Scout Master Tips: Dollars and Sense
If you’ve been in the program very long, you’ve probably heard this adage: “If you take the outing out of Scouting, all you’re left with is dollars and cents.” Turn the S and C in “SCOUTING” into dollar and cent signs ($ and ¢), and you’ll get the point.The adage is true, of course, but it tends to give less weight to money than it should. After all, without money it’s pretty hard to... [More]
By: Jennifer Fletcher On: 2011-10-13Girl Scouts are Geeks
I am a geek. Or am I nerd? Maybe I’m a bit of both. I loved science as a kid. I studied whatever information I could get my hands on, I played with chemistry sets…I didn’t have a problem with the dissection part in biology. One Christmas I begged my parents for a microscope kit (while my sister asked for dolls) and I used that kit so much I burned the bulbs out. In high... [More]
By: Jennifer Fletcher On: 2011-10-10Eagle Tip - Return to Sender
While an Eagle court of honor is a troop function, a large part of the audience is usually made up of the honoree's family and friends. That's especially true with older Scouts who may not be well known to the guys in the new Scout patrol.Of course, you have to invite family and friends; they won't hear about the court of honor in the troop newsletter. As early as possible in the planning process-even before... [More]
By: Scott Robertson On: 2011-10-08Eagle Tip - Of Calendars and Conflicts
I was working with a Scout and his dad recently to set a date for his Eagle court of honor. They suggested the first Saturday in May, which would have been just fine except that we live in Louisville, Ky., where the Kentucky Derby is held on-you guessed it-the first Saturday in May, making that day a major holiday in these parts.You probably don't have to worry about that particular scheduling conflict, but you... [More]
By: Scott Robertson On: 2011-10-06The Mighty Patrol Patch
Boy Scout patrols play an important roll in boosting spirit while giving opportunities for leadership, skill development, and advancement. Patrol patches often celebrate unique activities of the patrol and are embroidered with some fantastic art that fits within its small space. To meet the BSA requirements for uniform wear, patrol patches must be 2 inches round with a khaki background, khaki merrowed boarder, and use no more than three thread colors. Originally patrols took... [More]
By: Jason White On: 2011-10-04
Eagle Tips - Removing Barriers
Your courts of honor are undoubtedly open to all comers-but can everybody come? Is the facility where you're holding the ceremony free of barriers that could keep out wheelchair users and others with disabilities? I thought about those questions when planning a court of honor a few years back. The honoree's grandfather used a wheelchair, and I needed to make sure he could get in and out of the building and have a place... [More]
By: Scott Robertson On: 2011-10-01Eagle Tips - Going On Location
Let's play a little game. Think about a location where you often attend meetings or ceremonies (perhaps the sanctuary in your place of worship or the conference room at your office). Got it? Good. Now, answer these questions: Where are the light switches? How do you control the central heating or air conditioning? What about the sound system? Is the room accessible to wheelchair users? What's the seating capacity of the room? How would you... [More]
By: Scott Robertson On: 2011-09-29Two Councils Consolidated
I have been asked many times to share more Scouting news related items. So when I came across this article about Two Boy Scout Councils merging I thought I would share it with you. The voting members of both the Southeast Wisconsin Council and the Milwaukee County Council agreed to consolidate into a new entity, and the name of the new council will be Three Harbors Council. Pretty good name selection since all three... [More]
By: Scott Robertson On: 2011-09-27Girl Scouting Web Resource: Scout Mom
While searching for information relating to GS troop organization I came across the neatest website: Scout Mom. This site is an amazing source of information for both new and experienced leaders alike. Jennifer Wood, the mastermind behind Scout Mom, explains her reasons for starting the site back in October of 2002: “I have designed this site to help leaders of girls involved in scouting to provide an awesome experience for their troops. Scout Mom... [More]
By: Jennifer Fletcher On: 2011-09-26Eagle Tips - Scrapping the Guestbook
Submitted by Cheryl Humenski If you're looking for a creative alternative to traditional guestbooks, try this idea from Cheryl Humenski: Take blank scrapbook pages, personalize them with pictures of your Eagle Scout, and lay them out on a couple of tables. Invite guests to sign their names and add messages to these pages, which you can later assemble into a scrapbook. This approach allows guests to write more than just their names. It also prevents... [More]
By: Scott Robertson On: 2011-09-24