Scout Advancement on ScoutmasterCG Archive

Scout Advancement and Character Building

Thu, 17 Oct 2019 00:00:00 +0000

A reader recently told me they were feeling frustrated with evaluating advancement requirements and lamented “I sometimes wish the people who write these requirements would actually watch them in a troop environment.” Tell me about it! We get into difficulty when we look at advancement as our aim, or of central importance to Scouting. It is neither. We parse, measure and debate requirements endlessly as though getting them right will somehow make us better Scouters or our Scouts better people, but they are powerless to do either.

Choose to Prepare - Strategic Preparation 2

Fri, 07 Jul 2017 00:00:00 +0000

“Be Prepared” is the Scout Motto. If you care enough about something, you’ll prepare. If you don’t care, you won’t bother. In the first part of this series I told a story about Scout Sunday.

I had good intentions, but it really didn’t matter because I didn’t prepare. For instance; think how it reflects on yourself and your Patrol if you go to a Board of Review without any preparation at all. A Board of Review isn’t supposed to be a test, but there will be questions right?

Scout Requirements and "Double Dipping

Tue, 04 Jul 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Can a Scout fulfill more than one requirement with a single activity? The answer is always clear after a careful reading of the Scout requirements and the directions in the Guide to Advancement 2015 – 4.2.3.6 Fulfilling More Than One Requirement With a Single Activity From time to time it may be appropriate for a Scout to apply what was done to meet one requirement toward the completion of another. In deciding whether to allow this, unit leaders or merit badge counselors should consider the following. When, for all practical purposes, two requirements match up exactly and have the same basic intent—for example, camping nights for Second Class and First Class ranks and for the Camping merit badge—it is appropriate and permissible, unless it is stated otherwise in the requirements, to use those matching activities for both the ranks and the merit badge.

Thoughts on Scout Requirements

Tue, 04 Jul 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Are you motivated and inspired by the Scout requirements? What about your Scouts? Are your fellow Scouters inspired to administer them by adopting an encouraging, inspiring tone themselves? Can you smell the wood smoke and feel the warming glow of a campfire against the cold sting of a winter campout when you read them? Ask your Scouts to sit down and read a couple of rank or merit badge requirements and ask them what they mean. Do exactly the same thing this with a couple of your fellow Scouters too. My guess is that by the time you are done you will have found way to untangle a couple of tortured ideas or phrases that makes the requirement easier to follow and understand .

3 Reasons Scouts Do Not Advance

Fri, 13 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +0000

When Scouts do not advance they may be disinterested, stalled, or afraid.

REASON ONE They may not be interested in “doing requirements”.

WHAT’S HAPPENING When we’re preoccupied with that list of stuff Scouts need to do to advance (the requirements) we’ve put the cart before the horse. If we have an active program of camping Scouts meet requirements as a result; not because they are ‘doing requirements’. Many boys aren’t interested in ‘doing requirements’ but are very interested in going camping.

25 Skills Every Man Should Know

Sat, 17 Oct 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Popular Mechanics has published an article entitled 25 Skills Every Man Should Know : “…we spent weeks fine-tuning our list of “25 Skills Every Man Should Know,” debating over whether certain items were too basic, too challenging or just too obscure. You can find a full how-to rundown of each one in the October issue.”

I looked at the list and found specific corresponding rank or merit badge requirements that presented Scouts the opportunity to learn these skills.

The 13 year-old Eagle?

Wed, 16 Sep 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Ask Andy answers a question about the 13 year-old Eagle and “delaying the earning of Eagle till Scouts are older and more mature… ” A bit of ancient history: I made Eagle at 15; my brother at 14; both of us stayed active in our Troop and in Scouting right up to 18, and then became ASMs (I went on to become Scoutmaster of the same Troop I’d earned my Tenderfoot badge in!). More recently, I’ve sat on Eagle boards for 17 years olds who drop out right after their Court of Honor, and 13 year olds who stay in and active for the next 4 or more years, and everything in between. In other words, something other than merely earning Eagle is operating here, and I’ll tell you from experience exactly what it is: It’s the myth that “Eagle is the ‘end of the trail’.” Too many of us who should know better are out there telling Scouts (and their parents) that Eagle is “The Ultimate,” that “Making Eagle is a Life Goal,” that “This is the PINNACLE of Scouting.”

Einstein The Beast of Prey and Inquiry

Fri, 17 Oct 2014 00:00:00 +0000

IT IS, IN FACT, NOTHING short of a miracle that the modern methods of education have not yet entirely strangled the holy curiosity of inquiry; for this delicate little plant, aside from stimulation, stands mainly in need of freedom; without this it goes to wrack and ruin without fail. It is a very grave mistake to think that the enjoyment of seeing and searching can be promoted by means of coercion and a sense of duty. To the contrary, I believe that it would be possible to rob even a healthy beast of prey of its voraciousness, if it were possible, with the aid of a whip, to force the beast to devour continuously, even when not hungry, especially if the food, handed out under such coercion, were to be selected accordingly. –Albert Einstein The curious mind is voracious so long as it is free to follow its own course of inquiry. The genius Einstein possessed bridled against the compulsion of formal education but free to follow its own course developed concepts that changed the world. Many of us respond well to the discipline of education, many do not.

Advancing to Eagle; a Parable

Mon, 13 Oct 2014 00:00:00 +0000

A young man built a shed in the backyard. He saved the money, designed the shed and wanted to build it by himself. Over time he learned how to use a saw and a hammer, collected his own set of tools, built smaller projects. He was having fun pursing something interesting, building skills and accumulating knowledge of his craft. He learned to draw plans, estimate costs, where to buy his materials. His parents like the idea of a shed, they are very supportive: they’re pleased that their son has developed into a decent carpenter but know little of the subject themselves. They asked that someone who knows more than they do review the plans with their son just to make sure he was building the shed properly. He called a friend of the family who was a builder and showed him the plans. He had to tweak this plans a bit and got some good advice. One weekend he dug the foundations and poured cement; the next he set up his rim and floor joists. When he went to frame the walls he realized that he had made a miscalculation and would have to change his plans. He was discouraged and didn’t work on the shed for a week or two. His parents held him to the commitment and he started building again.

Scout Rank Requirements and Policies

Mon, 13 Oct 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Our nationwide organization of some 2.8 million youth and 1.3 million adult participants is defined by written Scout rank requirements policies and procedures.

Individual understanding, subject to an individual point of view, can lead to some misinterpretations if we do not read requirements, policies and procedures with an open mind. As an example look at these Scout rank requirements: Scout Badge

Understand and agree to live by the Scout Oath or Promise, Scout Law , motto , and slogan , and the Outdoor Code .

Tenderfoot Rank

The Pace of Scout Advancement

Sat, 11 Oct 2014 00:00:00 +0000

A reader asks about the pace of Scout advancement: “Our troop seems to think we should hold off the scouts until they are older (ie end of Junior Year) to do their Eagle Projects and try to control the pace of advancement in the troop because they want the scouts to be more “mature” and stick around to lead the younger guys.

I see some value in this, however, if a scout is motivated and fulfills the requirements needed, shouldn’t he be allowed to advance at his own pace? It becomes discouraging rather than motivating. Is there a policy we can point to in addressing this concern?” The one specific policy that may help is ‘a Scout may earn any merit badge at any time’ – there are no age or rank restrictions. More importantly there is no policy that permits scout leaders to control how quickly a Scout advances. A duly constituted board of review may, on rare occasion, ask a Scout to work on some particular aspect of their advancement if it is found wanting, but I have never seen that happen in the past 26 years as Scoutmaster. Get yourself a copy of the Guide to Advancement 2011 and see that your Troop is conducting things ‘by the book’.

Hoop Jumping

Fri, 10 Oct 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Scouts, unlike trained dogs, should not have to jump through hoops.

I have heard repeatedly, and unfortunately advocated for a time, some of these hoops; “Scouts should go over and above the rank requirements, they should really know their stuff.” “Eagle projects should take a minimum of X hours.” “Active membership or leadership means X number of meetings or camp outs” “Troops should police the quality of merit badge instruction through boards of review for merit badge work” Requirements towards ranks and merit badges are written carefully and the overall standard is a Scout’s best effort- nothing more nothing less – no hoops allowed.

B.P.'s Blog - First-class Scout

Sun, 05 Oct 2014 00:00:00 +0000

During his lifetime Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the worldwide Scouting movement, wrote many books and articles directed to Scouters. Here’s a selection from his writings.

A BOY does not really get the value of the Scout training until he is a First-class Scout. The Second-class is only a step to that standing. But it is a lamentable fact that a good many are content to remain as Second-class Scouts once they have gained a few badges of proficiency. It is for that reason, mainly, that the All Round Cords are now obtainable only by First-class Scouts. This move has been welcomed by Scoutmasters as giving an incentive to the lads to keep progressing in their training. Of course, the main objection to it is that it necessitates the boys learning to swim, and facilities for this do not exist in all centres. It has, therefore, been suggested in one or two cases that this rule should be relaxed.

Scout Service Projects 2nd Class, Star, and Life

Sat, 30 Aug 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Scout service projects are a basic element of any solid program, and participation in them is a requirement for advancement in rank. What service projects qualify for rank requirements? Let’s begin by looking at the requirements themselves: Second Class requirement: Participate in an approved (minimum of one hour) service project. Star and Life requirement: … take part in service project(s) totaling at least six hours of work.

These projects must be approved by your Scoutmaster. The project itself is not defined for us, but all require approval. The Guide to advancement 2013 sheds some light on the approval process: 4.2.3.3 Service Projects Service projects required for Second Class, Star, and Life ranks may be conducted individually or through participation in patrol or troop efforts. They also may be approved for those assisting on Eagle Scout service projects. An approval is important because it calls on a boy to think about what might be accepted, and to be prepared to discuss it. It is up to the unit to determine how this is done. In many troops, it is the Scoutmaster’s prerogative.

Ask the Experts

Mon, 25 Aug 2014 00:00:00 +0000

This post from Scouting Magazine’s Cracker Barrel answers a question I sent in: We at Cracker Barrel feel geographically blessed to be in the same building as most of the Boy Scouts of America’s major decision-makers. So when one of you comes to us with a question about Scouting policy, we know how to find the answer. That was the case when Clarke Green had a question about advancement.

Clarke writes: “Many troops have adopted a policy that interprets the ‘active’ requirement as attending a specific minimum percentage of meetings and outings. This seems to be in contradiction to the BSA policy forbidding adding or subtracting from requirements. Are troops permitted to add these percentages to requirements?” The short answer: No. For the official reasoning, we went to Bill Evans , team leader of youth development for the BSA. Here’s what Bill told us: “Good question. As the writer states, it is true and stated several times in the Advancement Policies and Procedures Guide that neither, councils, districts, nor units may add to, modify, or delete BSA advancement policies. This rule is highlighted, bold, and in a box so people won’t miss it. If a unit does modify the active requirement as the writer suggests, it could come back to haunt them if the youth appeals a negative decision based on that modification. The national advancement taskforce just revisited the definition of ‘active’ and, after great discussion, decided to leave it as it is.

Avoiding Advancement Clinkers

Mon, 25 Aug 2014 00:00:00 +0000

I heard somewhere that a Unit Commissioner read the new Guide to Advancement and said: ‘Council and National expect us to set requirements for being active and if they eventually find them too strict OR too lax they will step in and start setting them.’

Sounded like a clinker to me. A clinker is a lump of waste that can build up in a coal furnace or forge and put the fire out. It seems a fitting description of the innuendo, rumor, and disinformation that we sometimes hear repeated in Scouting. You may remember Darrin McGavin as the old man doing battle with the furnace in ‘A Christmas Story’ shouting (among other things) “It’s a Clinker!”.

Shackleton’s Board of Review

Sun, 24 Aug 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Sir Ernest Shackleton’s board of review for the rank of World Explorer assembled one evening and began reading over his application and supporting documentation. He earned all of his merit badges on Captain Scott’s Antarctic Discovery Expedition in 1901–04, and clocked his leadership tenure as the leader of British Antarctic Expedition in 1907–09. For his World Explorer project Shackleton had proposed “The Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition”. The project was enthusiastically approved, and it’s progress carefully followed. The Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition began with great promise but, because of Shackleton’s miscalculations, ended in great difficulty after taking a great deal longer than he had planned. His project report was a more a tale of endurance than success. In the end it was clear Shackleton’s project failed to reach the goal he had proposed. The Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition was to have made the first land crossing of the Antarctic continent from sea to sea.

Does Every Scout Have "Special" Needs?

Fri, 22 Aug 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Don’t all of our Scouts have special needs? Each has an individual way of seeing things, individual talents and shortcomings, in one sense don’t all of us have some special need? The sport of Scouting is discovering how to best deliver the promises of Scouting to Scouts with different needs. It’s not so much about “special” needs, it’s about individual needs. When we throw quotes around “special” it’s understood we are referring to someone with a perceived deficit and requires ‘special’ assistance.

B.P.'S Blog - Efficiency Badges

Sun, 11 May 2014 00:00:00 +0000

During his lifetime Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the worldwide Scouting movement, wrote many books and articles directed to Scouters. Here’s a selection from his writings.

WE have recently approved of a number of badges of efficiency, which it is hoped will serve as encouragement to Scouts to qualify themselves as useful men, whether at home or in a colony.

While these were under consideration there reached us a complaint that in certain centres the difficulty of passing the tests for any badges was becoming so great that what had been an attractive measure for the boys was now fast becoming another ” examination bugbear.” This, I am afraid, is due to faults in the application of the idea.

Three 'Secret Weapons' Every Scouter Should Have

Wed, 18 Dec 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Every Scouter has been there. You’ve been there, and so have I. Your fellow Scouter, a parent, or Scout has a question. You think you know the answer.

After telling them what you think there’s a little shadow of doubt in your mind;”did I get that right?”. That shadow grows, and you go looking for some resource that backs you up. You try the Scoutmaster Handbook, you look over your training notes (you do have training notes, don’t you?), but there’s no answer. A Google search later you’ve turned up three dozen forum posts, a website from 1997, two Troop Policy Manuals, and maybe even someone like me. One source says this, one source says that, and you are still not sure if you have it right or not.

Evaluating Scouting Positions of Responsibility

Sat, 12 Oct 2013 00:00:00 +0000

The new Guide to Advancement repeatedly emphasizes that we are charged with helping individual Scouts succeed.

Mentoring, coaching, advocating for the Scout, establishing and defining reasonable expectations are all aspects of Scoutmastership the guide mentions again and again.

I am convinced that anyone who follows the polices and procedures in the guide carefully will strengthen their program and be a real force for good in the lives of the Scouts we serve.

Reasonable Expectations for Scouts

Sat, 12 Oct 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Years ago there was some question as to whether one of my Scouts who was a candidate for Eagle had satisfied the ‘active’ requirement. He had not attended many meetings or outings in the last six months. He was a high school senior and a wrestler. We set up a meeting with him, his father and his wrestling coach. At that meeting the Scout enumerated the things he had accomplished as a leader in his Troop and his wrestling coach spoke of how much the team relied on his leadership as a team captain. By the end of that meeting we were thoroughly convinced that this young man had done just what we would have expected of an Eagle Scout and more. He went on to a board of review and earned his Eagle.

How Long Does it Take to Be a First Class Scout?

Wed, 18 Sep 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Someone asked me how long, on average, does it take to be a First Class Scout? We know statistically Scouts who become First Class within the first year tend to stay in Scouting longer.

I am pleased when Scouts advance because that’s one indicator that we are delivering on the promise, but it’s only one indicator. In my experience Scouts take anywhere from six months to five years to reach First Class. Will joined our troop when he was fourteen because he loved to go camping with his friends. He wasn’t ever all that focused on his own advancement, I don’t think he made it much beyond Second Class. Will became a great leader and mentor to younger Scouts, he truly cared for other people and wanted to help them. He enthusiastically attended his friend’s Eagle ceremonies, but never had much interest in it himself. When he graduated high School and was off to college he carried all the advantages of Scouting with him. P.J.

Top 10 Reasons Eagle Applications are Rejected

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Here’s a list of the most common reasons that Eagle applications are rejected once they reach the national office. Most of these problems should be weeded out at the Troop, District and Council levels but apparently some applications make it to the national level with errors that result in delays: No Council Number on Application This requires the application to be removed from the daily work stack and placed in a special file until time is alloted to perform council lookups.

Reading Scout Requirements

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0000

I do sign off requirements in the if I am functioning as a merit badge counselor, but not too much in my role as a Scoutmaster. (Requirements for ranks up to First Class are almost exclusively signed off by our older Scouts.)

When I am showing Scouts how to sign off requirements I tell them to look for the verbs and modifiers and pay attention to them.

I tell them to read the requirement carefully and to make sure that they are actually doing what it says rather than just glossing over the wording and getting the wrong idea. Here are some examples:

Webelos Troop Visit

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0000

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 in the troop. When I was introduced to the parents I said a brief hello and explained that the best way for them to learn what our Scouts do and experience would be to talk to the Scouts rather than me. Just before I headed to the parent’s room I asked a Scout who joined the troop last year if he could spare about ten minutes, he said he could and I asked him to follow me.

The Merit of Badges

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0000

One of the more ingenious ideas in Socuting is recognition through the advancement program.

Humankind has always had some way of marking achievement through decorations of one kind or another; it seems to be a fundamental impulse. Cub Scouts have no pretense when it comes to badges. They pursue them arduously and uncompromisingly because they want to festoon their blue shirt with as many possible. They will wrap themselves with belt loops, fill their hats with pins, and if there’s no room left on their shirt they’ll add a vest full of gaudy patches and the gaudier the better. If they could sew them on their uniform pants they certainly would. One of the first things a Cub Scout will do, on meeting an older Scout in uniform, is to ask him how he earned the various badges he is wearing. Once he has learned what they are and how they are achieved he will then resolve to earn them one day.

Four Steps to Scout Advancement - A Scout is Recognized

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +0000

The board of review date— not that of a subsequent court of honor—becomes the rank’s effective date.

Guide to Advancement 2011 [8.0.1.5 After the Review] When a Scout advances, he should be recognized as soon as possible–preferably at the next unit meeting. He is recognized a second time at a public ceremony called a court of honor. The main purposes of the court of honor are to furnish formal recognition for achievement and to provide incentive for other Scouts to advance.

A Universal Job Description for Scout Youth Leaders.

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Is there really a job description for Scout youth leaders?

Every First Class Scout is a leader by definition.

Three requirements for advancement are common to every rank after First Class: 1.Merit Badges 2.Service to the community 3.Leadership: ‘Serve actively in a position of responsibility’ It is every First Class Scout’s job to lead, train, and inspire Scouts to achieve First Class rank. It’s his job whether he is SPL, PL or “just” Historian. No difference. Even if a First Class Scout does not have a specific “position of responsibility” he may be the Troop’s ‘go to guy’ for a specific set of skills.

Why Life to Eagle Guides?

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Why would anyone need a “Life to Eagle Guide”? We already have a Scout Handbook and an Eagle Project Workbook – any Scout can understand and work their way through the trail to Eagle with these resources alone. Yet every Council and District seems to have ‘resources’ that are often confusing and often contain information that is contradictory to both the letter and spirit of National policy.

Visit the National Eagle Scout Association website .

Courts of Honor - Some Thoughts

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Courts of Honor are crucial elements of a good Troop program.

Understanding the intention behind them and shaping the presentation to refelct these intentions is crucial to their success. Here are some posts from Scoutmaster on the subject; Andy at “Ask Andy” writes in the post More Eagle Scout Thoughts ; On “coronations”… A Court of Honor recognizes advancements that Scouts have earned since the last court.

Courts of Honor, in my opinion, need to remain this way.

What is ACTIVE all about

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0000

An excellent treatise on the largely misunderstood ‘serve actively’ requirements at Ask Andy : In the advancement arena, one of the BSA’s most practical, intelligent, realistic, compassionate, and youth-sensitive decisions was to not attach percentages, numerics, or any other sorts of rubrics to the term “active.”

Instead, the underlying principle of “active” is simply “Do Your Best.” In the same arena, one of the biggest mistakes a troop can make is to attempt to make up their own “rules” for this, and, further, to fail to understand that “active” extends well beyond mere troop and/or patrol meetings and outings. You’ll see why in just a few moments… Read the entire post below.

What Makes an Eagle Scout?

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Here’s what makes an Eagle Scout; A Scout completes the requirements as issued by the B.S.A. and is approved by a duly constituted board of review. That’s it. So what about those oft discussed and argued qualities like maturity and leadership ability and active service? All of these things are embodied in the requirements – they are not requirements in and of themselves: Maturity To make it to a board of review for Eagle a Scout has had the following experiences: He has earned 21 Merit Badges. He has served a minimum of 16 months in a leadership position. He’s been camping for a bare minimum of 24 nights. He’s proposed, planned and carried out an Eagle service project. He’s had a minimum of seven Scoutmaster conferences and five boards if review. It is theoretically possible that a Scout could hoodwink all of his merit badge counselors, all the members of his boards of review, all of the Scouts and leaders who have signed his advancement requirements and the Scoutmaster. Many things are theoretically possible but that doesn’t mean they are likely.

Four Steps to Scout Advancement - A Scout is Reveiwed

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Fourth in a series of articles about the four steps to Scout Advancement.

Articles will be published each Tuesday beginning November 20, 2012 After a Scout has completed all of the requirements for any rank he is reviewed twice; once in a Scoutmaster conference and once at a Board of review. The Scoutmaster Conference Note that a Scout must participate or take part in a conference; it is not a “test.”

Four Steps to Scout Advancement - A Scout Learns

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Second in a series of articles about the four steps to Scout Advancement.

Articles will be published each Tuesday beginning November 20, 2012 “… It is in fact nothing short of a miracle that the modern methods of instruction have not entirely strangled the holy spirit of inquiry; for this delicate little plant, aside from stimulation, stands mainly in need of freedom; without this it goes to wrack and ruin without fail. It is a very grave mistake to think that the enjoyment of seeing and searching can be promoted by means of coercion and a sense of duty.” - Albert Einstein Learning is a natural outcome of Scouting activities.

Four Steps to Scout Advancement - Introduction

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0000

First in a series of articles about the four steps to Scout Advancement.

Articles will be published each Tuesday beginning November 20, 2012 There are four steps to Scout advancement described in the Scoutmaster’s Handbook PP. 124-127 Before we look at these steps let’s contextualize advancement within all the aims and methods of Scouting; Advancement is simply a means to an end, not an end in itself. It is one of several methods designed to help unit leadership carry out the aims and mission of the Boy Scouts of America.

First Class Rank in the First Year?

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Twenty years ago (or more) the B.S.A. concluded that Scouts ought to earn First Class rank in the first year based on a statistical ‘leading indicator’, a connection between when Scouts become First Class and how long they stay in Scouting.

Statistics can be a little ham-handed, they only reflect phenomena leaving us to interpret what’s really happening.

Accepting the premise that Scouts ought to earn First Class rank in the first year may drive a couple of different attitudes; Establishing a plan to get Scouts to First Class as quickly as possible, stepping them through requirements and moving them along because, well, Scouts ought to do this because that’s what we are told.

Scout Advancement - Carts, Horses, and Suntans

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 00:00:00 +0000

“Advancement is like a suntan; something you get naturally whilst having fun in the outdoors.”

Baden-Powell Scout advancement is not a goal; it is an indicator. Our aim is not that Scouts attain a certain level of skill or expertise but that they have fun in the outdoors doing things Scouts do.

When they do the things Scouts do they gain skills and have fun. In the course of a camping trip Scouts work with their hands, understand and adapt to their environment, build fires, cook food, explore, talk, work together and do all manner of things they consider fun with little prompting.

Active in Scouting is not a Zero-Sum Game

Sun, 14 Oct 2012 00:00:00 +0000

What does ‘active in Scouting’ mean?

Scouting, unlike many other activities, is not designed to monopolize our Scout’s available time.

Beyond that Scouting considers Scouts being involved and engaged in their communities, families and schools as goal of the program. Most of the other activities our Scouts involve themselves with do not reciprocate.

Teams, bands, choirs, choruses, clubs, youth groups and many ot the other positive thing s a Scout can do outside of his troop may demand his attendance – they may have all or nothing at all policies.

How Do Scouts Become First Class?

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Here’s my “catechism” for youth leaders:

What is your goal? To Lead, Train, and Inspire Scouts to become First Class.

How do Scouts become First Class? By doing things that Scouts do.

What do Scouts do? Scouts go camping, they learn skills and apply them to their activities, they explore hobbies and careers, they serve their community, they are responsible to organize and plan their own activities, they put the Scout oath and law into practice.

Sewing Scout Patches

Sat, 25 Aug 2012 00:00:00 +0000

can be a challenge! … let alone figuring out where they all belong! Here’s some information that should answer your questions about where those patches belong, how to sew or iron them on and some ideas for displaying them.

Where to Sew Patches? | Merit Badge Sashes | How do you iron-on? Hand or Machine Sewing? | Extra Patches? | Patch police?

Where do you sew all those patches?

Start with these resources, 99% of your questions are answered in the Official Uniform Inspection guides below: There’s also an online interactive guide that shows where to sew patches on the uniform for Cubs, Webelos, Scouts and adults; If you don’t find the answers you need in those resources check the BSA Uniform and Insignia Guide . If you still can’t find an answer get in touch with me! Back to top What about Merit Badge Sashes? Boy Scouts can wear a merit badge sash with their uniform anytime, most choose to wear them only at special events; like courts of honor.

Last Minute Eagles

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

CA Scouter comments: It would be interesting to hear your reflections on Scouts putting off Eagle til they’re 17.5 years old and then trying to get their project and missing merit badges done in the small amount of time left. … in a perfect world, the SM has been counseling boys not to let it get to this point, but as you say, Scout aged boys do a lot of things they shouldn’t. Any reflections on this particular situation would be of value.

Merit Badge Days - Good or Bad?

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

This email came from a listener/reader.

I answered it in Podcast number 4 as well as in this post; Hi Clarke- I really enjoy your thoughtful blogs and podcasts, and I’m interested to learn about your views on merit badge days. Your podcast item about BP’s view on badge-hunters vs. badge earners was timely as we have been recently been having a debate in our troop about merit badge days. One side says that the primary purpose is to raise money for the hosting troop, and not to ensure quality instruction for the boys, and that they are a shortcut to merit badge completion.

Avoiding Eagle Scout Problems - Part 3

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

So far we have determined that needless Eagle Scout problems can be caused when a Scoutmaster seeks to impose his ideal vision of an Eagle Scout on the advancement process. In addition we have discovered Baden Powell founded Scouting on the idea that it would offer Scouts a way to challenge themselves towards achievement on an individual basis rather than against an ideal standard. As a rule of thumb if there is no numerical metric applied to a requirement it is improper and against policy to create one. So how in the world can a Scoutmaster evaluate Scouts fairly? If Scouts challenged themselves against an internalized standard then it is our task to learn how each Scout evaluates their individual performance. That’s why we have Scoutmaster’s conferences rather than Scoutmaster reviews.

Avoiding Eagle Scout Problems - Part 1

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

During my tenure as Scoutmaster I have worked with 50 Scouts who have earned the rank of Eagle.

Becoming an Eagle Scout is supposed to be challenging.

Unfortunately these normal difficulties are often compounded by totally unnecessary Eagle Scout Problems. All too often this drama is caused by the Scoutmaster.

Somehow there are a number of Scoutmasters who act like that they are the gatekeepers for the advancement system (especially the rank of Eagle) when they are supposed to be coaches, guides and mentors. Some Scoutmasters develop the idea that their personal standard of achievement is all important.They wield the Scoutmaster’s conference like a weapon making it a pronouncement of their often capricious judgment. Now this all sounds pretty dramatic because it really is dramatic.

Manual Training - Experiential Learning

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Much is said about the scope and effectiveness of our national education system but one irrefutable fact is the decline of what was once called ‘manual training’ then ‘industrial arts’ and now ’tech ed’. As schooling has become increasingly focused on academics scools have closed or diminished shop classes.

Purely academic pursuits are important but the value of experiential learning is equally so.

Scouting is an important source of experiential learning.

Is your Advancement Program Aimed at "True North"?

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Is your Troop’s advancement program aimed at ‘true north’? Here’s some statements derived from Andy’s (at Ask Andy ) answer to a Troop where the Scoutmaster is seriously off course: Every Scout can advance in rank according to each Scout’s preference for velocity, and no one will attempt to either slow him down or speed him up–this is entirely each Scout’s personal decision. Any Scout can apply for any merit badge any time he wants—whether Eagle-required or not—and upon informing the Scoutmaster of his preference or preferences will immediately be given a Blue Card and the name and contact information of a local Merit Badge Counselor. All merit badges, earned anywhere, will “count” and there will absolutely not be any “re-testing” by anyone. The Merit Badge Counselor’s signature will be the sole indicator that the badge is completed.

Kill Your Troop Advancement Plan

Thu, 01 Dec 2005 00:00:00 +0000

On joining a troop some scouts will wait for someone to come to them and ask to sign off their advancement achievements. Many will self start and approach someone to certify what they have completed.

I tend to wait until they come to me. It is harder for some than others and they will ultimately need an invitation but I try to instill the idea that advancement is their responsibility, not mine. All they will get form me is occasional cajoling, half-hearted encouragement. My contention is that if a system for advancement exists scouts will wait until they are prompted. If advancing depends on their own initiative they will motivate themselves. This approach is hard on parents. They get edgy if they think that their son is not advancing as quickly as his peers and blame the system or try and find some way to motivate their scout. What I tell them is that a scout driven to advance will always have to be driven, but a scout who motivates himself to advance cannot be stopped.

Standardization

Tue, 01 Nov 2005 00:00:00 +0000

The short passage below has had more influence on what I do as a scoutmaster than anything else.

From Baden-Powells OUTLOOK November, 19

In view of a very elaborate curriculum that was recently drawn up by one authority for standardizing the test for badges, I was obliged to criticize it in this sense: I hope that the compilers are not losing sight the aim and spirit of the Movement by making it into a training school of efficiency through curricula marks, and standards.