Special Eagle rank badge for 2012

After the popularity of the rank badges during the BSA centennial, National is releasing special Eagle rank badge for those earning the rank in 2012, the centennial of the Eagle.

http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2011/10/14/special-badge-for-scouts-who-earn-eagle-in-2012/

October Roundtable PowerPoint Slides

Tracy's Roundtable PowerPoint slides for October are now posted on the Red Cedar District web page.  Thanks for the requests to make the announcements available for reference.

http://www.hawkeyebsa.org/volunteers/districts/red-cedar/

Keep asking questions!

Scoutmasters & Webelos Den Leaders Mixer

At past Roundtables, we have met with Cub Scout leader and Boy Scouts leaders about the transition from Cub Scouting to Boy Scouting.  This year, we want to do more, so we're hosting our first Scoutmasters and Webelos Den Leaders Mixer.  

We want leaders from Troops and Pack to have some time to socialize, meet face-to-face, ask questions, and get to to know one another.  We hope that this will be much more useful than a list of names and meeting information on a single sheet of paper.

Both groups are encouraged to get to know about the Scouts in the area.  Please bring along your calendars and be ready to set up some troop visits, outdoor events, and campouts.

National’s outline for Responsibilities for:

Packs: http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/ImprovedWebelosTransition/pack.aspx

Troops: http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/ImprovedWebelosTransition/troop.aspx

Unit Commissioners: http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/ImprovedWebelosTransition/commish.aspx

Districts: http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/ImprovedWebelosTransition/chair.aspx

Timeline: http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/YearRoundGuide/graduate.aspx

Recruiting discussions and ideas:

http://www.totscouting.org/commish-2/webelos-to-scouts.htm

http://www.scoutmastercg.com/2011/03/march-2011/

http://scoutmaster.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/11/webelos-scoutar.html

http://www.scouter.com/forums/viewThread.asp?threadID=306108

http://www.boyscouttrail.com/blog/253.asp

http://manywaters.nsbsa.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=zDtFGOuG2s8%3D&tabid=1625&mid=3677

http://thescoutmaster.posterous.com/recruiting

http://thescoutmaster.posterous.com/the-ultimate-recruiter

Blog about the Transition process: http://thetrainerscorner.wordpress.com/tag/webelos-to-scout-transition/

Troop Trailer Round-Up

Last year's event was so well-received that we're bringing back the Troop Trailer Round-Up.  

This is an opportunity for Troops to show how they store and transport their gear, for leaders to discuss trailer practices, and in some cases, it's a good excuse to give the trailer a good scrubbing before winter sets in.

Our own Troop 42's trailer ranks high in search listings.

http://www.troop42.com/busandtrailer.htm

This Troop in Illinois has quite a set of equipment for their Scouts.

http://troop33dekalb.net/equipment-trailers.html

Guarding against theft: http://www.lakeshoredistrict.com/drupal/node/1808

Here are more trailers, as shown on Scouting Magazine's blog, again showing Troop 42 among them.

http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2011/04/21/lets-see-your-troop-or-crews-trailer-design/

http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2011/04/28/take-a-look-at-some-of-my-favorite-troop-trailers/

http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2011/04/29/nine-tips-for-preventing-troop-trailer-theft/

Discussion on trailers:

http://www.scouter.com/forums/viewThread.asp?threadID=80484

http://www.meritbadge.net/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=1459

http://www.meritbadge.net/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=2790

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/trailers-transportation/208471-scout-troop-shopping-covered-trailer.html

Cargo Trailer companies (for info only – no personal opinions)

http://www.wrightwaytrailers.com/  (Hiawatha, IA)

http://www.haulmark.com/

http://www.hhtrailer.com/

http://www.bulldogtrailers.com/

http://www.wellscargo.com/

http://www.homesteadertrailer.com/

http://www.interstatecargo.com/

http://www.aluminumtrailer.com/

Pack Communications

Pack Communications are vital to the health of the Pack.  The Internet has many examples on-line to help Pack leaders find the methods that will work with their Pack.

National’s newsletter, poster, and calendar templates: 

https://beascout.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/Leaders/newslettertemplate.aspx

General communications:

http://rt492.org/cm/pkadmin.html#communication

Newsletter templates and examples:

http://kismif.org/2008/09/29/example-pack-newsletter/

http://scouting.org/filestore/xls/13-288nws.xls

http://sites.google.com/site/pack151bears/newsletters-bear

http://www.cspack320.org/PackDocuments/PackNewsletters/tabid/810/Default.aspx

Phone trees and e-mail lists:

http://www.pack562.org/mailinglists.html

Family handbooks:

http://www.cubroundtable.com/assets/pdf-documents/Generic-PACK-Guide.pdf

http://sites.google.com/site/frontierpack333/Home/scout-manual

http://www.longswamppack575.org/famhandbook.htm

http://www.cubscoutpack9.org/documents/FamilyHandbook2011.pdf

Pack Websites & Pack Calendars:

http://www.cubpack27.com/home

https://www.scoutmanage.com/calendar/687?view=1&filter=0

http://bsapack883.com/wp/for-den-leaders/cub-scout-den-meeting-schedules

http://pack127.net/Pack127Calendar.html

http://www.cubpack88.org/calendar.htm

http://www.pack451nc.com/html/calendar.html

Planning Pack Meeting Demonstrations

Cub Scouts are learning all the time and that learning can be reinforced by demonstrating to others what they have learned. Besides, Show and Tell can be really fun.  Encourage your dens to plan a short demonstration, reading, or re-enactment of what they have learned or visited lately.  Added bonuses are the improvements in presentation skills, and younger Scouts getting to see what the older Scouts are getting to do, generating excitement for future years in Scouting.

There aren't many resources and examples on-line for this topic, which is just a well.  All Scouting is local.  Set aside a little time during the pack meeting for some den bragging demonstrations and find out what works best to your pack.

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/Activities/pack.aspx

http://www.pack-287.org/pack287/pm_den_demo.html

http://www.lincolntrailscouncil.org/pdf/CS_FastStartGuide.pdf

Youth Protection for Mixed Male and Female Groups

Venturing Crews are often co-ed and that presents more challenges to Youth Protection education.  All must be vigilant to inappropriate behaviors both between Scout and Adult, and between Scouts.  

National and Regional leadership has materials to assist in the training.

http://www.scouting.org/filestore/ypt/pdf/25-026.pdf

http://www.crventuring.org/Training/Youth_Protection/

http://www.scouting.org/training/youthprotection.aspx

http://www.scouting.org/Training/YouthProtection/Venturing.aspx

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/GSS/gss03.aspx

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/GSS/gss01.aspx

Recruiting Teen Youth

Recruiting for Venturing Crews targets middle school and high school teens, which takes a different approach than attracting Cub Scouts.

This is a 10-page Word document guiding crew leaders about recruiting methods

http://www.bccbsa.org/sites/default/files/How%20to%20Recruit%20Venturers.doc

National provides a Recruiting plan for Venturing Crews and for Sea Scouts Ships.

http://www.scouting.org/filestore/membership/pdf/Venturing_Recruitment.pdf

http://www.scouting.org/filestore/membership/doc/Venturing_Recruitment_Plan.doc

Others are willing to share what worked for their area.

http://usscouts.org/venturing/Recruitment.pdf

http://www.crventuring.org/document2.php?s=1&id=111

http://www.sageventure.com/venturing/tips/StartingNewVenturingCrews.pdf

The Mid-America Council has some ideas as well.

http://www.mac-bsa.org/venturing_recruiting.aspx

http://www.mac-bsa.org/Post/sections/99/Files/2011_Venture_Crews_New_Family_Packet.pdf

Coe College Playground of Science

Thursday, October 27 from 6:00 - 9:00 pm will be the Ninth Annual Playground of Science at Coe College, FREE for all ages.  Three floors of the science building with DOZENS of hands-on activities and demonstrations from students and faculty.  Please follow the link and RSVP so there will be plenty of ingredients on hand to make enough liquid nitrogen ice cream for everybody!

Coe College Playground of Science