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54 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 4 years ago - ★★★★★ - 125 ratings

Inspiration, Information and Ideas for Scout Leaders

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Episodes

Now What? nullnullnullnullnull

March 17, 2020 17:00

Yep. we are in a pickle aren’t we? We have very little idea of what our lives will look like this time next year. Coronavirus has shaken us all up and we are all doing our best to hold on. Scouting will continue to be around, though, if we look for it in the right […] The post Now What? – Scouting and Coronavirus appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Now What? – Scouting and Coronavirus

March 17, 2020 17:00

Yep. we are in a pickle aren’t we? We have very little idea of what our lives will look like this time next year. Coronavirus has shaken us all up and we are all doing our best to hold on. Scouting will continue to be around, though, if we look for it in the right […] The post Now What? – Scouting and Coronavirus appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

ScoutmasterCG Newsletter Number 6 – Behavior Problems

April 15, 2019 16:38

Hello and Welcome Back! Just when you think everything is going well, and you pat yourself on the back for being such an effective Scouter, you are confronted with a behavior problem. Oh for Pete’s sake! Not again! Yes, again… and again, and again. We get disappointed, then angry, then sad. There are times it […] The post ScoutmasterCG Newsletter Number 6 – Behavior Problems appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Now What? – Scouting and CoronavirScoutmasterCG Newsletter Number 5 – BackpackingScoutmasterCG Newsletter Number 6 nullnullnullnullnull

March 11, 2019 16:25

Hello and Welcome Back! Scouting is camping with your patrol, and one of my favorite ways to go camping is backpacking. Reducing everything you will need to live for a couple of days to what you can comfortably carry on your back is a test of skill, and planning ; it challenges our moral, physical […] The post ScoutmasterCG Newsletter Number 5 – Backpacking appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

ScoutmasterCG Newsletter Number 5 – Backpacking

March 11, 2019 16:25

Hello and Welcome Back! Scouting is camping with your patrol, and one of my favorite ways to go camping is backpacking. Reducing everything you will need to live for a couple of days to what you can comfortably carry on your back is a test of skill, and planning ; it challenges our moral, physical […] The post ScoutmasterCG Newsletter Number 5 – Backpacking appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Now What? – Scouting and CoronavirScoutmasterCG Newsletter Number 5 – BackpackingScoutmasterCG Newsletter Number 6 nullnullnullnullnull

March 11, 2019 16:25

Hello and Welcome Back! Scouting is camping with your patrol, and one of my favorite ways to go camping is backpacking. Reducing everything you will need to live for a couple of days to what you can comfortably carry on your back is a test of skill, and planning ; it challenges our moral, physical […] The post ScoutmasterCG Newsletter Number 5 – Backpacking appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

ScoutmasterCG Newsletter Number 4 – Scouter Training

March 04, 2019 17:02

Hello and Welcome Back! Scouter Training is closer to employee training than active Scouting. Sitting through scripted sessions punctuated by unrealistic, often dated, videos is one way to learn, but it’s not the best way to learn Scouting. I’ve never been a good classroom student, I learn more by doing, so I tend to value […] The post ScoutmasterCG Newsletter Number 4 – Scouter Training appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

ScoutmasterCG Newsletter Number 3 – Volunteering

February 18, 2019 15:54

Hello and Welcome Back! If you are reading this you are a volunteer, and probably not just for Scouting. Volunteering for Scouting returns more satisfaction and joy than we really deserve, but there’s always a danger of getting spread too thin. It’s a running joke among volunteers who keep running into each other at different activities […] The post ScoutmasterCG Newsletter Number 3 – Volunteering appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

ScoutmasterCG Newsletter 2 – Youth Leadership Development

February 04, 2019 15:47

Hello and Welcome Back! Engaging youth leadership and helping them develop their skills is one of the most rewarding parts of our work. Scouting may have many things in common with other youth activities but it is unique. We apply what we know from our professions and our own experiences to training and mentoring youth, […] The post ScoutmasterCG Newsletter 2 – Youth Leadership Development appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

ScoutmasterCG Newsletter 1 – Why Scouting?

January 21, 2019 15:33

Welcome to the ScoutmasterCG newsletter; selected posts and podcasts published every other Monday about a specific aspect of Scouting. We’ll get things rolling by asking an important question; why Scouting? During my first few years as a Scoutmaster I was just kind of sailing along without really thinking too much about why we were doing […] The post ScoutmasterCG Newsletter 1 – Why Scouting? appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Gifts for Scouts & Scouters – More Gear!

December 08, 2018 15:00

Here’s my recommendations for gear gifts for Scouts or Scouters that I have owned and used, some for many years. Check out my gear guide for more in-depth advice. If you follow my links and make a purchase I get a referral fee. My Tee Shirts & Books Check out my custom tee shirts for […] The post Gifts for Scouts & Scouters – More Gear! appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Gifts for Scouts & Scouters – Great Books

December 06, 2018 13:00

These books would make excellent gifts for Scouts or Scouters. As a Scouter and outdoorsman they have been a source of inspiration, practical skills, Scouting history, outdoor lore, and for many years. If you follow the links and purchase an item on this page I get a referral fee. A Sand County Almanac I cannot gather wood […] The post Gifts for Scouts & Scouters – Great Books appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Gifts for Scouts and Scouters – Camping Tools

December 04, 2018 19:56

Sturdy, reliable tools make a solid camping kit and  great gifts for Scouts and Scouters. There are cheaper alternatives to some of my choices, but I have chosen tools that I think are a are great value for cost. If you follow the links and purchase an item on this page I get a referral fee. I have owned and […] The post Gifts for Scouts and Scouters – Camping Tools appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Scout Advancement and Character Building

November 28, 2018 16:47

A reader recently told me they were feeling frustrated with evaluating advancement requirements and lamented “I sometimes wish the people who write these requirements would actually watch them in a troop environment.” Tell me about it! We get into difficulty when we look at advancement as our aim, or of central importance to Scouting. It […] The post Scout Advancement and Character Building appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Wise words about Speaking Wisely from Mark Ray

November 09, 2018 21:44

Author and Scouter Mark Ray offers these thoughts on the the GSUSA lawsuit that’s been in the news lately; Did you roll your eyes when you heard the news that the Girl Scouts of the USA was suing the Boy Scouts of America for trademark infringement? That’s perhaps understandable–until you dig into the complaint GSUSA filed. […] The post Wise words about Speaking Wisely from Mark Ray appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Podcast 374 – What’s Next, Email Questions

September 11, 2018 20:45 - 25 minutes - 34.7 MB

I get lots of email questions about… … troop conflicts. It may be volunteers arguing with each other, parents arguing with Scouters, volunteers arguing with Scouts, they all have a common thread, and most have a common answer. I also offer my simple advice for welcoming girls into troops, so simple you may not like […] The post Podcast 374 – What’s Next, Email Questions appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Podcast 373 – Create Shared Expectations

May 08, 2018 00:20 - 23 minutes - 32.2 MB

Create shared expectations and you’ll have a happy troop. In this week’s podcast I answer an email question about a behavior problem. A problem that would never happen if those involved shared expectations. Ask Scouts to analyze their behavior in light of the Scout oath and law. Listen carefully, ask questions, listen more, share your […] The post Podcast 373 – Create Shared Expectations appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Podcast 372 – Eagle Scout Advancement

April 30, 2018 21:15 - 33 minutes - 45.6 MB

When thinking about Eagle Scout advancement … .. we ought to ask “what is an Eagle Scout?” rather than “who deserves to be an Eagle Scout?” The answer to the question “who deserves to be an Eagle Scout?” is easy; any Scout who completes the requirements. That’s it. No more and no less. There’s no […] The post Podcast 372 – Eagle Scout Advancement appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Podcast 371 – Webelos Patrols and Older Scout Issues

April 23, 2018 19:14 - 31 minutes - 43.6 MB

Webelos dens as patrols and more older Scout issues … Catching up on email questions this week I’ll talk about Webelos dens working the patrol method and discuss the causes of at least some older Scout problems. (If you listen very carefully you may detect a rant this week). Over thirty years ago I had […] The post Podcast 371 – Webelos Patrols and Older Scout Issues appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Podcast 370 – Working With Older Scouts

April 16, 2018 20:00 - 24 minutes - 33.7 MB

Working with older Scouts between the ages of 14-18 … … is both challenging and rewarding. What interests keep them involved? Simply turning up the ‘wow’ factor doesn’t do much to keep them engaged, because they are looking for much more than fun. Respecting and understanding what older Scouts need takes patient observation and an open dialogue.  […] The post Podcast 370 – Working With Older Scouts appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Podcast 369- Patrols and Planning

April 12, 2018 15:20 - 22 minutes - 31.3 MB

Email questions! I’ll answer email questions concerning patrols and planning in this week’s podcast. I think what most of us want is patrols with long storied histories, stable membership, and high functioning Scouts. It’s my suspicion these kinds of patrols only exist in the pages of handbook. I had a dog eared copy the 1940’s […] The post Podcast 369- Patrols and Planning appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Podcast 368- Constructive Discipline

March 26, 2018 20:23 - 29 minutes - 40.7 MB

Scouting discipline is constructive…  … because it builds character through applying the Scout oath and law. When we think of discipline we often think of  systems of rules and punishments. These things are more familiar to our Scouts than open-ended situation where they follow principles. Asking them to judge themselves rather than issuing judgments may be […] The post Podcast 368- Constructive Discipline appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Podcast 367- Developing Youth Leadership

March 19, 2018 20:26 - 28 minutes - 38.6 MB

Why is Scouting designed around youth leadership? Most Scouters think a youth led troop is the brass ring of Scouting. What exactly do we mean when we talk about youth leadership? There’s much confusion and misunderstanding of this than nearly any other aspect of Scouting. Our perspective is often narrowly focused on things that aren’t […] The post Podcast 367- Developing Youth Leadership appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Podcast 366 – Scout Advancement

March 12, 2018 20:34 - 28 minutes - 39.6 MB

How does Scout advancement achieve the main aim of Scouting? Todays talk about advancement continues our foundations series. I’ve written extensively in detail about many aspects of Scout advancement, but this is different. In this podcast I ask how Scout advancement fits into the overall game of Scouting. You’ll hear me read from Baden-Powell’s Aids […] The post Podcast 366 – Scout Advancement appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Podcast 365 – Patrol System or Method?

March 05, 2018 23:46 - 24 minutes - 5 MB

What’s the difference between Patrol system and Patrol method? I have never found any actual difference between those terms in Scouting literature, but I will share acouple of thoughts to differentiate between patrol system and patrol method in a way you may find helpful. Over the next three podcasts we’ll continue our foundations series by […] The post Podcast 365 – Patrol System or Method? appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Podcast 364 – Playing the Scouting Game

February 27, 2018 12:50 - 24 minutes - 34.2 MB

Some aspects of the Scouting game look like flaws… … but they are features we must not alter. Games restrict or constrain play through rules, the laws of physics, or human limitations and Scouting is no exception. We Scouters often expend  lot of effort trying to fix things that don’t need to be fixed, or […] The post Podcast 364 – Playing the Scouting Game appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Podcast 363 – Scouts as Players

February 13, 2018 17:26 - 16 minutes - 23 MB

Thinking of Scouts as players … … fills out the analogy of Scouting as a game. Players volunteer to participate in the game. The most important volunteers in Scouting have more power and influence than the highest official. Without their participation, Scouting would come to a complete halt. They bring endless energy, resources, and real […] The post Podcast 363 – Scouts as Players appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Podcast 362 – Scouters as Coaches

February 05, 2018 17:50 - 25 minutes - 34.7 MB

Thinking of Scouters as coaches … … can help us understand our role in the game. These are just analogies – we aren’t actually coaches, and Scouting isn’t actually a game.  Analogies are not exact copies, they only resemble what they represent. What a Scouter does may be similar to coaching, but Scouters hold an unique role in […] The post Podcast 362 – Scouters as Coaches appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Podcast 361 – Scouting is a Game

January 29, 2018 21:35 - 20 minutes - 27.7 MB

We’ve heard this before, right? Baden-Powell employed the “Scouting is a game” analogy long before anyone else, and it is the best analogy I’ve found for explaining the wonderfully complex, intriguing, idea that is Scouting. We have to be careful because analogies break down at some point. While Scouting is a game in many ways, it’s […] The post Podcast 361 – Scouting is a Game appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Podcast 360 – Happy Holidays!

December 18, 2017 19:03 - 7 minutes - 10 MB

Thank you for being a Scouter! Today I have a short story to share (with apologies to Clement Clarke Moore) I first read on Podcast 248 to wish readers and listeners happy holidays. The story includes Scouters in neckerchiefs, silence imploring, settling ourselves for a long winter’s snoring. Next week is Christmas and the following is new […] The post Podcast 360 – Happy Holidays! appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

A New Approach to Scout Troop Planning

December 13, 2017 18:39

No matter how we hard tried our Scout Troop planning seemed to be losing the battle for for space on crowded family calendars. Participation in our program was all over the map, some events would be well attended, only a handful of Scouts would show up for others. Patrols were rarely at full strength and […] The post A New Approach to Scout Troop Planning appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Podcast 359 – A Tale of Two Scout Troops

December 11, 2017 21:07 - 13 minutes - 18 MB

Imagine two Scout troops, troop A and troop B. Both troops have “average” Scouts (whatever that means) who do what average Scouts do. Both have a well defined procedural approach to discipline and misbehavior. Troop A publishes a guide that defines the rules, how they are enforced, and penalties for breaking them. Troop B has […] The post Podcast 359 – A Tale of Two Scout Troops appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Scoutmaster Podcast 358 – Scout Advancement Judgement calls

December 04, 2017 20:18 - 18 minutes - 25.9 MB

Scout advancement is not adults judging Scouts… … it’s Scouts meeting requirements with the support of adult volunteers – in Scout advancement we are all on the same side. We did not write the requirements. We don’t personally embroider patches to present to them. It’s tiresome and self-defeating to devise our own hoops for Scouts […] The post Scoutmaster Podcast 358 – Scout Advancement Judgement calls appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Scoutmaster Podcast 357 Kevin Callan and Winter Camping

November 27, 2017 23:44 - 22 minutes - 30.7 MB

Kevin Callan is here, it’s time to go winter camping! Canada’s Happy Camper, our friend Kevin Callan, author of the new Complete Guide to Winter Camping joins us on this podcast with his welcoming way of sharing his knowledge of the woods in winter. You’ll see right away how Kevin has earned the name “happy […] The post Scoutmaster Podcast 357 Kevin Callan and Winter Camping appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Choosing Appalachian Trail Gear

November 21, 2017 17:18

Here’s some advice from Wade Bastian on the Appalachian trail gear he carried on his hike. Wade set out on the 2200 mile trail with fellow Eagle Scout Bucky Kellorg in February. As planned, Wade interrupted his hike to spend the summer employed as a peak steward in New York’s Adirondack mountains (he’s stewarding a peak in the photo above). […] The post Choosing Appalachian Trail Gear appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Scoutmaster Podcast 356 Energy and Vision

November 20, 2017 22:09 - 22 minutes - 30.6 MB

Expertise and experience are overrated Scouts need Scouters with energy and vision more than Scouters with expertise and experience. Scouts don’t care what you know, they respond to who you are. In this podcast I answer three email questions. The first (begins at [1:05]) comes from a new Scouter contemplating becoming a Scoutmaster, but is […] The post Scoutmaster Podcast 356 Energy and Vision appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Seven Appalachian Trail Lessons Plus Three

November 15, 2017 14:37

These Appalachian Trail Lessons come from Wade Bastian, one of two of my old Scouts hiking the 2200 mile trail. Wade and fellow Eagle Scout Bucky Kellorg started in February. As planned, Wade interrupted his hike to spend the summer employed as a peak steward in New York’s Adirondack mountains Bucky completed the trail in July, here he is […] The post Seven Appalachian Trail Lessons Plus Three appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Scoutmaster Podcast 355 When Scouts Misbehave

November 13, 2017 17:46 - 22 minutes - 31 MB

What do I do now? A Scout misbehaves, makes a mistake, or even consciously does something wrong, and things spin out of control, now what? If you hang around long enough your Scouts misbehave, and you’ll will be confronted by this sort of incident, so what is your plan? I’ll discuss an incident shared with […] The post Scoutmaster Podcast 355 When Scouts Misbehave appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

BSA Separate But Equal Plan for Girls

October 23, 2017 20:02

I did not start out as a believer in co-ed Scouting. For most of the last 35 years I’ve been a volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America the status quo worked fine for me, co-ed Scouting was a big unknown, and being unknown it was something to resist. Three Things That Changed My Mind. […] The post BSA Separate But Equal Plan for Girls appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Where Scout Leadership Begins

October 16, 2017 18:51

Can you define Scout leadership without using the words “lead”, “leader”, or “leadership”? The Scout oath and law does a great job of defining leadership without any of those words. Look at the simple promise “to help other people at all times”. That’s where Scout leadership begins: helping other people at all times, by serving […] The post Where Scout Leadership Begins appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

BSA Announces Family Scouting

October 11, 2017 21:39

Today the BSA announced Family Scouting starting next fall with girls in Cub Scouting, and “a program for older girls, which will be announced in 2018 and projected to be available in 2019, that will enable them to earn the Eagle Scout rank.” There are certainly a number of things to discuss but today I […] The post BSA Announces Family Scouting appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Scoutmaster Podcast 354 Gender and Scouting

October 09, 2017 19:17 - 19 minutes - 27.4 MB

Should gender define Scouting? This week I want to discuss responses to a post I published last week about gender in Scouting: Girls in the BSA. The post garnered lot’s of responses both for and against the idea of the BSA becoming a co-ed organization, and I’ll discuss some of the objections in this podcast.  […] The post Scoutmaster Podcast 354 Gender and Scouting appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Girls in the BSA?

October 02, 2017 15:15

Yes, girls in the BSA. I want the BSA to be a fully co-ed organization with no limitations on how girls participate. Before you lose it understand I don’t think girls in the BSA should be forced on anyone. More about that later. I think we can and must make this happen for one simple […] The post Girls in the BSA? appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Scoutmaster Podcast 353 Two Key Ideas for Scouters

September 25, 2017 16:01 - 15 minutes - 21.9 MB

I’ll be brief, well, kind of… … join me as I talk about two key ideas for Scouters I hope you find helpful . This podcast condenses into one talk the answers I wrote to several common email questions I had this summer. I want to share two key ideas I have talked about many […] The post Scoutmaster Podcast 353 Two Key Ideas for Scouters appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Scoutmaster Podcast 352 Catching Up

September 18, 2017 16:12 - 17 minutes - 24.2 MB

Hey! I’m still here, are you? My summer break stretched into the fall a little! Spend some time catching up with me in this briefer edition of the podcast, lots to talk about! We had a great trip to Kandersteg International Scout Center in Switzerland, the troop had a great week at summer camp and […] The post Scoutmaster Podcast 352 Catching Up appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

The Boys Ask Green Bar Bill About the Patrol Method

June 08, 2017 15:28

A virtual question and answer session with Green Bar Bill about the patrol method from the December 1943 Edition of Scouting magazine. If you aren’t familiar with Bill “Green Bar Bill” Hillcourt check out these articles to learn more. Download this article as a PDF document below. The Boys Ask Green Bar Bill About the Patrol Method GENTLEMEN, […] The post The Boys Ask Green Bar Bill About the Patrol Method appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Scoutmaster Podcast 351 Nettlesome Scouting Problems

June 05, 2017 19:27 - 23 minutes - 31.7 MB

 Some Scouting problems are just nettlesome… … they aren’t discipline problems, or particularly disruptive, just nettlesome, irritating, like stinging nettles. Everyone thinks it’s the Scoutmaster’s responsibility to fix nettlesome Scouting problems, truth is it isn’t, at least not directly. Most Scouters run into a situation like this, it bothers them, and then they create a rule […] The post Scoutmaster Podcast 351 Nettlesome Scouting Problems appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Scoutmaster Podcast 350 Scouting Charters

May 22, 2017 17:26 - 16 minutes - 22.6 MB

 Who “owns” the pack, troop or crew? Scouting Charters are held by a chartering organization owns all of the assets of a Scout unit.  As for whether or not they will dictate how the money is spent; the chartered organization is responsible to make sure finances are administered properly. In practice most chartered organizations do […] The post Scoutmaster Podcast 350 Scouting Charters appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Scoutmaster Podcast 349 – Scout Contracts?

May 15, 2017 16:31 - 23 minutes - 31.6 MB

Should we ask Scouts to sign “leadership contracts”? A couple of decades ago I tried Scout contracts, it was a mistake. I guess at the time that I would teach my Scouts a thing or two and demand that that sign a Scout contract before they took on a role of responsibility. Of course they signed […] The post Scoutmaster Podcast 349 – Scout Contracts? appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.

Scoutmaster Podcast 348 – Who Leads Scout Leaders?

May 08, 2017 17:54 - 28 minutes - 38.9 MB

If the Scouts are leading themselves who is leading the Scout leaders? This week I’ll field a couple of email questions that ask the question “who leads the Scout leaders?” Scouting is a team sport, while we all work to build consensus it’s not a democracy. It is, as BP said, “a jolly game” that depends […] The post Scoutmaster Podcast 348 – Who Leads Scout Leaders? appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com.