Around The Scouting Campfire #12

Scoutmaster Steve and Buttons, the radical Boy Scout, return in episode twelve of the Around The Scouting Campfire podcast. Listen in as the guys talk about how the Scouting program was discovered by William D. Boyce during a trip to London in the early 1900's. There are quotes from Lord Baden-Powell. The Boy Scouts of Troop 68 perform the radio skit. Buttons reads the last letter to Scouts from Lord Baden-Powell. There is even a short story from an early National Jamboree.

Steve and Buttons thank PTC Media ( http://www.ptcmedia.net ) for allowing this program to be a part of their family of Scouting related podcasts. We would also like to thank the Boy Scout Store ( http://boyscoutstore.com ) for sponsoring this show. be sure to check out their website.

Finally, we would like to thank you, the listeners, for downloading Around The Scouting Campfire and sending us your emails. You can contact Buttons at buttonst68@yahoo.com. You may contact Scoutmaster Steve at stevejb68@yahoo.com. Please rate the show and/or leave a comment at the iTunes store or at PTC Media forums.

Download episode by clicking HERE.

RSS Feed - http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MelroseScoutingAudioPodcast

This podcast is found on iTunes at

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=307979159

and is a member of the family of Scouting themed podcasts at PTC Media found at http://www.ptcmedia.net/

Show notes:

The story of how Scouting came to America is from the 1943 edition of the Boy Scout handbook.
The Radio Skit can be seen at Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast #70 - http://feeds2.feedburner.com/melrosescoutingproductions
Buttons' reading of the last letter to Scouts from Lord Baden-Powell can be seen at Melrose Scouting Productions #50.

Around The Scouting Campfire #11

It is time to join Scoutmaster Steve and Buttons, the radical Boy Scout, as they host another episode of Around The Scouting Campfire, a podcast for Scouts, adult leaders, and families.

During this episode the guys talk about the new year and look back at 2009. Scoutmaster Steve begins the new year by reciting some quotes from Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, and then reads a story about setting goals to fly with the eagles. After a song from The Scout Zone, Buttons tries to learn the Cub Scout Promise from Michael the Cub Scout, and then reads some feedback from our listeners. The show ends with a scoutmaster minute about being friendly and a thank you to you, our listeners.

Steve and Buttons thank PTC Media ( http://www.ptcmedia.net ) for allowing this program to be a part of their family of Scouting related podcasts. We would also like to thank the Boy Scout Store ( http://boyscoutstore.com ) for sponsoring this show. be sure to check out their website.

Finally, we would like to thank you, the listeners, for downloading Around The Scouting Campfire and sending us your emails. You can contact Buttons at buttonst68@yahoo.com. You may contact Scoutmaster Steve at stevejb68@yahoo.com. Please rate the show and/or leave a comment at the iTunes store or at PTC Media forums.

Download episode by clicking HERE.

RSS Feed - http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MelroseScoutingAudioPodcast

This podcast is found on iTunes at

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=307979159

and is a member of the family of Scouting themed podcasts at PTC Media found at http://www.ptcmedia.net/

Show notes:

The Scout Zone - http://www.thescoutzone.org/

Video of Buttons and Michael - Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast #17

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Around The Scouting Campfire #10

Yes, it has been awhile since Buttons and Steve have posted an episode to the Around The Scouting Campfire podcast. But your wait is over. Show #10 is ready to download and enjoy.

During this show Buttons, the radical Boy Scout, talks to Scoutmaster Steve about his next merit badge. Steve discusses saving our old videos of troop activities and courts of honor. We hear the Buckskin staff of Many Point Scout Camp sing a Scout Law song. Buttons brings in his friend Randall for some jokes. The show wraps up with A Scouter's Thanksgiving Prayer.

Steve and Buttons thank PTC Media ( http://www.ptcmedia.net ) for allowing this program to be a part of their family of Scouting related podcasts. We would also like to thank the Boy Scout Store ( http://boyscoutstore.com ) for sponsoring this show. be sure to check out their website.

And finally, we would like to thank you, the listeners, for downloading Around The Scouting Campfire and sending us your emails. You can contact Buttons at buttonst68@yahoo.com. You may contact Scoutmaster Steve at stevejb68@yahoo.com. Please rate the show and/or leave a comment at the iTunes store or at PTC Media forums.

Download episode by clicking HERE.

RSS Feed - http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MelroseScoutingAudioPodcast

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

Show notes:
Blog post on "Saving The Video Memories" at A Scoutmaster's Blog .

The video of the Many Point Scout Camp staff can be found at Melrose Scouting Productions podcast #24. http://feeds2.feedburner.com/melrosescoutingproductions

The video of the Buttons and Randall Show #2 can be found at Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast #49.

The Scouter's Thanksgiving Prayer - http://usscouts.org/reverent/prayers.asp

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Around The Scouting Campfire #9

Has your troop, patrol, or den ever had to develop a new skit or patrol for a campfire program? The Boy Scouts of Melrose Troop 68 created several new ones over the decades, mainly in the 1980's and 1990's. The Scouts would take a song, chance the words a bit (or a lot), add some actions, and suddenly had a popular campfire skit.

Star Trekking, by the Firm, was one of those songs that Troop 68 turned into a campfire skit. It became so popular that the troop wrote a sequel to it and called it Star Trekking: The Next Generation. During this episode of Around The Scouting Campfire, Scoutmaster Steve and Buttons, the radical Boy Scout, talk about how the troop developed these skits for the enjoyment of troops across Minnesota and beyond.

Steve and Buttons thank PTC Media ( http://www.ptcmedia.net ) for allowing this program to be a part of their family of Scouting related podcasts. We would also like to thank the Boy Scout Store ( http://boyscoutstore.com ) for sponsoring this show. be sure to check out their website.

And finally, we would like to thank you, the listeners, for downloading Around The Scouting Campfire and sending us your emails. You can contact Buttons at buttonst68@yahoo.com. You may contact Scoutmaster Steve at stevejb68@yahoo.com.

Please rate the show and/or leave a comment at the iTunes store or at PTC Media forums.

Download episode by clicking HERE.

RSS Feed - http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MelroseScoutingAudioPodcast

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

Show notes:
Blog post on Star Trekking at A Scoutmaster's Blog:

http://www.melrosetroop68.org/2006/08/campfire-skits-star-trekking.html

Videos featuring the Star Trekking Songs:

The Scouts performing on a local television show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ivt4AWGBWhE

The Staff of Many Point Scout Camp performing Star Trekking can be seen on Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast #47.

The young Boy Scouts of Melrose Troop 68 can be seen doing Star Trekking: The Next Generation on Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast #54.

MSPP #65: Scout Vespers

What song is the most common song used to close a Boy Scout campfire program? I would have to say that it would be "Scout Vespers". Vespers has probably been used by Boy Scouts since the program began. It is a great song. When it is sung the boys and leaders know that the day has come to an end and we will soon be sleeping in our tents.

The Boy Scouts of Melrose Troop 68 are very familiar with Scout Vespers. They have used it many times to close their own campfire programs. They have also used it to end each of their thirteen Laughs For Lunch Shows. And that brings us to today's video for the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast.

This video was taken from the troop's 1996 Laughs For Lunch Show. I could have taken it from a newer show, one that was filmed with a digital camera, but I wanted to present a video in which all the boys shown have grown up, moved on with their lives, gone to college, began full time careers, and even started their own families. This video is dedicated all the former members of Troop 68.

Be careful where you watch this video. You may find yourself humming or singing along with the troop.

Leave a comment here using the link below, or at the PTC Media forums. You can also rate the videos of Melrose Scouting Productions at the iTunes Music Store. 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.

MSPP #64: The Bear Hunt

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.

MSPP #63: I Wish I Was A Newscaster

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.

MSPP #62: The Sleepwalker and The Bees

This episode of the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast gives you two campfire favorites for the price of one. (Well, the price is free so I guess that does not really matter.) One song and one skit. From two different troop Laughs For Lunch Shows. Yep, we are spanning the decades with this episode.

The first skit we call The Sleepwalker. It involves some Boy Scouts sitting around the campfire late at night, talking about the events of the day, when a sleepwalker walks up to them and takes stuff from them. They do not want to awaken the sleeper though because, "It is dangerous to wake up a sleepwalker. She'll bring it back in the morning." Oh yeah, that IS a girl who happens to be sleepwalking.

The second part is a Scouting favorite known as the Baby Bumblebee song. The Scouts had the audience participate in this song during the show. Unfortunately, we do not have any footage of the audience singing along. The boys do a great job, and the last line always gets a smile from me when I watch it.

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.

MSPP #58: Rapping Bunny Foo Foo

I am sure that you have heard the story and sang about Little Bunny Foo Foo at some point in your time involved in Scouting. You may have even lead the song during a campfire or pack program. Cub Scouts love the song. Boy Scouts think it is cutesy. And adults groan at the punchline. But everyone agrees it is a classic song for a Scouting event.

Now what happens to our bunny friend when some Boy Scouts decide to update his story? They give the song a harder beat. And they perform it in a (gasp!) rapping style. The result is a slightly new version of the song with a touch of comedy thrown in for good measure. The words are unchanged, but the melody may never be the same again. Be warned, this version may stick with you a while after watching it.

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.

Please leave a comment using the link below, at the iTunes Music Store (were we could really use some more reviews), or at the PTC Media forums. Drop me an email at webmaster@melrosetroop68.org. It is great to hear what you think about these podcast videos.

MSPP #57: Dirty Sock Song

Welcome back to the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast. (You know, I think I made the title of this podcast waaay too long.) It is time for the Boy Scouts of Melrose Troop 68 to entertain you once again with another song from one of their Laughs For Lunch Shows.

The troop calls this little diddy the Dirty Sock Song, because it is about dirty socks and the unique smell that comes along with them. You know the smell, right? Have you shared a tent with a fellow camper who's feet have a strong aroma? Maybe you have to keep his shoes and socks about 50 yards away from the tent so you can breath easily while you sleep. Maybe you find dead mice around your tent due to the poisonous fumes from the socks? Those are the type of feet this song is all about.

If you enjoy this song and would like to perform it during your next campfire program I have conveniently posted the words on our troop's website at
http://melrosetroop68.org/campfavsongs.html#The_Dirty

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.

Please leave a comment using the link below, at the iTunes Music Store, or at the PTC Media forums. Drop me an email at webmaster@melrosetroop68.org. It is great to hear what you think about these podcast videos.

MSPP #54: Star Trekking: The Next Generation

Okay, okay. If you have been reading this blog and watching these podcasts you probably know about a skit the troop developed based on the song Star Trekking by The Firm. It became one of the most popular skits ever made up by Troop 68. The skit became so popular that we thought we needed to come up with something more. Thus we developed a new version of the skit based on the second Star Trek series. Thus I present to you Star Trekking: The Next Generation.

Star Trekking: The Next Generation was fun trying to put together. First, we had to pick which characters from the show would be a part of the skit. We could not include them all because the skit would become too long. We cut it down to six, which seemed to work well during the first skit. Second, we had to come up with lines that would be readily identifiable with each of the characters. Third, we needed a action for each of them.

When we performed the skit/song for the first time we discovered we did a pretty good job. The audience at summer camp enjoyed it, as did the Star Trek fans in the crowd. It quickly became a part of the troop's repertoire. Here are the character's line of the skit:

Data - "I wish I was a human, human, human, I wish I was a human. It's elementary."
Geordi - "I cannot find my visor, my visor, my visor. I cannot find my visor. Help!"
Worf - "The phaser's set for kill, for kill, for kill. The phaser's set for kill. Can I push the button now?"
Riker - "I'm leading the away team, away team, away team. I am leading the away team, 'cause I am Number 1."
Picard - "Let's set a course for Dagobah, for Dagobah, for Dagobah. Let's set a course for Dagobah. Engage!"
Villan Q - "Humans are so childish, so childish, so childish. Humans are so childish. Why can't I ever win?"

This video was taken from the troop's Laughs For Lunch show, probably about ten years ago. Have fun with it. I hope you enjoy it.

You are invited to leave a comment using the link below, or at the iTunes Music Store, or at the PTC Media forums. 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://feeds.feedburner.com/melrosescoutingproductions
Check out other Scouting podcasts at PTC Media.

MSPP #48: The Hole In The Ground

When I was a Boy Scout I attended summer camp at Parker Scout Reservation in Central Minnesota. We ate our evening meals in a dining hall. Once the troops were seated, one of the staff members would get up in front of the troops and lead us in a song. The Hole In The Ground song was one of the songs I learned during those meals.

The Hole In The Ground song is an audience participation song. The song leader sings a portion and the audience repeats it. Everyone joins in on the refrain. As the song continues it gets a lot longer and a whole lot faster. By the end of the song there are only a few people who will usually be able to keep up. It is a song that does require some practice if you plan to lead it.

Here are the words to the refrain of the song:

Refrain:
Well, in the ground, there was a hole, The prettiest little hole, that you ever did see. Well, the hole's in the ground and the green grass grew all around and around. And the green grass grew all around. (The refrain will get longer with each verse.)

I invite you and your son(s) to watch this video posting to the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast and let me know if you were able to keep up with the singers. Learn it and use it during your next campfire program.

Please 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 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://feeds.feedburner.com/melrosescoutingproductions
Check out the other Scouting podcasts at PTC Media.

MSPP #47: Star Trekking At MPSC

The Boy Scouts of Troop 68 have been performing a little skit/song called Star Trekking since the mid-eighties. (See blog post from August 2, 2006) It has been quite popular with most campfire audiences. In 1990 (wow, eighteen years ago) the troop performed this skit on a local television station station. This video was taped by one of the parents, luckily. Two and a half years ago I placed the video online at YouTube for the world to see. Since then, the video has received over 39,000 views, and averages somewhere around 50-60 views per day.

Well, it seems that several of this year's Buckskin staff at Many Point Scout Camp has seen the video. Some more then once. One Friday, the last full day of camp, our camp commissioner visited our campsite and asked me if I was the one in the video that was on YouTube. I said I was and gave him a quick explanation how that all came about. He was grinning from ear to ear when he asked me to sign his cap, and then asked me if I would perform the skit with some of the camp's staff during the Friday night closing campfire program. I agreed, but wondered when we would have time to practice. After all, the staff would be busy all day. He replied that I should meet them at the camp lodge at 9:00 that evening.

The campfire was scheduled to start at 9:30 pm. Not much time to practice.

I was at the lodge at 9:00, which was a one minute walk from our troop's campsite. Only half of the staff that were to be a part of the skit were there. The rest showed up as they arrived from their program areas. Unfortunately, we did not really have much time to practice. In fact, all we had time to do was to choose who would play what roles, go over each person's lines once, and practice the refrain. We did not even get to run through the song one time. This could be interesting, I thought to myself as I walked back to my campsite. Luckily, most of the participants had viewed the skit on YouTube and had a good idea how it was done.

I brought my camcorder along to the campfire program and was able to find another staff member to record the skit. When the time came, I left my seat in the audience to join the staff at the side. As we walked out to center stage I could not help but think of the possibility of the train wreck that was about to occur. After all, we really had not practiced together.

I did not have to worry. The staff came through with flying colors. And better yet, the hundreds of Scouts and adult leaders in the audience loved it. The cheering at the end of the skit was overwhelming. We had pulled it off, and pulled it off well.

Once I returned home from summer camp I had a problem with the camcorder. It began eating my tapes. One of the tapes it tried eating was the one that had the footage of Star Trekking. I had promised the staff that I would put this video online for them to see. I needed that footage. I bought a new camcorder, and luckily was able to retrieve the video from the campfire program. In fact, I should be able to get a few podcasts from the footage. Unfortunately, the footage is pretty dark since it was filmed after sunset.

So here is that video of Star Trekking, performed at the Many Point Scout Camp closing campfire program on July 18, 2008. This video is dedicated to the 2008 Buckskin camp staff, and to the camp's Ranger Scott, who appears in that YouTube video.

Please 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://feeds.feedburner.com/melrosescoutingproductions
Check out the other Scouting podcasts at PTC Media.

The Scout Law Song (update)

One month ago I wrote about a little song that caught my attention nearly a year ago called The Scout Law. I thought, and still think, it is a cute song that nicely pokes a little fun at Boy Scouting, and yet teaches the Scout Law and the meaning of the twelve points (kind of). This song is available as a free download provided by the two man group The Croutons at http://music.download.com/thecroutons/3600-8592_32-100115552.html

When I wrote that blog post on May 4, the song had received 241 listens since it was posted on that site on April 6, 2004, over four years ago. During the last month, after writing about it on this blog and a couple of Yahoo Scouting groups, and recently talking about it during the PTC Media audio podcast A Leader's Campfire, there have been quite a few visits to the site and listens to the song. I checked out the site today and it shows a total of 327 listens. That is a 36% increase of the amount of listens during a one month period. While I do not take all the credit for that increase, I would like to think that I helped a little to get the word out about it.

Now that some of you have listened to the song, I would like to hear what you thought about it. Leave a comment by clicking on the link below.

MSPP #37: Cats In The Cradle

The year was 1997. The Boy Scouts of Troop 68 were nearing the end of their second Laughs For Lunch Show. They were about to do something they had never done before. The piano was brought onto the stage, along with the electric guitar. The scoutmaster explained it was time for something a little more serious, something different from the rest of the show. One Scout began playing the guitar. Then the piano joined in. During the song the Scouts walked out onto the stage in groups of three or four. Before the song was finished every Boy Scout of Troop 68 was on the stage. Parents were crying in the audience. Emotions were running high.

Somehow, the troop had pulled it off. And with only one practice.

I will never forget that performance. It was the last year Tom and Nathan would be with the troop. Both would be graduating from high school in the spring and moving away to college. I wanted to do something special with them during the show. Tom was a excellent pianist, one of the best in the state of Minnesota. Nathan was great on the electric guitar. I wanted to do something in the Laughs For Lunch Show that would bring these talents to the stage. A regular campfire song would not be good enough. We needed something better.

The rock band Ugly Kid Joe had recently released their version of the Harry Chapin classic song Cats In The Cradle. I love the song and thought this could be the right one to bring Tom and Nathan's talents to the stage with the rest of the troop. The two young men agreed, and so did the troop. We threw around a few ideas about how to perform it and came up with something we thought would work well.

Unfortunately, we only had time to practice it once, the afternoon before we held the show.

The show was coming to a close. Some of the skits and songs had gone very well, some could have used a little more practice. I was getting nervous as the time for Cats In The Cradle drew near. Usually performing during a campfire program does not bother me much, but then, most campfire songs and skits are designed to be a bit silly. This song needed to be done seriously. This was not a time for mistakes. And worse of all, I would be the lead singer.

Let me state at this time that I will never be chosen to be on American Idol.

The grand piano was on the stage. The electric guitar was plugged in. The music began. The youngest Scouts began walking onto stage. As the song progressed the older Scouts joined the younger ones on the floor in front of the piano. Before I knew it, it was over. The whole troop was smiling on stage as the crowd was clapping and cheering. The audience loved it. Parents, especially mothers, were crying. The song had hit a nerve and they realized their boys were growing up and would soon move away.

Until then, I had not experienced the power that could be reached while on stage. Never before had I or the Scouts received such an emotional response from an audience. Usually, we did the skit or song and hoped we did it well enough to receive some laughter or clapping as the response. The Cats In The Cradle performance showed us we could accomplished even more.

I have wanted to post this video online for a couple years but did not have a digital version of it. This weekend I finally found some time to copy it to my computer. Now I can share it with all of you. I do not think the video has quite the impact that the live version of it did, but it still turned out well. It does show another side of the Scouts that usually is not seen at a campfire program. I hope you enjoy it. (I apologize ahead of time for the quality of the vhs video, and for my average vocal talent.)

Please leave a comment. I appreciate hearing from you. You can leave one here, or at the PTC media forums. If you leave a comment at the iTunes Music Store you will help the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast climb higher in the ratings.

Download Podcast
Subscribe to MSPP through iTunes.

The Scout Law song

Would you like to listen to something a little different about Scouting. In particular, the Scout Law? A little song that just might stick with you for awhile?

A group called the Croutons, a duo from Arizona, has recorded a song called The Scout Law, and it actually is about the Scout Law. The song uses the Scout Law as its refrain. The three verses cover the meaning of each of the twelve points. From bit and pieces that I have found on the internet, it appears the the Croutons have been performing this song as part of their act for at least five years. (I have not listened to their other music yet, so I am not sure if their other songs are family appropriate.)

I like the The Scout Law. Oh, it is not going to win a Grammy, and it is not going to earn a million dollars for the two guys, especially since the song is a free download online. But it has a good beat, and it is just silly enough to be fun.

You can download the song (for free) at music.download.com by clicking HERE. After you listen to it leave a comment on how you liked it, or did not like it.

MSPP #36: Vista!

Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts seem to really enjoy a good campfire program. But so do adult Scout leaders. Sometimes, the adults even enjoy performing for the campfire audience. Really. I am not kidding.

This entry to the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast demonstrates that adults can have fun during a campfire program too. This video clip was taken from Troop 68's annual Laughs For Lunch Show of 2002. It features the troop's scoutmaster bringing some of his adult Scouting friends on stage to perform the song Vista! One of the friends does very well. One cheats. And a couple have a hard time keeping up when things get going fast.

I challenge you to try this song at your next campfire program. It may take a little practice but the audience will love it. By the way, you can find the words (at least the way I learned it) on our troop's website by clicking HERE. " Yip bap biddildee bang!"

I like to read your comments about this podcast. You can leave one here, or at the PTC media forums. If you leave a comment at the iTunes Music Store you will help the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast climb higher in the ratings.

Download Podcast
Subscribe to MSPP through iTunes.

MSPP #33: The Bad Luck Song

After a few days of thought, I have decided to leave the G rated world of Buttons and Boy Scouts skits behind with this podcast post, and enter the PG world music. Oh, do not worry, there will not be any Guns & Roses music or rap nonsense here. What I offer in this podcast is an original song by the Boy Scouts of Troop 68.

This video is of three older Scouts of Troop 68 in 1992, taken from a television show made by the troop for our local community access station. The Scout playing the guitar (he earned the rank of Eagle, by the way) wrote the melody. I wrote the lyrics. The song contains three verses with dark undertones. The first verse is about a pathetic dog. The second is of a boyfriend trying to please his girlfriend. The third is about a stray animal following a person home. I would suggest you listen to it before allowing your Cub Scout aged son to listen to it. The song is dark, but somewhat comical. It also might stick in your mind for awhile.

The song does not contain any bad language. This is a Scouting podcast, after all. I just wanted to try something different this time. I hope you enjoy it.

I like to read your comments about this podcast. You can leave one here, or at the PTC media forums. If you leave a comment at the iTunes Music Store you will help the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast climb higher in the ratings.

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MSPP #29: The Song Never Ends

What is the main reason that boys join Scouting? Is it to earn advancement? Probably not. Is it to learn how to tie knots? I doubt it. Do they join to learn to skills? Maybe, but I do not think that is the real reason. Do they join Scouting to have fun? Bingo! Give the man a cigar.

Boy Scouts like to have a good time, even more then adults do. When they are with their friends they can sometimes get downright silly. That is what happened on fall camping trip in 2003. While sitting around the Saturday night campfire a few members from the Hawks Patrol thought it would be funny to sign the "Song That Never Ends". And it didn't. For nearly twenty minutes they kept signing the song, with other Scouts joining in as the minutes added up.

A Scout had a "great" idea. Wouldn't this be a great joke/song to sign during the troop's annual Laughs for Lunch Show? The audience would not know what to think. I know what they audience would think, I thought to myself. They will think the Scouts have gone mad.

When the time came to plan the show's agenda a few months later I thought that maybe they would forget about this song that never ends. They did not. In fact, they decided to open the show with the song. A few Scouts wanted to sign it for fifteen minutes, like they did around the campfire. I vetoed that idea, however, we came up with a plan to sign it for a few minutes and then remove the Scouts one by one from the stage, to give the impression that the song was going to end. By force.

Today's addition to the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast is the video of that song performance. I thought it went pretty well, and that the Scouts did a great job with it. It is a great example of how Scouts can be silly, have a good time, and share that good time with other people. What silly thing has your troop done lately?

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MSPP #24: Buckskin Camp Staff Sings

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.

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