Scouting's Forgotten Awards

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

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:

1. Webelos need to move on into the boy scout program.
2. Everything that the scouts do within the Cub Scout level lays the foundation for further study and exploration in the Boy Scout program.
3. 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:

1. Scouts learn to multi task with school work, jobs, sports, and scouts.
2. Are better prepared for life's challenges.
3. Prove to be strong citizens.
4. Learning opportunities that are often not found anywhere else in this world.
5. 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

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:                                                                   

1. engineeers
2. route or destination
3. magnificent scenery
4. passengers

The BSA has:

1. Scoutmasters
2. path to Eagle Scout
3. magnificent scenery in camp
4. 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

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

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:

1. I serve the scouting program
2. I serve myself
3. I serve my Commissioner
4. I serve my Council
5. I serve my scouts
6. I serve my unit
7. 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

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

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.