you could show it FREE to a school group, ONCE (don't try to rewind it). We often did rewind (shudder) and show it again. The agreement was for a particular day, it arrived (by mail!) and was expected back in the mail the next available day. If we were "asking for donations" (charging admission) the rental fee was doubled. If it WAS a Disney film, the rental was more, the agreement specified we could NOT charge admission, NOT show it "publicly" and we DEFINITELY could NOT show it more than once. It had to be returned on the rewind reels provided. Ah, those were the days. The romance of projection....

~~Once upon a time, I went to summer camp with my Webelos Den. While I was there, the camp (alright, Heritage, you dragged it out of me) gave me a form to fill out. It asked me for my name, address, etc. and also my BOSS' name , company, address etc. If I turned this in, the Pitt Council promised to send a letter to my boss, thanking him/them for letting me off and complimenting them for having such an exemplary employee to use his own vacation time to help "mold the future of America". I filled it out, and lo, some weeks later, a letter appeared on my boss' desk, signed by the Pitt Council Chief Scout. I did not know him at the time, just a signature. Somebody by name of Mazucca. . She (my Division Chief) sent me a copy with her acknowledgement and congratulations . It went in my "file" and was mentioned at the next review..... Compliments were counted toward awards etc., so this was definitely a "good thing". Anybody ever seen anything similar? I have passed the idea on to three of the past DE's here, but no repeat recently. Might give the DE or CSE writer's cramp, but what an acknowledgement of our work and duty, eh?

Is this "University of Scouting"? That's what we have here... Read thru the catalog, you are sure to find something to interest you, lead you into other endeavors. BALOO, faith awards, "The Magic of Scouting", shooting sports.... "Is it worth going at the Cubmaster level? Why would it not? Next year you will either say "Gee that was fun!" or "Boy that was a waste of time". or "Darn, I wish I'd signed up for that". Which will it be?