Deaf Scouter

What's seen and I think it works best is most just simply wear their beads as a neckerchief unless they are in a 'Unit' role like SM, ASM, CM, ACM, DL then they wear their unit neckerchief with the WB woggle and beads. If its a formal district/ council event requiring field A dress, then on goes the WB neckerchief, WB woggle and beads rather than the unit neckerchief as the youth scouts are presented here. Summed up youth attendance tells which neckerchief to wear. Even presentations like training or University/ POW WOW or committee/district/RT drops the neckerchief for bead as neckerchiefs for comfort.

I did google and found nothing so I went with the observed method to help me decide. Hope this helps.

Is there different types of Jamborees?...asks this 'never done a High Adventure' yet but would really like to! If so, what are they and how often do they meet? Are they just BSA members or do they include other Scout organizations like Girl Scouts?

How does one plan way ahead on the financial end so one has enough money to attend one?

Can one get on a committee if its held in the USA to help plan a sub-camp for Deaf Scouters?

Special Scouting,

AWESOME is starting a special needs scout unit!!

Got a brother is an Eagle Scout and has Downs Syndrome. Came from Special Scout Troop. Several of his friends have made Eagles with the AWESOME guidance of a GREAT group of dedicated leaders.

As for me, I never let my hearing loss get in the way and even did Wood Badge when several within my son's Troop told me I didn't need it. For those nay sayers there is plenty more that will go over and beyond to help ya!! Just ask if you know what you need and do talk about your needs if you don't. Someone will know and offer suggestions.

Feel free to come back here and post again if need help since now we're all connecting via this post so we'll get your request.

As for links... Thanks as I bookmarked them to use myself as MB counselor in the 'Differently Abled' Awareness and Communication MBs.

BTW.. There is a Facebook group called Deaf Eagle Scouts if you have any Deaf Scouters... *smiles

We had a HUGE problem with sign in at MBU as EVERYONE came at the same time to sign in. Suggestions on preventing this from happening again??

How have others done MBU check ins when the doors first open? Seems they ALL check in at the same time, PROMPTLY... *grins

Can you please take into account that sign in person can be Deaf. I brought along a dry erase board but Scouts are not 'trained' in a new way of 'sign in' even when directed to write their name down... *laughing

Thanks to several Troop leaders, they took the initiative and got all their Troop scouts' names while sending their scouts down to the waiting room cafeteria.

With the reference to Green Acres... hmmmm...

You mean the show that WAS supposed to be funny if one can HEAR the jokes?? At least technology has come a long way that captions are now available that one doesn't have to wish a black and white 'motion' picture was on...*laughing (Scoutfish.. THANKS for the clue on the generator that I miss cuz I was too busy focusing on the lips... *grins)

On the MB Academy, ours is also 3 sessions: AM,PM and Full day so basically a scout can only earn 2 that day. Sometimes a scout many have partials done and need a sign off on a specific MB counselor and tries to catch them AT MBA. Gotta show proof of the work for that to get himself 3 instead of the norm 2.

Gaining another grasp that presentation skills and planning on the part of the MB counselors for the MB they will be doing are important too as we continue here.

What about partial cards that can go back to the SM or the MBA planner as well as be a reminder to counselor and scout to get the partial info?? I know there is a space on the BC but saw several Scouts attend the sessions and walk out afterwards without getting signatures for partials.

*laughing at Scoutfish use of just 'Deaf'... *laughing Am I Deaf to not listening to the advice to drop the idea of doing MBA??... *teasing laughter

Didn't know about those Webelos Saturday but was a GREAT example. Shows how my planning level is one higher than most. I was very much a hands on leader yet my scouts did all the Webelos activity badges ahead of AOL plus I included belt loops and pins into my planning killing two birds with one stone. Being hands on, meetings were fun and skills were practiced, sometimes more than once.

Maybe the focus of our MBA needs to change. Thanks for the advice to spend some time READING the forums for info, Fish... *laughing

From another thread on MB where the SM was asking if he could reject a signed MB and the discuss raised there, I decided I better post on bookmarks for MB Academy (as we call it) only to find THIS thread already started.

Our district hosted its first MBA this year and there was MUCH room for improvement. Two of ladies already decided to chair it and start the planning next week. One of the biggest concerns I had was the learning curve. (Call it the teacher in me where assessment must be utilized... *grins) I really would like a 'hand-on' MBA rather than the lecture types. It makes it active learning for the scout and a way to reinforce learning. For the counselor is a way of the scout showing their learning and understanding. Its also a way to make our MBA different from the other offered district MBU in our council. Ideas on approaches for the 'hands-on' MBA please?

Also being that this is my first, I know bookmarks are needed. Suggestions on them? Love the wording that 'ATTENDANCE IS NOT PARTICIPATION'. I did notice that my Scouts attended the 'lecture' and then walked out the door without getting partials so there is a NEED to explain at the first what the Scout is required to do at EACH session by having a walk through using a Scout as an example to walk them through the step by step process of the BC.

There is a couple of posters who I would really love to see you actual planning records, council links and stc. Any way of posting links here for redirection or suggestions on direct contact?

Basement Dweller,

You may not like MB Academy but I think they can be helpful if set up correctly with bookmarks in place.

As a newbie SM with a small troop, it kept my boys advancing or getting work done plus offered them an opportunity to learn something new that i wouldn't have offered in a Troop meeting since we tend to focus on 'required' MB so they get done.

Guessing I need to do a spin-off thread asking for advice on MB Academy so i be sure I have those 'bookmarks' in place so something like this doesn't happen at mine and thus making more work for another SM or giving a scout an opportunity to test the un-'trustworthy' waters.

Reasonable Rascal,

I'm going to start planning for our Fall MB Academy next week so you bring up great things that I best make sure I consider in the planning...THANKS!

As for your scout, something is definitely fishy here and needs to be brought to RT so it doesn't happen in the future.

What to do in your case: I would tell the scout that you need to get the BC checked out first. Since the counselor names are filled out, I would ask them about it and take a moment to explain the circumstances.

Most counselors have a sign in sheet that day to help them have a list of scouts. Find out if your scout's name is on it.

Find out if the counselor's presenting are indeed 'registered' counselors. Our council has an online system that easy to check through.

After all is said and done, simply tell the scout that he did the BC incorrectly in getting signatures when he should have gotten signed off for doing requirements. He should have had partials checked off, not signatures. If he tells you that the counselor signed off, then explain they were not MB registered counselor but helping volunteer to teach so scouts could learn and be able to explain to a registered MB counselor.

Someone is putting you in the hot seat, which is the parent in making this event a MB factory when it wasn't intended that way. Bring up too that a scout is trustworthy which means he tells the truth and is honest. (to be honest with ya, I think the parent or scout gathered the counselor info and signed the signatures) You do have your work cut out for you here plus an extra load added...*sigh

When all is said and done, we will all learn something from this and realize bookmarks need to be put in place for MB events that prevent something like this from happening. Glad I read this now while planning our district next one. I know for my scouts at the last one they were NOT going up to the counselors afterwards to get the required ones checked off that had been presented that day so basically coming back with NO partials.

Maybe the better approach is can you recommend a witty writer you read on the forums??... *smiles

Think along the lines of a theme and hands on activity. Having a science fair and each den creates a science experience that other scouts do. Ours was watching copper pennies turn shiny again after being emerged in vinegar. Indian theme in the gym and stations to play an indian game. Halloween party with stations of games again along the lines of spooky with a costume judging contest. Get the book on planning pack meetings as its loads with ideas as well.. *winka

No to using them in a ceremony but I do tell people to keep them in a snack ziploc bag with their training cards. Best storage place is their computer password box. They will find them very valuable for online training and awards like knots and scouting resumes. Gotta keep them practicing 'Be Prepared'... *grins

TwoCubDad.. Will consider your suggestion if my practice with freezer paper stenciling proves difficult. I really want my scouts to able to do their own neckerchief for a sense of pride that will help us with retention... *smiles

Having dealt with this issue within my Troop, the first thing that came to mind was whether the blue card was signed off by a relative of the scout who happens to be a registered MB counselor for the MB the scout needs. Simply solution is in the future, MB counselors must be MB counselors by the SM/Troop leaders from a Troop MB approved MB counselor list. Call in another MB counselor and have then go through the requirements and see if the scout did the actual work. Sign off should not be given by the SM if actual work on the MB was not done even if the relative MB counselor signed off on it. 'Morally straight' is in the oath for a reason. And a scout must practice the 12 points for character building: trustworthy, loyal and etc.

Going back to the phone issue, the leader may have felt the parent would be reassured once the heard their child voice hence the reason for handing the phone over.

Sasha,

You're a LIFE SAVER!!!... *HUGE grin

Never heard of this trick of using for freezer paper in place of silk printing but from what the tutorial I googled shows, seems PERFECT for what I have in mind. Can even do some parts in sponge shapes along with this.

THANKS a whole bunch!!

http://www.craftster.org/video/How-to-Make-Stencils-from-Freezer-Paper-282306430

Really would like my scouts to make their own neckerchiefs. The original is a silk print in the size of the Troop's sweatshirt/t-shirt logo which is way too big for the neckerchief. Neckerchiefs are not rolled neatly for the 12 point (Scout law) 'clean' look which drives me nuts... *laughing

Ideas please on how the scouts can do their own neckerchief that is long lasting and professional looking yet a cheap expense for the Troop?

Thought of silk printing them but really haven't made silk print screens before plus getting so much talk on better not that is quite discouraging. I really think the scouts making their own will give them a strong sense of staying in Boy Scouts now that they have crossed over. It also give them something for the first COH as most can't earn a rank or MB in time. Adding in shoulder epaulets and they will even be dress the part of a Boy Scout as many of the donated uniforms still had the red ones...*smiles

I can speak from experience here and say that multiple hats are worn as proof of our own troop committee simply because we have the basic minimum of 5 scouts. Thus our committee has the basic minimum of committee members doing dual roles until we grow again.

In answer to your question, the ASM can do both roles but they lose the right to vote because a SM or ASM can't vote. ASM and SM can offer valuable debate to any issue on the committee table especially if they know scout regulations and have scout experience that the CMs don't have.

Changing your approach helps. We did and met with more success. On the fliers we stuck in bags, we stated 'NO expired food'. The food list ran in two columns with 7 lines on one side and three on the other. Leave quite a bit of space on the second column and type 'NO expired food' near the bottom of the second column lines.

We also set up a table in front of the food store (with the food store's permission) the night before and the day of the SFF. As people walked in they were handed 1/8th square size of the 8 X 11 xerox paper with a food list of things the Food Pantry was looking for. Those things were delivered on the way out the door by the shoppers and HELPED HUGELY in stopping expired food from ending in our loot... *grins

Probably threw out only about 6 -8 cans total from those that still did the street routes.