dg98adams

Good thoughts, keep them all year. Thanks

Rendezvous themed events are becoming bigger in our Council. Our Troop does a couple campouts like that every year, and I think we are going to be a host Troop for the Fall Rendezvous Camporee.

Will it get to OA, maybe.

DG

Congrats.... I would be surprised if you don't find yourself still continuing to work on some of the tickets 5 years later... I know I did. If you ever get to staff a course, you'll find lots of Scouters that have done the same... some far longer than yourself, I know I did. I'm chairing an event I worked on as part of my ticket 4 courses ago....

I'll be humming "Back to Gilwell" later for you.

DG

A Big Ol' Buffalo.

Only 1-2 kids so far with food allergies.

Most common - picky eaters - skinny kid. Only wanted chicken breast- grilled or baked, no cheese. no sauce, no skin. Only side dish, salad (lettuce only), fruit consisted of apples or bananas.

His menu for a weekend was sparse, with add-ons for junk/food/dessert (mostly pressed by others in the patrol since they tried to accommodate him). he only did 1-2 camp outs, and could not last thru summer camp...he never got past 2nd class before dropping.

Some times those chicken-nugget - french fries & picky eaters get exposed to stuff not served at home. several in our Troop have become really good at menus 7 cooking (relatively). Mostly we see it when they the Scout is not involved in the shopping or cooking process at home.

But it has always been, if you can't abide the Patrol menu, bring your own but you gotta cook it (no fast food/frozen premade pizza) ... but you still have a patrol duty, and if it involves cooking or dishes, you do you own stuff on your time.

I like to offer up a "Back-packing option" - minimal utensil, low-impact cooking option, usually need 2 Scouts. A menu still needs approved by the PL.

Nice Job.

I think advising the Scout to work with the SPL to fill one of the empty POR is what I would advise too.

I bet the SM reminds Scouts every time elections come up, that filling a POR is a rank advancement requirement once your are 1st class. "I know I have heard our SM say that... in fact, he stresses if there are empty PORs, there is NO chance of a SM appointed project."

One of the favorite phrases I have heard is; "the lack of planning/motivation/realization on your part, is NOT an emergency on my part."(This message has been edited by dg98adams)

Eagle92

I have been an ASM in my son's Troop for several years, and have worked with many Scouts on the skills from T to 1st class.

I have chaired the Webelos Outdoor Skills course for 3- years.

We run our IOLs and the Webelos course in parallel. Several portions of the IOLS we do as a group, but note where the Webelos portion ends (example - axe use).

Usually when we cover the Webelos stuff like Activity badges, while IOLS is doing a longer 1st Aid, LNT, Map & Compass and Ropes.

Food is usually done together because a "Foil meal" is only so interesting. The IOLS demos on food can get really involved. Although there's always room for a simple box Oven to do cookies (I save it for after all the fancy DO demos are almost done). Cuz, anything you can bake in a DO, you can bake in a box, and "Cleanup" is Webelos easy!

IMHO where the Webelos course "rubber meets the road" is the Webelos Transition and how it exposes them to Boy Scouts/Boy Scout activities, without which many don't go on into Troops. That portion is Webelos specific as well as the activity badges.

But I think the focus should be "How to show the Scouts how to do this... instead of sharpening your skills".

Favorite example: ever show a Scout facing you how to tie a knot? They are seeing it from the opposite view you are... instead I ask them to step behind me and look over my shoulder at my hands (so they see it the way I am seeing it). Very subtle difference that can make the "light" go on.(This message has been edited by dg98adams)(This message has been edited by dg98adams)(This message has been edited by dg98adams)

Start right off with the syllabus... there's no magic there, it's skills from the BSA Handbook from T to 1st Class.

Also, THE OLS and OWLS (or what you Call WeLoT) course have different elements (Webelos Leaders cover the Outdoor Activity badges).

Lastly, IMO I think you can't forget the "How to teach/convey/demonstrate the skills in the syllabus" to the Scout focus. So you need a confident and skilled staff.

Other than that, "hands on, hands on, hands on", instead of standing around getting lectured. They Boys don't learn that way either.

(This message has been edited by dg98adams)

Gathered up the wood planks to cut at the Troop meeting tonight.

Son and I stained them last night.

Couple packs of small eye-screws to use as "Hooks and "loops".

a 2' x 1' piece of plywood going to be the base board for the Troop SM/ASMs/SPL/ASPL/CC/JASM and each patrols totem symbol along the bottom. - combo of Avery label, sticker & paint marker.

On each 2" x 4" plank that will hang beneath the Patrol Totem symbol....

---Rank symbol (1"x1" Avery label) - FIRST NAME & LAST Initial

-------------------------- POR (1/2" Avery label )------------

If I can motivate any Patrol to earn Honor Patrol, we can add a Star to the Patrol Totem.

I'll post pics when they boys manage to get everything cut & stickered up.

I like the idea of giving up the plank as part of the scout either aging up, getting eagle, or transferring.

I put it to the Leaders meeting, and got a "do it".

Gonna take materials to the next couple Scout meetings.

I will likely attract a couple of the older Scouts when I drag out a miter box/saw to cut "Scout Planks".

As for what's gonna go on the "Scout plank", just a Rank sticker, First name & last Name Initial, and the current POR.

STAR - Keith A.

.......PL

The plan is to hand the "Scout planks" by Patrol, by rank under the PL/APL. if rank becomes an issue we can use alphabetical under the PL/APL. At COH or when a Scout makes Rank or takes a POR they will put their own sticker up.

I'd like to get each Patrol to take their Patrol symbol design from the Patrol Flag and recreate it on a "Patrol Header plank" (4" x 4") using paint markers I'll provide.

The back of the main board will have a piece of acrylic hinged, so when they take it camping (along with "Scout Planks" going), it protects the duty roster/contact info.

I may end up putting Scout names on with a paint marker, stain & clearing the plank, then using stickers for Rank/POR to make updating it easy. Updating it should be an ASPL directed task.

I'll post pictures when it's done.(This message has been edited by dg98adams)

That's the idea I plan to use and I think will work and be easy to maintain.

I am in ASM in my sons Troop. We have grown since he joined several years ago.

There has been some side-bar discussions of some kind of board that lists the Patrols, and the individual scouts/rank to hang in the Church where they meet. No wall space for "Patrol Corners", but I think we can get some Troop wall space.

I grabbed some 3/8th" thick x 4" wide slats and whipped up example simple rank-scout stickers for the next PLC/Leaders meeting to show them the idea.

I was thinking of a 1'x 2' board that lists the CC/SM/ASM-JASM-SPL/ASPL names, then the 5 patrol names/logo with each patrol hanging down from this board, where each scout in the patrol hangs from the starting PL/APL position.

We have about 45+ scouts. I figure I can squeeze the Scout Rank, name, OA status, POR on a 2x4 sticker. When a Scouts Rank/POR changes a portion of the sticker can be placed right on top of the old.

If I make up enough "rank/POR" stickers, and setup the "blank" template for new scouts it would be easy to maintain... maybe by the scribe or historian.

Anyone got any other examples?

If I get the SM to buy off on the idea I plan to mentor a Scout or two on the project.

(This message has been edited by dg98adams)

ScoutFish has it right. The CM should keep 'em guessing.

I mean guessing like "what the crazy CM will come up with next", not "no plan, just winging it".

I have ended with a simple idea/quote I read, a joke, a whispered song, the classic do as I do "rain" song with hands/feet, a CM minute, a magic trick... and lastly the simple "C U Next month"!

But always include your Leaders in the Plan, and encourage them to add to it.

Hmmm, IMHO:

Female in IOLs that is 18+ and is a BSA ASM... no problem with YPT since Scouter is an adult.

If said female was ONLY a Venture Scout, then probably need a female staffer since she is a youth participant.

But that's my initial guess.

Cubs Scouts = herding cats

Boy Scouts = moderately trained cats

Venture Crew = mixture of trained and feral cats.. anything can happen.

If most of 'em are pointed the right way and the flag gets to the stand and back again without the "herd" getting lost, then put a Cap on it and call it good.

Keep it minimal, a nod to mean "go" and no commands other than "Salute" and "two".

The one thing most often done, the most "Uniformed Scouts" chosen to carry the flag.

(This message has been edited by dg98adams)

I had a College student (Grad student...23-24 year old) find my email address for the Troop I serve and asked if he could help the Troop as part of the Service requirement at his College.

The SM was not an email-user, so I became this "unofficial advocate"... making sure he got trained (YPT), he already had SM fundamentals, and OLS.

He was an asset, turned out he was an Eagle, brought records of the 40+ MB he had 9to show the Troop), Philmont experiences, and became a staffer on the 2010 Jambo in the Engineering section sponsored by IEEE.

I called him a kid (which he did not like, so I refrained), and he helped with the SPL doing JLT. The youth saw him as an "Older Kid" and got along with him fine. I took care of his service paperwork for the college.

IMHO the SM under utilized him since he did not take the time to get to know him.

My list of expectations is a lot like Q's

Pay my own registration, the Troop is a Multiple ASM position.

All Training for Position held is complete, including Wood Badge all on my own dime.

Maintain certs 1st Aid, CPR, AED, YMCA LifeGuard, BSA Guard, just added NRA RSO, Rifle Instructor (gonna get Pistol Instructor for the Crew) on my own dime as well.

Attend Troop meetings & outings.

Attend Leader meetings, held just after the PLC....the SM sits on on that one.

Support SM, give advice/position when asked. Fill in for him when he's not available.

Usually run the Aquatic skills & maintain Unit Web Calender.

If I don't spend a week at camp, I visit during the week.

I'm one of three ASM's that manage the Blue Cards for Merit Badges.

Things I avoid... Popcorn Kernal, Organizing anything to do with being responsible for Fund rasing other than a Car Wash. Treating my son or daughter (Crew member) like relatives at meetings/outings... sometimes I think you would not know we are related if you come on an outing now that they are 16.

(This message has been edited by dg98adams)(This message has been edited by dg98adams)

"Make things worse, we had no range master at camporee"

For a Boy Scout shooting range you NEED 2 people, a NRA Range Safety Officer (RSO) and a NRA Rifle instructor... and they CANNOT be the same person. 400 Scouts... that would have been a lot for a 2-day event for even 2 (volunteer Range Scouters) . $5 per person for ammo & use of range (includes .22 rifles) is what my council charges.

I just completed NRA RSO and NRA Rifle Instructor courses and hope to help the Shooting Sports at camp.

In the Pack I am UC for there a Leader (only ever registered as the CC and followed her son's den from Tiger Parent to Webelos) who I thought was going to earn multiple knots. When I discovered she never registered for any position other than CC, I could not advise the CM to complete the award paperwork. I showed him the Council history for her. 4-1/2 years as the CC.

I used this as an example why new registrations are completed when changing from one position to another position within the pack for the rest of the pack leadership (blank stares at first - previous UC was never around).

I saw the leader a couple months later now in the Boy Scout Troop her son went to... several Cub Leader knots.... the new clerk at the Scout shop set her up I think.

Multiple DL or WL, no problem

(think of more than 1 den at that rank) ... there's nothing specifying a particular den needed, except you need A DL/WDL if you have those Cubs in the Pack.

Pretty sure it's 1 CC or CM though.

I would encourage signing up as DL's/WDLS over ADL/AWDL if the person is actively involved anyway, for reasons listed above.

Basement.....Surprisingly Jays Profile is filled out.

When did that get turned back on?

This discussion hits right home this week. I am going OT... sorry.

I chaired the Outdoor Webelos Leader Skills (OWLS) course this weekend.

We only combined several portions of the Outdoor Leader Skills course (to make optimum use of the camp facilities - campfire, cooking, Wood Tools, ropes, tents/gear demos), but did not for the specific portions related to the Webelos Outdoor Activity Badges, and Webelos specific portions like Outdoor Program, Den camping, Den Campfire planning and Webelos-to-Scout transition. IMO that's the real meat of the OWLS course... getting familiar with the activity badges and offering ideas on how to cover them.

Back in the day when I was a Webelos Leader our council did not offer what call OWLS (acronym for Webelos Outdoor Leader Skills), so I got credit for the OLS course. I worked with several experienced Scout leaders for help on the Activity badges, and the course the Council now offers would have made a HUGE impact.

Sasha, I think your District Trainer is doing a disservice to the Webelos Leaders and I believe he is incorrect in his thinking.

Back to your regular programming.....

(This message has been edited by dg98adams)

I would encourage the Webelos Den (not the den leader) to make a flag (a section from cheap painters canvas can be marked up with sharpies or paint markers).

Agreeing on and making a Patrol Flag is one of the first things a New Scout Patrol does when they cross over to Boy Scouts.

Lots of good ideas here though.

Very nice... I'd like to see if our CC would be interested in using it.

I feel your pain, .... I was a CM master once in a galaxy, far far away.... well not really that far.

HERE'S MY TAKE NOW AS A UC FOR A CUB PACK

#1 - I agree with, "what applications" - until it's paid (however you COLLECT it) it's not complete.

#2 - FOS presentations are at the invitation of the unit... period.

#3 - I refuse to speak on the phone to a yelling/rude person. Finish the call with " I have taped this call"," and all further communication from you must be in written form", then hang up.

#4 - I would not worry about Scout-age guests not being covered under the BSA insurance, because they are. But I would restrict them to the Pack Meeting with parent/guardian (no outside activities, PWD, ETC) since registration is not complete - no heath contact info). Make sure everyone in the pack knows this.