Ramblings Blog


  SM Tip - From the Sports Page to the Scoutmaster Minute, Part 1

This has been a great sports week here in Louisville. It started with the Louisville Cardinals winning the NCAA basketball championship and ended with the premier of “42,” a biopic about Jackie Robinson in which a Louisvillian, Pee Wee Reese, plays an important supporting role.So what does that all have to do with Scouting? Those stories—like stories that appear on the sports page nearly every day—are great sources for Scoutmaster minutes. They offer larger-than-life examples... [More]

By: Scott Robertson On: 2013-06-19

  Choosing A Knife for a Webelos 1

A recent question appeared from a parent on Scouts-L asking what knife they should get for a Webelos 1 Scout. I know this post is a bit long but I am sure it will be helpful to many of you. What follows is the parents question.I volunteered to be an assistant den leader for my son's Weeblos one den. He (my son) is ready for his own pocket knife and my husband and I are... [More]

By: Scott Robertson On: 2013-06-17

  Boy Scout leader dies

I saw on the news about a Boy Scout Leader who died while hiking at Lake Mead. The Park Service rescue the 5 Scouts and recovered his body down the trail. This happened June 8, 2013. You can find the full news article here.Here are my two cents...I live in Las Vegas and this whole thing seems kind of odd too me. Lake Mead is hotter then Vegas, usually by 5 to 10 degrees depending... [More]

By: Scott Robertson On: 2013-06-15

  Save the Date--and Time - Eagle Tip

This week, I received one of those “save the date” postcards that are increasingly popular for weddings these days. The wedding will be held next May 10 at … well, the card didn’t say.Given that May 10 is a Friday, I can assume an evening wedding, but it would have been nice if the time had been included on the postcard. I’m pretty sure the time has been set.Now, I don’t think “save the date”... [More]

By: Scott Robertson On: 2013-05-30

  Stay out of the Risk Zone - smtip

How many people are killed each day by distracted drivers? What’s the most important factor in towing a trailer? How can drivers combat drowsy driving? Why are 15-passenger vans more susceptible to rollovers than other vehicles?Those are just some of the questions addressed in Transporting Scouts Safely, a supplemental training module that you can access at http://www.scouting.org/filestore/HealthSafety/pdf/632-006_WB.pdf. If you don’t know the answers, you should review the syllabus. If other drivers in your troop don’t... [More]

By: Scott Robertson On: 2013-05-23

  Choose Your Own Adventure - SMTip

When I first started in Scouting, troops figured out where to go camping based on word of mouth and the “where to go camping” directories that Order of the Arrow lodges occasionally published. These days, of course, camping information is as close as your web browser. But it’s easy to get overwhelmed; search for “camping in Kentucky” on Google, and you’ll get 11 million hits.Now, thanks to Circle 10 Council Scouter Anthony Morris, searching is... [More]

By: Scott Robertson On: 2013-05-16

  A Salute from the Top - Eagle Tip

When it comes to congratulatory letters at Eagle courts of honor, I’ve long preferred quality over quantity. Rather than solicit 100 random letters, request a tenth that many that will really mean something to the honoree.If your next honoree is interested in the military, you’ll definitely want to include the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) on your solicitation list. To receive a certificate from JCS, send a request letter to:Office of the Chairman of the... [More]

By: Scott Robertson On: 2013-05-09

  A Lesson in Penmanship - eagle tip

One of my favorite court of honor moments is when a new Eagle Scout looks into the audience and challenges younger Scouts to follow in his footsteps. That moment is especially great when he’s not afraid to name names and offer a personal challenge to, say, his younger brother or a Scout who needs a little extra encouragement.Awhile back, tip subscriber Rita Guarino offered an idea for making this moment even better. The idea: have... [More]

By: Scott Robertson On: 2013-05-02

  Getting Cub Scout Leaders to Serve Again

Hello Everyone,While I have been an Adult Leader I have served with many other Adult Leaders who have been asked to serve again and I have been able to introduce in being a Cub Scout Leader.At the last Blue and Gold Dinner my boys Bridged to Boy Scouts and I was able to have both of my other Den Leaders step up and and become Den Leaders again for their younger boys. All I had... [More]

By: Steve O'Connor On: 2013-04-30

  A Video Letter to the Future - Eagle Tip

People planning Eagle courts of honor often include slide shows or videos during their ceremonies. Computer technology is making such presentations easier than ever.But what about a video that documents a court of honor for the future? I don’t mean a straightforward video of the ceremony—although that’s a great keepsake to have—but a short video that encapsulates the spirit of the ceremony.That’s what Troop 360 in Garland Texas did recently. You can see the result... [More]

By: Scott Robertson On: 2013-04-25


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