Sout Zone Video on youtube now linked at www.savescouting.org

[brianbuf]

Have you seen the scout zone video?

It is modern, fast paced, with music that will reach many main stream boys. I have just linked it at my website www.savescouting.org

 

This is a great video that shows scouting as many of us would like it to be. Not a single neckerchief is shown!

 

you may have to hit the link twice (link, then back arrow, then link again) for the youtube video part to work.

 

good luck!

[evmori]

Great video! Shows Scouts doing lots of Scouting stuff! And a lot in Class A & Class B uniforms! And no mention of NASCAR! What's a Sout?

 

Ed Mori

Troop 1

1 Peter 4:10

[Miki101]

This is a very good ad for BSA whether is was done by them or not. It shows that the focus of BSA should get back to outdoorsmanship/backwoodsmanship in Nature. Ever since the departure of Ernest Thompson Seton in 1915, BSA has been drifting away - ever so slightly year by year - from his basic tenets of outdoormanship. Looks like they are starting to get back to the basics of woodcraft and the outdoor life. This is a very good thing for the boys and the program. Kudos to the producer.

 

David C. Scott

[stevejb]

The video was part of the ScoutZone DVD distributed by the BSA over the past few years. I copied it off the DVD and placed it youtube along with several others videos. I thought it would be good for others outside of Scouting to have a chance to see the videos; after all, I really don't see the BSA and councils using them very much outside of the Scouting program.

 

Steve B

Scoutmaster, Troop 68, CMC

http://melrosetroop68.org

[Fuzzy Bear]

The film is an accurate portrayal of the Scouting program. It gives potential Scouts good information on what to expect. fb

[Eagledad]

Yes, I commented on another thread that the scouts in our area would relate to that video.

 

Barry

[Eamonn]

If you look very carefully.

The good looking fellow with the white hair looking through the telescope talks funny and has a strange name!!

I wonder who he is? (Hi Mom!!)

Eamonn.

[Lisabob]

I like the video and think it does a good job of reaching its target audience - early middle school boys. Too bad I haven't seen it on TV around here! Just one question though. Is the video graphic quality better on the CDs or DVDs versions that you have Steve? It came across all pixel-y when I watched it on youtube .

[stevejb]

It is much better looking on the DVD. Youtube processes the videos for their website and thus they lose quality. It is better quality on our troop website.

 

Steve B

Scoutmaster, Troop 68, CMC

http://melrosetroop68.org

[BrentAllen]

I am really disappointed in the video. I was expecting something new and exciting - the video looks like pretty traditional Scouting to me. Where are the skate boards and the electronic games? None of those kids had a single IPOD! This must be fake! Where are the new "icons"? I saw plenty of traditional Scout uniforms - how can that be?? I thought there were going to be new "fast food" uniforms!? Where are the computers?? The new flashy patrol names?? I actuall saw boys putting up a tent and sitting around a campfire - we know that isn't of any interest to today's teenagers! They were using compasses, not flashy new GPS units - what caveman put this together?? I didn't see a single NASCAR driver or car! I am just incredibly disappointed in this effort - nothing has changed!

[sarcasm off](This message has been edited by BrentAllen)

[dan]

I watched the video. My son has done just about everything on the video and than some except for the wind surfing.

 

This has all been done using the BSA program.

He has canoed 50 miles on the Man Chain in Canada.

He has climbed over 4 mountains in the high dessert at Double H and backpacked 50 miles.

He climbed 2 mountains at Philmont and backpacked over 70 miles, got dragged along the a trail by a donkey.

He has sailed a tall ship for a week in the Great Lakes.

He has kayaked in the Ocean, sleep on an island for a week, went shark fishing, snorkeling.

This year he is going backpacking/fly fishing in the Rockies and taking a 50 mile canoe float trip in Arkansas.

 

Sound like some of you are not fulfilling the promise! Brian?

 

OR maybe it is unit leaders worrying to much about national and it numbers and it polices instead of providing an exciting program.

 

What does any of this have to do with a neckerchief?

 

If you cannot provide exciting adventures use the easy excuses like the uniform, it is old fashioned, or dollars.

 

 

[Crew21_Adv]

Dan,

 

I have to agree with you.. When I read this post yesterday, the first thing I thought was....

 

Self, "What does this have to do with a neckerchief?"

 

On the other hand.. Good thing no one was injured making this video, I would hate to see someone fashioning a sling with an IPOD.

 

Brian,

 

Seriously though. I have occasionally reviewed your website, and even noticed for a while that you had a reply from the National office.

 

For many years (even before your webpage), I have heard fellow Scouters, sit around the campfire and discuss the pros and cons with the BSA program.

 

I believe all Scouters desire for every Scout to have a good experience. National continuously conducts survey and study groups, hires professional educators and recreational specialist. Meanwhile there are a few Scouters that participate in the literature revision and observe potentially new program updates with selected Packs and Troops before debuting these program updates national wide.

 

Coming to mind are the recent Cub Scout handbook revisions, even with Baloo and friends appearing more cartoonish and appealing. When I look at Boy's Life magazines, I see articles related to the monthly themes, also with cartoons, Scouts in Action, sports heroes, electronic GPS reviews and even electronic game reviews!!! Looking on the Boys Life cover, I usually see a Scout water skiing, white water rafting or rappelling. I hope they are not smiling for the camera (like the magazines in the check-out stands), but they are actually enjoying what they are doing.

 

While I don't think anyone fundamentally disagrees with you, Brian, about providing a program that the boys really do enjoy and will build character. Looking at the savescouting webpages, I still do not see any focus groups or any proposed revisions to the various program literature. Still, all I see are the same old complaints that I've heard around the campfire for many years. They are just residing on a webpage now.

 

Brian, please, recommend changes to the various Cub Scout, Boy Scout and Venturing handbooks, recommend new merit badges and the written pamphlet, recommend the style of uniform that would be appealing to all Scouts. Recommend a timeline or plan of action. Recommend new fitness, educational, and character building material. Recommend new corporate training material. Please hire a consultation study group, please provide reports on survey and sample groups with revised and recommended material.

 

Like the movies of potentially famous writers (or Orchestra directors like Mr Holland's Opus) that have permanent writer block and never finish that award winning novel. There is a statement put the pen to the paper. All I see are complaints; I don't see any products or program value on savescouting.org.

 

Brian, please, stop the same old fashion or traditional complaining and start writing the literature you would like to recommend.

 

Scouting Forever and Venture On!

Crew21 Adv

 

[brianbuf]

 

It seems like this video is being well received by most viewers.

 

Yes, a short video will not show all the improvements and modernazations that scouting is going through or needs to be going through. Thankfully, the new President of BSA, shares my vision to "keep scouting relevant to the boys of today." (see scouting mag of 2 months ago).

 

There IS much work to do and it is much bigger than just one person to do. My goal is to encourage the national folks in Irving to do what has just been suggested: do focus groups, review materials, handbooks, uniforms, etc. And based upon the recently letters from folks on the National Executive Committee I think the wheels are turning!

 

Please don't accuse me of complaining. I am suggesting new roads to go to reverse the membership decline, without changing the values of scouting. We can do nothing, and see the program shrivel up and one day blow away. Or we can recongize there is a problem, and creatively work together to change things for the better. I vote for the later!

 

 

[Crew21_Adv]

Brian,

 

Greetings again!

 

As you stated. I think the wheels are turning. Some of us believe the wheels have always been turning. The folks at national have been encouraged by our fellow Scouters for many years, not only since this Summer. An example, the Scoutzone webpage and video have been around for nearly two years, not just since savescouting.org.

 

Since there are some dedicates Scouter who have been working with youth for many years. And seeing since a long time volunteer, Roy Cronk, assumed President of the BSA in May at the National Convention. And you just attended Wood Badge this Summer and began your savescouting.org webpages during September in response to your Wood Badge ticket. Instead of saying Thankfully, the new President of BSA, shares my vision to "keep scouting relevant to the boys of today.". I would say that you share the same vision as President Roy Cronk.

 

If you have to give credit where credit is due. BSA President Roy Cronk said it four months before you did. (Unless I missed the Scouting Magazine article when you were interviewed.)

 

I didnt know we were taking a vote, as you pointed out.

 

I did state I believe all Scouters desire for every Scout to have a good experience. It seems that we have the same goal, not a divided vote. If you do want to take it to a vote, I would say we already do vote, every time we re-charter and submit a new application.

 

As for, creatively working together to change things for the better. It seems to me Scouting has been doing that. For years, fellow Scouters have recommended and submitted documented literature to Council, Regional, and National for the revisions of the handbooks, merit badge pamphlets, and training.

 

Creatively working is still working. Writing literature, revising handbooks, writing program helps training material.

 

I dont speak for everyone, but I would believe we all have similar views. Keeping Scouting relevant to youth today.

 

So Brian, sincerely, as our fellow Scouters in this Scouters.com forum posts their ideas and thoughts to this forum. I am still interested in reviewing your thoughts. But regarding, savescouting.org, (which is your site), please begin to post new program material, new literature, new merit badge pamphlets, new training material or actionable items. Savescouting is your website, but all I read are echoes of all the campfire discussions from the past.

 

Scouting Forever and Venture On!

Crew21 Adv

[evmori]

I would agree that Scouting is always changing. I would also agree that Brian's site is nothing but fluff.

 

Brent,

 

And lest we not forget the Scouts in the video were cooking on stoves! Not some newfangled device!

 

Ed Mori

Troop 1

1 Peter 4:10