Posts

Posted on

A Scouting Stylebook

You say to-may-to, I say to-mah-to. You say Venture, I say Venturing. Which is correct?

Many times we find ourselves writing about Scouting, either for our own units or for outside purposes. Whether writing a memo to your unit’s families, sending an e-mail to a community organization, or composing an article for the local newspaper, getting your words right is of high importance. It’s especially important at this time of year when many units are recruiting new members. Continue reading “A Scouting Stylebook”

Posted on

The one question

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”

Posted on

More keys to success for Webelos leaders

webelosUpdate: 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:

Posted on

Webelos leaders: Some keys to success

Update: This post was written before the 2015 changes to the Webelos program took effect, but the information is still valid. Just substitute the equivalent program changes for the activity badges I mention below.

Recently, while I was working on another article, I was poking around the excellent website of Troop 97 in Ft. Collins, Colo., and I came across their comprehensive list of secrets of success of great Webelos leaders. If you have been a Webelos leader for a year or so now, you realize that the Webelos program is different from the rest of Cub Scouting (as we discussed here earlier), as it is less geared toward parent/son activities and more aimed at developing these Cub Scouts to soon become Boy Scouts. Continue reading “Webelos leaders: Some keys to success”

Posted on

What adults don’t do

I’m always fiddling with our troop website, adding file downloads, updating news and external links, and revising and expanding our FAQs. Currently, I’m working on a section to be called Adult Scouting to serve as a guide for adults as to what our role is in a boy-led troop. I point out the things the adults are responsible for – safety, training boy leaders, and support.  Continue reading “What adults don’t do”