Scouting in General, Bobwhite Blather, Page 36

June 10, 2013

What you can’t get online

From the beginning of our movement, it’s been clear that training is the key to success. Baden-Powell had a way with training, in that he believed that it was important to educate the soldiers he led in battle so they would learn to be aware of their surroundings. The philosophy carried over to Boy Scouting as he discovered that boys were using his military training manual to concoct their own games. He was known for saying that the most important object in Boy Scout training is to educate, not instruct, and eventually conducted the first Wood Badge course for training Scoutmasters in a practical manner.

Today we continue the training tradition. Continue reading “What you can’t get online”

June 3, 2013

How Scouting helps identity development

Last week I attended an orientation session at the university my son is attending in the fall. There were separate sessions for the new students and for the soon-to-be parents of a college kid. Besides the expected talks on dorm life, financial aid and how to pay the bill, several university staffers presented segments on various aspects of adjusting to college life.

One of the most interesting talks was on the topic of student well-being. Going beyond adjusting to a roommate and using the health center and recreation facilities, the speaker enlightened us on the steps of identity development that our students would most likely go through during their years in college. Continue reading “How Scouting helps identity development”

May 27, 2013

Committee chair timeline: June

Many troops scale back a bit during the summer months, so in the coming weeks the list of things to pay attention to will shrink somewhat. There are still several things you need to ensure get handled before the break. Continue reading “Committee chair timeline: June”

April 29, 2013

Committee chair timeline: May

Spring is finally here, at least in the north, and we’re finally getting outdoors (without heavy winter gear) enjoying some warmer weather. School may be winding down or ramping up for the final push. Many troops undergo a shift in activity over the summer as well, and it’s time to look forward and see what the committee needs to do to support the boys. Continue reading “Committee chair timeline: May”

April 22, 2013

No more Scout Parents?

No, parents are not being pushed out of Scouting. They are as essential as ever from Cubs all the way up to Venturing. What’s being changed is the ScoutParent designation, a pseudo-registered position that’s been with us for several years in an effort to involve more parents in the Scouting program. Continue reading “No more Scout Parents?”