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Everything posted by Cambridgeskip
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As I understand it Chapter 11 bankruptcy with you is the equivalent of what we would call "administration" here, effectively it puts the brakes on everything and gives the organisation an opportunity to negotiate a rescue deal with its creditors. Of course that can be a two edged sword but is a long way from liquidation. Nevertheless this is clearly serious and you have my sympathies. I do hope it doesn't result in BSA losing its crown jewel camp sites, those are the kind of places that once they are gone they are goe.
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Bear Grylls is new World Scout Ambassador
Cambridgeskip replied to RememberSchiff's topic in Scouting Around the World
Indeed. Like it or not we live in an age when image counts for a lot and having a recognisable front man is increasingly important. There are those who don't like him but my scouts certainly do like him. -
What are the best ways to recruit new Boy Scouts
Cambridgeskip replied to CodyMiller351's topic in Open Discussion - Program
As Jameson76 said, it’s all about the program, that’s what they come for, and your existing scouts are the best way to do that. Word of mouth is powerful tool! What you can do to support them in that is give them some tools. If the troop doesn’t have it already give it an internet presence. That doesn’t have to be an all singing all dancing website, it can be as simple as Flickr photo stream or a Facebook page. Make sure that on it are two things 1. Photos of the scouts doing fun stuff. Canoeing, hiking etc. Don’t worry about uniforms or courts of honour, that doesn’t sell. Show off -
Who Is Your Scouting Role Model?
Cambridgeskip replied to LeCastor's topic in Open Discussion - Program
My Venture Scout leader, her name was Brenda. She carried on scouting including all the hiking and camping even when she was having chemo for breast cancer. An extraordinary woman -
The international friendship aspect of scouting
Cambridgeskip replied to Treflienne's topic in Open Discussion - Program
Very true. My troop has an on going program with a troop in Canada. Sadly its only the minority that are able to go on the trips we've done to them and the same goes for the Canadians. It doesn't mean it's impossible though. We do do other things. We've had skype meet ups, we've planned programs for each other and so on. So you can do it. We're also lucky in that Cambridge, by it's nature, attracts a lot of foreign visitors both for work and tourism so we've had regular visitors to the troop from overseas who are in the area. Including your goodself of course Matt! Troops in les -
That is truly shocking. It's childish and totally unscout like. I was going to ramble on for a bit but I am somewhat lost for words.
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As Shortridge said, you need to speak to the parents about this. You are a volunteer, not their slave. They were warned about your return time and still did't show.
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New Scouts BSA marketing video
Cambridgeskip replied to shortridge's topic in Open Discussion - Program
Not convinced by the "scout me in" slogon but the imagery and music work pretty well. Over all I like it! -
Scout led - to trust or to over ride?
Cambridgeskip replied to Cambridgeskip's topic in Working with Kids
I agree, there's nothing wrong with using adults as a resource, in this case though I'm really pleased with her having the confidence to chose her own path and be confident in it even when offered alternatives. -
Scout led - to trust or to over ride?
Cambridgeskip replied to Cambridgeskip's topic in Working with Kids
Interesting little update on this. We made this girl a PL in the end. She’s needed a bit of mentoring, has had the odd hiccup, but generally has grown into the job. Worth remembering that the scout section here is 10-14 so a bit different to you. Anyway this morning I was able to see why she was the right choice and how far she’s come. She’s been planning a night for the whole troop for later in November which, through no fault of her own, has all fallen through. A case of life happening. With an evening to replan from scratch I’d emailed her a few ideas, just a few ideas to g -
Being in the UK I won't pretend to know your procedures inside out, I'll leave that to others. However what these boys did went way over the line. This isn't something that can be treated as a learning experience, it's not the scout who didn't do their chores or who had a falling out with someone that ended in a scuffle or who gave some back chat. This is a group not just of scouts but scouts who are meant to be leaders among their peers, who should be setting the example, who actively ganged up on another scout ending in something that was border line sexual assault. Whatever the pr
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For some reason reading this exchange I've found myself humming a certain Monty Python song. All together now "I'm a lumberjack and I'm ok...."
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As Ian said for a centrally catered camp online ordering with a delivery to site is a winner every time. Saves a huge amount of space on transport and if you get a friendly delivery driver and a firm enough field they will sometimes come right to your kitchen tent. Did it pretty much every time back in my cub leader days! One campsite I went even had a system with Asda (what you call Walmart), normally for deliveries the driver has to take the crates away straight away. At this site though they'd arranged to leave the crates and when units left site they'd simply leave their empty crates at re
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The one on the left and one on the right in better weather!
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Ian is absolutely right. There is reason girls come to us rather than girl guides, because they are getting something that they are not getting there. This is one of my favourite photos of this year, some of my girls in the Scottish Highlands back in April. Do these look like girls that want a watered down program?
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Online international Den to Den meeting
Cambridgeskip replied to aolPack828's topic in Scouting Around the World
If you're looking for cubs outside the USA I would suggest a couple of other forums Escouts is a UK based forum very similar to this one. 1st Facebook Scout Group is Facebook based with a heavy UK presence but also a decent showing of Australian, Pakistani and various other nationality scouts. Beware of the trolls though. -
Barry I hope you don't mind, but a question for you. I've seen you make this point numerous times and something I'm not sure of is, how is BSA ever meant to expand if fresh blood, who by their nature are likely to be inexperienced in terms of scouting, doesn't come into the organisation? While we disagree on coed scouting I have broadly been able to follow and indeed respect many of your arguments, it's just this one pont that leaves me a bit confused!
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Indeed. Once upon a time that leader was me! I used to run cubs, then about 9 years ago I switched to scouts. It was a steep learning curve for me as I learned to cut the apron strings and let them get on with it. I understand how it can be difficult to sit back and watch the kids making a hash of something and not intervene. I've learned over time to let them take more and more of the responsibility and its worked better as time as gone past.
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It was interesting to see the thread about misconceptions as I had deliberately logged on to post something. yesterday I spent 40 minutes on the phone and my Group Scout Leader (my manager, don’t think you have an equivalent) had spent 2 hours on the phone with the mum of a scout who was having a bit of a moan. She had various things to say but they all stemmed from the fact that her daughter has not made PL or APL yet. Her daughter is disappointed. She’s not the first and won’t be the last and in herself is not a problem. The problem is that her mum does not accept how scouts operat
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Common Misconceptions Others Have on the BSA?
Cambridgeskip replied to Drastent's topic in Open Discussion - Program
They don’t understand that the adults are there to, as much as possible, facilitate the scouts in making their own decisions and leading and running the program as much as they can. They seem to think that we are there to do everything! -
Scouting Magazine - betting the farm on girls
Cambridgeskip replied to gblotter's topic in Issues & Politics
I run scouts, 10-14 year olds, so the age group behind Ian's lot. Interestingly my observation has always been the biggest gap in maturity sits at the Cub-Scout move up age. By the time they move to explorers the boys have typically caught up, both physically and mentally. -
Scouting Magazine - betting the farm on girls
Cambridgeskip replied to gblotter's topic in Issues & Politics
There are specifically male issues out there no doubt. Mental health is a big one, attainment at school is another. Fact remains though that men still dominate in most areas of life. I can't speak for the USA but here there are 208 women in Parliament out of 650. And that is the most it has ever been! 7 out of the FTSE 100 companies have women as CEOs. We may have a female Prime Minister but she is only the second in history. We have never had a woman as Chancellor of the Exchequer, had only one as Foreign Secretary (she lasted about a year), and one Home Secretary (she's now PM) As Ian s -
So I wrote a book - help required
Cambridgeskip replied to Cambridgeskip's topic in Scouting Around the World
Now that would make a great title for a children's book! -
So... after I was made redundant back in November I started writing a book. Now this book is a children's book set in a scout troop. I won't give too much away but the short version of the story is teenager gets (outrageously unfairly) into trouble at school for standing up to the school bully. Parents pull her out of scout summer camp as punishment. Her friends decide it is grossly unfair and help her stowaway anyway. Along the way they pull some outrageous stunts. Some of which are a touch dangerous, some of which are border line illegal...Anyway having finished it I am now looking for an ag
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What are your Units doing this fall?
Cambridgeskip replied to Jameson76's topic in Open Discussion - Program
Well indeed there is normally a panto horse or cow (I was the back end of the cow in a school production of Jack and the Beanstalk! I was later bestman at the wedding of the front end of the cow. True story!) but there is more to it than that. It is normally two hours of pure slapstick silliness based on a classic children's story. Our local panto this year is Alladin. Cinderella and Jack and The Bean Stalk are also both common ones. The main male character is always played by a woman and the main female by a man. A character called Buttons (unlucky in love nice guy who gets friend zoned by th