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The New Cub Scout Adventure Program

wolf_woodburnI don’t often write about Cub Scouting – there are lots of resources out there for Cub leaders. But once in a while, something super exciting comes along that merits a look, even for old jaded “seen-it-all” Scouters.

Last week, I covered some of the coming updates to Boy Scouting, including additions to the program and some of the reorganization. But without boys to take advantage of the updates, they’ll be for naught, and our primary source of boys in Boy Scouts is Cub Scouting. And, unless Cub Scouting is kept exciting, relevant and interesting, our Cub numbers will continue to shrink.

Enter the Cub Scout Adventure Program! Continue reading “The New Cub Scout Adventure Program”

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Update on Boy Scout program changes

411A bit over a year ago, we wrote about the five-year BSA 4-1-1 Strategic Plan that looked at all aspects of the Boy Scouts of America and provided ways for volunteers and professionals to provide input on the future of our programs and processes. Several of the changes proposed in the plan have been put into place, and more details are coming forth about other changes to the Cub Scout and Boy Scout programs over the next couple years. Continue reading “Update on Boy Scout program changes”

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Knowing when to leave

redkite_250Go while the going is good / Knowing when to leave may be the smartest thing that anyone can learn

-“Knowing When To Leave“ by Burt Bacharach & Hal David

We all remember when we first took the plunge into Scout leadership. Usually it’s in Cub Scouts, and when our sons wanted to join and the Cubmaster or committee chair told us that the den needed a den leader, we were the ones who stood in place when everyone else took a step backward. As our sons grow, so does our involvement in our units. It changes substantially but we end up settling into our role in our troop and getting comfortable doing it. Continue reading “Knowing when to leave”

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What are you asking your committee?

committee_at_table_200There are two basic definitions of the term committee. One, a legal definition, refers to someone who has been placed in the charge of another person by reason of insanity. While Scouting can sometimes drive us to the brink, or so it seems, the more common definition describes a group of people assembled to perform a specific function. In our context, that function is the management of our unit.

A unit committee is typically a collaborative body, which works together to solve the problems associated with supporting the unit’s program. The committee chair is the chief facilitator, whose mission is to provide or arrange for the resources needed by the rest of the committee members so they can more effectively do their jobs. Continue reading “What are you asking your committee?”