jjlash

My biggest challenge is instilling the big picture view that training is valuable.  Poor training content and poor training delivery certainly contribute to that - people find (either first hand or second hand) that a session was a waste of time and they resist future sessions.  We do our best to prevent poor delivery, but are mostly stuck with the content National provides.

Another big hurdle I see is the same as we all identify with the youth - they perceive themselves as being too busy.  When this excuse comes up (for adults or youth) I point out that "too busy" is just a less-direct way to say "that is not important enough for me to give up something else".  

I think location enables the "too busy" excuse - people dont want to travel very far to attend (and we are only 90 minutes from one side of the council to the other).  

I agree that the expectation to get trained is too low.   

We do pizza bagels or pizza muffins

• Bagel half or English muffin half - they hold up okay in the pack and are more filling than tortilla
• A squeeze bottle of pizza sauce (the Scouts "drank" whatever was left after the muffins were gone)
• Pepperoni
• Your choice of cheese stick - or dry Parmesan for lactose intolerant

Those "...years later..." paybacks are great.  I especially like the ones that I don't even remember doing.  They are what I call "Lollipop Moments"

I tried the Country Meats a few years ago.  Bought a case for myself to see if it would be a good fundraiser for the Troop.  I found a few flavors that I really like and a few that were just okay - none were bad.  I never did get around to letting the Scouts try to sell some - ended up eating them all myself for lunch and trail snacks.

As others have said, the popcorn companies need to have lower cost options even if they need to adjust the size accordingly.  When my son was selling, we would open the boxes of microwave popcorn and sell the individual bag for $1.  We would also buy a can to put out some as samples.

Also in Iowa - today was #12.  School board is being very creative about how to make up the hours.  So far our district is still out on May 31.  But we have NYLT staff who will (already) be in school until day 3 of the course.  Working on plans for how we're going to adjust.

Very thorough, thanks for sharing.

6 minutes ago, malraux said:

my.scouting.org log in->menu -> my dashboard -> my profile -> contact info click green plus.

Ah - that makes much more sense.  Once on your dashboard, the "my profile" is under the "my training" menu.  Thanks @malraux

Looks like you'll need to have access to the "Member Manager" for your unit or district, then you can drill down and edit it.  The unit key 3 and the commissioners have access.  Dont know if an individual has access to their own record or not.  

Sarah Dawson - Scout Exec / CEO of Hawkeye Area Council

As our council training chair, I guess I would say "yes" 😉

I would say that this is no different than any other position or request.  Use your leadership skills to truly recruit - which means give them a reason to join that is important to them, provide whatever support they need, set clear expectations, respect their time and efforts, and show your appreciation for what they do.   

To @RememberSchiff comment about worker bees and a fixed script versus authority - my response would be that we have an obligation to teach the material as provided by national, but also to "make it our own" so that the session is fun and engaging (better for learning and better for "repeat customers").  That means make sure you cover everything, make sure you dont go too far off into left field, make sure you stick pretty close to the time expectations but make sure you are not a drone that reads from the book (and please use a presentation method in addition to powerpoint).  I dont know what authority an instructor, or even the session organizer, would really need.

Nicely said @MattR.  Thank you.

A few "pearls" from my treks:

* The chuckwagon dinner is a great change from freeze dried but dont expect too much.  The two times Ive had it, it is commercial-size (boil in the bag) dinty moore beef stew and dutch over cobbler.  As I said, a nice change of pace but it is really easy to over eat and get sick (dont ask how I know).

* We did cowboy action shooting the first year it was offered so things may have changed since then.  We used 22cal revolvers loaded a single shot at a time.  It was fun because it was pistols but it was really pretty "meh" if you have done much shooting.

* They never seemed to get tired of tomahawks.  

* Burro packing is an interesting experience.  Both times we had a youth who has horses so he knew how to get the animal moving.  I have read stories of people who were not so fortunate.

* I am not aware of any cabins available to sleep in.  Yes there are some to tour, we like Hunting Lodge.  There is one place where you sleep in a lean-to type shelter on a platform on the side of the hill.  Dont recall the camp but it is in the SW part of the ranch.

* Our guys really liked the sweat lodge and the burro racing

* It was so-so for the guys but the adults all really enjoyed the re-dedication to Scouting program (and the cabin) at Zastrow camp

* Dry camps are not bad, you just have to plan ahead a bit.  YOu've probably heard about eating dinner for lunch that day.

* How much down time you have is very dependent on how organized and efficient the crew is.  If they take 2 hours to get out of camp in the morning and have a long hike they are likely to miss program at the next camp.  If you know they are slow to get on the trail and/or slow to hike, you may want to encourage low miles so they dont miss activities.

* If you do Baldy, I suggest having it later in the trek so you have your "trail legs" under you.  I have only done it on a layover day - just enough packs for essentials and to pick up food on the way back down.  

Hope that helps....

I think there are two reasons to have the actual card - around here some of the outdoor stores give you a discount but require the card.  Arguably more important for the younger kids - having their own stuff, stuff with their name on it etc, is kind of a big deal, kind of like getting mail addressed to them.  

The charter certificate is different - it is a ceremonial thing.  I like to attend a meeting of my CO and present the certificate.  I know some CO's that frame them and hang them in the fellowship hall.

Just received my council newsletter.  It had this interesting tidbit.

Quote

Changes to Membership Card and Charter Certificate Printing

Important Changes to Membership Card and Charter Certificate Printing Requirements   The BSA is committed to streamlining basic operations by putting tools in the hands of volunteers. For several years now, individuals and unit key 3 have had access to print membership cards through my.Scouting. In addition, functionality will be added to my.Scouting by January 1, 2019, to enable members of the uni...t key 3 to print their unit Charter Certificate.   This “self-service” functionality allows volunteers to print membership cards and the unit charter certificate in a timely manner and enhances the on-boarding experience for new youth and adults.   Effective January 1, 2019, councils will no longer print and mail membership cards to council and district volunteers and traditional Scouting units. This is a change to the council membership validation requirement. In addition, councils will no longer print and deliver unit charter certificates.

In general I am a huge fan of tools that let me do things myself.  In this case, despite what it says, I think it is about reducing costs for the council by shifting the cost and effort to volunteers.  Now somebody at the unit has to buy the DIY business card stock or has to cut apart all the membership cards (assuming they even print multiple per page).  And if nobody in the unit has a nice color printer then you get whatever you get.  

Not a big cost.  Not a big effort.  Just another thing to push onto the volunteers.

Naturally the material is the same regardless where you take WB.  And, of course, no two WB experiences are the same because they are run by different staff at different location etc.  The big benefit to attending in your own council is that you will meet and become friends with other Scouters in your own council - the people you will cross paths with at roundtable and at summer camp, on a district committee or an OA event.

If the language is from an individual (or a couple individuals) there are probably others thinking the same as you.  I would address much the same way I would address it with the Scouts - a simple "that kind of language is not appropriate", "that kind of language is not necessary", "we can do better than that" or "we're supposed to be setting the example".

If it is used by most of the group you'll have a tougher time. 

Just got the email - we got a 12-day slot arriving on 7/18/2020.

Who else got a spot?

Welcome to the campfire @JohnMiller

I agree with your comment for people to consider when and how they will use the tent, but I have to disagree with the rest of your recommendation.  Telling people to only camp when the weather forecast is sunny is a disservice - not only will that limit the amount of time they even consider going out, but it will leave them unprepared if they do encounter weather.

Much better to help them understand their equipment and recommend a tent that will keep them safe (dry == warm and not hypothermic).  In that regard, I would recommend them a tent with a full rain fly and teach that they can leave the doors open, or take the rain fly off while the weather is nice.

And to that end, I could never in good conscious recommend a Coleman (or Ozark Trail or Wenzel) brand tent.  The only advantage they have is that they are cheap you can pick them up on a moment notice at any big-box store.  In my experience their quality is on-par with their price (low) and they fail on the one feature that I look for in a tent - how well does it protect me against the elements.  While it will cost a little more, there are entry-level brands such as Alps Mountaineering that offer tents in comparable sizes that not only perform better in the weather but are backed by outstanding customer service.  Better performance will result in more comfort and a better overall experience - that is what will keep them coming back.

Just my $0.02 worth

22 minutes ago, mashmaster said:

I am hearing of peoples tickets from the current wood badge course and I just shake my head at how easy they are.

What sounds easy for you may be a stretch for them.  Just like an Eagle project, the goal is not the project but the planning and leadership (and related) skills they put to use in accomplishing the project.

I understand the desire to get them thinking big but I would suggest that you not present any ideas.  Rather - challenge them to come up with ideas by asking what they want to do.  Do they want to canoe?  hike?  fish?  raft?  bike?  swim?  sail?   You could say something like "Ive heard great things about XYZ"  or "I know of a Troop that did THIS and had a great time" to give them someplace to start.  But in my experience, if you present some ideas they will pick one of those because it is easy.

Another approach is to set some limits first - usually cost or duration (how much vacation time adults can take).  Then research to find cool things within those bounds.

That said - boundary waters is a great trek.  One of my favorites for hiking was Isle Royale.

1 hour ago, shortridge said:

Sure, but then why is BSA referring it’s members to them as a training source?

<shrug> - good question.  

4 hours ago, shortridge said:

Yep, that’s where I threw up my hands and stopped searching. It’s a useless system. Getting trainers to pay their fees, not getting people trained, is clearly the ESCI goal.

I agree it is useless for an end user to locate a trainer.  But that is not really their model.  Their model is to provide materials for the trainers or training organizations and assume that those people will make their services known to the people wanting to be trained.

As for collecting fees - they dont do that either.  The only cost I have to be an ECSI instructor is the book/certification card I purchase for each student.  And those are less expensive than the comparable American Heart Assn materials (Im also AHA instructor) materials.

Wood Badge teaches leadership skills.  Things like techniques for effective listening and giving/receiving feedback and embracing diversity and handling conflict.  It gives an introduction to the "others first" or "servant" style of leadership but it does a very cursory job at that.

If you have had other leadership training, such as in the military or business world, you may or may not get a lot from it.  I had never had any leadership training and Wood Badge was a turning point.  Not because the material in Wood Badge is so great but because it set me on a path to learn about (study) leadership.  On that path I have taken other training and met other people and read other authors that have truly changed my approach to everything.

If you go to ecsinstitute.org there is a "Find A Center" link top-center.  You can enter info to search for an "education center" in your area.  The Education Center is the organization which puts on trainings. 

You will have to contact each one - it doesnt show what classes they offer.  In fact, many of them dont offer classes to the public, they are organizations such as schools or camps that provide training internally.  But it is someplace to start.

Dates and Course Directors have been announced for next year's Philmont Leadership Challenge.   I have had the pleasure of working with both of these folks and know that their courses will raise the bar on what is already an amazing experience.  

• PTC Week 4:  June 30 - July 6.  David Broekers from Crossroads of America council (central Indiana) is course director
• PTC Week 11: Sept 15 - 21.  April Bethea from Grand Canyon council (Pheonix area) is course director

Philmont Leadership Challenge is a 6 day session where crews practice their Wood Badge leadership skills through hands-on activities in the Philmont backcountry.  Activities include challenge events, geocaching, wilderness first aid and search and rescue. 

Are there any other PLC alumni hanging out here?