Adult Education
Three more District Training Sessions left
We will have another Scoutmaster Specific Training tonight (Wednesday) and another on December 7th. This is required for all Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters.
We will have an Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills (IOLS) on Saturday. This is required for all Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters.
Webelos Den Leaders and Cubmasters who participate in the IOLS training will also get credit for Outdoor Webelos Leaders Skills (OWLS). They will get two certifications for the price of one.
Den leader training is available tonight.
Troop and pack committee Training will be offered on December 7th, too.
To sign up or get more information, click here.
These certifications never expire.
BSA Tech problems: Training Manager
UPDATED 11/18/16 at 2:oo pm: At last check the system seems to be working reliably.
Just as we are pushing to have our units 100% trained, the BSA is having a series of technology problems on my.scouting.org’s Training Manager.
First, unit training reports are running painfully slowly. This results in checking on scouters’ training results. If you have completed training, please contact a Commissioner to report your completion. This will allow us to note your rechartering file that training is no longer an issue for that scouter. Then we have technology problems, we do not harass those who believe they are done until we have success pulling up complete reports again.
Second, many scouters are reporting that the online training system is not giving them credit for training modules completed. The proposed resolution is to report this immediately to a commissioner to enter into your unit’s rechartering file, too.
BSA is promising to do maintenance Friday night on the training module. Plan your weekend training efforts accordingly. Hopefully this will result in some resolution of these problems.
Thank you for your patience in advance.
Scoutmaster Specific, Intro to Outdoor Leadership Skills, Committee Challenge, Den Leader, Cubmaster, MBC Classes
Many troops need Troop Committee Challenge, Scoutmaster Specific Training and Introduction to Outdoor Leadership (also covers Outdoor Webelos Leadership Skills) training to complete rechartering.
Packs need Den Leader and Cubmaster Position Specific Training.
Crews need Venture Advisor Training.
In order to facilitate rechartering expeditiously yet honor the training requirement going into the holiday season, we are going to offer a novel solution. We are going to allow untrained scouters to remain on the roster, if and only if they do one of the following:
- Complete online training and confirm their training is accurately posted to their unit’s Training Manager report on my.scouting.org before the Charter is sent to the Registrar; or
- Present a receipt demonstrating prior registration and payment for the class(es) listed below or similarly situated course out-of-council.
If you can serve as faculty, you can sign up here.
Carts and Horses by ScoutmasterCG
Clarke Green is back after taking a well-deserved mourning period for his late father, sounds like a man who was worth knowing. Our condolences to Clarke.
Clarke comes back with an important podcast entitled, “Carts and Horses.” Have a listen on how to prioritize different parts of the scouting program.
The Other Troop Library
Bobwhite Blather has a great post on the library that troops should maintain for adult leaders. Take a look.
In Person Training Dates
If you need Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills (IOLS) or Scoutmaster Specific Training (SMS), those must be done in person.
Those trainings are available as noted below:
- IOLS: This Saturday at Camp Kreinstein.
- SMS: We will schedule a session in November once we have determined who needs it. We will announce it the next week. We will likely offer one session but will seek input to maximize attendance.
Cub leader training is also available in person at the Scouter Service Center on November 9, 2016.
Updating Training Reports
As you review your unit’s training reports on my.scouting.org, don’t forget your Unit Key 3 and commissioners can enter training in the Training Manager. The only exception is you can’t enter your own training.
If your adult leader has training but no certificate, please talk to the District Commissioner to make arrangements on how to proceed.
Cub Scout discipline
When my son began working as a 12-year old den chief, a Boy Scout helping a Cub Scout den, I did not know what to expect. When the meeting was over, I asked him what he thought about it. He said very slowly and deliberately with a pause between each word, “It was like herding cats.”
Many first time den leaders have the same feeling after their first den meeting.
One of the first lesson is that any good den leader can have is how to implement a system that encourages good behavior.
At the website scoutermom.com, she has a wonderful and simple article with some great positive reinforcement mechanisms. Take a look.
Some of these ideas apply equally well to older scouts, too.
Shooting Sports in Scouts
Since the Spring Camporee is tentatively scheduled to focus on rifle shooting and archery, we should probably start boning up on the rules of shooting sports in scouts.
First, some basic rules. Cubs can only do BB Guns and archery in very strictly controlled circumstances, such as a Council campsite. No rifles. Ever. Scouts can do much more, but must follow the scouting rules carefully.
So how do we know the scouting rules?
This is scouts. Of course there is a manual for that. You can download the whole thing from the BSA website along with many other new resources.
Second, why are we so picky about the rules? Remember strict adherence to the Guide for Safe Scouting in shooting sports is the only way to guarantee that the BSA insurance will cover you as a unit leader and your chartered organization when you do shooting sports. This is extremely important, especially adhering to the stricter rules for Cub Scouts.
Our first duty is to protect the boys. Our next duty is safety for other participants. Our final duty is to keep the chartered organizations happy and continuing to support scouting.
If you have questions, contact the District Commissioner or the District Executive.
Upcoming events
Commissioners’ meeting: Thursday, October 6, 2016 at 6:00 pm at Second Presbyterian
District Committee: Also Thursday at 7:00 pm, same location
Wood Badge Association dinner: tonight at Belzer
District Camporee: this weekend at the Blind School. Webelos encouraged to visit and see most of our troops in one location.
- Youth Protection Training live: Friday at 8:30 pm at Camporee.
- Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills (for Scoutmasters and Asst Scoutmasters and all other volunteers who camp) and Outdoor Webelos Leaders’ Skills (for Cubmasters and Webelos Den Leaders): opening remarks Friday at 9:30 pm and training 8:30 am to 8:00 pm. Attendance at Saturday campfire required.
Roundtable: Thursday, October 13, 2016 at 6:30 pm at Luke’s Lodge at St Luke’s UMC.
CAC North Star Unofficial Website 
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