mrkstvns

The Yo-Yo adventure looked kind of cool. Though I imagine it has its ups and downs.

What's wrong with the NetSmartz videos? I've led several Cyber Chip classes and have noticed that some of the NetSmartz videos resonate strongly with the boys and spark lively discussions. I like that there are videos on different topics for each age/grade group, letting the scouts view those of most interest to themselves. That also lets the adult facilitator "mix it up" a little bit by selecting different videos each time so that the course doesn't get too predictable. The only complaint I have about the NetSmartz videos is that the collection seems a bit stale, with most of the vi

From the perspective of an adult in a Boy Scout troop, I wonder what the impact of this will be on helping new scouts earn their Scout rank. Currently, requirement 6 calls for the scout to earn Cyberchip. Some scouts have a valid Cyber Chip card that they earned in their Webelos den, and the ASMs accept that towards their Scout requirement. If those scouts now have an option of doing the "Protect Yourself Rules" instead of a Cyber Chip, should we accept that as a Cyber Chip equivalent when the scout asks to be signed off on Scout rank? Or should we tell them to do Cyber Chip (as we do f

Maybe there's a bigger need than I imagined for young people to help older people learn to use smart phones. Here's a story about Girl Scouts doing the same kind of service project. https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/05/health/iyw-girl-scouts-smartphone-clinic-seniors-trnd/index.html

Surely scouters can find something safer than potatoes to launch with a catapult...

I bet a lot of scouts look back on that camp with fond memories and good stories to tell the younger scouts. A challenge makes the event worthwhile...

Good thing scouting teaches emergency preparedness! A troop camping in the Allagash Wilderness area of Maine found out why when they suddenly found themselves needing to rescue two men whose canoes had capsized on the lake. Thanks to the scouts, both men are safe...and so is their dog, even though he nearly drowned the two men in an effort to save his own furry skin... Here's the story: https://kstp.com/national/boy-scouts-rescue-brothers-canoes-capsized-maine/5378861/ My takeaway: What we teach the boys matters.

Hopefully, you're camping deep in the woods, and not in an exposed field with only scattered trees. In a forest, you're generally at fairly low risk of a lightning strike. Even still, you do best if you camp under a cluster of lower trees (not the tallest trees in the forest). The power of prayer should not be underestimated... The more secular technique I teach is this: 1. Crouch down as low as you can. 2. Put your head between your legs. 3. Kiss your butt good-bye.

Most of the summer camps I've visited in this region do have buildings that would be appropriate shelters in the event of lightning. The dining hall is typically the best choice because of its size. Rest rooms that have plumbing and/or wiring are good options. Some camps have stables, boat houses or other facilities that would provide safe shelter. Few summer camps these days are truly rustic.

If all you have are open shelters that aren't obviously grounded, a good Plan B is to go sit in your cars until the storm passes.

I bet I'm not the only person here who never even knew there WERE words to "Taps"... I've heard it played on the bugle a thousand times, but never once do I recall hearing somebody sing to it. That alone would have been worth the price of admission.

I remember cigarette commercials back in the 70s featuring people with black eyes saying, "I'd rather fight than switch." I don't see many scouters with black eyes....

This should be a much less controversial discussion, since we all know there is only ONE "right" way to have a flag ceremony....and that's whatever way I do it. Of course, everyone else MUST be mistaken...

Nah. They just use the easy-to-remember FDVG method instead.... Förklara, Demonstrera, vägleda, Gör det möjligt

There's nothing wrong with EDGE ... quite the contrary, as a tool that enables youth to teach each other practical skills, it's quite useful, and I have yet to hear a naysayer suggest something that is as practical, effective, and useful. Of course, EDGE has its limitations. It really works only for skills, not so much for concepts. If you're teaching knowledge, you'll have to use other strategies, but those aren't really relevant to kids who want to show each other HOW to do something.

Who says campout lunches should consist of the same boring cold cut or PBJ sandwiches that every other new scout patrol in the nation serves? Wouldn't a really TASTY hot sandwich be so much more appetizing? Sure it would! Here's a few tips to help you have a BETTER sandwich for lunch... BREAD. Find a really good sub roll. If you can get small French bread loaves, like the ones that Vietnamese restaurants use for their Banh Mi sandwiches, you're in luck! A Mexican panaderia near my neighborhood sells fresh-made bolillos that are perfect! Another good choice is a sourdough sub ro

I think our troops are under-pricing our pancake breakfast fundraisers.... BSA's Spirit of Adventure Council got a bunch of celebrities and raised $75,000 with their breakfast event (bet their pancakes weren't as tasty though....) https://patch.com/massachusetts/charlestown/boy-scouts-spirit-adventure-council-hosts-annual-breakfast

When I first heard about the Scouting Heritage merit badge, I thought it was a challenge for many scouts because it seemed like "the way" to earn it was to go to a jamboree or visit BSA's scouting museum, with merit badge classes doing a cheesy workaround to write a letter to the scouting museum asking for info. After reading RememberSchiff's interesting post in the Scouting History forum about an Eagle scout who put together an exhibit about scouting during World War I, I started googling around the web to see if there were other exhibits about scouting that could be used to meet require

Thanks to packsaddle, NOW it can be controversial...

I wonder what the advantages might be of having really large neckers.

A woman was injured on a hiking trail. Fortunately, a nearby Boy Scout troop was prepared.... https://www.wausaudailyherald.com/story/news/2019/06/03/rib-mountain-rescue-beaver-dam-woman-thanks-boy-scouts-who-aided-her/1327299001/

I like reading about the different kinds of service projects that scouts do, and I like contemplating the relative merits of each: which projects make the biggest impact? which ones best meet often neglected communities? which ones satisfy true "needs" as opposed to being mere window dressing? which ones exhibit leadership? These mental sojourns help me build up an understanding of how to best guide scouts looking for a project to organize. There's an interesting article in Bryan on Scouting about a scout with a creative idea for a service project: teach senior citizens how to use sm

As it gets easier and easier to find merit badge classes, it gets harder and harder to find GOOD merit badge classes. Council-run summer camps increasingly expand their merit badge offerings into classroom subjects that they are ill-equipped to teach --- particularly in the inadequate time they allow. Merit badge universities (or colleges or midways) are sometimes even worse, with some events alotting as little as 2 hours to teach a subject that requires 6 hours or more to cover the requirements as written. Scouts are shortchanged with poor experiences. That's why it's so refreshing

I would suggest doing the STEM on a different day than you do your Religious Emblems and definitely allow more than 1/2 - 1 hour once a month. . There are usually about 4 elements of a typical NOVA award for Cubs. Two of them are easily done in a meeting setting (watch videos / discuss, and complete an Adventure), but 2 are best done by getting out and going somewhere (typically an experiment/investigation and a field trip to go see where relevant science is done).

Very interesting story. I've driven past that museum several times. I'll have to make it a point to juggle my drive schedule so I can stop in for a visit. Sounds pretty cool!