A Scoutmaster's Blog

I place my first video on the YouTube video website on January 8, 2006. It was a video made by one of my Boy Scouts as a project for a class project. He knew that video work was a hobby of mine and that I had the equipment needed to produce a simple film, so he asked me to help him with making it. Since it was a class project I told him he had to do the planning, directing, and editing. I would film it for him and provide the equipment to use after showing him how to use it.

Nathan did a great job producing and editing the video. We were both pleased how it turned out. So was his teacher. Nathan received an A as his grade. I had started watching videos on YouTube about that time so I asked Nathan if we should post it online for others to watch. He agreed, we posted it, and my channel on Youtube began.

There are now 67 videos found on my Youtube channel, which can be seen HERE. Most of the videos are Scouting related. The videos include videos produced by the BSA and videos made by the Scouts of Troop 68 and myself. I also started a Youtube group called Boy Scout Stuff which people have joined to share and watch Scouting videos from around the world.

My YouTube channel hit a milestone today sometime between 2:00 and 3:00 pm. The total “video views” of the videos I have posted has reached 250,000. Wow! The videos have been watched a quarter of a million times. I guess it goes to show that there are people out there who do want to watch videos and films about Scouting. (Are you reading this National?)

When I began posting videos on YouTube there were only a few hundred Scouting related films. Today, there seem to be thousands of them. Many packs and troops have been posting videos online for families members and friends to see. I think it is great, as long as we all follow the safety guidelines set by the National Office to keep our kids safe.

Earlier this year I took the online video thing to the next level by starting the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast (MSPP). The podcast allows people to easily download the videos to their computers to watch at any time. It can even be subscribed to on the iTunes music store. The videos found on MSPP are videos produced within our troop. Videos by the National Office can not be found there, at least not yet. I have been hoping that the National Office would start their own podcast that would feature those videos.

I would like to thank all of you who have watched the videos and brought my YouTube channel to the 250,000 landmark. I have some ideas for more videos and hope you enjoy them as well. Happy Scouting!

One thing that is exciting about being a blogger is when you write something that gets noticed and read by many. It seems that I have written a couple articles over the past year that have been popular reading for a several people. It is very exciting when a post is found noteworthy enough to be mentioned on other people’s blogs. I am always amazed when I find links on other Scouting blogs that mention an article from “A Scoutmaster’s Blog”.

So you can imagine my surprise to find my blog listed on a non-Scouting related site. It has not happened very often, but it did happen this week. The newest video of Buttons, the radical Boy Scout, has been found worthy to be mentioned on a blog that covers puppetry. The PuppetVision Blog does a weekly post called “Weekly Puppet Web Series Round Up” in which the writer highlights puppet videos he has discovered and enjoyed. I guess he liked the video of Buttons asking the question “You know you are a Boy Scout when…” I would like to thank Andrew for adding Buttons and “A Scoutmaster’s Blog” to his list of puppetry sites.

If you have been in Scouting for awhile then you probably have an answer to the question “You know you are a Boy Scout when…” (If you don’t, then you have not been involved with Scouting long enough.) I belong to a Facebook group which does its best to answer that question in dozens of different ways.

I thought it would be fun to bring back Buttons, the radical Boy Scout, as he covers a few of the answers to this question. We (me and a volunteer crew) had fun filming him as he tries to answer the question at a cabin on King’s Lake in central Minnesota. Unfortunately, it was pretty windy that day, as you will hear when you watch the video. Buttons presents five answers to the all important question, and things do not always go according to plan. My favorite part of this episode is when Buttons is sitting on the edge of the tent and the weather changes on him.

This is the first of two videos planned that will feature Buttons on this subject. I have seen many good answers to the question, but unfortunately they do not all lend themselves to being filmed with a character like Buttons. Especially when I do not have the budget that the Muppets have. (Um, there is no budget here.)

I hope you 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.

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Watch Video on the troop’s website.
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In 1996 the Boy Scouts of Troop 68 held their first Laughs For Lunch Show. There have been quite a few since then, eleven in all. The boys have a great time doing them, and the audience seems to have a lot of fun watching the shows.

This video is part of that very first show. It is the Echo System skit, which is one of the oldest skits in Scouting. At least I think it is an old skit. It has been one of the favorites of the troop’s, and very easy for the younger Scouts to learn. In this version we used a “remote control” to turn the echo system on and off.

One thing that always scares me a little when the boys do this skit is that I never know what line they will come up with for the punchline. It often changes from performance to performance. But that is okay, as long as they keep it clean.

Enjoy it and let us know what you think of it by leaving a comment.
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Watch Video on the troop’s website.
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The internet has opened new worlds of information and new ways to communicate since it became popular two decades ago. (Gosh, has it been that long already?) During the last few years audio and video podcasts have become a popular method of delivering sights and sounds to the web audience.

Those of you who visit this blog know that it also serves as the home of the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast, or MSPP. This podcast features videos of Boy Scout activities and even campfire songs and skits. Is MSPP the only Scouting related podcast on the web? No, not at all. There are dozens of Scouting podcasts listed on the iTunes music store. If you do a search on Google or Yahoo I am sure you would find dozens, if not hundreds, more.

I was recently a guest on an audio podcast which discusses Cub Scouting topics. The Leader’s Campfire is hosted by two Cub Scout leaders, Mr. Bob and Cubmaster Chris. During the shows (thirty so far) they have covered a wide range of Cub Scouting, Tiger Cubbing, and Webelos topics. Occasionally they invite a guest or two on the show.

I was invited to be a member of a panel of leaders to discuss Webelos transition for the thirtieth episode. Bob, Chris, and I were joined by John, Lori, and Mac, who are Cub Scout leaders from around the country. The final product turned out to be nearly an hour long podcast about Webelos transition. I am not going to cover the details about what we discussed in this blog because I want you to go to their website and listen to it. I strongly suggest that Cubmasters and Webelos den leaders listen to this podcast, episode 30.

Personally, it was a great experience for me. I was able to meet five fantastic and dedicated Cub leaders from around the United States, and share ideas with them. Hopefully, those ideas will help other Cub Scout and Webelos leaders around the country.

This was the second time that I have participated in a podcast of the PTC Media network. The first time just kinda happened when one night when I found myself online the same time Mr. Bob and his son Ty were about to tape an episode of Akela’s Adventure. Ty, Bob, and Buttons, the radical Boy Scout, had a great time discussing the activities Ty participated in while at Cub Scout Day Camp.

I invite you all to listen to The Leader’s Campfire, Episode #30. Should I be allowed to participate in another podcast in the future? Or should I retire my microphone and headset? Let me know what you think by leaving a comment.

And don’t forget, that anyone who leaves a comment to a “A Scoutmaster’s Blog” article this month will be entered into a drawing for a dvd-r featuring twenty Scouting promotional videos.

The summer camp season is over. Troops have gone home, adult leaders have gone back to work, and the Boy Scouts are preparing for school to begin. By now the many young adults who spend their summers as camp staff have also gone home. Many of them are preparing for another year of college.

The staff at the Buckskin Camp of Many Point Scout Camp in Minnesota did an excellent job this year. They were hard working, always cheerful, and ready to assist any of the Boy Scout campers who needed a little extra help. The Boy Scouts of Troop 68 attended camp during July 15-21 and had a great time, mainly due to the wonderful camp staff.

So, this post to the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast is dedicated to the hard working summer camp staff. This video features the Buckskin staff at the week’s opening campfire program singing the Many Point Rouser. You may notice that we are inside the dining hall during the campfire program. We like to stay dry when we can. I like the way the staff is so fired up and ready for a good time. That attitude spread among the Scouts like wildfire.

Enjoy it and let us know what you think of it by leaving a comment.
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Watch Video on the troop’s website.
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The Boy Scouts of Troop 68 in Central Minnesota Council have a tradition of performing for others enjoyment. They have performed at campfire programs, council camporees, summer camp programs, and community events. For over ten years the troop has held an annual Laughs For Lunch Show during which they basically do a ninety minute campfire program. This program is open to the community.

The show held in 2006 was one of the best shows the troop has ever held. Luckily for all of us, it was videotaped on digital tape which makes it easy to break down and put on the web. This podcast will be showcasing some of these skits over the next few months.

Today’s post to Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast is The Movie Skit. This skit has become a favorite of the troop’s, not only to watch but also to perform. The Scouts have a great time with it and are always trying to come up with new ways of “performing” it. The first three “takes” basically set up the skit. After that it is anything goes. The troop has also tried a couple ways to end the skit. I do not want to give away the ending, or punchline, so you will have to watch this one yourself.

All the members of the group in this skit have graduated from high school and are currently in college. I know they all have some great memories about Scouting. Four of the six Scouts did earn their Eagle Rank. Many of them attended Philmont Scout Ranch. But I think the Laughs For Lunch Shows will always be one of those Scouting experiences they will remember for years to come.

Enjoy it and let us know what you think of it by leaving a comment.
Download Podcast
Watch Video on the troop’s website.
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In May I posted the first video featuring Buttons, the radical Boy Scout, and Michael, the giggling Cub Scout. Michael was trying to teach Buttons a little about Cub Scouting. Unfortunately, Buttons did not quite understand and the giggling began.

Today’s post to the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast pairs up the two again. In this video Michael is still trying to teach Buttons the Cub Scout Oath, but this time they get sidetracked and begin to talk about the Cub Scout Law. The two work well together and play off each other very well. This is the second of three videos that were made with Michael and Buttons.

So, click a link, sit back, and enjoy another episode with Buttons, the radical Boy Scout. If you have any ideas for a new video featuring Buttons leave a comment. We love to hear from you.

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