Friday, August 28, 2015

Recommending Improvements to Merit Badges

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.


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.
 

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

New BSA recruiting videos show that Scouting is for families like yours

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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.  

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

CubScoutHandbooks-New
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:



SPRING 2015 MEMBER SURVEY – VOICE OF THE SCOUT

The results of the Spring National Survey: Voice of the Scout is here:
Image result for voice of the scout 

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



Board of Review Training includes Eagle Boards of Review





Guides for this webinar are:

Merit Badge Couselor Resources

Recording of the recent Merit Badge Webinar and resources are here




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 CommunicationDigital TechnologyFamily 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
Image result for outstanding eagle scout awardThe 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
Image result for eagle project of the year
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 Project
of 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 the
Eagle 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/programupdates
Inserted 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 Requirement
    9a.    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 PM
Merit 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

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.

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

Image result for silver beaver
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.