ScouterStan – Covering Topics You Need to Become a Great Scout Leader

Old Fashion Handshake?

How we handle our lives and scouting post-pandemic will be an ongoing process. What do we do with simple things like the old fashion handshake? The “elbow bump” is awkward and strange. How many times should we bump elbows before it becomes part of a “chicken dance”? Do you move them up and down or side to side? What if you bang your elbow into someone who’s not ready? After all, isn’t the elbow where we teach everyone to sneeze and cough? It looks silly and I don’t think it’s much better than a handshake with regards to cleanliness. Should this be replaced with a bow? I think most Americans would be confused as there are many different types of bows. If not performed correctly and appropriately it could easily be misunderstood. Not to mention the strained political relationships between the East and West. A traditional Indian form of greeting is the Añjali Mudrā gesture or namaste. This would be good most of the time without a full-on bow. Again this may prove to be confusing for the general American public. Currently, we are left with a “weird mime” type of wave jester or worse. We Americans must work things out with a new greeting that’s healthier, dignified, and geopolitical. Don’t worry you have until your next job interview or client meeting to figure it out.

In scouting, we have a greeting taught to every new Scout; the scout salute. I’m in favor of a scout salute when in uniform. This might be perceived as militaristic in nature as we normally only salute the flag. But we all know how to give a scout salute and it can be done at a distance. B-P saluted scouts and scouts saluted him in return. It’s respectful and meaningful. If we use this for greetings and to properly replace scout handshakes then I think the problem is solved. Now, what do we do for the times when we’re not in uniform?

Your In Scouting, ScouterStan

Happy New Year from ScouterStan

Hey, I’m still on vacation! You should be celebrating the new year. 2020 has been very challenging and we need to celebrate all of the successes and lessons learned from last year. Let’s make 2021 better than ever. Now go have some fun, because leaders who don’t know when it’s time to have fun tend to be no fun to be around… Happy New Year!

Christmas Message form ScouterStan

To say that 2020 had its challenges is a severe understatement. As adult leaders in this Scouting movement, we need to continue to prepare our youth for the challenging future. There are many unforeseen circumstances that we may not be aware of. Scouting is going through trying times and we believe that living up to the Scout Oath and Law will see us through. Charitable contributions to your Council are down nationwide over the previous years. This has a very real effect on the program & staff. One of the forgotten is your Scout Camp. Almost unused this past year because of the pandemic. However, maintenance costs and utility bills are just the same. A charitable contribution at this point would go a long way in preventing a Council from making hard decisions. Also, let’s not forget the professional staff of Scouting and remember them in our Christmas prayers. Let’s not just right off 2020 negatively because a lot of great things happened in the year. Scouting was finally pushed into the 21st century with the introduction of Girl Troops and Online/Virtual Scouting. I firmly believe that Scouting must evolve or go extinct. If you think about it scouting has gone through many changes over time and has always been there for young people. Let us never forget the core values of the Scout Oath and Law.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

⚜️ Note: If you would like to make a charitable contribution click on the appropriate link below. If you would like to have your link here please let ScouterStan know in the comments.

🌐 Central Florida BSA: https://www.cflscouting.org/gifts/
🌐 National Donations BSA: https://donations.scouting.org/#/national

Pandemic Scouting

COVID-19 has been quite challenging this past year. Scouting has met the pandemic head-on worldwide. Scout leaders have had to adapt to a virtual environment to keep Scouts involved. Often the adult leadership has difficulties keeping up with the youth in this regard. For many years to come, we will need to work on safety elements in regards to infectious disease. The “Heinz 57” series Is designed to help you get all caught up (ketchup) with critical subjects in scout leadership.

🔗LINKS:
🎬 Special Report on Pandemic Scouting https://youtu.be/5FBp-RT27wc
🎬 Scouting’s New Path… Post-Pandemic? https://youtu.be/VLeNVIfaGog
🌐 Old Fashion Handshake? http://www.scouterstan.com/?p=291
🎬 BSA Scouting At Home: https://youtu.be/chnOUp2QzLY
🎬 Scouts get creative during a pandemic: https://youtu.be/I4wWXrZ3EIM
🎬 Boy Scout troops stay connected amid pandemic: https://youtu.be/p_DVxN5qkFE
🎬 Post-Pandemic Summer Camp? https://youtu.be/UPV72SgbrXg
🌐 Guide to Safe Scouting: https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/gss/
🌐 Camp Director Resource Page: https://www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/cd-resources/
🌐 Scouts BSA National Statement on COVID-19: https://www.scouting.org/coronavirus/
📄 Pre-Event Medical Screening Checklist: https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/HealthSafety/pdf/680-057.pdf
📄 A-B-C Medical Forms PDF: https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/HealthSafety/pdf/680-001_ABC.pdf
📄 Annual Health and Medical Record FAQ – PDF: https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/HealthSafety/pdf/680-001_instruction.pdf

⚠️ Important: ScouterStan makes no medical claims in any of these videos. It is recommended that you follow your local health guidelines to determine appropriate safety actions.

Camping

Camping is one of the most rewarding of all Scouting activities. It can also be challenging in many ways. The next three videos are concentrated around summer & winter camping, and the inevitable homesickness that leaders must deal with. The “Heinz 57” series Is designed to help you get all caught up (ketchup) with critical subjects in Scout leadership.

🔗LINKS:
🎬 Summer Camp for Scout Leaders: https://youtu.be/x4es0Tvadww
🎬 Discovering Winter Camping: https://youtu.be/597tcmoVl-g
🌐 Humiture Definition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humiture
🌐 Cold Weather Winter Camping: https://www.scouting.org/cubhub/winter-camping-fun/
🌐 BSA Winter Activities: https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/gss/gss12/
🎬 How to Deal With Homesickness: https://youtu.be/fYxk7vE6UAQ
🌐 Scouting Safely & Homesickness: https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/safety-moments/homesickness/
📄 Scouting Safely & Homesickness PDF: https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/HealthSafety/pdf/680-055(18)_Homesickness_WEB.pdf
🎬 Camping Mode on Your Smartphone? Scouting and your Mobile or Cell Phone: https://youtu.be/-t6_6TEfWM8

Get Training

Every Scout deserves a trained leader. Often we joined scouts as adults to help out. The best way to do that is to become a trained leader. We also have to consider that we as adults would need to train the youth to take on responsibilities of leadership. Here are three videos to get you going. The first is about your training as an adult leader.
🎬 Training for ALL: https://youtu.be/CxMmurNp2iI
🌎 My.Scouting.Org: https://my.scouting.org/

OK, now you’ve set up your my.scouting.com account and have taken a few courses, and got your YPT up to date. Now here’s some information about Den Chief training and how important it is to scouting.
🎬 What’s a Den Chief?: https://youtu.be/6wPXj12rsQc
🌎 Den Chief Website: https://www.scouting.org/training/youth/den-chief-training
📄 Instructors Syllabus PDF: https://i9peu1ikn3a16vg4e45rqi17-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Den-Chief-Syllabus-v4.pdf
🎓 Online Den Chief Training: https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/training/den-chief-training

Youth leadership in a troop is trained by the Scoutmaster and their assistants. Here is a video on how that works.
🎬 What is ITLS?: https://youtu.be/761ntvsOI9E
🌎 Training for Youth: https://www.scouting.org/training/youth/
📄 Adult Leader Syllabus for ILST: https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/training/pdf/ILST_IntroSyllabus_9_11.pdf
🎬 Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops: https://youtu.be/sdnZMGypZiY
🎬 NYLT Promo: https://youtu.be/BFUdFQGRJe0

Every scout deserves a trained leader, and also to be trained on leadership. There are many other videos about this subject but this should get you started.

Commissioner Service… a Cub Masters’ Next Step?

What is the oldest leadership corps in Scouting? The oldest leadership role in Scouting is the Commissioner corps. “Gray Tabs” or I like to tell the story about the “duct tape tabs”. There is a National shortage of Unit Commissioners in America. This is the adult leader, outside of the unit connecting it with the District and Council. They help the Key Three of the unit be successful. Ideally, a Unit Commissioner is designed for up to 3 units. Unfortunately, most units don’t have one or don’t know who is assigned to their unit. In my District, we have 73 units and only 11 Unit Commissioners. That’s 6 or more per Unit Commissioner. On average Cub Scouting represents 2/3 of all Scouting units. A Cub Master or Pack Committee Chairman’s next step is not always into a Troop leadership position. Many of the skills that they have would serve better as a Unit Commissioner with the District that they are in.

Excuses…
1. I’m not an expert Scouter…
✔ Training is included and the job is not intended to be for only experts.
2. I want to be with my youth…
✔ ScouterStan was a Unit Commissioner and Assistant Scoutmaster while his son was a Scout in a Troop.
3. I’m already over-committed to scouts…
✔ You need to find a comfortable schedule. Units without a Unit Commissioner are more likely to fail and your schedule will have lots of free time then.
4. I don’t want to have multiple memberships…
✔ Your primary membership can be with a unit and District service is secondary at no additional charge.

⚠️ Important: Make your next step in Scouting count. Unit Commissioner service is incredibly necessary to the overall Scouting experience. Contact your District or Council Commissioner today for more information.

🔗LINKS:
🌐 BSA Commissioners: https://www.scouting.org/commissioners/
🎬 Burnout Prevention and ScouterStan’s Rule of Five: https://youtu.be/cJPfqkqMeg8

⚜️ Note: When ScouterStan looked at his handwritten notes it looked like Season 4 would start in June 2021. The first episode of Season 4 will post on January 5, 2021. This mistake was noticed after editing so a written date was put on the video. ScouterStan promises to work on his handwriting in the future.

What is Friendly, Courteous, and Kind?

Adult leaders and parents are NOT exempt from the Scout Law. Have you ever really thought about it. Also the number one question we should ask all Scouts.

Definition as to there meaning:

Friendly – A Scout is friends to all. Scouts are a brother to other Scouts. Scouts offer their friendship to people of all races, religions, and nations and respect them even if their beliefs and customs are different from their own. B-P wrote about similar wording however he diverted into a social class. “No matter what Social Class the Other Belongs.” B-P was from the late 1800s and must think of his times and his revolutionary thinking. Today we would say he was “woke”.

Courteous – A Scout is polite to people of all ages and positions. Scouts understand that using good manners makes it easier for people to get along. B-P had similar meanings in his writings however, he added the line “And he (the Scout) must not take any reward for being helpful or courteous.”

Kind – A Scout treats others as they want to be treated. Scouts know there is strength in being gentle. Scouts do not harm or kill any living thing without good reason. Originally, “Kind” was oriented only towards the treatment of animals. This has changed shortly after World War II to reflect kindness to all creatures including humans.

History – The original writings of Baden Powell in the first Handbook are conveyed Similarly. Historically there were only 9 scout laws outlined originally. However Later the British scouts added Reverent making it 10 scout laws. Do you know which ones were added to the 12 American Scout laws?

The scout law is an amazing principle for real Action in one’s life. Putting each one of the scout law into a daily meaning can literally change the outlook of a young person. As scout leaders, we need to be the example, not the exception. Never forget that we are all obligated to abide by the scout law.

The number one question that every Scout leader and parents should ask of their Scouts. “What do you think I most want you to be?” A. Successful, B. Good, C. Smart, or D. Happy. The correct answer is “B” Good. You cannot achieve any of the others without being good. This question also helps calibrate how we are doing as leaders and parents.

🔗LINKS:
🌐 What are the Scout Oath and Scout Law?: https://www.scouting.org/about/faq/question10/
🌐 Teaching Cub Scouts the Scout Law: https://scoutingmagazine.org/2012/02/tips-for-teaching-cub-scouts-the-scout-law/
📄 1910 Edition of the ‘Boy Scouts of America Official Handbook’ Pages 32-34 PDF: http://scouterstan.com/storage/1910-BSA-Handbook-Scout-Law.pdf
🎬 Who Created The Scout Law?: https://youtu.be/dqaKrXDnXSo
🎬 Dealing With Upset Parents: https://youtu.be/0cOjHNCZkqw

Reporting Service Hours

Historically, a BSA service project is a special Good Turn that puts Scout spirit into action.

Good Turns take many forms such as
• aid during emergencies and natural disasters
• recycling
• conservation projects
• Scouting for Food

Possibilities are nearly unlimited.

Significant and important enhancements have been made for JTE Service Hours entry to provide a new entry site, Internet Advancement, and change this site to allow appropriate entries to continue.

⚠️ Important: Your unit’s service hours data has already been moved to the database for Internet Advancement.

⚜️ Thank you and your unit for your service.

🔗LINKS:
🌐 The Internet Advancement platform is available at http://Scoutbook.scouting.org for all other project entries. This new site will use your my.Scouting.org username and password for access.
🌐 Information on the new site is available at http://help.scoutbook.com. Please review the help to become familiar with the enhanced service hours entry.
🎬 Scoutbook?: https://youtu.be/uMdqEVgH-cM

Merit Badge Counselor

All troops should expect every adult to take on some kind of leadership role. One that’s often overlooked is Merit Badge Counselor (MBC). Merit Badge Counselor can be designated as troop only or open to the council use. Adult Cub Scout leaders are also qualified to be Merit Badge Counselors. This is a good way to start the bridging process to a troop.

MBC Requirements:
• Must have or completed an adult application process (YPT and background check)
• Must keep Youth Protection Training current
• Online or live Merit Badge Counselor Training
• Have proficient skills, experients, training, and/or knowledge of the Merit Badges

⚠️ Important: It is recommended to focus on 3 to 8 Merit Badges. However, there is no limit set if you are qualified.

As a Merit Badge Counselor:
• Follow the requirements of the merit badge, making no deletions or additions.
• Scout should use the buddy system. MBC keeps “two-deep” leadership during all instructional sessions. This includes Email (CC), Online meetings, Phone calls, and texting.
• Keep your Youth Protection Training current.
• Renew membership registration annually if I plan to continue as a Merit Badge Counselor.

⚜️ Note: Merit Badge Counselors can continue after their no longer with a unit. Merit Badge Counselors must be registered with Scouts BSA with the district/council.

🔗LINKS:
🌐 Scouts BSA Guide for Merit Badge Counselors: https://www.scouting.org/programs/scouts-bsa/mb-counselor-guide/
📄 Merit Badge Counselor Information Form: https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34405.pdf
🎬 The Blue Card Process or Merit Badges Mania?: https://youtu.be/h_iQSfcdj00

Dealing With Upset Parents – How Leaders Deal With It

Thair is an actual complaint form for parents. That national has a 100% guaranty on. More info later, let’s jump into this. We are talking about disagreements and not actual safety or YPT issues.

Parents get mad or upset for many reasons.
• Personality or cultural differences
• A preserved unfairness
• Confronted with something that they don’t want
• It’s just your turn…

Self-resolving conflict – this is a solution that is handled by the upset person over time.
Cooperative Resolutions – First off, everyone in scouting and families of the scouts is bound by the scout oath and law. These are the ground rules which we live by. This is a foundation of trust and familiarity.
• The most important skill as a leader is “Active Listening”. (Courteous)
• A conscious effort to listen must be made to learn all the facts of an issue.
• Filter out fealing statements or derogatory assumptions as these are the emotions and not the issue.
• Don’t shut down or walk away. (Not Friendly, & Kind)
• Determine if they want a response from you. They will ask when they’re ready, but they may not be ready to hear what you say.
• Restating the issue may be needed to start a solution with understanding.
• The most important question is “What do you want?”
• The answer to this question is the solution to the conflict.

The Wood Badge “Managing Conflict” training is a good resource for leaders to handle conflicts. You should go to Wood Badge!

The complaint form with the 100% warranty is… The Adult Application! “Thiers no problem, if you’re part of the solution.”

🌐 Wood Badge Website: https://www.scouting.org/training/adult/woodbadge/
📄 Scouting Magazine on Wood Badge: https://scoutingmagazine.org/2014/02/wood-badge/
🎬 What is Wood Badge? (Compilation of videos.) https://youtu.be/q-iJSQ-tQTI

⚠️ For additional information about Wood Badge, please contact your local council service center.