Crew21_Adv

Be_Prepared, There always seem to be varations of Camp Songs. Drive an hour down the interstate to another Council Camp and they will sing the same song, in a different beat, or words. But most of these you can google the lyrics and tune, and find which songs you enjoy. Even most recently, if you youtube "Camp Songs", there are hundreds from various types of camps. And variations on the audience participations songs as well. For audience participation songs, I like... My Aunt Came Back. Dum-dum, dah-dah. An Austrian Went a Yodeling. The Pirate Song. (When I

Fellow Arrowmen, Greetings! Again, Congrats to Buffalo Skipper! Also, I highly agree with hotair36! The BSA program is primarily for the youth boys (and Venturing/Explorer girls), we all know that. The Advancement system is based around learning, testing, being recognized and promoted. But I believe in the literature, it states that the BSA is a family based program. Adult leaders equally need recognition from time to time. The trucks, the cars, the vans, the busses and the trailers don't drive themselves to camp. Camping funds don't miraculously appear in t

Mom2Scouts06, Greetings! As I read this threat, I caught on to the "Program" beads. It had briefly confused me (and I don't need any more confusion, haha). I believe per the curriculum they call upon two items to represent service and program. The spade and the kudu horn. When you referred to Program Beads, I was understanding the giant beads. Some course carry a large set of beads for fun. It is similar to a Roundtuit. For minor infractions of tardiness, talking during a presentation or lack of Scoutiquette (unScout-like behavior/grey area wisecracks). If a

SctDad, Greetings! Working with teenagers is difficult. A Chapter Advisor is not only discussing and planning with them. An Advisor is planning OA ceremonies with the Arrowmen's Troops, Scoutmasters, football/baseball coaches and parents. My chapter has been successful in having our first OA hosted Arrow of Light ceremony in quiet a few years. Our Chapter picked the weekend, spot, location and even time. Then the Chapter created a flyer and announced the AoL ceremony to all the local packs. It was almost painful, getting the equipment, regalia, even OA parent permission

Fellow Scouters, Greetings! I get a kick out of the illustrated Morse code that Old Gray Owl posted, but I don't know if a picture of "dog did it" is appropriate for Webelos Communicator pin. flbjr, Sorry, I've never seen illustrated Morse code like you've described. However, Boy's Life had a game to assist learning Morse code. http://boyslife.org/games/online-games/575/morse-code-machine/ Signaling is a skill that each Scout can learn, but it takes practice and time to achieve the skill and speed. Like doing school Math, English and History, no student is going to skip

Scoutfish, Greetings! In older forum post, fellow members have given their summaries, and again during this posting. Fellow members have given their experience and brief summaries. Let me provide my definition of WB21C. People can take leadership/followership and communication courses in Scouting and in the corporate world, even at the local college. Some Scouters by virtue of their personality can network and encourage Scout and parent participation. These are all positive traits that WB21C will provide you. But for my definition. The bottom line is that WB21C,

BDPT00 and Fellow Arrowmen, Greetings! First my apologies to Buffalo Skipper for stealing this thread. Yeah.. I agree, my advice or comments are opinionated. I've consolidated comments and advice from other fellow Arrowmen/Advisors, but I do believe (opinion) that a few added steps enhance a more favorable outcome. It is disappointing as an Associate Chapter Advisor, to pull a Scoutmaster over, and see the look on his face, when only one boy (out of approximately 10 candidates) is elected; when the Scoutmaster was hoping that most of the worthy candidates were elected.

Fellow Arrowmen, As my local Chapter is growing again and having more activities. Our youth Arrowman are conducting a few ceremonies each year. One thing that I've seen, as we researched OA literature, newsletter ideas and material from other Lodges and Chapters. Occasionally there are giant OA sashes (Ordeal, Brotherhood and Vigil), behind the ceremony team and fire. These Giant OA Sashes appear to be purchased vinyl banners probably from commercial advertisement/sports banner companies. (not like the square banner flag, sold on the National OA Trading Post page). They var

Fellow Scouters, Regarding election outcomes. Yeah.. It is an unproven theory of how to improve election outcomes. It only appears to work. But I have no valid ways to prove it. I've met a few Scoutmasters that winced, at the low results. When they just did an election, without accepting advice from the election team before arrival. Those leaders would only get one scout elected out of about ten eligible candidates. The other Scoutmasters that accepted some of the recommendations usually got seven or eight (if not all) elected out of ten candidates. Those Scoutmasters

BuffaloSkipper, Greetings again! Great to hear about the improvements to Camp Euchee and Spanish Trails Scout Reservations. There was a large acreage for the camp and Spanish Trails could host many Scouts at two campsites. I was only opposed to the sandy terrain, it seemed that camp was 25-30 miles from the gulf coast, but most of the terrain seemed to be a dirt/sandy mix. (Just part of natural environment though). The sand seemed to reflect the heat even more during the summer time. None of the Scouts would stay up during camp, because they were exhausted from all the

OT, Good question. Currently, I don't think so. With just over 10 years, Venturing is one of the newest programs. Venturing does not have the population of the Cub Scout or Boy Scout programs. Lone Scouts has grown out of a need and multiple requests, which is what drove the program to begin. So, I imagine, there would need to be a larger Venturing population and repetitive request for Lone Venturer for literature, insignia and a program to be launched. The idea sounds good (if there are/were multiple Lone Venturer needs). The application seems difficult though, and any

Congrats Buffalo Skipper! Do they still tell the first year campers, the legend of the "One Eyed Euchee"? Scouting Forever and Venture On! Crew21 Adv

OT, Greetings! Good question! There are a few Venturing vague areas, that you really have to read only found on one line, in small typeprint font hidden in the literature. Sometimes, it may not be readily found in the Venturing Handbook, but the word "Venturer" is on BSA forms; such as the 50 Miler Award or Historic Trails Award forms. Or sometimes an Advisor may assume that Venturers can do, can participate or can earn; until an Advisor learns that earning the recognition is unsafe or not eligible for Venturers. To answer your question. A few years ago, the pa

Fellow Scouters, Greetings again! Just to follow up on Oak Tree's recent comment and spin off into another thread. I'd prefer to call it a discussion, rather than a debate. I am not stating a victory or defeat. I am not claiming that I am absolutely correct (as if I was on a pedestal and claim to have wrote the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook and Advancement Committee Manual all by myself), nor that I am at fault with my logic. TwoCub and I just possess different opinions over the length of time during the ESLP. Id say it would be a discussion (and difference of

CPAMom, Greetings again! I commented earlier about the Troop meeting plan, and they should somewhat resemble a planned event, segueing from meeting activity to the next meeting activity. Now.. If I can comment about "Chaos". Within my troop, we use a similar term. When newly arrive families visit our troop and annually during our "Hug-A-Webe" meeting, we refer to our meetings as "Organized Chaos". From the outside view, it may appear to be total chaos, but underlying all the fun "spinning plates" and quick rotation of meeting agenda events we have some organization to it.

SkyPilot06, Greetings! To answer your direct question. No, I haven't gone to Wood Badge in Gilwell Park. I've only toured Gilwell. I've met just a couple of BSA Scouters that have attended the Gilwell course. By third hand information, a work colleague of an Associate Advisor with my Venturing Crew. (her work colleague is a Scouting Association UK Cub Leader) Very recently, from the Scouts Association UK Cub leader, she inquired with her Scouting Commissioner about her eligibility to attend Gilwell Wood Badge. The feeling from this Scouting Association Cub Leader, i

CPAMom, Greetings! If your family is from a rural area, making a choice between either Troop A or B, might just exceed enrolling as a Lone Scout program. A good Boy Scout meeting should resemble similarities to the seven portions of a Troop Meeting Plan. http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34425.pdf Or using some of the examples from Troop Program features. http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/boyscouts/resources/troop%20program%20features%20vol,-d-,%20i%20-%20iii.aspx Preopening Opening Skill Instruction Patrol Meeting Interpatrol Activity Closing

Exibar (Mike B), I think your CC is overstating some Scouting Urban Legends. As a Crew Advisor, I do not email a youth directly (Venturing Activity Chair or Crew Officer), w/o emailing their parent or another adult in the CC: line. I have also called Venturing family home phones, intending to talk to the parent and had a Venturer answer, I immediately state "Tell your parents you are on the phone with the Advisor right now, and we are talking about ____ event. Tell them now, I'll wait." The adult Scouters within a unit should be aware of YP, and find ways to avoid a d

Twocubdad, Let me attempt explain my thoughts. It only takes four signatures to start an ESLP. The benefactor, unit leader, unit committee member and district/council advancement chair. At the end of the ESLP it only takes three signatures to accept completion. The Life Scout, the unit leader and the benefactor. No completion signature from the unit committee, nor no completion signature from the district/council advancement chair. Many other fellow Scouters in my district and council have quoted urban Scouting Legends. That a project must be no less than 1000 hours, I

Frank and Fellow Scouters, Greetings! If I may comment on discussing a project between a Life Scout and an Advancement Committee, then my thoughts on the scope of ESLPs. On many occasions, our unit committee discuss scope, safety, schedules, and etc with a Life Scout. We attempt not to expand the scope beyond their idea (what ever it may be, monumental or very minimal). But we attempt to keep the topics to safety, leadership and communications. Quiet often, I am the adult stating, "Write that down!" to the Life Scout. Now for the irony and humorous part. Often after that

ripulan, There will probably be many replies to this topic. In this Scouter Forum, there have been similar discussions about Life Scouts who have been violent, fought, committed arson, committed petty theft and/or used illegal narcotics. Most of those forum discussions, the dialogue stated the youth had court dates, but were not detained in a state facility. Within previous forum topics. It was usually a fact; the Life Scout in question committed a local or state crime. I usually ask, can a Life Scout be reformed? and, can the Life Scout be forgiven for their crime(s)?

Jmedina, You've already received some excellent advice. The G2SS rules have two types of print. Bolded (which are must follow) and regular type (which are guidelines and recommendations). But like our fellow Forum members have said, a Pack, Troop, or tour leader may impose more restrictive (and safer) guidelines. If I can comment about your questions. jmedina asked, So my question is the leader in the wrong??? No. Sometimes they are not yet knowledgeable about the G2SS. So, sometimes you may inquire if the strict guidance is a BSA, Council or unit rule. Sim

Stosh, I haven't seen your council's video, but I have seen one similar. The video that I've seen, the council created video DVD which was designed from the origin to be an advertisement to Scouters. (parts of the video were modeled after the BSA WB21C promotional video (1999)). But this council created DVD mixed fun, with a little classroom, with WB testimonials (of local Scouters). From your description Stosh, it appears your local council WB video demonstrates alot of fun. I guess you can say I'm straddling the fence, on this topic. I'd concur, the fun and la

Phibbles, Greetings! If I may offer my advice to your "friend". Some Scouters will continue to do things their own way. From signing off advancement, to unauthorized swim calls, to riding in the back of trucks with no seatbelts, etc etc. They are happy violating many BSA rules and Guide to Safe Scouting, as long as they strictly abide by Youth Protection. A fellow Scouter can tell a few Scouters the correct procedures; some will correct their behavior, some will blacklist their fellow Scouter offering the advice. Here is what I think you should do to "Speak Up".

Axeman, Greetings and congratulations! Regarding the envelope. I wouldn't take it personal, at all. I'd consider it the same as delivering (or picking up) an Eagle Scout Rank recognition package (patch, medal, pins, card, etc). Obviously an Eagle Recognition Kit is handed between the council registrar, to maybe a DE, to a unit Advancement, maybe to an ASM, then to the Scoutmaster just before the Eagle Scout Ceremony. Some WB graduates desire to receive their beads right in front of the district committee or district roundtable, some desire to receive it at a huge counc