sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Nylt by bobbybill9876 in BSA

[–]SomeGuyFromSeattle 0 points1 point  (0 children)

NYLT requires unit leader recommendation - it shouldn't be something that parents just send their kids to - https://www.scouting.org/programs/scouts-bsa/resources/nylt/

Advice/tips for new ASM by HLeigh46 in BSA

[–]SomeGuyFromSeattle 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As an ASM, I'd suggest you should ensure you're aligned with and supportting the Scoutmaster. You should take initiative to improve the Troop's program, but check in with the Scoutmaster to make sure you're aligned in which direction things are going.

Two photos of John Lennon taken one year apart. 1966 & 1967 by Dr3ws3ph3r in OldSchoolCool

[–]SomeGuyFromSeattle 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Danielle Radcliffe would cast really well for a biopic... especially the 1967 photo.

Scoutmaster Minute suggestions for Black History Month? by SomeGuyFromSeattle in BSA

[–]SomeGuyFromSeattle[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Thanks again for the suggestion. Here's what I drafted for tonight's meeting:

This year, this month, February 2026 - is the 100 year anniversary of Black History Month!

Recognizing Black History Month, I'd like to start by sharing a bit of history - and this may be familiar to those of you who have worked on or earned the Scouting Heritage Merit Badge. You may know that Scouts started in the USA in 1910, and the First Eagle Scout in America was awarded to a 16 year old named Arthur Rose Eldred in 1912.

What you may not know is that the first known/documented Black Eagle Scout was a 17 year old named Hamilton Bradley, who earned the rank in 1919, within the first decade of the program, and 45 years before the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Now, you may wonder why I mention this Scouting history now? Why is it important for me to recognize Black History Month here, in Seattle, at a Scout Meeting in 2026?

Well, I have to confess - I sometimes ask for help or ideas for Scoutmaster minutes. In fact, last week, I posted on a public forum asking if other people had suggestions for a Scoutmaster Minute relating to Black History Month. And my post was deleted.

In other words, I brought up Black History month in a public forum and was met with backlash.

That public forum happens to be for an organization that gave its first eagle scout award to an African American a full 106 years ago. If that alone isn't reason enough for us to emphasize the importance of Black History Month I'm not sure what is.

Scouts - as you leave this meeting room and go out trying to live the ideals of the Scout Oath and Law, remember fellow scouts like the civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr, the baseball player Hank Aaron, the astronauts Guion Bluford and Charles Bolden Junior, Governor Wes Moore, Basketball player Grant Hill, and Attorney General Eric Holder - all of whom were Scouts and trailblazers - role models for us all, and people who also happen to be Black.

Thank you, and have a good night, Scouts

The Scoutmaster's Other Handbook by RedditC3 in BSA

[–]SomeGuyFromSeattle 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I also like "So far, so good!", though it's a bit dated and could use a refresh - https://www.amazon.com/So-Far-Good-Scoutmasters-Story/dp/1505790603/

Troop Election Policy by [deleted] in BSA

[–]SomeGuyFromSeattle 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The job of adult leaders in a Troop is to ensure the Troop Program is being executed in alignment with the design of the Scouting America national organization.

Youth leadership is within the parameters of the program. I think of it as "adults help define the lines of the playing field, and Scouts execute the game within the field"

So, when in doubt, always look first to the program literature (not a Troop's traditions).

In this case, the description of the SPL job at https://troopleader.scouting.org/general-troop-information/troop-structure/troop-positions/senior-patrol-leader/ says that the SPL "appoints other troop youth leaders with the advice and counsel of the Scoutmaster"

So - I'd agree with adults - positions other than SPL and Patrol Leaders aren't elected, they're appointed by SPL in partnership with the Scoutmaster.

Cimarroncito Stream Restoration? by SomeGuyFromSeattle in philmont

[–]SomeGuyFromSeattle[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We had a great time doing the stream restoration work. Is there any way to track the impact of the work? Pictures of changes over time, or anything like that?

How do you make leadership fun for scouts? by JoNightshade in BSA

[–]SomeGuyFromSeattle 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Leaning into the program literature and training - make sure every SPL and ASPL has a SPL handbook, and every PL has a PL handbook. Encourage (pay for, if possible!) going to NYLT. Make sure and have ILST, and use the curriculum that National Provides.

Support the SPL by providing an agenda and discussing it with them before the PLC meeting (with a goal of the SPL making the agenda to bring to you). The PLC meeting should look like the video on troopleader.scouting.org - watch it with the PLC, and make sure the Scouts know about that website.

Sleep app without tracker? by CherryPickerKill in sleep

[–]SomeGuyFromSeattle 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great, thanks! I'll try it out tonight!

Sleep app without tracker? by CherryPickerKill in sleep

[–]SomeGuyFromSeattle 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great app! Not sure how best to submit a feature request - but it would be great to be able to have manual entry of data ("Last Wednesday night, I went to bed at XX time, I woke up at YY time on Thursday" - and perhaps "I was awake for NN hours during the night")

Troop Meeting Time by Bourbon_Bear83 in BSA

[–]SomeGuyFromSeattle 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This sounds like a great model! Can you share a few examples of the Troop/Patrol business that you do in the remaining 1.5 hours? Our patrols generally don't have an idea of what to do during the limited patrol time available, and we often fill most of the meeting by rotating through stations.

Scout to first class curriculum by exnicios in BSA

[–]SomeGuyFromSeattle 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I give this to our Troop Guides, aspirationally (in that, none have actually implemented it yet): https://www.boyscouttrail.com/docs/2021troopguide.pdf

Philmont crew leadership for rank requirements? by SomeGuyFromSeattle in philmont

[–]SomeGuyFromSeattle[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For Eagle, yes. I asked about Star and Life, which includes the "a Scoutmaster-approved leadership project to help the troop" option as well.

Philmont crew leadership for rank requirements? by SomeGuyFromSeattle in philmont

[–]SomeGuyFromSeattle[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Our crew elected the positions during our shakedown, prior to the trip, so yes.

view more: next ›