There is a constant question we ask as scout leaders, “Do I repeat what worked last year, or do we try something new?” I am going to suggest something a little easier, which is rotating through a set of scouting events in different years. Making Models For younger guides, learning to make a model car, boat or house is a...
This year, my OSG group will move several scouts up from Pathfinders to Rovers. We’ve been looking for a ceremony for this, as there is a ceremony for the other age levels. When looking around, I spoke to Scoutmaster Amy Jo of the 971st Great Blue Herons, and she shared this lovely ceremony with me that she has used with her...
One of my favorite meetings of the year, is our December meeting. This is my favorite for two reasons. One, is that we usually do our fall community service project then. The other, is that we use it as an excuse to make crafts. Crafting I love crafting with our guides, and in December you can make a ton of...
What do you do if the camping trip you booked a few months ago, will now be cold and rainy? OSG leaders were asked this question, and they had a whole lot of suggestions! Below, are tips from our leaders from all across the country! Bring 3 or 4 extra tarps. I find that they are better than most footprints...
If you have been around OSG for a while, you are probably aware that our new Pathfinder Handbook has been a long time coming! The committee to rewrite that handbook formed in 2019 and spent countless hours writing, rewriting, debating and designing a new handbook that went far beyond the previous handbook. If you have not yet gotten a copy,...
Are you looking for ideas of story books to read to your otters during meetings? This list, complied by Haley Skaer, has some great ones! She has even added a short note after each title to tell you a little more about that book. Many of these go with a certain holiday or time of year. It may be helpful...
Volunteer burn out is a real problem in every organization. People give and give and give, until they have nothing left to give. Avoiding this, means setting boundaries and delegating tasks. It means saying “no” sometimes, even if you don’t want to. Today, we are going to get into how to avoid burn out for yourself and your leaders in...
First class Ceremony Baden Powel said “When a [child] has become a First-class Scout — but not before then – [they have] got a grounding in the qualities, mental, moral, and physical, that go to make a good useful [adult].” The original First-Class Requirements Swim 50 yards, send and receive a message in Semaphore or Morse go on a fourteen-mile...
The role of Group Scoutmaster is not a small job. Often a GSM is wearing many many hats so that the members of their group can not only participate with Outdoor Service Guides, but so that they can have a quality program. In a small group, the list below may be done by just one or 2 people. Which can...
PLEASE NOTE: Since the publication of this post, the Pathfinder Handbook has been published. You can learn more about it here in the announcement on the OSG website. In Outdoor Service Guides, one of the biggest achievements a pathfinder can attain is earning First Class. Attaining First Class is comprised of two pieces. One is that pathfinders complete a set of...
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