A Scoutmaster's Blog

The BSA has started a couple podcasts that may be of interest to you. One is called Cubcast and features audio podcasts with Cub Scouting interests. The second is called National Commissioner’s Podcast and is done by Don Belcher. The commissioner’s podcast can also be found on iTunes, but I cannot find the Cubcast listed in the music store’s podcast listings. I hope that they will start a Boy Scout and a Venture Scout podcast soon.

It looks like the national office is beginning to take the internet a little more seriously and starting to make use of it. I wonder if the BSA’s new leadership has anything to do with it?

Do not forget to check out the Scouting podcasts at PTC Media. There are three audio podcasts and one video podcast on this network. PTC Media can be found at http://www.ptcmedia.net/ and at the iTunes music store.

By the way, if anyone at the national office reads this blog, would you contact me? I have a few questions for you regarding your videos. Thanks.

I have not had the opportunity to steer you to many Scouting related video podcasts, but I found one today I think you should take a look at. It is about a special Boy Scout troop in Seattle that … Well, I think I will quote what is on the site.

‘Rev. James / Women’s Prison Purdy Women’s Correctional Facility Seattle, Washington December 2006 Scouting Serves Sons of Incarcerated Mothers “If not for the Scouting program, most of these mothers might not see their sons at all during their incarceration.” ‘

It looks like an awesome program that really helps the boys and their mothers. It is a great example of how Scouting can benefit a community. You can see the video HERE. While you are on the site be sure to leave a comment and DIGG it.

When do you know you are a Boy Scout? Is it when you attain the Tenderfoot rank? Is it when you have spent your first night in a tent, away from home, in the middle of the forest? Is it when you lash your first 80′ high signal tower?

Buttons, the radical Boy Scout, returns with a second video for the Melrose Scouting Production Podcast to explain “You Know You Are A Boy Scout When…” In this video he talks about internet chat rooms, packing for the camping trip, setting up your tent, and poison ivy.

Enjoy the video. Leave a comment and let me know what you think about it. If you have an answer to “You know you are a Boy Scout when…” then add it to the comments. If I receive enough good ones then maybe Buttons will appear in a third video on this subject.

Do not forget to go to the iTunes music store and leave a comment for this podcast and the other podcasts of PTC Media. When you leave a comment for each of the shows you will be entered in a drawing for some great Scouting stuff. PTC media plans to hold four drawings during the next couple months and the only way to register is to post comments on iTunes. Good luck!

Download Podcast
Watch Video on the troop’s website.
Subscribe through iTunes.

Yeah. It is true. I like to collect videos about Scouting. I like to make videos about Scouting. I like putting these videos online for the whole world to see.

There are three sites that I regularly post videos online: Youtube, the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast, and our troop’s website. Youtube presents the videos easily to the world viewing audience. The podcast allows anyone with a computer to download the videos. I consider the troop’s site to be the archive of the videos. The troop site contains more of my videos then the other two sites.

The videos on the Troop 68 site have been divided into six headings. The first is “Songs, skits, and other stuff“. This heading features the Boy Scouts of Troop 68 performing campfire songs and skits during their annual Laughs For Lunch Show. Videos from summer camp programs can also be found here.

The next heading is the “Activity Videos“. This is where I have placed the videos of trips to Philmont, the 2001 National Jamboree, and other troop events.

The “Yearly Reviews” futures slide shows of several years of the troop’s activities. So far there are only six of the twenty-seven years represented, but the goal is to get one made for each year.

The “Eagle Scout Videos” features slide shows of each troop member who has attained Scouting’s highest rank since the 1980’s. The videos include pictures from their years as a Scout in Melrose.

The “Promotional Videos and Commercials” is where you will find the videos produced by the national office and a couple councils. These are not videos that I made, they are videos I have collected over the last twenty years. So far, know one from the national office has asked me to remove them. I hope they don’t. I think it is great for people to still see these videos, most of which can no longer be found easily.

The final heading is where the videos of Buttons, the radical Boy Scout, can be found. These videos have been fun to make, although they do have there own special challenges to film. I have been very pleased to see a small fan base develop for Buttons. It seems that fans include anyone from Cub Scouts to adult Scouters. As Buttons would say, “Awesome, dude!”

The troop’s site currently contains sixty-nine videos. More videos will be posted as they become available. In fact, a new video starring Buttons should be posted this weekend. Watch for it.

I would like to take a moment to thank David H., a former member of the troop. Dave has provided the troop with its website, along with plenty of space to put all these videos which eat up a lot of bandwidth. The troop’s website would not be possible without David’s generosity. Thanks David!

Here is a bit of a treat for you. I dug into the video vaults of Troop 68 and pulled out this little gem. Frisbee Follies, A Summer Camp Adventure was one of the first videos made by the Scouts of Troop 68. The Scouts made it during their week-long stay at Many Point Scout Camp in 1988. It was filmed with a vhs video camera almost twenty years ago, thus it is grainier then new digital footage would be.

The footage was filmed during two afternoons. The Scouts and I made up a rough outline of the plot (of which I admit there is not much of one), grabbed the camera and started shooting. It was pretty much filmed in order, and many scenes were sort-of made up as we filmed them. I was the director, cameraman, and editor. I learned a few things while putting this video together, like music in the background of a couple shots would have been nice.

The basic plot was to see how we could eliminate the frisbee players one by one through various mishaps as they chased a frisbee across the camp. I will admit that a couple eliminations where a bit on the weak side, some of the chase scenes are a bit dull, but a few shots turned out better then we could have ever hoped for. My favorites are the monkey bridge and the tether ball mishaps. Just to let you know, no Scouts were harmed during the filming of this project. It just looks that way. If fact, when we saw the footage ourselves the first time, we were amazed that no one was hurt.

I hope you enjoy this first attempt at producing a short film. We did it for ourselves, but we also played it on our local television cable access channel. Let me know what you think about it. Have my videos gotten worse, or better? You be the judge.

Download Video Podcast
Watch Video on the troop’s website.
Subscribe through iTunes.

Some of the best things about attending summer camp are the campfire programs at the beginning and the end of the week. The 2007 staff of Buckskin Camp of Many Point Scout Camp did an excellent job of keeping everyone entertained during this summer’s opening campfire program. Due to a rain storm that happened to wonder into camp that evening, we had to have the program in the dining hall. The location did not damper the spirit of any of the Scouts, leaders, or staff. Everyone had a great time.

This video of the Melrose Scouting Production Podcast features the Buckskin Staff singing a song about Scouting as the campfire program came to a close. I do not know what the song is titled, but it is a great song that includes the twelve points of the Scout Law. It is a catchy little tune and I find myself humming it while I write this blog entry. Enjoy it and tell your friends about this podcast.

Download Video Podcast
Watch Video on the troop’s website.
Subscribe through iTunes.

The Boy Scouts of Melrose Troop 68 enjoy performing in front of an audience. That is why they have done the annual Laughs For Lunch Show for eleven years. The Scouts also enjoy watching and being a part of campfire programs during camporees and summer camp. That is where they get many of the ideas, skits, and songs that they perform.

During the 2002 Laughs For Lunch Show two of our older Scouts did the Candy Store skit. This skit has been a popular one for the Scouts of Troop 68 since they first saw it performed at a summer camp campfire in the 1980’s. During this version of the skit, Jacob and Enrico, the two Scouts, decided to have a little extra fun with it. They knew this was probably the last time they would perform the Candy Store as Boy Scouts.

I think the two guys had planned a surprise before they went out on the stage. I believe they already had the “volunteers” in mind they would choose to be in the skit. The horsie ride was a new addition to the skit that we had never done before. Enrico chose his father to play that part. Jacob’s mother became the cash register. The part of the bench/counter that “broke down” was a buddy of theirs who had earned the rank of Eagle Scout. All the volunteers except one had already seen the skit and knew the punchline, but they were great sports about it and went along with the fun.

Have fun watching this podcast. It is a longer one, over eleven minutes, but I think you will enjoy it. Have your Scouts watch and practice it for their next campfire program.

Download Video Podcast
Watch Video on the troop’s website.
Subscribe through iTunes.

The parents, Cub Scouts, and new members of Cub Pack 68 received a surprise during “School Night to Join Scouting” on Tuesday, September 25, when Buttons, the radical Boy Scout, stopped by for a surprise visit. The boys eyes went wide and the grins reached from ear to ear as Buttons introduced himself to the pack. A few of the Cubs already knew Buttons from watching his videos on Youtube and the troop’s website, but for the other boys it was the first time seeing the radical puppet.

I decided to bring Buttons to the meeting as I was gathering materials to take along to the school night meeting. I was a little nervous about how the puppet would be received by the boys and parents. It is one thing to make a video of the puppet in my home. It is quite different bringing him before a live audience. Would the boys and the families accept Buttons? Or would they ignore him? It was time to find out.

I did not create a “stage show” for Buttons. Instead, I walked around the room with him, going from table to table, talking to the kids, giving high fives, avoiding being punched, and trading a few hugs. Before I knew it there were a dozen kids following Buttons around the room.

Just before the actual meeting began the boys were given the opportunity to have their picture taken with the radical dude. I offered to post the pictures on the troop’s website if the parents were okay with that. They were. The pictures can be seen HERE.

Now that I know Buttons is accepted by the Cub Scouts, I may have to plan another visit or two to the pack during the next year. Who knows. There may even be another video out of that visit.

Speaking of videos, a new video of Buttons has been posted about his trip to the pack meeting. And it is time to announce that the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast can now be found on the PTC Media network! I am honored to be a part of this Scout-related network of podcasts. The Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast has joined The Leader’s Campfire, An Hour A Week?, and Akela’s Adventure. Check out PTC Media HERE.

Download Video Podcast
Watch Video on the troop’s website.
Subscribe through iTunes.