Using clinical research in recruiting
As the Worldwide Movement of Scouting reaches 110 years old, we need to find new ways to explain ourselves.
We all know that Robert Baden-Powell designed scouting to deal with the transition from childhood in a rural setting to an urban setting. He was not alone. At the same time many different organizations tried to duplicate the same effort. Professor Montessori, Dan Beard, Ernest Thompson Seton and many others who are less renowned in history were trying to do similar things and often corresponded with each other. Each had their own spin on what they thought needed to happen to be successful. each of the persons name above put a heavy emphasis on exposure to nature.
They did not know the mechanical reasons why returning to nature was so important for kids. They just knew from anecdotal experience and observation that it was true.
In the last 20 years, there has been an increase in research about the impact of the environment on our psychological well-being. Many times the focus is on better designing a city to reduce the stress on its inhabitants. Other times it is trying to figure out mechanically why being in nature while doing exercise is so good for psychological health. Most of the studies that I have seen of been focused on adults.
Even from this research, we can reach some conclusions about the effects of Scouting on our youth. Read the rest of this entry »
Scouting legacy
Scoutmastercg.com has a wonderful column about your Scouting Legacy. It is worth a quick read.
It is useful to keep your spirits up. Another spin is that it is a reason we need to recognize adults now. The boys often are slow to do it themselves. It may take years.
It may never occur and the adults must do it in self-reflection.
Still we are leaving a legacy.
Whose idea was the neckerchief?
We all know that Baden-Powell gave us the neckerchief. It is such an emblematically British accoutrement, right?
Or is it?
Baden-Powell had taken to wearing a neckerchief before the famous Siege of Maefking, where the journalist Win
ston Churchill helped make the general famous.
In fact, Baden-Powell made the neckerchief and his famous campaign hat part of the South African Constabulary (law enforcement department) when he was re-assigned to South Africa later. The newly formed Canadian Mounted Police visited Baden-Powell in South Africa and adopted the campaign hat as part of their new uniform.
But where did BP come up with the neckerchief and campaign hat?
BP had become friends years earlier with a chap he had met while BP was serving in southern Africa. This chap was named Fred. BP was taken with Fred because Fred was an extraordinary army scout. Fred was able to bring back robust and detailed reports on the movement of the enemy, the lay of the land, and other useful intelligence.
While BP had already written a book on military scouting, BP still learned many skills about scouting from Fred. In fact, as a result of many of these lessons, BP went back and revised his previous army manual to issue the new Aids to Scouting. This book is what later attracted so many young boys to BP when BP returned to England from Maefking.
BP had been impressed with Fred’s technique, but he was also impressed with Fred’s ubiquitous campaign hat and neckerchief. Fred would explain that the hat and neckerchief were very useful for a scout. The neckerchief kept the sun off the back of his neck and allowed him to stay cool. The hat kept the sun out of his eyes and off of his head.
So who was this Fred to whom we owe the iconic hat and neckerchief?
More on this mystery next week . . . .
International Counselors at Camps
Every year the Crossroads of America Council’s International Committee sponsors two counselors from overseas to staff at Camp Ransburg and Camp Krietenstein.
This year we have a young lady from England at Camp Ransburg. She is serving as a Ridge Commissioner. She is enjoying herself thoroughly.
We also have a young man from Taiwan at Camp Krietenstein. He is working in the ecology area, if memory serves. He is amazed by the amount of land that we have dedicated to a boy scout camp at Camp K West.
Please make sure to get to know them and make them feel welcome.
Firecrafter Report: Week 4
Unfortunately, we have no troops at Ransburg this week. That means that I did not get the report from there this week.
I did visit Camp Krietenstein. They have 7 candidates this week. Two are campers the rest are staff. One of the staffers was their international counselor from Taiwan. He was working hard to start a fire with the American methods.
Firecrafter report: week 3
Here’s a midweek report for Ransburg. (If you have any information from camp Kricktenstein, please let me know.)
Summer Camp Advice for Adults
As we are in the midst of summer camp season, it is always good to have a refresher on how to make summer camp great.
Bob White Blather rounds up several articles on summer camp. Follow the links and learn.
June 2016 Eagle Report
Congratulations to the following scouts who passed their Eagle Boards of Review on June 8, 2016! (This will be their date in rank, once ratified by the National Council’s Advancement Team.)
CAC North Star Unofficial Website 
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