BSA’s electronic mailbox: merit.badge@scouting.org is more than just a place where counselors can get their questions answered. It’s also Scouting’s official e-mail address where counselors can recommend improvements to merit badges that Scouts can earn. These range from simple typos in the pamphlets to more extensive changes that effect both requirements and content.
Correcting errors is by far the most common improvement brought to National staff’s attention. These include: misspelled words, misplaced or dangling modifiers, and mathematical or grammatical errors. Another type of error is discovering the wrong knot or technique was used to explain a step or process. For example, a unit leader once noted in an earlier version of the Canoeing merit badge an illustration showing the truck-er’s hitch being tied incorrectly. If tied as shown in the pamphlet, the knot would collapse under strain, causing equipment damage and possible injury to others.
Friday, August 28, 2015
Recommending Improvements to Merit Badges
Small Group Sessions—The Ideal Teaching Approach
The 2015 Guide to Advancement points out in Section Seven, topic 7.0.3.0,
“A small-scale approach in merit badge counseling is encouraged. Teaching a
badge to a Scout and his buddy or a small group affords the counselor coaching
and guidance opportunities not possible in a large group setting.” Mentoring
Scouts requires establishing a relationship with the Scout and his buddy not
likely achievable in an auditorium-sized merit badge fair. The Scouts whom you
mentor may even get more serious about the subject matter in order to gain a
deeper understanding.
Labels:
advancement,
Merit Badge,
merit badge counselor
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
New BSA recruiting videos show that Scouting is for families like yours
I
In a new series of well-made BSA recruiting videos, three moms explain why Scouting is the right fit for their family.
In
the videos, each about two minutes long, Catherine, Michelle and Becky share
stories that will sound familiar to anyone who loves Scouting. One
mom has an only child who benefits from the lifelong friendships built in
Scouting. Another saw Scouting as the best way to teach her son values he'll
carry into adulthood. The third, a single mom, sees her pack as a big extended
family.
Watch
all three videos below. But don't keep them to yourself. Show them at recruiting
events or post them on your unit, district or council Facebook page.
To
help you do that, simply download the free, HD videos at the BSA
Brand Center. Then share away.
In a new series of well-made BSA recruiting videos, three moms explain why Scouting is the right fit for their family.
In the videos, each about two minutes long, Catherine, Michelle and Becky share stories that will sound familiar to anyone who loves Scouting. One mom has an only child who benefits from the lifelong friendships built in Scouting. Another saw Scouting as the best way to teach her son values he'll carry into adulthood. The third, a single mom, sees her pack as a big extended family.
To help you do that, simply download the free, HD videos at the BSA Brand Center. Then share away.
Friday, August 21, 2015
Scout neckerchiefs now approved for wear with nonuniform clothing
One uniform piece unites Scouts in
all 223 countries with a Scouting program.
It’s not the button-up uniform shirt
It’s not
the purple World Crest.
It’s the Scout neckerchief.
Look at pretty much any photo of a
Scout or Scout leader from another country, and you’ll see
those rolled-up triangles. They’re wearing Scout neckerchiefs even if
they aren’t in their full, official uniform (what we in the U.S. call
the field uniform).
Understanding the new Cub Scout advancement program
This fall, Cub Scouts everywhere are blazing new trails in advancement. Gone is the multitude of achievements, electives, arrow points and activity badges that confused leaders and parents — plus the beads that skittered across floors during pack meetings. In their place is a new advancement program that is simple and consistent.
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Approving Eagle Projects
Approving Eagle Projects
Handout:
- Notes for Eagle Project Approvers, Unit Leaders and Boards of Review. This guide is for Scouters at the unit, district and council level who are involved with approving Eagle projects.
- Guide to Advancement (chapter 9)
- Approving Eagle Projects Presentation (PDF)
- Approving Eagle Projects Presentation with speaker notes (PDF)
SPRING 2015 MEMBER SURVEY – VOICE OF THE SCOUT
The results of the Spring National Survey: Voice
of the Scout is here:
To make sure you receive a survey this fall, make
sure you have your current email address in your profile at http://my.scouting.org
A Peek at the New 2016 Boy Scout Requirements
UPDATED
The requirements have been posted at: http://scouting.org/programupdates
Webinar on new requirements higer resolution and slides are here
•Requirements and more information is here.
•Send questions to:
Board of Review Training includes Eagle Boards of Review
Guides for this webinar are:
- Guide to Advancement Chapter 8
- Notes for Eagle Project Approvers, Unit Leaders and Boards of Review. at the Grand Canyon Council Eagle page
- Board of Review Presentation Slides (PPT)
Second wave of interactive digital merit badge pamphlets brings total to 8
Being a Boy Scout in 2015 is getting cooler and cooler.
That’s thanks to interactive digital versions of popular merit badge pamphlets — something I only wish had been available when I was a Boy Scout.
We were promised that more merit badges would be added regularly, and the merit badge team hasn’t disappointed. The second wave is here.
The addition of the Communication, Digital Technology, Family Life and Personal Fitnessmerit badges brings the total available to eight.
These four join the interactive versions of Cooking, First Aid, Animation and Robotics merit badges, released in May.
Where can you learn more about these interactive digital merit badge pamphlets and find links to buy them? Where else but BoysLife.org?
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
OUTSTANDING EAGLE SCOUT AWARD – DEADLINE DECEMBER 1, 2015
OUTSTANDING EAGLE SCOUT AWARD – DEADLINE DECEMBER 1,
2015
The NESA Outstanding Eagle Scout Award (NOESA) is a prestigious recognition granted by the local council’s NESA committee to Eagle Scouts who have demonstrated outstanding achievement at the local, state, or regional level. Unlike the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, which is a national award, the NESA recognizes Eagle Scouts whose efforts have made a positive impact closer to home. This is an adult award.
The presentation of this award should be conducted with the highest level of honor. Often, these men have devoted a lifetime to their profession, avocation, community, and beliefs, at great sacrifice to themselves and their families. Each recipient should receive recognition worthy of a lifetime’s accomplishments.More information and the application can be found here: http://www.nesa.org/PDF/542-057_WB.pdf Deadline for submittal for this award to Alexis Sieckman at the Council is December 1, 2015
EAGLE PROJECT OF THE YEAR AWARD – DEADLINE JAN 21, 2016
EAGLE PROJECT OF THE YEAR AWARD – DEADLINE JAN 21,
2016
Every year the council awards an Eagle Project of the Year award. Applications for 2015 are due into Alexis at Eagle Services at Council by January 21, 2016.The National Eagle Scout Association has established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Projectof the Year Award to recognize valuable service of an exceptional nature by a Scout to a religious institution, a school, community,or other entity. The award recognizes the Scout for his Eagle Scout service project, which is part of the requirements for earning theEagle Scout Award. Each local council will choose a council-level winner, and from that pool, each region will pick a region-level winner.A national winner then will be selected from the four regional finalists.More information and the application can be found here: http://www.nesa.org/adams_award.html (application is on the left side of page; for a better chance of success, make sure you follow the directions exactly)
Never been to Philmont?
Never been to
Philmont? Are you leading a trek in 2016? Come on a 4-day/3-night excursion and
learn the skills an advisor needs to create a successful Philmont crew! For
only $76 you will get transportation to/from the airport and all the gear you
will need for the weekend. Learn more: http://bit.ly/1LjnBFQ
Monday, August 17, 2015
Turns out I’ve been using antiperspirant wrong my whole life
Any Scouter or parent will tell you antiperspirant — deodorant’s tougher cousin — is an essential part of Scouting.
A Scout is courteous, and smelling decent is certainly the courteous thing to do while camping, paddling or backpacking with your fellow Scouters and Scouts.
This week, though, I learned I’ve been using antiperspirant wrong all my life. Apparently you should apply it to your underarms before you go to bed at night, not while getting ready in the morning.
Wait, what?
Friday, August 14, 2015
2016 BOY SCOUT REQUIREMENTS UPDATED
A couple of changes to the new 2016 requirements were posted this week at http://scouting.org/programupdatesInserted into the Scout Rank Requirements:1. f. Repeat from memory the Pledge of Allegiance. In your own words, explain its meaning.Clarification on First Class Requirement9a. Visit and discuss with a selected individual approved by your leader (for example, an elected official, judge, attorney, civil servant, principal, or teacher) the constitutional rights and obligations as a U.S. citizen.All the new requirements are here:
Upcoming Advancement Webinars
Upcoming Advancement
Webinars
Board of Review Training (includes Eagle Boards) (Webinar): 8/18/2015 7 PM - 8:30 PMMerit Badge Counselor Training (Webinar): 9/8/2015 7 PM - 8:30 PM
Recordings of previous sessions of these webinars are available here at this site; just keep scrolling down
Labels:
advancement,
boards of review,
Merit Badge,
Training
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
E-Learning Training Available on My.Scouting Tools!
E-Learning training courses are now available to take online at my.Scouting
Tools. Once logged in, training courses can be found by selecting the
Home button in the upper left corner, then My Dashboard in the menu list. It
will default to the My Training section which was also enhanced providing 4 new
tab selections:
• YPT – displays the Youth Protection training courses available.• Training Center – displays the Scouting programs containing the training courses applicable to the specific program.• Requirements – displays training courses required to become position-trained for your current registered position(s).• Completions – displays training courses that were completed.
The training videos are the same ones available in the
current E-Learning system. The link to E-Learning will eventually be removed
from myscouting.org in the next coming weeks. Login to my.Scouting.org to see the new changes.
The new Cub Scout online training is now scheduled to be released by Sept 15, 2015.
The new Cub Scout online training is now scheduled to be released by Sept 15, 2015.
Monday, August 10, 2015
Window opens for 2015 Eagle Scout scholarships; deadline now Oct. 31
Window opens for 2015 Eagle Scout
scholarships; deadline now Oct. 31;More information here
http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2015/08/10/window-opens-2015-eagle-scout-scholarships-deadline-now-oct-31/
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Former Defense Secretary Dr. Gates: The future of the world depends on leaders like Arrowmen
Dr. Gates spoke as “a leader from one generation to the leaders of the
next,” he said. “Young leaders on whom much will depend.”
He said America faces many threats in our “world of oppressive change.”
North Korea, China, Russia, as well as conflicts at home, threaten our nation.
The time to act is now, he said.
“The future of the world itself will depend on the kind of people we 21st
century Americans prove to be,” he said. “And that depends on the kind of
leaders you Arrowmen become. Because it starts with you.”
Silver Beaver Nominations Due to Council 10/9
The Silver Beaver Award is the
council-level distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America.
Recipients of this award are registered adult leaders who have made an impact
on the lives of youth through service given to the council. The Silver Beaver
is an award given to those who implement the Scouting program and perform
community service through hard work, self sacrifice, dedication, and many years
of service.
Nominations for this award are due
to the Council by October 9, 2015
Hints for application success: More
information is better than less. Make
sure every section is filled out in its entirety.
The application is here: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/512-103_WB.pdf
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