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...
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...
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...
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...
Being a leader in Outdoor Service Guides is one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. However, it isn’t always easy. Today, I’m offering tips from long time leaders about how to have a successful group and be an amazing leader. This is advice for you, no matter which age level you work with. Rule #1: Make it Fun...
GSM Tips / Otters / Pathfinders / Timberwolves
by Laura Sowdon · Published February 14, 2023 · Last modified February 8, 2023
As scout leaders, we teach a lot of knots. Using better ropes, can make teaching them a lot easier! Different groups have different ropes that they prefer for this reason. When teaching knots, scouts often need to remember which end of the rope they are working with. One easy way to do this, is by adding a stripe of colored...
If you are new to scouting, you may have never heard of a patrol box. What is it? A patrol box is generally, a box full of the things you need for cooking and cleaning at camp, plus some necessary items. While there are some very fancy boxes out there, a sturdy plastic tub will work for most groups. What...
Are you looking for ideas for how your OSG group can fund raise for equipment or a special activity? Your group can choose to just raise dues or ask parents to donate what you need. However, sometimes you need more funds than parents can cover. What’s a scout leader to do? Because Outdoor Service Guides doesn’t have any national sales,...
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