Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Pack Camping Committee meeting #2
We met again tonight to finalize our campout schedule. Steve pitched a craft that we're going to do - a fireplace craft on a CD! Nicole is going to take photos and do our annual photo craft. i'm going to order a banner that we can use for the photos - $10 and it'll have the pack info and date in the picture. Finalized the menu planning and Randi is going to help me by going food shopping next week. It's almost time for the campout! The boy scouts are going to cook zeppoles and help the cub scouts with tent setups. We will do some activities with our friends from pack 46 new city - they will be at camp the same day as us and they are doing a pushmobile race and playing field games. Wx permitting it should be a great day!
The End Is Near!
Coming soon....
I am nearly finished with my ticket! The campout weekend will be the last few items I have to do. I am very excited. tonight i have my final campout meeting. I had one in April also. We planned out the campout - I used the "wood badge tools" to get feedback from others - looked for some other ideas - checked for understanding - all the good communications tools we learned in wood badge.
Monday, May 27, 2013
Letters Back from England!
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Hike #3: Kakiat Park, Montebello NY 5/5/2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Pack Camping Committee Meeting #1
Well, tonight was our first committee meeting at Sloatsburg Library. My committee is made up of 3 parents and some boy scout leaders/scouts. We met to brainstorm ideas for the pack campout - what we've done before, some ideas going forward, and a review of a potential schedule. There were some great ideas thrown around! Steve and Mike are new Tiger parents this year and Nicole is a Wolf mom. They are great additions to my little group. We will meet again next month to go over the final schedule - we will take ideas from tonight, pare them down and work them into our campout.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
District Committee Awards! 4/21/13
We pause for a moment to celebrate my fellow scout leaders from the district that got awards tonight! My bobwhite brother Jose got an award as well. I was lucky to be selected as a district hidden hero. Here we are in our best non-camping attire. I came straight from OWLS training at Camp Nooteeming - changed in the car!
Hike #2: Claudius Smith's Den / Earth Day Service Project
I worked with Billy M. who led the scouts on a hike to Claudius Smith's Den in Harriman State Park today. Actually, we weren't entirely sure we got to where we wanted to go! The scouts were real troopers for this hike. It was pretty hard. One lesson learned is that we should have had the trail a little better understood before going - but that being said, we made the best of it and enjoyed beautiful weather. Here are some photos from the hike. We also did some service in the park, with an earth day cleanup and a lesson leave no trace.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Hike #1: Maple Syruping at Hudson Highlands - 3/9/13
Diversity Project On It Way!
It took a while to do this part of the project, but it's finally done. My diversity project, Goal #5, involving getting to know British Cub Scouts, is finally showing some progress. A few weeks ago, i heard back from my British counterpart with a list of names of her kids, and the approval to move forward with the project. I randomly assigned each one of my Webelos 1's to one of her scouts - came up one short on my end though - she had 10 names and i had 9 boys - so i drafted my son Sam, the wolf scout, to be the 10th American Scout! The letters came out really good - and they are now packaged and on their way overseas!
Thursday, January 10, 2013
January 2013 update
It's been a while so here's an update!
- For Goal #1, i have lined up some more help for hikes in the spring - Cathi R. is going to help with new trails in NJ - I am going to ask my Den Chief to lead a hike - Benny M. our cubmaster is going to lead a hike - and i will lead one to Bear Mountain. So that's 4 - plus I will see if Doc B. and/or the folks at Hudson Highlands can help out too!
- For Goal #2, I've taken the pack trainer course online, and am planning to create a "Welcome to the Pack" booklet for new parents for next year's incoming scouts and parents. I've reached out to the Cub Leaders and told them what I can do to help them. I'm pretty confident that I can mark my Goal #2 as completed by the beginning of the next programming year. There does not appear to be any other formal council "Training" for this position so that's that!
- In addition, I've taken on the responsibility of becoming the next Pack Committee Chair. Not a woodbadge "goal" per se but goes nicely with what i've taken on. My tenure starts after Blue and Gold... I plan to do it for about 3 years, with the 3rd year spent getting the next committee chair up to speed and handing off. At the same time my oldest son will be with his troop and I expect to be involved with them in an ASM or committee capacity.
-Progress to report with Goal #3, i asked our director of the library what (if anything) we can do for them for service, she told me she'd keep the boys in mind for projects, most likely in the spring/summer. If nothing becomes apparent, I will meet with her to make some suggestions for service and see if she gives me the go-ahead.
- Also, for Goal #3, I spoke with Joe L., the ranger @ Bullowa, about what my scouts could do for him for service. He suggested we could paint one of the insides of the cabins. I volunteered our scouts for it, and it will probably happen in September, so I will stay in touch with him as we get closer. He would be providing all the materials, I will create a "day" out of it and get food and other activities for the kids to do.
- For Goal #4, i've let the pack know that I would like volunteers for my committee. Let's see if anyone volunteers! (So far, none have stepped forward. I know I have at least one recruit in Bill M. - I will reach out to some others for help!)
- no progress on Goal #5 - i followed up again with the England folks to see if they're good to go. In February, I am planning on having my guys start letter writing to english scouts one way or another!
This Bobwhite is still bobbin' along....
- For Goal #1, i have lined up some more help for hikes in the spring - Cathi R. is going to help with new trails in NJ - I am going to ask my Den Chief to lead a hike - Benny M. our cubmaster is going to lead a hike - and i will lead one to Bear Mountain. So that's 4 - plus I will see if Doc B. and/or the folks at Hudson Highlands can help out too!
- For Goal #2, I've taken the pack trainer course online, and am planning to create a "Welcome to the Pack" booklet for new parents for next year's incoming scouts and parents. I've reached out to the Cub Leaders and told them what I can do to help them. I'm pretty confident that I can mark my Goal #2 as completed by the beginning of the next programming year. There does not appear to be any other formal council "Training" for this position so that's that!
- In addition, I've taken on the responsibility of becoming the next Pack Committee Chair. Not a woodbadge "goal" per se but goes nicely with what i've taken on. My tenure starts after Blue and Gold... I plan to do it for about 3 years, with the 3rd year spent getting the next committee chair up to speed and handing off. At the same time my oldest son will be with his troop and I expect to be involved with them in an ASM or committee capacity.
-Progress to report with Goal #3, i asked our director of the library what (if anything) we can do for them for service, she told me she'd keep the boys in mind for projects, most likely in the spring/summer. If nothing becomes apparent, I will meet with her to make some suggestions for service and see if she gives me the go-ahead.
- Also, for Goal #3, I spoke with Joe L., the ranger @ Bullowa, about what my scouts could do for him for service. He suggested we could paint one of the insides of the cabins. I volunteered our scouts for it, and it will probably happen in September, so I will stay in touch with him as we get closer. He would be providing all the materials, I will create a "day" out of it and get food and other activities for the kids to do.
- For Goal #4, i've let the pack know that I would like volunteers for my committee. Let's see if anyone volunteers! (So far, none have stepped forward. I know I have at least one recruit in Bill M. - I will reach out to some others for help!)
- no progress on Goal #5 - i followed up again with the England folks to see if they're good to go. In February, I am planning on having my guys start letter writing to english scouts one way or another!
This Bobwhite is still bobbin' along....
Monday, November 19, 2012
November 2012 update
Here is an update as to where I am with my goals:
Goal 1 - I have been talking to Linda, my unit commissioner, about hikes with theFriends of Sterling Forest State Park group. She is going to get me together with Doc, who leads many hikes and who is great with the scouts. I found Doc on Linkedin and messaged him and am awaiting further correspondence. Slow progress thus far. Back in early November, Randi and I spent a morning hiking around Bear Mountain and decided that would be one of the hikes for the scouts. I am also trying to get on a hike with some boy scouts. The local troop is doing some hiking so i'm hoping to glom on and attend.
Goal 2 - I need to take the online pack trainer course. Still on the table. The superstorm, other commitments, and both jobs, have delayed me from getting too far. i am hopeful to get to it during the thanksgiving break.
Goal 3 - no progress to report thus far - emailing Chris H. today with Council to relay idea and get approval.
Goal 4 - Starting to identify committee members. So far it will be me, Bill M, Gary P (Donny's Dad), and i'm hopeful to draft a few scouts and a Tiger Cub dad to help me. I think that's a fair size. I hope to gather everyone starting in January.
Goal 5 - I have received the name of the scout leader in England that our friend Emma knows. I've emailed what I'm looking to do and am awaiting response.
- emailed my ticket counselor Joe to set up get-together
Goal 1 - I have been talking to Linda, my unit commissioner, about hikes with theFriends of Sterling Forest State Park group. She is going to get me together with Doc, who leads many hikes and who is great with the scouts. I found Doc on Linkedin and messaged him and am awaiting further correspondence. Slow progress thus far. Back in early November, Randi and I spent a morning hiking around Bear Mountain and decided that would be one of the hikes for the scouts. I am also trying to get on a hike with some boy scouts. The local troop is doing some hiking so i'm hoping to glom on and attend.
Goal 2 - I need to take the online pack trainer course. Still on the table. The superstorm, other commitments, and both jobs, have delayed me from getting too far. i am hopeful to get to it during the thanksgiving break.
Goal 3 - no progress to report thus far - emailing Chris H. today with Council to relay idea and get approval.
Goal 4 - Starting to identify committee members. So far it will be me, Bill M, Gary P (Donny's Dad), and i'm hopeful to draft a few scouts and a Tiger Cub dad to help me. I think that's a fair size. I hope to gather everyone starting in January.
Goal 5 - I have received the name of the scout leader in England that our friend Emma knows. I've emailed what I'm looking to do and am awaiting response.
- emailed my ticket counselor Joe to set up get-together
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Friday 10/12....
... going up to Bear Mountain tomorrow to check out some hiking possibilities for ticket item 1.
update: Decided that it would probably be good next year for my Webelos for a daytime hike! Love Bear Mountain.
update: Decided that it would probably be good next year for my Webelos for a daytime hike! Love Bear Mountain.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Ticket Progress 10/10
- Started Blog. Do you like it? Comments welcome! I'm no web designer at all, I just wanted it to look pretty enough.
- Correspondence on ticket items began:
Goal 1 - I joined myfitnesspal and am beginning to track my foods. Starting weight: I know it but i'm not telling yet! hehe. I have been taking Karate for fitness. It's hard! I have begun researching hikes around the area. As time permits I am going to do some hikes myself before starting to lead them.
Goal 2 - I need to take the online pack trainer course. I'm aiming to do this Sunday afternoon/evening, along with possibly some other online training.
Goal 3 - I have had discussion with Ann Marie at Sloatsburg library about the idea, but nothing firm discussed yet. My webelos 1's are hopefully going to be helping out this Saturday at the library for the book sale, but I didn't really count that because we're doing it as part of our den meeting. I have to contact Chris Hopkins, Ranger Joe Langdon and/or the property committee to firm up my plan for Bullowa. I spoke with Deb Klock last night and also Terrance McKiernan and they liked my idea but referred me to Chris for further discussion.
Goal 4 - Nothing yet, it's still a ways off. I know that Billy Mincey, my fellow cub scout leader, will be helping me out with the campout, as he did last year, and I would like to recruit a few others to help me.
Goal 5 - I reached out to Emma Baker, our friend in England, who is sharing the idea with her Cub Scout leadership, and am awaiting response.
- emailed my ticket counselor Joe to set up get-together
- paid for the Wood Badge dinner. Almost time for the Bobwhites to fly again!
- Correspondence on ticket items began:
Goal 1 - I joined myfitnesspal and am beginning to track my foods. Starting weight: I know it but i'm not telling yet! hehe. I have been taking Karate for fitness. It's hard! I have begun researching hikes around the area. As time permits I am going to do some hikes myself before starting to lead them.
Goal 2 - I need to take the online pack trainer course. I'm aiming to do this Sunday afternoon/evening, along with possibly some other online training.
Goal 3 - I have had discussion with Ann Marie at Sloatsburg library about the idea, but nothing firm discussed yet. My webelos 1's are hopefully going to be helping out this Saturday at the library for the book sale, but I didn't really count that because we're doing it as part of our den meeting. I have to contact Chris Hopkins, Ranger Joe Langdon and/or the property committee to firm up my plan for Bullowa. I spoke with Deb Klock last night and also Terrance McKiernan and they liked my idea but referred me to Chris for further discussion.
Goal 4 - Nothing yet, it's still a ways off. I know that Billy Mincey, my fellow cub scout leader, will be helping me out with the campout, as he did last year, and I would like to recruit a few others to help me.
Goal 5 - I reached out to Emma Baker, our friend in England, who is sharing the idea with her Cub Scout leadership, and am awaiting response.
- emailed my ticket counselor Joe to set up get-together
- paid for the Wood Badge dinner. Almost time for the Bobwhites to fly again!
My Wood Badge Ticket Revealed!
Below is the actual Wood Badge approved ticket!
My Personal Vision of Success
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if I could help my scouts get more involved in our community, and help the adults who help them become more successful as well? To do that, I need to drill down into my personal values and
scouting mission to create my overall vision. My pre-course questions were used to create the vision.
What are my values?
Lots of family/community time spent well – educating myself; teaching the young, friendship and support given to all. Concentrating the time I spend on activities I deem worthy of my time and attention and freeing myself from activities I do not deem worthy. Spending time sharing these values with my pack and den.
Giving back always; paying it forward. Being honest - always. Working very hard. Playing very hard.
What is my mission?
To share my values with anyone that will let me share them.
To be a scout for life.
To teach boys the values I embrace and lead them into adulthood.
I exist as the person I am to carry out my mission to share these values and vision.
My current and near-future mission as a scout leader is to prepare my webelos for boy scouts by using my values as core, and to share scouting and my values with the entire pack, and to have fun doing it.
What is my vision?
To practice, preach and share my values and my mission.
To shape the world to my worldview; even as it changes, and to modify myself accordingly.
My vision of success as a Cub Scout Den Leader is to see my pack, and my community, shaped positively using my values as core, and to share this vision and my values with other adults who may be able to join me in my journey in lockstep with scouting.
Goal 1:
I would like to challenge myself by improving my health so that I can be more active in outdoor scouting activities. In a personal effort to exercise more often to lose weight/inches and lower my BMI, I would like to arrange for my pack to go on regularly scheduled outdoor hikes - where I would arrange and/or attend a hike with the pack that anyone could attend, weather permitting. I would like to do the above at least 4 times during the scouting year . I would like to have this complete by January 2014 and have arranged and/or attended at least 4 of them. I would like one hike at least to be during the summer when our pack traditionally is not as active.
Who: I will reach out to local hiking clubs, scout troops, and the state parks to plan a different hike every month. I will attend as many as I can; the ones I cannot, I will seek an adult from the pack to represent the pack. I will ensure at least 2 adults can attend to comply with Youth Protection guidelines.
What: Our pack has not traditionally had any sort of “Regular” hike – there have been a few one-offs in the past, but nothing regular, and attendance is very inconsistent. I would like to leave a legacy with the pack of running a regular hiking program that the scouts and parents will want to participate in regularly, at least 4 a year.
Where: Tuxedo and Sloatsburg are surrounded by Harriman State Park , Sterling Forest State Park, and Bear Mountain State Park very close by, so most likely in these areas. However, I would also like to look outside this boundary when applicable, but not too far away (Palisades Interstate Park Commission in NJ, etc). I will also incorporate the 2 villages with "hiking" thru each one - noting memorable landmarks, and incorporating the local businesses where possible.
When: I will focus on doing this in the spring, summer and fall of 2013 with the goal of being done by winter 2013-2014.
Why: This goal is designed to make me more comfortable hiking and leading in the outdoors, and getting me outside more in a non-gym setting, which I believe my pack could also benefit from.
How: I will begin by reaching out to local hiking groups and visiting their websites and compiling a list of available hikes. I will also speak with Doc Bayne in Sterling Forest State Park who is a local hiking leader. I will take all the information I receive and compile it into a list, and decide which hike that month is the best one for the pack in alignment with my goals of variety and keeping the hikes relatively simple and short for my pack.
How Verified: I will record my progress with each step and document each trip on my ticket blog complete with photos.
Goal 2:
I want future leaders in my pack to have an easier time getting trained for their positions. To that end, I would like to become the pack trainer for my pack. By December 2013 I would like to have attained this status, and that all pack leaders will be offered training in all areas they are working in, as well as supplemental areas.
Who: I will contact Jill Tanney from Rockland District to get information on becoming a pack trainer. I will coordinate with my cubmaster and committee chair as to how to handle the training of leadership. I will coordinate and assist in delivering this offered training to the pack’s leaders.
What: I will ensure that all pack leaders are offered training in their positions. Currently there is nobody doing this in our pack.
Where: I will seek out the pack trainer training either online or in person, and will deliver the material I’ve learned either at a central location or at each person’s location depending on availability.
When: I will seek out pack trainer training in the fall of 2012, and be ready to assist the leaders in completing their leader specific training at the completion of my training. Going into the Fall of 2013, I would like to have a program in place to assist in leader training from the beginning of the scouting year, with all training completed, if taken, by June 2013.
Why: The scouts deserve leaders that are fully trained in their positions, and the leaders deserve to know about all opportunities and avenues to improve themselves for scouts. I will bridge the gap and assist the leaders in all ways possible.
How: Once trained, I will reach out to all the leaders and go thru the training they require for their positions, and discuss other opportunities available to them. I will track this training and log it for them and assist them with any other record keeping in this regard.
How Verified: I will log each step, complete with descriptions of each step, on my ticket blog.
Goal 3:
I want my scout pack to do more to contribute to my home and scouting community by demonstrating the ideals of scouting and volunteering to do more to help out. The library, as the central hub of the village, is a place I’d like to leave a legacy, as well as Camp Bullowa, where my pack enjoys its outings. I would like my scouts to complete a giveback/service project at Sloatsburg Library. I would like to see this complete by October 2013. Also, I would like to fix up/clean up one cabin at Camp Bullowa. I think it would be great if my pack gave back to Bullowa by helping to fix/clean up one of the cabins by June 2013.
Who: I will discuss my idea with Mary Blake, Director of Sloatsburg Library, and see ideas for projects the library has, and make sure they are appropriate for the scouts’ ages. I will have a similar discussion with Ranger Joe Langdon and Deb Klock, my district commissioner, and also the properties committee, regarding Camp Bullowa and one of the cabins (Stetler, Winter or Dunlop) that we use for our pack campout. I will lead the project team, organize and plan the project, and recruit members from my pack and den to assist me.
What: Our pack tends to identify more with the Tuxedo community where its based, and I would like to introduce our pack to doing more service in Sloatsburg, since an increasing percentage of kids are coming into the pack from Sloatsburg. The Library is the heart of the village, and is a place the Sloatsburg scouts are all very familiar with from frequent programs run there. Our annual campouts are held in the Bullowa cabins, and last year we noted that the cabins are aging and could use some extra care.
When: I will aim to complete the library project by the fall of 2013, and the Bullowa project by the spring of 2013, as a lead-in to our pack campout. If there is any issue with the timeframe, I will adjust and/or flip the two projects based on the project and facility availability.
Where: Sloatsburg Library and Camp Bullowa. Planning meetings held in Sloatsburg/Tuxedo leading up to each project.
Why: As a scout leader, we have not done much give back as a pack, and this would be a great way to set up an annual legacy to do a service project as a pack at least once a year. Both places I’ve chosen are central to scouts from my community and they will be able to visit and appreciate each place and remember what they did to help.
How: I will work with each facility’s leadership to pick a project that is complete-able by cub scouts aged 6-10, with help from parents. I will organize the timeline and create a project committee. I will delegate out the work and participate in the project with my team, and will see it through. I will make sure the community is aware of what we are doing so they can appreciate the efforts of their scouts.
How Verified: I will document each step of the project, each meeting, and take before and after photos on my ticket blog.
Goal 4:
I would like to use my new Wood Badge tools to do a better job planning, organizing and executing the pack campout, which I am in charge of, and to set it up as an easy-to-follow program for future BALOO-trained leaders that follow me. I’d like to involve at least 3 other adults in the planning and execution, and do a better job with meal planning, and also by involving the Webelos 1 scouts more and using it as a bridge for them to Boy Scouting with learning outdoor activities, cooking and planning. The pack campout occurs in June 2013 so I would be working on this goal during the Spring of 2013 .
Who: I am the pack’s BALOO-trained leader, so I oversee all pack campouts. I completed BALOO in December 2011 and led my first pack campout last year, mostly by following the template that was set up for me the year prior by the previous BALOO leader. It went well but I believe it could have gone better with more planning and involvement from others as well as a more defined template. I will use my new tools to do just that, by involving other adults and all scouts in the pack to assist me in planning a better outdoor experience for my pack.
What: The Pack’s annual end of year campout, traditionally held in early June.
When: June 2013 and the months leading up to it. Regular meetings (at least 4) leading up to the campout.
Where: Camp Bullowa, Stony Point NY. Meetings will be held prior in Sloatsburg/Tuxedo area.
Why: This pack campout is the highlight of the year for most Tuxedo/Sloatsburg cub scouts as it wraps up our scouting year. I would like to make that experience even better for them and less “off the cuff.”
How: I will start work on the campout planning shortly after Christmas Break 2012. I will go thru what we’ve done before, and solicit suggestions for this year. We will come up with a plan, budget and reserve our space. We will spend the weeks leading up to the campout doing final preparations, and then execute the campout that weekend.
How Verified: I will document the meetings, planning and campout on my ticket blog.
Diversity Goal 5:
I would like to improve my/my den’s world view of scouting by “twinning” my webelos den with Scouts I know in England the same age as my son’s.... in their version of a den.... so they can both learn a different culture. I would work towards making this relationship ongoing beyond this year and continued this correspondence on their own after June 2013. They would each learn about each other’s culture and the differences in scouting between them, as, first, pen pals, and then e-mail buddies, and then by conducting at least one online “video chat.”
Who: I would be contacting a friend of our family, who lives in England, who gave me the idea. Her sons are active in scouts in England and would also earn a scouting award for this project. I would be involving their version of a den, plus that den’s leader. I would also involve myself as a “pen pal” to the den’s leader.
What: Scouting is not just something that’s done locally; it’s done at national and international levels as well. This goal teaches the scout that the world of scouting is larger than they think, and they will have a great time getting to know the lads in another den overseas.
Where: Initial letter writing would be done by the scouts at home, and each letter would be read at a den meeting. I would then mail the letters. Once received back, the letters from England would be displayed and showed off at a future den meeting. At this point we would arrange for each scout to email their counterpart. These emails would be read at home, printed out and brought to a future den meeting. Then afterwards, we would arrange a mutually beneficial time for the dens to conduct simultaneous video meetings in both England and Tuxedo/Sloatsburg (time offset is about 5 hours, so we’d gather in the morning and them in the evening most likely).
When: I would like to begin this goal soon after Wood Badge weekend 2, and complete it by the end of the school year, June 2013.
Why: This teaches the idea that scouting is worldwide, and that our goals are shared by other countries, and that while their methods and ways may be different, at the end of the day, A Scout is a scout. This goal will build appreciation for another culture that is similar and yet different than ours. It also gets them used to the idea that when they grow older, they can participate with other scouts across the world at World Jamborees.
How: After initial contact is established, the dens would become “pen pals” with another scout from the English Den. This would allow the scouts to collect their thoughts via letter writing of what life and scouting is like for them, and tells their counterpart all about themselves. Afterwards, the scouts would work with their parents to email their designated scout. Finally, we would arrange for each scout to “meet” via Skype. This would not only teach them all about the other culture and the diversity in the world of Scouting, it would also teach the value of different types of communication and the differences in communication methods around the world.
How Verified: I will track each step of the process on my ticket blog, as well as any letters/emails that the scouts authorize for sharing.
After receiving my approved ticket, I got the following awesome comment from my course Scoutmaster, Donna:
My Personal Vision of Success
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if I could help my scouts get more involved in our community, and help the adults who help them become more successful as well? To do that, I need to drill down into my personal values and
scouting mission to create my overall vision. My pre-course questions were used to create the vision.
What are my values?
Lots of family/community time spent well – educating myself; teaching the young, friendship and support given to all. Concentrating the time I spend on activities I deem worthy of my time and attention and freeing myself from activities I do not deem worthy. Spending time sharing these values with my pack and den.
Giving back always; paying it forward. Being honest - always. Working very hard. Playing very hard.
What is my mission?
To share my values with anyone that will let me share them.
To be a scout for life.
To teach boys the values I embrace and lead them into adulthood.
I exist as the person I am to carry out my mission to share these values and vision.
My current and near-future mission as a scout leader is to prepare my webelos for boy scouts by using my values as core, and to share scouting and my values with the entire pack, and to have fun doing it.
What is my vision?
To practice, preach and share my values and my mission.
To shape the world to my worldview; even as it changes, and to modify myself accordingly.
My vision of success as a Cub Scout Den Leader is to see my pack, and my community, shaped positively using my values as core, and to share this vision and my values with other adults who may be able to join me in my journey in lockstep with scouting.
Goal 1:
I would like to challenge myself by improving my health so that I can be more active in outdoor scouting activities. In a personal effort to exercise more often to lose weight/inches and lower my BMI, I would like to arrange for my pack to go on regularly scheduled outdoor hikes - where I would arrange and/or attend a hike with the pack that anyone could attend, weather permitting. I would like to do the above at least 4 times during the scouting year . I would like to have this complete by January 2014 and have arranged and/or attended at least 4 of them. I would like one hike at least to be during the summer when our pack traditionally is not as active.
Who: I will reach out to local hiking clubs, scout troops, and the state parks to plan a different hike every month. I will attend as many as I can; the ones I cannot, I will seek an adult from the pack to represent the pack. I will ensure at least 2 adults can attend to comply with Youth Protection guidelines.
What: Our pack has not traditionally had any sort of “Regular” hike – there have been a few one-offs in the past, but nothing regular, and attendance is very inconsistent. I would like to leave a legacy with the pack of running a regular hiking program that the scouts and parents will want to participate in regularly, at least 4 a year.
Where: Tuxedo and Sloatsburg are surrounded by Harriman State Park , Sterling Forest State Park, and Bear Mountain State Park very close by, so most likely in these areas. However, I would also like to look outside this boundary when applicable, but not too far away (Palisades Interstate Park Commission in NJ, etc). I will also incorporate the 2 villages with "hiking" thru each one - noting memorable landmarks, and incorporating the local businesses where possible.
When: I will focus on doing this in the spring, summer and fall of 2013 with the goal of being done by winter 2013-2014.
Why: This goal is designed to make me more comfortable hiking and leading in the outdoors, and getting me outside more in a non-gym setting, which I believe my pack could also benefit from.
How: I will begin by reaching out to local hiking groups and visiting their websites and compiling a list of available hikes. I will also speak with Doc Bayne in Sterling Forest State Park who is a local hiking leader. I will take all the information I receive and compile it into a list, and decide which hike that month is the best one for the pack in alignment with my goals of variety and keeping the hikes relatively simple and short for my pack.
How Verified: I will record my progress with each step and document each trip on my ticket blog complete with photos.
Goal 2:
I want future leaders in my pack to have an easier time getting trained for their positions. To that end, I would like to become the pack trainer for my pack. By December 2013 I would like to have attained this status, and that all pack leaders will be offered training in all areas they are working in, as well as supplemental areas.
Who: I will contact Jill Tanney from Rockland District to get information on becoming a pack trainer. I will coordinate with my cubmaster and committee chair as to how to handle the training of leadership. I will coordinate and assist in delivering this offered training to the pack’s leaders.
What: I will ensure that all pack leaders are offered training in their positions. Currently there is nobody doing this in our pack.
Where: I will seek out the pack trainer training either online or in person, and will deliver the material I’ve learned either at a central location or at each person’s location depending on availability.
When: I will seek out pack trainer training in the fall of 2012, and be ready to assist the leaders in completing their leader specific training at the completion of my training. Going into the Fall of 2013, I would like to have a program in place to assist in leader training from the beginning of the scouting year, with all training completed, if taken, by June 2013.
Why: The scouts deserve leaders that are fully trained in their positions, and the leaders deserve to know about all opportunities and avenues to improve themselves for scouts. I will bridge the gap and assist the leaders in all ways possible.
How: Once trained, I will reach out to all the leaders and go thru the training they require for their positions, and discuss other opportunities available to them. I will track this training and log it for them and assist them with any other record keeping in this regard.
How Verified: I will log each step, complete with descriptions of each step, on my ticket blog.
Goal 3:
I want my scout pack to do more to contribute to my home and scouting community by demonstrating the ideals of scouting and volunteering to do more to help out. The library, as the central hub of the village, is a place I’d like to leave a legacy, as well as Camp Bullowa, where my pack enjoys its outings. I would like my scouts to complete a giveback/service project at Sloatsburg Library. I would like to see this complete by October 2013. Also, I would like to fix up/clean up one cabin at Camp Bullowa. I think it would be great if my pack gave back to Bullowa by helping to fix/clean up one of the cabins by June 2013.
Who: I will discuss my idea with Mary Blake, Director of Sloatsburg Library, and see ideas for projects the library has, and make sure they are appropriate for the scouts’ ages. I will have a similar discussion with Ranger Joe Langdon and Deb Klock, my district commissioner, and also the properties committee, regarding Camp Bullowa and one of the cabins (Stetler, Winter or Dunlop) that we use for our pack campout. I will lead the project team, organize and plan the project, and recruit members from my pack and den to assist me.
What: Our pack tends to identify more with the Tuxedo community where its based, and I would like to introduce our pack to doing more service in Sloatsburg, since an increasing percentage of kids are coming into the pack from Sloatsburg. The Library is the heart of the village, and is a place the Sloatsburg scouts are all very familiar with from frequent programs run there. Our annual campouts are held in the Bullowa cabins, and last year we noted that the cabins are aging and could use some extra care.
When: I will aim to complete the library project by the fall of 2013, and the Bullowa project by the spring of 2013, as a lead-in to our pack campout. If there is any issue with the timeframe, I will adjust and/or flip the two projects based on the project and facility availability.
Where: Sloatsburg Library and Camp Bullowa. Planning meetings held in Sloatsburg/Tuxedo leading up to each project.
Why: As a scout leader, we have not done much give back as a pack, and this would be a great way to set up an annual legacy to do a service project as a pack at least once a year. Both places I’ve chosen are central to scouts from my community and they will be able to visit and appreciate each place and remember what they did to help.
How: I will work with each facility’s leadership to pick a project that is complete-able by cub scouts aged 6-10, with help from parents. I will organize the timeline and create a project committee. I will delegate out the work and participate in the project with my team, and will see it through. I will make sure the community is aware of what we are doing so they can appreciate the efforts of their scouts.
How Verified: I will document each step of the project, each meeting, and take before and after photos on my ticket blog.
Goal 4:
I would like to use my new Wood Badge tools to do a better job planning, organizing and executing the pack campout, which I am in charge of, and to set it up as an easy-to-follow program for future BALOO-trained leaders that follow me. I’d like to involve at least 3 other adults in the planning and execution, and do a better job with meal planning, and also by involving the Webelos 1 scouts more and using it as a bridge for them to Boy Scouting with learning outdoor activities, cooking and planning. The pack campout occurs in June 2013 so I would be working on this goal during the Spring of 2013 .
Who: I am the pack’s BALOO-trained leader, so I oversee all pack campouts. I completed BALOO in December 2011 and led my first pack campout last year, mostly by following the template that was set up for me the year prior by the previous BALOO leader. It went well but I believe it could have gone better with more planning and involvement from others as well as a more defined template. I will use my new tools to do just that, by involving other adults and all scouts in the pack to assist me in planning a better outdoor experience for my pack.
What: The Pack’s annual end of year campout, traditionally held in early June.
When: June 2013 and the months leading up to it. Regular meetings (at least 4) leading up to the campout.
Where: Camp Bullowa, Stony Point NY. Meetings will be held prior in Sloatsburg/Tuxedo area.
Why: This pack campout is the highlight of the year for most Tuxedo/Sloatsburg cub scouts as it wraps up our scouting year. I would like to make that experience even better for them and less “off the cuff.”
How: I will start work on the campout planning shortly after Christmas Break 2012. I will go thru what we’ve done before, and solicit suggestions for this year. We will come up with a plan, budget and reserve our space. We will spend the weeks leading up to the campout doing final preparations, and then execute the campout that weekend.
How Verified: I will document the meetings, planning and campout on my ticket blog.
Diversity Goal 5:
I would like to improve my/my den’s world view of scouting by “twinning” my webelos den with Scouts I know in England the same age as my son’s.... in their version of a den.... so they can both learn a different culture. I would work towards making this relationship ongoing beyond this year and continued this correspondence on their own after June 2013. They would each learn about each other’s culture and the differences in scouting between them, as, first, pen pals, and then e-mail buddies, and then by conducting at least one online “video chat.”
Who: I would be contacting a friend of our family, who lives in England, who gave me the idea. Her sons are active in scouts in England and would also earn a scouting award for this project. I would be involving their version of a den, plus that den’s leader. I would also involve myself as a “pen pal” to the den’s leader.
What: Scouting is not just something that’s done locally; it’s done at national and international levels as well. This goal teaches the scout that the world of scouting is larger than they think, and they will have a great time getting to know the lads in another den overseas.
Where: Initial letter writing would be done by the scouts at home, and each letter would be read at a den meeting. I would then mail the letters. Once received back, the letters from England would be displayed and showed off at a future den meeting. At this point we would arrange for each scout to email their counterpart. These emails would be read at home, printed out and brought to a future den meeting. Then afterwards, we would arrange a mutually beneficial time for the dens to conduct simultaneous video meetings in both England and Tuxedo/Sloatsburg (time offset is about 5 hours, so we’d gather in the morning and them in the evening most likely).
When: I would like to begin this goal soon after Wood Badge weekend 2, and complete it by the end of the school year, June 2013.
Why: This teaches the idea that scouting is worldwide, and that our goals are shared by other countries, and that while their methods and ways may be different, at the end of the day, A Scout is a scout. This goal will build appreciation for another culture that is similar and yet different than ours. It also gets them used to the idea that when they grow older, they can participate with other scouts across the world at World Jamborees.
How: After initial contact is established, the dens would become “pen pals” with another scout from the English Den. This would allow the scouts to collect their thoughts via letter writing of what life and scouting is like for them, and tells their counterpart all about themselves. Afterwards, the scouts would work with their parents to email their designated scout. Finally, we would arrange for each scout to “meet” via Skype. This would not only teach them all about the other culture and the diversity in the world of Scouting, it would also teach the value of different types of communication and the differences in communication methods around the world.
How Verified: I will track each step of the process on my ticket blog, as well as any letters/emails that the scouts authorize for sharing.
After receiving my approved ticket, I got the following awesome comment from my course Scoutmaster, Donna:
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| Best Scoutmaster Ever! |
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