Membership Practices during a Pandemic

A Scouts BSA breakout topic this month focused on maintaining membership in 2021. Here are some of our ideas and concerns

How are troops engaging with Packs: Cubmasters, Den Leaders, Cub Scouts?

Talk with Webelos & Arrow of Light den leaders, Cubmasters, and committees, starting in summertime and contacting more often as transition time nears.

Hold Zoom meetings dens only, to meet with Troop youth leaders, play Kahoot games, and work on rank requirements. Parents and youth can ask questions and see how the troop goes.

Invite Webelos to unit campouts and events. recent examples include an electronics campout, a ski campout and a sledding event.

Some troop leaders are also Webelos Den Leaders. Others have several den chiefs in multiple packs. Den chiefs can still run a game virtually, to be visible and to inspire crossover. 

Are troops inviting Cubs to their events? Are they inviting Webelos / Arrow of Light to troop meetings?

Invitations are sent out to lots of Cubs, but it is hard to get response back from youth and families.

Many families are not starting new activities or even continuing pre-pandemic activities.

Many kids are not currently involved with extra-curriculars at school or with outside activities.

Troops need to be ready to welcome and involve when families are ready to add something new (or something back) into their schedule.

Are troops attending Cub Scout events (Pack Meetings, Blue and Gold Banquet)?

It depends on Pack’s comfort level, adding extra people in person to an indoor space.

Some packs are not meeting, not even virtually, even since September.

If 5^th graders are not earning the Arrow of Light, then they have to wait until their 11^th birthday or until the end of 5^th grade to join a troop.  This might impact resident camping schedules.

A troop virtually attended a crossover recently at a pack Blue & Gold, which included a virtual callout from the troop. Parents were given troop neckerchiefs, ready to put on the new scouts. This troop will hold an in-person meeting with a small ceremony to welcome these four new scouts.  This will be coupled with a Court of Honor, so they will see Scouts wearing sashes. No potluck/food is scheduled, so it will be a shorter meeting than typical Courts of Honor.

Where do troops need help?

Camp attendance is likely to be down. Parents and scouts alike may be willing to meet in person for 2 hours, but not for a full 6 days.

NYLT attendance may also be wobbly.  our Course Director shared that there will be 2 courses in 2021, with 30 scouts per course, so better for social distancing but more scouts attending overall.

Price and payment are family concerns,.. A last-minute withdrawal without a refund is an issue. Council policy is no refunds (money is spent in preparation).  If a scout or family gets cold feet in April? The troop can swap out one scout for another to attend or the troop can roll payment forward to 2022.

NYLT leadership are expecting a backlog of scouts eligible to attend, as the Class of 2020 is still champing at the bit. This year, instead of 2 scouts per troop, they may send 3 for small troops and 4 if the troop has 30+ chartered. May 1 will be a NYLT go or no-go decision for the event as a whole. We must encourage early registration so that the event can best be positioned to happen. Troops can hold a slot or three now without a particular scout's name yet. No $50 deposits this year, just the full payment.

NYLT on the council website is https://hawkeyebsa.org/training/nylt/  Dates are Week 1: June 24-July 3 and Week 2: July 18-24.  These are later in the summer than usual, due to school schedules also running later into June. Troop scouts can choose whichever week suits them.

How can help be given?

Merit Badge events online are helpful – they are good to get new scouts started.  Signs that 2^nd & 3^rd year scouts are struggling to keep earning MBs.

Virtual MB events can be from all over the nation. Some Scouts earned Oceanography online and also mentioned “EPIC” in Hawaii. There will be virtual events with Pearl Harbor’s 75^th anniversary coming up.

Reach out to young adult Scouts to give back. Be a Merit Badge Counselor.

 

Boy Scout & Cub Scout Breakout Topics

I have heard different reasons, but the results are the same - there will not be a robust 2018-2019 Roundtable Planning Guide book or two published, as there had been in years past from BSA National.

As a spark for others, here are the breakout topics for Boy Scout leaders and Cub Scout leaders in my district over the last eight years. It is a mix of Planning Guide / Philmont topics and our own local ideas. Green grids for Boys and tan grids for Cubs. We do two 15-20 minute topics each month to a group of many positions. We hope that everyone will get something out of at least one of the subjects each month.

When we planned in August, we were hoping that the books would soon be published, so we left gaps for some of this year's topics. We will get it figured out soon, now that we know that nothing else is on its way. Best wishes for next year.

Most topics are self explanatory. "Wood Badge Ticket" is a placeholder, as usually one or two recent Wood Badge participants wish to address a topic with one of our break out sessions in order to complete a ticket. We welcome this opportunity and now make room for it. If no requests are made, then we discuss the Wood Badge program itself as the topic.

And I also encourage everyone to look at the archives of the Baloo Bugle, going back to 1996, for other Roundtable topic ideas. The current issues are being restyled, but the archives are a wealth of combined Scouting knowledge. http://usscouts.org/bbugle.asp

Click on each grid to see it larger.

Roundtable Breakout Topics for 2016-17

This is our updated plan for Roundtable Breakout Topics for the remainder of the year.  

On November 30, 2016, BSA relaxed many of the requirements for rank adventures and electives in the new Cub Scout handbooks. We have added a breakout session for January 2017to discuss these changes. All of the changes can be found through this link:
http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/programupdates.aspx

As always, we may need to make topic changes due to availability of speakers, new information to share, or cancellations.  We will do our best to announce the changes prior to the meeting.  

Click on the image to see it larger.

Roundtable Breakout Topics for 2013-14

This is our initial plan for Roundtable Breakout Topics this year.  As always, we may need to make changes due to availability of speakers, new information to share, or cancellations.  We will do our best to announce the changes prior to the meeting.  Click on the image to see it larger.

Patrol Boxes

Demonstration video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z0ZEDtIBiw

Contents:

http://www.scoutlists.com/Fall/Inland/Patrol-Box-Contents.aspx

http://www.usscouts.org/netresources/forms/genpatrolboxinv.pdf

Designs:

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

http://www.bsatroop680.org/documents/Plans/patrolboxplans.pdf

http://www.troop325.com/resources/PatrolBoxPlans.pdf

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/23246-Patrol-Box-project

http://www.bsatroop1288.org/Patrol%20Box%20Plans/Forms/AllItems.aspx

http://www.blueskykitchen.com/index.html

Examples:

http://pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=patrol+box

http://www.scoutmastercg.com/even_more_chuck/

http://www.scoutmastercg.com/chuck-boxes-and-camp-kitchens/

http://www.scoutmastercg.com/the-perfect-pat/

http://www.scoutmastercg.com/two_patrol_boxe/

http://coloradoscouter.com/family-patrol-box/

Dealing with Food Allergies

The number of children with food allergies is growing and Scouts with food allergies need to have their conditions taken seriously.  Best outcomes for everyone will occur when Unit leadership:

• Works with the Scout and his parents to understand the specific triggers and reactions for this Scout's allergies.
• Communicates to parents and Scouts in the unit so everyone understands the seriousness of the situation.
• Allows the Scout to participate in activities that he is capable of doing
• Finds alternatives to snacks, meals, and food crafts that avoid the allergens.

The video "It Only Takes One Bite" explains many of the possible allergic reactions and treatments and ways to work around the allergies.  This video is on YouTube and can be shared with adults and with Boy Scouts.

National's "Guide to Safe Scouting" advises Scouts with allergies to have appropriate treatment with them at all times and to alert leadership prior to an event so that precautions can be on hand.

If an incident happens during a unit event, National has an Incident Information Report form that can be filled out online and printed to document the incident.

Food allergies should guide the decisions abut Scout treats and snacks as well as at meals, whether at a Troop campout or a Blue & Gold banquet.

One Cub Scout Pack developed their own Food Allergy form.

UFAN - The Utah Food Allergy Network - offers a patch to Cub Scouts who learn about food allergies, with many age-appropriate activites.

FAAN - The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network - has good suggestions with their Be a PAL: Protect A Life program.  They have a very helpful booklet designed to earn a PAL Girl Scout badge.

Food allergy considerations for Jamboree are made known well before the event, so alternatives can be prepared.  http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/Jamboree/LastDetails.aspx

Some Camps have practices in place for dealing with food allergies and other good related issues (managing diabetes, religious diet, vegetarian) http://www.upscouting.org/scoutforms/forms/summercamp/FoodAllergies.pdf

Troops are encouraged to manage risk and include allergies to their Emergency Response Plan.  http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/Resources.aspx

Parents can get involved in Unit leadership as a way to monitor and to educate, as this parent tells:  http://www.allergicchild.com/allergicblog/food-allergies-boy-scouts-2/

Adult Cooking on Campouts

Troop camping works on the patrol method: each patrol plans their meals, buys their supplies, and cooks for their patrol.
Adult leaders stay out of the boys' way and take care of their own menus, shopping, and cooking, acting as their own patrol.

Many boys tend to value fast preparation and easy clean-up over a warm, tasty, filling meal.  Adults can lead by example and demonstrate a wider range of meal possibilities.

Adult Patrol recipes and methods:
http://scoutingmagazine.org/2009/03/now-youre-cooking/
http://www.scoutingthenet.com/Cooking/
http://www.scouting.org/Training/Adult/Supplemental/Cookingwithoutuntensils.aspx

Planning time for cooking: http://scoutingmagazine.org/2006/01/scouters-speak-cooking-eats-up-time-for-activities/
Planning enough food for more active Scouts: http://scoutingmagazine.org/2007/05/outdoor-smarts-im-still-hungry/

One district's survey results about troop cooking practices (Scroll to page 19): http://bsatroop14.com/patrolmethod/THE_PATROL_METHOD_SURVEY.pdf

Articles about the broader role of adults on a campout:
http://www.scoutmastercg.com/adults-attending-scout-camping-trips/
http://troops.scouter.com/nh/troop263/Adultsoncampouts.pdf
http://carmel1.mytroop.us/aboutus

Troop Trailer Round-Up 2012

This past fall was our third Troop Trailer Round-Up and our best attended yet, with 10 troops participating. Not every troop had a trailer, but everyone showed off how they transport gear to campouts and other events.

Roundtable Scouters visiting ten troop trailers in the parking lot.

So much can fit into this van.

Troop supplies

Trailer storage and drop-down door

Patrol boxes, shared propane, tents

Patrol boxes have a spray finish to increase friction

Gear for multiple patrols to share one large propane tank

Extra storage at the end of the tent cabinet.

Extra storage in the side door.

Troop logo and double swinging doors

A web of bungie cord holds items in place but moves aside for easy removal.

White board to check out numbered tents and tarps.

A web of bungie cord holds items in place but moves aside for easy removal.

Troop trailer with double swinging doors.

Trailer storage.

Yes, this troop trailer has a freezer chest.  A spare tire is also a good idea.

Troop logo

This trailer includes a four-drawer filing cabinet

One of the drawers holds important files, others hold a number of small items

.

Troop logo and drop down door

Side door access

Rear door access

Troop storage with double swinging doors

Troop logo and double swinging doors

Troop storage and double swinging doors

Side door access and again, a spare tire is important.

Trailer storage

Bungies hold back tables.

Pick-up truck with a topper

Webelos on Troop Visits

In order to earn the Arrow of Light, a Webelos Scout must visit with Boy Scout troop:

4. With your Webelos den, visit at least

• one Boy Scout troop meeting and
• one Boy Scout-oriented outdoor activity.

(If you have already done this when you earned your Outdoorsman activity badge, you may not use the same outing to fulfill requirements for your Arrow of Light Award.)

6. After you have completed all five of the above requirements, and after a talk with your Webelos den leader, arrange to visit, with your parent or guardian, a meeting of a Boy Scout troop you think you might like to join. Have a conference with the Scoutmaster. 

It is best for all involved if the boy can visit more than one troop.  Many small towns can only support one troop, and many leaders in both Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts believe in "feeder Packs."  This is not the Boy Scout way.  It is certainly convenient if a charter organization hosts both a Pack and a Troop, but boys need to know that they have options and can make their own choice.

Every troop has its own culture, its own strengths and weaknesses.  What is a great fit for one boy would be uncomfortable for another.  

My own son wanted a smaller troop - there were around nine boys when we joined.  He liked the activities that he did on a campout with them.  He didn't like the "talk-talk-talk" he encountered with a different troop.  He didn't like the "you can do this... once you turn 13" speech from a troop of most older boys.

My own Webelos den visited three troops. One Scoutmaster recruited our den.  Another troop was where one of our Webelos had cousins already involved.  Our "feeder" Troop Scoutmaster never answered my calls for when we could visit.

My own den of six Webelos had them joining three different troops across the city.  One dropped right away. One moved away after a few years.  Two had sports demands that wouldn't work with Scouts.  Two stay with it until high school.  One of them didn't advance beyond Second Class, but he told me about how much fun they have.  And one is working on finishing his requirements to earn his Eagle rank.

Another factor is friends and older brothers.  If a family already has one son in a troop, it's a strong pull for the younger one to join too.  Then, if his buddies want to stay with him, they join as well.  My own den had no older brother Scouts to contend with.

Parents also need to fell a connection with the troop.  Even if the troop doesn't currently need adult leaders, parents need to consider driving time and how well the troop communicates with parents outside of the weekly meeting.

Below are links to some evaluation tools for both the boy and his parents to capture their first impressions of each troop.

National's timeline for troops seeking Webelos:

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

Guidelines and sample questions for evaluating troops: 

http://usscouts.org/bbugle/bb0711/bb_trainingtips.asp

http://www.catalinacouncil.net/cochise/November_2007_Cub_Scout_Roundtable_Issue.pdf

A Parent's Guide, created by the Potawatomi Area Council and the Longs Peak Council.

http://troop83dracut.com/web2scout.pdf

Another parent's guide:

http://www.bsatroop135.com/findingtrooptips.html

Guide for all involved Scouts and Scouters:
http://cardinaldistrict.net/index.php?module=documents&JAS_DocumentManager_op=downloadFile&JAS_File_id=276

Checklists to use during troop visits:

http://www.arkie.net/~pow-wow/troopvst.pdf

Forum discussion about seeking a troop:
http://www.scouter.com/forums/viewThread.asp?threadID=175558

Conservation Good Turn

The purpose of this award is to encourage Packs, Troops, Teams, and Crews to join with conservation or environmental organizations (federal, state, county, local, or private) to carry out a Conservation Good Turn in their home communities. 

The award is earned by any youth and adult members.

Once a unit has completed a meaningful conservation project, unit leadership fills out an application form and submits it to Council.  

Participants earn a Conservation Good Turn patch (00149) and the unit receives a Conservation Good Turn Award certificate (21-389).  The patch is a temporary patch and is worn centered on the right pocket of the uniform.

Conservation Good Turn Info

http://scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/Resources/Conservation%20Good%20Turn.aspx

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Awards_Central/ConservationGoodTurnAward.aspx

Insignia: www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Media/InsigniaGuide/06F.aspx

Conservation Good Turn Certificate Application

http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/GTFApplication.pdf

Red Cedar District – Area County Parks

http://www.mycountyparks.com/county/Linn/Parks.aspx

http://www.mycountyparks.com/county/Benton/Parks.aspx

Wickiup Hill Learning Center

http://www.mycountyparks.com/county/Linn/Park/Wickiup-Hill-Learning-Center-Area.aspx

Wickiup Hill is likely the best Linn County site for Cub Scouts, as it is designed with young children in mind.

Removing invasive garlic mustard is an on-going project in many sites in Iowa, including at Wickiup Hill.

Garlic Mustard photos and explanation of threat

http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/alpe1.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alliaria_petiolata

City of Cedar Rapids – Parks

http://www.cedar-rapids.org/resident-resources/parks-recreation/parks/pages/default.aspx

Please contact the Parks Department first, rather than just showing up and cleaning a park.

• The City will provide black garbage bags at the site and will pick up the bags afterwards if they are left in an agreed-upon location, especially for Saturday projects.
• Parks staff will be able to match their project needs to your Pack’s range of ages and number of participants.
• The Parks Department tracks the number of volunteer hours each year served in city parks, for their records.
• If any park neighbors call about your Pack’s “suspicious behavior” in the park, the Parks Department will have a record of your presence.

Indian Creek Nature Center

http://www.indiancreeknaturecenter.org/

Contact Jean Wiedenheft, who will have a wish list of ICNC projects available.  She can discuss your Pack’s abilities and match them to a project.  She is also open to ideas your Scouts have in mind