Cracker Barrel online

Cracker barrel is a time for Scouts and Scouters to share a drink, some food, and lots of good camaraderie.

And Scouting magazine gives us another great definition!  Check it out!

Do you use Scouting magazine's online site?  What do you like the most?  Post your comment and thoughts about it!

Happy Birthday BSA Photo Contest

Great contest idea from Boys' Life.

Scouts can submit photos via the website to compete for the cover of Boys' Life's February 2010 edition (THE anniversary edition).

From the site:

The Boys’ Life “Happy Birthday, BSA” photograph contest is open to readers age 6 to 17. Its theme: The Five Pillars of Scouting. Use your imagination and come up with a photograph or photographs that illustrate one or more of these important BSA values: 

• Character
• Leadership
• Achievement
• Outdoors
• Community Service 

...and...

Each of the age categories—ages 6 to 11 and ages 12 to 17—will have first-, second- and third-place winners. Each first-place winner gets a Canon PowerShot G10 digital camera worth $500. Second place wins a $200 iPod nano. Third place wins a $100 Scout Supply gift card. 

H/T:  CapitalAreaBSA

Wired Scouts and Wireless Scouting

This has been an interesting year so far, and not at all what I imagined.  

I've been working on a number of projects, and learning how to work in a few new tools, like Facebook and Twitter.  Our council's camping committee asked me to put together a web presence for Camp Rock Enon in the little blip of Gore, VA.

So, how does this benefit you, the Scout and the Scouter alike?

First, these tools are being used regularly by our Scouts.  They "get it" without the long explanations.  They don't require the convincing that these tools are worthwhile, important or relevant.  I've yet to meet a 40-50-60 year old Scouter that just "gets it".

It is a perspective thing--often our Scouts have had the Internet in their homes their entire lives.  These tools are as pervasive to their existence as we see television and radio.  Yeah, that wasn't fun to realize.  We all like the story about the Scoutmaster who had to explain rotary dial phones to his Scout so he could call home.

Some of these tools will come and go.  In the past 15 years, we've seen the near death of fax machines, replaced by scanners and email.  

There is a place for it.  Like pitching a tent, starting a fire and reading the weather, technology is an important skill.  Maybe we don't need a "Web 2.0" merit badge, but our troop historian may need to be a bit more savvy.

But the important thing is to embrace them so that we can understand our Scouts' lives.  A "wired" Scout ("wireless"?) out camping is a different creature than one who a few years ago couldn't make a phone call from his front yard.

Second, the Internet can help you generate interest in your local council's units, activities and camps.  Big or small, there is a great opportunity to share what makes Scouting special with other members of the Scouting community and the broader world.

My efforts so far have been small and careful.  But I'm getting feedback from our local Scouters, and even from outside our area.  They are getting the word (tweet) and seeing programs (blog) and learning that we have something going on.

Our summer camp is almost completely booked solid, in a down economy.  

I've seen an email from someone who "discovered" us and is looking at 2010 events now.  Another person reached out to see if Camp Rock Enon could be a stopping point before the next Jamboree.

The future of Scouting is now.

How do you embrace technology?  or your council?  What do your Scouts use?  Have you asked them?  Comment away below.

The Rock is online!

Camp Rock Enon has joined the Internet.

Read the blog.

Tweet at Twitter.

...and more to come!

Twitterdom

OK, I'll give it a try: Scoutsigns on Twitter.

Messenger bag for my Scouts

I don't know about your Scouts, but mine seem to be allergic to remembering their books, paper and something to write with, all at the same time.

They often get 1 or 2, but rarely all 3.

This messenger bag is from Scoutstuff.org (#62004) for $29.99, and will be recommended highly tonight.

Details:

• Olive green bag, screen-printed with "Boy Scouts of America 1910-2010"
• Tan embroidered, universal emblem over printing
• Large inside compartment has room for binder, books
• Pen slots
• Small inside compartment has room for binder, books
• Outside compartment for carrying files, phone
• Adjustable shoulder strap, clip closures
• 100% canvas w/chino lining

TIP: Enter Promotion Code S9909 at checkout to take advantage of 99 cent freight during the month of February!

Your Pinewood Derby is Showing!

Ever stop to think about what your pack’s “Pinewood Derby” says about your unit?

I know PWD’s run the gamut from non-competitive play to competition (and parent) intensive ordeals to be endured.

All of them are loud, too!

We didn’t have a pinewood derby for the first 3 years of our pack. The first year, we were simply too new to pull it off. The next 2, I was very hesitant to introduce “bad parenting” to the events.

You know what I mean—the professionally constructed car; Scouts not allowed to touch the cars (including their own); official weigh-ins; adults handling the races; electronic scoring and spreadsheets; endless conversations about axles, graphite, and burrs on the wheels…and bored kids hanging out waiting for their turn.

Last year, we decided to give it a try. The Scouts got their kits for Christmas from the pack, and had until the January pack meeting to get them ready to go.

I offered scant advice—parents should help their Scout as much as he needed it, and no more. Timmy Tiger needs a lot of help, and Wally Webelos should just need a lift to the meeting.

The pack meeting was a quick presentation of awards earned that month, followed by, “get in line with your car, 3 Scouts at a time”. I made a big deal during the weeks prior to the big event that we would race as long as they wanted.

We raced, and raced and raced some more.

Scouts pared up against each other and no one was upset, or bored. The kids did everything except flip the starting gate (my job!). Families stood around and cheered, little siblings jumped around and yelled.

As Scouts and their families needed to call it a night, they went home. Last few families called it a night just after 9PM, with over 2.5 hours of racing wrapped up.

No one won, and everyone won. No awards or medals. Just fun.

Tonight we race again, and the excitement is high.