Scouting discipline is constructive… … because it builds character through applying the Scout oath and law. When we think of discipline we often think of systems of rules and punishments. These things are more familiar to our Scouts than open-ended situation where they follow principles. Asking them to judge themselves rather than issuing judgments may be […]
Discipline
Podcast 359 – A Tale of Two Scout Troops
Imagine two Scout troops, troop A and troop B. Both troops have “average” Scouts (whatever that means) who do what average Scouts do. Both have a well defined procedural approach to discipline and misbehavior. Troop A publishes a guide that defines the rules, how they are enforced, and penalties for breaking them. Troop B has […]
Scoutmaster Podcast 327- Scouts on probation?
Thank you for your patience and support… … over the past several weeks I’ve been away. I’ll explain the situation in the introduction to this week’s podcast. In addition I’ll spend some time addressing two major questions raised by a recent email question, can Scouters discipline Scouts for incidents outside of Scouting? Can Scouters hold Scouts […]
Scoutmaster Podcast 314 – Scouting Email Questions
Lots of answers that you may find useful! It’s been a little while since I answered some email questions, so this is catch-up week. Listen as I talk about several different questions listeners have sent in over the past couple of moths, no doubt you have experienced something similar before, or may encounter these issues […]
Podcast 293 – Peace Scouting
Peace Scouting is nothing new, and it’s very simple… In this podcast I’ll share some thoughts about peace Scouting as described in an address Baden-Powell made to what would later become the World Organization of the Scouting movement in Paris in 1922. Your opportunity as a Scouter is a profound one. Take a moment today […]
Conduct, Character, and Scouting
Remember being young when the ground was constantly shifting under our feet? Remember wanting to be an adult but not wanting to be like the adults you knew? Remember how you wanted to change things? What an energizing, exciting, challenging, and sometimes confusing world we lived in! Our growing brains and bodies were in a constant state of change, every day was full […]
Podcast 245 – The Emperor has no clothes
When the Emperor has no new clothes… it’s sort of embarrassing for everyone isn’t it? Listen to my response to those (thankfully few) troops who decide to create their own requirements. Adding to the requirements is as misguided as subtracting from them, and sends a mixed message to the youth we serve. In the email segment […]
Constructive Scouting Discipline
Sitting down, a sigh of relief, a cup of coffee, close your eyes, and think about a nap. What’s that? Somebody walking through the leaves. You open your eyes just enough to see the senior patrol leader striding purposefully in your direction, he stops a couple of feet away, wondering if you are awake. After playing […]
B.P.’S Blog – Discipline
During his lifetime Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the worldwide Scouting movement, wrote many books and articles directed to Scouters. Each Sunday I’ll publish a selection from his writings in the hope that you’ll draw inspiration and understanding from his timeless ideas. IN a small camp so very much can be done by example. You are […]
Scoutmaster Podcast 213 – Youth Leader Training
Sponsored By ScoutmasterCG.com Backers In this podcast we talk about meeting the negative attitudes and behaviors we see in Scouts with the positives of Scouting and field a question about youth leader training events. This and your messages in the mailbag. Get the song I mention in podcast 212 here All Time Favorite Boy Scout Podcast: […]
Scoutmaster Podcast 208 – Difficult Behavior 2
Sponsored By ScoutmasterCG.com Backers Listen to Scoutmaster Podcast 208 This podcast features the second and final installment of the two-part series started in podcast 207 discussing difficult behavior in Scouts. There’s also email questions about youth leaders roles and who decided how the program will be presented. All this and your messages in the mailbag. […]
Scoutmaster Podcast 207 – Difficult Behavior 1
Sponsored By ScoutmasterCG.com Backers Listen to Scoutmaster Podcast 207 What causes Scouts to behave poorly? Are they just being willful and disobedient or is there something else going on? In this podcast the first part of a two-part series looking into the reasons behind difficult behavior and how we can respond to it effectively. There’s […]
Scouting’s Positive Rites of Passage
Carrying backpacks for the first time, Scouts leave the familiar comforts of home and strike out on the trail. Following flashlight beams through unknown territory, they arrive at the campsite with their friends. Tents are set up, a fire is lit and they gather around trying to shake off the cold. They talk excitedly about […]
Scoutmaster Podcast 167- Behavior Problems,Toten’ Chip
In this edition of the Scoutmaster Podcast we talk about this month’s ScoutCircle, reiterate how Scouting cooperates with the family in matters of discipline and behavior, and answer a question about the Toten’ Chip card. All this and your messages in the mailbag! Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS Listen […]
Discipline and Accountability in Scouting
There is discipline and accountability in Scouting but Scoutmasters are not disciplinarians. We are volunteers in the game of Scouting and our job is to mentor and train youth to lead themselves. When there is a question of accountability – a Scout who is not doing what he is expected to do – Scouters can speak to […]
Jedi Scoutmaster
We are all working towards the troop where Scout leaders are not leading, up front, talking much ( if at all). Our aim is that , the vast majority of the time, Scouts are leading Scouts and we are far in the background. I am not advocating that adults should be continually present monitoring for bad behavior. This technique […]
How to be Unflappable
Scout leaders are constantly called on to resolve conflicts, make decisions and provide direction. We do these things better when we are able to be calm, non-judgmental and unbiased. I can be easily upset and that leads to getting upset about being upset and that leads to being reactive, judgmental and unpleasant. I admire unflappable people, I aspire to be unflappable. Unflappable […]
Scoutmaster Podcast 81 – Discipline and Scouting
Back home from my summer travels! How do we handle discipline in Scouting? Subscribe to the Scoutmaster Newsletter Call and leave a voice mail comment or question at (484) 734-0002 Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes Podcast Music Eureka and Coleman Tents On Sale at Campmor! Mountain Hardwear, Eureka, and North Face Sleeping Bags on sale […]
Be an Adult, and Be Kind
How do we maintain discipline, require accountability and promote responsibility without resorting to shame or allowing our anger to take over. My answer is twofold – be an adult and be kind. Scouters are supposed to be exemplary adults. We are to bring our experience and compassion to bear on the lives of our Scouts […]
Zero Tolerance, Zero Responsibility
Two Scout-related stories of the application of zero tolerance policies (here and here) have been making the rounds of late so I am taking the opportunity to comment on the concept of zero tolerance. ‘Zero tolerance’ became a familiar term in the 1990’s as an outgrowth of a belief that the inflexible enforcement of minor […]
Positive Peer Pressure
During a visit from a Webelos Den at our last Troop meeting one of my Scouts was available to speak with the parents of the visiting boys. We were in our second week of disabilities awareness merit badge; the older scouts were leading a discussion with our younger scouts about the badge. One of the […]
