Monthly Archive: August 2020

2020 Scouting Options

Finding our way into scouting this fall is challenging. The pandemic means that many groups aren’t able to return to “normal” with meetings and activities.  What are some reasonable ideas?  The 17th Black Bears has decided to do a 3 pronged approach. Those 3 prongs are on-line meetings, home projects and monthly in person, socially distant activities.  Each one is...

Leaf Rubbing: Otter Ideas

Recently, I saw a neat way to do leaf rubbings with kids to make art, and though it would be great for our otters! First, you gather leaves of various shapes. If possible, you can ask scouts to learn what kind of tree or bush their leaves come from. However, that isn’t technically necessary. I find that casually mentioning, “Oh,...

Visual Cues for Special Needs Scouting

When a child has a learning challenge, scouts can become a safe haven for them. The struggles of school can take a back seat while a child learns to light camp fires and takes long hikes. As scout leaders, it is important that we not let the challenges of school become challenges to scouting, if at all possible.  What to...

How to recruit and keep Volunteers and BPSA Leaders

An essential part of having a great scout program, is having adults who help make it happen. In today’s busy world, it isn’t always easy to convince parents to help, and it can be hard to figure out how to distribute the work of running a BPSA group. At your interest meeting, look for the parents who’s eyes light up...

Annual Kick-Off Meeting

Every year, we have an interest meeting for our group. This is when we invite new families to come learn what our BPSA group is all about, and we start back up for our returning scouts. This first meeting of the year, is when we explain, once again, what BPSA is all about. We talk about what we want out...

Scout led, May Make You Uncomfortable. That’s Okay!

After 7 years of having pathfinders in our group, I’ve realized that there are some issues that old school scout leaders may have with doing a “scouts led” program.  I want to tell you that it’s okay for your group to be actually scouts led.  Here’s a list of things I want to put your mind at ease about. 1....