The Scouter in Practice
The day-to-day job: mistakes, longevity, troop running, and common challenges.
No Hazing
On our backpacking trip this weekend we adults were reminiscing around the campfire.
A Little Misdirection
Scouts need a lot of latitude to operate independently and make decisions on their own.
Ten Common Scoutmaster Mistakes
Making things more efficient Changes that compromise the responsibility of the scouts to do for themselves may make things more efficient, but they are inimical to the spirit of what we want t accomplish.
Keeping the Trail to Eagle Clear.
Reaching the rank of Eagle Scout is a laudable and challenging goal for any boy, and we ought to keep the trail to Eagle clear.
3 Rules of Scouting Leadership
The three rules of Scouting leadership are simple: delegate delegate delegate.
Criticism and Change
Sometimes we get so involved and so closely identified with Scouting that we bruise easily.
Which Scout Summer Camp?
Two troops, same Scout summer camp, same week; one troop has a wonderful time and goes home smiling, one has a difficult time and leaves unhappy.
Recognize effort, not just results
Earl Miller, a neuroscientist at MIT says, “ Success has a much greater influence on the brain than failure .
Evaluating Scouting Positions of Responsibility
The new Guide to Advancement repeatedly emphasizes that we are charged with helping individual Scouts succeed.
A Scoutmaster's Day At Scout Camp
Clarke, Great summary, and your experience largely mirrored mine this past week with my troop.
Troop Program Death Spiral!
Perhaps “Troop Program Death Spiral” is a gratuitously dramatic title but it describes something that does happen.
A Scouter's Summer Camp Schedule
Here’s a Scouter’s summer camp schedule:
6:45 AM Awakened by the SPL and PL’s.
Adult and Youth Leadership Ratios on Scout Outings
Adults keep an eye on things from a respectful distance and Scouts lead themselves.
Mistakes Scout Leaders Make and How to Correct Them
Sometimes it seems we are doing all the right things but the results we are hoping for never materialize.
Patrol Method in Practice - The Adult Role
This is post number two in this four part series on the patrol method-1.
Troop Policy Manuals
Early on in my tenure as a Scoutmaster I wrote a Troop Policy Manual.
Scouting Ceremonies
When humans participate in ceremony, they enter a sacred space.
Three Keys to Scoutmaster Survival
Scoutmaster survival can hinge on these three P’s – proportion, perspective and preparation, every Scoutmaster should know: Proportion You can only do so much, you have limitations and you have a breaking point.
Stop doing rank requirements.
That’s fine with me if the Scout is working out his “recognition” and “progress driven” goals within the Troop.
Adults Attending Scout Camping Trips
Every so often adults attending Scout camping trips just don’t get it (Scouting that is).
Contribution Syndrome
David Axson, author of the The Management Mythbuster , asserts that successful leaders ask great questions.
Avoiding Eagle Scout Problems - Part 3
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.
Avoiding Eagle Scout Problems - Part 1
During my tenure as Scoutmaster I have worked with 50 Scouts who have earned the rank of Eagle.
Summer Camp! More Dos and Don'ts
Summer camp is a big part of most Troop annual programs.
The Scoutmaster's Son
Scoutmasters usually have a son who is a scout in their troop.
Barking
Ken was the long-time Scoutmaster of a troop 12 here in town who retired when I took over as Scoutmaster for our troop 24 in
The Scouts in Ken’s troop joined ours, and Ken stayed registered as an assistant Scoutmaster with our troop for many years.
Podcast Clips
Episode 358 — LISTENERS EMAIL
Two emails answered: (1) a scout master wondering if a new scout's parents are doing too much with merit badge sign-ups given the scout's IEP; (2) a scout master frustrated with an ambitious scout and over-involved parents pushing hard toward Eagle, with Clarke explaining how to set individual advancement goals collaboratively.
Episode 299 — SCOUTMASTERSHIP in 7 MINUTES
Patience and fortitude: controlling one's temper, avoiding the impulse to yell at Scouts, recognizing triggers, and resisting the urge to over-instruct rather than letting Scouts discover things for themselves.
Episode 267 — LISTENERS EMAIL
Six emails answered: (1) anonymous scoutmaster on interpreting the Tenderfoot cooking requirement and parental interference; (2) Mason Turner on recruiting den chiefs from neighboring troops; (3) anonymous on how to leave a troop gracefully; (4) Robert on whether to create a troop policy manual; (5) Scott Peterson (Troop 626, Spring TX) on how scouts should address adult leaders; (6) anonymous on whether a 'supertrip' to museums and historic sites qualifies as optimal scouting.
Episode 234 — SCOUTMASTERSHIP in 7 MINUTES
Resolving difficulties between adult volunteers and scouts by assuming goodwill, gaining perspective, and focusing on the work itself rather than expectations of reaction — drawing on Baden-Powell quotes.
Episode 217 — LISTENERS EMAIL
Jack Curran asks about an assistant Scoutmaster who over-manages the quartermaster role and doesn't trust scouts to do the job; Clarke explains the coach-versus-player analogy to clarify where the adult sideline should be.
Episode 193 — LISTENERS EMAIL
Brian Rodini asks how to stop interfering parents on camping trips; anonymous writer asks whether to accept a Scoutmaster role when he can only attend half the meetings; Howie Jones from Troop 570 asks what Clarke looks for in an assistant Scoutmaster and how to build that relationship.
Episode 189 — SCOUTMASTERSHIP in 7 MINUTES
How to run an effective Webelos den visit by having first- and second-year scouts talk directly with visiting parents instead of formal adult presentations.
Episode 175 — SCOUTMASTERSHIP in 7 MINUTES
Ten tips for adult leaders at summer camp: stay hydrated and rested, support camp staff, never criticize staff in front of scouts, don't pull rank, join in the program, respect camp traditions, watch for inter-troop rivalries, give youth leaders full responsibility, be proud but don't try to be a scout, and be patient with yourself and others.
Episode 161 — SCOUTMASTERSHIP in 7 MINUTES
Four common mistakes Scout leaders make: over-involvement, excessive risk aversion, misunderstanding the value of failure, and overemphasizing rewards — with advice on balanced coaching, empathy, and objectivity.
Episode 139 — SCOUTMASTERSHIP in 7 MINUTES
Are you a safety net or a nursemaid? Practical exercise — sit in a chair and observe Scouts without intervening for 30–60 minutes — to calibrate how much adult instruction and advice is the right amount.
Episode 136 — SCOUTMASTER PANEL DISCUSSION
Panel with Larry Geiger and Walter Underwood, plus special guest Enoch, a 17-year-old Life Scout from Texas (blog: Scouting Rediscovered). Enoch discusses joining scouting at 13, advancing quickly, serving as Patrol Leader and Senior Patrol Leader, implementing PLC meetings and new scout patrols, navigating disagreements with adult leaders, the role of his father as mentor, and his Eagle Scout project installing an amateur radio repeater.
Episode 127 — SCOUTMASTERSHIP in 7 MINUTES
The seven-step troop meeting framework: pre-opening, opening, skills instruction, patrol meetings, inter-patrol activity, closing, and post-meeting planning — with emphasis on scout-led programming and keeping merit badges out of troop meetings.
Episode 123 — SCOUTMASTERSHIP in 7 MINUTES
Practical advice for adult leaders at summer camp: taking care of yourself physically, respecting camp staff, joining in traditions, and letting youth leaders run the troop.
Episode 117 — SCOUTMASTER PANEL DISCUSSION
Larry Geiger, Walter Underwood, and Tom Gillard discuss: the new BSA age guidelines for tool use and work at elevations/excavations; service project planning guidelines; immediate rank recognition practices; mainstreaming scouts with special needs or autism into patrols; scouts holding multiple leadership positions; and managing transportation logistics for outings.
Episode 78 — SCOUTMASTERSHIP in 7 MINUTES
Part two of adults on Scout camping trips, based on Larry Geiger's framework: chain-of-command questioning, letting Scouts instruct, Scouts shopping for their own food, and family camp-outs.
Episode 77 — SCOUTMASTERSHIP in 7 MINUTES
First five of Larry Geiger's ten tips for adults on scout camping trips: staying out of patrol areas and scouts' tents, establishing the adult area, keeping adults out of the troop trailer, and setting up separate campfires.
Episode 76 — LISTENERS EMAIL
Anonymous Scoutmaster asks how to support a high-functioning autistic Scout whose parents don't want his diagnosis disclosed to the other Scouts.
Episode 74 — SCOUTMASTERSHIP in 7 MINUTES
How adult leaders can have a successful week at summer camp: self-care, supporting camp staff, joining traditions, and letting youth leaders lead
Episode 22 — SCOUTMASTERSHIP in 7 MINUTES
Summer camp tips for Scoutmasters — pacing yourself, staying out of the way, and letting Scouts lead
Episode 21 — LISTENERS EMAIL
Listener question about troop leadership
Episode 8 — SCOUTMASTERSHIP in 7 MINUTES
Ten things adult leaders do that frustrate youth leadership: talking too much, coercion, nitpicking — and seven more; Clarke speaks from personal experience as someone still on the learning curve