JFL49

This issue falls on the shoulders of the Scoutmaster. And the Scoutmaster should be taking the matter up with the SPL, since it is the SPL's responsibility to lead the PLC. I wonder if the problem is that the PLC is weak on planning. It doesn't take much planning if you always go with the "usual" events. But it does take effort to plan outside the box. Do the youth leaders know how to be leaders? When is the last time the Troop ran TLT (Troop Leader Training)? TLT is a good forum to learn how to plan. It certainly is an excellent forum to learn how to lead.

BadenP, Philmont offers more advanced courses, like the one you described: http://www.philmontscoutranch.org/PTC/conferences2011/Trek%20Leader%20Planning%20and%20Advanced%20Outdoor%20Skills.aspx http://www.philmontscoutranch.org/PTC/conferences2011.aspx

From my days in the Navy, we would fold a small piece of paper in half 4 or 5 times, and then cut the paper so it's square, about 1/2 inch to a side. Put the paper on the end of the pin and then put the clutch on the pin. That also tended to keep the pin itself from spinning. Another option is to use the pin backs from better quality tie tacks. Those usually are the locking pin backs. For example: http://cgi.ebay.com/10-Locking-Pin-Backs-Gold-Tie-Tack-Clutch-Guard-Saver-/320519036648?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aa06c5ee8 But the rubber/plastic clutches are superb. Another source: http://cgi.ebay.com/Wholesale-Lot-200-RUBBER-PIN-BACKS-BUTTERFLY-CLUTCH-/230537683002?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35ad1de03a

Scoutfish, The way I would characterize Wood Badge is similar to your words: WB helps you organize, utilize (skills) and perform better at your Scouting job. So WB skills don't necessarily focus on what you've learned so far; rather, it gives you the leadership tools to make you more effective in Scouting. I assume you've seen your Council's flyer on Wood Badge. It's a pretty good summary of the course: http://www.capefearcouncilbsa.org/images/stories/pdfs/SR-1075%20WOOD%20BADGE%20Flyer.pdf My council goes into a bit more detail: http://www.ctyankee.org/program/training/advanced/woodbadge Of course, bottom line, you need to be comfortable that this is the right time to take Wood Badge. Since you are a cubmaster, I think you'll find that the leadership skills you learn and practice in Wood Badge will help you be a better cubmaster. And remember, Wood Badge consists of two phases: the practical phase (the 6 days over two weekends) and the application phase, where you put the skills you learned to use in completing a series of goals you set for yourself to improve you and your pack (the Wood Badge ticket). Your mileage may vary.

Scoutfish, Go with your first impression after completing BALOO - take Wood Badge. Only then can you judge the accuracy of the comments of other posters. And Wood Badge is not the end of all training. One of the important lessons of Wood Badge is that it is the BEGINNING of life long learning. Wood Badge is a LEADERSHIP development course. It is not a course on running a successful outdoor program, although one objective of Wood Badge is to give you the TOOLS to runs a successful program. So, take all of the program related training that you can before OR after Wood Badge. Certainly, a successful SM, ASM, and Crew Advisor should take Powder Horn. And plenty of CMs have benefited from Powder Horn also. Trainer's EDGE is a good course for any Unit Leader.

Our Council implemented this a while ago, as described here: http://www.ctyankee.org/program/training/basic/smtraining We developed a Self Evaluation Form, basically a reprint from the syllabus: http://www.ctyankee.org/fs/page/001478/introoutdoorskillssignoffse20080420.pdf We also developed a Sign Off Sheet, again from the syllabus: http://www.ctyankee.org/fs/page/001478/introoutdoorskillssignoffpr20080420.pdf We also offer IOLS at summer camp, although soliciting instructors is sometimes a challenge.

Wood Badge course numbering was previously manged by each area and region. With the regional infrastructure effectively pulled back to Irving, the decision was made to no longer manage the numbering system but rather number each Wood Badge course based on the region, area, council, and year. So our council's next Wood Badge course is N2-72-11-1, which translates into: Northeast Region (N) Area 2 (2) Council 72 (72) held in 2011 (11) and it will be the first course held by our council in 2011 (1)

Yes, wear the uniform that is appropriate for your currently registered Scouting positions(s). When you are given a patrol patch, it will hopefully come with a safety pin. Since your Wood Badge patrol patch is temporary, pinning it on your uniform should be more than adequate. Of course, your Wood Badge Course Director may have other ideas, which you should follow. Your MacLaren tartan Troop 1 neckerchief IS an official part of the uniform. Participants should be encouraged to wear their tartan neckerchief, in the same manner that Wood Badgers who have completed their ticket are encouraged to wear their Wood Badge neckerchief, beads, and woggle. And thank you taking Wood Badge. You should enjoy the experience. JFL49 ...Beaver...

A few thoughts. Invite the youth to join the troop, just as you would any other boy. Then I would sit down with the Venture Patrol and guide them in some detailed planning for the upcoming trip, including fund-raising needs, whether uniforms are appropriate for the trip, what type and number of shakedown trips are needed, how often the Venture Patrol needs to meet for additional planning, and what are the responsibilities of each member of the Patrol. In other words, guide them in planning as they should for ANY boy run event. If the Patrol decides that certain first aid rank requirements must be met in order for a youth to participate, then all members of the Patrol must meet the requirement. The same would be true for swimming requirements, cooking requirements, or any other requirements for that matter. I'm not suggesting that you single out the new youth and add requirements for his participation. I'm merely suggesting that he prove to himself and to the other members of the Patrol that he is willing to invest the time and energy to be a full member of the Patrol. He is not just coming on the trip, he must a contributing member of the team (the Patrol) taking the trip.

An Eagle Project should have a definite start date and a definite completion date. The Scout needs to know when he is done with the project and the benefiting organization must also know when the project is completed. How else would the Scout get a final sign-off? If the completion date is open-ended due to the maintenance requirements of the benefiting organization, then it is a poor choice for an Eagle Project. Were I the Scoutmaster, the project proposal would never make it to the District Advancement Chair - I would reject the project.

The IOLS Syllabus is an official BSA publication. Your District Training Chair might be able to get you a copy. Otherwise, you can order it through your Scout Shop or directly from BSA National Supply: http://www.scoutstuff.org/BSASupply/ItemDetail.aspx?cat=01RTL&ctgy=PRODUCTS&c2=BOOKS_LIT&c3=LDRS_TRAINING&c4=&lv=3&item=33640 I also found this with a quick Google search: http://www.bacarrowhead.org/training/IntroductionToOutdoorLeaderSkills.pdf Good luck.

TnST, Just to be perfectly clear, the purpose of IOLS is to teach a leader the skills needed to help Scouts attain the ranks up through First Class. The syllabus is geared to the each outdoor skill listing in the Scout Handbook. IOLS is not designed to teach a leader how to camp, per se. And by its nature and title, IOLS is an introductory course. Although your Council may have its own requirements (and yes, your Council is allowed to have its own requirements), IOLS is not required to take a unit (troop or pack) camping, but IOLS is required for a SM/ASM to be defined as "trained" for their position. If your District or Council trainers are not at least covering the IOLS syllabus then you have a right to be upset. Homegrown IOLS in my Council: it is absolutely allowed, and strongly encouraged. For example, look at this web link for an overview of how a troop can offer the program over one or multiple campouts, including self-assessment and signoff sheets (pulled directly from the course syllabus): http://www.ctyankee.org/program/training/basic/smtraining Eagle92 is exactly on point and the syllabus is clear - a leader can move through the Outdoor Skills Training at an accelerated pace by demonstrating mastery of a specific skill. The emphasis is on the skill, rather than on attending the course. I leave it to you on selling this approach to your Council - but start with your Council Training Chair. He or she gets paid the big bucks to make these kind of things happen. Few Scouters get to the position of Council Training Chair by being irrational or unreasonable. My Council is a lot like your Council: many if not most of our Trainers are also Wood Badge trained. There are plenty of beavers and bears, but very few over 250 pounds, let alone 300. In fact, I used to be a Beaver, and I don't crack 180 pounds. But 99.5% of them are dedicated, hard working leaders who have chosen training as their small contribution in the Scouting world. Most of them were in your position at one time in their Scouting careers, many still are. 99% had sons or daughters in the program. Please don't hold Wood Badge against them. And you may not want to thank them for what they taught you, but do thank them for taking the time out of their busy schedules to run the training courses. Just as they (and I) thank you for your important contribution to Scouting. My 3 cents.

One observation on "troop tents" versus "personal tents". The use of personal tents can become problematic if some of your scouts cannot afford a tent. Peer pressure may push a scout to purchase a tent that he or his family can't otherwise afford. Our troop has opted for 100% "troop tents", to the point of not permitting any personal tents - even for adult leaders. Every scout gets to sleep in the same tent - no tent is fancier than any other and family economics do not enter into the equation. Just an observation.

leader1118 - there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer besides at the unit level. Your District Program Committee could always use your help, running camporees or cuborees or the District Pinewood Derby. Or join the District Membership Committee and help recruit scouts and start new units. Become an FOS presenter and help raise money for the Council. You could join the District Training Committee to help train other cub scout leaders. And the Commissioner staff can put your skills to use, as a Unit Commissioner or Cub Roundtable Staff. Contact your District Chair and District Commissioner for more information.

Leader1118, To get rid of the materials from your former pack, contact the Unit Commissioner and see if he will intercede on your behalf with the new leadership in the pack. If the UC won't help, go over his head to the District Commissioner. The DC gets paid the "big bucks" to solve these types of problems. Otherwise, send a letter to the President of the Chartered Org and make this HIS problem. Give him a deadline to solve the problem. Technically, the Chartered Org "owns" the Pack, and therefore owns the materials. Good luck. And thank you for all you have done and (hopefully) will do for Scouting.

Our Council presents the awards at the annual Council Recognition Dinner (AKA Silver Beaver Dinner). Award recommendations / nominations are reviewed by a selection committee of volunteers appointed by the Council President (with input from the Council Venturing Chair and Scout Executive). The professional advisor to the Council Venturing Committee typically serves as the advisor to the selection committee. I would strongly recommend that the selection process be formalized - notify all Venturers (youth and adults) that the selection committee has been formed (web site - email blast - roundtables, etc), that there is a hard and fast deadline for recommendations, and when and where the awards will be presented. Use either the national recommendation form or a local form for all recommendations / nominations - but use a form. Hope this helps.

pbiner - as part of the Wood Badge course presentation, there is a handout of a sample 360 Degree Assessment Survey. I'd recommend asking your Troop Guide or Course Director for a copy of the handout if you weren't given it during the course (weekend 2 - day 5). Good luck - hope this helps.

Yes, we all stand on the shoulders of Baden-Powell, but we also stand on the shoulders of Seton and Beard and West and Hillcourt and others. Scouting in the United States was always different from Baden-Powell's Scouting. For example, Baden Powell's Scout Law contained 10 points. The BSA version has 12 points. http://www.inquiry.net/ideals/scout_law/chart.htm There are plenty of other differences. Some differences stem from the fact that society in the United States differs from society in Great Britain. Remember - we are two countries separated by a common language. My point it that Scouting in the US has evolved over this past century and also changed from Baden-Powell's initial vision. Some of us may like the evolution, others may not. Training has evolved, some good - some not. Wood Badge has evolved, some good...you get my point. Wood Badge for the 21st century is different from Wood Badge for the 20th century, and different still from Cub Scout Leader Wood Badge. The old Wood Badge isn't coming back. By opening up Wood Badge to ALL Scout Leaders, from Den Leaders, to Pack/Troop/Crew Committee Membes, to MBCs, to CMs, SMs, Crew Advisors, to anyone registered in our Program, the prior Wood Badge emphasis on outdoor skills is significantly diminished in today's Wood Badge, AS IT SHOULD BE. Today's Wood Badge is designed to teach all Scout Leaders how to lead a successful program in a pack, troop, team, crew, ship. Wood Badge for the 21st Century isn't your father's Wood Badge. In fact, Wood Badge for the 21st Century itself is undergoing a change. Now a decade old, a national task force of volunteers is looking at the next version of Wood Badge. My suggestion to any leader who has not yet taken Wood Badge - just do it. If you have reservations - just do it. If you have doubts - just do it. If you are certain that Wood Badge isn't for you - then DON'T do it. Take the course in a neighboring council if you care to.

An important part of the Wood Badge course is the Patrol Method. Patrols are the primary organizational structure of the course. Patrol leaders are responsible to leading their Wood Badge patrols. The Wood Badge Senior Patrol Leader runs the program. The Scoutmaster stands in the background. Some elements of BSA may have pushed aside the Patrol Method, but that is not true for Wood Badge.

As with most things in life, you get out of Wood Badge what you put into it. If you come into the program with an open mind, you'll probably learn a great deal about yourself and the other Scouters who are taking the course along side of you, as well as the Staffers. Taking the course with a closed mind or a desire to debate the fine points of the EDGE method, or the role of interfaith services, or managing conflict, then you will likely not learn much. I spent 30 years in the Navy and retired as an O-6. I've participated in more management development programs, with both big and small companies, than I care to remember. I've had the honor of serving on Wood Badge staff 4 times and this year will be my 5th staff experience. Yet every time I've been a Wood Badge staffer, every time, I've learned something new about myself, about people in general. But that's me - your mileage may vary. When I recruit participants for Wood Badge, I voice many of the same advantages as others have so eloquently noted on the forum. But I also realize, and will tell Scouters, that Wood Badge is not for everyone. If you think that Wood Badge might help you in Scouting, then by all means take the course. If you don't believe that Wood Badge is for you, then I respect your decision, and I still thank you for your service to one of the greatest youth movements in the world. It's your move....

You could look to Baden Powell's original description of the Scout Law: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scout_Law or http://www.inquiry.net/ideals/b-p/law.htm

TtT = Train the Trainer, which was the formal name of the course that predated TDC. Fact - Trainers EDGE is the REQUIRED course for staffers of Wood Badge and NYLT. Fact - TDC was the PREVIOUSLY REQUIRED course for Staffers of Wood Badge and NLYT. Fact - National did not do away with TDC, yet. Our Council no longer offers TDC. Instead, we only offer Trainers EDGE. We permit Pack Trainer's to use Trainers EDGE to fulfill the requirements for completing trainer development conference.

Most Councils publish an annual report with financial statements. Perhaps that information is posted on your Council's web site. I'd recommend calling or sending an e-mail to your Scout Executive, or Council Director of Finance, asking for an Annual Report. Even if your Council does not publish its financials, that information is reported, usually in great detail, to the Council Executive Board. Contact the Board President or Treasurer. Since your District Chair is a member of the Board, they should be able to get you the information. Absent an annual report, your Council must file an annual return with the IRS (Form 990). Recent 990s can be examined on-line: http://www2.guidestar.org/ Good luck in your quest.

Regarding smoking - if your two leaders contend they are fully trained, then they should be very familiar with the Guide to Safe Scouting, Section IV, Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Use and Abuse: http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/GSS/gss04.aspx QUOTE The Boy Scouts of America prohibits the use of alcoholic beverages and controlled substances at encampments or activities on property owned and/or operated by the Boy Scouts of America, or at any activity involving participation of youth members. Adult leaders should support the attitude that young adults are better off without tobacco and MAY NOT ALLOW THE USE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS AT ANY BSA ACTIVITY INVOLVING YOUTH PARTICIPANTS (emphasis in the original). All Scouting functions, meetings, and activities should be conducted on a smoke-free basis, with smoking areas located away from all participants. References: Scoutmaster Handbook, No.33009 Health and Safety Guide, No. 34415 UNQUOTE Why not ask your two leaders to explain what this language means and how they plan to support this important BSA policy in the future?

Various BSA publications provide guidance on this important issue. For example, Administration of Commissioner Service (page 32): http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34501.pdf Also, Selecting District People (page 25): http://www.tidewaterbsa.com/forms/district%20council%20operations%20manuals/SelectingDistrictPeople.pdf I trust this is helpful.