Rover Scout

Good evening - I was given credit for leading the Venturing forum at the national jamboree. My colleague Andrew Miller represented the senior volunteer leadership of the National Venturing committee and led the discussion. In service, Ken King

Trying to Mom- I would recommend getting a copy of the Handbook for Venturers. The info I can find is sparse on girls in the program, but I've read girls can join Venture, Varsity, or Sea Scouting at age 14. --Venturing or Sea Scouting, yes. Varsity Scouting is male-only. Does anyone have experience working with girls in these groups that might be able to give me the scoop? --The crews I have worked with had both male and female members. Your question is a pretty broad one - you might get better answers if you can be more specific. Are girls welcomed at any Crew, even if there are no other girls? --That is up to the crew- there can be all male, all female, and mixed gender crews. Are you able to join more than one (for example, be a Venture and a Sea Scout)? --Yes Do the girls work on rank only or are there merit badges (or similar) things that become available to them to earn? --The Venturing program dies not have merit badge-like units of advancement. Venturing does make use of a recognition system that helps Venturers design and lead their own program of youth-led adventure. Does anyone know any good websites that would be a good resource for girls in Crews? --Again, I would recommend reviewing the Handbook for Venturers to see what the program looks like. It is a gender-neutral document. Best wishes, Ken

Specific response: "To further support my stance - the BSA itself recommends that LDS units use a rolling calendar of 12 months of adventures. So if a boy turns 10 the month before the Scouting Adventure - that's the first Adventure he'd do. So if it is okay for LDS units, how can you tell us with a straight face that non-LDS units shouldn't work on the Scouting Adventure first?" The BSA does not recommend the delivery system that units with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints uses. They maintain a program, designed to work with their religious education program (that articulates with Scouting) that is based on ages, and not on grades. As boys enter and leave the den on their birthday, they will encounter that adventure when it is encountered. It is not a matter of a straight face or not - it is a delivery need with LDS units. It is not (or should not) be a delivery concern with traditional Webelos Scout dens. General comments: The division between AOL and Webelos was intentional and designed to meet the needs of boys who join Cub Scouting in grade 5. With the exception of the linked AOL and Webelos ranks used since the mid 1980s, AOL was the only Cub Scout rank that required earning a previous rank for advancement (not counting Bobcat). This was determined to be a disincentive for boys joining Cub Scouts in grade 5. The current AOL requirements were designed to provide a strong transition into Boy Scouting The overall crossover rate from Cub Scouting into Boy Scouting is fairly high - it is the retention within the first six months of Webelos that has been the greatest challenge. As far as concerns you may have regarding the program, I would recommend you share your feedback at program.content@@scouting.org. Please offer your concern and a recommended solution. The information will be reviewed by the members of the Cub Scout Design and Development Task Force, who are charged with providing updates to the new program as they are identified and vetted. Back to hibernation... Ken

All: I would not recommend starting with the "Scouting Adventure" AOL adventure as the first step in a traditional den. The rationale: for boys that join Cub Scouting during grade five and are eligible to earn the Arrow of Light rank during that year, it makes things more difficult for a den leader who needs to meet a variety of advancement needs for boys in grade five. By working on AOL adventures and electives, it encourages building a team through shared activities by all the boys in the den. For example, the transition from den to patrol is part of the Scouting Adventure award, and having boys experience it together was intended as part of the process. Dens can certainly meet and work with Boy Scout troops all during their time as a Webelos; it's a worthwhile thing to do, even if it does not lead to meeting a requirement. Full disclosure: I was on the volunteer team that developed the adventure-based Cub Scout materials. Best wishes, Ken

This may be helpful to him - it was just released yesterday. http://www.scouting.org/filestore/venturing/pdf/VOA_Administration_Guide.pdf

Another resource: http://www.scouting.org/Home/CubScouts/Leaders/CubmasterResources/PackMeetingPlans.aspx

Welcome (back) to Cub Scouting. Depending on the roles you work with, the updated CS advancement program was accompanied with rich resources for leaders. Full den leader guides with meeting plans are available for purchase at your scout shop or online at scoutstuff.org. Sample meeting plans are available at cubscouts.org. Cubmasters will find full pack meeting plans available at http://www.scouting.org/Home/CubScouts/Leaders/CubmasterResources/PackMeetingPlans.aspx In service, K

From the Arrow of Light required adventure, "Scouting Adventure." 3. Practice the patrol method in your den for one month by doing the following: A. Explain the patrol method. Describe the types of patrols that might be part of a Boy Scout troop. B. Hold an election to choose the patrol leader. C. Develop a patrol name and emblem (if your den does not already have one), as well as a patrol flag and yell. Explain how a patrol name, emblem, flag, and yell create patrol spirit. D. As a patrol, make plans with a troop to participate in a Boy Scout troop's campout or other outdoor activity.

Regarding the new Cub Scout program, this is an unsolicited comment from a colleague who participated in one of the Philmont conferences last summer that introduced the new Cub Scout program. "I just pulled out the Tiger DL book and successfully explained the entire program to [my husband], including rank advancement and recognition for Tiger, Wolf, and Bear in less than five minutes. It took me one more minute to add on Webelos/Arrow of Light. I'm not giddy about the new program or anything. Nope, not at all. Holy crap those Den Leader books are amazing! I want to go back to my [oldest son's] Tiger year and pat my poor beleaguered new leader self on the head and tell her it'll be okay. Of course he has moved on to Boy Scouts and we don't start the new program until June. I'd be just a tad bitter if I didn't have [a younger son] waiting in the wings..." I understand that she went in skeptical last summer, and now with the materials in hand, she is a strong advocate. In service, Ken

3" x 1-3/4"

I try to always wear the official pants, but for cold weather outings, I really like the army surplus M1951 wool trousers...they are durable, warm, and a very close match (color wise) to the wool Oscar De La Renta trousers formerly issued by the BSA. I bought a pair at a surplus store for $10 years ago; I see them on eBay for a wide range of prices.

Erratum: "...tenderfoot badge, but not a scout badge." That should have read "first class" and not "scout." K

Early on, there was a garrison cap with a tenderfoot badge, but not a scout badge. I'm not an expert, but I think that style was used from around 1948-1954 or so...others with deeper knowledge can correct me. In service, Ken

This is olive/khaki version of the community and state strips. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=20204330&l=665de33d85&id=788400192 If folks are interested in the vendor, send me a private message. In service, Ken

JWWT: I'll reply directly to you. In Service, Ken

As an aside, my son's troop created olive/tan community and state strips in 2010. They look quite sharp with the olive tan troop numerals. They cost 98 cents each (shipping included) with our order of 100. And yes, I recognize fully that they are not sanctioned by the local council....though with over 70 council strips issued locally over the last decade or so, all pretenses toward "uniformity" have been lost.

This is the process used in the Central Region. I can't speak to what takes place in other regions, but I would assume that the process/documentation required is similar. http://scouting.org/filestore/regions/central/PDF/NYLTRecognitionRequest.pdf

Scouter Chug: I do the same as the leader with your Beaver Colony--all newly invested Cub Scouts in the pack I work with are presented the World Scout Badge to emphasize their having become new members of the world scout movement, and that the emblem (in principle) may be worn by all members of the movement. In service, Ken Cubmaster, Boy Scouts of America

Chaplaineric: Standard #37 in the 2008 Camp Visitation Standards answers the question that you posed: "A full-time or part-time chaplaincy service is provided by a person who is recognized as a qualified clergyman or seminarian by his or her own church body and is 21 years of age or older or an individual who is at least 21 years of age, possesses mature judgment, has a certificate of training from the Chaplaincy Section of National Camping School and is approved by the local council relationships committee/council executive. Their responsibilities would not include specific ordained responsibilities or tasks as the sacraments." The standard outlines the essential elements of the required approval process. Attendance at National Camping School generally takes place as part of your responsibility in a Boy Scout or Cub Scout camp staff leadership position. Assuming you meet the criteria, your local council camping leadership would help to make arrangements to attend National Camping School. Good luck with your adventure. I've found my experiences at National Camping School and summer camp staff to be among my scouting highlights. Best regards, Ken

This one from Bemidji Woolen Mills, like the Filson jacket, is not "official," but it is a pretty good substitute for the red wool Jac-Shirt...it is called the "Voyageurs Scout Jacket." It is a constructed of a denser/heavier wool, cut a bit more generously around the middle, and has two hand-warmer pockets(!). The price is higher than the current close out price on the Jac-Shirt, which may be an incentive to pick up the official BSA model while it is still available. I have both a Jac-Shirt (dating from the time that they were considerably less than $50) and the Bemidji model, and I consistently reach for the Bemidji version, mainly due to the extra warmth and the hand pockets. http://www.bemidjiwoolenmills.com/details.php?id=voyscout In service, Ken

I'll toss in my encouragement with everyone else. I remained active during college (boy scout camp staff during the summer, service as an explorer and as a unit commissioner in a different council than my "home" unit while attending college) and then when I moved out of state for my first job, I became active within a week of moving to Illinois. As with you, I was a single male, new to the community, etc. The committee job was a surprise--I had stopped in at the local council office, introduced myself, and they directed me to attend the district committee meeting later that week. When I arrived, I was welcomed and greeted as "our new district camping chairman." I maintained that position for three years, and then served in a number of other district and council roles over the next 20-plus (!!!) years. I was very fortunate in that everyone was very welcoming and encouraging to me as a new scouter in the area. I am now married and have two sons who are cub scouts. The council and district level service has been helpful to me as a cubmaster, as I could find answers to questions very rapidly, and I "spoke the language" of scouting. All that said, it has been much especially rewarding to me--and fun--to see my sons having a good experience with the scouting movement. They did not require much encouragement to become cub scouts--they wondered for years where I was going, dressed in short pants, long socks, and my red jacket, and finally they found out, much to our collective pleasure. So...go for it and build your memories now. In service, Ken

On most of my shirts, I wear six....(some shirts feature all of the knot badges that have come my way....some shirts have none)...but for various reasons, these are the ones that "mean the most" to me... Eagle Scout Award J. E. West Fellowship International Scouter Award SIlver Antelope Award Silver Beaver Award Scouter's Key... In service, Ken

As a Leader: 2008: Ma Ka Ja Wan Scout Reservation (Webelos Resident Camp) 2007: Indian Mound Reservation (Cub Resident Camp) 2006: Indian Mound Reservation (Cub Resident Camp) 1998: Camp Big Timber (Cub Resident Camp) 1982: Northern Tier, Bissett (Associate Crew Advisor) As a Camper 1972 - 1976: Camp Wakonda (Griswold, Iowa...now a religious retreat) As a Staff Member: 2007: World Scout Jamboree 1993, 2005: National Scout Jamboree 1990, 1992 - 1993, 1998: Camp Big Timber 1995 - 1996: Camp Freeland Leslie 1985 - 1987, 1989: Ben Delatour Scout Ranch 1985: Camp Wapello 1988: Scout Association of Ireland, various camps throughout the country 1979 - 1984: Camp Cedars 1977 - 1978: Camp Wakonda, Camp Eagle Plus National Camping School at the following locations over a number of years... Tomahawk Scout Reservation, Phillips Scout Reservation, Camp Cedars, S-F Scout Reservation, Camp Eagle, Camp Mitigwa, Howard H. Cherry Scout Reservation, Camp Ingawannis, Dane Hansen Scout Reservation And a number of camp visitations over the years: Owassipe, Hoover, Mach-Kin-O-Siew, Shin-Go-Beek, Ma Ka Ja Wan, Loud Thunder, Indian Mound Reservation...and a few more that escape me.. Thanks for creating this thread....it was an interesting exercise to think about the times I have attended and visited camps... Ken