ScoutCast

The next National Jamboree is only a year away, but many Scouts have yet to sign up. Maybe you think that door has been closed. Alexander Graham Bell once said, “When one door closes, another one opens.” But you know what? It’s a door — if it’s closed, just open it! So, this month we’ll […] The post May 2020 – 2021 Jamboree! appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

Whether you live in the north, south, east or west part of the grand ol’ USA, the BSA has a high-adventure base for you! And you’re not limited to going to the one near you. Each BSA high adventure base provides different adventures, so you can pick the one that’s right for you! Joining us […] The post April 2020 – Finding Your Adventure appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

You know how at the end of every show, we invite you to send your ideas for topics you’d like to discuss?  We read them and give each one careful consideration, and several of you have asked for more discussions concerning the Venturing program.  Joining us this month is David Bush, Advisor for Venturing Crew […] The post March 2020 – How Venturing Can Help, Not Hurt, Your Troop appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

This month, let’s talk about Cultivating New Leaders, also called Succession Planning: Having the right person in place to take over if, for whatever reason, a scoutmaster, assistant scoutmaster or committee member needs to bow out of his or her commitment. There’s a little more to it than just having the first available warm body […] The post February 2020 – Cultivating New Leaders appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

Do you know who your COR is? Do you what a COR is? COR is the acronym for Chartered Organization Representative. If that still doesn’t ring a bell, this episode is for you! On second thought – even if you do know, you might want to tune in, anyway, because joining us is podcast favorite […] The post January 2020 – What is a COR? appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

You may remember that back in March we talked about the Advancement Process, part of which is earning merit badges. Well, we’ll be ending the ScoutCast year with Jeff Bostwick, Chair of the National Merit Badge Sub Committee with an in-depth discussion on the Merit Badge Process and why it’s so important that you don’t […] The post December 2019 – The Merit Badge Process – Don’t Cut Corners appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

Why would anyone want to go camping in cold weather? Seriously – we want to know. So we invited Zach Chopp-Adams, district member at large for the Three Fires District in Southern Shores Field Service Council located in Southern Michigan. Zach has been winter camping for over 20 years – and he’s only 33. TRANSCRIPT The post November 2019 – Winter Camping – Why You Should Brave the Cold appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

OK, listeners, we’ve had discussions on recruiting youth and leaders, how to start a troop, training and advancement. And NOW is the time to start planning those courts of honor. Steve Bowen, who is a member of the Scouts BSA committee and other national committees, guides us through this month’s episode as we figure out what we […] The post October 2019 – How to Have a Meaningful Court of Honor appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

Hopefully your recruiting efforts are bringing lots of new members into your troops. But welcoming new members also means welcoming new parents, and you need to let those new to the program know what’s expected of both the Scout and the parent. Ah, yes! Parent orientation. Let’s find out what that entails with Julie Bucciarelli, […] The post September 2019 – Parent Orientation appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

Joining us on ScoutCast to share everything we need to know about peer-to-peer recruiting are Scoutmaster Angie LoSavio and senior patrol leader Karina Venegas of Troop 216 from the Pathway to Adventure Council. Angie has been involved in Scouting over the last eight years, having served as an assistant den leader and an assistant Scoutmaster. […] The post August 2019 – Peer-to-Peer Recruiting appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

Don’t feel silly if you don’t know what a linked troop is. Heck—we didn’t know either! We heard the term once or twice and decided it might be good to find out more, so let’s learn together with our listeners. Please join our new ScoutCast hosts, Anissa Hicks and Ryan Larson, in their inaugural episode […] The post July 2019 – Linked Troops appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

Imagine this: Your unit is ready to depart for a big adventure. All the Scouts and adult volunteers are on time, the weather is perfect, and everything is ready. Then you realize you’re missing something, and it’s a big something: Your unit’s trailer and all the gear inside—hundreds or even thousands of dollars’ worth of […] The post June 2019 – Security appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

Talking about bullying doesn’t have to be uncomfortable. You just have to shine a light on it. We get a lot of questions regarding how to handle bullying in a Scouting context, so we thought this might be a good time to talk to Cody Solesbee, a doctoral student in the School of Psychology at […] The post May 2019 – Bullying appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

Last December there was a post on the Bryan on Scouting blog about Benjamin Waggoner, a Scout who has spina bifida and is Eagle Scout No. 527 in Troop 890 in Dallas, Texas. So, we invited Benjamin and his dad, Chip Waggoner, to chat with us about Scouts with special needs from the perspectives of […] The post April 2019 – Scouts with Special Needs appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

Advancement is an important part of the Scouting program, but you already know that, right? But advancement in Scouts BSA is very different from Cub Scout advancement. Wayne Huddleston, who serves on the National Advancement Task Force, explains the purpose of advancement for Scouts BSA members, what resources are available, and everything in between. Host […] The post March 2019 – Explaining Advancement-The Trail to Eagle appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

This episode is all about training. We’re talking with seasoned Scouting veteran Dan Maxfield about why it’s important, how to get trained, and everything you need to know about training. Whether you’re new to Scouting or have been around the Scouting block a time or two, you’ll be left wondering, “With so many training opportunities […] The post February 2019 – Training: Why You Need it and How to Get It appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

So, you’ve decided you might like to be a Scoutmaster. Congratulations! Are you a member of a school, church, or civic club that thinks it might be a good idea to have a troop? Good for you! But, hmmm … where do you begin? Fear not! This episode gives you a step-by-step guide to starting […] The post January 2019 – A Step-by-Step Guide to Starting a Troop appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

The new Scouts BSA program—in case anyone out there hasn’t already heard—means girls will be allowed to join Scout troops in February 2019. This is a big change to our already fantastic organization, so naturally the questions have been pouring in. We’ve gathered a list of the most frequently asked questions and joining us is […] The post December 2018 – Scouts BSA Frequently Asked Questions appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

This month’s episode stems from a tweet we received asking if we could have an episode not on youth who cross over from Cub Scouting to Scouts BSA but on adults who cross over from Cub Scouting to Scouts BSA. And we agreed that would make for an interesting discussion. So, we invited Steve Bowen […] The post November 2018 – Crossover for Adults appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

OK, listeners, we’ve had discussions on new-unit development and recruiting youth and leaders, so now is the time to start planning those meetings and activities. But we don’t want to throw everything out there at once, so let’s figure out what you need to do to Be Prepared for that first meeting. To help us […] The post October 2018 – Be Prepared for Your First Meeting appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

Jamboree-on-the Air and Jamboree-on-the-Internet events held every October. The World Scout Bureau reported that last year, JOTA and JOTI events had more than 1.5 million Scout participants from more than 160 countries! In this month’s episode, 2 of the JOTA/JOTI team members, Jim Wilson, (JOTA rep) and Greg Wojcicki (JOTI rep) share with us how […] The post September 2018 – Can We Talk? Make New Friends From All Over the World! appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

Girls will become eligible to become Scouts BSA troops in 2019, which will be here before you know it. We talked a few months ago about new unit development, so now let’s talk about recruiting leaders for those units with Scott Berger, a 50-year BSA veteran who currently serves on a multitude of committees and […] The post August 2018 – Finding Leaders for Your All-Girl Troop appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

If you’re a regular listener (and of course you are), you’ll recall that back in May we discussed what you need to do to start a new unit. But first, you need the youth for that unit. Now is the time to start recruiting. We need some fresh ideas for the digital times we live […] The post July 2018 – Recruiting Campaigns appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

Back in March of 2015, we did an episode about introducing STEM into your unit, and we talked about some pretty cool STEM activities. Since then, STEM has gotten pretty popular, and units are really taking their activities to the next level. In this episode, Emily Campbell Roundtable Commissioner for in the Gulf Coast Council […] The post June 2018 – Everything You’re Doing Is Already STEM appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

We all know by now that girls will be able to join Scouting in 2019, but it’s already May, which means 2019 is just seven months away. That seems like a long time but we all know it’ll be here before we know it. Gene Butler, the Business Development Specialist for the National Alliances team […] The post May 2018 – New-Unit Development: Providing Scouting to Girls appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

April is Youth Protection Month and the Boy Scouts of America takes that very seriously. True youth protection can be achieved only through the focused commitment of everyone in Scouting. In this special crossover CubCast/ScoutCast episode, BSA Director of Youth Protection, Michael Johnson, explains how the revised Youth Protection training helps volunteers and professionals maintain […] The post April 2018 – Youth Protection Training appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

In this special CubCast/ScoutCast episode, Amy and Bryan chat with Linda Baker, Program Vice President of the Northeast Region, about preparing both your Webelos Den and your Scout troop for the Webelos-to-Scout transition plan. Linda is currently working on the task force updating the Cub Scout handbooks and is a local Troop Committee Chair, so […] The post March 2018 – The Webelos Den and Your Scout Troop appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

Why are we talking about Den Chiefs in ScoutCast? Because not only is a Den Chief great for a den (and we’ll talk about that, too), but Northeast Illinois Council Commissioner John Duncan shares with us how it’s fantastic leadership training for your Scout or Venturer. The post February 2018 – The Den Chief appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

We’re starting the ScoutCast year by talking about the World Scout Jamboree to be held right here in the USA at the Summit! Sign-ups are already underway, so we’re here to talk about why you should register to attend this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We’ll be discussing things like dealing with all the different languages and cultural […] The post January 2018 – Why You Should Go to the World Jamboree! appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

While Scouters don’t volunteer just for the awards, it’s sure nice to get some recognition for your hard work from time to time. District Executive Kenneth Toole of the Central Minnesota Council contacted the ScoutCast mailbox and said he’s got someone so fantastic at promoting those adult awards that we should invite him onto the […] The post December 2017 – The Importance of Adult Recognition appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

This month’s ScoutCast is ripped from the pages of the November issue of Boys’ Life Magazine where there’s a fictional, heart-warming tale about two boys who are bullied who then find ways to use that bullying to their advantage. And it’s written by none other than James Patterson, the award-winning, best=selling author. So we at […] The post November 2017 – The e-Bully appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

There’s a fascinating new book that came out a few months ago called Saving Our Sons: A New Path for Raising Healthy and Resilient Boys. This book features the latest research on how too much screen time with electronics and video games can affect male emotional intelligence, male motivation development, and the male brain. Join […] The post October 2017 – Scouts and Screen Time appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

Did someone say, “Free money”? Let’s face it – because Scouts get to have some incredible experiences, they already have an advantage to receiving a lot of scholarships that are out there. But did you know that there are many scholarships that are Eagle Scout-specific? Ryan Larson, the Associate Director for Alumni Relations at the […] The post September 2017 – Scouts and Scholarships appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

So, you’re a new Scouting volunteer. Thanks for joining us! You’re probably wondering right about now what you’ve got yourself into. But relax – this month’s episode is all about what is probably the best advice you’re ever going to get in Scouting and that is: Always ask who snores before picking a tent mate. […] The post August 2017 – Boy Scouting e-Training appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

Do you remember the episode on Succession Planning we did back in January? We talked about looking within your unit for that special person who might someday take your place. Well, this month we take it a step further by looking for volunteers who are needed right now and explaining where you can find them […] The post July 2017 – Cultivating Volunteers appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

It’s a topic so big it cannot be contained in one podcast! Ellie Morrison, assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 308 in Waco, Texas, joins CubCast’s Amy Hutcherson and ScoutCast’s Bryan Wendell in a special CubCast/ScoutCast crossover episode to share with us everything you need to know about the New Member Coordinator (meaning a coordinator for new […] The post June 2017 – Presenting the New Member Coordinator appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

The May/June issue of Scouting magazine features a story by our very own ScoutCast host, Bryan Wendell as he accompanied Troop 7031 of Flagstaff, Arizona on a pretty exciting canoeing adventure to Yellowstone National Park. He witnessed the incredible leadership of Matt Nichols, the Assistant Scoutmaster as he brought the Teaching EDGE to life. So […] The post May 2017 – Something EDGE-y appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

OK, listeners, let’s talk budgets. Sure, the best things in life are free, but everything else costs money and practically every entity runs on a budget: the government, businesses, households. Even your troop needs to budget for all those fun activities and trips. We checked in with a few Scoutmasters who told us that sometimes, […] The post April 2017 – Building the Budget appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

OK – “generational” probably has to do with generations, right? And “diversity” means different types of people. So one could assume that together this means different generations. But, what does that have to do with Scouting or, more specifically, your troop or crew? Pat Wellen, manager of the Research and Strategy Team at the National […] The post March 2017 – Generational Diversity appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

Webelos are beginning to cross over into your troop and while getting boys into your troop is one thing, it’s important to know how to keep them in the troop and coming back week after week. Charles “Doc” Goodwin is the Scoutmaster of Troop 236 in Kettering, Ohio, and for more than 30 years his […] The post February 2017 – Boy Scout Retention appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

Sometimes here on ScoutCast, we remind listeners that they need to have a succession plan in place should a leader or committee member be unable to keep their commitment, but we realized it might be a good idea to also help listeners put a good succession plan in place. Committee chair Kathleen Daggett of Santa […] The post January 2017 – Succession Planning appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

Let’s take a minute to think about your troop or crew meetings. Hopefully by this point, you’re in the norming or performing stage and everyone is having fun, but have the meetings gotten a little predictable? Every now and again, you should have a meeting that stands out above the rest, a meeting where everyone […] The post December 2016 – Making an Ordinary Meeting Extraordinary appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

Listener Bryan King asked us if we could do a show about the Board of Review process. Advancement specialist Mike LoVecchio agreed with that suggestion because, as he told us, “I get calls all the time with questions about Boards of Review.” You do? Well then, Mike, you’re just the person to come on ScoutCast […] The post November 2016 – Boards of Review appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

The Scouting Alumni Association is a call to all who have been positively impacted by the BSA. That includes family members of Scouts past and present, volunteers, Scouters, and community leaders. Is that you? We hope so and because we Scouters love awards, there’s even a Council Alumnus of the Year Award! Mike Movius, committee […] The post October 2016 – Scouting Alumni / Council Alumnus of the Year appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

Do you know what a troop committee is or what the members are supposed to do? What’s the relationship between the Scoutmaster and the committee? Charlie Garwood, who currently serves as the Area 5 vice president for program for the Piedmont Council in Gastonia, North Carolina, joins us for the discussion. The post September 2016 – Working With the Troop Committee appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

As Scout leaders, you all know how important advanced leadership training is. We’ve got NYLT and NAYLE and Kodiak. That’s right – we said Kodiak. Oh sure, a few years ago the Kodiak Trek may have been just for Venturers, but now – Kodiak is open to all Scouters! , Peter Self, who served as […] The post August 2016 – The Kodiak Challenge appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

That’s the question that appeared in the ScoutCast mailbox courtesy of listener Rich Eitzel. “We aim to please, said host Lee Shaw, so we invited advancement task force member Wayne Huddleston onto the show for an in-depth discussion of who can sign off requirements for both merit badges and ranks. Is it the merit badge […] The post June 2016 – Who Can Sign Off on Requirements? appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

You may have read the title of this episode and thought, “Did I read this right? Exploring can support my Boy Scout troop?” Well, it’s true! Joining us as we explore the many different ways the Exploring program can offer support to your Scouts is senior Exploring specialist Kristen Falatko and Boy Scout program specialist […] The post May 2016 – How the Exploring Program Can Support Your Troop appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

A lot of troops and crews think that just because they have some kids going to Philmont, Sea Base, Northern Tier, or the Summit, they can take the summer off. ScoutCast host Bryan Wendell thinks summer is “the greatest season of the year” for troop and crew activities, so we invited Jeff Bostwick, a member […] The post April 2016 – Summer Community Activities appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

The Scoutmaster is the adult leader of a youth-led troop. The Venturing Advisor is the adult leader of a youth-led crew. How do you assist the youth without lecturing? What is the process of shifting the attention off of yourself, as the adult leader and onto the senior patrol leader or crew president? Join us […] The post March 2016 – The Guided Discovery Process appeared first on BSA Podcasts.

The Scoutmaster’s Minute is a brief inspirational message, usually given at the end of a meeting or at the end of an activity in which you bring the whole group back together. But what makes a good Scoutmaster’s Minute? Does it have to be at the end of the meeting? And does it have to […] The post February 2016 – The Scoutmaster’s Minute appeared first on BSA Podcasts.