Taking a look at the Scout Law

A Scout is......
As I lead five boys into the phase of cub scout graduation we are going over the Scout Law, Scout Oath, Scout Motto and the Slogan. These things seem so tedious but yet so important. I sit here listening to my son read to me the twelve points of the scout law and think about how important these are not only to these boys but to our world in general. I am also reminded on how somewhat hypocritical they are to some of BSA's own policies on leaders and scouts but that's something for another blogging rant. I want to start with at least the first 4 points of the law and some thoughts on them.

A Scout is
Trustworthy- in a world where we can seem to trust no one wouldn't it be nice if we could raise young men that others would consider trustworthy to the world.

Loyal - this is a trait that we should expect out of more than just the family dog. In a world where we have words like frienemy and reality shows about people who will happily pat you on the back while stabbing you in it makes me wondering if there is anyone who believes in loyalty anymore.

Helpful- I hear complaints everyday of rude kids, teenagers and even adults that can't be bother to hold open doors, carry bags for elderly ladies or think volunteering their time isn't something they are required to do but want to do.

Friendly - in an age of teenage suicide from excessive bullying the simple act of remembering to be friendly to everyone seems like it would make such a difference in the world. From the Webelos handbook the first sentence states "A Scout is a friend to all.....He offers his friendship to people of all races and nations, respects them even if their beliefs and customs are different from his own." This is itself is a whole other blog for another day but what if we all stopped for a moment and stopped seeing what makes us different and remember we are all just people.

I'm not sure who is actually reading what I post would love some feedback on what I'm posting.

Camping-it's not something to be afraid of

Sorry I've been away so long scouters but as always I've been super busy with life. I write tonight's entry from a scout camp cabin in the woods in Metamora, MI. We have actually made it to council Winter camp this year. Not only is this one of the first years we've been in scouting that we've had any real snow on the ground for camp but we have had the time and the money to go. I'm a little sad that Rob and I are the only ones from our pack to make it to a camp outside of the ones we do as a pack. It's a nice opportunity to stay in the expensive cabin that has running water and bathrooms that don't involve putting on your shoes. There is also a chance to meet and mingle with other scouting parents(granted I'm on of the few moms) and trade war stories along with contacts. I find that I get along better with the dads than I do the moms anyway.
Camping is an important part of scouting. Whether you pitch a tent in the backyard, go to a resident camp for a weekend or rough it in the wilderness backpacking boys need to know that there's a world out there and they need to go see it. Encourage them to go make their own fun! I write this as I overhear a group of boy scouts conspiring to do something. Will I stop them, no way, but I will tell them to not let whatever they are planning not involve bail money or an ambulance. I will make sure they have gloves and a flashlights bad tell them to not leave anyone behind. Part of me wishes I was going with them, it looked like good solid trouble/fun that was to be had. Maybe that's why I'm a cub scout, because age and time has not taken away my thrill for a good adventure and frankly boys can cook up the best adventures, along with the greatest stories to go with them.
The lesson is that you're never too old for fun and there's always fun to be had as long as you never think you're too old, or too much of an adult.

Fundraising or Fun-Raising? There is a difference!

Welcome back to another edition of the Professional Scout Mom. Post Thanksgiving has been busy around our house. We our wrapping up our fall fundraisers and planning Holiday Pack Meetings. Today's focus will be on fundraisers or trying to remember that you can't have funds without fun!
I'm having to remember this myself as I'm pulling a wagon up and down streets in 37 degrees on a Saturday morning. I try remembering things like this is a fantastic social exercise for him and physical exercise for me. As my fingers freeze and I realize I'm the only one who's done this 3 weekends in a row my fun in the funds starts to slip away.
We are all so busy these days with multiple kids doing so many things that it seems so much easier to grab their order forms and bug our family, friends and co-workers for the boys but then it's about the funds you're making not the fun they need to have making their funds.
For our order form orders I make my scout write simple thank you notes which everyone thinks is a sweet touch. I'm also out here pulling a wagon, making sure the nice words are being used and above all I'm sending time with my scout. That is the fun in fundraise is making your scout a part of the fundraising experience which means getting them out even in the cold just for an hour whether it is at your local grocery store or video store and exercise those nice word skills. Most of all make it FUN! If you are having fun they are having and then it's a lot less like work.
So go out and take your scout fun-raising! Till next time!

Networking in Scouting

Hoping today’s posting finds my readers surviving the most hostile shopping day of the year.

I have never been one to want to be in line at a store for some so called great deal at 4am but hey everyone gets their adrenalin rush somewhere. So congrats on your great deals and let us dive into today’s scouting lesson.

Today I was reminded of an awesome lesson about getting to know those in your regional BSA council. This may seems like something that makes no sense but if you plan on spending anytime as a parent of a scout, den leader or Cub Master then like in any business (think of scouting as a business) networking is so important. Each pack or troop can act like a small branch office and the best way for those branches to touch base with the main office or your local council is to show up to the council roundtable meetings. These are usually evenings once a month that may take up an hour to an hour and a half of your evening. This gives you a chance to meet other leaders, your council executives and other great resources in your area.

I started going to our council roundtable meetings because the person that was going from our pack no longer wanted to do it. In almost 2 years of roundtable meetings I have made some really great allies and even more friends. I have been able to share hours of scouting research with new leaders and also get information too.

I can say thanks to my connections at roundtable for my pack’s quickest Pinewood Derby thanks to another pack that had a more sophisticated track and the derby software. I have been able to call in favors and become quite respected by really awesome helpful people. Along with this I have a great running dialogue with the our council’s program director and I have had a hand in making sure that winter camping programs continue. I recently came across the group ticket info for the Broadway production of The Lion King. I passed this along to him in hopes that we get an opportunity to go and I do not have to organize it.

The lesson of today is do not be shy. Allow yourself to make friends, exchange phone numbers and learn how to network if you do not already. Scout packs and troops cannot live as islands but branch out and network as it only helps you out in the long run.

Enjoy your weekend and happy scouting till next time. 

Happy Thanksgiving and welcome to the first post of the Scout Mom blog.

 In this blog you can look forward to reading about my adventures as a scouting mom, the joys of being a mom to a extra special child, the uphill battle that is working my psychology degree and the adventures of being a cleaning/ professional organizer.

Today will be on about the lesson of do not try to do it all yourself. As a master Google user and someone with no issue asking people and businesses if they would like to help out with scouts.
There are resources out there that normally do not get tapped in a community because no one has bothered to ask. A great example of this is asking your local city council member to come talk to your den. Most cities have their city council members are reachable by email. Send one out to all of them; the odds are you will find at least one that will respond. We found one that did and surprisingly she does not have children but was fantastic with the boys and their never-ending questions. 
To add to this the boys were invited to city hall or a tour and to open the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. This was a great experience for the boys.
If you have not already gotten into helping out at your local food banks take your scouts there. They are usually in need of volunteers and appreciate the help. In Detroit our major food bank is Gleaners, which has programs specifically for the Cub Scout age group. The plus to places like this it that they are free outings.
For the Tigers and Wolves we recently did the Feats of Skill Achievement (Achievement 1). Due to facility issues where we hold our meetings we were not able to use the gym for this as a group. I came across the Tumblebus. I sent the owner the list of what needed to be covered for this Achievement. The boys had a blast and I was able to sit back and have an easy den meeting with very little work. The whole thing is a bus turned into a gym.

So the lesson is that it costs nothing to send an email or make a phone call and ask if you can get help with your scout programs.  Good luck and Happy Scouting!