Scouter Keith Comments

Merry Christmas

2011-12-23T17:19:00.000-08:00

Once again...that time is here.
The sound of sleigh bells, carols, and Santa.
Too many "Happy Holidays or Seasons greetings!" and not enough "Merry Christmas-es!"
So to break the norm and to risk being politically incorrect...
"Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!"
Remember...HE IS reason for the season.
So say it proudly...it doesn't hurt.
"Merry Christmas!"

'Tis the season for scouting

2011-11-20T16:06:00.000-08:00

With Thanksgiving just a few days away, I thought that it would be nice to continue a tradition that I hold near to my heart and share it early.
What am I most thankful for?
I am thankful for God, my health, my family and my friends- not necessarily in that order (other than God is first and foremost).
In watching this year's 28th Annual Holiday Parade in Green Bay, I viewed several scouting units march in the parade and I was thinking about how great my scouting experiences have been and the wonderful friends, who now are part of my family.
I am thankful for my parents allowing me the honor in joining Cub Scouts so many years ago, back when we a part of Tall Pine District and the uniforms we wore still had Green Bay, Wisconsin in red and white arches on our right shoulder.
Thanking my Mother for everything she did to help me with my den projects and going with me to some special activities that I now know that she wasn't interested in being a part of.
My life has been filled with wonderful scouting moments as my Grandfather was one of the first Scoutmasters of then Troop 2 although not the SM while I was in the troop.
I am thankful for all of the Scout-o-Ramas that I participated in and sold tickets for to win that highly coveted pocket flashlight that sold for $2.00 back in the day.
Yes, I still have it ....somewhere.
I am thankful for receiving my Eagle Scout medal at Camp Bear Paw in front of my fellow Scouts during Christmas week in July.
I am thankful that my son and daughter have taken the interest in the scouting program and now my wife has become a leader in Girl Scouts as well as within the Boy Scout program.
I am thankful that I was able to visit Scouts in Australia and have met several wonderful Scouting friends in 35 other countries.
I am thankful for the opportunity to write this blog, compose articles for "The Examiner," and do a radio show for Scouting Radio.
I am thankful that I was able work with the Honorable Michael Baden Powell in raising funds to help save and restore the Jam Roll and Eccles Caravan trailer (Scouts, do you homework and look up the Jam Roll and Eccles Caravan trailer for its significance in Scout history).
I am thankful for my Scoutmaster Mr. Stubbs, who had the fore-sight to beat into our heads the merits of not having food or candy in our tents while in camp- something I had to learn the hard way and is now one of the most requested stories that I must regale to young Scouts when they ask.
I remember one Christmas receiving my Hillary framed backpack (yes, I still use it), my first mess kit and my tin first aid kit that was worn on the hip.
I am thankful that I ran across my first scout belt with all of the belt loop awards I earned in Boy Scouts while at Troop 2 and fondly remember Charles Yeager help me earn my first belt loop: Citizenship.

This holiday season, why not give boys another reason to be thankful?
Give them a Scout application and uniform for Christmas and watch them grow with memories that will last a lifetime?
Better yet, why not pick up an adult application for yourself and see what memories you will make to be thankful for?

Pack 4363 Webelos tackle winds for Naturalist activity pin

2011-10-18T14:18:00.000-07:00

Several first and second year Webelos Scouts from Pack 4363, hiked the Cofrin Arboratum trail to learn and complete the requirements for their Naturalist Activity pin and complete some of the requirements for Leave No Trace awards.
Several Scouts helped pick up litter and trash left behind on the trail from previous hikers and learned how trash and things left behind from man can disrupt the balance of nature.

There is an excellent photo on Facebook that Spirithood has posted showing how the plastic rings of a 6 pack can trap animals and cause physical damage or often times death.

Please remember to properly dispose of trash and litter so we all can enjoy Nature. The wildlife will thank you for it as well as those that follow you too.
In closing I am reminded of a poem that was posted on a sign at the Wisconsin Public Service campground in Sandstone, Wisconsin, which reads:

Let it never be said

and said to your shame;

that all was well here until you came."

Remember Leave NO Trace!

Pack 4002 to present wierd science at open house

2011-09-13T17:08:00.000-07:00

On September 20, 2011, Cub Scout Pack 4002, which meets at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Green Bay, will present "weird science" an exercise in learning about Bernoulli's Principle, the effects of removing calcium from various objects, and chemical reactions with household materials.
Yours truly will reprise the weird science experiments,one last time, for the Pack's open house to help with the recruiting of potential Cub Scouts as well as new leaders.
Past experiments have included sucking a hard boiled egg into a milk bottle to the Diet Coke and Mentos experiments.
The open house begins at 6 pm at St. Paul's United Methodist Church at 341 Wilson Street in Green Bay.

Changes

2011-09-03T19:15:00.000-07:00

Following the Scouting trail is similar to life's journey.

The expectations you have sometimes happen to your benefit and sometimes you have disappointments.

The trail is a winding one with many twists and turns and even forks that you have to decide which path to follow. In life the decisions ultimately lead to the end of the journey. In Scouting the path ultimately ends when you choose to stop.

My expectations in Scouting are to make a difference to Scouts and people that I meet along "the trail."

As a young Scout, I never realized that I would one day achieve the rank of Eagle Scout nor did I ever expect to become a Den Leader, Cub Master, member of 2 pack committees, Unit Commissioner, Asst. District Commissioner, and serve on the District Committee as well as the International Committee for the Bay-Lakes Council.

The recent fork in the road came when I was approached to join the Committee of a new Scout troop and with great hesitation, I accepted to become the advancement chair (the reluctance was that I was unsure of being able to provide 100% commitment to the new unit's needs).

I am very excited to take on this new challenge and have now a renewed energy for the program and now come to know that the trail will be just as scenic and just as challenging for me as the other roles have been.

Thanks to Scoutmaster Shawn Cleary and Committee Chairman Bob Hawkins I have a new focus and a new direction for the program.

Hello Troop 1363.

Missing in action

2011-08-06T12:15:00.000-07:00

To all of my readers of this blog, thanks for sticking with me and I do wish to apologize for not posting more on the web site but my computer puked out and we are awaiting special order parts for its eventual repair so posting has had to take a back seat as has doing any Scouting Radio shows.
There has been several changes that have happened this year and I am still recovering from many of those changes in my life.
I will be posting several more articles in the near future and thanks for sticking with me.
Scouter Keith

Webelos Woods fades into history

2011-07-16T17:38:00.000-07:00

Last year's Webelos Woods event, held at the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary, was the last one for Voyageur District after a successful second session.
Originally called Webelos Outdoor Activity Day, in 2008, the event hosted 48 Webelos Scouts, Leaders and parents and again in 2010, the event successfully saw 100 % of the Webelos Scouts wishing to move on into the Boy Scout program if given the chance.
The event ran activities ranging from working on Totin' Chit, Forester, Naturalist, Outdoorsman, Readyman activity pins to cooking demonstrations and packing for camp which gave the Scouts a taste of what the Boy Scout experience is about in a mock camp setting.
The highlight of the event was the dedication of 96 Webelos wishing to cross into the Boy Scouts program immediately following the event if given the chance.
There were only 2 no shows at the event and that meant something when last year's event was held in the rain throughout the morning and much of the afternoon session.
Council Exec. Mark Logemann showed at lunchtime to present the Speaker's Bank award and spoke to the Scouts about the activities they were participating in.
The event also received benefit in allowing the event to happen on the park's grounds which showcased the park's commitment to preserving and educating visitors about wildlife habitats and how the staff rehabilitate wildlife that have been injured.
Special thanks to all that have attended the past events and a very special thanks to all those that staffed the event.

No more Commissioner Keith...just plain Scouter Keith

2011-07-02T08:51:00.000-07:00

I have changed roles within Voyageur District here in the Bay-Lakes Council.
Having stepped down from the role as an Assistant District Commissioner and will probably continue my Scouting path as an alumni member.
I will still be doing the Scouting Radio show and will be writing articles on Scouting for The Examiner and in this blog.
For those of you close by, you will still probably see me helping out Ed Gerczak with his cooking programs and maybe with some of the training sessions.
Time will tell.
In the meantime, thanks for following me and I hope that you will still continue to do so.
Keith

Mom and Son Weekend

2011-06-12T08:21:00.000-07:00

Today is the conclusion of the Spring session of Mom and Son at Camp Bear Paw and although Friday night's rain soaked a few moms and sons who slept in tents, it did little to dampen the spirit of the event.
Saturday's programming began with a hearty breakfast in the camp's mess hall and scouts and their moms immediately went off to the activity sites where mothers could challenge their sons on the shooting sports range to testing their pioneering skills in rope making and traversing a monkey bridge.
Highlights also included a boat ride on Bear Paw Lake and sampling foods cooked by Ed Gerczak and his staff along the shoreline of the camp's lake.
The scouts' camping experience wouldn't be complete unless you stop at the camp trading post for those commemorative souvenirs as well as the obligatory slushee (flavor is your choice).
If you missed the opportunity to attend Mom and Son, don't worry as there is another session in the works this coming fall.
Watch for more details on the Bay-Lakes Council web site.

"C" is for Community

2011-05-27T15:12:00.000-07:00

Life Scout Zach Porior is working on his Eagle Scout service project and he has chosen to write and publish a collection of stories and writings by other youth his age that have had to cope with cancer or had to deal with friends and relatives that have contracted this disease.

"For my Eagle Scout Project, I am creating an anthology to capture the stories of teens, like myself, caring for friend and family with cancer. Our stories are about coping, caring and building a community of support. Together we can help others discover that "C" is not for Cancer, it is for Community." said Zach. "Teens ages 12-18 can get involved in the project by submitting their own stories."

Zach is accepting original, non-fiction prose and poetry for his anthology and the extimated date for publication is slated for December, 2011. Copies of the anthology will be donated to the American Cancer Society and to the Oshkosh schools and hospitals.

In an interview with Zach, I had asked why do a project of this nature and Zach gave me the following story:

"Although I am only 15, I have already had many experiences with cancer. My first experience was my grandma's diagnosis of breast cancer five years ago. This alone was more than I needed at age 10, but it didn't stop there. Within the past year my 7th grade health teacher, 8th grade literacy teacher, grandpa, and most recently, my friend Connor were all diagnosed with various types of cancer. This was when I realized that cancer could affect anyone, at anytime. These are the reasons why I decided that something needed to be done to help people like me cope with cancer. So, I created this project."

There are countless stories like Zach's and even I have had relatives that lost their lives to the deadly disease so this project particularly hits close to home.

About Zach:

Zach currently attends Oshkosh West High School and his an honors student.

He is the web master for the school's band web site and is a member of the tennis team.

He is currently the Senior Patrol Leader and has held several leadership positions including serving on staff for NYLT training (National Youth Leadership Training).

Zach plans to go on to college and pursue something in the field of science.

Mom Vicki Porier said, "Zach is currently holding a 4.0 gpa and also has served as the alter server, until he aged out and now runs the technology department for his church and is very active in school and within the scouting program."

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"Scouts is a pleasure more than a task." she added.

Anyone that is between the ages of 12-18 is asked to help with this project by submitting their writings to Zach at:

http://sites.google.com/site/cisforcommunity/home

Submission Requirements:

Piece must be an original piece of non-fiction prose or poetry about your personal experience with cancer.

The piece cannot already be published or submitted for publication elsewhere.

Entries need to be typed with Arial, 12pt font with standard margins, and not exceed 2500 words.

All entries will be considered for publication and will not be returned, so keep a copy.

Entries need a title with name and age of author. If you do not wish to have your name and/or age published please indicate clearly on your piece.\

All entries must be submitted by June 30, 2011.

Must be 12-18 to submit

In order to respect the privacy of anyone about whom you are writing, please refrain from using real names. If you insist on using someone's real name, however, you must submit the individual's mailing address, email address, and phone number. I will not publish any piece that includes an individual's real name without his or her written consent..

Complete and submit the Statement of Originality and Consent

Thank you

2011-04-30T06:08:00.000-07:00

This coming Tuesday is the Council awards dinner and I would like to take this time to thank all of the scouting brothers and sisters that have made a significant impact upon my life as well as my Scouting career.
None of this could have happened without you being in my life.
In 1976, I would have never guessed that I would be receiving my Eagle and I would have never thought that I would have a blog post, talk and present ideas on Scouting Radio, meet Scouts and Scouters all over the world or write articles on Scouting for The Examiner.
I would like to thank God for the gifts you have given me.
Lord Baden Powell for the opportunity to be a part of the Scouting movement for without you; there would be no scouting movement.
I especially wish to thank those of you. and you know who you are, for pushing me to continue to work on a Webelos outdoors event and helping to make Webelos Woods 2010 a success!
Special thanks to all of the Aussie Scouters that I have met and treasure as friends and family.
Thank you Justin and Simon for the opportunities you have also given me.
Thank you Camp Bear Paw and former director Joe Baye for allowing me to receive my Eagle at camp when my troop folded before I could have a court of honor.
I am sure glad that the medal wasn't mailed to me and that it was you Joe that forced me to have the presentation there.
There are several people within Bay-Lakes Council that have made an impact on my life and I cannot mention you all by name for fear that I might leave someone out of the list and that list would go on and on.
Thanks to Shawn for allowing me to talk with Cliff Jacobson on your podcast and thanks Cliff Jacobson for allowing me to ask some "bee poking questions."
Thank you Colin Walker for your contributions to Scouting and the information and advice you have given me on and off the air.
Special thanks to the Honorable Michael Baden Powell for allowing me the opportunity to help raise funds for the Jam Roll.
Thank you Neil Walker and Jim Fournier for allowing me to broadcast live at Bear Paw to showcase summer camp and the Maple Syrup Weekend events. 32 countries now know about Camp Bear Paw.
Thank you Tarek y Azziz and everyone connected with Scout Friends Internationale, Scouting 4 Peace, and the Tzofim.
Thanks to John Nelson and the Wateringbury Scout group for coming to Wisconsin and allowing me to goof off with you at camp!
And last, but not least, I would like to thank my family for their support.

Remember when

2011-04-16T11:12:00.000-07:00

The other night, I caught the tail end of our District's round table meeting and one of the Scouters brought up the old Patrol trek carts that scouts used many years ago to haul their camp equipment when the boys hiked to camp.
This was back in the day when most scout troops could walk out the back door of their meeting place and hike to wherever it was they wanted to camp.
Those days are gone but the trek carts seem to be coming back into popularity...at least with the old timers.
Samoset Council has a one day event where scouts build a covered wagon to pull around from site to site and these wagons contained everything the patrol would need to complete various activities throughout the day.
Remember those carts?

I remember the copper Bobcat pins we received for our first award in Cub Scouts and I remember when you were hoisted upside down and the badge was pinned upon you and you were not allowed to right the pin until you did a good deed.

I remember the old red and black patrol patches made from flannel or felt material.

I remember going to the old White Store in Green Bay to get my scouting uniform and how the store used pneumatic tubes to make change when purchases were made.

I remember when the office positions Scouts held within the troop were patches with the bars upon them and no text embroidered upon them indicating what the position was.

I remember when Scouts received patches with either 1 or 2 white stars on a light blue background and the old recruiter patch.

I remember the old Scout-o-Ramas which were held at the Arena.

I remember when the belt loop awards were a part of the Boy Scout program and not for the Cubs.

I remember my first encounter with a wild animal....do you?

Spring has sprung

2011-04-09T18:28:00.000-07:00

Finally... the weather has warmed up enough to melt the snow.
Grass is beginning to turn green again and many people are out doing yard work with light weight clothing or going outdoors in shirt sleeves.
Motorcyclists are out...sans snowmobile suits.
Yes, Spring is here but don't put away those boots yet.
Any experienced Scout will tell you that there are still patches of deep snow in the woods and places that are still soggy from the melting snow.
Camping this time of year is fun as long as you are prepared for it.
Warm, sunny days are often followed with cold nights.
Extra clothing must be packed to allow for those extreme temperature shifts and rest assured, being wet or getting wet will chill you to the bone making life miserable.
I enjoy camping in Spring, watching the plant life shoot up through the ground to change the scenery from brown and gray to bright green.
I look forward spotting trillium's, pussy willows, and the first signs of leaves sprouting once the buds on the trees open.
Watching for the return of the birds that have migrated to the South for the Winter.
Catching the first fish in open water and not through a small hole cut in the ice.
I love watching the long faces on snowmobilers get longer.
Face it, I am not really the Winter type.
So get out there, re-introduce yourself to Mother Nature, but don't forget to dress for the occasion.

When I was your age...

2011-03-27T09:30:00.000-07:00

I have been asked, on more than one occasion, to talk about what Scouting was like when I was young.
...Thats sounds like that I am really old; ancient.
Looking back, I guess that I am old.
Back in April, 1970, almost 41 years ago, I was lucky enough to win a contest, sponsored by Bay-Lakes Council, by writing a paper on scientific research that could be made possible by the astronauts on board any of the Apollo space missions and the winners selected were to be the first to view the moon rocks that would be displayed at the Neville Public Museum.
Back in the day, the Neville was located next to the WBAY building on Jefferson Street.
Back in the day.
I remember walking into the Museum and being greeted by the wooly mastodon exhibit and the beaver exhibit, still at the Neville today, but back in the day there was no snow cave.
I guess ice wasn't invented yet.
Wait a minute, yes it was, as I remember my grandfather taking me to Dehn's Ice Cream on Walnut Street for a hamburger and Coke (with ice) and a "Pig's Dinner" for dessert in celebration prior to seeing the moon rocks.
Now the moon rocks were under glass and I remember that the display was roped off so you couldn't get too close (there was danger of radiation to be considered), although a photographer had us get close to the glass case for a photo op. for the paper.
We were wisked into the area, posed for a 5 sec. photo, and whisked away immediately afterwards.
Exciting stuff although I don't seem too much worse for the ware and I don't glow in the dark.
I even got the metal printing plate that was made from that photo but lost it through the years.
The photos then, that appeared in the paper were etched on metal plates and were put into the press prior to printing the latest edition.
That was my first claim to fame.
The following week, I was on television, at WBAY for the Popeye cartoon show with Col. Caboose.
Remember Colonel Caboose, the Swane Sisters, and Audrey Walters playing the piano?
Six years later, I received my Eagle at Camp Bear Paw.
When I was your age, I remember my father taking me down to Oneida Street to watch President Nixon arrive at Brown County Veteran's Memorial Arena to see President Richard Nixon arrive to honor Bart Starr.
We later drove out to Austin Straubel Airport to see Air Force One.
When I was your age, I was able to watch Elvis Presley fly into Green Bay on the "Lisa Marie."
When I was your age, I got to see the Fokker Tri-Plane and the Sopwith Camel used in the filming of the movie, "The Great Waldo Pepper."
Long before the EAA event ever happened in Oshkosh.
When I was your age, I took my first passenger train ride on one of the last "400's" to Milwaukee, with my grandparents. We rode on bi-level gallery coaches.
When I was your age, we played kick the can, pom pom, red rover, statues, red light-green light, and a couple of times British bulldog.
When I was your age, I received my first digital watch and the watch itself was almost 1/4" thick.
When I was your age, I got to see my first computer at the Wisconsin Public Service Corporation where everything was printed on punch cards and the computer filled an entire room.
When I was your age, I collected 100 milk bottle caps from Hansen's dairy for a free ice cream cone.
When I was your age, I remember going to the Vic Theater for the Fireman's matinee and watching some really old war films.
When I was your age, I remember going to the Valley Drive-in to see Walt Disney double and sometimes triple features.
When I was your age, we would stop at the Mars Drive in restaurant on Military, near the drive-in, for hamburgers that rarely were served to your liking.
Mine always had ketchup, mustard and onions on it.
When I was your age, we often eat at the Blackstone on Main St. to watch the passenger trains come and go while we ate our dinner.
When I was your age, I often ate pie at Holzer's Corner Drug Store on Washington Street with many of the Green Bay Packers that had just come from their team meetings from the Downtowner.
When I was your age, we would always go to the H.C.Prange's store after Thanksgiving dinner to see the animated window displays.
We had no video games.
We had black and white TV, a transistor radio, and a phonograph.
No Walkmans, i-pods, or anything else of that nature.
Blackberries were what you ate in pies.
That's what I remember when I was your age.

Bear Paw's Maple Syrup Days

2011-03-21T14:27:00.000-07:00

Bear Paw’s sugar bush is steaming with activity as Scouts help collect maple sap from Camp Bear Paw’s sugar maple trees during the “Maple Syrup Days,” activity offered through the Bay-Lakes Council.

Maple Syrup Days is a hands on experience intended for Boy Scouts and Adult Leaders which will require application of sixth grade science principles as well as physical activities associated with the collection of maple sap and the production process of making maple syrup.

Staff on hand will teach Scouts tree identification, tapping techniques, sap collection, firewood preparation, the history of manufacturing maple syrup, learning about the evaporation process, filtering, bottling and tasting. Participants will also make hydrometers and will try their hand tapping with a brace and bit, setting empty buckets, and the collection of sap.

In addition to the event, Scouts will enjoy a pancake and porkie breakfast with the camp’s own pure maple syrup.

Sap runs occur when the daytime temperatures rise above freezing and the proceeding nighttime temperatures are below 32 degrees.

It takes 40 gallons of sugar maple sap to make one gallon of pure maple syrup.

Scouts will take home an 8 ounce bottle of syrup at the end of the day’s activities which they will bottle and label themselves.

Scouts are expected to wear appropriate clothing for the weather conditions and boots are mandatory for this event and are also encouraged to bring cross country skis or snowshoes.

The camp will rent snowshoes at $3.00 a pair, for those interested in snowshoeing, however supplies are limited.

Saturday, March 26, 2011, is the last open date available as April 2, 2011, is already at maximum capacity and that registration date is now closed.

Contact the Bay-Lakes Council for more information but hurry as time is running out.

Photos by Jim Fournier, 2011

The wearing o' the green...or khaki

2011-03-19T14:03:00.000-07:00

Now that St. Patrick's Day has come and gone, Springtime is around the corner and things are beginning to turn green again...besides the alternative adult beverages that are abound with green dyes and pigmentation.
Yesterday, on Scouting Radio, we had a brief discussion about how important the Scouting uniform plays within the program.
The wearing o' the green...or khaki:
Baden Powell, founder of the Scouting movement, decided over 100 years ago that Scouts should wear a uniform and his reasoning was simple:

a uniform establishes an identity.
a uniform eliminates social and class identifications and promotes unity of being all the same.

Is the uniform important to the program?

Yes and no. Scouts all over the world can participate in the program activities without the uniform while still holding onto the virtues and values of Scouting.
The uniform stands for a universal tie to all scouts everywhere and should be regarded as the single best visual for the scouting movement.

Watch any television program or movie that depicts boys and girls in a uniform and the implication's are that these characters are Scouts.

In the BSA, the color of khaki, was probably chosen to help hide the dirt and grime our Scouts get into while working and playing in the field.
The BSA uniform offers protection from the harmful UV rays of the sun.
Most elderly people tend to relax when they see a youth in a Scout uniform.
The reasons are simple:

Memories of days gone by to when they were a Scout.
Memories of Norman Rockwell's "Saturday Evening Post" prints depicting a much simpler time.
Recollections of Scouts in action- community service.

So get out there and put on the green.
Be a Scout.

The Magnificent Seven: Where are they now?

2011-02-27T09:18:00.000-08:00

"THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN," were my second year Webelos Scouts from pack 4094 and these boys were the first scouts from that pack to compete every available award within the Webelos section of the Cub Scout program.
These boys were more than just Scouts.
They were brothers. Comrades in arms. Inseparable.
What one did they all did.

The seven members were:

Dane Westergaard
Ben Micolas
Ethan Collier
Travis Kunzie
Zach Buda
Brandon Basinski
Eddie Wengrzyn

Dane, served a Denner for 2 years, became a Den Chief and will conclude his scouting career as a Life Scout.
Ben, served as the Assistant Denner for 2 years achieved the rank of First Class Scout and then left the program a few years ago and was last playing soccer in the SAY summer program.
Ethan dropped from the program.
Travis transferred from a Green Bay troop and joined a unit in Kewaunee and became a Den Chief.
Zach recently received his Eagle Rank.
Brandon achieved the rank of First Class Scout and dropped from the program and is going on to the University of Wisconsin.
Eddie relocated to Florida and was with a new unit for a short time before dropping from the program.

Dane, Zach, Ben, and Brandon still get together and although only one of these boys made it to Eagle Scout, I am still proud of their accomplishments.

Scouting makes the world a better place

2011-02-19T17:13:00.000-08:00

Since the beginning of the scouting program Scouts have given much of themselves to performing acts of public service without recognition.

That still happens today.

Going back in time when William D. Boyce got lost in that London fog and an unknown scout helped him find his way.

Good deed done.

I have done my share of community service in and out of the uniform...not in the negative way that most people view those that are required to perform community service.

I am proud of that.

For most scouts that live and breathe the Oath and Law, community service is not selective but rather compulsory.
We do it because:

We want to.
We "have to" as it is written into the Scout Promise ..."to help other people at all times," and is the third point in the Scout Law. (and by have to-this is something that becomes ingrained in us if we truly believe in the Scout Law).

I have watched Scouts help "little old ladies cross streets, open doors, carry groceries, shovel sidewalks, mow lawns and other yard work. Scouts have changed flat tires, performed first aid, give directions (many have told me where to go and in the kind way).
I have witnessed Scouts help tutor children couped up in the hospital with their schoolwork and entertain the elderly in nursing and assisted living complexes.
We do this because we want to not because we look for some recognition or reward.
Great Scouts follow the teachings of the "Good Samaritan" and from what Lord Baden Powell also preached to those Scouts 100 years ago.

The other day, I mentioned to one of my co workers that I could not count the number of community service hours I have performed in my lifetime and his attitude and his first comment was, "What kind of trouble did you get yourself into?"
The next response was a very luke warm, "oh," when he found out that I was an Eagle Scout and now a volunteer Scouter.
When did that become a bad thing?
I am proud of my service record in the BSA and have now met several wonderful Scouters around the world and they are just like me.
Will Rogers once said, "There's only one thing wrong with Boy Scouts...there aren't enough of 'em."
Scouting does make the world a better place.

Pack 4477 crosses six Webelos Scouts

2011-02-19T07:37:00.000-08:00

Six Webelos scouts crossed over into the Boy Scout Program on Wednesday, February 16, Cub Scout Pack 4477 held their annual Blue and Gold banquet at Lannoye Grade School in Pulaski, Wisconsin.

Tiger Scouts, Wolf Scouts, Bear Scouts and Webelos celebrated their accomplishments with an awards presentation.

Highlighting the event, Webelos Scouts Seth Boyden, Hunter Kleppek, Jacob Le Mere, Max Lindsley, Bradey Sorenson and Tyler Bryant competed their requirements to receive their Arrow of Light award* and all had completed all of the activity pins in the Webelos program to earn the Super Achiever award which is a first for Pack 4477, according to Cubmaster Steven Sorenson.

Each of the six Webelos received their career arrows and a plaque commemorating the event and were presented a special coin which was presented by Cubmaster Sorenson.

Steve Sorenson challenged all of his scouts to attempt to become "Super Achiever Scouts" in everything that they do.

The event took place in the cafeterria of Lannoye Grade School before a group of family and friends.

*Arrow of Light award is the highest award a Cub Scout can receive and must earh his Webelos badge and at least eight activity pins which hlep prepare the Scout for Boy Scouting and life.

View Photos of event at- Green Bay Boy Scouts
Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/boy-scouts-in-green-bay/pack-4477-crosses-six-webelos-scouts#ixzz1EQ3redhk

Troop 1010 creates night to remember with Valentine's dinner

2011-02-13T10:14:00.000-08:00

Last night I took my wife, daughter Amber, and our good friend Clarissa Erikson out for a Valentine's Day dinner provided by Boy Scout Troop 1010 under the direction of Time Greetens and Jason Norman.
On the menu was a choice of either Lasagna or Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo, tossed salad, garlic bread, and dessert of either red velvet cake or cheesecake.
The event showcased the "Holy Grounds Cafe," a newly remodeled room, which was an eagle project, for one of the scouts from 1010.
Being on the third session for dining, I did expect to see a lack of performance and quality of food since the last shift was eating at 7pm.
This was definitely not the case in fact, when we arrived at St. Joes' school, we were met by the mat re d who instantly knew us by name although I cannot remember meeting the Scout before.
We checked our coats, and were seated immediately in the "cafe" and the atmosphere was well above my expectations.
Soft Jazz music in the background. The bar or counter area was rebuilt from old chalkboards and refinished.
Savvy's Restaurant donated the Lasagna and helped the scouts prepare the rest of the meal with the aid of the troop leaders.
The event was to raise awareness that there was a troop that was alive and well with the St. Joe's parishioners and the event seems to have snowballed into a bigger event than anticipated by the troop.
If the event is offered next year, make plans to attend.
The meal was exceptional, service was superb, and the 10.00 meal was well worth it.
Thanks Troop 1010, now I dont' have to go find a Valentine's gift for my wife.

3 Voyageur District Scouters set to receive the Silver Beaver

2011-02-05T21:50:00.000-08:00

Sindy DeNamur, Voyageur District's District Commissioner, Forest Kenworthy, and yours truly have been selected as three of nine scouters that will receive the highly coveted Silver Beaver Award- the highest award a council can give to an individual.

Sindy DeNamur is the District Commissioner and has designed and helped create a boy scout themed quilt which will be given away at the Voyageur District's leader recognition dinner and has also served as the Awards Chair for boy scout troop 1002 prior to her current position.

Forest Kenworthy, one of my mentor's, has held several positions as a volunteer within Voyageur District and is responsible for my scouting career as an adult volunteer. Forest has that "can do" spirit which makes you feel that nothing is impossible to overcome and has helped me solve an issue early in my leadership as Cub master which would have made anyone go running off into the night...never to return.
Because of Forest, I am able to help other scouters with help and advice through this blog post, my scouting radio program, and my articles for Examiner.com.
Thanks Forest, this award for you is long overdue in my book.

I am the last on the list for this year's award, from Voyageur District, and looking back at my career in scouting it is truly amazing that I have had the good fortune to chat with the Honorable Michael Baden Powell, Bear Grylls, Colin Walker, Justin Dawson and Simon Lang of Scouting Radio, and work with Haydn McComas, Katheryn Mahns, and Greg Coultis from Australia, just to name a few.
There are others within the district, and you all know who you are, that have had a significant impact upon my life as a Scouter and to each of them I would like to say "thanks and it has been one heck of a ride."

The Silver Beaver will be presented on May 3, 2011, at Liberty Hall, in Kimberly, Wisconsin.

5 Star University offers more than scouting degrees

2011-01-28T13:46:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, January 29, 2011, Voyageur District will be hosting 5 Star University of Scouting at Lakeshore Technical College, in Cleveland, Wisconsin.
Scouters, who have attended these annual events, know that there are a lot of "extras" that go along with the event besides the opportunity to earn a Scouting Degree.
Training is the predominant goal in attending 5 Star but many scouters do find the one day event as a way to meet new scouting friends, get new ideas for delivering a quality program, and also ask key scouting leaders questions regarding programing which may take place behind the scenes within the District and Council walls.
Many scouters after completing 5 Star will walk away with a scouting degree and some will even write a thesis for their PhD in Scouting.
This event originally began as a "continuing education program" for district volunteers and commissioners but now has expanded the enrollment to include anyone interested in the many leadership roles the program has to offer.
Make plans to attend a 5 Star University of Scouting program.
You will be glad that you did.

Thank you

2011-01-26T10:50:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all who send their sympathies to my family.
It is wonderful to know that the Brotherhood of Scouting truly is a brotherhood.
My family appreciates the sentiments of one and all.
Keith, Jean, Dane, and Amber Westergaard

Scouting's lost games

2011-01-25T07:30:00.000-08:00

When I was a scout and had attended many scout camps, one of my favorite games was called, "Top This."
-A game that really was simple to play and we did so sitting around the campfire at night.
The rules were simple.
Someone had to start out telling a "tall tale" about themselves and the next person had to "top" it.
For example:
"We were so poor when I was young that we had to eat dirt...and we were grateful to have it."
The next scout would say something like, "You had dirt to eat?"
"We were so poor that we couldn't afford to have dirt and would have to take it from our neighbors yard when they weren' t looking."
The next scout would add something like, "You had neighbors? We couldn't afford to have neighbors, we had to draw pictures of people for our neighbors!"
And the tales grew funnier by the minute.
Today, that game has long gone by the wayside and now modern scouts just want to text message each other, if given half the chance.
Whatever happened to games called "Spud," "Red Light Green Light," "Kick the Can?"
I loved playing "Red Rover."
Remember playing a game called "Sardines?" or "Telephone."
Even sing-a-longs have lost their popularity.
I have heard more often than not that "Scouts don't sing!"
Brother, yes they do!
Scouts sing all the time.
Drive some to camp with the radio playing in the background and sooner or later they will be singing with the radio.
Scouts would sing more if we reintroduced some of those great old camp songs.
Remember the song about the "Titanic," or "Junior Bird man?"
How about "Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road?"
I know that I have lead many scouts in to a rousing rendition of "Johnny Verbeck."
So now if you excuse me, I am going off to sing "To the Indies and the Andes in His Undies."
It's a very daring thing to do!

*These songs are still around and all you have to do is look them up on the Internet.

The 13th Scout Law

2011-01-18T10:19:00.000-08:00

The BSA Scout Law contains 12 points in which a Scout should practice everyday:

Trustworthy

Loyal

Helpful

Friendly

Courteous

Kind

Obedient

Cheerful

Thrifty

Clean

Reverent

Television star and Eagle Scout Mike Rowe disputes that a scout cannot be "clean" and must get dirty to be a scout.
Makes sense coming from someone that has a television show called "Dirty Jobs."
During my Eagle board of review, I was asked about what Law I would add to the Scout Law and my reply was "Observant."
That is still my answer today.
Thinking back at attending a maple syrup making camp last year, Camp Director Neil Walker had asked the scouts to find and bring back a leaf from a sugar maple.
The scouts all ran off into the woods and after searching and area where oak trees were the dominate tree; Neil called them back and said that had they been more observant, they would have noticed that they were standing beneath a sugar maple that was tapped and collection of sap was in progress.
"Thomas Jefferson once said that 'you have to be smart to be lazy,'" said Neil Walker.
I have to agree with Neil, sometimes we forget to observe the little things around us.
We, as a people, tend to make things more difficult than things have to be.
Defining types of trees in the winter can be more difficult unless you know trees by their bark and knowing what the leaf is like in the Spring, Summer, or Fall can make things so much more easier for distinguishing a tree from a birch to beech.
I find that this is a proven fact as trees, by nature, dont' like to walk around much. They are quite happy to stay put.
So in life; add the 13th Scout Law of being "Observant" to your daily routines.
You will see things differently.

The Honorable Michael Baden Powell and Me

2011-01-16T10:49:00.000-08:00

I never realized where my time spent in scouting would ever take me, in fact when I was I scout, I thought that the program was just camping, merit badges, advancement, and achieving the highly coveted Eagle Scout Rank.
Little did I know that later in life, when my son asked to join scouts, that I would assume the role of leader and later host a show on Scouting Radio.com and write this blog, just to name a couple of roles that I currently play in Scouting.
I have had the privilege to work with scouters that I have come to appreciate their accomplishments and one of them is being able to work with the Honorable Michael Baden Powell, the grandson of Lord Baden Powell, on helping to raise funds for the Jam Roll.

For those that do not know about Michael Baden Powell, here is a brief biography:

David Michael Baden-Powell (born December 11, 1940) is the heir presumptive to the Barony of Baden-Powell. He attended in Frensham, England.
Baden-Powell is active in the Victorian Branch of the Scouts Australia. As grandson of the 1st Baron Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, Baden-Powell is often invited to ceremonies.

In late July and early August 2007, Michael Baden-Powell oversaw the 100th anniversary of the start of the world Scouting movement at Brown sea Island and stated that the movement was still going on strong. During 2007 he was also instrumental in preserving the caravan trailer, presented to his grandfather along with a new Rolls-Royce car, during the 3rd World Scout Jamboree in 1929. The caravan was nicknamed Eccles. The car, nicknamed Jam Roll, was sold after Robert Baden-Powell's death by Olave Baden-Powell, his wife, in 1945. Jam Roll and Eccles were reunited at Gilwell Park for the 21st World Scout Jamboree in 2007. Michael Baden-Powell and three other Scouters formed the charitable company "B-P Jam Roll Ltd." with the aim of purchasing and conserving Jam Roll on behalf of Scouting. Funds are being raised to repay the loan that was used to purchase the car.
In August 2008 Michael Baden-Powell took part in the 25th World Conference of ISGF in Vienna.
As of 2009, Micheal Baden-Powell is Branch Commissioner for Special Duties.

Micheal Baden Powell (left) and Peter Kemp at the National Boer War Memorial Association 2010.

The Jam Roll story:

The year 1929 was a special year for Scouting as it was to celebrate it's 21st Birthday, it was also the year of the 3rd World Jamboree, which was going to be held at Arrowe Park, just outside Liverpool.

At the Jamboree to mark 21 years of Scouting BP was honoured with a number of gifts including a Baronetcy by King George V, BP took the title of Lord Baden Powell of Gilwell, other gifts included a set of Braces and from the 50.000 Scouts of the World attending, a very special gift of a Rolls Royce Car and a touring Caravan

The Gift:

Before the Arrowe Park Jamboree, Christian Holm, the President of the Danish Boy Scout Association wrote to all the Scout organisations that were to be present at the Jamboree and suggested that each Scout should donate a penny or the equivalent in their own currency to to enable the movement to by a gift for BP to celebrate 21 years of Scouting.
Mr Holm contacted BP's wife to ask for ideas for a special gift that might be presented to him.
At the presentation. BP remarked "when she asked me what I wanted, I said nothing. I am the richest man in the world, for I believe that the richest man is not the man who has the most money, but the man who has the fewer wants. My wife pressed me further and said I must want something. I thought again and remembered and said 'Oh yes I want a pair of braces!"
Lady BP did not give up easily and finally BP noted a newer car would be nice, since the old one was always breaking down (It broke down twice during the jamboree and had to be towed home).

In thanking the Scouts BP said "I don't know how to thank you for what you have done for me. I feel undeserving of the many gifts and honours showered upon me during the last few days and now you have capped it off with this wonderfully fine present, representing the gift of boys from every nation in every part of the world and I accept it with feeling of something in the way of gratitude more than I can express"
In closing he noted that the new car "will enable me to do more visiting Scouts than I have in the past and I am mighty grateful for it.

The presentation consisted of Rolls Royce and a Eccles Caravan as well as a cheque and a portrait by David Jagger. The Car got the nickname of Jam Roll because it was a Rolls Royce presented at the jamboree and the caravan was called Eccles. Eccles was the name of the caravan manufacturer, but an Eccles is also a type of fruit filled pastry. A joke going round the jamboree at the time referred to the Jam Roll towing an Eccles....cake

The Order of the Braces

The day after the presentation the Scouts of Ireland held a solemn ceremony in which he was presented with the "Order of The Braces". They erupted in laughter and applause as BP accepted the coveted new Braces, with same fanfare as he had accepted the car and caravan the previous day.

The Car

Jam Roll is a 20 horse power Rolls Royce, chassis number GVO-40, it was one of the last 20hp chassis to be made. The car was fitted with a custom made 'D' back limousine body that was made by Page and Hunt, it was one of only a few bodies made by the coach builders for Rolls Royce.

The order for Jam Roll was a rush order with the chassis card marked "Urgent 6/8 weeks" The order was placed on the 21 June 1929 and the completed chassis delivered to Page and Hunt on the 19 July. Further noted on the Chassis card state "if this car is not complete by the date of the jamboree R-R to loan car for one day for this occasion" The car was presented to BP on the 10th of August, 1929 only 50 days after R-R received the order.

A unique feature of Jam Roll is the radiator mascot rather than having the typical "Spirit of Ecstasy" (The Flying Lady) that takes pride of place on a Rolls Royce radiator, Jam Roll had a custom-designed mascot that incorporates the Scout arrowhead and Scout motto "Be Prepared"

Jam Roll was seen at many Scouting events from 1929 until the late 30's and was easily recognised because of it's unique mascot. It was also used by BP's for family trips and other outings.

Lady Baden Powell sold Jam Roll in 1945 and it passed through nine owners when Ben Grew brought the car in 1986 with 53,000 miles on the clock.

When BP emigrated in 1938 the caravan was donated to Gilwell Park, where it has been ever since. The caravan has recently been restored back to it's original condition.

Jam Roll and Eccles Cake appeared together in 2007 at Gilwell Park as part of the Centenary of Scouting.

I have had the great honor being able to communicate with the Honorable Michael Baden Powell, not because he is the grandson of our Founder of the Scouting Movement, but for what Michael has done in his own rite.

The Jam Roll and Eccles Caravan Trailer

The only Rolls to have a Fleur De leis radiator cap

The Jam Roll and Eccles presentation in 1929

If you would like to donate to the Jam Roll or want more information on the Jam Roll; visit http://jamroll.org/

African Jamboree 2012

2010-12-24T07:03:00.000-08:00

Currently I am working with Dr. Ole Jacobsen, who is spearheading the plans for the African Jamboree in 2012, which will be held in in Winneba, Ghana.
This site was selected for the jamboree because of it historical significance to Lord Baden Powell as he first received military honors at the fort in Winneba and Scouts attending the event will be able to retrace Powell's footsteps in a series of activities that will include a hike retracing Baden Powell's journey in the Winneba area.
"Several activities will be showcasing what the African Scouts do." said Dr. Ole Jacobsen. "We will have all Scouts work on International scouting programing as well as the traditional things Scouts did 100 years ago."
The planning for this event is still in its infancy however plans to have an astronomy activity will include a conversation with the International Space Station which will fly over Winneba, Ghana several times in its orbit around earth.
Attending this event will include several African Kings and Queens all whom support the Scouting Movement.
Watch for more information on the African Jamboree page on Facebook.

Winter offers opportunities for recipe experimentation

2010-12-19T10:12:00.000-08:00

Face it, there aren't too many scouting units that go winter camping like they would in Spring, Summer or Fall.
One winter camp seems to be the norm for most units but that should deter anyone from thinking about camping and this is a perfect time to clean, repair and upgrade their camping equipment.
Don't forget those new recipes you have been meaning to try out on your Scouts.
Scout groups in Australia typically hold a "Cast Iron Chef" cooking contest where scouts create and invent some new recipes that can be cooked in a camping environment.
When I was a Scout , we had a cooking competition called, "Heck Cook."
We received several cooking items and had to figure out "what the heck to do with these items?"
Through these cooking contests, new menus are formed that incorporate entrees like:

Pepsi Spam Fajitas, Peanut Butter Stuffed Hotdogs Wrapped in Bacon to Jelly filled Doughnuts.

Not your cup of tea, how about:
Waldorf Salad with Hot Peanut Butter and Bacon Dressing
Caramel apple spice cake
Overstuffed Onions instead of peppers
Pizza with Calamari Rings and Pineapple.
Damper stuffed with scrambled eggs and sausage
Damper bowls with chili, booyah or stew
Hamburger with all the condiments including pickled beets and a fried egg

All of these came from someone discovering something new and unusual and all have been included in the basic menus of troops camping throughout the world.

These ideas were spawned from cooking events that may have been conducted during the camping "off season" or maybe even in camp.
They are all tried and true and no one has ever died from these recipes - that I know of.

Typically, all scouting recipes should follow 3 basics cooking rules:

Fast
Easy to prepare
Good to eat.

Just remember, before you turn you nose up on these menu ideas...some "nut" had to come up with dirt cake with gummy worms and scrambled eggs in a bag.
Have you scouts invent some new recipes...you will never know what might come out of the troop's own "Heck's Kitchen."

Scouts talk to Santa on Scouting Radio

2010-12-18T09:26:00.000-08:00

Scouts from all over the world called into Scout Radio, sent text messages and emails to Santa Claus who sent 40 minutes with Justin Dawson, station manager of Scouting Radio and yours truly.
Scouts were at the ready to find out the answers to age old questions ranging from:
"How old are you?" to "Last year I had asked for a pony and didn't get it, why not?"
During that show, Scouts and I learned a great deal about the little known facts about Santa and we had discovered that Santa really likes chocolate chip cookies the best but will appreciate any good cookie that is left for him on Christmas eve.
Several Scout had asked Santa for materialistic things like toys but a few unique requests were:
Amber wants beef stew, Samantha and Tabitha want to spend time with their families as would Girl Scout leader Jessica Goulet.
Justin Dawson asked Santa what he'd give to Mrs. Claus and he commented that "its a secret." but he did divulge that there is a lap top computer that he is breaking in (hint, hint).
Santa also told the listeners that although he was never a Scout, he did appreciate the things that Scouts do in their daily lives.
Santa also gave a way a security secret regarding, "why we cannot see Santa flying in his sleigh at night?"
"We have a highly sophisticated cloaking device, called, CLAUS (CAN'T LOOK AT U, SANTA) which is similar to the cloaking device the Romulans used in Star Trek." said Santa.
Scouts were so responsive to Santa that one Scout from the Australia's Gold Coast invited Santa to come to their beach BBQ on Christmas and enjoy food and the surf board Santa would be bringing to that Scout.
- an ingenious ploy to secure a gift that Scout really was hoping to get.
Scouting Radio will rebroadcast yesterday' s show should you like to tune in.
Visit: www.scoutingradio.com

Scouts undercover are still Scouts

2010-12-14T14:23:00.000-08:00

Today, I went to my daughter's Christmas concert at her elementary school.
Performing on stage were the students from K - 5th grade and several of those students were both cub scouts and girl scouts from the area.
No scout/student was wearing the uniform for their prospective program but you could tell by the way that they were dressed for the concert and the way that they performed during the concert showed that they were scouts.
Standing tall, smiling, and no signs of mischief that sometimes commonly show up at these events; these "undercover" scouts gave their best to entertain the audience.
Leaving the stage these scouts were the first to wish members of the audience a "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year" greeting before leaving the gymnasium for the next group to perform.
Teacher did not have to remind them to be courteous, friendly and cheerful.
They did that without thinking.
There is nothing like seeing scouts spreading joy and cheer even when the uniform is gone.
The actions still shout the principles of scouting.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Looking back at 2010-the Scouting Centennial

2010-12-13T09:30:00.000-08:00

Time flies when you are having fun and I cannot believe that the centennial year is just about to end in in less than 2 months time.
This past year was an interesting year for me, actually beginning in September 2009, with the Great Lakes Jamboree at the EAA grounds in Oshkosh.
This was Bay-Lakes Council's answer to the National Jamboree for 2010 for anyone that could not make the big event.
The event went on in spite of a "water logged" start with highlights including members of the military showing off their equipment with an Apache helicopter landing.
From there, I ended up taking a break from Commissioner's service and yes, I did, go back to being a Commissioner.
I worked on my scouting articles for The Examiner and had completed my requirements for earning the Speaker's Bank knot, and did several shows for Scouting Radio.
During this time, I was notified, sometime around the National Jamboree event, that I had been inducted into the National Leaders Hall with 299 other scout leaders throughout the country.
In September, I became friends with Dr. Ole Jacobson, who is the planning chairman for the African Jamboree in 2012 in Winneba, Ghana, and have helped with some of the programming ideas for this upcoming event.
Incidentally, Winneba, is the place where Lord Baden Powell first received any military accommodations while serving in Africa.
I had completed another successful Webelos Woods event that the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary with Shawn Cleary and Bob Hawkins as the chief organizing committee.
I had the good fortune to be able to help raise money for the Jam Rolls and be able to speak with the Honorable Michael Baden Powell (a scouting icon in his own rite) and was even able to stump Colin Walker with a scout trivia question even though it was a BSA slanted question (another scouting person whom I look up to).
Chatting with the one and only Haydn McComas, from Australia, is always a delight and learned many wonderful things about scouting in Papua New Guinea.
What is on the near horizon?
To tell the truth, I am not sure where the scouting trail will lead me next; but I do know that I have been contacted by the scouts from Indonesia and am working on trying to help them with a planned visit to Bay-Lakes Council sometime in 2011-2012.
The Tzofim Caravan may just make another stop in Green Bay for a concert tour and I hope to be there if that should happen.
Summer camp is always in the works and if the date works out, I will be in Decorah again this summer.
There are two Eagle Scout Court of Honors in the near future and I hope to be a witness to those events.
Whatever happens, this new scouting year promises to be great.

Bay-Lakes Council Exec. Mark Logemann presents National Leader's Hall Award to Keith Westergaard

Voyageur District shows marked improvements in adult leadership training

2010-12-11T10:57:00.000-08:00

Bay-Lakes Council, Voyageur District is currently undergoing a pilot program to ensure that Cub masters are all 100% trained by December 31, 2010.
A major challenge by any standard and something that is not easily accomplished when the starting figures of trained cub leaders hovered at 18% trained earlier this year.
As of today, those leaders that are trained in the Cub master's role is now well above 85% trained.
This is attributed to better record keeping and a renewed energy in the training program lead by Jay VanZeeland.
Jay's analogy for the training is like "the snake that has eaten the guinea pig and next year it will be the the whole pig."'
- an image that fits as anyone can clearly see the vast bulge in those that are rapidly becoming certified in the leadership roles they hold in the Cub Scout Program.
On the Boy Scout side of training, Tim Van Boxtel, has reported a bulge in his numbers on leaders being Scoutmaster trained and those figures are supported by Commissioner Bob Maki.
Next year's goal is to have all leaders, not just the Cub masters, on the Cub Scout level as well as those leaders in the Boy Scout program to be 100% trained in all aspects of the scouting program.
The idea of "selling the sizzle," within the program has now been refined to "selling the quality of the sizzle."
This new energy is infectious as leaders are now rededicating themselves to a more refined quality of programing for their scouts which in turn will lead to better unit retention and more scouts obtaining more benefits from the scouting program.

Cartoon Characters that Should have Been Boy Scouts

2010-12-05T11:57:00.000-08:00

Face it, I love cartoons.
Mainly the older ones and my favorite cartoons came from the Warner Brother Studios, Disney Studios, and from Walter Lantz Productions.
I believe that Wile E. Coyote would have been more successful in his quest to capture the roadrunner had he been more prepared and less reliant on the Acme Manufacturing Company to provide him with the latest and greatest inventions designed to snare the smartest creatures on earth.
Wile E., chose to take the short cuts and also took his lumps from not being prepared for the inevitable dangers that soon followed once the trap was sprung.
He must have mastered his first aid badge though as he always came back for more and usually with the same outcome.

Moving out into the universe, stands a lone martian who seeks to destroy earth and all of its inhabitants.
Marvin the Martian and his trusty dog K-9.
Marvin could have mastered the science scout badges with his Elludium Q32 Explosive Space Modulator and his martian aliens that appeared once reconstituted from a gumball with a drop of water.
Long on "book smarts" and short on "street smarts," poor Marvin never learned to see his dream come true as he was always outwitted by Bugs Bunny (who probably could have been a scout).
Bugs, always was ready for anything...ask the two Hillbillies, Yosemite Sam, Beaky Buzzard, and Marvin.
So was the roadrunner, although the only thing he mastered in the scouting world was speed, and endurance with the fitness badges.
Which reminds me..."When tracking a roadrunner; it is usually best to stay off the tracks you are following."
Wile E. had to learn the hard way.
So here is my list of cartoon characters that should have been Boy Scouts:

Marvin the Martian and Gossamer
Snidley Whiplash
Henry Chicken Hawk
Beaky Buzzard
Wile E. Coyote
Tooter Turtle (from the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show)
Pinky and the Brain
Colonel Kit (Go Go Gophers)
Tennessee Tuxedo and Smedley

There are many more but I think that you get the picture.
Here is my list of cartoon characters that probably could have been Boy Scouts:

Bugs Bunny
Foghorn Leghorn
Roadrunner
Mr. Wizard
Chilly Willy
Droopy Dog
Dudley Dooright
Peabody and Sherman
Chief Ruffled Feather and his brave Running Board (Go Go Gophers)
Phineas J. Whoopie (from Tennessee Tuxedo)

Many of you may not know some of these characters and I will leave them up to you to research them for yourself.

5 Star University

2010-12-04T21:33:00.000-08:00

This year's 5 Star University of Scouting will be on Saturday, January, 29, at Lakeshore Technical College in Cleveland, Wisconsin.
I am hoping to complete the requirements for my Doctorate's degree as part of my quest to improve the quality of programing that I present to my leaders that I serve as Commissioner.
I believe that the more information you know, the easier it is to present new information and ideas to the units and then get those leaders to create a better experience for their scouts.
This in turn, should help those scouts, that will become future leaders, to be better prepared to lead than I am or was at the time I volunteered as a Scouter.
5 Star University of Scouting is very much like Cub Scout College but the courses of study are a bit more involved'
At 5 Star... you, as a Scouter, can earn your Bachelor of Science degree in Scouting,
Master's degree, and Doctorate's degree (with submitting a thesis and taking the necessary classes required).
Then it is on to higher learning and giving back to those leaders still on their quest for more knowledge.
Either way, I plan on participating at 5 Star University of Scouting for years to come.

Cub Scout Songbook - CD

2010-12-02T14:16:00.000-08:00

I purchased the "Cub Scout Songbook" CD at this past year's Cub Scout College, which was on clearance and I finally had the chance to listen to the tracks and the songs are tunes that we all sang as children.
Track one is entitled, "Do, do, do Your Best" which is sung to the tune of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat."
These tracks have been updated with a more pleasing sound for today's youth but each track tends to sound like a copy of the tune before it with plenty of electrical guitar rifts (Ala Commander Cody - for those of you that remember the song, "Hot Rod Lincoln").
The most disturbing issue that I have with the album is that when downloaded onto the computer, the song titles do not match with the song tracks and I am not sure that the information that pulls up on the screen is indeed the artist or artists that recorded the track.
Overall, the CD plays fast as most songs are not more than just over two minutes in length and there are 10 songs on the album.
It is an interesting collection of songs and would probably be of interest to the younger cubs but not the album I would choose to play on my car stereo for those long road trips but it still was worth the $3.00 clearance price.

Scouts...Get a Life...Make Eagle

2010-11-29T13:50:00.000-08:00

My son greeted me at the door today and he showed me a letter from a university that was offering a scholarship to scouts that make the rank of Eagle and he asked me if this letter was for real?
I read the letter and verified that this was indeed a letter offering my son a scholarship.
One snag: My son isn't going to make Eagle by April.
He has other issues to attend to and, in spite of my encouragement to make Eagle, he decided not to pursue the pinnacle of scouting in achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.
OK, fine. Don't become an Eagle.
Don't listen.
Now he receives this letter offering a minimum of $54,000. (14,000 annually) provided that he is an Eagle Scout.
Trouble is, my son is a Life Scout.
Yes, he does have a slim chance of continuing on but time is definitely not on his side at the moment.
This scholarship has literally flown out the window for him and he now has learned what the rank of Eagle Scout can do for those that make that commitment.
There are no limits for and Eagle Scout.
The value of being an Eagle Scout is immeasurable and that steadily increases over time.
I love my son dearly but this was a lesson that he had to learn for himself.
All of my scout friends that he knows have said the same thing and he just would not take the advice to heart.
So do yourself a favor, earn your Eagle and see what the badge and its meaning can do for you.

A Time to Give Thanks

2010-11-23T17:18:00.000-08:00

Times are tough, lousy politicians, work is not going well, the weather stinks, etc.
I have heard them all and mostly while at work.
Thanksgiving is right aroud the corner and I thought that this would be a great time for me to tell you what I am thankful for:

God.
My Family and friends that are close to me.
The Freedoms that I enjoy which were paid for by those serving in the military and by our ancestors that helped pave the way for an easier life.
The BSA (Boy Scouts of America) and all of my scouting brothers and sisters throughout the world.
My health.
Being able to work.
Having a home.
The readers of this blog post and the listeners of Scouting Radio.
Being able to write scouting articles for "The Examiner."
Bad weather (which reminds me to appreciate the good weather days).

Yes, times are tough but things could certainly be a lot worse.
Just ask the Koreans now shooting at each other.
This is a time for us to come together and be thankful for what we have.
A time for sharing and caring.
A time for peace.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Green Bay Holiday Parade Marches into the History Books

2010-11-21T16:53:00.000-08:00

The Green Bay ~~Holiday~~ Christmas Parade has been put into the history books as work begins on next year's parade.
Yes, I am being politically incorrect here as it is a Christmas Parade in my opinion and will always be considered a Christmas Parade.
This year's event highlight was the large number of scouting units that participated in the parade over 30 girl scout units and at least 10 boy scout marched in the parade.
-What a wonderful public relations tool for both scouting programs.
I had the opportunity to play Yukon Cornelius with the girl scouts and had fun hearing the crowd yell things like,"Hey Yukon Cornelius!" to "Look, there's =Yukon Jack!"
Whatever name the audience used didnt' matter as everyone seemed to enjoy the event in spite of the cold, windy weather.
If you have never participated in marching in a parade or assisting a scout unit; be it boy scouts or girl scouts, you will have the time of your life.
Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Commissioner Keith

When Leaders Fall

2010-11-18T18:11:00.000-08:00

Just the other night I had a brief conversation with a scout leader that is participating in a parade with his cub scouts...great publicity for the unit, I thought.
But the conversation quickly soured in my mouth when I found out that the leader told me how great it would be seeing his scouts hanging out of the windows, waving to the crowd, while riding in a bus.
I quickly reminded him to rethink the issues of safety and the projected image of scouts doing something unsafe, even at a slow speed and how that might be seen as a less than ideal image to present.
He didn't think that this was a problem and his response was, "the whole parade is a poor image from start to finish."
I wondered if he felt this way; why he would even bother to enter his unit in the event?
He finally thought that I was probably right and he would tell his scouts that they couldn't hang out the windows and would have to sit in the bus because, "Commissioner Keith says so."
Reminding him to consult his copy of "The Guide to Safe Scouting," and his obligation with "Youth Protection;" he might discover that the policy that the BSA established was designed for maximum safety at all cost.
Leaders fall from the pedestal of trust, that the scout families put them on, when they suddenly sacrifice safety for a fleeting chance of fun when risking the well being of their scouts and those that participate in the activity.
In short, when in doubt, refer to your Youth Protection training and "The Guide to Safe Scouting."

November is More Than a Time for Thanksgiving

2010-11-14T14:46:00.000-08:00

I love November.
This is the time of year that I thank God for all that I have, the service men and women serving their country, a new scouting year, the end of the hay fever season, and a time to give thanks for the family that I have that surround me.
November is also the time where scout leaders should be looking at their recharters and scrubbing the rosters and making plans to increase membership at the time of crossover in Jan/Feb.
Cub Scout Packs have succeeded in conducting Boy Talks and have had at least one open house.
Boy Scouts should be doing the same and there should be an open house long before the crossovers become due.
A successful scout troop will have an open door policy 24/7, 365 days of the year.
Why not invite cub scouts to participate in troop meetings?
Let them present the Colors.
Teach them about the boy scout program while they are there.
Why not have the boy scouts present the Colors at a Pack meeting?
This simple idea will not only help with recruiting but is also a great public relations tool to help put some excitement into the scouting program.
I am thankful for the opportunity to voice my opinions and concerns on this blog and on Scouting Radio.
I am thankful for my readers, who choose to follow these writings and thankful for the listeners of my show.
So here's to another scouting year, and make it the best year ever.

Scouting Radio Offers Global Scouting News and Information

2010-11-14T08:37:00.000-08:00

Back in 2007, I had the opportunity to visit scout units in Australia's Gold Coast and I became interested in scouitng on the international level as little is known about what goes on within the scouting world in other countries (the BSA doesn't necessarily report events on the goings on in other parts of the world save limited information on International Jamborees).
I began a personal quest, thanks to the Internet, to see what other scouting programs do with their scouts and I began with Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
While surfing the net, I discovered several chat sites that I visited and have met several scouting friends along the way.
The most interesting site I found was Scouting Radio, which originates in Ireland, and had to listen into an Internet radio web site to hear what was happening within the scouting world.
Justin Dawson and Simon Lang, manage the station and they had one presenter, Robert Mc Teague, who talked about scouting in New Zealand and Australia.
The shows were interesting to listen to.
One day Justin and Simon mentioned that they were looking for additional presenters and reporters for the station and had interviewed the Honorable Michael Baden Powell and Colin Walker who have impressive credentials in scouting in their own rite.
Durning that episode, I thought that there wasn't any representation for the BSA and I inquired about helping supply information to the studio and soon became involved with a program of my own.
Thanks to scouting friends that helped with recording and show materials, I began to be pulled into the vortex of scout programming promotion and have been doing shows for the past 3 1/2 years.
I have had a lot of fun doing these shows and have interviewed several scouting friends on the show and I want to personally thank them as they helped me on my way to creating some shows that I feel have become part of a "best of" series:

Jerry Schleining and Shawn Cleary of PTC Media
Pat and Jana Laes from Voyageur District and My Favorite Quilt Shop respectively
Haydn McComas from Scouts Australia
Jessica Goulet and Jean Westergaard from Girl Scout Troop 4247
David Nelson Cub master and "Sammy Scout" from Pack 4002
Former Scoutmaster Wayne Gunville
Cub master Steven Sorenson and Voyageur District Round table Commissioner
Dr. Ole Jacobsen, African Jamboree 2012 Chairman
Scouts from Waterinbury, England
Amber Westergaard, who has helped co-host some of my shows giving insight to the girl scout program
Chris Laes, Neil Walker, and the rest of the Staff from Camp Bear Paw.
I have been able to "cut my teeth" on doing shows that I never would have entertained doing without you all making the interview process easy.
I have managed to produce radio shows almost on a weekly basis and look forward to another 3 1/2 years in doing more shows.
So if you never got the chance to listen in, visit www.scoutingradio.com and hear what you have been missing.

Cub Scout College 2010

2010-11-10T05:34:00.000-08:00

Approximately 300 Cub Scout leaders attended Cub Scout College this past weekend at Fox Valley Tech. in Appleton, and I have found that there is no better way to make new scouting contacts and address issues new leaders may have than being at such an event.
Leaders come from all over the Bay-Lakes Council to see, do, and hear about the latest and greatest ideas that they might take home with them to improve the quality programming they give to their scouts.
The atmosphere is electric as the attitudes of the attendees and the staff come together under a common bond in scouting where there is no personal or political agendas and the emphasis is placed upon fun while learning more about the scouting program.
One example of this is attending Ed Gerczak's "I Hate Dishes" course where leaders learn simple recipes to cook for their units in a fast, use one dish style cooking method which is designed to get the leaders and their scouts back in the field with the minimum clean up.
Ed and his staff demonstrated the Lumberjack or Hearty Breakfast bake, and Todd Buth assisted with showing his cooking expertise with Jalapeno poppers.
Rounding out the class was the introduction of "Apple Dodgers" an old cowboy recipe that was a surprise hit with the participants.
In other classes, Dr. Bob Meyer, demonstrated the fun things leaders can do with electricity and perennial favorite was Jerry Tilton's Leather work class where students got to create new woggles and other leather projects involving lacing and tool stamping.
Dave Nelson taught a class on Recruiting and even the District Field Director was recruited to teach a class on ceremonies leaders can introduce into their cub program.
The Culinary Arts Department provided the lunch menu which consisted of a grilled chicken sandwich and a baked bean side with kidney beans.
The Council also provided a trading post for leaders looking for the latest in how to books and souvenirs.
If you have never experienced a Cub College event; make plans to attend next year's event or better still...plan on attending the 5 Star University in January.

What Happened to Halloween?

2010-10-28T19:34:00.000-07:00

Where did Halloween go?
I remember a time when kids went trick or treating and had fun going door to door for candy, fruit, and popcorn balls.
Halloween parties challenged you to create your own costume (nothing was store bought), bobbed for apples, played a game called, "Sardines."
You made your own haunted house and passed around eyeballs that you made by peeling the skins off a grape.
Brains were a bowl of cooked spaghetti noodles.
Made witches brew.
For those of you that lived in the rural areas, remember hay rides and relocating outhouses?
I don't remember the later one but my grandmother said that as kids, they would do things like that.
Hay rides were fun and usually ended with a bonfire and hot apple cider or hot chocolate and roasting hot dogs or marshmallows.
Today, kids don't have that luxury.
The youth today, have to contend with tampered candy, no fruit is given out, and so much for a popcorn ball.
If a kid didn't get the treat they expected then expect a house, car, or anything else to get egged.
Yards get forked. or trees and bushes toilet papered.
Even the spooky movies have gone from psychological thrillers to the gratuitous blood scenes.
Remember "Dracula vs. Frankenstein?"
Now it is something like "Dracula vs. the Texas Chainsaw teeniebopper and buckets of gore.
The only vestiges of a traditional party may come with a church youth group or scout group having a costume party and maybe some small scale Halloween program.
Why can't people leave a good thing alone...
Skip the treat tampering and let kids experience the fun in Halloween.

Once a Scout Always a Scout

2010-10-24T17:38:00.000-07:00

The Scout Law states that a Scout is:
Trustworthy
Loyal
Helpful...

I want to stop with Helpful because that is exactly what good scouts do.
They help.
Recently, I helped run an event that was very successful in the eyes of everyone that attended and staffed the event.
The event, in my book, was successful only because of the staff that came to pitch in and help pull the events planned together.
And they all did it willingly and with smiles on their faces in spite of the rain that fell throughout most of the day.
Since that event, I had the opportunity to help one of my staff members out with a cooking engagement at Gandrud Chev. and again at a cub scout pack meeting for another scouter that helped with my event.
It is what the program is all about.
Reciprocation...not because we have to but because we want to.
It is a natural process for scouts and scouters to follow if one truly believes in the values and the meaning within the Scout Law.
We are there for our scout brothers no matter what the outcome.
We Trust each other.
We stand fast to our principles and are willing to go the extra mile if need be.
No other program can have that claim.
The BSA and the World Scouting Movement are here to stay and will continue to serve our brothers, sisters, our family, and our community whether it is on a local level, national level, or world level.
Thank you Lord Baden Powell for putting together a fine institution called Scouting.

Missing Scouts Become a Problem

2010-10-17T19:25:00.000-07:00

Recently, I was asked to make some phone calls to scout families that seemed to have vanished from the scouting program.
A simple follow up call was needed to reach out and find out what happened to the scouts in question.
15 phone calls and the majority gave the same response.
"He dropped out due to lack of interest."
A couple of the parents expressed concern that it is taking over 2 years to make contact regarding their son giving the impression that the Council didn't care enough about them at the time that they dropped out.

This saddens me.
When I was the Webelos to Scouts Transitions Chair, I had suggested that all scouts receive an exit form to file with their unit leaders as to why they are not continueing on in the program.
This fell on deaf ears and we still make phone calls to scouts long out of the program.
To me, this is insulting to the parents of the scouts that dropped.
Why care now?
Where was the concern at the time they left the program?

The BSA offers a very dynamic program for all youth and is very beneficial for boys to be a part of this program long after they turn 18.

We, as leaders, need to be better suited to handle the issues scout families have-especially at the time of crossover or changing units.
The ultimate goal is to get and keep boys in the program no matter where they choose to go.
It is the paramount responsibility for the unit leader to ensure boys continue with the program and each leader should take it on the chin that a scout drops out no matter what the reason.

So come on leaders...get with the program and help your scouts stay in and correct the problem of missing scouts.

Leave No Trace Should Never be an After Thought

2010-09-19T09:23:00.000-07:00

In Scouting, no matter what the program or activity, Leave No Trace should never be an after thought.
Picking specimen samples of foliage or stones does harm the environment and should never be practiced.
Recently my scout friends and I conducted an outdoors event that proved to be highly successful however; one of the comments that came back was to pick various samples of plant life to show the scouts how wildlife uses such specimens for food and shelter.
To take these samples would not only damage the plant life but would also place stress on those animals that would need these plants for shelter and a food source.
Removing rocks, stones, and even pebbles from a trail would increase the chances of soil erosion and harm the creatures that may live underneath those objects.
Appreciate the natural beauty of our environment and our natural surroundings by photographing the area, pick up the items that do not belong there, and leave no trace that you have been there.
It is a virtue that all mankind should practice and put to good use.
Mother Nature will thank you for it.

Rain Didn't Damper Spirits At Webelos Woods 2010

2010-09-15T10:36:00.000-07:00

44 Scouts and about the same number of adults participated in the 2010 Webelos Woods event at the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary and in spite of the rain, no one showed any signs of displeasure in the events offered nor were their spirits dampened by the precipitation that fell throughout the day.

Ed Gerczak's cooking, and the courses offered in Outdoorsman, Totin' Chit, Readyman, Forester, and Naturalist where big hits with the scouts especially when the hike took the scouts passed the white tail deer habitat where the deer choose to follow the scouts along the trail.
Council Executive Mark Logemann showed up at lunchtime to make a special presentation and stayed for the meal and observed the activities as they unfolded.
Concluding the event was a small evening campfire where the Webelos scouts provided songs and skits for every one's enjoyment.
The event ended at 6 pm.

5 Days to Webelos Woods 2010

2010-09-06T04:24:00.000-07:00

Labor Day, now marks 5 days away from the Webelos Woods event that I have spent months to plan with my scout friends Shawn Cleary, Bob Hawkins, and Pat Laes.
The event, which will be held on Sat. Sept. 11, will host Webelos scouts participating in a wide variety of events for Naturalist, Outdoorsman, Forester, and Readyman as well as allow them to learn about cooking over the campfire in a mock boy scout camp setting.
The preparations are in place and the staff were selected and all that will be working are, what I call the "A" listers of the District," and each member offers their personal touch to the program which will guarantee a quality program for the event.
Things are set to go, and although being extremely nervous, I want this event to be over.
The anticipation is like being a child again and waiting Christmas Day with presents around the tree and it's only June.
It is tough to wait it out.
This year's event will work out and the boys should gain a lot of information but still it's the wait that is killing me.
I would like to thank the staff that has agreed to step up and help at this event as this would never even fly had it not been for your dedication.
Thanks for everything in advance (in case I should forget on Sat.).

Some Funny Things Happened to Me on The Way to Dad and Lad

2010-08-29T05:58:00.000-07:00

You know that line, " A funny thing happened to me on the way to....?"
Well a couple of interesting things happened to me yesterday and the first one was when Ed Gerczak and I stopped for breakfast, in Suring, on the way to Dad and Lad Camp.
While eating, a gentleman approched us and asked if he could chat with us a little bit and we, while being good scouters did ask him to stay.
He commented about how the Boy Scout program is probably the only program of worth out there in the world and was glad that the boy scouts haven't compromised their morals.
He also stated that if he had the time, he would love to get involved in this program but he could not do so at the present point in time.
He told us that he knew what it was like to face adversity being a war veteran from the Vietnam war and knew that there are some people who are quick to attack those things that should never change and that he was extremely pleased that the Boy Scouts have not submitted to the pressures of certain factions that want to put an end to the movement.
He then asked if it was possible for us to accept a donation to help within the scouting program.
I accepted the 100.00 he deposited into my hand and I thanked him for his generous donation.
Ed and I left the restaurant and headed to camp.
The second incident was my chance meeting with Malcolm, a first year Webelos scout, whom preceded to inform me that he was going to become and Eagle Scout.
I inquired why he'd want to be an Eagle and his response was:
"Its the journey not the destination."
And with that, I wish Malcolm all the success in his quest for Eagle and I know he will make it.

Road Trips

2010-08-22T09:50:00.000-07:00

Took a road trip with the family this past weekend and my family and I spent time at 6 Flags Amusement park in Illinois and then took the Milwaukee Zoo.
Not really all that excited about 6 Flags, being a former amusement ride operator for 14 yrs., I tried to keep an open mind about visiting a place packed with people.
We arrived early, determined to take full advantage of the park's facilities and me not being crazy about the rides, I looked forward to the movie theater and shows...all of which were closed for the day.
Decided to take the train around the park to orient ourselves where the rides and activities we wanted to see were at...train closed for the day.
Plan B...take a ride on the sky tower, or whatever it was, and were first in line.
Had to wait 20 min.'s before boarding, only to find out that they wouldn't run the ride for less than 24 people.
We waited another 10-15 min.'s listening to the ride attendant complain about her partner not being ready and at the site.
Did you know that at the end of each ride that the operators are required to say,"Have a great 6 Flags day!" and they do (with about as much emotion and enthusiasm as someone going for root canal work.
From the perspective of a former ride operator, the "Have a great 6 Flags day..." translates to "hurry up and get the heck out of here so we can load the next herd onto this ride."
My son, still recovering from a concussion he sustained in a soccer scrimmage, wasn't up to going on any rides and our was to spend half the day with the rides and the other half in their water park.
That did not happen.
Amber, Jean, and I went on maybe 8 rides altogether and sought some relief from the sun in going into various "sucker bait" shops which were air conditioned.
By 2pm, I was fried to a crisp, or at least me head was, and really was burned out hearing, "Have a great 6 Flags day," we decided to find our hotel early...in spite of the fact the Jean was bound and determined to stay until the last dog was hung.
We left.
Day 2. Spent the night at a hotel in Racine, we headed to the zoo for Ala Cart.
Arrived early.
We were all impressed with the changes that had taken place at the zoo from the last time we were there (some 5 or 6 yrs.ago) and were eager to spend the day there and listen to good music, eat food, and enjoy the antics of the animals.
Took the train ride first, and then the family farm area.
Amber displayed her artistic talents with marble painting and printmaking, Dane was busy checking out the girls (especially the employees), and I waited for the upcoming music acts staged throughout the zoo.
First stage... empty, second stage...empty, third stage was a couple of people that the acoustic guitarist showed his talents but could not sing or tell jokes to save his life and his singer could sing marginally well for free entertainment.
The next stage had a band called, "Siren," with the lead looking something like Sheryl Crow, and her other two band mates harmonized while playing violin and bongo drums.
Dane had a special interest in them and we stayed through their first show.
He commented that one reminded them of a hippie and she had lots of "jiggle" when she played bongo.
At 3pm, we once again faced burn out as the catch phrase of the day was, "Have a great 6 Flags...."
even though it was the zoo we decided to skip the evening concert by the Gin Blossoms and head for our hotel and take advantage of the outdoor pool.
Just leaving the zoo, a storm hit and by the time we arrived at the hotel, it was closed on account of the weather.
Stayed in the room and ordered in pizza from one of the local establishments that delivered and we had one of the best pizzas ever (the second place Jean discovered that had the best food).
In Racine, we had food brought in from the London Broil and ate a ton of food for almost next to nothing.
In Milwaukee, I cannot remember the name of the place, but it was on Blue Mound Rd. about 7 miles west of the zoo.
The whole trip does seem like it was a bust, but for what may be the last family road trip that we take altogether; it was a nice time bonding with each other.

If Everyone was a Scout

2010-08-14T10:10:00.000-07:00

What would the world today be like if everyone was a scout?
Imagine every single person living the oath, motto, and law of a scout.

For starters, had the Executives at BP been in scouts; would there be the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico right now?
Maybe...but if they practiced "Leave No Trace" or were "prepared" then it might not have been as catastrophic.
If more people were scouts; would we have more environmentalists or conservationists available?
We might not have the endangered species list or issues with global warming and issues with pollution.

Political leaders should learn to practice "Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, and Friendly" and we might not have the border wars and conflicts we have today.

If everyone were a scout and followed the fundamental principles of scouting to be prepared for the "game of life;" we would certainly be having fun while living it.

Baden Powell would certainly be smiling if we were all scouts.

Scouting Makes the Impossible Possible

2010-08-12T17:11:00.000-07:00

It seems that every time I look back at my scouting life, and it is far from over (I hope); I am increasingly more amazed at what a scout can do or what can happen if a scout does his best.
Going back in time 100 yrs. ago a scout never thought that he would impact the movement as he did when he helped William D. Boyce in that London Fog.
That scout is famous and yet no one knows who he is.
Senator and Astronaut John Glenn, I imagine, never thought he would travel to space or become an American leader.
Film director Steven Spielburg probably would not be making movies had it not been for the photography merit badge he completed in boy scouts.
Sam Walton probably would have never believed it if someone told him that he would become the owner and CEO of one of the world's largest department stores.
So here am I looking at some of the greatest people that have succeeded in life, thanks to the boy scouts, and while I am not in that same class as these people mentioned; I do have some interesting milestones in my life as a scout:
One of the first people in Green Bay to view the moon rocks as a cub scout.
Became an Eagle Scout and earned my God and Country religious medal and the International Catholic Awareness Medallion.
Became a Cub master and a host of other pack positions.
Visited scouts in Australian and volunteered to help with the Elmore Jamboree in Australia in 2007.
Radio presenter for Scouting Radio and the list is not complete yet.
Had someone told me that these milestones would occur in my life, I would never have believed it.
Like Mike Rowe, who told the scouts at this year's national jamboree, that he was a shy boy and his father made him go to a scout meeting.
I was in that similar situation.
My two grandfathers were involved in scouting as was my uncle and my father.
I became a scout and little did I know that it would be the best thing that happened in my life-even the raccoon visitation at my first summer camp at Bear Paw.
Scouting gave me many opportunities in my life.
I hope that I can give back as much as I got out of the program.
So when someone tells you that you could be the next international singing sensation, or next master artist, future leader, etc.
Believe it.
For if you do your best; everything impossible becomes possible.

My 2010 Heroes

2010-08-04T14:23:00.000-07:00

I was watching the shining light concert from the BSA National Jamboree at Fort A.P Hill, and I was thinking about some of the people that should be heroes or at least friends of the BSA.

Cheers to:

United States Soldiers (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard)-these servicemen and women do incredible things to serve out country and do so without complaint. They do things that we would never do or probably never be asked to do.
Mike Rowe (Dirty Jobs host)-an Eagle scout and proudly endorses the BSA. If you don't believe me, check out his web site www.mikeroweworks.com
Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. -both took the time to visit with scouts and scouters at the National Jamboree.
Ted Nugent- sent video to the Jamboree stating that he loves people that are always prepared. Who wouldn't add him to the good list?
Kid Rock-assisted Fla. scouts with replacing camping equipment while on route to camp when equipment and trailer were stolen.
President Gerald Ford- Eagle scout and proponent of the boy scout movement.
Jerry Tilton- a local scouter in Green Bay who celebrated his 75th yr. of continuous service in the scouting program.
Brady Poppinga -Eagle Scout and Green Bay Packer. Brady shows that he still lives the oath and law today in the way that he plays on and off the field.

Geers to (actually it isn't scout-like to geer but it rhymed with cheer) but the loser in this category):

President Barack Obama- invited to speak at the National Jamboree and sent video taped message instead. Yes, I know he is the President and he is very busy, however; the Jamboree was practically in the White House back yard and if he could take time out to be on the "View"...

National Jamboree Show Should Have Been on National Television

2010-08-01T04:29:00.000-07:00

The Boy Scout National Jamboree was televised on the Internet via the National Jamboree Website in conjunction with Facebook, Twitter, and other sites.
The show should have been on national television with the BSA celebrating 100 years of scouting.
Highlights included "Dirty Jobs" star Mike Rowe, the Trinidad and Tobago Steel Drum Band, the US Army Special Op's group the Black Daggers, Olympians Steve Holcomb, Shawn White, and Gretchen Blieler.
Also appearing Alex Boyea, Ted Nugent, Switchfoot, and Honor Society.
The show was pretty well conceived with scouts participating in between acts.
President Obama mailed in a video message to the boy scouts and was not as inspiring as the personal message that Mike Rowe gave "in person."
Overall, the show was spectacular and should have been on national TV for the world to see.

What Part of NO Do You Not Understand?

2010-07-31T10:26:00.000-07:00

Interesting title for a scout post, isn't it?
Let me start by apologizing for the double negative in the title.

Webster's dictionary defines the word no as:

Pronunciation: \ˈnō\
Function: adverb
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English nā, from ne not + ā always; akin to Old Norse & Old High German ne not, Latin ne-, Greek nē- — more at aye

Date: before 12th century

1 a chiefly Scottish : not b —used as a function word to express the negative of an alternative choice or possibility

2 : in no respect or degree —used in comparisons

3 : not so —used to express negation, dissent, denial, or refusal

4 —used with a following adjective to imply a meaning expressed by the opposite positive statement

5 —used as a function word to emphasize a following negative or to introduce a more emphatic, explicit, or comprehensive statement

6 —used as an interjection to express surprise, doubt, or incredulity

7 —used in combination with a verb to form a compound adjective

8 : in negation

Now, let's look at Prohibit:
Pronunciation: \prō-ˈhi-bət, prə-\

Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin prohibitus, past participle of prohibēre to keep off, from pro- forward + habēre to hold — more at pro-, give

Date: 15th century

1 : to forbid by authority : enjoin

2 a : to prevent from doing something b : preclude
synonyms see forbid

I chose to write a post on "No," because I recently read on Facebook that there was a scout leader that brought alcohollic beverages to a scout camp.
What a serious violation of the Boy Scouts of America's policy on Drugs and Alcohol.
The Guide to Safe Scouting clearly points out that tobacco products and the use of other than prescription drugs, including alcohol is prohibited from any and all scouting activities where youth are participating (see page 23 of The Guide to Safe Scouting).
This means at camp, at award banquets, baseball games, picnics etc.
NO ALCOHOL! NO SMOKING! NONE, PERIOD!

As a leader, you are entrusted to take care of all of the boys within your unit and the expectations are and will always be one where the leaders will be in complete charge and not be under the influence of substances where judgement may be impaired.
There should be a way that we could be able to cut the corner on a leaders membership card for breaking the law regarding to safe scouts.
Stay home if you cannot control your urge for a cigarette or a drink.
This also includes all parents as well.
The safety of your children depend upon that.

Commissioner Keith Comments: Scouting's Best Kept Secrets

2010-07-29T13:38:00.001-07:00

Commissioner Keith Comments: Scouting's Best Kept Secrets: "There's an old saying that is still repeated by scouts and scouters throughout the world and that saying is, 'What happens at camp, stays at..."

Scouting's Best Kept Secrets

2010-07-29T13:38:00.000-07:00

There's an old saying that is still repeated by scouts and scouters throughout the world and that saying is,
"What happens at camp, stays at camp."
Well, I am going to expose exactly what happens at camp and use Johnny Scout as a classic example for this post.
Johnny Scout is 11 years old and is going off to camp for the very first time.
It's his first time away from family for more than a couple of nights.
The first activity Johnny faces is check in or registration and the medical staff review his physical and medication documents.
Johnny then marches to his camp site and quickly changes into his swim trunks for the BSA swim test which will certify that Johnny can out swim the freshwater croccodiles and piranhas that are imagined in the lake.
This test is required if Johnny wishes to take a canoe, or rowboat out into the lake.
What, Johnny in a canoe or boat without an adult!?!
Yes, that can happen when Johnny has the proper instruction and meets the swim test requirements.
Johnny can also have the opportunity to swim the mile.
During Johnny's week of summer camp, he will also visit the shooting sports range and learn to shoot a .22 rifle, or shotgun, or a compound bow. He even may get the chance to try a black powder rifle.
Johnny, shooting things!?!
Why not? With proper instruction, Johnny will learn to safely handle firearms and could quite possibly earn a marksmanship badge.
Summer camp may also find Johnny hanging 4 stories in the air off a zip line and riding that through the woods.
Johnny may take several nature hikes, make new friends, sing songs, cook over a campfire and become a master at baking a fruit cobbler.
Johnny will within one week's time have stories to tell as big as Paul Bunyan's blue ox, Babe.
Now here's the secret: Everything Johnny does at camp is under the watchful eyes of instructors and camp staff and he will have the time of his life provided he tries his best (this isn't the secret yet).
Johnny will return home showing some signs of growth (physically and mentally - this isn't the secret either).

The Secret: Anywhere in the BSA where a boy chooses to go camping; he will have fun, learn, and grow. And that secret is known by scouts and scouters all over the world.

Commissioner Keith Comments: The Falling Eagles

2010-07-28T14:39:00.000-07:00

Commissioner Keith Comments: The Falling Eagles: "I know four scouts, all of which have earned the rank of Life Scout, and have the potential to become Eagle Scouts. One scout has completed ..."

The Falling Eagles

2010-07-28T14:38:00.000-07:00

I know four scouts, all of which have earned the rank of Life Scout, and have the potential to become Eagle Scouts.
One scout has completed his project and all that's left is the paperwork and he is stalled in the process of finishing the paperwork.
Another has decided that it's too much work to finish.
The 3rd one, says that he's going to complete it but has 3 merit badges to complete and find a service project and begin the paperwork.
The 4th has a part time job, reportedly 5 merit badges to complete, and has to do his approved project and the final paperwork which must be done before the snow flies.
The parents and leaders of these scouts are well aware of the benefits of the prestigious rank of Eagle and how the Eagle can help a scout long after he's left the troop.
Failure to see the big picture is the problem with these scouts as they all seem to live in the moment and cannot comprehend foreseeing the future and where they will be some 10 - 20 years down the road.
I wish I had a time machine to take each of these and all scouts into the future and let them see how life could be for them if they make Eagle and conversely show them what it will be like without that rank.
There are a lot of people that have successfully triumphed with their achievements without the scouting program and there are a lot of former scouts that look back upon their time in the scouting program as a wonderful thing but have but one regret: not following through to Eagle.
Stopping at Life.
Never making that last step and finally wishing that they had grasped that "brass ring."
I consider myself lucky that I followed the trail to Eagle and yes, I do regret that I didn't do more when I had the chance.
I am now reliving some of those missed experiences as a leader although it isn't quite the same as it would have been when I was a teenager.
A few years ago, I attended camp at Camp Decorah and chose to ride their zip line.
I never had done that before and it was a real challenge for me as I am altitude challenged...so much so that I almost froze up in the tower.
I muscled past my fears and finally took that ride.
Success...
I look at that as a major victory while other adults my age may view it as "no big deal-11 yr. old scouts are doing that."
Had I attempted that as a scout 30 years ago; it may have had a more significant impact.
It 's true that hind sight is always 20/20.
Let's hope that these 4 Life scouts find their focus and take that "Brass Ring."

Scouting's Forgotten Awards

2010-07-24T06:56:00.000-07:00

The Boy Scouts of America seems to have cornered the market on scouting awards for all levels of the scout program and if one looks to other scouting programs in other countries; you will never find more available awards to honor scouts with than within the BSA.
The BSA bestows awards for Day camps, Scout o Rama's, Camp-o-Ree's, Summer camp, and countless other activity participation awards.
There are belt loops and activity pins for sports and academics.
There are knots for leadership, merit badges (over 100 of them), community service awards, etc.
These awards all have their place but what about those awards that have fallen by the wayside?
Rarely seen are Denner and Assistant Denner cords, Den Chief cords, the National Summertime Pack pins or the Cub Scout Outdoor Activity pocket flap patch, National Patrol Awards, or Leave No Trace (including the World Conservation Patch).
Line up 100 cub scouts and you would be hard pressed to find a scout wearing the perfect attendance pin even the service stars (leaders included on the service stars).
On the leadership level, the square knot awards are used to a small degree but few seek to add the Veteran Service award.
It was a big deal to receive the Recruiter patch in Cub Scouts as was receiving perfect attendance for multiple years in the cub program.
Maybe I am old fashioned but I would love to see these awards presented to deserving scouts and what better time to introduce them into your scouting program than during this Centennial year?

Webelos to Scout Transitions Begin on Day 1

2010-07-22T14:47:00.000-07:00

Okay...sorry folks...the rant is on!
As the former Webelos to Scout Transitions Chair in Voyageur District, I am getting a bit tired of hearing how the transition numbers are not up to par when a program was suggested that does retain scouts, promotes the next step within the scouting program, and gets parents to become more involved is more or less not tried or even promoted - at least here in the good ol' USA although it was adopted in the Australian socut program and is now mandated that all units use the program.
The end result in Australia is a waiting list for those youth that cannot get into a unit because of existing numbers and max. cap's. due to meeting hall size.
We know 3 things:

Webelos need to move on into the boy scout program.
Everything that the scouts do within the Cub Scout level lays the foundation for further study and exploration in the Boy Scout program.
The longer a scout stays in the program, the more prepared he will be as an adult.

Attending last year's 5 Star College event, I particpated in a class that was to teach how to get more Webelos to cross over into Boy Scouts.
I sat and listened intently, looking for some magic bullet that would instantly cause Webelos to sign up for a troop.
The first thing the instructor said was, " in the 2nd year of Webelos.... you should start interacting with the boy scouts and begin to talk about the boy scout programming."
A red flag went up.
I had to interrupt and argue that if one waited for Webelos II then it was too late.
The transition program begins on the first day a boy joins the program.
Every great leader will talk with his scouts with the expectation that all will move up and onward on the path to Eagle Scout.
They eliminate the "IF" and change it to "When" thus removing the backdoor escape clause when the scout or his family realize that they don't need to stay with the program for whatever cheap reason they can muster up.
To do anything less, would seriously affect one's personal experiences within the scouting movement.
Arguements for staying in the program include:

Scouts learn to multi task with school work, jobs, sports, and scouts.
Are better prepared for life's challenges.
Prove to be strong citizens.
Learning opportunities that are often not found anywhere else in this world.
IT'S FUN!

The best supprorting reason for scouts is that scouts can sample several carreer choices by working within the merit badge program than anywhere else and not cost the national debt in tuition fees or book fees.
Which would you rather pay?
A. $10.00 in material fees
B. 1,000's of dollars in tuition, books, and materials to discover that your son didn't want to study Dentistry in college.
For me, I choose A.
I would much rather have my son experiment with his education without causing me to have bills that rival the National Debt.
I feel that the biggest reason that our Council won't promote the transition program is that it doesn't show an immediate return in revenue and that the old 'war horses" don't feel the need to hold an open house.
The bottom line is that without the encouragement of the cub scouts, the boy scout program would be a thing of the past.

I am done ranting now.

The Boy Scouts and the American Railroad

2010-07-11T15:25:00.000-07:00

This is probably one of the most unusual titles that I have come up with but there are several parallels the Boy Scouts of America have in common with the railroads of the United States.

Scouting like the American railroad began with humble beginnings and it grew through blood, sweat, and tears.

Somebody worked hard to pave the way for future generations to arrive at the final destination with less difficulties than their predecessors.

Before the railroad, much of the travel was horseback, or on foot as the highway system had yet to be established.

Boy Scouts had no real connection or unified structure until James E. West sought to streamline the program into a consistent, unified movement with a national headquarters governing the rules and regulations of the scouting program.

Today, the BSA offers the Fast Tracks to advancement on the cub level and that equates to the rails going from Point A to Point B.

The road is straight and narrow and the course is consistent with the chance for the rider to enjoy the changing scenery as a scout enjoys the multi-facets that the scouting program offers.

So here in list form are some of the things that parallel scouting with the railroad:

Railroads have:

engineeers
route or destination
magnificent scenery
passengers

The BSA has:

Scoutmasters
path to Eagle Scout
magnificent scenery in camp
scouts

So take a ride the the "Train of Scouting" and see what you have been missing.

1937 Boy Scout Grand Parade

Let's Go Camping

2010-06-27T11:34:00.000-07:00

Big Smokey Waterfalls in Shawano County, Wisconsin

It's camping time, actually camping time is 365 days of the year, but now it the time that most people love to go camping because the season in Wisconsin is better suited for most to be comfortable without the extra gear that must be packed in cold weather conditions.

Your personal gear should include:

Clothing appropriate for the season and weather conditions including waterproof boots or shoes
food
personal camping gear including backpack with rain cover
sleeping bag
sleeping pad or cot
ground cloth
knife, fork, and spoon
plate, bowl, cup
soap for dishes (environment friendly soap)
toothbrush, dental floss, toothpaste, comb (for those not follicle challenged)
small towel
watch
tent of shelter with fly
compass
small notebook and writing instrument
swimwear (optional as short will do)
sun block, lip balm, and first aid kit (including any and all prescription medications)
rope or nylon cord
cook kit
water bottle
emergency sewing repair kit which also includes duct tape and safety pins
folding camp saw, sturdy pocket knife, and small hatchet
water proof matches, welder's spark er, or backup fire starting equipment

Most camping areas where I camp does have potable water and I do not usually carry water purifying equipment.
Optional items:

crank radio and cell phone (for emergency use only when the weather conditions turn sour.
binoculars
camera
pillow

If I go on a camping trip and I find that I need to have a comfort item; I usually take beef jerky and maybe a Butterfinger candy bar or two.

For those that know me, yes I did learn a lesson with that raccoon encounter at the age of 11 but I have found a way to still have my candy bar.

Usually, I can get a week's worth of gear into my backpack but I take more than I probably should and every time I go, my backpack tells me so.

But who listens to their pack anyway?

So get packing and get out their and go camping!

Whom Do You Serve

2010-06-13T16:58:00.000-07:00

In a recent Skype conversation with a scouter friend of mine, from Australia, the conversation turned to a topic on "whom do you serve?"
An interesting question that was posed to me and there are several answers that are available and in no particular order:

I serve the scouting program
I serve myself
I serve my Commissioner
I serve my Council
I serve my scouts
I serve my unit
I serve my God

There really isn't a correct answer that will apply to all leaders;I but for me, my service, as a former Commissioner and adult leader, was and is always to serve the scouts.
The ability to provide a quality program for all scouts is the pinnacle of what I try to do.
Sometimes my goals and standards that I hold may be contrary to the Council, the Commissioner's staff, and my unit.
I have seen leaders that have been in the program that seek nothing but credit for what they do (whether it is earned or not) and others that go about their business under the radar- without recognition or fanfare.
I have seen leaders attend training seminars that sit outside the classrooms, in the hallways, only to be one of the first people to be in line for the accolades at the end of the training session.
I have seen others be the first in line and the last to leave when it comes to all scouting activities.
I have heard leaders state things like,"I will nominate you for ...if you nominate me for the same."
Every award and every recognition that I have upon my uniform and that hangs on my wall has been earned through blood, sweat, and yes, even tears. I worked hard for these awards and treasure them.
Contrary to some opinions, most of these awards came by accident as I did not purposely go out to earn them.
I serve my fellow scouts so that they can and will have a quality program and a legacy to pass on to all future scouts when I am long dead and gone.
To serve myself is to serve my scouts (locally and internationally).
Recently, I was able to participate in Wood badge training in another country and see how the philosophy is different and I found that to serve the scouts does supersede anything else connected with the program.
Leaders have failed the training when their vision becomes clouded by their personal egos.
So as for me, I serve the scouts.
Whom do you serve?

Dale Coyne Racing at Indianapolis Speedway

2010-05-31T13:44:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Dale Coyne Racing team for finishing 4th at Indy.
It was fun watching a BSA indy car race around the track in an event that was seemingly more a chess match than the "floor it and go!" racing I have seen recently.
Even more fun was seeing the car remain undamaged throughout the event and, I feel, that more racing teams should take up the cause to help advertise non profit organizations like scouting.
Way to go!

The Modern Boy Scout Program

2010-05-10T15:49:00.000-07:00

One hundred years ago, boy scouts communicated with each other via semiphore flags, morse code, the written letter, and maybe made the occassional telephone call.
For today's scout, communication is available through emails, text messaging on cell phones, the telephone is still used, and some will even communicate via hand gestures.
God forbid should someone have to sit down and write a letter for the postal carrier to deliver!
Morse code has fallen by the wayside until the recent reintroduction of Signaler merit badge.
Yes, that's right!
Morse code is back, along with semiphore flags as the BSA has allowed a "throw back" merit badge to be offered in 2010.
Scouting has come full circle and I think Baden Powell would be proud.

M O T H E R

2010-05-09T09:23:00.000-07:00

D is for the Delight you show us,
for the popsicle art we made for you.
E is for the extra smile you shared.
N is for the Nestles in our milk.
M is for the money that you gave me
O is for the Oreos you fed us,
when the den needed a snack.
T is for Tylenol we made you take
when we stapled the curtin to the chair.
H is for the hair that we made gray.
E is for the energy you had.
R is for the raise Dad gave you
double the pay for a volunteer.
Put it all together it spells Den Mother the Mother all cub scouts held so dear.

Happy Mother's Day to all past, present, and future scout leaders and Moms!

Finding Out That You Make a Difference

2010-05-02T15:14:00.000-07:00

Today I was able to help a fellow scouter by answering some questions he had on international scouting and I was, fortunately, able to help answer the questions he posed and was also able to direct him to 2 other contacts that are very willing to assit him in his quest to create a scouting unit in another country.
As soon as, that phone conversation ended, I received another call from overseas, after sending an email, that their scouting program headquarters are at the ready to assist in doing whatever they can in this endeavor.
It is certainly nice to know that one can make a difference especially when I consider myself to be a lower level of the scouting program.

When Scout Leaders Lose Their Compass

2010-04-26T13:50:00.000-07:00

This post is about how some scout leaders lose their compass or sense of scouting direction and hopefully this article will help re-focus what is suppose to be the ultimate goal in scouting: to make sure that the scouting program is both fun and safe.
Take this fictitious letter for example:

Dear Mom and Dad,

Our Scoutmaster told us to write to our parents in case you saw the flood on TV and were worried. We are OK. Only one of our tents and two sleeping bags got washed away. Luckily, none of us got drowned because we were all up the mountain looking for Chad when it happened. Oh yes, please call Chad's mother and tell her he is OK. He can't write because of the cast. I got to ride in one of the search and rescue jeeps. It was neat. We never would have found him in the dark if it wasn't for the lightning. Scoutmaster Walt got mad at Chad for going on a hike alone without telling anyone. Chad said he did tell him, but it was during the fire so he probably didn't hear him.
Did you know that if you put gas on a fire, the gas can will blowup? The wet wood didn't burn, but one of the tents did. Also some of our clothes. John is going to look weird until his hair grows back.
We will be home on Saturday if Scoutmaster Walt gets the car fixed. It wasn't his fault about the wreck. The brakes worked OK when we left. Scoutmaster Walt said that with a car that old, you have to expect something to break down; that's probably why he can't get insurance. We think it's a neat car.
He doesn't care if we get it dirty, and if it's hot, sometimes he lets us ride on the fenders. It gets pretty hot with 10 people in a car. He let us take turns riding in the trailer until the highway patrolman stopped and talked to us.
Scoutmaster Walt is a neat guy. Don't worry, he is a good driver. In fact, he is teaching Terry how to drive on the mountain roads where there isn't any traffic. All we ever see up here is logging trucks.
This morning, all of the guys were diving off the rocks and swimming out in the lake. Scoutmaster Walt wouldn't let me because I can't swim, and Chad was afraid he would sink because of his cast, so he let us take the canoe across the lake. It was great. You can still see some of the trees under the water from the flood. Scoutmaster Walt isn't crabby like some scoutmasters. He didn't even get mad about the life jackets. He has to spend a lot of the time working on the car so we are trying not to cause him any trouble.
Guess what? We have all passed our first aid merit badges. When Dave dove in the lake and cut his arm, we got to see how a tourniquet works. Wade and I threw up, but Scoutmaster Walt said it probably was just food poisoning from the leftover chicken.
I have to go now. We are going to town to mail our letters and buy bullets. Don't worry about anything. We are fine.
Love,
Tommy

We all are familiar with leaders like this in varying degrees and most of the problems our leaders face can be overcome with the proper training.
I have seen some leaders comment,"I don't need the training; I am an Eagle Scout," to "We take our scouts paint balling but we do it as a family get together and not as a scout unit so we do not need to comply with the BSA rules on safety," or "We want to tie a scout event in with the Young Eagles program but we are not going to comply with the 2 deep leadership rule and assume that the Young Eagles program will take on those issues with child safety." And my favorite, "...for our crossover, we are going to have a live fire inside the church because the fake fires aren't good enough....it will be a small fire so it will be OK."
Scary thoughts.
I wouldn't allow my son or daughter take part in any scout activity with leaders that allow things like that to happen.
So what's the solution?
Simple.

Make certain that you are up to date on any and all training available.
Keep the Guide to Safe Scouting close at hand. Better yet. Make the Guide to Safe Scouting your Bible for any and all scouting activities.
Keep at least 2 adults, child protection certified, on hand at all times.
Ask questions. If the answer is no then find out why and then learn why or why not.

Use common sense and keep your compass pointing in the right direction.
Your scouts depend upon it.

Scouting Comes Full Circle

2010-04-25T10:27:00.000-07:00

Recently, I volunteered to help with the Voyageur District's Derby event which included the pinewood derby cars, the rain gutter regatta boats, and the rocket racers and after the event was over; a young scout came up to me and asked i he could help with the breakdown of the regatta equipment that was used.
I smiled and told this scout, Sure, you can help."
With a smile this 1st year scout grabbed the heaviest of objects and preceded to carry the sandbags out to the awaiting truck and then came back to take out the gutters and other equipment and he did so with a smile on his face.
When everything was packed away, I offered to buy this scout a soda and slice of pizza from the concession stand and his reply was, "No thanks, I'm a scout and no payment was needed for the help," and then he disappeared with his awaiting family.

FLASHBACK TO 100 YRS. AGO IN LONDON, ENGLAND:
William D. Boyce,an American newspaper man, entrepreneur, magazine publisher, and explorer who became lost in the dense London fog, but was guided back to his destination by a young boy. Boyce offered payment to the young boy who refused payment and told him that he was merely doing his duty as a Boy Scout.

The only difference between this story and the one from 100 yrs. ago is that I know this scout as Nick and Wm. Boyce never knew the scout that helped him.
It is nice to see scouting does indeed come full circle.
Thanks, Nick.

Happy Easter

2010-04-03T12:14:00.000-07:00

I would like to start out by wishing you all a very Happy Easter and hope that the the bunny is good to you.
I for one love the Easter Bunny and although I have never seen the bunny, I have been the recipient of some wonderful gifts which have included colored eggs, chocolates, and even my first compass (which still accompanies me to my scout campouts).
Speaking of campouts: Now is the time for you to inventory your camping gear and equipment to make sure everything is in tip top condition and if it is not, get it repaired or replaced as you don't not want to discover that the gear you have taken to camp is no longer useable.
I know of one scout that had an issue of mice and brought his sleeping bag to his first camp of the season to discover that the bag was ruined by the new mouse condominium built in the lining of the bag.
It was a very long, cold weekend.
I usually take the time to discover new and exciting recipes that I can introduce to the camp so that the meals are just as exciting as the camping experience.
So now that the weather is warming up...Get out there and get camping!

How to Make a Souvenir Camp T-shirt

2010-03-06T18:44:00.000-08:00

Recently, I had a discussion with a couple of scouting moms that were complaining about the economy and how they could afford to send their sons to camp and still be able to allow them to have a souvenir keepsake from that camp without spending more funds than they could afford.
Here is an interesting idea to create a keepsake souvenir of your camp experience and is very thrifty:

Take a white t-shirt and insert a cardboard sheet inside the shirt and then gather up some green leaves and ferns to make a printable design on the t-shirt.
Be careful that you do not use poisonous leaves from the poison ivy plant or poison sumac or poison oak trees!

Once you find the suitable leaves, lay the leaves on the t-shirt by making a suitable design.
Lay a couple of layers of paper towels over the leaves.
Pound the leaves flat with a hammer or wooden mallet so that the leaves stain the clothing.
Carefully peel the toweling and leaves off the shirt and then place the t-shirt into a dryer for 10 minute to fix the stained leaf prints onto the shirt.
There you have it. Your very own souvenir camp shirt.

Remember the old saying: "Leaflets three, let it be! Berries white, poisonous sight!"

Scouting:Where We have Been and Where We are Going

2010-02-28T08:07:00.000-08:00

100 years ago, William Boyce, brought scouting from England, via several discussions with Lord Baden Powell.
Scouting, then, was about teaching young men to become self sufficient through games featuring campcraft and scoutcraft skills which was to make them become outstanding citizens within their respective community.
Through these games, scouts were able to learn and grow to become some of the best leaders we have ever seen (Sam Walton, Steven Spielburg, Bruce Jenner, and President Gerald Ford-just to name a few).

Flash forward to 2010:

Scouting still teaches and will continue to teach scouts to make sound ethical choices within their daily lives, become model citizens through community service and give the scouts a well grounded education and make them very self reliant through the use of campcraft and scoutcraft skills.

Flash forward to 2110:

100 yrs. from now, I would expect to see scouting continue to create young men into strong leaders within their community and still give them the moral fiber to set themselves apart as outstanding citizens and future leaders.
Thanks for the "Game of Scouting," Lord Baden Powell gave the world for that game really is the "game of life."

Scouting will still teach the scouts to "Be Prepared and "Do a Good Turn Daily," for that is what the game of life is all about.

Scouting: Leave Some Trace!

2010-02-15T16:29:00.000-08:00

How will you be remembered when the Bicentennial of the BSA comes around in 2110?
What will the future scouts say about what we did and how we ran the scouting program?
Interesting questions?
I, for one, hope that the scouts of the future will follow some of the same program ideas we have followed set by Lord Baden Powell's example so many years ago.
I would like to think that the future scouts will still be going on campouts in our nation's forests and will still be able to canoe and backpack, and be able to lash camp gadets and tools like we still do.
I would like to ask the readers and scout leaders to begin to mark their place in time by making a time capsule recording events and activities that we enjoy today so that those living in the future will know exactly what we did and what we enjoy doing today.
Leave Some Trace.
I think that it would be wonderful if we could travel through time and really get a first hand view of scouting in progress and be able to know what Baden Powell would say about what we are doing today and what lays ahead in the future.
The best guarantee is to leave something behind for our future scouts to look back on and in this case...Leave Some Trace.

BSA Drops the Ball on Centennial Program

2010-02-05T04:33:00.000-08:00

The Boy Scouts of America recently announced the new "Heritage Merit Badge program," which was unrolled for the Centennial celebration and National has now placed this program on hold as the announcement was made prematurely.
Plans are still being made to release these merit badges at some point during the scouting year but a deadline has yet to be announced.
The National Council is also going to rework the Commissioner's Unit Tracking program as well as make some changes to the Scouting Community and some of the other facets on the National website.

5 Star College

2010-01-31T08:04:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I received my Master's Degree in Scouting by completing my second year attending
5 Star University in Delafield, WI.

5 Star University is a one day training session that will give you additional training for scouters, (specifically designed for Commissioners) and adult volunteers within the BSA program.
The event is set up with (7) 45 minute classes and a lecture/lunch included in the day's activities.
You receive you B.S. degree upon completing your first 7 classes and should you complete the next 7 classes the following yr., you will received your Master's degree in Scouting.
Doctorate degrees are available through additional course work and a thesis or project is required for your Doctorate's degree.
I had the pleasure in seeing my wife receive her Bachelor's Degree as well as two of my good friends receive their Master's Degree as well.
For leaders that wish to provide a quality program and gain further insight and information about the Boy Scouts of America program; I would encourage all to attend the 2011 5 Star University next January.
You will be glad that you did.

Walt Disney and Camp Tesomas

2010-01-28T19:07:00.001-08:00

Walt Disney and Camp Tesomas

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Announcement, Anouncement, Anouncements

2010-01-23T07:23:00.000-08:00

The following Leaders within the Voyageur District have been nominated for the National Scouters Hall of Fame:

Roy La Pean, who currently serves as the Boy Scout Roundtable Commissioner (among other postions).
Jerry Tilton, Scouter with 73 yrs. continuous experience in all facets of scouting.
Wayne Gunville, Scoutmaster (retired).
Keith Westergaard.

Webelos Woods 2010

2010-01-23T06:56:00.000-08:00

"It's Alive, it's alive, it's A L I V E!" to coin a phrase from Gene Wilder in "Young Frankenstein."
I am very pleased to announce that the first annual Webelos Woods event will take place this coming Sept 11, 2010, which will replace the Webelos event held two years ago at the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary.
This event will introduce the Webelos scouts to a sample of Boy Scout programming which will offer an insight to camping as well as allowing the Webelos scouts to work on some of their own advancement requirements as well as be able to test out their cooking skills and make their own lunch.
The event was, in 2008, an attempt to help promote the transitions program and was a successful event but the event did not happen in 2009, due to unfortunate circumstances.
This event has now evolved into Webelos Woods 2010 and has already seen several volunteers jump at the chance to make the event bigger and better than ever.
The event will be held at the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary in Green Bay, WI, and is one of the best wildlife refuges in the country and is the perfect setting to introduce the camp environment to new scouts without leaving the city.
The event will close with a closing campfire and will recap information presented that day as well as promote the great outdoors during the new century in Scouting.

The Year of the Centennial

2009-12-10T21:21:00.000-08:00

Tonight I listened to the BSA Centennial Kickoff program and I was pretty excited about the things to come within the BSA program and yet I was saddened to think that there would be no time to reflect back on scouting's past 100's .
I understand that we need to keep moving forward but today's scout, at least here in the U.S.A., really has a vague knowledge of Lord Baden Powell and I won't dare mention Daniel Carter Beard, Thomas Seton, or James E . West.
With the centennial coming in February; I had hoped that at least scouting supply would have brought back some of the old scouting gear for the nostalgic value for those of us that collect scouting things.
I do miss the red berets and the heavy weight patrol cook kits. I do miss the old Bobcat pins and the neckerchiefs that you could actually do something with...and yes, I do actually miss the knee socks with the garter tabs.
Anyone remember the boy scout Morse code transmitters and receivers? How about the semaphore flags? How about the Boy Scout Kodak camera that oddly enough was called a 'Brownie?" Talk about an oxymoron.
Thinking back, and it wasn't so long ago, my cub pack once had 3 dens for each rank in cub scouting and the boy scout troop once had 5 patrols.
I remember a time when your class A uniform consisted or shirt, pants, socks, shoes, belt, hat, and neckerchief and sash (for those in boy scouts).
We also had the official mess kits, first aid kits that hung on your belt, boy scout belt loop awards, flashlights, pocket advancement books, boy scout utensils, reflector ovens, and the boy scout pup tents.
We read from the Scout craft books and learned more about the outdoors from our scoutmasters.
We skinned our knees and had accidents not incidents.
So what do we have to look forward to in the next 100 years?
I will look to the next latest and greatest merit badges that will rival composit materials merit badge, watching scouts learn their knots, learning about global positioning systems and how they work, jamborees, camping, storytelling and campfire cooking.
As time marches on, I do wonder what the scouts 100 years ago would think of us?
Did they picture us in silver space aged uniforms that could have been something from the Jetson's cartoon show or something out of a Jules Verne novel? Or would they have fit in with what we do now?
Could we have fit in with them if allowed to go back in time?
One common factor with scouting is that we grow with the movement and the movement grows with us. Scouting is a living and breathing thing and this program will never die as long as we treasure the past and look to the future.

Scouting Disconnect

2009-12-02T07:25:00.000-08:00

Recently, I have run across what I term as "scouting disconnect," with a unit leader.
Scouting disconnect is what I describe as someone that is showing early signs of burn out which is usually caused but a series of set backs within their program they are providing to their scouts.
These set backs are small issues which can be easily solved but when allowed to pile up begin to loom ever bigger as the problems seem to grow in size and magnitude.
For instance, I have a unit that has experienced what they perceive is lack of help by their District Executives and Council support when in fact the majority of the problems they need help with were issues that were self inflicted and could easily be solved internally.
But now these issues have been shoved on the back burned and need to be solved now and they issues have been pushed onto the U.C. and the D.E.'s to solve for them.
Simple suggestions to help solve these problems go on deaf ears as the cub leader seems to think that these ideas are a personal attack on the leadership of the unit and the big picture cannot be seen as one cannot see the "forest for the trees."
Now my solution for "scouting disconnect" is to stop, take a breath, and tackle one issue at a time and start over or leave the program and get the batteries recharged and then come back better than before.
The big key here is to not take on additional job tasks and assignments when the original tasks at hand are not being taken care of or at least be willing to accept help or delegate others to help complete the tasks at hand to then concentrate on the new ones.

When Life Gives you Lemons...

2009-11-18T11:01:00.000-08:00

Recently, having had a few set backs in my life, I have found that being in a strong circle of friends can and will help one re-orient his compass in life and that everything can and does happen for a reason.
I was beginning to show some classic signs of burn out and my scouting fire is now rekindled thanks to meeting a couple of new energetic scouters that have the same passion and drive that I had and now have again.
Old events are taking on new life and with new leadership which will prove to be better for all scouts and scouters (in spite of the calendar year where everything goes dormant for the winter, spring has come early for a few in the early planning stages of a new "old" event).
Now if you excuse me I am going to enjoy a new glass of freshly squeezed lemonade from the lemons I received from my life.

Cub College

2009-11-09T03:38:00.000-08:00

Well folks, Cub Scout College came and went and, I for one, had a great time teaching a class on Webelos to Scout Transitions/Selecting a Boy Scout Troop.
The event was held at Lakeshore Technical University and what a beautiful campus in Cleveland, WI.
Where else can a leader come for a day's event and learn more about providing a quality program than at Cub College?
To be able to complete your leadership training to learning to cook with minimal dishes to learning about Fast Tracks and get lunch provided is one of the best opportunities to meet new friends and establish an excellent foundation for your cub program.
I heard only one leader complain about the event as he carried all of his projects out to his car, as did his wife, that the 1 hr. sessions were too long and the day was a waste of his time.
He and his wife were in possession of 2 big arm loads of free projects and information and all totalled if they had to purchase these things; they would have spent over $100.00 each.
And THESE were FREE!
Thank God that these were the only people that I heard a complaint from as that incident was greatly over shadowed by the smiles and the friendly banter between the Cub College Staff members and those that attended the event.
And in closing, my advice to the couple that complained, you have 3 choices:\
1 Stay home next year
2 Volunteer to run the event next time
3 Come back with the attitude that you will learn and have fun. In short, bring your scout spirit.
I have never had a bad experience attending Cub College as a participant or as a staff instructor and you will always take more away from the event than when you came so go to cub college and bring your Scouting attitude. You will be glad you did.

Physical Wellness training

2009-10-21T09:08:00.000-07:00

Once again the BSA has come out with more on line training: Physical Wellness.
Physical Wellness covers everything a person needs to know about getting back into shape.
Yes, even I have to do a better job of staying fit and I also could stand to lose some extra pounds.
The on line training session takes about an hour to complete and I think that this is one of the better on line trainings offered as you have the opportunity to go to various links provided for more information.
The training tests you on each section and gives you instant feedback on the questions asked so there is no reason to not know the answers.
The training covers information that everyone could use to improve their health and gives you information to help make some lifestyle changes in the way we eat and how we feel emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
The downside to this training session is that some of the download time it takes to present the course material is a little bit time consuming and the audio portion is sometimes affected.
But take the course anyway...it is time we all remember our scout oath about being physically fit.

Jamboree on the Internet

2009-10-17T08:57:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I spent some time chatting with scouts on the Internet at the annual JOTI/JOTA and if you have never conversed with scouts in another country; I would really recommend that you do so.
Talking with scouts in another area is a great way to create new and lasting friendships and you will learn what others are doing in their scout programs.
JOTI/JOTA is a wonderful way to making the world a better place through the promotion of scouting activities.

Continuing Education in Scouting

2009-10-13T13:42:00.000-07:00

Baden Powell once said, "A Scout is never taken by surprise; he knows exactly what to do when anything unexpected happens."
I think that these are wonderful words to live by and I try to do just that.
All scouts and scouters deserve to move on within the scouting movement and grow through continuing education.
The Boy Scouts of America has cornered the market on training and education of new leaders as well as the "experienced" leaders.
On line training is available 24/7 and one can achieve their Child Protection certification as well as Safe Swim Defence and Safety Afloat and Weather Hazard Safety training.
We also have Cub Scout College and Commissioner 5 Star College for those that should and do enroll to learn more about the scouting program in great detail.
The more we learn, the better we are to handle ourselves in front of our scouts and little is taken for chance.
The ultimate payment for this education is a quality program for the scouts and for you.
The more you know the better the chances are to succeed in making a scout thrive under your care and supervision.
So do yourself a favor:
1. Take every opportunity to get yourself trained
2. Set a goal to improve the quality of your scouting program.
3. Your ability to become a trained leader will rub off on other leadership.
If you choose to do this, then you will be providing a quality unit for the Council and the scouts to appreciate.

Great Lakes Centennial Jamboree

2009-10-03T10:03:00.001-07:00

Now that the Great Lakes Centennial Jamboree is over I thought that I might share my thoughts on the event and I will share the Good and the Bad.

Keep in mind that this is my opinion and do not necessarily reflect the opinions shared by other scouts and scouters.

The Bad:

weather ...Friday rains definately put a damper on units that had to set up in the rain.

The Good:

weather...while the Friday rains came and made for some challenging conditions for unit set up, it did encourage teamwork by all scouts and scouters and created an opportunity to share and promote the brotherhood in scouting. Temp's were on the cool side throughout the weekend but it did not deter the scouts and others from having fun and sharing in the Jamboree experience.

The Bad:

Unit no shows: there were a few units that were registered and choose not to show up missed a rare scouting opportunity.

The Good: Units in attendance: the units that attended the event got to experience a jamboree camp and had the chance to meet new friends and experience in what other Council and Districts have to offer their scouts

The Bad: I am certainly use to the camp experience and sleeping next to a highway is not the most pleasant location for sleeping

The Good: Location on the EAA grounds and being situated near Hwy 41 gave easy access to and from the venue site. Expansive area to allow for more activities to be offered for the masses.

The Bad: was a 3 day event

The Good: was a short event which made the first time planning an event of this magnitude a reachable goal with the ability to be flexible in some of the program activities and that the staff and scouts could have made the event last a week with all of the activities offered.

The Bad: the Closing Concert...started a bit late and the sudden departure of the Blackhawk helicopter during the show was less than desireable.

The Good: the scouting spirit at the concert despite a less than memorable magician and band.

The Bad: no youth sized apparel for scout souvenirs for an event like this and not enough merchandise.

The Good: provisions to order merchandise was available.

Should this event have gone on?

Most definately and I talked with several scouts and scouters for Scouting Radio and they would have gladly stayed on for more if the calendar would have allowed for more time and my advice to all units and unit leaders:

If there is another event like this offered-attend! Do not blow a golden opportunity for your scouts to experience something they can take with them long after their scouting days are over.

Something Wonderful This Way Comes

2009-09-20T03:39:00.000-07:00

The Voyageur District will have the opportunity to host a wonderful speaker on camping, canoeing, and other great outdoor adventures at the upcoming November roundtable.

Cliff Jacobson is the best person I know to talk about equipment, the experiences, and what you really need to know before going into the deepest, darkest wilds of the boundary waters.

Cliff has written several books on the great outdoors and his probably the most prolific writer of our time and I have had the opportunity to get a sneak peak on what is one Cliff's mind, thanks to Shawn Cleary's True North blog/podcast and he visited with Shawn and they discussed several things about Cliff's personal life and what is the latest and greatest designs in outdoor gear.

What I personally like about Cliff is that he won't tell you what to buy but what to look for in camping gear and will recommend items that you will need without getting yourself into payments that can bring you into issues that rival the national debt.

Cliff is the real deal and he is fun to listen to and if you ever get the chance to hear Cliff speak; you will find that the time flies by quickly and you will walk away with more information than when you came with.

I remember my first time attending one of Cliff's presentations and I hate to admit it but I thought initially what could he possibly show or teach me that I didn't already know and I went to that roundtable with arms folded, ready to challenge him at every turn, but as soon as Cliff got started, I found myself rapidly (and frantically) writing notes on what he had to say and I asked questions on everything he said.

I was the one that had to learn and I found the need to prove myself against what Cliff already knew.

Now I can't wait to see Cliff and we are fortunate that Cliff comes to Voyageur District annually and I will bring my family to see him this year.

Oh, and the best part...Cliff comes the month before Santa so there is plenty of time to add new items to my wish list.

The New Scout Year

2009-09-16T17:15:00.000-07:00

We are now currently underway in the 2009-2010 scouting year and boys talks and open houses are in full swing. Cub Packs and Troops are busy addressing questions from potential scout families and doing their best to highlight their unit in the best possible light.

Any quality unit will bear in mind that the keys to success in retention of scouts and new scouts is to have a dynamic program and keep child safety in mind with any and all scouting activities.

Trained leaders are abundant within their units and those untrained should get trained as soon as the opportunity arises as we, as leaders, owe it to our scouts to provide quality programming to our scouts throughout the scouting year.
There are several events and dates that training is available and you should have a copy of the district and council calendar handy at all times to watch for these sessions and be ready to take full advantage of these opportunities.
If you have never attended Cub Scout College....go
If you have never attended 5 Star Commissioner College ....go
If you have never attended BALOO training ....go
Get the picture. Get out there and get trained. You will be glad that you did!
So will your scouts.

Dad and Lad Camps a Special Time in Scouting

2009-08-30T11:38:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had the opportunity to work my first Dad and Lad campout, working with a fellow scouter and friend of mine, doing the "I Hate Dishes" program for cub scouts and their fathers.
Dad and Lad camps are fun because it is a time for bonding between fathers and sons at a scout camp doing scout activities.
It is an educational time for Dad and the scouts to learn more about what the boy scout program is all about and it is a time for sons to show off their talents to their fathers and a time for the Dads to show off their talents to their sons.
The event was held this past weekend and although it rained most of the day, it didn't dampen the spirit of the event and a good time was had by all.
The day was packed with several activities and all events took the time and effort to sneak some educational learning into their event.
We taught scouts and fathers how to make creative, simple meals over a campfire in dutch ovens, camp stoves, and over the BBQ.
Highlighting the menu at our station was the hotdog sliders and cola spam fajitas, and home made pizzas on the grill.
We even threw in an apple/pineapple cobbler and did a ham and potato casserole bake and bacon peanut butter stuffed hotdogs into the mix.
At leather craft, scouts and dad make several keepsakes from leather and while in camp they got the chance to work the 2 man saw and brand a log slice to commemorate the event.
If you never do another campout take the time to attend Dad and Lad or Mom and Son or even Grandparent and Me. It is well worth the quality time spend with your son.

The Friendship Knot

2009-08-22T01:53:00.000-07:00

I was introduced to the Friendship Knot by a scouter friend (which is is redundant as all scouts are friends) and he had this knot tied in the tails of his neckerchief.

The knot itself is a unique thing in itself as the legend is that the knot must be tied by someone else and cannot be untied as it breaks the friendship that was created at the time it was tied.

Friendship knots are a constant reminder that we are all tied together within the brotherhood of scouting and that friendship knows no borders, no politics, and no personal agendas that place a strain on how we interact in today's society.

I re-discovered that within the scouting movement that friendships are easily made and a lasting bond occurs because of what the program stands for.

I have lost count of the exact number or scout friends that I have throughout the world but the number doesn't matter to me as that number increases through my interactions with new scouts and scouters but I do have scout friends in Denmark, England, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Poland, Russia, Iran, Iraq, Aruba, Australia, China, New Zealand, Tasmania, Israel, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Canada, Mexico, Philippines, Thailand, Korea, and in the United States.
I have been lucky enough to personally meet scouts from Australia, England, and Israel and what strikes me is that once you put on the uniform you are automatically accepted into their "scouting family" without question or reservation....no other program can claim that distinction.
So the next time you meet a new scout friend, look for a friendship knot and if they don't have one tie one on the neckerchief. You will be glad that you did.

The Friendship Knot
This knot is often used by Scouts to secure the neckerchiefs, instead of a woggle - either because they've lost it - or because they're worried they might. It can also be tied in the points of a neck erchief (very small) if a woggle is being worn.
The linking of the two sides of the neckerchief represent the bond of friendship - both sides of the knot collapse to nothing if they are disentangled.

(1) First cross the two ends of the neckerchief
(2) Then make a bight with the end that went over, and tuck it back under the other end
(3) Now pass the other end behind the bight

(4) Finally tuck the end down the bight

BSA's Digital Scout Handbook

2009-08-20T15:15:00.000-07:00

I like being a part of the scouting movement because it is ever changing and evolving into a whole new program.
For instance: Baden Powell never taught the original scouts about composite materials nor GPS systems but I am sure that he would have been prepared to teach a course on that.
Fast forward 60 years and Computer science was on the cutting edge of technology.
Now today we have the first Digital Scout Handbook available to all scouts and scouters alike and there is a lot of information being spit out because of the wonderful world of the Internet.
Will the digital handbook eventually replace the hard copy issue?
I hope not as this media could be on the leading edge of design.
I would like to think that the digital handbook would be a tool to be used by scouters and scouts alike as a supplement to the paperback version we already enjoy.
So as we look towards our Centenary of scouting, let us all work together and see what the future holds for our beloved Scouting movement.

It is Round up Time!

2009-08-15T21:52:00.001-07:00

Coming around the bend is the most exciting time for boys that are about to join the world's oldest youth program.
We are about to roundup new scouts and prospective scout leaders through the use of boy talks and open houses.
One of the best opportunities units have to increase their numbers is through the use of the boy talk and the open house recruiting program.
Boy talks will spark the young men's imaginations of camping, canoeing, shooting sports, and yes even cooking (over a campfire).
Parent's will imagine their sons embarking on a career path that could lead them to greatness...doctor, lawyer, astronaut, film maker, or even President.
One never knows what the future holds other than the guarantee that scouting will always be here and will lead the way to adventure and fun.
So mount up and let's ride and round them up for Scouting!

Bear Paw My Home Away from Home

2009-08-05T17:04:00.001-07:00

I finally was able to return to Camp Bear Paw to camp a full week-first time since I received my Eagle medal 33 years ago and I was able to get reacquainted with the same roots and rocks that I tripped over.

There have been several changes within the camp which includes a new mess hall and trading post, updated shooting sport ranges, and new and improved showering facilities.

The old mess hall is still there and I could almost hear the voices of long ago still singing and raising a ruckus during the meal time breaks.

There are still several remnants of the good old days and I would encourage those that spent time at Bear Paw to return to the old mess hall and find the old totems and mementos of their youth.

What was different was the visit from the Wateringbury Scout group from England and I had a ball visiting with them and exchanging ideas and songs at our troop's campfire which resulted in me receiving their scout flag as a souvenir.

It was truly a great moment watching the scouts interact and each and every scouter learning that the world suddenly got smaller and the camp was still the same as it was 33 yrs ago and we were all still able to make new friends.

Photograph taken by D. Nelson

Twas the Night before Summer Camp...

2009-07-25T18:16:00.001-07:00

T'was the night before summer camp and the Commissioner was frantically packing for the week's long retreat and once again I vowed to never wait until the last minute to pack for camp.

Where's my flashlight? Where's my mess kit? Who took my socks?

Now what did I do with my pack?

And my wife with a musical lilt in her voice says, "You already packed it." to each of those questions I asked.

"Your pack is on your back." she goes.

I love the camping experience but going through the pre-camp check list is one job I truly hate as something is always missing when I hit camp.

The trouble is that I have a printed check list that I go through and I end up repacking my gear twice to make sure that it is all there and when I do that something never gets repacked.

Next year, if I am lucky to go to camp, I will keep everything in the pack when I get home and not touch it until next summer (well maybe I will take the dirty clothes out before storing).

Amber is patiently helping "dear old Dod" get things together for the week and has included some mementos just in case I should forget her while I am away.

Things like:

Mack Glenn her favorite "Build a Bear," monkey that is dressed in a scout uniform.

17 drawings that I am suppose to hang on the door of the refrigerator in my tent.

One photo of herself in her soccer uniform

A Barbie Doll and suitcase of clothes in case it rains and I get bored.

I quietly remove the Barbie and the monkey from my pack and continue with the necessities that I will need.

Time out for dinner.

Back to packing:

I remove the monkey and the Barbie from the pack again as they must be eager to camp with me since they mysteriously reappeared in my pack all by themselves.

Now I think that I will turn in and have visions of scouts having the time of their lives at camp...but only after I remove Barbie and the monkey from my pack...again.

The Out in Scouting

2009-07-23T16:48:00.000-07:00

I have been involved with various scouting programs throughout the world and the common denominator with each scout program is getting today's youth outdoors. This has been one of the founding principles within the scouting movement.

It is the draw that brings children from all walks of life into the program.

You can travel the globe and you will find scouts always having fun with any activity offered as long as it is outdoors. No matter how far you go, you will always see miles of smiles as scouts participate in every activity that comes along and you will find it just being good, clean fun.

Just watch a scout travel down a hill on a home made water slide into a mud pit and your will have the time of your life watching scouts have blast getting dirty.

Most will be in their class A's too (including the leaders).

So take advantage of the out in scouting and have the time of your life!

Strange Things Can Be Seen at Scout Camp

2009-07-23T13:54:00.000-07:00

I remember not to long ago, at a Mom and Son camp, I witnessed a group of cub scouts grouped in a circle near the old chow hall staring at the ground when one of the young cub's mother joined the group. She obviously was very agitated because the boys were poking at something with a stick.

"Don't touch it! It is going to strike and you will die from its venom!"

Now, I had to go see what the ruckus was about (knowing that the chance of the boys finding a poisonous creature was pretty remote, and I was thinking that the boys had a snake cornered and thought it best to break up the group and let one of God's creatures find a good, safe hiding place. The snakes are non poisonous around the camp but will bite if provoked.

After separating the group, I discover that the dreaded poisonous snake happened to be a green garden hose which was coiled up along side the building.

Strange Sight Number 1

Another time I witnessed a first time camper walking one of the trails to the trading post smacking 2 sticks together which was to prevent the dreaded 3 winged snipe from attacking in broad daylight.

This scout was told that snipes are extremely vicious in daylight and hate the sound of sticks struck together.

Strange Sight Number 2

I once watched a Scoutmaster take his troop on a hunt for 50 feet of shoreline that was missing from the camp and the Scoutmaster used this as a way to get his scouts to go on a nature hike that they didn't want to go on.

Strange Sight Number 3

I watched a scout drag an extension cord into the woods looking for the "currant bush" to plug his boom box into.

Strange Sight Number 4

At the Australian Jamboree in 2007, I saw a scout that wanted to get noticed by all that attended that Jamboree by applying the blue chemicals (for the port-a-potties) onto his body.

He succeeded only to find out that the coloring stained his skin and it was going to take months for that color to disappear in addition to the rash that developed from the chemicals.

I have the photo of him in a PowerPoint presentation.

Strange Sight Number 5

I can't wait to get to camp and see what happens next.

A Scout's First Camp Experience

2009-07-22T17:18:00.003-07:00

Hello Mudda Hello Fadda, Here I am at Camp....

We all know that camp song but one of my favorite things to do at camp is observe the scouts that are attending scout camp for the very first time.

Seeing what they bring into camp or not bring and watching the boys run through their paces as the camp progresses through the week's activities.

I have seen young scout delete the non essentials from their gear...

things like:

extra shoes and socks, changes of underwear and clothing, rain gear, flashlight, toothpaste and brush, soap, towel, sleeping bag.

What is brought are the important things:

72 Butterfinger candy bars, 35 Baby Ruths, 10 lbs of licorice, 18 packs of gum, 6 bags of gummie bears, an Ipod, cell phone for text messaging, and don't forget the beef jerky ( for emergencies).

Now that day one is covered...Day 2

17 one pound bags of M&M's plain, peanut, and peanut butter.

17 one pound bags of Skittles,

one jar of peanuts (have to make gorp) no dried fruit (too healthy)

Oh and I forgot the 2 cases of the latest and greatest super carbonated triple caffeinated twice sugared cola

the feel good item will be 12 cases of instant snack pudding

and mom's emergency stash of $20. for emergency needs at the trading post (like the suicide slushie's) or death by chocolate double fudge sundaes.

And you will hear comments like,"Gee I hope we can have Frosted Sugar Bombs for breakfast!"

I have seen first time winter camp scouts forget their winter clothing and boots.

I have also seen first time winter camp scouts awake up in a snowstorm of goose down because they forgot to take their boots off when they climbed into their sleeping bags.

The good news is that these scouts do quickly learn and adapt to the situation.

Most are great at taking what they truly need (but there are some that I am sure become the ideas for new sit com material).

I should know, I was that scout once many many years ago.

Just ask that raccoon that ate the Butterfinger candy bar on my chest my first night of summer camp.

Disclaimer: Commissioner Keith never went to bed with his boots on and never took a ton of candy to camp but did have a raccoon eat a Butterfinger candybar while sitting on his chest the first night at camp.

Bear Paw Bound

2009-07-19T11:54:00.000-07:00

Commissioner Keith's Tent-Not!!!

I am going off to camp and I am returning to Camp Bear Paw and I haven't been there to camp since I received my Eagle medal 33 years ago.
Oh I have visited Bear Paw since that time, serving as a staff member on a few Mom and Son camp events but not to stay.
I am excited to return to camp as I want to see the changes that have occurred over the 33 yrs since I was a scout.
There is an new dining hall, and they moved the trading post and I understand that the shooting sports area also received well deserved improvements.
I know that the lake has not been moved but the last time I was there; I believe that the waterfront has received some cosmetic changes too.
I remember my first camping experience there, staying in Fox campsite, and going on my first snipe hunt and taking Reptile Study, Nature, and Geology merit badges.
Now 33 yrs later, I am gathering my gear to take with me to camp. I have more things to take with me now than I did then.
So what does this Commissioner take with him to camp? Here is my list of necessities:
Mess kit, canteen or water bottle, sunblock, deodorant, soap and towels, first aid kit, clothes for wet and dry weather, a jacket, sleeping bag, cot, prescription med.'s, sunglasses, a hat, sketchbook and drawing tools, camera, digital recorder, various scout papers and forms, swimming gear, shaving razor, cooler for a surprise treat for the unit I am staying with.
I carry a pocket knife and sharpening stone, compasses, waterproof matches, folding chair, and hot tub (not!...just put that in to see if you were paying attention), harmonica and jewsharp, a walking stick and journal, flashlight and my personal valet (just checking again).
I also have my class A's and usually bring my OA sash.
Other things that go are snacks for the troop cracker barrel and my commissioner's cheat sheet of scout songs that I may not remember from 33 yrs ago.
Australian flag given to me from the Australian scouts and have an international scout flag that will soon arrive and I will bring that should it get here before I leave for camp.
I also bring an extra pair of footwear.
The last thing I will pack for camp will be my positive attitude and smiles as I know that some scouts and scouters may tend to forget theirs and I will have extras to go around to help make the camping experience one to remember.
So look out camp! Here I come!

Tzofim Friendship Caravan 2009

2009-07-14T19:55:00.000-07:00

On Monday, July 13, 2009, the Israeli Scouts friendship caravan performed an hour long concert at Congregation Cnesses Israel in Green Bay.
For over 35 years the Tzofim (Israeli Boy and Girl Scouts) have been sending troops of 10 Boy and Girl Scouts to North America, called the Tzofim Friendship Caravan. These troops put on a show which gives a little taste of Israel: its history and its current state, its people and cultures, its hopes and aspirations, its everyday life and special occasions.
As the Caravan Scouts meet with people from all walks of life, they allow you to get to know Israel better. The Caravan Scouts were selected out of thousands of candidates to serve as ambassadors, representing Israel’s youth and in fact, its future. Their first task in each community they visit is to put on an exciting and moving show, and also meet the American people to exchange ideas and make new friends.
There are 4 Caravan troops visiting the U.S. this year and they are named after four of the seven species of plants indigenous to Israel: Caravan Rimon (pomegranate), Caravan Tamar (date), Caravan Gefen (grapevine), and Caravan Te’ena (fig).
Caravan Te’ena was in Green Bay and the cast members included:
Lee Joe Barak, Lia Mader, Tal Ofir Been, Bofar Kohen, Limor Maya Gadot, Eyal Givon,Omer Golan, Omri Zemler, Kobi Arni, and Yossi Akrish. These fine young men and women gave a high energy performance and interacted with the audience throughout the entire show and on many occasions had the people on their feet dancing and clapping to the music.
Most touching was the promotion of the Israeli Scouting program which lives up to their motto:”No Child Left Behind.” And these scouts believe in the program and it certainly shows with the smiles, the outgoing personalities, and the passion for what they do.
Highlighting their stop in Green Bay was a tour of Lambeau Field.
Tomorrow, the caravan will make for Milwaukee, then onto Chicago, Minneapolis, and stops that the members could not recall as they have spent 3 months touring in the states.
I had an interesting conversation with Eyal Givon, who was gracious enough to grant an interview prior to the show and I found him to be as fascinated with the workings of Bay-Lakes Council as I was in the Tzofim.
We both tried our best to get all of the answers to our questions before show time but I fear neither one of us succeeded as time ran out or we would still be there for hours.
If there was a downside to the event it would be that these scouts can’t stay in Voyageur District longer.