Scoutmaster

Self-Inflating Air Mattress

Sleeping atop a self inflating air mattress on the ground is surprisingly comfortable. Ingeniously constructed of open-celled foam sealed in an envelope of sturdy nylon cloth with an air valve that, when opened, draws air into the foam. Close the valve trapping the air and the result is a bed of air that insulates and cushions the sleeper. Although they cost more than the alternatives the comfort of a decent night's sleep is worth it.

Thermarest introduced the idea about twenty years ago and continues to offer good products. Slumberjack mattresses are generally less expensive. I own a big thick, full length Slumberjack for car camping and an ultra-lightweight 3/4 length Thermarest for backpacking. I also have (and highly recommend) a sleeve-like adapter that turns the pad into a chair.

 

Thermarest

Slumberjack

Polypro Long Underwear

These are not your grandfather's long-johns.

Long underwear used mean waffle-knit white cotton. It held in moisture, became cold and clammy, heavy and downright unpleasant. There are few innovations as important to enjoying the outdoors as poly-pro long underwear.

The high tech marvel: polypropylene long underwear, is light, wicks moisture away from the skin, does not get cold and clammy and keeps one toasty warm. When first introduced poly pro was prohibitively expensive and hard to find. Now it is reasonably priced and commonly available.

Poly pro has afforded me perfect comfort   during many outdoor days and nights at below freezing temperatures. I carry it in all seasons . I require that our scouts have it in their gear year round for protection against hypothermia during  inevitable cold, wet days that occasionally surprise us.

There are many brands and types. I honestly cannot see a big difference between the expensive and inexpensive brands. There are different thicknesses (light, medium and heavy) I recommend lightweight for all but the harshest conditions. Duo-fold is a reliable brand, (I have yet to buy a brand I found unacceptable), their website is a good place to start.

Duofold website

Attack or Opportunity

As a director of a Scout Camp I was familiar with inspections. Our kitchen is inspected by the Health Department, our pool is inspected by the local municipality, our camp is inspected by a national inspection team from the BSA and our own internal health and safety committee, our staff conducts daily inspections of campsites.

Inspections are necessarily invasive: someone enters another's domain to comment and critique on how well standards are being maintained and suggest or require improvements. Considering such inspections an attack makes them unpleasant. Seeing them as collaboration makes them an opportunity. It is useful to have a fresh set of eyes look over your operation and help you make it better, safer and easier. Critiques build excellence.

When people inside or outside of scouting question our motives,goals and practices we should listen. If we react defensively instead of listening the critique becomes an attack and the critic becomes an enemy instead of an ally and we loose the opportunity to collaborate. Critique can be unsetting. The findings may be useful or they may be baseless, but we should listen rather than react.

 

Money and Scouting

The BSA's decision to institute and enforce a ban on gay and atheist people from membership resulted, in part, of people questioning whether or not they should support local funding of scouting.

Scout Councils are  administered by a volunteer local Executive Committee and a professional staff. Councils are divided into Districts comprised of Scout Troops and Cub Scout Packs. Troops and Packs are chartered to a specific local community organization (often churches, Rotary clubs and similar groups) and are administered by a volunteer committee.

Proceeds from a Troop or Pack Fundraiser stay with that Troop or Pack to support their individual program; they aren't required to give the Scout Council, much less the National Administration, a share of the money earned.

People of conscience questioning  financially supporting Scouting should ask if the Troop or Pack observes the National policy; many don't. Don't ask Scouts, ask only the adult volunteers and only when they are out of hearing of the Scouts (National policy prohibits adults from discussing their dissent with Scouts).

In most cases questions of policy are very remote from the routine administration of a Troop or Pack program. The few dollars spent supporting a fundraiser goes towards good work in the community. It is entirely appropriate to as local volunteers if they endorse National Policy; many do not.

The Best Kind of Citizen

"The Boy Scouts of America maintains that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing his obligation to God."

A visit to Arlington National Cemetery just outside of Washington D.C. reminds us that our freedom comes at a cost. Here the 'best kind of citizen' lays beneath a spare white headstone marked with a symbol signifying their religious affiliation.

The symbol pictured here signifies that the person beneath it was an atheist. That they have been laid to rest in Arlington signifies that they are undoubtedly 'the best kind of citizen'; ones that  dedicated their service to our country; many having given their lives in the bargain. Arlington is a memorial to an ideal of service and citizenship free of discrimination and narrow-mindedness.

The BSA has every right to hold and voice their opinion of good citizenship; to uphold membership standards consistent with these opinions however regrettable or disrespectful they may be. Why not broaden our organizational perspective to the undeniable reality  good citizenship springs from an internal motivation that is not necessarily inspired by religious belief ?

Why prohibit atheists from membership in the Boy Scouts of America? The free expression of religion, including the expression of no religion, is a central tenant of a free society, a core American value. To teach our youth otherwise is irresponsible and unpatriotic.

ACLU v. BSA

It is unfortunate that the American Civil Liberties Union and the Boys Scouts of America are not on friendly terms, they would make great allies.

Here is a comparison of the ideologies expressed by both organizations:

ACLU -- " The mission of the ACLU is to preserve all of these (constitutional) protections and guarantees: freedom of speech, association and assembly. Freedom of the press, and freedom of religion ...equal treatment regardless of race, sex, religion or national origin. We work to extend rights to segments of our population that have traditionally been denied their rights... If the rights of society's most vulnerable members are denied, everybody's rights are imperiled."

BSA – " A Scout tells the truth. People can depend on him. A Scout is true to his nation. A Scout is concerned about other people. He does things willingly for others without pay or reward. A Scout is a friend to all. He seeks to understand others. He respects those with ideas and customs other than his own. A Scout is polite to everyone regardless of age or position. He knows good manners make it easier for people to get along together. A Scout understands there is strength in being gentle. He treats others as he wants to be treated. A Scout obeys the laws of his community and country. If he thinks these rules and laws are unfair, he tries to have them changed in an orderly manner rather than disobey them. A Scout looks for the bright side of things. He cheerfully does tasks that come his way. He tries to make others happy. He protects and conserves natural resources. He carefully uses time and property. He has the courage to stand for what he thinks is right even if others laugh at or threaten him. He respects the beliefs of others. "

Kill Your Troop Advancement Plan

On joining a troop some scouts will wait for someone to come to them and ask to sign off their advancement achievements. Many will self start and approach someone to certify what they have completed.

I tend to wait until they come to me. It is harder for some than others and they will ultimately need an invitation but I try to instill the idea that advancement is their responsibility, not mine. All they will get form me is occasional cajoling, half-hearted encouragement.

My contention is that if a system for advancement exists scouts will wait until they are prompted. If advancing depends on their own initiative they will motivate themselves.

This approach is hard on parents. They get edgy if they think that their son is not advancing as quickly as his peers and blame the system or try and find some way to motivate their scout. What I tell them is that a scout driven to advance will always have to be driven, but a scout who motivates himself to advance cannot be stopped.

I have had many scouts advance to Eagle after a year or two of not doing much of anything towards advancement. Somehow the discover that if they are ever going to move on it will depend solely on their initiative. Once they discover this they simply cannot be stopped.

Eagle Court of Honor

Ken Ryan was scoutmaster of Troop 12  for thirty years and decided to retire the year I became scoutmaster.

Ken visited a troop meeting once or twice a year and maintained his registration with the troop until he died a couple of years ago. When invited to attend our Eagle Courts of Honor Ken demurred.  I pressed him on it and he said:

" When I was a boy and got my Eagle (that would have been in the nineteen thirties) I went to a troop meeting, my scoutmaster handed be the badge and shook my hand.. " At this point Ken raised both hands as if in  benediction and concluded with; "... that was it."

I think Ken's sense of decorum and respect for the award was offended by overblown presentations that obscure its simple meaning.

The web is replete with advice and programs for elaborate Courts of Honor for Eagles, someone even wrote a book on the subject. From what I can tell there are no official rules and regulations concerning what can and can't be done at a Court of Honor. Courts of Honor can be tiresomely long, sappy and just plain awful. Well intentioned adults are usually the reason why.

Understand that I value the achievement of Eagle; I just don't see why that moment should be overloaded with pomp and circumstance. A simple, meaningful presentation is more poignant than a elaborate pageant of florid theatrics.

Associated posts at Scoutmaster
Eagle Projects

Eagle Projects

There is a cottage industry of advice, methods, plans, presentations, and seminars concerning Eagle projects that resembles that for college applications. In an attempt to improve the outcome these machinations compromise the process at the heart of an Eagle project.

Developing, presenting, obtaining approval for, executing and reporting on an Eagle project is a complex problem to solve. Many are eager to offer well-intended assistance to make things easier but in doing so they undermine the initiative, determination and skill required by the process. When the candidate is led by the hand past the difficulties and pitfalls it is tantamount to shouldering his pack on a hike; he completes the hike  but misses the hiking itself.

If the completing an Eagle project is seen nearly as a means to an end we miss the intention altogether. The process is complex and challenging for a reason; the candidate must demonstrate the capabilities required to bring it to completion independently. Parents, scouters and advisers should offer only measured assistance; not making phone calls, arrangements or doing any of the work a scout can and should do himself.

Some of the most satisfying projects I have seen had little to do with the outcome. These were projects were the scout encountered and overcame significant difficulties in the process. It may be painful to watch scouts muddle through all this; but they must.  An Eagle that has weathered the process of completing a project on his own will learn a good deal more and show us just how incredibly competent they can be.

Associated posts at Scoutmaster
Eagle Court of Honor

Diary of an Early American Boy

Eric Sloane wrote and elegantly illustrated several pithy books on early American living and artifacts. As a teen I was, and as an adult I remain, fascinated with the Diary of an Early American Boy.

Sloane bases this book on the actual 19th century diary of a fifteen year old farm boy named Noah. The book illuminates the spare original entries in Noah's diary with Sloane's illustrations and writing. The obscurities of early American life are explained in a compelling story that is at once plausible and inspiring.

Diary of an Early American Boy at Amazon