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Scoutmaster Podcast 39
A discussion of the court of honor.
In This Podcast
Parent’s Meeting [3:00]
Courts of Honor [10:04]
Podcast Notes
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Great Podcast
I just wanted to drop a line saying how wonderful your podcasts are. I am transitioning from Cubmaster to Scoutmaster this year due to the Scoutmaster in our Troop wanting to retire. Over the course of the year I will be working alongside the current Scoutmaster as well as trying to find a replacement for me in the Pack. I had a lot of worries with this transition as this is a very boy led troop and that concept is quite different from Cub Scouts. Between your podcast and talking with several Scoutmasters at training I have received a lot of ideas and help. I would appreciate ****your list of Tried and True items**** that you order from Campmor as I would love to review it and maybe offer those items to the new parents coming into the troop as well. Thank You so very much for this podcast and keep up the great work
Julus Pahl
Scoutmaster in Training
Troop 44, Reedsburg, WI
Clarke,
Great podcast as always. I really enjoy your format, with the music interludes, and your wry humor.
Anyway, you said your troop has a list of items that work well purchased from Campmor. I see that there is a campmor.com, so it does not limit to those that are geographically close. Could you post your list of equipment?
Thanks
Mark in Sandy Eggo
Here is your Brown E Point!
Good stuff.
In early August, after a bit of time after camp to process details, we have our annual, summer Court of Honor. We start with dinner at 6:00pm and then seque into the church sanctuary for our Court. It’s usually a little bit longer than the other ones during the year. I give each Scout a certificate for some humorous or other significant event or trait. These are often called Herby Duly’s. Has something to do with “here by duly” awarded that was spelled wrong on the certificates once. There are always a slew of merit badges.
The committee members who went to camp usually come up with something humorous. One year our camp had something called the Highland Games and kilts and squirrel dances appeared during our Court of Honor. Very odd.
Are the Scouts and patrols putting on the COH? I don’t write the ceremonies and I only go up front during rank awards and SM minute. I, like you, like a specified ceremony, but the Scouts usually want something else. So off they go, googling and writing and I never know what’s going to happen until it happens.
This past Sunday the senior Scouts and Eagle Scout put on an Eagle Scout Court of Honor. I went up to say something about the Scout and help his mom present the award and that was about it for me. The Scouts did the opening and ceremony. Scouts ran the sound booth and the computer and slides. Pastor had the invocation. The speakers spoke. Scouts lit the candles. Scouts honor guarded. Mom and dad presented the Eagle award. SPL presented and retrieved the colors. The Eagle Scout talked. Mom and dad bought cake for everyone afterward. My wife cut the cake and served. Scouts ate. I sat back, watched and enjoyed myself.
If you are a Scoutmaster and you have a significant role in your COH or you are nervous about how it’s going to go and your role in it, then you are over involved. Like camping, this is one thing they can do, and do well. Nothing puts boys on alert like getting up in front of a crowd.
Last night I was throwing away a bunch of stuff and I found an old COH agenda that the SPL had done. He left it on the podium and I had picked it up on my way out the door and shoved it into my notebook. It was something he got off the internet. Basically, he printed it out and then just marked all over it and scribbled stuff out and renumbered things. It was a mess. I don’t know how he followed it, but he did just fine. If I had more space, I would frame it and put it up in our meeting room 🙂