MSPP #80: Questions For Buttons

It has been nearly a year since Buttons, the radical Boy Scout, has been featured in a new video. He has been pretty busy with school, Scouting, and his podcast, Around The Scouting Campfire. He recently began to work on his Cinematography merit badge and decided to make a video in which he answers several questions sent to him by some Wolf Cub Scouts from California. Even the sister of one of the Scouts gets to ask a question. The kids ask Buttons about the Scout Promise, leadership, den chiefs, grapes, and more.

Click here to DOWNLOAD this Podcast
Subscribe to Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast through iTunes.
or at the RSS feed: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/melrosescoutingproductions
Check out other great Scouting podcasts at PTC Media, including The Leader's Campfire and Around The Scouting Campfire.

Pinewood Derby Comics

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.

The Castle At Scout Camp

The Cub Scouts of the Central Minnesota Council will have quite a surprise when they attend Day Camp this year the Parker Scout Reservation. The medieval them will come to life like never before with the completion of the new Miller Castle. Yeah, you read that correctly. A castle! Complete with a courtyard surrounded by masonry walls and towers at the corners.

During last night's district roundtable we were shown pictures of the nearly completed castle. I will not lie. I was impressed. From the masonry exterior to the medieval decor on the interior of the building it appears to have captured the feel of the "knights of old" very well.

Of course, the castle includes all of today's modern conveniences. The building is well insulated and heated for year round use. It has a large modern kitchen and a large "commons" room for dining and activities. There are separate bathroom and shower facilities for the youth and adults. A "barracks", complete with bunk beds, is available for troops and packs who wish to use the building for overnight stays. The basement adds one more storm shelter to the camp, in addition to a large storage area for program materials.

I am looking forward to going to Parker this spring and touring the castle. I believe it will be a great addition to the camp and will help to increase the number of Scouts, packs, and troops who use the facilities.

Pictures of the Miller Castle can be seen at our council's website at http://www.bsacmc.org/camp_parker.htm .

Cub Scout Polar Plunge

I do not consider myself crazy (although their are some who think you need to be crazy to be a scoutmaster). For example, they are a number of people each year who decide they need to take a quick dip in a hole cut through the ice of a frozen lake in Minnesota. Would I do that? No way! I am not crazy.

But this year in Lake Minnetonka near Minneapolis, Minnesota, hundreds of people decided to bring in the new year by getting nice and cold in the icy water. Crazy, huh? Well, what caught my attention this year is that a group of Cub Scouts decided to join in the festivities. Here is the article from the KARE 11 website:

They came from all over the globe, just to say they did it. Hundreds of thrill seekers leaped into Lake Minnetonka New Year's morning, for the 19th annual Polar Plunge. Organizers say 388 people registered to take the plunge this year, far above last year's record of 298. Hundreds more showed up and registered Thursday morning. In all, 908 people jumped into frigid Lake Minnetonka to welcome 2009.

Among them, Cub Scout Pack 116 from Princeton, Minnesota. The boys recently learned their assistant cub master, Dar Durant, had been diagnosed with cancer, so they took pledges, collected money, and jumped into the lake. The money raised will go to help the family.

Plunge organizers say people from Canada, England, Iran, and Jamaica registered to take the annual dip this year.

I have to give those Cub Scouts and their leaders the credit that is due them. They did a great job of putting others first and helping someone in need. I am sure this is one plunge they will never forget.

By the way, the link to the KARE 11 website also has a couple videos showing the Cub Scouts taking their Polar Plunge. I am not sure how long the video will be available so check it out quickly.

Night Before Pinewood

Len of Pack 15 recently sent out a mailing to those of us in the Yahoo "Cub Scout Talk" group that included a couple of poems about Pinewood derbies. I thought they were pretty good and thought you might enjoy reading them.


NIGHT BEFORE PINEWOOD
(A Poem)

'Twas the night before Pinewood,
His car still needed lead,
He had done his very best,
When his mom yelled "Get to bed!"
He climbed under his blanket,
His car wasn't ready to race,
The pinewood derby was tomorrow,
There was a frown on his face.
Just as his eyes closed, He heard something spin,
It was Scout Saint Nick, coming to help him win!
As he peeked from under the covers,
Scout Saint Nick started to drill,
To help his car speed, On its way down the hill.
He splashed on some paint,
And stuck on some wheels,
He put the car on its stand,
And clicked his boot heels.
This woke the young scout,
A happy Pinewood to all,
And to all a good race!

A PINEWOOD DERBY READING

When I make my car, I hope that I can win.
Everything is ready, the weight & shine & spin.
The first race is the real test, to see how good it is.
My helper is happy too, you'd think the car is his!
Eventually I lose a race, and it is hard to take,
But my helper and I sure had fun,
A Pinewood Derby car to make!
.

The Eager Cub Scout

I received an email a couple days ago about a blog post written by a mother who has recently enrolled her young boy in Cub Scouting. I checked it out and it brought a smile to my face as I read it. I wish all parents would read it. It is a great example of how Scouting can influence a young mind, and a mother's mind. Here is a short excerpt from the post:

This past weekend we went out and bought the uniform for my little guy. It took a couple of days to get all of the patches on in the right place and when I was done I hung up the shirt in his room. Two nights ago I came home later in the evening because of a business function I was attending and found a small American flag taped up on my closet door. I asked him about it and he smiled proudly and told me he put on his uniform and put the flag up there so he could say the pledge of allegiance.

I invite you to check out this blog post by clicking HERE.

Calvin The Cub Scout

Well, here is the final comic that I am aware of that features Calvin and Hobbes as members of a Cub Scout Pack. I think by this time they realize that Cubbing is not for them and they decide to leave the Cub Pack, never to return. I hope you have enjoyed these comics as much as I have.

Calvin The Cub Scout

Well, here it is. The fourth comic of Calvin as a Cub Scout. The guys are getting hungry as the Scout outing continues, and Calvin learns things are not quite the same in the outdoors as they are at home. Enjoy.

Calvin The Cub Scout

There seems to be a craving for the Calvin and Hobbes Cub Scout comics out there in the internet world, so here is the third one for you. Keep in mind, only five strips were ever made with Calvin as a Cub Scout (that I know of) so that means there are only two more to go.

Calvin The Cub Scout

I know there are quite a few Calvin and Hobbes fans out there. Here is another strip from the Calvin, the Cub Scout, series. (I am glad real Scouts are a little better prepared then this.)

Calvin The Cub Scout

I am a huge fan of Calvin and Hobbes. Did you know Calvin was a Cub Scout for a short time? It seems like it was only for one outing in Calvin's world. He really did not like being with the other Cub Scouts. Enjoy this, the first of the five comic series. Click on it to see the larger picture.

Cub Scout Commercial: Locked Out

I have mentioned in previous posts that I wish the national office would do a more advertising to promote the Scouting program. Or maybe the councils should be doing it. I know I do enough of it on a local level. I have been collecting Scouting commercials for the past twenty years. Lately, I have been inserting them into Scouting films I produce for the local television channels. Hey, anything to promote Scouting, you know.

Here is one commercial that features Cub Scouting. I think it is a cute film, and one that contains a little humor. It is short, to the point, and best of all, shows a father and his Cub Scout son working on an advancement requirement together. Watch it yourself and leave a comment about what you think about it.

More Scouting Blogs

I am always looking around the internet looking for new places to visit and bookmark about Scouting. Here are a few Scouting blogs I recently discovered. I invite you to check out:

http://KISMIF.org (A very good Cub Scouting blog)
http://thecubscoutleader.blogspot.com/ (another good Cub Scouting Blog)
and
http://halfeagle.com (A collection of various Scouting blogs in one place.) The author of this blog has included the blogs of PTC Media, of which the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast is a part of.

From Misfits to Eagles

Okay, I just had to pass this along to you all. There is a story in the Saturday edition of the Washington Post about eleven Tigers Cubs who stayed together through Cub Scouting, into Boy Scouting, and all recently attained the rank of Eagle Scout. They were described as cry babies when they entered the troop, but through Scouting they grew into outstanding young men. Here is just a small piece of the article:

As Cub Scouts, they were so wild that the exasperated leaders insisted that their parents attend the meetings to keep things from getting out of hand. Their first hike as Boy Scouts became notable for the "strike" when the boys lay down side by side on an easy trail and refused to go on after having covered about the length of the Mall.

But something happened to these 11 whiny, quick-to-say-quit goofballs from Boy Scout Troop 681 in Falls Church. It happened somewhere along the way between pinewood derbies and knot-tying in the Scout House, the log cabin where the group met three times a month under the glassy eyes of a stuffed moose. And it happened on 50-mile hikes and canoe trips, under the watch of scoutmasters such as the retired lieutenant colonel who spun war stories and taught them how to set up an L-shaped ambush, Ranger-style.

I hope the Post leaves the article online for quite awhile, and that this gets picked up by national news organizations. Read about it HERE.

MSPP #22: Cub Scouts and PTC Media

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.

School Night Report

Another annual fall "School Night To Join Scouting" has come and gone but this year was a little different then the past few years. The pack did well with new membership and recruiting new leadership.

The cubmaster and I (the scoutmaster) really tried to get the word out this year, as you may have read about in an earlier blog entry. A dozen new boys joined the pack so I guess the promotion work paid off. If all the previous year's membership returns the the pack should have a couple dozen members.

The thing that pleasantly surprised us is that all the pack's leadership and committee positions were filled that night! This is the first time in a few years that this has happened. The trick will be to get these new leaders through Fast Start training and start attending roundtables.

I owe the part of the success of the leadership drive to Mr. Bob of the Akela's Adventure podcast. On one of his episodes he spoke of a recruitment pitch he used recently that worked very well in his pack. I emailed him for a copy of the scenario and after reading it decided it was worth giving it a try. Little did I know it would work as well as it did.

During the presentation I put the new cubmaster on the spot. He did not know what I had planned until I started sticking a lot of three by five cards onto his shirt listing the various jobs and duties he has within his family, and then added more showing what he does for the troop. I also added a card for every leadership and committee position that needed to be filled. He was a good sport and played along with the presentation. He was quite pleased to have a full committee by the end of the presentation. Especially since he really did not have a committee at the start of the meeting.

While the school night was a success for the Cub Pack it did not go well for Boy Scout recruitment. Not one boy of Boy Scout age (other then a couple of Scouts who were there to help out) showed up at the meeting. Oh well, hopefully the pack will be able to hold on to its members long enough to graduate the boys into Boy Scouting. Then the evening will have been worthwhile for the troop.

C-3PO Actor was a Scout?

It is amazing what you can find on the internet where you are bored and have nothing to do. This morning I found an article that brings together two things I really like - Scouting and Star Wars. Anthony Daniels, the actor who brought the droid C-3PO to life in the Star Wars movies, was a Cub Scout for a brief time. Unfortunately, he did not stay a Cub Scout for very long. It looks like he really did not quite understand what Scouting was all about.

You can read about it at the Official Star Wars Blog.
http://starwarsblog.wordpress.com/2007/08/08/c-3po-was-a-cub-scout/

I always like it when I find out well known people were in Scouting.

The Leader's Campfire

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.

Cub Scout Casper, Boy Scout Clark.

To tell the truth, I have no idea why I have been on a string of Scouting in Comics this last week. But I have enjoyed it, and I get a feeling that many of you who read this blog have enjoyed these posts too. That being said, I have two more things to add to the "comics" list.

I came across this today on eBay. Someone is auctioning a comic book in which Casper, the friendly Ghost, becomes a Cub Scout. It is a 1975 special edition to celebrate the BSA's 65th anniversary. I would not mind bidding on the comic book since it has a starting bid of only $1.99. However, the postage price is pretty steep at $5.60. It really should not cost more then $1.50 to ship a comic book. Besides, now that I have told you all about it, it will probably go for over $150.00. (smiles to myself)

After all, I have seen what can happen when I post something. I wrote about the nine plush Beagle Scout Snoopy's for sale on Amazon. I bought two right away for 3.99 apiece. Good thing I did. The next day, when I thought I should buy a couple more to use as gifts, I noticed all the cheap ones were gone and I would have to pay more for the next ones I bought. I looked again as I was writing this article and noticed there are now only two left. Coincidence? I think not!

The second thing about comics that came to mind today is that Superman has been called a Boy Scout many times. It was done in the comic books, in the movies, and even in the newest incarnation on television, Smallville. Unfortunately, it is usually said when people are making fun about Superman or Clark Kent. You know, who cares? Superman is a great role model. I am glad that even though Superman never was a Boy Scout, people regard his trustworthiness, loyalty, and bravery as Boy Scout attributes.

Well, this is probably the last post about this topic. I hope you have enjoyed it. Don't forget to leave a comment and enter this month's drawing.

Scouts Calvin, Mickey, and Garfield

In the last blog post I wrote about Snoopy, the Beagle Scout. I think it is great to see Scouting in this type of media. Innocent, yet very entertaining. Charles Schulz did a great job of touching our funny bone with this favorite Peanuts character. But it was not the only time Scouting has been a part of a major comic strip.

There was once a young boy named Calvin. His best friend was a tiger by the name of Hobbes. For a short time Calvin decided to join a Cub Scout pack and go out for an overnight hike. Calvin quickly discovered that Scouting was not his favorite type of activity. Why, there was no place to plug in the microwave he had brought along. Nope, Calvin and Hobbes would rather spend their days exploring strange new worlds, or playing a rough and tumble game of Calvinball. You can see some of the Calvin the Cub Scout comics here!

The picture I used for this post is Mickey Mouse dressed in a Boy Scout-like uniform. I do not remember where I collected this picture from. I do not know the story behind it. I did a quick search in Google for "boy scout mickey mouse" and did not come up with much. Drop me a line if you know the story behind the picture.

Then, of course, there is Garfield. In 2000-2001 Garfield's creator allowed the fat cat to be used to help promote Cub Scouting. I have not heard anything about how well the promotion went, but I do have my patches of Garfield the Cub Scout that I received at the 2001 National Jamboree. You can some of the Garfield images here.

Well, that wraps up what I currently know about Scouting showing up in popular comic strips here in the USA. I am sure there are other cases of this occurring, but I can not think of any other at the moment.

**Drawing update - So far only two people have entered the drawing for the dvd of Scouting promotional films. If you wish to qualify for the drawing then look back for a previous post about the rules.

Buttons Makes an Appearance

If you are a reader of this blog, or a follower of the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast, then you know who Buttons, the radical Boy Scout, is. Buttons has starred in several videos that can be found online at Troop 68's website and on Youtube. He seems to have gained a small following out in internet land.

Today, Buttons was a guest on a special edition of the Akela's Adventure audio podcast. The hosts of the podcast, Mr. Bob and his son Ti, have been spending the week at Cub Scout Day Camp. They are posting a special podcast each day this week covering the different activities they participate in doing during the day. Buttons joined them on tonight's episode and asked Ti, who happens to be a fan of Buttons, about his day at camp. They chatted about the different activities and the skits and songs performed during the day's campfire program. It sounds like both Ti and Mr. Bob had a great time at camp.

Buttons would like to thank Mr. Bob for inviting him to be on the Akela's Adventure podcast. The radical Boy Scout had a great time talking to Ti, and hopes they can do it again sometime.

MSPP #11: Buttons & The Cub Scout Promise

Buttons, the radical Boy Scout, is a puppet that was given to me by my parents one year in the 1980's. I played with it for awhile, even brought it along on a few Scout functions. It was a fun puppet to have around. Kids loved it. Adults thought it was cute.

The hardest thing about using the puppet was not playing with it or making it do things. That comes easy to me. The hardest thing about Buttons was coming up with a voice for him. It had to be a voice that fit his looks. I also realized that the voice would also play a major role in the type of personality that Buttons would have. After playing around with several voices, and rejecting most of them, I finally decided on a deep throat-style voice based on a surfer-type dude's way of talking.

Buttons has never been the same since. The voice defined his personally like I thought it would. Suddenly this puppet became alive. Kids would howl with laughter. Adults would smile, and even giggle once in a while. But there was a price to pay for using that voice. It was very hard on my throat, and I could usually only say a few sentences at a time as Buttons.

When I did the first videos with Buttons, the radical Boy Scout, they were short videos. I wanted to see how the puppet looked, how the voice worked, and if he would look real enough to pass what I wanted to accomplish. After viewing the videos I was pleased with what I saw. I began to expand the videos, and take Buttons away from the den. He toured my family room, went around town filming in parks and at school. People saw these videos and enjoyed them.

It was time to take Buttons to the next level. It was time for him to perform with a live person. Michael is the Cub Scout brother of one of my Boy Scouts.
When he saw a video of Buttons the first time he broke out laughing and could not stop. I thought it might be fun to try doing a video in which he would have to interact with the puppet. I knew he would have a tough time trying to keep a straight face, but to tell the truth, I did not want him to be too serious.

This podcast video is the first video in which Buttons shares the limelight with Michael, the radical Cub Scout. Michael tries to teach Buttons the Cub Scout Promise. And tries, and tries. Buttons proves to be a slow learner. Michael has a hard time not giggling. It has become the most popular video featuring Buttons, the radical Boy Scout.

Watch it HERE on our troop's website, or download the PODCAST, and then leave a comment about it. Thanks for watching.

Buttons, Cub Scout Promise, and hockey hair

Buttons, the radical Boy Scout, has almost learned the Cub Scout Promise from Michael, the
Cub Scout, in the newest video. This time the two get sidetracked and start talking about
long hair and hockey. This is the third video featuring Buttons and Michael.

The video can be seen at
YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOW_kXbrjpc
or
Troop 68's web site: http://melrosetroop68.org/videos.html

Thank you for watching the videos. We hope to be making new ones this spring when the
weather gets nicer as we take Buttons out into the campgrounds with the Boy Scouts. Leave a message and let me know what you think of them.

Comical Look at Cub Scout Promise #2

The latest of the videos featuring Buttons, the radical Boy Scout, has been posted. He is still trying to learn the Cub Scout Promise from Michael, the radical Cub Scout. Unfortunately, Buttons is not the brightest Cub in the Pack. I am sure you will get a chuckle or two from this, the second video of this series.

You can see it at:
http://melrosetroop 68.org/videobutt onsCub2.html
or
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=YCTPDokPBnw
(If you watch it on youtube be sure to leave a comment and rate it.)

Thank you to everyone who has watched the first of the Cub Scout Promise videos. It has
become one of the most popular videos I have made. Between the two sites it has been
watched over 1000 times during the last 2 1/2 weeks.

Boy Scouting in the 1970's

Yes, I was a Boy Scout. For three and one half years I was a member of Troop 68 in Melrose, Minnesota. The troop had about a dozen members or so, divided into two patrols, the Falcons and the Cougars.

I am the oldest of three brothers. My brothers were Cub Scouts. Unfortunately, when I was Cub Scout age there was not an active pack in town. However, I did get to participate in a couple Webelos den activities with my brother Dan. At the time I wished I could be a Scout.

About the time when Dan's den was ready to graduate into Boy Scouting a troop was formed in town. I joined the troop right away. I started out as the oldest member of the troop at 13 years old. The rest of the troop members were 11 or 12 years old. It did not take long for me to become the senior patrol leader, a position I held for most of the years I was in Scouting.

I have forgotten more about my time as a Scout then I remember. I am sure there are a few things best left unremembered. But there are also a few things I will never forget.

I remember going to summer camp for three years at Parker Scout Reservation. Two of those years were spent at the Bear Skin campsite. We (all the campers) would sing songs before supper in the dining hall. I earned pioneering merit badge although I had a lot of trouble trying to learn how to splice ropes. I saw a skunk and it's little ones for the first time as it crossed the trail on my way back to the campsite. I remember one afternoon when my fellow troop members and I sat in a tent and discussed things that were important to us at the time, including the existence of God. I remember one patrol event which involved getting the patrol up into a tree as fast as possible. Friday night campfires were great, and my troop even performed a skit at one which involved Dracula, the werewolf, the mummy, and Frankenstein's monster, but I don't remember what it was about anymore. In other words, I had fun at summer camp.

One year my scoutmaster wanted everyone to wear his uniform to school for Scout Day. At the time, I was the only student in the high school who was a Boy Scout. I knew I would be the only boy in school wearing that uniform, but I wore it because I was proud to be a Boy Scout.

I prepared myself for the snide comments I expected to receive in school, but they never came. No one made fun of me and my uniform, at least not to my face. In fact, I had people asking me about the patches on my shirt and what they represented.

As the scoutmaster of that same troop today, I do not ask the boys to wear their uniform to school. Society has changed somewhat during the last 30 years. But you know, when you stop and think about it, Scouting is as much fun today as it was back then. Don't cha think?

Comical look at the Cub Scout Promise

The first of the four new videos featuring Buttons, the radical Boy Scout, has been posted. This one features a of troop member's brother trying to teach Buttons the Cub Scout Promise. Of course, things do not go as planned, and hairy issues arise. The other three videos will be posted in the weeks to come.

You can view it in two places....
http://melrosetroop68.org/videobuttonsCub1.html
or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMLSNj4UHFE

All the videos are of Michael, the Cub Scout, trying to teach Buttons the Cub Scout Promise. The plan was to only make one video. We did four takes, thinking to edit them into one good video. However, each of the four takes ended up having their own style, even though each one covers the Cub Scout Promise. So, keep a watch out as I post all four versions. I will probably post them about 2-3 weeks apart.