Monday Memo 

Joseph Daniszewski Scout Executive

Good day and welcome to our April 26th, 2010 Monday Memo

From the Council Archives

Getting Specific  By Mac Gardner (Photos by Paul Kitagaki Jr.)

Adult volunteers take a key step in becoming fully trained Boy Scout unit leaders by participating in council-level Leader Specific Training.

• Training for Boy Scout Leaders

'Things have changed...'

Patrols are organized with a mixed membership from throughout the council. "Mixing them up gets the guys and gals out of their comfort zones," explains Tracy Crittendon-Youden, event adviser and district director from the council professional staff. "They have already met in two sessions at the council office and have picked up new ideas from pals."

Matt Brandt is typical. He is an Eagle Scout, in a Scouting family, and has two sons. Professionally, he is a firefighter, but his "business" card proudly announces that he is a den leader with Pack 444, chartered to Airwater International in Riverside. He will soon become assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 444.

Hearing of Brandt's previous Scouting experience, a buddy asks, "Matt, why do you need more training?" "I know things have changed since I was a boy—different programs, titles, and insignia," Brandt replies. "I want to catch up with the new stuff." When stomachs are filled, course chairman Mike Donaldson raises his right hand in the Scout sign and officially opens the program.

Experienced staffers

Although Donaldson is currently Cubmaster of Pack 703, of The Grove Community Church in Riverside, he is an experienced Scouter familiar with the program. His staff includes many other knowledgeable Scouters who have spent six months planning the course. During the two days, most of them direct or assist in teaching more than one Scout skill.

After Donaldson's introduction, Paula Boothe takes center stage. Boothe is a veteran camper and has served as program director for the council's Cub Scout camp. She ably covers Leave No Trace principles, emphasizing "Pack it in, pack it out" and respect for others. She ends her pitch with "Leave no trace—in camp, in the community, in school, in your troop." "And in my home!" comes an enthusiastic voice from way in the back of the hall. It's an optimistic yell because Heather Kurowski, its initiator, has an 11-year-old son. She is also a new assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 357, of Jess Ranch Community Church in Apple Valley.

As the session ends, trainees head for their tents, facing a cold night's sleep. On Saturday morning, things don't warm up much, as a local radio weatherman reports a low of 29 degrees in the Idyllwild area. One woman trainee is asked how she slept. "Just fine," she replies. "I came prepared—we believe in the Boy Scout Motto." The sun finding its way through the clouds does promise some welcome warmth later in the day.

Skill stations

After breakfast in the dining hall, everybody heads for the meadow where skill stations are set up. Chairman Mike Donaldson assigns each patrol a starting spot, and the groups rotate from station to station. Instructor Judy Graeber is demonstrating fire starting and safety at her station when she briefly turns away to greet a visitor. Turning back, she discovers her listeners taking turns warming cold hands on her gas stove.  "Hey, we're supposed to be resourceful," explains Aaron Rhoades, new assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 15, of Redlands First Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Throughout her presentation on woods tools—axes, saws, and knives—Cynthia Blessum stresses safety. The Scouters pay attention and survive their hands-on practice sessions without cuts or scrapes.

In backpacking, the trainees wonder why presenter Rick Pohlers is carrying such a huge pack. He pats his big bag and says, "If I'm going to pack it very far, I want to eat good!" Pohlers explains that he has spent 30 years in search-and-rescue work. He has needed a big pack on occasion, he says, like when he "tested his young body" by climbing Mount McKinley in Alaska in 1978. "The trip took almost a month, and that was over snow and ice on crampons." But "that's backpacking in the extreme," he adds. "You must put your packing challenges on a boy's level. As he gains experience, you can raise the bar."

After taking some short hikes, the trainees attend lively sessions on first aid, map and compass, ropes, cooking, and plant and animal identification. Sue Clemente holds her nature-study session in the nature lodge. Although indoors, her area is now probably the coldest place in camp, as the sun has made outdoor temperatures almost tolerable. Cooking instruction by Pat (Peaches) Rogers and Wally Clemente is followed by the trainees preparing their own lunches, wrapped in aluminum foil and baked over hot coals.

Time for reflection

As stations close, the campers reflect about the weekend. Hector Rivera, a middle-school administrator in his first year as Scoutmaster of Troop 304, of the United Methodist Church Men's Club in Murrieta, is impressed with the instructors' knowledge. "Training was the first thing I needed and looked for when I became a unit leader," he says. "And, wow, this gang [of trainers] is wonderful!"

"This is the first Scout training I've had since I was a boy," says Aaron Rhoades. "The best thing about this is that we're getting knowledge now, ahead of time, that we're going to use down the line."

"Besides skills, in this training I've learned where I can get help when I need it," Heather Kurowski acknowledges with a smile. "I've also found that leaders have to be good managers."

Tim Purvis, a Scouter with Troop 304, admits he had entered the course with some skepticism. "With my background—being a Scout and then five years as a Cub Scout leader and one year as an assistant Scoutmaster—I admit that I did not think I would gain leadership skills beyond what I already had. But I was wrong. I learned a tremendous amount of information to share with our boys."

For Matt Brandt, the best part of the training "was finding that the basic values of Scouting have not changed. The whole weekend was a great review. The patrol system is still impressive, and, as a result, I see great joys ahead for our troop."

And that's the hope of any course director, staff member, and professional staffer. Trained leaders are confident and happy leaders—the kind of Scouters Leader Specific Training is designed to produce.

Mac Gardner, a retired professional Scouter and former Scouting magazine editor, lives in Eureka, Calif.

Calling all Scout Leaders!

The Disney Youth Education Series (Y.E.S.) would like to invite you and an Adult Guest to join us at the Disneyland® Resort in the morning on Tuesday, June 1st. The Disneyland® Y.E.S. Team will be showcasing 5 different educational programs covering the topics of leadership, animation, science, physics, and California history. You will get to explore and experience these hands-on programs which are available year-round for you and your Scouts. At the conclusion of your journey you will receive a complimentary Y.E.S  1-Day Park Hopper® Ticket to enjoy the rest of the day in the parks. This ticket must be used on the same day and may not be transferred to a different date.

Please R.S.V.P. by Friday, May 21st by email to dl.youth.education.series@disney.com or by phone to 714-817-2433 and include your name as well as the name of your Guest. Event time will be provided when you R.S.V.P. Feel free to forward this invitation to your fellow Boy Scout Masters & Leaders.

We look forward to celebrating the Boy Scouts of America, 100 Years of Scouting!

Sincerely, Norma Alicia Ramirez
www.disneylandyes.com 

What Makes a Trained Leader

A direct contact Scout leader is considered fully trained and entitled to wear the Trained leader emblem when he or she  has completed the following training courses and the specific training for the position.

Fast Start Training. Fast Start training is the first step for all new leaders and should be taken immediately after they register and before they meet with any youth members. New leaders choose the Fast Start they need to take: Cub Scout Leader, Boy Scout Leader, Varsity Scout Leader, or Venturing Crew Leader. All Fast Start courses are available on DVD, or they can be completed through the Online Learning Center. (If you are new to Scouting, you will be asked to create an account.)

Youth Protection Training. Youth Protection training is required for all leaders who have direct contact with youth. At all times, youth safety is the number one priority. At the same time, adults need to know the rules for keeping themselves safe, too. Comprehensive Youth Protection training teaches all the do’s and don’ts of working with youth. The training is offered through the Online Learning Center , or it may be taken as part of an district or council training course.

This is Scouting. This Is Scouting is a new online training session that replaces New Leader Essentials. It picks up when Fast Start leaves off with six modules of training: The Mission of Scouting, Programs for All ages, Scouting Is Fun, Scouting in the Community, Keeping Our Youth Safe, and Scouting’s Legacy. The training takes about an hour to complete and can be found on the Online Learning Center .

Position Specific Training. Leader position specific training is based on the leader’s position. These courses are taught by informed trainers who know how to engage groups and make learning fun. These courses are offered by the district or council as group training, or may be done as small groups or by personal coaching.

Cub Scout Leaders
Cub Scout Leader Specific training has been developed for the following positions:

• Tiger Cub den leaders
• Cubmasters and assistants
• Wolf and Bear Den leaders and assistants
• Pack Committee
• Webelos den leaders and assistants
• Pack trainers

Boy Scout Leaders
Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster Leader Specific Training is for all Scoutmasters and their assistants. Boy Scout leaders also must complete Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills training to be considered fully trained.  

Varsity Scout Leaders
Varsity Scout Coach Leader Specific is for all Varsity Coaches and assistants Coaches. Varsity Coaches and assistant Coaches must also complete Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills training to be considered fully trained. 

Venturing Crew Leaders
Venturing Crew leaders and assistants must complete Venturing Leader Specific Training, which is a five-session training course.

Arrowhead District Pack 24 Space Derby

Special Delivery:

The Evolution of Cub Scouting! Cub Scouting's New Handbook-based Delivery Method. The successful delivery method focuses on den activities that lead to youth advancement and higher retention. Information about the pilot, its results, and the new changes can be found in an overview brochure on ScoutSource http://scouting.org/scoutsource.

Jamboree 2010

New Jamboree Programs. Attendees at this summer’s jamboree will be able to enjoy Technology Quest, a new hands-on arts and science expo; Camp Thunder, a new shotgun event; and Mysterium Compass, the new Order of the Arrow show. Log on to http://www.scouting.org/jamboree.aspx for more information.

Portland, Oregon Trial - April 23, 2010 

We are disappointed to inform you that the jury in the Cascade Pacific Council case has determined that the Boy Scouts of America is liable for $18,500,000 in punitive damages. We are considering all legal options.  At the court’s direction, we continue to be restricted in communications about this case. Therefore, our statement is as follows:

"The Boy Scouts of America continues to be deeply saddened by what happened to the plaintiff in this case more than 25 years ago. We would like to thank the jurors for their service and careful deliberations. Because this matter continues, the Judge has asked that the Boy Scouts of America refrain from comment on the specific allegations in that case. 

The Boy Scouts of America has always stood against child abuse of any kind and is always looking for ways to improve its Youth Protection strategies.  The BSA has zero tolerance in Scouting for any action that does not uphold the BSA's dedication to building good character in a safe environment. The Boy Scouts of America has a rigorous, nationwide system of checks and balances, in accordance with local laws, which keeps out of the program those individuals who should not be leading youth.

For 100 years, the experience of being a Boy Scout has had a positive, lasting effect on the lives of 100 million young people. Each week, parents across America and their sons attend Cub Scout and Boy Scout meetings run by community volunteer leaders. The success of youth organizations, such as the Boy Scouts of America depends on the trust and confidence of these parents and the community, and Scouting is doing everything in its power to earn that trust every day."

News & Tidbits

Camping Report

Camp Emerson Attendance Report