When someone starts with “I’ll keep this brief…” we all know what happens next. How few words can you use to get your message across? That’s the right amount. The length of what it said does not relate to the importance of what is being said. Most of the time Scouts stop listening before we are…continue reading

Forty Phrases every Scoutmaster should know: “Ask your patrol leader.” “Well, ask him again.” “Well then, ask your senior patrol leader.” “I don’t know.” “Where’s your buddy?” “Who is your buddy?” “Do you do that at home?” “We don’t do that here.” “Stop!” “Go!” “What happens next?” “Why?” “Does that belong to you?” “Checking my…continue reading

A dog in the manger guards  the manger (where hay is put for animals to eat) not because he wanted to eat the hay but to prevent the other animals from doing so. In the context of Scouting I think of a few instances that illustrate the point; Volunteers who get so stuck in one…continue reading

A reader recently inquired to the origins of the left handshake as a greeting for Scouts. After researching the question the short answer is that, while no one can really determine who first started the tradition, the left handshake is a tradition older than Scouting. Baden-Powell (the founder of Scouting) may have adopted the left handshake from author, illustrator and co-founder…continue reading

Rule No. 54 from Andy at Ask Andy : The more logical and simple the Scouting procedure or policy, the more it will be ignored. This isn’t simply a curmudgeonly observation – it’s true. True things ought to inspire us to think for a minute or two (at least). I see a similarity to a quote…continue reading

From Rules of Thumb : The most successful teaching lessons last 22 minutes, the exact length of the average TV sit-com. – Steven M. Keisman, New York City high school resource coordinator

“Whenever you are trying to be smart, you won’t be.” Spotted on Steve Dobson’s Fisherman’s Blog

What weighs an ounce in the morning, weighs a pound at night. An old soldier’s proverb, also mentioned in Earnest Thompson Seton’s “The Birch Bark Roll”

Scout leaders hear lots of interesting things over the course of a normal day (if there is such a thing) at Scout camp. Many times even the most contradictory versions of many of these phrases are heard minutes apart. Have you seen my (handbook, merit badge book, wallet, towel, water bottle)? You do know where…continue reading

“Take care of all the small things, and the big things never show up.” From Sippican Cottage

An adventure is merely a bit of bad planning, brought to light by the test of a trial. Roald Amundsen polar explorer Camping when the weather is clear and sunny = great camping. Camping when the weather is ‘interesting’ = adventure. Associated posts at Scoutmaster Blog:Ten Tips for Camping in the Rain

Pettifogger: n, a disputant who quibbles; someone who raises annoying petty objections. pettifogging, pettifoggery

Voluntold /vol-en-told/ adverb;Taking on a responsibility normally assumed voluntarily under some from of compulsion (typically a withering look from one's comrades). "Edward was voluntold to be the patrol cook."