ScouterStan - Scout Leader Podcast

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...

In scouting, we promise in our oath to help other people at all times. Honoring our nation's armed services is important in building strong citizenship. Honoring all that helped out in the CoVid19 pandemic is important too. The nation and Scouts BSA is grateful and honors everyone who has embraced the "help others" spirit.    🌎 A Facebook Favor, a Memorial Day Honor:   https://www....

You're invited to become apart of our scout leader community we have here on YouTube. With almost 250K views in 9 years*, only 0.003% of viewers of this channel are subscribers (not 8% as ScouterStan stated in the video). Even less have used the channel comments section. ScouterStan personally views and responds to all of the comments and questions. If you have a subject or a question that we have...

Your district Cub Scout Day Camp has a minimum of two Camp School Certified directors.  The Day Camp Director and Program Director. This training ensures the health and well-being of all campers and staff.  It also improves the quality of the scouting program. The Scouts BSA National Camp Accreditation Program (NCAP) helps all councils and it's districts adopt national camping standards....

Most scout leaders leave Scouting when their children do (but not required). Some units have “term-limits” on positions like Scoutmaster, Cubmaster or Committee Chairmen. Passing the torch on to the next leader should be done in an orderly way. Always have a succession plan in case of emergencies. It’s the departing leader's job to have someone step into there position temporarily/permanently. Pas...

Basically, only cash/check/charge donations to Scouts BSA or your local council office fall under charitable donations. Everything else is your property and asset. Donations to a scout unit are given to the chartering institution. If the charter is a non-taxable charity, the donation is deductible. You and your family's memberships, subscriptions, camping fees, uniforms, equipment, and insurance a...

The Scoutmaster conference is exclusive to Troop operations. However, the concepts and policies apply to all unit leaders * . Its recommended that confidential notes be taken during the conference. A scoutmaster conference is not meant to be a retesting of scout skills. In Scoutmaster training its described as; "The conference is not a retest of the requirements upon which a Scout has been signed...

If you're stuck in a rut.. with the same old schedule of campouts. You NEED to change it before your Scouts lose interest. Youth like new and different things even things that don't work. Adult Scout leaders like reliability and consistency. “ News Flash ” Scouts BSA is about the youth, not us old things!   Here are some ways to mix things up on the schedule and have fun:   1️⃣ – Pu...

Now the hard part? Making time to complete your ticket . A ticket is broken up into 5 parts. Setting up your tasks in a logical order with the calendar in mind. Your Troop 1 Guide for your patrol is still there. Contact your Troop Guide as they have resources to help.  Making changes to your ticket may need to happen. Your patrol guide can help you in getting approvals. When you complete your...

Ordeal membership is meant to be temporary . You only do ordeal once! The ordeal is a big thing but not the only thing that Order of the Arrow is about. This is the start of your membership process. In a short time, you will be invited to finish and seal your membership as a Brotherhood. Avoid becoming a “Sash-N-Dash” or a “Flapper” . Giving service back to your unit is the primary concern. OA Rep...

The 12 points of the BSA's Scout Law was put together by Robert Baden-Powell and Ernest Seton. The first publication of ‘Scouting for Boys’ in 1908 Baden-Powell first proposed only the first 9 points of the Scout Law.   The original 1908 Baden-Powell's Scout Law was defined as;  A Scout is... Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, and Thrifty. &n...

In a Pack, the sign-off responsibilities are delegated to the adult Den leadership and parents. In a Troop, this may be delegated to senior (First Class rank or higher) youth with adult leadership oversight. This position of the Instructor in a troop is part of the youth leadership corps. Each unit has its own protocol. The following recommendations of what ScouterStan has seen that works.  ...

The history of B-P is naturally lengthy in detail. Knowing the brief history will help you gain insight as to the foundations of Scouting. Over 160 years ago on February 22nd (1857) Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell was born at home in London. His mother Henrietta Gace Powell and his father Professor Baden Powell an Oxford clergyman and academic lived in the Paddington area. By the time he was...

Whether you like it or not, Scoutbook is here to stay. In April 2015 the BSA acquired Scoutbook. Scoutbook is the official Scouts BSA online unit management tool. This helps Scouts, parents, and adult leaders track advancement. Records milestone and achievements all on Scoutbook. Nights camped, notes and other communication features. As of January 1, 2019, Scoutbook subscriptions are free to all s...

The history of scoutings beginnings and how scouting came to America is a fascinating subject. We first must understand the basics of youth organizations at the turn of the 20th century. In 1844, George Williams founded the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) in England. The youth of the age ware struggling to establish there generation. George Williams organization was to help develop a heal...

Scout Sunday or Sabeth is the first weekend of February. Many units are chartered with religious organizations and it would only be natural to be included. Adult leaders should also think about offering to have a “Scouts Own” service at an assisted living home. Mabe reaching out to a religious organization that is no longer affiliated with scouts.  Remember we both serve the same area. A Scou...

Scout units are not immune to the thievery of their equipment. All scouting units should take precautions to discourage thieves from stealing. Criminals are looking for easy targets especially ones with wheels on them. If they can roll it off-site and take their time breaking into it, they will. Here are some simple steps to help deter thievery for any unit.    ⛔ Storage – Sheds, garage...

Teen suicide is the 2nd cause of death to American youth today. I know this subject is dark and cringy and most leaders avoid it if they can. As adults working with youth we need to recognize the symptoms and know what to do about it. Your active role in safeguarding our Scouts is part of your responsibilities. RED LIGHT Statements & Behavior include:   🛑 Threatening there own well-being...

At the last camporee or summer camp, your name was called out and you left the campfire with Order of the Arrow brothers. This is known as a "Call-Out" or "Tap-Out" , and is the result of you being elected into the order. You should receive a small booklet called “Upon a Lofty Journey” . This is the Spirit Of the Arrow (SOA) booklet. You will also get information about the upcoming Ordeal. If you'...

Happy New Year! 2020 will be a big year for us scout leaders. Sometime in September, we should see the first girl Eagle Scouts. This will be a big event but it should not be treated as a race. Achieving the Eagle rank is serious for anyone, regardless of gender. Membership fees have changed to accommodate additional insurance requirements. The professional staff is implementing a new management pr...

During this vacation time, it would be ideal to check into your scout Leader training. Records of your training are attached to your Scouts BSA ID number. Check your training records in your My. Scouting.org account. If no training is reporting to your account this may be to your personal settings or a duplicate ID number. This can happen if you register with multiple units. If everything matches...

Every Chef has a deep respect for the skillet… Scouters love something much deeper. Dutch ovens! Many Scouters discover that cooking in the great outdoors can be challenging. Gaining some quick knowledge about the Dutch oven will help Scouters set an example. Learn the absolute basics of Dutch oven equipment and gadgets. The Dutch oven can be used for many different cooking methods. Understanding...

ll across the nation scouts are discovering the joys of winter camping. ScouterStan recalls his youth in's winter camping experiences. Even though ScouterStan lives in Central Florida winter camping is exciting. Similar to summertime camping up North. ScouterStan loves winter camping even though it's done in the snow. Scout leaders need to be aware of the dangers and have a Plan B to fall back on....

The purpose of the uniform is part of the aims and methods of Scouting. The scout uniform shows others the unity of scouting. It shows others you can be trusted. It shows others that you are willing to help at all times. The patches on the uniform tell a story. Informes the viewer of experience, training, and who can help them.  Uniforms are to be worn at all meetings and events unless schedu...

Thanksgiving is this week and Scout Leaders need to reflect on Things there thankful for. I’m back with a new season of commissioners weekly. We are going to cover a lot of stuff you don’t wont to miss… so subscribe and get other leaders to do it too. What Scouting means to me... Scouting is my personal ministry. Scouting is different than any other charity. A souter friend of mine once sed in a s...