dewASM

If you or the other parents have a few digital cameras, plan a photo scavenger hunt. Send groups out to find things and take photos next to them. Have them include themselves in the photos. Depending upon the ages of the boys, the clues may be very straight forward or they could be tricky or you can leave them open to their own interpretation. For example, you can be explicit and ask for two boys by a fire extinguisher or leave it open ended and ask for the a Scout next to the most exciting thing or the ugliest thing on the ship. It is always interesting to see their choices. With digital, you can immediately review the pictures to see if the complete the hunt. If they include boys in the pictures, they would make a nice scrapbook of the occasion! I happen to have a portable photo printer so I can print as I go providing there is electricity!

I am in a pilot council and we have been told that all of people must have required training by the end of next year or our charter will be suspended. I have everything done but the Outdoor Program BUT that is only offered one weekend a year- in June. I find it difficult to understand the idea of a "training culture" if you don't offer training frequently and when it is convenient for the volunteers. I became a SM in June but couldn't make Outdoor Training because it was the same weekend as my son's induction into National Junior Honor Society. At the time I bemoaned the June weekend because of the many conflicts in June for all of us graduation, academic banquets, athletic banquets, helping with end of school stuff and finals not to mention my busiest time of the year at work. My SE said yeah they knew it was a tough time so they were thinking of doing one in Sept. I said do it in Sept and I'll be the first to sign up. So I called in August and inquired. No Sept class - wait for June. We are a new troop with young Scouts. So now I call district and want to send a few boys to NYLT. I am told they are not offering it all this year. So I ask for other options. They were to let me know if it was available at neighboring councils. No word yet. So we are pilot council for mandated training that doesn't offer training??????? It all makes me think that this is not about creating a 'training culture' but about CYA. Training isn't promoted, conducted, or valued it is just mandated so that if anything goes wrong the BSA can say well we trained them it isn't our fault if they messed up.

I think I see this as 2 different issues 1. A picky eater. I have one of those. My son will not eat any food mixed together - never has. No soup or stew. It sorta freaks him out. Doesn't even like food to touch. It is a running joke in the troop about pea juice touching James' potatoes. At home, he sometimes uses 2 plates. however, he eats lots of other things - hot dogs, bologna sandwiches, grilled cheese, pasta etc, etc. I also have 2 brothers in the troop who don't do hot dogs at all. We always have some extra pbj or bologna and no one starves. The first campout James went on as a webelos, I think he ate bread and butter at every meal. He didn't starve and they still laugh about it. So okay he's a little odd in his food habits but he also doesn't complain and finds a way to manage. 2. A child who is ill and whiny. My son has his food idiosyncrasies but he is healthy. Plays modified soccer and basketball and varsity tennis and golf. On the last 6 mile hike he led the way and ended up carrying many other people's things. His first year at camp, he picked at some of his food and filled in with bread (he is a little better these days) but he never visited the nurse and is the last to tire out. I would be concerned about a child with little energy and an inability to keep up with his peers. I wish I had a great suggestion, but I don't except that I think you probably have more than one issue with this Scout. Good Luck!

I agree that If I had a Hammer was thinking outside the box but as a middle school Catholic Faith Formation teacher we spend a lot of time on Catholic Social Teaching. This includes things like Charity, Solidarity, Social Justice, and the Dignity and Rights of Workers. Those things are a part of our faith and seen as one of our duties to God "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." Working with teens and pre-teens in both Scouts and Faith Formation, the "out of the box" ideas are sometimes the ones that resonant with them the most.

How about Battle Hymn of the Republic If I had a Hammer Let there be Peace on Earth

Thanks everyone for the interesting insights. Hey Twocubdad I had to chuckle that you admonished me to "And always praise in public, critique in private" I have! Unfortunately the same cannot be said of the ASM. In the bacon 'incident', we were at a parent's meeting discussing breakfast at camp. I offered to send pre-cooked bacon to augment the food provided by camp. Pre-cooked to ease the refrigeration issue at camp in July. The ASM made a scene about preserved foods. I explained my reasoning and he still objected. I then offered to let him do something else if he wanted but he didn't. Later the same evening he called to ask what pre-cooked bacon was as he didn't know! By the way he ate heartily from the pre-cooked bacon. In the same way, at recent meeting I was giving a "shout out" to people for things done well at the last campout (everyone gets a mention) and the ASM interrupted to chastise me for forgetting another Scout had also done some clean up. I had praised this Scout for something else but not this because he abandoned the task before completing it. Interestingly, the Scout piped up at the meeting that he had left to play ball and thus couldn't take credit. And FYI, I wasn't going to accuse him of anything. We need to have a talk (at least in my opinion) to clear the air. I will bring up the need for the Scouts to be with Scouts I did not demand this at the mine because truthfully it never occurred to me that the Scouts would choose to be with an adult over their friends. Once the Scout announced he was going off with the ASM, I didn't want to cause an uproar by saying no. But it bothered me. It just felt odd. I came here looking for input as to whether or not to mention it - not accuse or insinuate bad behavior but just say that it seemed to be a potential YP issue. It's funny when you have been closely involved in a case where someone is accused of abusing children you second guess that you should have spotted this or acted on a feeling of unease. You ask yourself should I have been more vocal, asked more questions, been more suspicious. The man arrested in our community was my parish priest and the committee chair of our scout troop. Two of the boys involved in the case are in my troop. (The alleged abuse occurred outside Scouting) My son, thankfully, was not a victim but as a scout and altar boy could have been. I guess that is the reason that I didn't just dismiss the vague feeling that something was off but looked for more input. Thanks again everyone. I have read each reply and will take it all under advisement.

I absolutely love your username!! It made me laugh thanks

Thanks everyone for some great insights. This ASM is trained and has completed YP. He just isn't 'getting' it on several levels. He doesn't get boy run or the occasional chaos that goes with it. Yet it often seems that he wants to join in the scouting rather providing the needed leadership. For example, at a council camporee, the ASM wanted to attend First Aid classes with the boy but wasn't supervising boys or making sure they completed their tasks. He was just hanging around "learning". At lunch break, instead of supervising clean up as requested he was playing soccer. At campout, I caught him trying to give the Scouts 'his' answer to a troop challenge. He is not one of the Scouts, he is a leader and should not be giving answers. Guidance maybe not answers. Nothing in his behavior is threatening, just annoying. Eagle92's comments made me realize that perhaps I am hyper-vigilant because of recent events in our community. Our parish priest was recently arrested for inappropriate contact with young men including several in our troop. The young man I mentioned was not involved. however, I guess I am looking at every action through the lens of having seen what these accusations/charges do to people and communities. I think in our community at this moment, you have to err on the side of extreme caution. thank you Eagle92 for making that clear to me. I will carefully explain my concerns and insist on being overly cautious. Many thanks to Beavah and BrentAllen for wonderful suggestions as we go forward. Being a new Scoutmaster in a new troop I learn something new to do - or not do- at every turn. Your suggestions definitely go on my to do list. We are all learning as we go and improving all the time. The campout in October was better attended and better run than the one in August. Each meeting the boys do more for themselves. We are making progress. I think the CC and I will have to do some planning to ensure better adult support. AS to my frustrations with the ASM I try to remain very calm and provide guidance and explanation, but sometimes it feels like having one more Scout, one more person to supervise. For example, at the recent mining event, there was a sheet of information to complete. I know one of your Scouts has a physical disability that makes writing laborious. I told the Scout someone would help with the actual writing if he was unable to do it particularly because it was cold and VERY rainy making his tremors worse. I then asked the ASM to oversee this young man's progress. At the last session, when I went to collect sheets, the young man had completed very little. I helped him complete it but was disappointed that the ASM had dropped the ball. Truthfully, if I have to monitor the ASM, I might as well do it myself. Similarly, at the last campout, the ASM was supposed to supervise two young Scouts who were in charge of dinner clean up. (None of our Scouts have much camping experience which is why we left the old troop - no outdoor program at all. And the 2 times in 2 yrs that they camped, adults did all the cooking and most of the clean up) I turn around and one Scout has wandered away to do something else and the ASM is gone too. On a good note, the SPL and ASPL returned from taking a few boys to get wood and they jumped right in to get clean up finished. Yeah!! Thanks for letting me vent! And all the good ideas. Many things are improving, the boys are having a great time so I guess life is good. Since we were chartered in June, we have done a week in summer camp, two council campouts, a six mile hike and the mining event. We sold popcorn and are gearing up for Scouting for Food. dew

I am the Scoutmaster of a very new (3 months), very young (11-13 yo) and pretty small (11 scouts) troop. I have one ASM with whom I have had some issues. He moved up last February with his webelos and has had trouble transitioning to the Boy Scout program. In addition, he has publicly challenged me on mostly really ridiculous issues things like causing a scene in front of parents over the type of bacon being taken on a campout. I am also frustrated in that some things I ask him to handle do not get done. I provide this background because I want to be sure this has not colored my reaction to something that happened this weekend. Four adults (more than I truly needed) took seven scouts to an event at a local "diamond mine". Over 400 Scouts got to mine and work on the geology merit badge. At the end of the day, there was about an hour and a half of free time. The Scouts had several ways to spend the time and I said they had to stay at least with a buddy - no one off on their own. One of the youngest Scouts went off with the ASM to a museum type building. We were in a public place, however it seems to me this is not acceptable. I feel that it was not safe for either the child or the ASM. One of the other adults felt I was over reacting because it was public but I could see real issues the Scout could accuse the ASM of taking him to a secluded spot and there is no protection. Or on the other side, the ASM could have left the museum area with the Scout. I am not saying anything was out of line but I felt the situation left everyone open to trouble. In addition, I also felt that the Scout should have been encouraged to spend time with our Scouts, bond with members of his patrol not be off with an adult. This is, in my opinion, a problem with this ASM's transition. He does not seem to get the idea that he should take a back seat in the program. He seems to want to be a Scout, do what they do, be right in the middle of the boys. Or he goes to the other extreme and wants to micromanage. I can't seem to get him to buy into a boy led program for boys. Okay was the situation this weekend a youth protection issue or am I overreacting? Was going to have a long talk with the ASM before this week's meeting but wanted input from disinterested observers. thanks dew

I would be willing to do a little more searching but do you have any other information. Approximate dates of birth or family member names ie wife or son. Anything like that will serve to narrow the field. The more unique names are easier to track but for a common name, you need some piece of identifying information.

I believe your Roy Borrowman died in January 2004 in Stuart, FL. His obit said that he was originally from Fairport. His wife, Earla, died in 2008. If this sounds like your guy, his son James lives in Bradenton, Florida. His number is available on whitepages.com.

Actually I can source it all. Just have it in note form at the moment but could put it all together with sources. Would just need to know how they want it sourced source notations like a genealogist? BTW Forest got his Bachelor of Divinity from Univ. Chicago in 1920 and his PhD in 1927

Minor update: Forest Witcraft graduated from the Univeristy of Chicago in 1917 with a bachelor's degree. In 1920, the alumni magazine reported that: Ex Forest Emerson Witcraft, A.B. 17, is a student pastor at Lawrence, Kansas Forest published 3 theses while at Univ. Chicago: A contribution to the interpretation of mysticism‎1920 The elements of the mana-concept‎ 1920 A critical analysis of the theory that theism is essential to moral motivation 1927 I believe the last was his doctoral thesis. In a Feb 6, 1930 NYTimes article it is reported that Dr. Forest Witcraft was the head of the sociology department at Hastings College, a Presbyterian school. Apparently he and several others were resigning in support of a colleague who was being forced to resign because he was too liberal.

Here's what I have found: According to census records, Forest Emerson Witcraft was born Aug 23, 1894 in Wisconsin to Thomas and Rosa Devorse Witcraft. By 1900, the family is living in Haddon Indiana and includes Forest's younger sister Vivian and his Grandfather Daniel Devorse as well as his parents. His father is listed as a day laborer and his mother does not work. In 1905, the family is back in Wisconsin and his father's occupation is listed as barber. In 1920, (there is no available census for 1910), Forest and his sister are living with just their mother in Chicago, IL. His mother is listed as the housekeeper for a college fraternity. Forest, now 25, lists no employment. I would guess that he was student though this is not listed. On June 19, 1921 Forest marries Rose Winifred Whipple in Illinois. By 1930, Forest is living in Hastings Nebraska with his wife Winifred and an infant daughter named Carol. His occupation is listed as college professor. There is a college in Hastings Hastings College founded in 1882. The first connections I have found with scouting are articles in the Newark Advocate, Newark Ohio. An article dated April 3, 1936 states: "With the final decision of the officials of the Licking County Council, Boy Scouts of America, to conduct summer camping activities for 1936 only on a troop camping basis, the training committee felt the need for conducting an intensive training course in troop camping, under the direction of Brandt Hervey and Professor Forest Witcraft of Denison University, who compose the training committee." In September 1936, an article states that "Training in the Principles of Scoutmastership will begin Sept. 24. This course is one of the required courses in the five-year progressive training for scoutmasters and will be under the direction of Prof. Forest Witcraft of Denison University and Brandt Hervey, who compose the council training committee" Winifred dies Feb 9 1942 in Sioux Falls, SD. In 1943, Forest remarries. He married Neva Elizabeth REPLOGLE on August 11. In 1944, they are still living in Sioux Falls, South Dakota where he is listed in the phone book as Assistant Scout Executive. His widowed mother, Rosa, is living with them. However, a February 1944 newspaper from Huron SD refers to Forest as the executive of the Pheasant Council Boy Scouts. The scouts were conducting a salvage paper drive. From 1945 - 1947, Forest is in Huron South Dakota where he is listed as the Scout Executive for the Central South Dakota Council. Interestingly, his office is located in the basement of City Hall. I know that Witcraft's social security card was issued in 1951 in the state of Minnesota. According wikipedia, thought I cannot yet verify this, Forest was "Charlie Guide" at the Sommers Canoe Base in Ely Minnesota about 1950-51. From at least 1963 - 1966, Froest, who is now referred to as Dr. Witcraft is the Resident Administrator at Salem College in Salem West Virginia. Forest Witcraft died in West Virginia in 1967. I'll keep digging. I would like to find out a little more including more about his children and what he taught. dew

Hey Packsaddle, Here's my funny moment explaining condoms to my son. My oldest son was about 10 or 11 when comes to me and asks what's a condom. Being a truthful and "current" kind of parent I explain. He looks at me blankly and says he thought people lived in them! Seems he was watching a game show and they talked about a condom in a wallet. He couldn't understand how someone got their apartment in their wallet. I learned to ask for context before answering any and all questions that came from left field! dew

The only portion of Scoutmaster required training that I have not completed is outdoor skills. My biggest issue with this training is that in our council it is only offered once a year in June. A weekend away in the beginning of June is difficult. Between the end of school year activities (last year is conflicted with my son's induction into National Junior Honor Society) and my busiest weeks of the year at work, I find it hard to manage. While searching for information on what is included in the course, I found several out of state councils that offer it as part of the spring camporee. Scoutmasters may either camp with their attending troop or with the training group and sessions are held throughout the day while scouts are busy in other areas. Seemed like a good idea. One less weekend away and a good example for the Scouts to see the Scoutmaster getting trained. So before I opened my big mouth and suggested this to our council, I wondered if anyone has done this or seen it done? Did it work well? Problems? I think mandated training is most successful, if it is easy to access thanks again dew

In another thread, someone suggested to a writer that not all your fundraisers should involve selling things. I agree! As a new Scoutmaster, approaching my first year of fundraising, I wondered what was your most successful non-selling fundraiser? Any unique ideas? thanks dew

I am a new Scoutmaster for a new troop. Was an ASM for about 18 months before this Just want you all to know I'm relatively new. I just received this month's council newsletter and it lists a "Coordinated District Meeting" for both September and October. I have never seen that title used before. Is that the official title of what is called a Roundtable? No roundtables are listed for either month? Also, in the past Roundtables have always been held on Thursday nights which is when both the old and new troop meets. Tried to change but other Scout commitments preclude that. So I wondered, do other councils rotate the nights for Roundtable? Seems a good way to be sure no one is excluded because it is on Troop meeting night. thanks dew

Hey emb021 Didn't mean to upset you with incorrect terminology but I simply copied and pasted from material sent to me by our council. Their terminology and requirements not mine. I would be the first to tell you that I know very little about Venturing. dew

We have been notified that our Council has been selected as a 'pilot training council'. This is what we were told is the policy: "Beginning September 1, 2009 ALL Top Leaders (Cubmasters, Scoutmasters and Crew Advisors) will have 1 year to complete their required Trainings in their current registered position. Beginning September 1, 2010 ALL Den Leaders, Assistant Scoutmasters and Committee Members will have 1 year to complete training in their current registered position. Beginning January 1, 2012 for Units not having Trained Leadership the Unit Charter will be put on hold until Trainings are complete. " These are the requirements by position: Cubmasters: This is Scouting Youth Protection Fast Start- Cubmaster Leader Specific Training- Cubmaster BALOO Tiger Leader, Den Leaders and Webelos Leaders: This is Scouting Youth Protection Fast Start- Tiger Leader, Den Leader or Webelos Leader Leader Specific Training-Tiger Leader, Den Leader or Webelos Leader BALOO or Webelos Outdoor Training Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters: This is Scouting Youth Protection Fast Start- Scoutmaster Leader Specific Training- Scoutmaster Outdoor Leadership Skills Venture Crew Advisors: This is Scouting Youth Protection Fast Start- Venture Crew Advisor Leader Specific Training- Venture Crew Advisor Outdoor Leadership Skills Unit Committee Chairs and Committee Members: This is Scouting Youth Protection Fast Start- Unit Committee Unit Committee Challenge District Committee and Commissioners: This is Scouting Youth Protection Committee- Staffing the District Committee Commissioners- Unit Commissioner Orientation Most of this is available on-line except things like Leader Specific and Outdoor. I do wonder how this will affect some units. Will it scare people away? In our area, at least, attracting volunteers is not easy. And I know that many will have a fit when I say this but some of the worst volunteers in our area are the most trained. They pick and choose what features to follow and when anyone questions them point to their trained patch and yell very loudly. I don't blame training for this all you can do is train people but you can't make them actually learn or perform. Rather, my point is that I don't believe that training is the answer to all problems. Some very good leaders have not taken training but learned the program through other means such as reading the book!! or watching others do it correctly. Conversely, some take training but it is not reflected in the way they execute the program.

My understanding of the purpose of the merit badge system is that it allows Scouts to be exposed to different subject areas. It might even lead to a new hobby or profession. So the possibility exists that after getting some exposure to the topic the Scout simply decides he is not interested enough to put in the effort to complete the merit badge. I have one scout who took climbing at camp but did not complete the badge. He simply was afraid to climb. I don't think he will ever complete the badge. However, I don't see this as a wasted effort. He learned some skills and gained some knowledge even if he didn't want to do the actual climb. I think all we can do is make sure they have the resources to complete the badge. But then we have to accept their decision to finish or not. dew

I have just started using TroopTrack. Web based partly because I use a Mac and not all programs are compatible. I like it a lot. Easy to use, very intuitive. Still under development but has everything I need. I had one small problem, sent an email and had a response within two hours. They needed additional information and asked if they could call me. They did within an hour and everything was quickly fixed. Can't ask for better service than that!

I can only speak to NY, but you should be able to find out if she is licensed as a physician in your state on the internet. Many states have online listings of professional licenses. At least you would know if her license is current and valid in your state. I must agree that if anything is illegible, you would be prudent to ask for clarification from this or any other child. Good Luck

For many reasons, including the fact the troop has not had an outdoor activity since camp last August, a group of parents decided to pull our boys from this troop. We are in a rural area with few troops so after discussion with our DE, we decided to form a new troop. I don't think anyone thought we could do it but we did. I found a charter organization whose director is an Eagle Scout. they are involved in forest protection so it is a great fit. Parents stepped up for committee and my son's former cubmaster has even agreed to join the committee. When I contacted council to ask when we would be official, I suddenly got a speech about meeting with the old troop and their charter organization. Maybe a merger thing. I was fit to be tied. It seems someone suddenly thinks the old troop might not survive. Never mind that we have been talking to everyone from the council to the committee about our issues. The old COR told us their organization doesn't talk to "outsiders" when we approached them. When the SE tried to tell me that they hadn't realized what was happening (a fib), I called him on it. Asked who was the Unit Commissioner and how could she not know. The SE changed his tune and our new charter was approved yesterday. I am not talking about attending a few meetings. I am talking about the Scoutmaster's wife who is on the committee and who is on the board of the chartering organization is our UC. Must say that this forum made me realize that I could never make changes from inside that our only option was to, as many have put it, vote with our feet. Thanks

thanks for the input. I needed a reality check on this one. The situation existed in the troop my son is leaving along with nine other scouts (long, sad story). I had a rather heated conversation with a council executive who has suddenly noticed he has a problem. I listed many things that should have been a red flag and people who should have known concluding with this unit commissioner. The more I thought about it, the odder the situation seemed. Wanted to be sure I wasn't the only one who thought this was an ineffective scenario.