ScouterStan - Scout Leader Podcast

ScouterStan reviews the first session of the commission's weekly show. ScouterStan has been inspired to continue with a second season, but he needs help knowing what he should cover. Please let him know in the comments of this channel and he will see them, read them and will reply. If the first season was helpful in any way, please let others know about the channel. ScouterStan is planning on impr...

Every year scouting units recharter. 😬The recharter packet should contain the following: ✔ Step-by-Step Instructions ✔ Printout of Units Current Membership ✔ Unit & Membership Fees ✔ Journey to Excellence  ✔ Annual Charter Agreement ✔ Contact Help and Resources Information ✔ Other Stuff from Council/District Recharter packets are picked up at the October Roundtable. Recharter starts onli...

On June 15, 1916 the US Congress first issued a charter (Title 36 congressional charter) to the Boy Scouts of America signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson. Scouting in the USA has been charged to help make American youth into outstanding citizens. Since that time Scouting has evolved slowly into the program it is today. Each scouting unit is chartered and owned by organization threw out our...

Scout leaders are notorious for volunteering and over-committing. We like to say and hear the word YES! Leaders often get burnout when they over-commit to anything. ScouterStan explains how to help prevent burnout by keeping the “Rule of Five” in balance.  The Rule of Five       (1) Family – That’s your family and friends you would consider family.   &n...

A Den Chief is a youth position in a Troop that is helping the Den Leader in a Cub Scout Pack. Often this position is dismissed as unimportant and trivial. However, it’s one of the most important in the life of a Scout Troop and a Cub Scout Den. ScouterStan explores this little know youth position and how important it is. The new Den Chief training is outlined in 3 modules;    &nbsp...

♫“Back to Gilwell O’Happy Land… I’m Going to work my Ticket if I can.”♫ Wood Badge is the highest level of adult Scout leader training available in the World. The first Wood Badge training was organized by Francis "Skipper" Gidney and lectured by Robert Baden-Powell and others at Gilwell Park in the UK in September of 1919. The first course in America was held at Schiff Scout Reservation in 1948....

The Order of the Arrow (OA) is Scouts BSA National Honor Society. The OA was founded by Urner Goodman and Carroll Edson in 1915. Founded on the principles of Brotherhood, Cheerfulness, and Service. The OA is NOT a secret society. “Discreetness helps enhance the experience.” Youth Protection is always in effect. Everyone in the OA is referred to as “brothers” regardless of gender. The order is a Br...

Today we recognize all of Americas who willingly sacrificed their lives, to save others. Firemen & First Responders, who bravely climbed up to save lives in domed burning buildings. Police & Security, who gave themselves willing to evacuate survivors. Passengers on United Airlines flight 93 who fought the terrorists when they found out what was going on. All of the selfless acts of theses...

Everyone should be encouraged to use the Scout Sign and recite the Scout Oath and Law. Often I see parents at meetings that just stand there, while their scouts are reciting the oath & law. Leaders should encourage parents and guests to join in. Parents should use the Scout Sign at home or anywhere. Scouting values are not exclusive to registered members at meeting and outings. Family Scouting...

   This is your monthly district roundtable meeting that ALL Scout leaders should plane to attend. The structure of this meeting has three parts. First, the opening, greeting and announcements. Second, the breakout sessions for all divisions of Scouts (Cubs, Troops, Ventures and Sea Scouts). In the last part, everyone reconvenes for the closing. This structure will be different from time...

Now that we have lost of new families joining our Pack or Troops, existing leadership needs to have a discussion about training. Every adult (moms, dads, uncles and ants) should set up a free my.scouting.org account and take YPT…ASAP! Later, if they chose to join the leadership of the unit they can attach the membership to the account. Additional training is encouraged to all, not restricted to me...

Cub Scout Packs recruit leaders from the parents. Troops get leaders crossing over from Packs with their Scouts. Packs are organized and run by the adult leaders. Troops are “Youth Lead” and the adult leadership is there to give guidance and structure. In scouting we have two sides of adult leadership. Cub Masters, Den Leaders, and Scoutmasters are “Scout Facing” Leaders. The larger and as importa...

Scouts recruitment is year-round. When school starts back up in the fall, its often referred to as the start of recruiting season. Many districts have a “School Signup Night” organized by the professional staff. This is a signup night only, not a “Back to the Pack”. Packs & Troops need to promote year-round with service opportunities. School orientation day (“Meet the Teacher”), meetings, gath...

Charter Organization Representative (COR’s) is your units connection to the community. Many units don’t even consider a service project for their own. If you're with a faith organization, think about all of the holidays when they need service. Schools need flag presentations at the PTA meeting. Other community service organizations have many needs. Units will have problems if they're invisible to...

A lot of the Cub Scout Packs take the summer off? Nope ! Troops have Summer Camp and that’s it? Nope ! Scouts mimic the school schedule in many ways. However the Scouts need to be active over the summer break. This gives them consistent meeting time to prepare for the upcoming year. Packs will still have at least one meeting a month over the summer. Troops should have weekly meeting through the su...

One of the big challenges for adult leaders have at summer camp is finding time for self-improvement. Pack and Den Leaders can help out with Day/Resident camp. This goes a long way in helping your unit overall. Troop Leaders can help out with advancement, quartermaster and campsite/troop health officer (Nears Betty, Sawbones, etc…) Some of the better summer camps will have additional activities an...

The natural tendency of adult leaders to cross from a pack to a troop is not the only option. Seriously consider joining the commissioner core of your district. ScouterStan explores this and many other options. Making the most of your service and experience will help more youth become better leaders. 

Setting an example is often harder than just doing it. Consistent start times is critical to establish respect for leadership and audience. Remember that to be early, is to be on time. On time, is to be late. To be late is unacceptable.

Sometimes adult leaders have difficulties with other leaders. your unit commissioner can help work out difficulties and help relations be more scout like. Often the dispute is about incorrect views of how scouting is designed to work. Your commissioner can help re-establish vision and goal setting.

 Adult leaders are faced with many challenges. One of the biggest Fear for adults is public speaking. ScouterStan explores concerns that Adult leaders have about pack/troop meeting presentations. A scout is brave … but not fearless. Discover Some pointers and secrets of public speaking and unit meetings.

The Scout Sign is a common feature of any scout meeting. It demands our respect as it is a living symbol of our commitment to the Scout Oath & Law. This cherished symbol is also used to respectively and courteously quiets the room. Unfortunately, some scout leaders don’t wait for all the scouts to stop talking and scream out “Signs Up!”  That defeats the whole point of quieting the room w...

Every scout leader should always be prepared with a quick one-minute story for the end of any meeting or campfire. This story can help illustrate a point or give a reflection on a scouting value. ScouterStan has one you can use tonight. Here are some good ones out on the net. Top 3 Reference for Scoutmaster Minutes: https://www.programresources.org/scoutmaster-minutes/ http://www.retiredscouter.co...

Your scout unit needs to use the JTE as a road map to gold. When you do this your unit will succeed in every way. Journey to Excellence is the replacement of the old Quality Unit program. Units that even attempted to use JTE and don’t make gold will succeed.  BSA Journey to Excellence: https://www.scouting.org/awards/journey-to-excellence/ ScouterStan has many years of experience and is now g...

Join ScouterStan as he launches the first episode of the commissioners weekly series on YouTube. Find out what a commissioner is, and how to use one in scouting. Commissioners are one of the best tools to help Scout units succeed.