From The Valley Breeze, Providence, Rhode Island Eighty families and more than 300 visitors total turned out for the first Scout-O-Rama at Notte Park and Camp Meehan on Sunday. Scout leaders said 17 people signed up to be a Scout during the event, making this a “huge success” and their largest recruitment effort ever. Fifty-six […]
Scoutmaster Podcast 267 – Email!
It’s catch-up time! In this week’s podcast I’ll catch up on email questions concerning approving requirements, relationships between Cub Packs and Troops, moving to a new Troop, unit policy manuals, how Scouts address Scouters, and determining what activities best achieve the aims of Scouting. Links in this podcast The Big Three Resources every Scouter should […]
Plan-Do-Review
Scouts Canada has created a clear, uncluttered, engaging process in the “Plan-Do-Review” component of the Canadian Path. Scouting is made up of intuitive principles that are intended to be taken at face value. Simplicity can be elusive; we tend to prefer complications. At first blush there’s nothing groundbreaking or new about this approach. It’s so intuitive and simple I think most […]
Podcast 261 – Avoiding the Troop Program Death Spiral
Are you in danger? I know that a title like “troop program death spiral” sounds dramatic, but I got your attention, right? I’ll explain what the dreaded troop program death spiral is and help you avoid it as well as answering email questions about Eagle Scout advancement, Advancement policies instituted by a troop, and “Webelos […]
Podcast 257- Who Leads Who?
… if we have youth leading Scouts who do we lead? Find out who the Scoutmaster leads and directs in this podcast as well as answers to questions about merit badges, Webelos wearing sashes, and adult supervision of patrol meetings or activities. Links in this podcast Blue Card Infographic The Big Three Resources every Scouter […]
Podcast 256 – Modifying Advancement
What do you think? In this week’s podcast I’ll answer email questions about young Scoutmasters, modifying advancement requirements for Scouts with disabilities, the Alligator River game, Webelos going to Scout events, and a full-year troop program. LINKS Cub Scout Outdoor Program Guidelines Guide to Advancement Alligator River Infographic So Far So Good, a New Scoutmaster’s Story MUSIC […]
Cub Scout Leader “Survival Guide” 5
This is the fifth of a five-part series, Part one Understanding Cubs Part two Understanding Meetings Part three – Understanding Volunteering Part four – Blessed are the Den leaders I’ve been a Cubmaster, and a den leader for Wolf, Bear,and Webelos dens. Volunteering as a Cub Scout leader ought to be a lot of fun, and […]
Cub Scout Leader “Survival Guide” 4
This is the fourth of a five-part series, Part one Understanding Cubs Part two Understanding Meetings Part three – Understanding Volunteering Part five – Understanding Parents I’ve been a Cubmaster, and a den leader for Wolf, Bear,and Webelos dens. Volunteering as a Cub Scout leader ought to be a lot of fun, and it is, most […]
Cub Scout Leader “Survival Guide” 3
This is the third of a five-part series, Part one Understanding Cubs Part two Understanding Meetings Part four – Blessed are the Den Leaders Part five – Understanding Parents I’ve been a Cubmaster, and a den leader for Wolf, Bear,and Webelos dens. Volunteering as a Cub Scout leader ought to be a lot of fun, and […]
Cub Scout Leader “Survival Guide” 2
This is the second of a five-part series, Part one Understanding Cubs Part three – Understanding Volunteering Part four – Blessed are the Den Leaders Part five – Understanding Parents I’ve been a Cubmaster, and a den leader for Wolf, Bear,and Webelos dens. Volunteering as a Cub Scout leader ought to be a lot of fun, […]
Cub Scout Leader “Survival Guide” 1
This is the first of a five-part series, Part two Understanding Meetings Part three – Understanding Volunteering Part four – Blessed are the Den leaders Part five – Understanding Parents I’ve been a Cubmaster, and a den leader for Wolf, Bear,and Webelos dens. Volunteering as a Cub Scout leader ought to be a lot of […]
Podcast 242 -Campaign, Conduct, Camping, & Content
Campaigning, Conduct, Camping (with Webelos), and Content of troop meetings. Listen to my answer to the question: should we be teaching Scouts conflict resolution? (spoiler- yes and no!) In addition we’ll discuss campaigning for youth leadership elections, what standards apply to Webelos camping with troops, and whether or not merit badge instruction is the right content […]
Podcast 241- Reviewing, Retesting, O.A., and Webelos
Reviewing, Retesting, O.A., and Webelos More questions and answers about the Scoutmaster’s conference and our review process. In addition we’ll discuss Webelos woes; how can we get them excited about being in a Scout troop?, encouraging cooperation between Order of the Arrow and the troop when it looks like O.A. responsibilities may be cutting into Scout’s responsibilities […]
Podcast 236 – Patrol Method 2
What, exactly, is the Patrol Method? Why did our founder emphasize the importance of the patrol method over all else in Scouting? In this week’s podcast the second of four installments that describes te adult role in applying the patrol method. I also answer an email from a Cub Den Leader and parent who is concerned […]
Jeff’s Scouting Blog
I recently learned of a new Scouting blog authored by Jeff Freeman: So I’ve thought about a blog for a long time. Either as a representative of my pack, or now of the troop I’m in. Or even for my daughters Daisies. I’ve dabbled with twitter, but never kept at it posting. But with a blog I […]
Scoutmaster Podcast 204 – Webelos Cross Over
Sponsored By ScoutmasterCG.com Backers Scoutmaster Podcast 204 In this podcast we share thoughts on evaluating Scout Spirit, Brick Mason ties a bowline and we answer an email queston about when Scouts cross over from Webelos, all this and your messages in the mailbag! Podcast Archive Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts […]
November ScoutCircle – Webelos to Scouts
Here’s this month’s ScoutCircle, a solo appearance! Here’s the resources we discussed The New Parents Quick Guide Webelos_to_Scout – BSA information webelos-to-scout-transition-plan-1 Heart of America Council WebToScout Webelos to Scout Transition: A Parents’ Guide
Cub Leader Questions? Read ‘For the Love of Cub Scouts’
Where do you go find answers to Cub Leader questions? During the years I spent as a Cubmaster and Webelos Den Leader formal training sessions helped , but the most valuable advice I received at the time came from those long talks in the parking lot with folks who had been there and done that. […]
Webelos Crossover – Every Scoutmaster Should Read This
This email about one Webelos crossover to a troop needs little introduction or explanation, but one part bears repeating; Meetings don’t cut it, selling the parents on how great a troop is doesn’t cut it, your “reputation” of being a strong troop doesn’t cut it. What does? Read on; Clarke – I recently stumbled across your […]
Scoutmaster Podcast 155 – Older Scouts and Webelos
In this podcast we discuss a Webelos troop visit and keeping older Scouts engaged, we answer email questions about the patrol method, replacing a Scout handbook and who signs merit badge cards – all this and your messages in the mailbag. Past editions of the show are available at the PODCAST ARCHIVE Podcast: Play in […]
Webelos Troop Visit
Just last night we hosted a Webelos troop visit. While the visiting Webelos went off with the Scouts we asked the parents to come with us into another room and meet with the troop’s adult volunteers. The committee chairman talked to them for a bit about the basic functions and administrative things involved with having a son […]
Scoutmaster Podcast 33 – Den Cheifs
Scoutmaster Podcast 33 Den Cheifs In This Podcast Den Cheifs Summer Camp Story Email Answers Podcast Notes Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS Listen to this episode (00:27:20) Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsPlayer EmbedShare Leave a ReviewListen in a New WindowDownloadSoundCloudStitcherSubscribe on AndroidSubscribe via RSSSpotifyBe A BackerBe A Patron Get updates to Scoutmastercg.com […]
Scoutmaster Podcast 5 – Webelos Den Leader to Scoutmaster
Scoutmaster Podcast 5 In This Podcast Webelos Den Leader to Scoutmaster Hiking story 5th in the series Instructional Methods for Scouts Scoutmaster Minute; Founder’s Day Podcast Notes Ask Andy Download Instructional Methods for Scouts.pdf (65.6K) Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS Listen to this episode (00:25:14) Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsPlayer EmbedShare Leave a […]
How to Run a Good Pack Meeting
Although I concentrate on Boy Scouts rather than Cubs I have been both a Den Leader and Cubmaster. This time of year I attend one or two Pack Meetings to welcome new Scouts as they cross the bridge from Webelos. At the risk of being curmudgeonly I offer these observations. The Pack Meetings I attend […]
