Information, Observation, and Inspiration for Scouters
We all know the Cub Scout motto: Do Your Best. But what does it really mean?
It means to put out your best effort, no matter what, and make that effort your own effort. We realize that one boy’s best may be different from another boy’s best and we work to make sure each boy can realize his potential. Continue reading ““Do your best.” Honestly?”
(See the end of this post for an update.)
As we move into mid-September, it’s time to stop and evaluate how our Journey is going this year.
Of course, I’m referring to the Journey to Excellence, the BSA’s replacement for the Centennial Quality Unit award. Last fall, I wrote about the new evaluation program that stacks units up not against their own commitments but a list of thirteen reference points with measurements for each, similar to the old Quality Unit program, but with a twist: there are three levels of success and two ways to get there. You must score points in 11 of 13 categories, and the number of points you score determines your level — bronze, silver or gold. Continue reading “How’s your Journey going?”
Skateboarders and Scouts may seem at first like completely different groups of kids. Scouts are seen as courteous, obedient, cheerful, and clean, while skaters have been typecast as disrespectful, rebellious loners who wear dirty, ripped clothing and hang out in shady areas.
Take a closer look at skateboarding, though, and you’ll see respectful young people who help one another, take care of their surroundings and are engaging in healthful outdoor activities. They learn and practice skills, then try, fail, try, fail, try and succeed. Sounds a lot more like Scouting now, doesn’t it? Continue reading “What can Scouters learn from skaters?”
As committee chair, it’s your responsibility to see that the committee supports the troop or pack program by providing those things that the Scoutmaster or Cubmaster needs to be successful. These things can be similar between these two programs (help in arranging activities such as camping or transportation), or they can be very different (“running the show” in Cub Scouts versus training the boys to do so in Boy Scouts).
Of course, you don’t do it alone. You hopefully have a committee full of eager parents willing to help with all the details, and it’s your job to recruit and support them. Continue reading “The one question”
Update: This article was written before the 2015 changes to the Webelos program took effect. The information is still valid; just substitute the current program elements for those mentioned below.
In my last post I mentioned several ideas that Webelos leaders can use now to get the most out of the program. Here are a few more.
First-year Webelos leaders: