How to Deal with the World's anti-Scouting Syndrome

First off before I going in the strategies lets take a look at some of the major reasons why people will misunderstand or dislike the program. Below> you will find a list of the most common reasons why kids or adults will not join scouting but remember this is not going to be a complete list and will focus on broad topics instead of being specific. So here it is:

• Dislike of going camping or hiking: Yeah some kids don't like spending their weekends in a a sleeping bag at temperatures somewhere between -40 and 120 degrees F. Sleeping in a sleeping bag requires people to be able to going without your normal comfortable bed in your house for a fair amount of time. Let me be the first to tell you that sleeping bags are definitely not as temperature or comforted rated or changable as your own room but it gets the job done. This outdoor activities requires lots of energy and work in order to accomplish these tasks in a reasonable amount of time
• The Coolness Factor: No I am not talking about temperature about about the cool that has to do with social conditions. Most people in your average high school who are not involved in scouts will say that Scouting is not a cool thing to do and will then influence others to believe the same thing. Scouting and being accepted by your classmates if you are open about your involvement in scouting is slim to none and I would lean more towards the none side of the scale
• The teasing factor: Yeah some kids will probably make fun of you but isn't that true about whatever activity you participate in. Someone on the outside is going to find something activity you particpate in to tease you about.
• The cost: Should not be a issue if your Troop is doing its job by providing a program that is fit for everyone in the community. Yeah everybody has to pay dues but beyond that, we can probably work with you to determine how to pay for your scouting experience. You may not get to do everything that other people are doing but just being their means that you are involved.
• The Values: Yes we do have a system of values that we will teach to the youth involved with the program but if you really look into the ideals that we are trying to teach, we are just teaching ideals that will help you be a better person and leader for your community.

Again this are just a few of the reasons why people not involved with Scouting will trying to make a person who is involved with the program have a miserable life. Here is the strategy that I use. When I can keep my cool. I try to use the STOP and ACT method for problem solving.

• S-Stop: just don't continue what you are doing and begin to remove yourself from the situation temporarily if at all possible.
• T-Think: work up a list of ideas that will help you solve the problem. At this point it does not matter whether you are thinking positive or negative thoughts just organize them it a reasonable order that makes sense to you.
• O-Observe: take in who you are dealing with as a whole, take in the resources and the support system you have surrounded yourself in. Try to get yourself to put yourself in the other person's shoes.
• P-plan: chose the best option that you have come up with and make up the contingencies and other details that you may run into.
• ACT: Follow through with the plan you made and evaluate your progress once the action is completed.

Here are a few general hints about dealing with these social issues.

1. Know that you are part of a organization that is a worldwide movement of more than 28 million members, obviously with numbers this high you are participating in a activity that is good for you and for the world.
2. React but don't overreact. Overreacting just fuels the fire and fueling the fire means that you are going to have to deal with more and bigger problems in your future.
3. Know which adults to go to when the teasing steps over that fine line of being considered harassment.
4. Know which peers you can go to for guidance, support, and possibly help with dealing with this person.
5. Use your friends that you trust that are not part of the scouting movement, to get the bully to realize that you really are not that weird of a person
6. Prioritize who you are going to let get under your skin.
7. Be tough and stick it out through the program because it is well worth it

Hopefully here is a list that will arm you with some of the tools and information need to dealing with the "World Anti-Scouting Syndrome".

Please feel free to e-mail or post comments about problems you are having

Yours in Scouting
Mark W
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616

One and a half hours a week! What Planet are you from

I here the following situation from youth at least on a monthly basis, "Scouting is just a hour and a half on tuesday night and then I am done with scouts for the week unless I have a service project or outing to attend over the weekend". Now I know that most hours would agree with me that scouting is not meant to take place in the 1.5 hour time frame for those of us who are entrusted and given the privilage of running such a wonderful program. Running the program to ensure the scouts have a successful meeting usually requires at least 1 hour of planning per 45 minutes of activity. So lets take your average 1.5 hour boy scout meeting which is 90 minutes long and divide that by 45 minutes which gives us two, then multiple the 2 by the one hour that you have of planning per 45 minutes and you get 2 hours of planning. In this planning time I include the time you talk on the phone, e-mail the troop, e-mail the committee, e-mail the SM's and ASM's, make sure your ASPL knows what his job is, check in with the Patrol Leaders and the the PL''s the weeks announcement, deal with emergencies that seem to always come up either the night before or a hour before the meeting is suppose to occur, resolve the emergency, delgate needed resources to the emergency, ovbercome the emergency, keep a cool and calm attitude, keep your wits about you and the finally after this list is not which is no where near complete attend your meeting that you worked to put together and see it (A) be a total success, (B) be a average meeting, (C) be a okay meeting, (D) have the adults take over because you can not engage the Troop or (E) have a complete failure and want to quit your position.

This is just for the meetings. These are the things that the leaders of the Troop worry their brains about, so when you complain to your PL or SPL about have to do a 20 minute assignment outside the meeting, remember that these leaders are counting on you to do your assignment so they can follow their original plan and not have to come up with something else on the spot.

Most teens I think now a days would think the following thought, "Why should I trust my peers to put together a meeting that I am going to attend even when I do not fully understand their capibilities or dislike like that person". The reason that they end up trusting this person is that you have to first set a high standard and then meet or break the standard every time after.

Leaders are here to serve, not to be serve. Yes we do have power but power abused is power loosed. The more power hungry you become the less likely I am willing to listen to that superior.

Now back to the reason why I think scouting is more than just a meeting. I am not even going to involve you in being a leader in your boy scout Troop. I am talking about your everyday average scout who is part of a Patrol.

• Advancement: I believe that most of us have the want and the expectation that you will complete the Eagle Rank. Yeah advancement isn't suppose to be the main focus when scouting is suppose to be three-fourths outing but it is one of the methods and the more you earn the cooler your uniform looks. I am not saying that I encourage you to earn awards just because they will look cool but for your average youth mind you will certainly stand out. Who doesn't like being put in the spotlight and on display.
• Scout Spirit: Scout spirit is not suppose to be a word thought about only when you are getting the requirement in the book, having a board of review, or participating in a Scoutmaster's Conference, it is about developing a lifestyle that will help you be successful in a world that openly promotes and allows so many negative actions. Yeah you may be criticized standing up for what you believe but if you don't stand up then who will. You should be proud of who you are. I will tell you that once most teens become young adults they continually saying that if they were a scout for even a very brief period it taught them how to live.
  
• Outings: Sometimes when I come back from a outing and am sharing my experience with the rest of the Troop I look around and see a few disappointed faces on the people who couldn't go. I then begin to wonder whether or not it was reasonable reason or just because they didn't feel like putting in the effort the outing would require to be able to particpate in. If you don't attend the outings then you miss three-fourths of the program because the word scouting is three-fourths outing and that is what we stand for

Hopefully this few ideas will spark a few more and you will realize that scouting is not just on a particular night each week but it is life style that can require so much more than one meeting a week if you are willing to put in some effort.

Also I hope that I did not bore you or confuse you one bit.

Yours in Scouting
Mark W
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616

Scouting and Technology! Welcome to the twenty-first Century

most adults that I run into unless they are a computer or technology guru misinterpret the reason why technology can be so beneficial to the scouting program. Yeah there are a lot and I mean A LOT of BAD STUFF OUT THERE but there is also looks of good information and resources that I use on a daily basis that help to make my life easier. Technology allows me to keep pace in such a fast paced world. The standard for delivery of information has come down from years to practically instant communication. Having this practically instant communication without the face to face contact makes it much easier for youth and adult leaders of Scouting units to get the point across.

Technology is a scary thing to so many people in this world but truthfully it is like any other feature or skill, it has to be learned and everyone is capable of learning to work with these advance electronic gizmos to a certain degree. What I am not saying is that everybody is going to become a instant expert. Experts are in a field are nurtured and built up over the course of many years.

Technology has it's place in scouting. We as the leaders of the movement need to encourage the national leaders of the movement to start taking advantage of the many different venues that technology creates for us to use. Yes this is going to take time and work but this is the type of work that we should commit ourselves to. This is about bringing more kids and retaining kids longer in a day and age of whether you have a Ipod or not can determine you social popularity. This may not be totally right but in order to understand and develop ways to work with this problem we must learn to immerse ourselves into the problem and tackle it head on.

Yours in Scouting
Mark W
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616

Making Scouting the best possible in 2008

One of the questions I continually get from Scouts is "How can I make the most out of Scouting". Usually when Scouts asks me this question I usually ask them about their past history in the Troop and what activities and functions they have participated in that was fun. After defining what they liked I get ideas for activities that they would like the Troop to participate in. Then depending on what they want to do or have the Troop do I may sit down with them and make a goal for the year that has to do with scouting that is involved or not involved with that activity depending on their position and maturity level.

Goal setting it is something that helps us define what we want and how we should get to what we want. The Method that the Boy Scouts of America in helping leaders define a goal is the SMART methodology.

S- Specific: The goal must be focused on a single item. It must do the most good for the greatest number of people possible with the limited resources that are available in your Troop to use.

M- Measurable: For a goal to be measurable you must first define your initial value or baseline and then decide what you want to work up to in reasonable increments that are possible to achieve with the people and limited resources you surround yourself with.

A- Attainable: You should set goals that are a challenge for you to reach but are not too challenging that the become impossible to reach. I am not discouraging the concept of "Dreaming Big" but I am saying that in order to "Dream Big" you must have small Dreams that add to to your overall "Big Dream" you have created for yourself.

R- Relevant: Whatever goals you make in your life you must make sure these goals are in-line with your interests and your ideals. But remember that when you are trying to come up with a goal it is not necessarily just about your own personal life but it could involve friends, family, scouting, or other organizations you are involved with.

T-Timely: Set specific dates by which you are to achieve your goal or steps that allow you to reach that goal. Setting these specific dates will allow you to have a concrete way of measuring your success. It also helps you to achieve your goals a reasonable amount of time.

Setting goals does not have to be just for Scouting, it should be a method that is used in every aspect of your life to achieve your dreams and to have success at what every task you are assigned or that you give yourself.

Set goals and be happy to know that by setting goals you are on your way to leading a more organized and better managed life.

Yours in Scouting
Mark W
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616

What After Being Active

Here is one of biggest problems that I continually run into with people who are new to the scouting program and that is not knowing their is always something you could do for the Scouting Movement. Yes scouting is about fun and games but when scouts approach me and say their is nothing to do on this campout, I can usually give a list of at least five different tasks that could require attention when the resources become availble. As soon as I mention one of these tasks, all of a sudden these scouts have something to do, which for me solves the problem of them being bored, even though they did not get a straight answer from me.

We as leaders of a Scouting unit must continually promote the idea of self reliance. When I am talking about self-reliance I am talking about other youth leaders in the Troop being guided to a solution to their problem without the person in a higher position giving them a direct answer.

Are You an Active Member?

Are You an Active Member?


Are you an active member?

The kind that would be missed?

Or are you just contented

That your name is on the list?


Do you attend the meetings

And mingle with the flock?

Or do you stay at home

To criticize and knock?


Do you take an extra part

To help the work along?

Or are you satisfied

To only just belong?


When the business comes around

Do you pretend you're sick?

And leave to work to just a few

Then talk about the clique?


Think this over, member,

You know right from wrong.

Are you an active member,

Or do you just belong?


In my experience their are a fair amount of people who are content with just putting their name on the list and not doing much more than that. Yes these people are most likely great people but do they have a true passion for scouting can be questioned. Let me close on this note, "Are you a person that sits back and lets others do the work or can you say that you are truly a active member" Being active requires work and dedication. Here is my philosophy if you are going to do something, do it to the best of your ability because of the fact that you only get to do that specific task, at that specific time once. Basically do something like their is going to be no tommorrow to look forward to.

Yours in Scouting
Mark W
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616

Why Do I choose to be a Leader for the Scouting Movement

Why Am I a Leader?

I'm not a Scout Leader for the easy hours, high pay, parents' gratitude, power or prestige.
Scouting is definitely not and never will be only a hour a week commitment if you are truly fulfilling your duties as a leader. Yeah we all will joke about how long scout takes out of us on a weekly basis. For me personally the meeting maybe be scheduled for 1.5 hours but for me I usually end up have a two hour meeting. Then sometime during the week on one or multiple occassions I am on the phone for a average of 30 minutes per week. Then working on one of the continually going scout projects that I have usually will take another 4 hours out of my week. So the minium that I spend for scouting per week is 6.5 hours and that does not include weeks I have a service project or campout. That may be a minium that I figured out but the true number is about 15 hours per week. You may not believe it but it is true.

I'm a Leader because I want the world for other scout whether or they are related to me.
Yeah I know that even though I have a huge potential I may never change the world but a scout that I have influenced could grow up with the nurturing provided in the scouting environment to create a radical new idea. I may be foster the next hero or I could end up fostering the next super villian of the world, so I must always watch what I am doing even when I think no body is looking.

A world they can share and help shape: a world of love and laughter where they can show compassion.
Compassion is such a wonderful gift when humanity has learned how to use it. In scouting we have the ability to teach young boys just like me the great joy of laughter. Laughter to me allows me to temporarily escape reality and delve into my own perfect world. Laughing about something instead of just getting made at a subordinate can be the greatest tool in arsenal when you appropriately. I can not give you a textbook definition for when it is appropriate to use the tool but I am sure you can figure it out for yourself.

I want to help them learn to finish anything they start and do it well and to guide them to know their self-worth with a deeper understanding of themselves.
Society has grown to become a quitter society and I am definitely guilty of just getting up and walking away from my problems instead of facing them straight on. If their is a skill that I could perfect in my self and others that would be developing self confidence in all areas of life, even the ones that make you freak out at the mention of their name. Being a quitter will dig you deeper into a hole that you will not be able to get out of. I know that some habits you just want to give up and get rid of but to me the appropriate word is not quitting the habit it is erasing the habit from your memory.

I want to help shape men and women who have strength of character and are sensitive to the needs of others.
One of the hardest areas in my life to deal with and for other teens to deal with is that of being sensitive to the needs of others, especially of those who are close to us. Instead of playing the blame, lets first stop, back away from the situation you are involved in, and develop a appropriate solution. When examining the situation remember to try to understand where the other person is coming from and why he/she believes what they do. Also do not let society step on your character. Stand up for what you think is right even if you are standing alone because as soon as you submit to the other person's idea, the sooner you loose track of who you truly are.

I want them to be the best they can be - whether as career people or tradesmen, young adults who are the hearts of the family.
Whatever you are doing or are going to do in your life, do it to the best of your ability. Doing something to the best of your ability means that you are putting your mind and all of your heart into meeting the objective or overcoming the obstacle. we as the leaders of the scout movement are here to support you in whatever activities you choose even if it means that you are not a very active scout. we must respect your wishes and you should respect ours to the best of your ability as well.

In giving my time and myself I reap rewards far beyond what I give. I receive a better world for my children and future generations.
To me the rewards can not be sorted into a monetary value. If someone tried to put a price tag on the rewards of me being a leader in this movement, their is no sum of money that could be brought forward to replace the feeling I get when I am leading, learning, and teaching as a scout leader. Every leader and follower in this world can allows learn a new skill, you must just have a open mind and heart. Allow the opportunity to learn to rush in and embrace it no matter what happens.

I'm a Scout Leader because I care.

Hopefully this makes sense and you are not thinking that I am just trying to sound smart as a teenager.

Yours in scouting
Mark W
Troop 1616
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster

The Final Countdown to 2008 Begins Now

Wow 2007 has come and gone so quickly but instead of dwelling in 2007 lets lot to 2008 and make that a year to remember for our units. Yes the holidays are a time to think about family and have a temporary break from the struggle of weekly meetings but this does not mean that we have a right to just drop everything scouting for these two weeks of holiday. A lot of people just end up spending their time in their home town at home.

For your new years resolution lets make a commitment to our Scouting Units to make a difference and reach a certain milestone by the end of the year. personally for my unit I am making a commitment to develop youth leader training for a small troop because I want the other youth leaders to develop their skills. By helping them develop their leadership potential I am not only teaching them about themselves but I am giving myself that rights I said ME a OPPORTUNITY to DEVELOP MY OWN POTENTIAL CAPABILITIES. Learning by improving my unit is definitely something I strive for.

You may be thinking that I am acting like i have all the answers for every little problem my unit encounters but the truth is that I do not know the solution to every problem but until I experience the situation or task I will never know if I have a big enough toolbox to solve the problem. I am not talking about I tool box full of maintenance tools but a toolbox of traits, abilities, and skills that can be used to deal with "People Problems". Every person that the leader meets and is incharge of is going to have a problem that is hard to deal with in the eyes of the leader.

Hopefully I did not bore you too long and hopefully you think I am on the right track with the ideas of the scouting movement. Please feel free to comment on this post. As long as it does not include too much slander I will approve it for public viewing.

Until next time, have a wonderful holiday season and the best of luck in 2008

Yours in Scouting
Mark W
Troop 1616
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.

Here is a great story about scouts who are willing to give themselves to service in others and shows what the "Spirit of Christmas" really is. Here is a like to the video and the story.

<http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=5852557>

Or you can can read the story below:

BLUE BELL, Pa. - December 23, 2007 -- A group of boy scouts have done a very good deed for a Philadelphia family who lost their home to fire last Sunday.

The Boy Scouts of Troop 444 armed themselves with gifts. Led by Santa, the boys marched down Shoal Creek Drive.

Their mission was to turn the Dunphy family's holiday tragedy into a Christmas they'll never forget.

"It was so wonderful. The people have been so amazing," Janet Dunphy said.

The Dunphy's Somerton home burned down a week ago and with it went all the family's gifts and belongings.

"You see it on the news, happening to somebody else, you just don't expect that it could happen to you and your family. It's been very devastating," Michael Dunphy said.

"We were going to sell wreaths to make money to get a trailer, but when we heard about this, we thought this would be a better cause for the money to go to," Bob Sharkus of Troop 444 said.

These scouts certainly understand the spirit of the holidays. They sacrificed to make this Christmas better for the less fortunate.

"It was really nice. It's really what Christmas is all about," Sharkus said.

"They really made this special," Janet Dunphy said.

This is what Scouts in Action can accomplish. We all have the power to make a difference in this world but it requires action not inaction to make a change for the better. Scouting is such a powerful movement no matter what others try to say about it. Keep your head strong and stick with it. The program is well worth the effort.

Yours in Scouting
Mark W.
Troop 1616
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster

Community Service

Why is community service such a hard concept to teach scouts in today's society. Is there something wrong with the approach we use to promote community service is is that we are not doing are jobs in making a service project sound appealing. I have been on probably more than 50 service projects in my scouting career. Service projects to me are not a big deal. Let me let you in on a small truth that I believe is true no matter what other people say, SERVICE PROJECTS ARE A FUN AND ENTERTAINING EXPERIENCE. I can not count the number of times that I have laughed about some joke a another volunteer or a participant has made to me and the truth is that unless you are at that event you will never experience that laughing matter. Service projects are designed to not only teach you about giving back to your community but they help you develop several areas in your life that are important.

One of those areas is spelled right on in the Scout Oath and It has to do with the three duties that can be associated with this set of words. The first duty is duty to god and country. No matter what religion I have run into in my sixteen years of living I have never been able to experience a religion that did have a god or godlike figure that did not promote giving your time and talents to others. The second part of the firs duty is that of duty to your country and a responsible citizens everyday we are called to make a commitment by the leaders of this world to create a future of positive influence by helping those who are less fortunate than us. Remember a service project does not have to have a large scope like a Eagle Project hast but could be a simple task that could take you a maximum of 5 minutes to complete. The amount of time does not matter, it matters what your intentions are going into the project. Our second duty is that of duty to others and by making the world a better place for someone or something is definitely fulfilling of your duty to others. To me fulfilling this duty of others makes my heart beat true and proud to know that I have been able to make a difference in someone else's life.

Our founder Baden Powell was once asked by another scout "What should we be prepared for" and I can tell you that you must be prepared for everything possible in your life. Being prepared related to service projects means that you are willing and ready to give your time and talents when asked by your Troop, another organization, or a friend. I know that we are not going to be able to do every service project that comes our way but remember that a little can go a long way when we are talking about giving back to others.

Our slogan as a Boy Scout in the United states is that of:
"Do a Good Turn Daily"
Now I know that each one you are going to say that a Good turn can be a small simple item like saying something to cheer someone up, to bring hope into your lives but I am here to tell you that is not the original intent. I believe that the original intent was to get scouts and leaders to become active role models in their community by giving back at a community function.

Here is the last item that I believe that service projects accomplish and that is it gives us as scouts a good opportunity to be able to increase our numbers of scouts and volunteers in the Troop by being out in the community. By being out in the community we are making it easier for people to come and question about what scouting is about and how to become involved. Remember that you are never to old to get involved with scouting. You can get involved with scouting from the age you are in kindergarten all the way up until you did. This recruitment aspect goes along with what National Says is a good public relations campagain. Have this public relations campaign is very important to be able to ensure the successful growth and prosperity of this wonderful organization.

Hopefully I did not ramble too much on one aspect.

Yours in Scouting
Mark West
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616

Scout Spirit

Scouting Spirit what is it and why is it so hard to teach to scouts when the first join the scouting program. What are the various levels of scout spirit can demostrate towards others. Why is scout spirit so important when dealing with the other community members you are bound to run into while wearing your uniform.

Scout spirit to me is about living up to your obligation. Your obligation for Boy Scouts in particular are set by the Oath, Law, Motto, and Slogan. This obligation is something that you have to be willing to agree to and take to hear if you are going to get the most out of the scouting program as possible. Getting the most out of the program is accomplished by ensuring that you are a active participant and behave in appropriate ways that are defined by your leaders whether they are youth or adults and your obligation. But now the question becomes why is the obligation so important to our program. Our obligation defines who we are and what we stand for. Each person has a unique way of looking at what the Boy Scout movement is there for. I agree with National in the fact that we are trying to educate today's youth in making decisions that are morally and ehtically correct. Working on developing your spirit and your definition of what spirit is will continually change as the years you spend involved with the program move on.

Next defining what I like to call the levels of scouting spirit. To me their are four differnet levels that represent various levels of commiment. The first level is what I like to refer to as the beginner level because this is the level where you are introduced to the concept by becoming involved in a Unit. This level is where you start thinking of what it means to be scout but you are not questioned very often about your beliefs of the program because you have not had some experiences that will allow you to make justifiable decisions about the program. At level one you are willing to accept what the scout oath and law stands for. Level two is what I like to refer to as the denial stage. These levels of development do not necessarily represent the order in which the scout will follow. This stage of denial usually happens after the scout has settled in the Troop and learns that scouting is not just fun and games but is also work. This may occur in young or old scouts. Denial usually consists of the person wanting to challenge what the ideals of the program stand for. They are torn between wanting to follow the ideals because the rest of the Troop wants them to and wanting to lead a normal life and forget the high moral standards of the scouting program. This temptation of wnating to forget these standards of behavior is usually brought up by peers or other environmental conditions. The third level is the level that most scouts will achieve in their scouting career. These people usually stop scouting once they become a adult but the ideals still influence their behavior on a daily basis because of the fact that they realize that scouting teaches high moral standards and lifelong skills to scouts that can be used in any aspect of life. The four level is for those who become overly passionate about scouting and become obessesed with acting how the Scouting ideals demand from them. This obesesion becomes obvious over time because of how much these people are willing to put on the line to stand up for the ideals that they believe in. These are the people who will on a weekly basis are able to put in over 10 hours during that period of time. They also have no problem with putting in this much time because of the fact that they realize that the program must continue to thrive if others are to recieve the benefits of the scouting program.

Hopefully this all made sense about What scout spirit is all about.

Yours in Scouting
Mark West
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616

Introduction

Hello and I welcome all to the Scoutingmaniac Blog. My passion and lifelong activity will and always has been anything to do with scouting. I have been involved in or attempted pretty much every division of the Boy Scouts of America that I can participate in as a youth member. I am currently sixteen years old and have had my Eagle for almost a year and a half. I have been involved with scouting now for 11 years. The primary purpose of this blog is going to be to share ideas of what I think is important in the scouting program. I know right now everyone is think that a sixteen year old kid can not make a reasonable and educational blog but I am here to tell you that if you ask any experience scoutmaster they will say that one of the primary ways that they use to continue to develop their leadership and scouting abilities is looking to their youth members. These are the type of people who have learned to get past the stereotypes which are totally untrue. These stereotypes are the types of things that cause the world the most grief and problems. Stereotyping will not be supported here. Yes there are certain teens who could not make reasonable conclusions on ideas and methods of the scouting program. These teens who are not able to make these reasonable conclusions are usually the people who either (A) dislike the scouting program or (B) have not had the opportunity to be put in a leadership position. I would also have to say that when I look at the new scouts of the Troop there is so much potential there.

OK now that I have established what I believe about sterotypes lets move on to discuss more of my scouting background. I started in Pack 456 in Littleton Colorado where I went all the way through Cub Scouts. Then I move on to Troop 456 in Littleton Colorado were I earned my Tenderfoot and Second Class. After living in Littleton for a while I moved to Castle Rock, Colorado where I earned the Ranks of First Class through Eagle with a Bronze Palm with Troop 780. I would have to say that I definitely learned the most about scouting and leadership in Troop 780. In Troop 780 I earned the Boy Scout and Venturing Catholic Religious Emblems, earn several Formation Oriented Religious Awards including the Saint Tarcisius, Rosary patches (all four), International Catholic Scouting Awareness Award, and have been involved in Religious Emblems promotion for my faith and the rest of the faiths that have a Religious Emblems Program.

While in Troop 780 My Troop elected me to go through the Ordeal process for the Order of the Arrow. I went through my ordeal when I was involved in Troop 1616 in Soldotna Alaska. I am a current member of Nanuk Lodge of the Great Alaska Council.
I have also become a trained chaplain Aide through the Denver Area Council course. I have also gone through Troop level Junior Leader Training twice. Have served as a instructor for a Troop Junior Leader Training Course. Attended the Trainer Development Conference Training.

If there are any more questions about my background please feel free to respond to this post.


Yours in Scouting
Mark West