In the spring, the 17th Black Bear Pathfinders got the chance to have a community garden plot to farm. They jumped at the chance! Getting outside together sounded fun. The Pathfinder patrols decided what to […]
Gearing up for a New Scouting Year
Starting a new scouting year is exciting and challenging. One thing that seems to be extra challenging is gathering contact information for any new families that show up at your kick-off meeting or first few […]
Leader Guide to working with Scouts with Special Needs and Neurodiversity
Part of our mission in OSG is to create “Scouting for All.” In this quest, we not only scout with people of all races, religions, backgrounds, genders, and orientations, but also with scouts who are […]
Schedules for Camp: How and Why
I adore having an hour-by-hour schedule for troop camping trips. Why? Because it takes much of the stress out of the experience for me. Having every adult in camp know what time we will be […]
How to Scout It- Community Gardening
Sometimes, an opportunity presents itself and we get a chance to do something that we didn’t plan on. As a scout leader, this is a great chance to let everyone, including us, try something new. […]
Menstruation Guide
As a fully inclusive program of all genders, scout leaders need to be knowledgeable about menstruation and provide appropriate support for scouts who experience menstruation. The typical age for a first period is 12, with […]
What’s in a Necker?
As BPSA scouts, we wear large, traditional neckers. But what are those and why do we wear them? Scout neckers go back to the start of scouting in England in 1908. They are “original equipment” […]
Defeating Sexism and Gender Inclusion
Okay, forgive my bluntness, but there are some key differences in leading girls vs. boys. In big, general terms that don’t apply to every scout, girls and boys tend to have some differences in where […]
What is the Patrol Method? How do I help my scouts do it right?
What is the patrol method? The patrol method is a small group learning technique where a group of four to eight scouts form a team to work together to meet their goals. As teams have […]
What does it take to be a BPSA leader?
I’ve asked this question a lot! What do you need to have to be a great scout leader? Here are ten of my favorite answers from a variety of wonderful BPSA leaders! A Sense of […]