Training

I'm a training addict...

It all started when my son joined Cub Scouts. I had been away from scouting since I was a Boy Scout 20+ years ago. Looking through his Cub Scout book, helping with the uniform, taking him to his first pack meeting... That's when it happened. They asked me to be a leader.

I said, "sure," and volunteered to be an assistant den leader. I went out and bought my uniform and signed up for training. One Saturday in a church fellowship hall and I was hooked. I soaked it up; couldn't get enough. Two months later, some of the other leaders asked if I was interested in taking over for the Cubmaster whose son was crossing over to the troop. Again, I said, "sure." This was followed by more training.

Then came University of Scouting; good stuff. Then BALOO; yea, training about camping! Then Outdoor Leadership Skills for Webelos Leaders; training WHILE camping! Now, I just registered for the next University of Scouting and turned in my acceptance of invitation form for Wood Badge in one day. Its like I get to be a scout again and I remember how much fun it was. I get to inject that fun and spirit into my Pack and energize my son about scouting and that feels great!

Trouble is, what's next?

I know Wood Badge is a big one and it should challenge me for a long time, but I'm almost out of Leader training stuff. Once a year isn't enough for University of Scouting to satisfy my needs. Roundtables are great, but they're more like a pack meeting for grown ups. I'm almost out of online training... There are some Ventureing and Commissioner courses online, but nothing left for me. Resident camp seems to help me through the summer, so that's good.

I'm going to have to start taking Red Cross classes now; that'll fix me for a while. ;)

Double Duty (or: Biting off more than you can chew.)

In the other scout-related blogs I read, I don't often see people telling stories about things that don't work. Here I'd like to include a few things like that when they happen to me or our pack.

I made a mistake this year. Yes, really, it can happen to anyone. At the beginning of the year, the leader of our Webelos 1 den had to withdraw from pack leadership because his son decided to devote his attention to another activity. A perfectly acceptable reason for both of them to leave the scouts; that isn't the issue. The issue here is now we have a Webelos den with 4 boys, one of them is my son, and no leader. At the time, we also had a Bear den with no leader, but that was solved. We were in desperate need of several committee positions also.

Here's where I went a little crazy. I decided that I could lead the Webelos den. Here's my justification:

1. Its just four boys.
2. I was their Asst. Den Leader when they were Bears. It'll be fun!
   
3. I have to be there on Monday nights anyway, I might as well run the meetings.
4. Maybe I'll find an assistant along the way.

Yea, right. First, since its just four boys and we've been together for more than a year, its harder to get and keep on topic. The work load of a Webelos leader is more than that of a Bear leader. Since parents step out of the way and let the boys be more like Boy Scouts, I'm missing that extra bit of discipline that their mere presence provides.

I think my time would be spent better being a Cubmaster on Den meeting nights and visiting all of the dens. I should be helping with all dens, not running one by myself. I could use that time to make sure all of the programs are running smoothly and working on pack meeting plans. I would be better off assisting the Webelos leader and helping plan and carry out Webelos outdoor activities and Webelos to Boy Scout transition.

The result?

As a Webelos leader, I feel the den is working. We're on our way and will complete all of the requirements. But, it could be better.

As a Cubmaster, I'm not on top of the program where I belong. Sure, I get the job done, but I'm not excelling. The program and the pack meetings aren't what I would like them to be. I'm not setting the example for the other leaders and I'm not having as much fun as we should have as leaders.

The moral of the story: Don't skimp on Den Leaders. The committee can function without a membership chair or awards chair, but the Den can't function without a Den Leader. Committee is important, but direct-contact leaders are a requirement.

Ads

I toyed with the idea of sticking ads on this blog, but have decided against it. This doesn't cost me anything and my aim isn't to make any money from it. I also didn't like the way it looked.

Punkin' Chunkin' Weekend at Camp Pipsico

Just before Thanksgiving, our council held its first annual Pumpkin Chunkin' event at the Pipsico Scout Reservation in Spring Grove, VA. The Boy Scouts built and operated catapults, trebuchets and gigantic sling-shots that launched 4 lb. pumpkins nearly 90 meters. The banner image above shows all of them. Pictures on our Tidewater Council Website


We, the Cub Scouts, were also invited to both watch and enter a golf ball chunkin' contest. We had a blast! One of our scout parents designed and built the catapults. The boys had a great time launching them and they also had a great time watching the Boy Scouts do their thing.

There wasn't as much participation from Cub Scouts as I would have hoped. Only three packs came out for the event and one of them used a store-bought water balloon sling-shot instead of building a catapult. Our pack earned the award for accuracy. I'm guessing the distance award went to the water-balloon people. (so much for the rules...grrr!!)

Attendance by Boy Scout Troops was much higher than the council expected. They had more than double the expected participation. They managed to keep everything together; a great credit to the council and camp staff!

To our disappointment, we have found out that Cub Scouts won't be invited to the event next year. :( That's OK, we'll find something fun to do in its place. We are glad we had the opportunity to go to the first one.

Happy New Year!

I want to wish everyone a happy New Year. Since this is a scout-related blog, I hope your next year in scouting is as successful and fulfilling as last year was for me. Because I know my year was better than yours! [ Just kidding ;) ]

I received word from my Committee Chair that we made Centennial Quality Unit for 2007. Since its that time of year, I hope your rechartering went well!

Dave