Another Favorite Quote

I did not wish to take a cabin passage, but rather to go before the mast and on the deck of the world, for there I could best see the moonlight amid the mountains. I do not wish to go below now.
Henry David Thoreau

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Picture of the Week

Welcome New Boy Scouts to Troop 483 

I Will Do My Best

By Norman Rockwall

1947

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1910 to Present

What have Boy Scouts needed to have with them at all times since 1910?

The Boy Scout Handbook

 

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The Value of an Eagle Scout

Scouting rocks, and any young man who makes it through the five to seven year gauntlet of leadership activities and community projects to become an Eagle is highly achievement oriented.  Becoming an Eagle is no accident.  It takes real planning and commitment.  And it takes guts.

Most young men who become Eagle Scouts really don’t understand the value of the rank until they finish college and/or enter the military or the job market. In the military Eagle Scouts earn an automatic pay raise and promotion straight out of boot camp. A majority of companies will set aside resumes if the applicant states he is an Eagle Scout for first consideration of employment.

My son who is in College recently applied for a job at a local retail store. During his second interview he was asked “is there anything about you I should know”, without hesitation my son said he is an Eagle Scout. The interviewer told him that there is always room on his staff for an Eagle Scout.

I believe when people find out a man is an Eagle Scout, their respect for him increases, along with higher expectations of his character and work ethic. Expectations are higher for the Eagle Scout. People know that what ever goals or objectives are set will be met without failure, because they know he has already proved himself to finish what was started.

Any young man becoming an eagle Scout will value the rank for life. Once an Eagle always an Eagle.

Parents:  If your son wants to pursue Scouting, don’t just let him — encourage him. If you are an Eagle Scout, make sure it ends up on your resume. 

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Rising Star District Awards Dinner

Tonight at the Rising Star District dinner, we had a few of our adult leaders recognized for their service to our Troop and the District. Before I let you know who they are, just know this was to be the last Rising Start Dinner due to the District being split three ways, yep SHAC will be having triplets in this area, so we’ll have to wait and see what happens. RS has been around since 1983 and was awarded the Quality District award earlier today.

A round of congratulations are due to a few of our leaders recognized tonight. Joel H. was recognised for his service in the District to the Cub Scouts. Colleen G earned the William D. Boyce Award for her hard work and dedication in starting our Venture Crew, She was also the recipient of the Rising Star Award for her service to the Troop. Vince T. was the recipient of the Rising star Award for his service to the Troop and his work with our new Scouts in our First Class emphasis program. Congratulations to Roxie A., one of our newest leaders who will officially join next Friday when her Webelos den bridges over to the Troop, Roxie received the William D. Boyce Award for starting a new Cub Scout Pack at one of the new elemantry  schools in the area.

Congratulations to these leaders for their selfless service to Scouts and the Scouting program. Without leaders like you and others, the Scouting program would not be the success it is for our youth. Thank you all for your dedication and Scouting spirit.

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Top 10 Reasons Boys Join Boy Scouts

• 10 Scouts like the color olive drab
•  9 Scouts like to read by flashlight
•  8 Scouts get to spend time away from their parents
•  7 Scouts get to sleep in a tent
•  6 Scouts get to watch things burn
•  5 Summer Camp….says allot
•  4 Scouts learn to tie up their sister really well
•  3 Growing up as a Scout can give you a real chance to succeed in life
•  2 Scouts make new friends
• and the #1 Reason:  FUN!

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Sir Robert Baden-Powell quote

It is the Patrol System that makes the Troop, and all Scouting for that matter, a real co-operative matter.

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Green Bar Website

I stumbled upon a website that has allot of great stuff and a good resource for Scouts and Scouters. Most of the info was originally written by Green Bar Bill and put on this site. Go see for yourself at Green Bar

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A Scoutmaster’s Creed

This creed was adapted from an article written by “Green Bar Bill” Hillcourt for Scoutmasters:

I will think of my Patrols in terms of the leaders

I will train my Patrol Leaders to do their job, trust them to do that job to the best of their ability, and let them do the job. I will support their efforts by showing them the confidence I have in their abilities, and expecting them to do their best.

I will adopt the answer “Ask your Patrol Leader; he knows!”

I will develop the belief in my Scouts that the Patrol Leader is the only one who knows what’s going on. I want them to look to those leaders for vital facts and guidance because that’s a sign of true youth leadership.

I will take my own advice and “Ask the Patrol Leader; he knows!”

I will instill in my Patrol Leaders a need to get to know the Scouts in their Patrols. I will count on them to know whatever information I need about a Scout. I know that a Patrol Leader can only lead effectively if he has a handle on the wants, needs, and concerns of each Scout in his Patrol, and I want each of my Patrol Leaders to be effective.

I will stick the youth leaders out in front at every opportunity

I know that leadership is much more than wearing a patch and that every youth leader needs to develop confidence in his abilities. I know the only way a Scout can develop leadership confidence is to lead, and I will give them every opportunity to do so.

I will commend my Patrol Leaders publicly whenever they show signs of taking responsibility

I know that public recognition of the “little things” a Patrol Leader does will build the leader’s confidence in his abilities, and his Patrol’s trust in his leadership.

I will refrain from criticizing them before their group

I know that mistakes will be made, and it is my job to turn failure into an opportunity for success. Criticizing a Patrol Leader in front of his Patrol can easily reverse any progress that has been made, so I will criticize privately and constructively, helping the Patrol Leader learn from the experience.

I will count on my Patrol Leaders to lead

I will refrain from jumping in to solve every problem or hand out discipline. I will give my Patrol Leaders real responsibility for their Patrols, and trust them to take on that responsibility. In short, I will train them, trust them, and let them lead!

I will always be ready to give a helping hand, a word of advice, or a boost in confidence to my Patrol Leaders

I will remember that my job is to train the Patrol Leaders to lead, and give them the opportunity to lead. I will also remember that training is an ongoing effort since every possible scenario can never be covered in formal training. I will be a guide the Patrol Leader can count on for advice or just to talk about things without getting in his way or taking charge at every turn.

via Green Bar

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Webelos Scoutmaster Conference

At our meeting Monday night we had ten Webelos that will be bridging into the troop in the next few weeks. One of the requirements BSA added a few years ago was that the Webelos has to have a Scoutmaster conference with a Scoutmaster. Last year was the first year I did this, and again I had the opportunity this year.  As Scoutmaster of the Troop I enjoy talking to the Webelos when they are close to bridging. I try to keep it to 5 minutes or less, but it gives me a chance to meet the boys, get to know them, and talk one on one. The one thing I get from just about every soon to be Scout is that they are excited to become Boy Scouts, start camping with the Troop and start working towards their Eagle rank, but the one thing they all want to do the most…………Go White Water Rafting!  Yep, that it in the nutshell. They all agree that Boy Scouts is the place they can learn and do things they otherwise would not have the opportunity to do. They’re right.

Welcome to the Troop Scouts

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