ScoutmasterDanny

Ummmmmm..........yes.

Let me say that Scouter.com is an awesome resource for information for Scouters. I read it daily and recommend it to my leadership. I have started the Facebook group to reach a different audience that prefers to operate in the social media world. Please join me to assist those who don't actively seeking information outside of Facebook. SM Danny

I have started a Facebook group for "Scout Leadership Tips, Support, and Advice". Please consider joining, participating, and inviting your scout contacts. https://www.facebook.com/groups/Scouttips/

Your friends are going rag on you no matter what you do. But I suspect if you show up in support of veterans and especially Gold Star parents, your friends will be impressed. Will they still tease you about it. Yep. But lets face it, they know it is an honorable thing you are doing. Just be ready with a response like "I didn't wear the uniform to impress you, I wore it to honor them" and of course, in extreme circumstances, add something like "and your girlfriend thinks I look good in uniform". In all seriousness, it sounds like the underlying issue may be your own pride as a Scout. While I don't know about your scouting career, I suspect you have done things in scouting that your friends would not have the courage, knowledge, or ability to do. I suspect that you have learned leadership and life skills that will give you confidence to succeed as a young adult. You need to take ownership and pride of that. Your buddies probably wear a uniform in sports where they maneuver a ball the same way every week. They get really good at manipulating a ball. In your uniform, you are learning to manage the natural world, the social world, and the business world. So tell them to go play with their ball in the corner and leave the uniforms to real men. Ok, too much? Here is some more practical advice. I assume your friend group includes females. In front of the group, say to a female "I have worked hard to earn the right to wear this uniform and the badges it contains. I have been asked to wear it in school to honor mothers that have lost their children in war. Do you think that is cool or lame?" Some idiot friend of yours will say "Lame", and then face the wrath of the females. I am writing this as an adult who was not a Scout as a youth. I ragged on every scout friend I had. I teased the hell out of them about their uniforms. At the same time, I was jealous that they were getting to do all kinds of cool stuff.

I struggled with this exact scenario when I was a Den Leader. It frustrated me for years. I feel your pain. That being said, do what you want. Let him do what he wants. There is plenty of work to go around. Just try to frame it in your mind that he is "being helpful". In reality, at some point one or both of you will get less enthusiastic and appreciate the other one taking the load. It does get worse. Wait till you send out detailed instructions and he sends out conflicting instructions. Then the parents get mad at both of you. With 19 Tigers, you may want to consider not "jointly" running the Dens. You both should have plenty of adults to do your own thing successfully.

The short answer is that it is at the discretion of the MBC. SM has no say. Here is an official answer for BSA: https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2013/04/30/ask-expert-mbs/

I would suggest that you encourage the youth (and parent) to start weekly swim lessons and continue them until he can confidently pass the Second and First Class Swim requirements. Those classes could save his life.

First, this becomes an issue with many older youth as well as adults. Young scouts are often bouncing off the walls and don't focus to get the work done. I would suggest you guide him to be patient with the younger scouts and not punish him or the group for faults of those in his Patrol. But this also means that the adults learn to be patient as well, a trait that took many of us a while to acquire. If he is old enough, I would also suggest that you get him involved in activities where he can spend time with older Scouts, like Venturing and OA. Being around mature youth may give him a perspective when dealing with the younger, hyper youth. Danny

Fly Like and Eagle to BrownSea, Fly Like and Eagle, Let Gilwell Carry Me

The first patrol in our newly formed Troop.......Atomic Axolotls I still can't spell it. Luckily, when the Patrol split into two groups, they went with Predators and Storm Troopers.

As a BALOO trainer, I can say that I felt the old course was not interesting and did not prepare a leader for taking a large group of scouts for an overnight. I haven't fully read the new syllabus, but I am looking forward to an updated experience.

Thanks for the great comments. Just a clarification. This is not for youth tents, but for adult parent and leader tents. Keep the ideas coming, I am writing the script tonight and will hopefully tape on Monday. Danny

As most of you know, I am trying to create a series of 5-minute "Scoutmaster Danny" videos for youth and adult scout leaders. Several of you on this forum have provided feedback on my completed videos, which I have used in improving new videos. You have come up with great ideas. Unfortunately, I can't modify existing videos using the feedback. So for my next video, I thought I would ask for input before I write the script. My ultimate goal is to create videos on topics that Scout leaders around the world will find interesting, useful and accurate. I would like to ask the scouter.com community to assist me on this adventure. My next video topic is: Tent buying tips for Scout parents and adult leaders What do you think I should include?

Each year, our Boy Scout Troop volunteers at 3 Webelos events. We have created "station kits", which we reuse. Typically, groups of 12 Webelos will work with 2 Boy Scouts at each station for 18 minutes. Our Troop has garnered a grand reputation for these stations as they are typically very interactive and very fun. Station examples: Compass Challenge Course, Giant Jenga Battle, Nerf Shooting Gallery, Ham Radio, Human Solar System Model, and Mentos/Diet Soda. Here is where I need some assistance. One of our stations uses the LED Snap Circuit Kits to make series and parallel circuits. We currently have 7 complete kits (the eighth one bit the dust). We are about to buy another 10 kits. But they are expensive ($17 each) and I think the Webelos look at them as being a toy. Also, let's face it, LED circuits are a bit boring. I don't feel this station is as memorable as our others. So I was hoping to hear from the Scouter.com collective wisdom on ways to improve the station. The idea is to improve fun, learning, and/or accomplishment. Please think way outside of the box. We are happy to invest funds on reusable items. If you had $200 to invest, 12 Webelos, 2 scouts, 18 minutes (usually repeating 8 times per day), how would you do an interactive series and parallel circuit demonstration? Scoutmaster Danny

Thats awesome! It probably outperforms the modern stoves.