pandemic – ScouterStan

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.

Scouting’s New Path… Post-Pandemic?

Welcome to Season 3 of Commissioner Weekly. Season 2 finished filming at the beginning of February. So this is the first time we have been able to address the pandemic. Most of Scouting survived with some needed changes. “BE PREPARED” went into action. The meeting became virtual and campout was held in our own living rooms and back yards. World Scouting had its own World Jamboree online. Scouting handled it all pretty well. All parents learned how to REALLY wash their hands from their Cub Scouts. Parents also got a real hart-to-hart talk about “When your sick, stay home” from their teens.

Things that have changed for the better. We are more aware of how viruses can spread. Today we know to cough and sneeze into our elbows. We should only touch our face when washing it. When you’re feeling ill, stay home. If you get worse, contact a doctor by phone or the internet. Even when you feel well again, you may still need to stay home for some time. What do we do with the old fashion handshake? The “elbow bump” is awkward and strange. Is that part of the “Chicken Dance”? Should this be replaced with a bow? A traditional Indian form of greeting is the Añjali Mudrā gesture or namaste. Currently, we are left with a weird “mime” type of wave or worse. 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.

🌎 Old Fashion Handshake? http://www.scouterstan.com/?p=291

🎬 BSA Scouting At Home: https://youtu.be/chnOUp2QzLY

🎬 Scouts get creative during pandemic: https://youtu.be/I4wWXrZ3EIM

🎬 Boy Scout troops stay connected amid pandemic: https://youtu.be/p_DVxN5qkFE

Pandemic Scouting Update

Just an update of the “new normal”? We need to start thinking about getting back into things. Start the conversations now with your charter organization about starting up again.

Special Report on Pandemic Scouting

Season 2 ended filming Mid-February. Just as the pandemic lockdown started. A Scout is Obedient. Fallowing federal and state guidelines it’s our duty to scouts and our communities. (Be the example, not the exception…) We must work together (?) on curbing this pandemic independently. Use social distancing technology. Scouting Went Virtual:

First World Jamboree JOTI
Your Scout Meetings
Merit Badge University (YPT & Buddy System)
Campouts at home with online campfire
Day Camp & Summer Camp

Troop and Pack Committee need to have online meetings:

🔑 Make sure to get your Unit Commissioner, Dist. Commissioner or DE and as many parents as you can attend.
🔑 Start planning for a post-pandemic return to Scouting.
- Den Leaders – Should have a meeting with their parents going over the requirements.
- Scoutmasters – Should have an online meeting with all “Scout-Facing” leaders and parents.
🔑 Talk about how to do MB online.
🔑 Scoutmaster Conferences and BOR’s online.

⚠️ Important: Two deep YPT applies to everything online, email, texting, and phone calls.

🌎 National Statement on COVID-19: https://www.scouting.org/coronavirus/🎬 World Scouting Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/WorldScouting 🎬 World Scouting JOTI Live Show 1 Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKrzNzmZtDk&list=PLyXFqYL0H2ENQvUIhnThaDhgV_CJAGO5Z