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Hedgehog

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Everything posted by Hedgehog

  1. Part of what needs to happen is to change the culture. To do that you need to not only manage but change expectations for both the boys and the parents. I explain to the new scouts that scouting is about leadership. Leadership is about being responsible for others. The best way to be responsible for others is to become responsible for yourself. I tell the older leaders that they are servant leaders - their job is to make things happen. I also tell them that leading isn't doing but enabling others to "do." I also tell them that they are in charge and they can do anything they want as long as it
  2. Part of what needs to happen is to change the culture. To do that you need to not only manage but change expectations for both the boys and the parents. I explain to the new scouts that scouting is about leadership. Leadership is about being responsible for others. The best way to be responsible for others is to become responsible for yourself. I tell the older leaders that they are servant leaders - their job is to make things happen. I also tell them that leading isn't doing but enabling others to "do." I also tell them that they are in charge and they can do anything they want as long as
  3. I'm not afraid. Our Troop spends a week at Camp Crystal Lake with an ASM named Jason who has a hockey mask and access to the ax yard tools.
  4. Our adults typical cook as a separate group, but we don't try to mimic the boys patrols. We've got a good group of leaders that enjoy each other's company and that enjoy camping and backpacking. As a result, we function like a patrol - a group of friends that work together to do what needs to be done. The boys will learn more from that example than if we tried to mimic the boys with uniforms, patches, yells and flags - which, when you think about it, are poor substitutes for real team building.
  5. Read the definition of chemical fuels - it only includes "gaseous, liquid or gelled fuels." It doesn't include grass, twigs and leaves. Therefore, homemade stoves that burn wood are perfectly acceptable unde G2SS.
  6. WOW. That gives a bad name to lawyers. As a lawyer with knowledge of the intent of the BSA program, I would have written the policy as: A scout can use any tent they would like and, if they wish, not use a tent at all. A scout can share a tent with anyone (consistent with GTSS) or tent by themselves. Scouts are encouraged to choose tent options that are appropriate for the expected conditions, recognizing that scouts learn from making both good and bad decisions. Patrol leaders are encouraged to work with the scouts in their patrol to make sure that scouts understand the benefits and drawba
  7. Cynicism aside, the benefits are worth it. The email from the dad saying his son can't stop talking about how much fun he had as part of the Venture Patrol at camp. The sense of accomplishment that the first year guys got after finishing a strenuous hike that included bouldering and scrambling up rock ledges. Eating the dinner my son cooked for his patrol because it was better than what the Old Goat patrol was serving. Seeing 6 scouts and 2 parents go backpacking for the first time. Having my son go camping in 20 degree weather without me and having a blast. Seeing scouts excited to cook an
  8. Interesting. I'm not sure that IOLS training would work well at camp... at least the way it was done when I took it. We had six hours day of PowerPoint and then a weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) of camping as a patrol with other attendees while going over the First Class Skills. However, I think that it would be good for teaching more advanced skills like building your own gear , lightweight backpacking gear selection, advanced cooking (foil pack, open fire, Dutch oven and freezer bag cooking), map and compass / orienteering, WFA, survival skills, knives (use, sharpening, etc.), advan
  9. I wonder what would happen if you asked the scouts to write down what they are supposed to do for their position? Hmmm, another idea for scout leadership training.
  10. It sounds like you are trying to "make" them do what you think they should do by bringing in parents, threatening them about not making Eagle or making them sign a contract. That never works. Upon re-reading what I wrote, I realized that I left out the most important part - get the SM and the youth leaders around a table and then start asking questions. Better yet, ONLY ask questions. OK, you can take notes too and read them back to confirm what the boys decided. Keep asking questions until the boys address all of the issues and have a plan. Richard Covey (author of the 7 Habits of Highl
  11. The most powerful tool you have at your disposal is the ability to ask questions to the youth leaders. "What do you think you need to do to be effective?" "What can I and the SM do to support you?" "What would you like to do this year?" "What do you need to do to get that done?" "What is the best way I can help you accomplish that?" The moment you start talking, lecturing and making threats, the boys will throw up a wall and just hear "wat wa wat wa, wat wa" like in the old Peanuts cartoons. They are put in a position where they have to do what you say. If you ask questions, you are guiding th
  12. Hmmmm. I grew up climbing trees and never injured myself. My son on the other hand, broke his arm falling from school playground equipment onto a bed of neatly manicured mulch.
  13. I would expect that most scouts would listen to the SM if he told them that they are not ready for a merit badge or that it would be better not to take that badge at camp. Don't underestimate the power of a discussion.
  14. Even with a lot of the outdoor programs, the approach often puts up barriers between boys and nature. Although I believe in LNT, too often is is taught as a bunch of rules saying DONT. Wilderness Survival is taught as a struggle against nature. The most frequent word a lot of scouts hear is DONT - don't play in the stream, don't get dirty, don't use your knife on that dead branch, dont climb that tree, don't put sticks in the fire, don't skip rocks, dont get wet, etc. I tell scouts (and their parents) that the best part about scouting is that it is the one time you can get dirty and won't get
  15. Interesting. Before camp out SM meets with the boys and discussed which MBs to take. First years all take First Class Adventure and Swimming. The other boys are guided to take badges that are appropriate to their experience. If they are taking the more difficult badges (archery, riflery, wilderness survival or any of the boating MBs) they are encouraged to take a free period to practice those skills. My second year son took archery, woodcarving, kayaking and first aid. First aid was taught by a MD. He got a partial in archery because he couldn'tget the accuracy requirement. We had a couple of
  16. I think that having the adults take over the sign off process is the wrong solution. The result is that the boys who incorrectly signed off learn that if they screw up, an adult will take over. The better solution would be to ask the boy leaders whether they think the younger scouts met the requirements. If the boys agree that the younger scouts didn't meet the requirements ask how signing off on the requirements affects those younger scouts and the troop. Then ask what they think they can do to fix the problem in relation to the younger scouts not knowing what they need to know. Then ask wha
  17. To add to the chorus - Two deep leadership on outings is for safety (one adult can leave to get help while the other stays with Scouts) rather than a barrier to abuse. There is no prohibition for one adult being with two scouts (in fact the YPT guidelines encourage that for merit badge conferences and Scoutmaster conferences and for car travel). There also is no prohibition regarding one-on-one contact with your own child. Also, as long as you are at a Scout Camp and out in the open (e.g. on roads and trails in daylight) that is not considered to be one-on-one contact because it is a public
  18. I've had problems with my white space disappearing - I just assumed it was because I'm using an iPhone or iPad. My first question is why are adults signing off on rank requirements? The older scouts should be signing off, not the adults (with the exception of the scout spirit and possibly POR requirements). That is part of a Troop being Boy Lead. If the boy completed the requirement, then they should get sign off. There is no requirement that a leader (or another scout) see them do it unless the requirement says to show or explain. Nobody can change the requirements from what is there
  19. I have the Platypus gravity filter (with the carbon filter attachment) and love it. It works great, filtering two liters very quickly. And yes, I've used it hiking the AT with our scouts. I bought the one without a "Clean" bag because I already have a Platypus reservoir and itmis a little,less expensive). I saw the same one on sale at REI and bought a second. I now use both "Dirty" bags and am saving the filters for when mine needs replacement. Having the extra dirty bag allows me to fill up both bags with water while on the trail and then filter when I get to camp. The only downside is
  20. The pack I was Cubmaster for made the hot dogs and hamburgers and supplied the condiments and the lemonade Each family brought a side dish or a dessert.
  21. Barry: When I did SM / ASM outdoor skills training, we were split into patrols and spent the weekend camping and functioning as a patrol. The PowerPoint part of the training was boring, putting the concepts into action as part of a patrol was interesting. When I did WFA training, we were split into groups for the exercises rotating the different roles. My idea takes those experiences and applies BSA principles and methods. 1) Scouting is Outing so be outdoors; 2) Boy Led means that the boys take the lead in the discussion with coaching before hand from the adults; 3) Scouts learn from do
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