The Road less traveled

The Theme for this years Friends of Scouting Campaign is "Scouting Changes Lives". And that is a fact.. unarguably a fact.

Scouting offers those life changing moments, moments that shape our young men, build character, and most of all provide for lasting memories.
Some of the older guys in the Troop are getting to that point were Scouting may not look to cool to their friends. This is were the life changing happens. Providing a relevant program for them is critical, keeping them engaged in Scouting paramount. As I gave this thought, I thought about the poem "The Road Less Traveled" and how it fit for our young men today. Talk about relevance..

Lets encourage our young men to take that road less traveled. While it may not be cool or popular the rewards of the Scouting trail are many and differences are beyond belief.

ROAD LESS TRAVELED

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth

Then took the other as just as fair
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet, knowing how way leads onto way
I doubted if I should ever come back

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence
Two roads diverged in a wood
And I took the one less traveled by
And that has made all the difference

by Robert Frost

Happy Scouting!

Our Mission

The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.

It has been said over and over that we need to know what "Right Looks like". Knowing that will guide us in making those ethical and moral choices or decisions over the course of our lives.

I have been thinking lately as we have had Webelos Scouts paying us visits, what do those kids want out of Scouting? Answering questions from their parents and getting a feel for what excites, bothers, and concerns them has lead me right back to "RIGHT".

I think that sometimes the expectation of Scouting is to turn out Eagle Scouts. And while it is my hope that every Scout earns his Eagle Award, I will not be saddened if they do not... AS LONG as along the way we see that young boy become a good man that in fact makes ethical and moral choices. A young man that we see a measurable change in his life for the better. In short, a young man that lives the Scout Oath and Law.
Not every Scout will earn the Eagle Award, and we should not get wrapped up in making Eagles. We should take the time and teach skills, not just knots and cooking, but leadership and decision making. We should be shinning examples for them to follow and grow to be like us. We need to encourage and demand that they accept nothing less than RIGHT. The right found in the Oath and especially the LAW.
In the course of our programs we need to keep the Scout law in everything we do. In every skill, every camp out, every hike. The more the Scouts hear and see the Law in action the more they will emulate it and therefore learn to make those ethical and moral choices.

This is the bedrock of Scouting. Without it we are merely a boys club.

Happy Scouting!

Leave No Trace Awareness Award

For those of you that need another patch...but more importantly, learn and share the Leave no Trace information...

Leave No Trace Awareness Award

Scout Requirements
1. Recite and explain in your own words the principles of Leave No Trace, and discuss how an ethical guideline differs from a rule.
2. On three separate camping trips with your troop or team, demonstrate and practice the Leave No Trace skills appropriate to the trip.
3. Earn the Camping and Environmental Science merit badges.
4. Participate in a Leave No Trace-related service project that reduces or rehabilitates recreational impacts. Discuss with your troop or team which recreational impacts were involved with the project.
5. Give a 10-minute presentation on a Leave No Trace topic approved by your unit leader to a Scouting unit or other interested group.
6. Teach a Leave No Trace-related skill to a Scouting unit or other interested group.

Adult Leader Requirements
1. Recite and explain in your own words the principles of Leave No Trace, and discuss how an ethical guideline differs from a rule.
2. On each of the three camping trips in Scout requirement 2, discuss with your troop or team the impact problems encountered and the methods the unit used to eliminate or at least minimize those impacts.
3. Read chapters 7 through 10 (Leaving No Trace), chapter 27 (Understanding Nature), and chapter 34 (Being Good Stewards of Our Resources) in the BSA Fieldbook. Share with another adult leader what you learned.
4. Actively assist (train, advise, and supervise) a Scout in planning, organizing, and leading a Leave No Trace service project that reduces or rehabilitates recreational impacts.
5. Assist at least three Scouts in earning the Leave No Trace Achievement Award.
6. Teach a Leave No Trace-related skill to a Scouting unit or other interested group.

Here's the Application Form
Download the application form [PDF - 384K] for the Leave No Trace Awareness Award

Happy Scouting!

LNT - Camp and Travel on Durable surfaces

To continue our discussion on Leave No Trace we will talk about the second principle.
Camping and Traveling on Durable surfaces.

DURABLE SURFACE= refers to the ability of a surface or vegetation to withstand wear or remain in stable condition.

Some ways that we can tell what a durable surface looks like is simply by looking at it.
Durable surfaces when selecting a campsite is often confusing. Where to pitch your tent? Well look at dry grass areas and hard ground. Yes, I know it may not be the most comfortable, but you have a sleeping pad and remember our focus is less impact.
Select camp areas that have been established. Even when in the wilderness look for places that others have used. Try not to make new camp sites.
Spread out. This lessens the impact on the ground also.
Durable surfaces on the trail. Rule number 1. STAY ON THE TRAIL. Do not make new trails.
Do not short cut switch backs. This causes unsightly trails and also starts the process of erosion of the hill. Take the extra 20 steps and make the full turn.
Do not leave trail markings for those to follow. These become unsightly too. When traveling in small groups leave your meet points on the map. Discuss rest stops and link up points and plot them on your map. It is the only marker you need and leaves no trace.

If you are heading cross country, choose durable surfaces such as dry grass, rock, gravel, or snow. You impact will be small in these conditions. If you can't then spread out. Try not to bunch up and "Herd" across an area. The solitude will help you enjoy the wilderness a lot more.

Finding durable surfaces to camp on and travel through is an important part of leave no trace. Often over looked, it sets the tone once you arrive in the wilderness. Going back to Planning ahead, plan for durable areas and trails. This will help you to help our Wilderness areas, parks, forest land, and yeah... even our urban areas.

Happy Scouting!

You might be a Scout if...

Yeah... it's play on the Foxworthy hit.. but it is too fun not to do.

We had a great weekend of NYLT (JLT) this weekend followed up by a good night of Fun at our annual Troop lock in. I had no idea how bad I was at video games... but it was fun none the less.

So you might be a Scout/Scouter if....

You can turn Ramen into a 5 Star meal.
You wear a headlamp to bed.
You can sleep anywhere any time, and a foam pad is actually called a bed.
You can feed a family of 5 from one pot.
You take better care of your hiking boots than you do your car.
You have received camping gear at every Birthday and Christmas since you were a Tenderfoot.
Your favorite Lullaby is Vespers.
You always know were North is.
Its not a good vacation unless you can bring your hiking stick.
REI is not just a store... its a place of worship.
And finally...
There is no place you would rather be on a crisp morning than sitting in the vestibule of your tent, sipping a cup of coffee looking out over the the Wilderness that God has so graciously given Scouts to wander in.

Happy Scouting!

If you believe it...

It will happen...
I'm talking about the Scout Law of course... You need to believe it to live it.
I have said it many times before, but you never have to look for Good Deeds, they are all around you, you just need to keep yourself open to it.

"A Scout is helpful" "To help other people at all times"


Cartoon by Rich Diesslin, www.the-cartoonist.com, used with permission

But you need to believe that. Not just say it. Opportunities present themselves all the time, but if you are not living the Oath and Law, you will not see the opportunities.

I am constantly seeing opportunities to be helpful, simple stuff like holding a door open, carrying a bag or two for someone, clearing the table at home etc.
The opportunities are all around. Ever since I started talking about it, it seems as though the chances to helpful have seemed to increase.

Believing...
Do you say the words and mean what you say? Do you say the words and forget about it? The choice is yours, but a part of being a Trustworthy Scout is that you actually mean what you say.
You can associate this with Loyalty also in that people expect Scouts to "Do a Good Turn". Those that know that you are in Scouting just expect you to live the values of the Oath and Law, even if they have no idea what the Law says.
It is an easy part of Scouting.. to be helpful. Part of each level of advancement requires you to "DEMONSTRATE SCOUT SPIRIT". You do this by LIVING the Scout Oath and Law and not just reciting them.
We had a discussion the other night where I asked a Senior Scout what he could do to be better at being a positive influence. Of course the Scout had all the right answers, so I asked him to look me square in the eye and tell me what he could do.
Looking me in the eye the answers became a lot more honest and real. Suddenly you could see the Scout realize the expectation of living the Scout Oath and Law. And what it really meant to him. Sometimes it can be tough to live the Law. It forces you to go against the Social grain in some cases. And that's ok. It is better to be right than cool.
As a Scoutmaster I spend a lot more time in conferences talking about the Oath and Law than anything else, especially for those Scouts Star and Life. Believing the Oath and Law is the foundation for demonstrating it. And the Oath and Law is the foundation of Scouting. Without our Oath and Law, we are just guys that get together and camp.

If you believe the Oath and Law... really believe the values and promises contained within, than you will be a better Scout and a better person. Standing on the Oath and Law as your foundation you will see opportunities to demonstrate it.

Being Helpful is a value of Scouting. It is also a promise that we make to ourselves and to those around us.
Believe in the Law and Oath and opportunities will come to live it.

Happy Scouting!

Scout Knots cartoon by Rich Diesslin

Content of Character

During last nights Scoutmaster Minute at the Troop meeting, I talked about the Content of your Character. Taking from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial were he said that "... one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." (read the whole speech here)

What is the content of your Character and how did it get there... or better yet, how is it going to get there?
The content of your Character is that which makes up your Character. It is developed and learned, but most of all given as you consistently demonstrate those characteristic of good virtue.

As you may know, I am a collector of Scouting memorabilia, especially Scout Handbooks and the like.
Here is an excerpt from the Boy Scouts of America 1911 Handbook

Scout Virtues, Pg 8-10.
There are other things which a scout ought to know and which should be characteristic of him, if he is going to be the kind of scout for which the Boy scouts of America stand. One of these is obedience. To be a good scout a boy must learn to obey the orders of his patrol leader, scout master, and scout commissioner. He must learn to obey, before he is able to command. He should so learn to discipline and control himself that he will have no thought but to obey the orders of his officer.
He should keep such a strong grip on his own life that he will not allow himself to do anything which is ignoble, or which will harm his life or weaken his powers of endurance.
Another virtue of a scout is that of courtesy. A boy scout ought to have a command of polite language. He ought to show that he is a true gentleman by doing little things for others. Loyalty is also a scout virtue. A scout out to be loyal to all to whom he has obligations. He ought to stand up courageously for the truth, for his parents and friends.
Another Scout virtue is self-respect. He ought to refuse to accept gratuities from any one, unless absolutely necessary. He ought to work for the money he gets.
For this same reason he should never look down upon any one who may be poorer than himself, or envy any one richer than himself. A scout's self-respect will cause him to value his own standing and make him sympathetic toward others who may be, on one hand, worse off, or, on the other hand, better off as far as wealth is concerned. Scouts know neither a lower nor a higher class, for a scout is one who is a comrade to all and who is ready to share that which he has with others.
The most important scout virtue is that of honor. Indeed, this is the basis of all scout virtues and is closely allied to that of self-respect. When a scout promises to do a thing on his honor, he is bound to do it. The honor of a scout will not permit of anything but the highest and the best and the manliest. The honor of a scout is a sacred thing, and cannot be lightly set aside or trampled on.
Faithfulness to duty is another one of the scout virtues. When it is a scouts duty to do something, he dare not shirk. A scout is faithful to his own interest and the interests of others. He is true to his country and his God.
Another scout virtue is cheerfulness. As a the scout law intimates, he must never go about with a sulky air. He must always be bright and smiling, and as the humorist says, "Must always see the doughnut and not the hole." A bright face and a cheery word spread like sunshine from one to another. It is the scout's duty to be a sunshine-maker in the world.
Another scout virtue is that of thoughtfulness, especially to animals; not merely the thoughtfulness that eases a horse from the pain of a badly fitting harness or gives food and drink to an animal that is in need, but also that which keeps a boy from throwing a stone at a cat or or tying a tin can on a dogs tail. If a boy scout does not prove his thoughtfulness and friendship for animals, it is quite certain that he never will be really helpful to his comrades or to the men, women, and children who may need his care.
And then the final and chief test of the scout is the doing of a good turn to somebody every day, quietly and without boasting. This is the proof of the scout. It is practical religion, and a boy honors God best when he helps others most. A boy may wear all the scout uniforms made, all the scout badges ever manufactured, know all the woodcraft, camp craft, scoutcraft and other activities of boy scouts, and yet never be a real boy scout. To be a real boy scout means the doing of a good turn every day with the proper motive and if this be done, the boy has a right to be classed with the great scouts that have been of such service to to their country.
To accomplish this, a scout should observe the scout law.
Every boy ought to commit to memory the following abbreviated form of the scout law.
1. A scout is trustworthy.
2. A scout is loyal.
3. A scout is helpful.
4. A scout is friendly.
5. A scout is courteous.
6. A scout is kind.
7. A scout is obedient.
8. A scout is cheerful.
9. A scout is thrifty.
10. A scout is brave.
11. A scout is clean.
12.A scout is reverent.

After last nights meeting there was a short discussion regarding Troop Junior Leader Training. One of the Scouts engaged brought up the question about why we have to "Relearn" the things we learned last year. My answer was simple, and not meant to be harsh, but it was "Because we have not demonstrated with any consistency that we know what we learned last year." We do not act like we know the material and so it is worth revisiting.
It is for that reason that we can never reinforce the Scout Oath and Law enough. The values that make up the Law are those things that shape ones character. And that becomes the Content of your Character.
It is what people will judge you by, and yes my friends, like it or not.. you will be judged and it will be your character good or bad that stands out the most.

Happy Scouting!

Scouting Blogs

There are many Scouting Blogs out there, and in the "Scouting Blog community" there are a bunch of really good folks sharing their Scouting experience, ideas, and stories.
I started this blog last year with the idea of sharing and using it as another method of communicating Scouting's program, especially as it applies to our Troop.

Over the course the last 6 months or so, I have met some great Scouters via the blog network. They have helped me out with finding direction for the blog and of course sharing ideas.

Tonight, as I jumped on the net and checked a few of my favorites, I found a new one called the HalfEagle.com. This blog is a compilation of Scouting Blogs and a great way to get a "Shot gun" blast of whats happening in the world of Scouting Blogs.

Check it out, it is worth the look.... that and I am proud to say that the Scoutmaster Minute has made it among the company of other great Bloggers.

Happy Scouting!

Leave No Trace - Plan and Prepare

As the book says, "Proper planning and preparation helps back country travelers accomplish trip planning goals safely while minimizing damage to the land and having fun".

And that my friends is what it is all about.

As you all know poor planning results in campers having a miserable time and often leads to damage to natural resources. It does not take much research to find stories of numerous campers that have gone into the wilderness ill prepared and without proper planning. They are the news all the time.

So here are some things to consider when planning a trip:

1. Identify and record the goals or expectations of the trip.

2. Identify the skills and ability levels of the participants.

3. Select destinations that match the goals, skills, and abilities of the participants.

4. Seek information about the area that your group plans to visit from land managers, maps, and literature.

5. Check the normal weather patterns for that area. Get projected forecasts for the area and adjust our plans accordingly.

6. Choose equipment and clothing for comfort, safety, and follow Leave No Trace principles.

7. Axes and saws are not needed for collecting and preparing wood for a leave no trace fire. Downed, dead wood is gathered from the ground and broken by hand.

8. Plan trip activities to match the goals, skills, and abilities of the group.

9. Evaluate your trip upon return; note changes to make next time.

That is a sampling of considerations, I am sure you can come up with a few more. Remember, our goal is lessen our footprint and leave the smallest impact possible. When making your list of considerations ask yourself if it passes the impact test. Consider your meal plans, fires, swimming, camp site set up, and garbage. They all have an impact on leave no trace.

Going prepared and properly planned will ensure successful camping experiences as well as leaving no trace.

Happy Scouting!

Leave No Trace - Getting Started

Most people that enjoy the out doors, that really appreciate what we have in the wilderness area practice some level of leave no trace. While others seemingly take for granite the wide open spaces and figure that someone else will clean up after them, or that their impact will not be that harmful.
The fact is that while we may not be at a danger level in our wilderness, the foot print we leave today may have a lasting impact on how we use it tomorrow. It is for that reason that we need to learn and practice a leave no trace philosophy while getting out there.

To get started it is a good idea just to ask a few questions.

Do we plan ahead for all circumstances and go prepared?

Do we always travel and camp on durable surfaces? Do we know what that means? Do we know what surfaces are not durable?

Do we know how to properly dispose of our human waste and wastewater?

Do we minimize site alterations and leave natural items and artifacts for others to discover?

Do we minimize our campfire impact?

Do we only observe wildlife, or do we disturb them with our actions?

Are we always considerate of other campers?

Do we understand and follow the Leave no trace principles?

I think an honest review of your answers will tell you that you may be close to actively participating in the leave no trace program, but may be falling short in certain areas. That's ok, its a starting point and a place from which to build.

It is important that Scouts know and understand, not just the verbiage, but why we need the Leave no trace program. It is always a good idea to get them out into the wilderness. Have them sit quietly and look around. Then ask about Leave no trace. Right before their eyes they will see the "WHY" we need it.

I think about it in these terms as it relates to our Troop. We camp a lot. So over the 30 plus nights we camp over the course of a year, what is the impact that we can potentially leave? OK now.. what is the impact that we actually left last year? Can we answer those questions and feel good about our answer. I know that we fall short.

Happy Scouting!

Leave No Trace

Here is an excerpt from a newsletter I had laying around.

"Okay, I’ll admit it. I have left a trace or two in my day. How about you? Ever throw an apple core thinking "it’s bio-degradable so its okay for the environment, right?" Ever pick some amazing wildflowers to adorn your home only to discover they are never quite as beautiful removed from their natural environment? I’m quite sure I would have thought twice if I was
more knowledgeable. The bottom line- I didn’t fully comprehend how the cumulative actions of many people can diminish our outdoor experience as well as the health of an ecosystem.
I am convinced that most people want to and would "do the right thing" if only doing the right thing was evident and reasonable. I believe that is why Leave No Trace has been and continues to be so well received among outdoor recreationists. The Leave No Trace message asks us to apply common sense and good judgement. Leave No Trace empowers us to care for the places we cherish by equipping us with the basic knowledge we need to make small but ultimately meaningful choices regarding our actions."

Leave No Trace has become, since the mid 90's the way we do things in the out doors. To me it is not an hardship, it is simply a way that we can ensure the wilderness we love now will be around for Scouts in the future.

We will be discussing Leave No Trace a lot this year, as I know we can do things much better. Leave No Trace sometimes is just a buzz phrase in Scouting, and many do not really take it for what it really is. You always hear leaders saying "Leave no trace..pick up that trash". Well if the Scouts were taught better ways of reducing trash, the leaders would not need to remind them as much. We will get into that more later.

So to start.. here are the Principles of Leave No Trace.

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly (Pack It In, Pack It Out)
4. Leave What You Find
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

Happy Scouting!

Second greatest Raccoon Story

During the second session of my Wood Badge course (WE1-492-01-05) in June of 2005, we were camped at the beautiful Camp Clark, AKA Adventure Cove.
Our Second night in camp, the Beaver Patrol had just finished a great dutch oven cake, got things cleaned up and watched the final embers burn out of our camp fire when the tell tale yawning started signaling "Lights out" was near.
We said our good nights and crawled into our sleeping bags humming "Back to Gilwell".

Now, I am a pretty hard sleeper, especially when in a sleeping bag out in the woods, but this night a sound the likes of which I had not heard in sometime, caused an eye to open and an immediate reach for the headlamp. I looked through the flap of my tent and scanned the camp site looking for the source of the noise. About the time my light hit the picnic table 4 other lights illuminated the campsite from the other patrol member tents.
And there it was, our garbage bag, thrown about the campsite, we had been invaded by the Raccoon patrol. Unfortunately, there is not a Raccoon patrol in the Wood Badge course. No this was a patrol of mask wearing varmints that would not rest till it had removed every piece of garbage in search of leftover cake.
The lights phased them for a second and they scurried off into the darkness of the Coastal night.
A nod that the coast was clear and all of us Beavers were once again snug in our bags, Tom already had a good snore going on.
It did not take long for this aggressive band of misfits to return. I had a sealed box that locked sitting on the table. This contained the patrols food. This box is hard enough for people to get into let alone raccoons, so we felt pretty safe.
But these raccoons were going to give it a try. I heard the noise and poked my head out of the tent. Shinning my light toward the table I could see the beady little eyes of the raccoon that clearly was leading the trio. He was barking directions and waving his little arms suggesting a break in of the box was the mission.
My light had become a tool for them, this time they were not phased and seemed to be enjoying the extra light.
After multiple attempts at opening the box, the band had to move to plan "B". This was my signal to wake up the rest of the Beavers. Their flashlights now helped the raccoons at their task.
The leader of the bandits signaled that the box needed to be dropped from the table. On his command, they pushed the box. It slid across the table and dropped to the ground. The raccoons followed with a sense of urgency.
Upon reaching the box, they noticed it had not opened. The leader, obviously frustrated, now came up with the plan to take the box back to their hide out and work on it there.
Two of the raccoons then got behind the box, rose up on their hind legs and began to push the box down the trail, all the while their fearless leader cleared the path and made sure the flashlights were still trained on him. They pushed for a good one hundred feet when they were abruptly halted by two stumps that would not allow any further movement. Beaten, the raccoons sat down on the box and looked at us, still shinning our lights at them.
The lead raccoon gave us a wave and the would be robbers departed into the darkness of Camp Clark.
After a good laugh it was time for us Beavers to hit the rack.
Flash lights led us back to the comfort of our sleeping backs and within a minute or so Tom was sound asleep and snoring.

Happy Scouting!

Waterproofing your wilderness World

A good Article from the Backpacker Magazine Website. You can read the article here.

As you know, keeping dry is one of the most important things you can do to ensure a good time and a safe camp out, especially in the winter.

Here is part of the Article regarding your tent.
Want A Waterproof Tent?
Of course you do! A tent that's not waterproof does you about as much good as a car without an engine. Look for these features when shopping for storm-ready shelter:
>>A roomy vestibule. Fully covered vestibules act as mudrooms when things get sloshy. They are an invaluable place to store wet gear and packs, so your inner sanctum stays dry and clean.
>>Full coverage rainfly. Forget about tents with cute little awnings sticking out above doors and windows. The wind will blow sheets of rain right into your lap. Look for a rainfly that extends all the way to the ground and all the way around.
>>Factory taped fly seams. When the factory applies the seam tape (rather than you, post-purchase) it's more durable, more foolproof, and saves you a big headache. A no-brainer.
>>Plenty of guy out points, stakes and cord. It's key to be able to keep your rainfly taut so water doesn't wick into the tent.
>>Bathtub or seamless floor. The floor fabric of tents is made of a sturdier, coated fabric. In bathtub style floors, this fabric wraps a few inches up from the ground creating an impenetrable barrier. At the very least, a tent floor should be one, seamless piece of fabric.

Enjoy the article.

Happy Scouting!

Pod casting

A recent improvement to the Scouting program using today's technology is the Pod Cast.
Now for those of you that don't know, the Pod Cast is a way to present information, typically from an Internet host. You can download these presentations or listen to them right on your computer.
Many people say, "Well I don't have an Ipod!" The good news is you don't have to own an Ipod. Any program or device that plays MP3 files will do.

These presentations are like listening to talk radio shows, good for us, we have some Scouters out there that have found there way to our MP3 Players, and the message they are sending is good.

Here are a few examples of Scouting Pod Cast sites:

The Cascade Pacific Council is trying their hand at it. You can find them here.
This is another great site that really suites me. CLICK HERE.
If you are interested in the Order of the Arrow and Patch collecting than you want to check out the Cloth Talk site.
For those of you that are still active in the Cub Scout program check out this neat site that will make your MP3 Scout friendly! And I love the Title "An hour a week!"
Staying with the Cubbies... The Boy Scouts of America have this site for you.

Here is a one "Pod cast" from the BSA PODCAST Website. I am not sure if this is an "Official" site of the BSA, but they have some good programs. Take a listen, and take it with you.

You gotta love Technology!

Happy Scouting!

Music, Video games, and Scouting!?

This weekend our OA Chapter held a "Pow Wow". Essentially it was a way to kick off 2008 with a fun and relaxing get away weekend. A hand full of adults and a nice size group of Arrowmen met at Scouters Mountain and had a party.
Friday was a fellowship gathering, cracker barrel and a generally relaxed night.
Saturday, the group worked on regalia and the ceremony teams did a little practicing, but by and large it was just a bunch of fun. Saturday night after dinner we had a special demonstration of the Native American Flute, all the guys got a shot at it and learned how neat it was and how it can enhance ceremonies. Then the ceremony team competed in a ceremonies contest. They made up ceremonies or presented cross over/Arrow of light ceremonies.. it was pretty cool.
Then it was game time.

Xbox's were set up and projected on the wall via computer projectors, other game systems were in this corner and that corner, the music was turned up, the light went out and hours of gaming and electronic activity began.

Now I personally do not have a problem with this, I suppose it falls into the "Time and place" category. What I found interesting however was the choices of music and games the young men play.
At one point, the small group of adults sitting in the room collectively asked the boys.. "Why don't you play your own music?" Everything they played was from our High School day and earlier. And that was a while ago. I guess I should applaud them for their collective taste in music and thankful they turn away from other modern musical styles, but come on... it's ours and we want it back.

The games, well, I am not sure what to say about that. I am a fan of the "Shooter game", as long as it is not that graphic. I really like the sports games and find the Madden Football outstanding, sure beats "Pong" or "Asteroids". I am not a believer that video games cause a kid to flip out and become ax murder participants. Besides, these are Scouts and a firmly believe in what our program is offering them. A night of video games will not hurt.

I guess the point is, sometimes the Scouts need a break from the norm. Taking the Honor Society up to the Camp and letting them have a good time will do good things.
This morning as we cleaned up and parted ways, the boys were tired, but happy. They had made new friends, hung out with buddies, learned some new things, but mostly had fun.

We have a real active Chapter of the OA. 2007, these guys worked their tails off and made it more active, more directed at Service, and more fun. Ending 2007, 31 of the Arrowmen earned the Leadership in Service Award, that is the most in the Lodge, and a handful of them are from our Troop. 2008 promises to be even better.

It was nice to go to a youth party and have the ability to sing along...

Happy Scouting!

A Scouters Prayer

This was delivered to us at Roud Table on Thursday night by our District Commissioner and dear friend of mine. Thanks Bob.

I thought I'd share it with you.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Help to keep my honor bright
And teach me that integrity of character is my most priceless possession.
Grant that I may do my best today,
And strive to do even better tommorrow.

Teach me that duty is a friend and not an enemy,
And help me face even the most disagreeable task cheerfully.
Give me the faith to understand my purpose and life,
Open my mind to the truth and fill my heart with love.

I am thankful for all the blessings you have bestowed upon my country.
Help me to do my duty to my country and
To know that a good nation must be made from good men.

Help me to remember my obligation to obey the Scout Law,
And give me understanding, so that it is more than mere words.
May I never tire of the joy of helping other people or
Look the Other way when someone is in need.

You have given me the gift of a body,
Make me wise enough to keep it health,
That I might serve better.

You are the source of all wisdom,
Help me to have an alert mind,
Teach me to think,
And help me to learn discipline.

In all that I do and in every challenge I face,
Help me to know the difference between right and wrong,
And lead me in obedience on a straight path to a worthy goal.

Amen

By Michael F. Bowman

Happy Scouting!

Over Sensitive???

As you know I am a sports fan, and because of the nature of my work (Yeah.. I need to work to fund my Scouting habit). I listen to Sports Talk radio.
This week we have been bombarded by the sports media on the subject of sensitivity regarding comments made by a reporter for the Golf Channel. You can read about here, I am not going to recap it for you.
But this got our local afternoon sports talk show talking about the responsibility of athletes and those in the public eye (actors and the like) to speak out on social issues.
They took a poll today asking the Portland audience what they thought as well as taking comments on the air.
Well this got me to thinking about the subject and of course how it can be applied or should be applied in a Scouting context.

So here is my 2 and 1/2 cents.

First- I do not think that those in public eye need to comment. For the most part I do not think actors and actresses and athletes are qualified to speak on behalf of a group of people. African American Basketball players are not a microcosm of the African American community and therefore do not have the expert training and development to force social change. They are entitled to their opinion and have the right to express it. But, because an athlete says it, does not make it the gospel truth. Same goes for actors. Brad Pitt is not the worlds premier expert on social issues. He has a platform from which he can speak that may not be made accessible to those of us not in the lime light, but I do not expect social change to start with him.

Second- The issue of race constantly is brought to the table. Yes the comment made by Kelly Tilghman was not appropriate, but now we are getting into the sensitivity issue.
Let me take just a few sentences to qualify that remark.
My family is from Germany via Russia. This year we found out about unbelievable, unspeakable atrocities that happened to Germans from Russia, my family included. Germans that were conscripted by Catherine the Great to work Russian land, were rounded up and sent to Siberia and other locations to work camps, later many of them were mass murdered, because they were German. The remainder lived in Russia as slaves of the new government and lived lives in hard labor and meaningless existences. I suppose I am lucky that my ancestors got out before they were rounded up. 5 of my great, great, great Uncles were not so lucky, and we have the documentation to show when and where they were murdered.
Here is the point. When I hear the word Siberia, I do not run and hide, get upset, or fear for my life.
No one has been "Lynched" in America in Generations. No one has been shackled to a ship and forced into Slavery in America in Generation, in fact... there is not an African American in America today that is a slave or knows first hand anyone living that was one. And by first hand I mean can pay the person a visit and have a chat about their experience.
Yes African Americans paid an unnecessary price and have endured unspeakable tragedy, and for that I feel nothing but the most pain in my heart for them. But it is 2008 and we need to move on. Was that not the purpose of the Civil Rights movement?
We have spent the better part of 30 years trying to heal wounds and make things better. We honor those that fought, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King and the like have made contributions to America that we are eternally in debt for. But the fact that we can not seem to move on and progress worries me.
Every time someone says something stupid, should we not chalk it up to stupidity and move on. I think we as a nation are smarter now than ever before and should be able to apply a common sense approach and discern what is hateful and what is stupid.
Kelly Tilghman said something stupid. She is a friend of Tiger Woods, and did not have the least bit of hate in her comment. She was suspended by Fox and will spend the rest of her life in the shadow of her comment. And yeah... you reap what you sow. But why does Al Sharpton need to stand up and play the race card. Tiger does not seem to care.. and the comment was directed at him, not the African America community.

Over sensitivity will never allow us to move on. We should never forget the past, and always apply the lessons learned. Slavery of any race is horrible and a violation of all human rights. But we do not have slaves in America now and a "Word" will not bring it back. Using the word "Lynch" in the context of a golf game is not going to insight gangs of hooded cowards to round up people and hang them.. this is just a ridiculous thought.
I understand that it offends some people... but why? It's a word, much like any other. If you are offended by it, it is because you refuse to move on. Easy for me to say... NO. But in the context of America today it is a safe thing to say. We do not live under the threat of such things. And I highly doubt given the sensitivity of our American people, we will ever see that again. And that is a good thing. It means America is trying to move on. Not forget, not discount, not make light of, but move on to being a better Nation where we are "not judged by the color of our skin, but by the content of our character".

Third- The context of Scouting and this issue.
Real simple. The Scout Oath and Law will not allow it.
To truly be Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent a person must live the values contained within. A friendly person will not harm another or do things to slander or hate. One that is kind and obedient will put others concerns and needs before themselves. It takes bravery to stand up for what is right. A clean heart and mind will not allow for hateful expression, and a Reverent person believes in the golden rule of "Doing unto others..."

As I listened over the past few days, I worried about this. Sure we should talk about it, it is how we move on. But it also seems that making everything an "Issue" just keeps us in a stagnate mode spinning in a circle that allows for no upward movement socially.

I am just a Scoutmaster, with an opinion like everyone else. Some agree with me, some do not. But what you can not disagree with is the fact that what I do is teach and expect young men, those young men that one day will be the heart beat of our social conscience leading our country in the future, to learn and live by a set of values that are good and right.
And at the end of the Good and Right always win!
We prove that over and over, just look at our history. We may take too much time to figure it out, but in the end we learn and do our best to make it right.

Happy Scouting!

Its that time of the year!

In the past few days and weeks I have received numerous phone calls from Webelos Den Leaders "Looking for a Troop". Yes, it's that time of the year for cross overs and Arrow of Light ceremonies, and new boys entering the Troop. Its a good time!

To help those transitioning I thought I'd post a short video I picked up along the way. Not only is it good for new parents and Scout leaders making the transition, but I think it is good for all of us to review. Since we strive for the ideal as a traditional Scouting unit, the video shows what "Right looks like" and that is what we are constantly looking for.

Enjoy.

Happy Scouting!

The Legend of the Raccoon

The other night I received an email from one of our Scouts. His email address got me laughing because of the story behind it. I am currently wrapping up a great book that I encourage you all to read. It is call "Rocks in my Backpack" by Tom Sholes. He weaves a tell about his many years of Scouting experience that leaves you laughing and wanting more. So I got to thinking, I should really write some of our stories down. We laugh a lot at most of the stuff that goes on in our Troop, and it seems that every outing provides some interesting adventure or anecdote that is worth retelling. I wont use the full names of the Scouts, all the Scouts of the Troop know the story, but in the interest of sharing a great Scouting story (all true), I thought I'd post it...

So here is the Legend of the Raccoon.

We were camped at Ft. Stevens State Park on a rainy weekend in February of 2005. The Troop was still small, we only had six Scouts in the Troop and one of them did not go on the Camp out. We were staying in the Yurts at the Park. One for the Adult leaders and one for the Scouts. Each Yurt comes complete with a twin bed and a bunk bed each yurt will sleep 5 with ease, not to mention the floor space.
As we settled into camp on Friday night, I noticed that a family of Raccoons would be sharing the site with us for the weekend. I informed the Scouts about the nature of the raccoon family and that we should not feed them as it only encourages them to continue to beg from campers. Along with the food warning I told them that raccoons, while they look cute and cuddly.. they can be mean animals that will attack when provoked. The raccoons pretty much stayed to themselves and I wanted to keep it that way. As the Scouts bed down for the night, I gave them a reminder to keep food out of the Yurt. It was that or prepare to have company, or should I say uninvited guests.
Saturday was a great day of Scouting. We took advantage of some sun breaks and made a 5 mile hike through the State park which is a fascinating place, the former home of Coastal Artillery Batteries which were very active during the Second World War.
Our hike took us back to into camp and preparation for dinner began. A wonderful Dutch oven meal that left the aroma of Chicken soaked in Coke fluttering around the camp. As I looked over toward the Yurt, I noticed a pair of green eyes glowing in the night. It seemed that our friends had gotten a whiff of the cast iron delight and had prepared themselves for dinner too.
The boys ate and cleaned up and then were off to their yurt for a night of ... well, what ever 11 and 12 year boys do in a yurt.
A pot of coffee went on and the assistant Scoutmasters and I nestled in by the camp fire for a relaxing evening on the Oregon Coast.
RACOON!!!RACOON!!! a cry came from the bowels of the night...
RACCOOOOOOOONNNNN!!!! RACCOOOOONNNNN!!! followed by the pounding foot steps of 5 hysteric Scouts as the galloped their way to our fire.
Out of breath and obviously distraught.. George gathered himself enough to say the words.. RACCOON.. YURT... COME!
Four nodding heads concurred with Georges plea. And we began the short walk to the boys yurt. Along the way the finger pointing began... "Aaron was eating in the yurt".. "No it was Rene"... "you brought the chips" and so it went.
We arrived at the yurt. The door closed and all seemed quiet. I could see that the lights were on and there was an evident trail of chips leading into the round shelter.
I instructed the Scouts to hold the door open and stay quiet, maybe I could get the raccoons to exit in the same way they came in...friendly.
You could cut the air with a well sharpened Scout knife as I slowly crept into the yurt, broom stick in hand. I gave a cursory look around the little hut and saw nothing..no sign of raccoons anywhere. As I gazed back to the door. I could see 10 little eyes peeking from around the door jam... no faces.. no bodies.. just eyes. Then an encouraging voice came from the black hole that was the doorway.. "Get 'em out Jerry..you can do it!"

I looked back to the doorway and told the boys to be ready... I was going to look under the beds.
Positioning myself on the back side of the bunk, only my legs visible from the door, I got down on my belly. I told the Scouts it looked clear.. then all of a sudden began to flail my legs around, screaming.. "THEY GOT ME... THEY GOT ME!!!!"
I could feel the vacuum as five Scouts barely touched the ground as they ran screaming.. THEY GOT HIM!!! I am sure there is a place in the book of records for the speed these Scouts generated as they fled the yurt.
I slowly meandered down to the fire pit were the Assistant Scoutmasters were putting together bits and pieces of the raccoon tale. As I emerged from the darkness, I could not contain my laughter... soon the whole group was in a belly splitting laugh fest.
The coast was clear, they could go back to bed... or what ever they were up to.

They hung out for a few minutes and then disappeared into the night.
Kelly Gordon, one of the ASMs in the Troop and I could not let it rest. We donned our headlamps and made for the Scouts yurt. As we approached we could hear the squabbling and laughter and the chastisement of "get those chips outta here". That was our signal.
Yurts are made of a canvas material on a wooden frame. Kelly began to claw with his fingernails at the canvas and I made the best raccoon noise I could muster.
Quiet! Whats that? No body move! THERE BACK!!!!! and five shadows flew out of the yurt screaming like they were on fire!

Once again we came out of the shadows of the pine trees to the sight of five boys huddling around the fire.. this time.. not a word. Kelly and I began to chuckle, the laughter once again erupted around the fire. The legend of the Raccoon was born.

The next morning as we packed up the trucks to start the two hour ride home we saw our raccoon family. They had come out from under the yurt the ASMs and I were sleeping in. I suppose they just wanted to say good bye... and thanks for the chips.

Thanks George for the very first of our Troops real Scout Stories.. It is the stuff legends are made of.

Happy Scouting!

Setting Goals

The annual plan has been complete since August, but with the new year comes new goals and dreams of what 2008 can be.
Goals are great, because often times they are personal. Each Scout should set a personal goal this year. Earn a certain merit badge, or a certain amount of merit badges, develop a new skill or get better at one that is lacking. Live the oath and law more consistently, or find ways to be more helpful, even if it is just to a little sister.

When setting goals, even personal goals, remember the SMART tool. This will help you stay focused on the goal and achieve success. After all, the reason we set goals is to be successful.

S- Specific. Make the goal specific. Focus on one thing, not many things. Try to limit the cause to something that will do the most good.
M- Measurable. Know where you are on the subject, and measure the change. For example...If my goal is to be able to run 5 miles by June and I know that I can only run 3 now, I can measure the success when I reach the 5 mile mark.
A- Attainable. Make you goal something that you can actually attain. That is not to say do not dream big, but dream big in small steps. This year may not be the year that you become an Astronaut. Especially if you are 14. But learning about Rocket engines may be something you can do this year to get there.
R- Relevant. Make your goal relevant to what you want out of life. For me I have no desire to climb Mt. Everest. So saving up for a Trip to Tibet would not be a relevant goal for me. Keep it to something that you really need to change, get better at, or want. Something that will make you better, or make your family, Troop, or friends better.
T- Timely. Make your goal timely. Allow yourself plenty of time to be successful, but try not to drag it out to long. The longer you drag out anything, the less interested you will be in it. The longer it seems to go, the less successful you will feel in accomplishing the goal in that you will think that it will never end. It will... you may need to be patient, but set a time line to completing the goal and stick to it.

Goal setting is important. It is the map that guides you on the path to change and success.
Set SMART goals this year and see yourself and those around you getting better.

Happy Scouting!

Know your Role...

Tonight we had a chat with the leadership (youth) of the Troop, namely the Arrowmen. The discussion was about the upcoming Troop elections and the OA elections.
I challenged them to think about their role within the Troop and if they are meeting the expectations set as leader in the Troop and the expectation that comes with being a member of the Order of the Arrow and wearing a leadership patch.
I want them to think about their leadership and if they are being and influence in the Troop. The short answer is that they all are an influence. Now the question is- what kind.. positive or negative. That is up to them to decide, they will have to do some thinking about that and let me know next week.

Tonight we had a group of Webelos Scouts visit the Troop. They seemed to be a great group of boys and I am sure they will fit in nicely with our Troop. But the best part of the night for me was when one of the Moms asked me in no uncertain terms about Trust. Essentially, how does she know that she can trust to send her son with me and the Troop on camp outs etc.

I thought about this for about a second and replied that she has to let me earn it.
I went on to tell her that trust and loyalty are earned and that the only way she can develop that is to watch my consistent leadership, mentoring, coaching and teaching in the Troop context.
It is also important that she knows a bit about me and that my "Resume" is open to the public.
I hope I satisfied her question, but the point is that it is all about consistant leadership and the earning of Trust and Loyalty.. the first two points of the Scout Law.
As I have said before.. to become Trustworthy.. you must be trusting and worthy of Trust.
To get loyalty you must give loyalty and prove to those you lead that you are worthy of their Loyalty.

It is my hope that the Leadership of the Troop have a good week of reflection and come to a better understanding of what their role is in the Troop. Are they in fact good influences that understand the importance of their influence? I know they are, but how do they consistently apply it is what I want them to figure out.

Reflect on your Role in Scouting....what do you come up with?

Happy Scouting!

PICTURE OF THE WEEK

Troop 664 at Little John Recreation area

Click on the picture to see a better view.
Also check out the pics from the Camp out at Little John here.

Skills equal Confidence

We had a great weekend up at the Little John Rec. Area this weekend.
The weather was good.. nice a cold and lots of snow.
The Scouts of 664 did a fantastic job, they tested and learn skills, but more important, they developed confidence in their ability to camp in the cold and snow.
This was our 3rd snow camp, and our most successful.

Skills from setting up camp, planning good meals, and staying dry were tested and past.
The focus was to stay dry to see the effect the next day. There is nothing worse than waking to solid frozen pants.

I am pleased to say, that we made it fun and the Scouts did well.
We had about an hour of sunshine, but the temps stayed around 26 ensuring we would not get rain. You could not have asked for better weather really, considering it is January on Mt. Hood.

We spent 3 meetings getting prepared for this one. Practicing and developing skills before we hit the snow. Meetings dedicated to gear, first aid, and in camp routines payed off as we woke up this morning to a crisp 16 degrees and a light snow.
The Scouts emerged from their tents with smiles and warm feet. Breakfast was on the backpacking snows and the Assistant Scoutmasters and I enjoyed a steaming cup of Joe.

The load out was a bit slow, but we told the boys we were not in a rush.. so they took their time and enjoyed the setting.

What a difference a year makes. Skills built confidence.. Confidence made success.

Great Job 664.. I am always proud of you.

Happy Scouting!

Have a Blessed New Year

Happy New Year everyone. My wish for all of you is that this coming year is blessed and you have another great year of Scouting.

Last night we had a quiet get together, just family. It was a great way to ring in the New Year.
I suppose as you get older, you start to reflect more and take stock in where you are and where you want to be. So this week has been one of reflection and buying stock in my life. Measured in time and reward or fulfilment I am pleased to say, that with few exceptions, things are looking good. And when I finished the list, I can honestly say that Scouting is there among the top of the list, in fact it is because of Scouting that much of my life is seeing great reward and giving me fulfillment.
I'll share how;

It is through Scouting that family is closer together.
It is through Scouting that I have such wonderful friends. And let me say this. Some would say that you need a lot of friends. Well I would much rather have a few GREAT friends. The friends I have in Scouting are just that. I know that they all have the same interest. They are people that live a set of values consistant with mine. They understand the Oath and Law and I know that I can trust them. Great friends are much better than lots of friends.
It is through Scouting that I have closer relationships. Especially with my Son's.
It is through Scouting that I can exercise my passion for the out doors.
It is through Scouting that we get to watch young boys become men of character, and we see that growth daily.
It is through Scouting that I have a stronger relationship with my God.
It is through Scouting that I have an impact in the Leaders of tomorrow.

A simple orange flier that my oldest son carried home from School one day 8 years ago inviting him to be a Tiger Cub rekindled the fire of Scouting and has made us a better family and better citizens of our Community. It opened the memories of my childhood as a Scout and inspired me to get back into it.
Now, a Scoutmaster, I owe allot to Scouting.. and for better or worse.. I would not change a thing!

That was then......this is now
(Me, when I was a First Class Scout.. and now, my two Son's and I)

Reflect and see the impact Scouting has had on you.. then share it.

Happy New Year... may 2008 be a wonderful year that sets a course on an awesome trail of adventure and prosperity.

Happy Scouting!