A Scoutmaster's Blog

The Bear Hunt. Through the wheat fields, over trees, through the lakes, into the cave. It is challenging. It is rowdy. And it is loud if you have a room full of Cub or Boy Scouts and their leaders. This skit has been with the Scouting program for decades, maybe even longer, and is probably known through many countries. I guess you could say it is a classic.

This version of The Bear Hunt was performed during the opening campfire program at the Buckskin Camp of Many Point Scout Camp in July of 2007. It was raining outside so the staff decided to hold the program in the dining hall. That did not dampen the spirits of the Buckskin staff though. They were excited, loud, and rowdy, and that spirit was caught by the Scout campers.

You are invited to leave a comment using the link below, at the iTunes Music Store, or at the PTC Media forums. It really is great to hear what you think about the podcast videos.

Click here to DOWNLOAD this Podcast
Subscribe to Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast through iTunes.
or at http://feeds2.feedburner.com/melrosescoutingproductions
Check out other Scouting podcasts at PTC Media.

The committee of the Boy Scout troop has recently been discussing ideas about how to get Scouting more visible in our community. The pack has had a few rough years and membership numbers are down. This in turn has hurt the troop since 80 percent or more of our membership traditionally comes from the pack.

One idea that is gaining momentum is to have the Boy Scouts walk along this June’s parade route shortly before the parade begins and hand out small USA flags to children and folks sitting along the street. It would be great to see hundreds of flags waving as the veterans ride and march by during the parade. Of course, the Scouts would be in uniform as they pass out the flags.

The Melrose Chamber of Commerce, who is in charge of the weekend festival to be held the last weekend of June, has shown interest in this project. We will be sending letters to the local VFW Post (our charter sponsor) and the American Legion to ask for some financial support to purchase the flags.

The big question is, how many flags do we need? The parade route is a little over a mile long, approximately sixteen blocks. No one really seems to know how many people watch the parade so I started playing around with some numbers. If the Scouts hand out 20 flags per block, ten on each side of the street, we would need about 320 flags. That does not sound like many, does it?

Let’s bump that number up to 60 flags per block, or 30 flags per each side of the street. That would be nearly 1000 flags waving along the parade route. That sounds much better.

The cost of 6 inch plastic flags would be $5.99 for 72 flags, through an internet site. The total cost of a thousand flags with shipping would only be about $100.00, a very affordable project that would also give the Boy Scout troop a great way to be seen by thousands of people.

Has you pack or troop ever done anything like this project? Do you have any helpful hints? Please leave a comment if you have any ideas.

Here it is, the third episode of the Around The Scouting Campfire podcast. There is a lot happening in this show. It begins with Scoutmaster Steve and Buttons discussing a new (fictional) video game based on the adventure of Scouting. Then Steve reads an email he received six years ago about how things have changed being a kid, and how we as parents have changed raising our children. The Boy Scouts of Troop 68 try to teach us the Dirty Sock Song, and expect you to sing along. Buttons talks about how you know when you are a real Boy Scout. And Steve wraps up the show with a Scout leader’s minute about what really make a troop a good troop. All of this in a show that is less than 18 minutes long!

Steve and Buttons would like to thank everyone who have sent emails about how they enjoyed the shows. Don’t forget to leave a comment at the iTunes store or at PTC Media.
You can contact Buttons at buttonst68@yahoo.com. You may contact Scoutmaster Steve at stevejb68@yahoo.com. We appreciate your emails and letters.

The podcast is found on iTunes at
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=307979159
and has joined the family of Scouting themed podcast at PTC Media at
http://www.ptcmedia.net/

Show notes:
The Dirty Socks Song – http://www.melrosetroop68.org/2008/12/mspp-57-dirty-sock-song.html
You Know You Are A Boy Scout When… – http://www.melrosetroop68.org/2007/09/mmspp-21-you-know-you-are-boy-scout.html

RSS Feed – http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MelroseScoutingAudioPodcast
Download episode – http://www.melrosetroop68.org/podcastaudio/MSAPE3.mp3

If you have not noticed yet, a comic strip called The Buckets is currently running a few days worth of comics about Pinewood Derby cars. The Cub Scout son does not seem to understand that he has to make a car from this block of wood he received. The father has limited time and tools to help create a masterpiece (which the Cub Scout wants to look like a Star Wars space vehicle. The comic creator, Greg Cravens, is doing an excellent job with the series.

Check it out at http://comics.com/the_buckets/2009-03-16/

By the way, the comic shown here is only the first panel of the first day’s strip this week.

It is time for the second episode of the new Scouting-themed podcast, previously known as the Melrose Scouting Audio Podcast, but starting today will be known as Around The Scouting Campfire. Unfortunately, this episode was created before the new name so it still refers to itself as the Melrose Scouting Audio Podcast. Are you as confused as I am?

During this show Steve and Buttons talk about how famous Buttons really is (in his own mind), a father’s rules about dating his daughter (like you have to be an Eagle Scout), and talk about Life With Dad. Buttons talks about the Scout Motto, “Be Prepared”. And Steve introduces the rap version of the campfire favorite Little Bunny Foo Foo.

Steve and Buttons would like to thank everyone who have sent an email about how they enjoyed the first show. You may also leave a comment at the iTunes store and at PTC Media.
Buttons now has an email address. You can contact him at buttonst68@yahoo.com. You may contact Steve at stevejb68@yahoo.com. We appreciate your emails and letters.

The podcast may now be found on iTunes at
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=307979159
and has joined the family of Scouting themed podcast at PTC Media at
http://www.ptcmedia.net/

Show notes:
Dating my daughter – http://www.melrosetroop68.org/2007/04/fathers-daughters-and-dating-scouts.html
Little Bunny Foo Foo – http://www.melrosetroop68.org/2008/12/mspp-58-rapping-bunny-foo-foo.html
Buttons and the Scout Motto – http://www.melrosetroop68.org/2007/04/mspp-5-and-6.html

RSS Feed – http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MelroseScoutingAudioPodcast
Download episode – http://www.melrosetroop68.org/podcastaudio/MSAPE2.mp3

It is time to get back into the podcast thing and post another video to the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast. This video is once again taken from the 2007 Laughs For Lunch Show done by the Boy Scouts of Troop 68.

The members of Troop 68 love taking well known skits and songs and changing them up just a bit to bring something new to them. That is the case with this song and skit which the Scouts tied together in a unique manner. It begins with the younger boys singing the old favorite, I Wish I Was A Boy Scout. But at the end of the song one person is still onstage as the next skit, Crazy Newscasters, begins. And there is a reason for that, but I am not going to tell you here. You have to watch the video to find out.

You are invited to leave a comment here using the link below, at the iTunes Music Store, or at the PTC Media forums. Or drop me an email at webmaster@melrosetroop68.org. It really is great to hear what you think about the podcast videos.

Click here to DOWNLOAD this Podcast
Subscribe to Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast through iTunes.
or at http://feeds2.feedburner.com/melrosescoutingproductions
Check out other Scouting podcasts at PTC Media.

When you participate in a ten day trek at Philmont Scout Ranch chances are pretty good that you will see a lot of wildlife. I have seen wild turkeys, goats (or rams), deer, a bear, and plenty of chipmunks. In fact, seeing the larger wild animals can easily be one of the highlights of a trip to Philmont. The following is from my journal of the 1992 trip to Philmont made by the crew from Troop 68. The animals helped to make it a very memorable day.

Webster Park is an unstaffed camp with an excellent view of Tooth Ridge. Those who stay here have to entertain themselves. Or do like our crew did and get the animals to provide the entertainment. Jason and a couple other guys try to catch a couple of bold chipmunks who have been trying to get at our food. They have taken one of the ropes, tied it to a stick, and set a pot on it. When a chipmunk tries to take the bait placed under the pot they would pull the rope and have themselves a mini-bear. What they plan on doing with one I have no idea.

My body is letting me know that it does not appreciate what I have been putting it through these last few days. I have a blister on the big toe of my right foot and another one on the second toe of the left. The right side of my head, from the top, past the ear, to the neck, has been painful the last three days. I have no idea what the problem is but I hope it is not the start of something permanent.

It started drizzling around 2:30. Time to catch up on some shut eye. It is rather amazing. I am getting more sleep out here on the trail then I do at home but I still feel like taking a nap in the afternoon if the opportunity arises. Maybe it’s the fresh air. Maybe it’s the hard work of hiking. Whatever it is it is rather weird.

Shortly before 4:30 p.m. there is a bit of a commotion in the camp. I get up just in time to see a seven point mule deer buck walk by the camp. Nathan quickly grabbed his camera and began to stalk it. He was able to get with twenty-five feet of it before it moved on. The pictures he took should be pretty good ones.

A half hour later it started to rain again. The temperature is down to 57 degrees. Josh and Tim are in their tent. Tim is having fun irritating Josh by passing gas…constantly. At this particular moment I would not mind if this trip was over with. I am getting bored. I am tired of backpacking. I am not looking forward to tomorrow. When I look over tomorrow’s hike I begin to wander if we did not make a mistake when we planned our itinerary to include a trip to Harlan Camp.

A buck, two does, and a yearling are grazing in the meadow that borders the east side of our site. Tom is trying to in get close for a good shot with his camera. Corey has grabbed mine and moves in on the yearling. The fawn avoids him but the nine point buck moves closer. Tom sneaks around behind the buck and tries to steer him closer to Corey. We are going to have many pictures of deer when we get home.

The excitement never ends. Jason’s water bottle has been attacked by a chipmunk. Greg and Paul keep pushing the blame on each other for the sticks being thrown at each other. I wish they would shut up and drop the subject.

It is shortly after 5:30 when the crew gathers around the campfire ring. For the last two days Al has been working on his version of how Santa Claus Camp got its name. It has developed into a full fledged story. The group grows quiet as he begins to tell his tale.

Suddenly, Peter yells. A chipmunk screams. Everyone turns to see Pete standing half way up the hill holding a rope in his right hand. Hanging, and I do mean hanging, from the rope by its neck is a chipmunk. Peter has finally caught one after patiently waiting with the noose lying over the burrow hole for the last fifteen minutes. The poor little creature is squirming around like crazy, trying to get get out of its predicament. Finally, after a few seconds, the noose loosens enough for the critter to fall to the ground. In a flash it vanishes. We are not bothered by mini-bears any more that night.

The entire journal can be read on the Troop 68 website at http://melrosetroop68.org/highadventure.html

Nearly two years ago I wrote a blog post that reprinted a list by Michael Conkey about the rules for a young man to follow if he wished to date his daughter. The list included that the young man must be an Eagle Scout, follow the Scout Law, and follow the two deep leadership rule, among other things. (You can read the blog post HERE.)

My attention has recently been drawn to a website by a note I read on Twitter from LatterDay_Scout. The website, Scouter Stuff, has a series of shirts for sale that go along with “the rules for dating” very well. The shirts state, “I only date Eagle Scouts”, and are available in several styles and sizes. They can be seen at http://www.cafepress.com/ScouterStuff

Fellow Twitterer krisleeb asked the question, “What about those of us who married Eagle Scouts?” It sounds to me like the Scouter Stuff needs to add another series of shirts to their store.