Rick's News! is Moving

For several years now I have used the lpcylt.org web site for my Rick's News! and other items to support Scouting. Some of the items previously posted on the lpcylt.org web site will no longer be supported. My hope is the Los Padres Council will take over the posting and supporting of information on topics like Camp French, Advancement, Commissioner, Join Scouts, Local Resources, Programs, and OA support. Although I have sent much of this information to the council in the past, I will again offer the information to the council for their use.

I will continue to publish Rick's News! and host information of trainig related topics on the pushies.com web site. There will be a new section of the pushies.com web site called "Staff Development." It may take me a few months to get all the changes made.

The"Staff Development" portion of the web site is dedicated to every volunteer trainer in the Boy Scouts of America. This web site will provide resources to help Scouters conducting and attending "Staff Development" sessions. This site is not associated with the Boy Scouts of America. However, course material and training resources developed by the Boy Scouts of America are widely referenced in this web site. "Staff Development" hopes to improve the staff development experience for all trainers by sharing information related to the staff development process. The site is organized into four sections.

Staffing

This section is actually the heart of this web site and contains some of the most original material. The process of developing volunteer trainers to take on the responsibility of being a training course director is currently not clearly identified in Scouting. When working with a youth staff a new set of challenges arises based on the lack of experience most youth staff have as trainers. There are also challenges that revolve around the youth staff's lack of organization or time management skills and maturity level. There is no manual that explains all the possible challenges presented to a course director. This section tries to provide information gathered over decades of training experience in Scouting.

Fun

It is the fun of group training that makes training effective and memorable. So then the question could be, how do you make training fun? The answer is simpler than most understand, just "Be Prepared" and plan fun into your training. Make a conscious deliberate effort to include fun into the training experience for both participants and staff. The "Be Prepared" concept is very important because when the participants arrive unexpected fun could arrive with them and the staff needs to be ready to take advantage of any participant driven fun that may appear. At some point in the future I would like to include of video of skits, songs and run-ons to help others really understand the skit. That will take time to produce.

Resources

There are so many great resources that could be utilized to improve our training experience it would be impossible for any one person to know them all. However, knowing where to find a few good resources can be very helpful and that is what is being presented. The resources are classified into non-Scouting, Graphics, Video, and Audio. More will be included as they become known.

Courses

This section covers information on supplemental training, district & council training, and youth leadership training. These courses are presented as examples of the broad training experiences available in Scouting.

There is hope that trainers from across the country will benefit and contribute to the information available on this site. E-mail is an inexpensive and effective method of communication. If you have information you would like to share with other trainers in Scouting, send me an e-mail with your information. At some point if there is an interest I will include a blog page for trainers to share the good information they have on success in training our leaders. Together we can strengthen the staff development process with the good information we share. ~ Rick

New "Centennial" Boy Scout Uniform - Due out in August

New Uniforms are Coming!
Click here for a Preview!

At the Boy Scouts of America National Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA  May 20 - 23, the new “Centennial” Boy Scout uniform was introduced!

New features include high-performance fabrics, convertible styling, bellows pockets, hook-and-loop closures, and universal pant sizing, to name just a few.

There is a color shift to dark forest green in pants and accessories. These won’t be available for purchase until August of this year; however, local Scout distributors will be receiving new uniform brochures around the first of June.

Cotton Rich Poplin khaki shirts of 67% cotton and 33% polyester offer the comfort of cotton with the wash, dry and easy-care wear of polyester. Shirts have durable double-needle construction with comfortable generous back pleats and hem vents. 

Moisture Management A specially engineered,high-performance fabric in which the inner layer draws moisture away from the body to the outer layer where it quickly evaporates, keeping you cooler in hot weather and warmer in cold.

Cotton Rich Canvas forest green pants will weather the outdoors because they’re made to last in durable 67% cotton and 33% polyester. The high-count cotton canvas helps keep you cool and comfortable, the polyester keeps you looking sharp, and the stain-guard fabric finish repels dirt and helps  you stay dry in wet conditions.

Supplex® Nylon is an amazing cotton-soft, yet highly durable, moisture-control fabric that wicks away moisture in the hottest of conditions, dries quickly, and offers 50+sun protection. Available in khaki (shirts) and forest green (pants).

June 3rd - Boy Scouts of America Seeks Permanent Home for National Jamboree for 2013 and Beyond

For Immediate Release

Media Contact:

Chris Talley

For Boy Scouts of America

chris.talley@fleishman.com
210-352-6966


BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA SEEKS PERMANENT HOME FOR NATIONAL JAMBOREE FOR 2013 AND BEYOND

Selection Process on a Fast Track as America's Largest Youth-Serving Organization Readies for the Next 100 Years

DALLAS - June 3, 2008 - The Boy Scouts of America announced today it is expanding its search to find a permanent home for one of America's great traditions-the Boy Scouts National Scout Jamboree.

Securing a permanent home for the National Scout Jamboree, beginning with the 2013 event, is one of several initiatives launched in celebration of the BSA's 100th Anniversary.

The project is a significant economic development opportunity. The initial capital investment for the project is expected to be more than $100 million. Through the years, national jamborees-which typically take place every four years-have attracted more than 200,000 visitors per event.

The permanent site will offer high adventure experiences and leadership development training year-round, as well as potentially host future World Scout Jamborees.

" This is an amazing opportunity to create an anchor for our next 100 years," BSA Chief Scout Executive Bob Mazzuca said. "We are looking for ideas that could potentially include creating leadership and training centers, innovation labs, and leadership development programs. There are no limits to the creative ways this new home can be used-we are confident that a number of superior ideas will be generated through this process."

Initial proposals are due July 11, and site visits and other planning will commence immediately thereafter. The BSA plans to make a selection by the end of 2008. Among other requirements, potential sites must:

• Have spectacular natural beauty
• Have water for recreational activities
• Be at least 5,000 acres and available for donation, long-term lease (100+ years), or sale
• Be located within 25 miles of an interstate or a four-lane divided highway
• Be located within 150 miles of a commercial service airport with medium or large hub status
• Be located in an area with adequate medical services
• Be accessible year-round via standard modes of transportation

Bob Mazzuca Selected as Chief Scout Executive

The Chief Scout Executive Selection Committee of the Boy Scouts of America in a unanimous vote on May 22, 2007 selected Mr. Robert J. Mazzuca, Assistant Chief Scout Executive to become the new Chief Scout Executive, effective September 1, 2007. As Assistant Chief Scout Executive, Bob Mazzuca spoke on “When Tradition Meets Tomorrow, Scouting's Strategic Plan" at many local councils earlier this year.

• Mr. Mazzuca is an Eagle Scout.
• He received a bachelor of arts in history from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California.
• He began his Scouting career in 1971 in Modesto, California, where he served as a district executive and an Exploring executive. He became the Exploring director in Sacramento in 1975 and eventually served as a field director and the director of field service. In 1983 Mazzuca became the Scout executive in Stockton, California, before serving as an area director in the Western Region and Scout executive in Sacramento, California In 1992 he became the assistant regional director for the Southern Region and in 1995 the Scout executive in Pittsburgh. His most recent position is that of assistant Chief Scout Executive of the BSA.
• He and his wife have two sons.

Mr. Bob Mazzuca

For those of you who remember Vic Enchelmayer, who worked for the Los Padres Council as the Professional Scouter in the Live Oak District and is now working in San Diego, Vic and Mr. Mazzuca worked together in Sacramento. I know because during the same time I served as Scoutmaster of Troop 601 in Rancho Cordova, CA in the Golden Empire Council. —Rick

List of Chief Scout Executives
(2000–2007) Roy Williams
(1993–2000) Jere B. Ratcliffe
(1985–1993) Ben Love
(1979–1984) James Tarr
(1976–1979) Harvey L. Price
(1967–1976) Alden G Barber
(1960–1966) Joseph A. Brunton Jr
(1948–1959) Arthur Schuck
(1943–1948) Elbert K. Fretwell, became Chief Scout on retirement
(1911–1943) James E. West, became Chief Scout on retirement

2007 Award Recipients - Los Padres Council, BSA

Working with Scouts with disAbilities

Several weeks ago the Los Padres Council posted this notice about the Wood Service Award in their on-line newsletter:

"Council Seeking Information On Volunteers Helping Scouts With Disabilities
The Los Padres Council has the opportunity to nominate an adult volunteer for the 2007 Woods Service Award for “exceptional service and leadership in the field of Scouts with disabilities.” If you know a volunteer that you would like to nominate for this award, contact Scout Executive David Tate for an application."

Jane L. Grossman Photograph Courtesy of Jane Grossman

The Boy Scouts of America has a long honorable tradition of being sensitive to those with special needs. The Working With Scouts With Disabilities Web site puts it this way, "Since its founding in 1910, the Boy Scouts of America has had fully participating members with physical, mental, and emotional disAbilities. The first Chief Scout Executive, James E. West, had a disAbility. At age 7, his mother passed away and he was sent to an orphanage. Here it was discovered that he had an incurable disease in one leg that crippled him for life." You will notice the title of this little article says, "Working with Scouts with disAbilities." The lower case "d" and upper case "A" are intentional. They make a point. It is not the "dis" that should be focused on or emphasized in person as our "Abilities" should be far more important to everyone.

In 2005 the Woods Service Award was presented to Jane L. Grossman of Chesterfield, MO for her exceptional service and leadership in the field of Scouts with disabilities. This is a very prestigious award only given nationally to the very best Scouters demonstrating an exceptional commitment to helping others. Jane is such a Scouter with a deep devotion to Scouts with special needs and a pretty good sense of humor. I know this because in 2001 Jane Grossman was course director of the Working with Scouts with Special Needs training course I attended at the Philmont Training Center. You can read more about Jane in Scouting Magazine. [http://www.scoutingmagazine.org/issues/0510/d-news.html#sywd]

Seldom in Scouting have I felt so out of place in a training environment as I did in this course. I was an interloper in a classroom full of very special heroes, each and every one. The Scouters participating in this class and the instructors have experience and a devotion to helping Scouts with special needs that few will ever completely comprehend. What a gifted and special group of Scouters I learned from during the week. Through their eyes, I was able to change the focus on my own personal disAbilities and look with greater clarity at my own Abilities. As a former Scoutmaster of main stream "normal" Scouts the challenges of a Scout with special needs on occasion came into my life. (Eli still haunts my memory some 25 years later! I sometimes wonder if he made it to adulthood?) The challenges presented by Scouts with special needs that my fellow Scouters in this training course overcome day in and day out, year after year, left me in awe of their great work. I salute each and every one!

A very important thing I remember from this week is how vulnerable children with special needs can be to all forms of abuse, physical, emotional, and sexual. Because they are "different" those wanting to take advantage of children find them easy prey, as they know of the negative impact being "different" can have on a child's feelings of self worth. This increased vulnerability gives all leaders reason to direct greater vigilance towards our Scout's with special needs in order to better protect them these predators. Additionally we need to protect those with special needs from the small minded people who would use their disability against them in other ways.

Not everyone has the opportunity to take a week off and attend the Philmont Training Center, if you can it will be a great investment in the lives of all your Scouts. Here are some resources on this topic you may find helpful.

• Supporting Scouts With ADHD: Jane Grossman was especially well trained in the topic of ADD & ADHD. In Scouting it is common to face the challenges of these conditions. Recently then the BSA has posted an excellent Power-Point presentation on Supporting Scouts With ADHD which I highly recommend all Scouters watch. [http://www.scouting.org/boyscouts/supplemental/pdf/ADHDTips.ppt]
• A Guide to Working with Scouts with Disabilities, Item #33056C: The Scouts with special needs that have subtle needs difficult to identify always seemed to present me the greatest challenges as a Scoutmaster. A boy in a wheel chair is easy to identify, a boy with a learning disability often presents challenges that are much more subtle. Fortunately the BSA provides some excellent support on issues. A Guide to Working with Scouts with Disabilities, Item #33056C only costs $1.95 from BSA National Supply. Every adult leader in Scouting should read this little gem. It is just what the title says, a guide. As volunteers it is difficult to deal with special needs of children when parents and professionals who are much better trained and have a much better understanding of the child's special needs battle with the same challenges. This guide helped me as a Scoutmaster a great deal because it helped me understand some of the behaviors associated with different special needs issues. Once I started to understand the behavior it was easier to accept the behavior and in the process help the child. I believe we all want help the child. I recently found out Jane Grossman was involved in updating the newest edition of "Leaders Guide to Working with Boy Scouts with DisAbilities" #33056C.
• Working With Scouts With disAbilities: (http://wwswd.org/) This Web site is also a very good resource on this topic. Advancement can offer some very special challenges to both leaders and Scouts. This Web site has many resources to help with these challenges. My personal suggestion on this topic is keep things well documented as to the specific nature of the Scout's disAbility from the beginning. A written document with professional input about the special needs of your Scout is much easier when done from the start.
• Scouts With Disabilities and Special Needs — BSA Fact Sheet [http://www.scouting.org/factsheets/02-508.html]
• Advancement - Scouts with Disabilities information can also be found on the Advancement page of [http://lpcylt.org/] I could not find any information about Scouts with disAbilities or special needs on the Los Padres Council Web site.

Now back to the "Council Seeking Information On Volunteers Helping Scouts With Disabilities" please provide your input on this request for the Woods Service Award. Only one Woods Service Award is awarded per year nationally (so the recipient has to be a very active and a very special Scouter) and although any Scouter can fill out the nomination form, it must be submitted by their local council. If you do submit an application, provide as much detail about the Scouter's involvement with Scouts of special need at all levels of the Scouting program, not just in their unit.

Also be aware there is a Torch of Gold Certificate available that can be awarded at the local council level. The selection of recipients for the Torch of Gold Certificate is made at the council level and the certificate is presented by the council. Who knows, maybe the Los Padres Council will consider creating a committee that focuses on Helping Scouts With disAbilities?

You will find more information about the Woods Service Award and the Torch of Gold Certificate on this Web page: [http://lpcylt.org/awards/other_awards.htm]

Online Internet Advancement Reporting

Internet Advancement enables units to process ranks and awards for youth members in packs, troops, teams, crews, ships and posts. You will need to contact your district advancement chairpersons to determine when the Internet Advancement process will become available and acquire the necessary information to access the system.

Use Internet Advancement for the following:

• Add ranks, merit badges and awards.
  Update information on existing advancements (excepting the Eagle Scout rank).

To Use Internet Advancement:

• Select a unit advancement processor. This person must have Internet connectivity and Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 or later with JavaScript enabled. MAC users can not use Internet Advancement through the MAC OS.

Obtain a unit ID code from the Council or at Roundtable.

• Gather information for advancement, including merit badge applications and advancement records with dates.
• Click Internet Advancement below. Follow the online instructions to process advancements and print an advancement report.
• Have the appropriate people sign the printed unit advancement report and submit it to the Council. Save a copy for your files.
• Units should submit advancements before the end of each month, or more often if needed. In December, submit a report before the end of the month to update your unit and Council statistics.

Internet Advancement Web site: [https://scoutnet.scouting.org/iadv/UI/home/default.aspx]

For Further Assistance
Visit the Internet Advancement Help Page: [https://scoutnet.scouting.org/iadv/Help/EndUserHelp/End_User_Help.htm]

	BSA Online Learning Center E-Learning Course Management System

As we move further into the 21st century more training opportunities will be included in this new electronic training portal or online learning center. Currently only the orientation training called Fast Start and the new Youth Protection Training are available through this electronic portal. Plans are underway for basic training programs and many supplemental training programs to be included as they are developed.

When you arrive at the main page of the Online Learning Center there are two sets of training courses available. The E-Learning courses on the left require that you log in after creating a user account. By providing your BSA ID number from your registration card your training records in the ScoutNet database will be automatically updated. ScoutNet is a relational database that all Boy Scout councils are required to use for record keeping. Once you enter the E-Learning center you will find a row of navigation buttons. They look like the ones below.

If you  select the Cub Scout page of training courses you will find the orientation or Fast Start training for Cubmasters, Tiger Cub Den Leaders, Webelos Den Leaders, and Wolf/Bear Den Leaders. Your progress on each of these training courses is indicated by a color code of: yellow = not started; blue = in progress; and green =  completed. In addition to the Orientation training you will also note labels for Basic Training and Supplemental Training courses. These additional training courses are under development and will be posted when completed. Each of the different pages also allow you to review training's previously completed and to view you completion certificate. It is probably a good idea to save these completion certificates or print them out.

The Boy Scout and Venturing pages only have the basic Fast Start training. Under the General tab is where you will find the most recent version of the supplemental training called Youth Protection Training. The Youth Protection Training is required by at least one adult for each Local Tour Permit and for all people traveling under a National Tour Permit. Youth Protection Training is very highly encouraged for all adults in Scouting. There are also Youth Protection Training programs for youth members in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venturers. They are all produced with the specific target audience's age and social development reflected in the material presented. April is national Youth Protection Month and a great month to schedule these training for your youth members. Check with your district training team or professional Scouter for resources and guidance on presenting these important training events.

Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat training have recently been moved from the Multimedia Portion to the E-Learning portion which updates your training record automatically upon completion of these training.

The Multimedia portion of the Online Learning Center does not require you to log in. You will also find a very well done Venturing Crew Orientation training in this section and a link to information about the Soccer and Scouting Basic Training. Again I recommend you save or print out your completion certificates.

The quality training provided by the Boy Scouts of America is a critical element in our ability to provide our Scouts the quality program and appropriate adventure they seek. There are three methods of training traditionally available to leaders in Scouting. Group training is the most common and the most effective method. There are occasions however, when Scouting leaders cannot participate in group training and it is necessary to use another approach. When the optional methods of Personal Coaching and Self Study are needed check with your district training team for assistance.

Visit the BSA Online Learning Center at: [http://olc.scouting.org/]

For Which it Stands

For Which it Stands is a DVD produced by the American Legion about the history of the flag of the United States, the significance and meaning of our flag, and respecting and caring for our flag. In addition to a 20-minute linear video, the DVD features instructional enhancements designed to give students a rich and rewarding learning experience:

• "George Learns the Pledge"-An animated feature explaining the meaning behind the Pledge of Allegiance.
• "Rally Round the Flag"-Students ask a flag expert about specific ways to care for and respect the flag and are given the opportunity to play the "Flag Quiz" game.
• "Flag Timeline"-activity allows students to learn more about the history of our flag and the rationale behind its design.

Also included is a 54 page "Teachers Guide". Cost $19.95 BSA National Supply Item: #32536

New Applications Released by BSA

New Youth Application: English and Spanish

New Adult Application: English and Spanish

The new youth application and adult application will be used for registration in all program areas. The old applications for Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Varsity, and Venturing will be used until current supplies are gone I expect. The new applications are expected to streamline operations and allow for data to be scanned into the computer.

The Scouting Forms page is a good place to find the most recent version of common forms used in the Scouting program.

[http://www.scouting.org/forms/]

New Citizenship in the World Merit Badge Requirements

"We don't live in our own world. We share it with more than 6 billion people. These people share the same sky, but they see it from different positions: coral islands, desert dunes, terraced mountains, rain forests, grasslands, and landlocked megacities. And yet most of these people want the same things we want: good health, personal security, and the freedom to worship as we please, speak what we think, choose our lifestyles, and elect our leaders"

This is the opening paragraph in the new Citizenship in the World merit badge pamphlet (2005 printing but just now available) which is a vast improvement on what was already a great merit badge. The requirements, presentation, information, data charts, pictures and drawings have been improved and updated. Easier to read and enjoy, it takes about two hours to read from cover to cover.

If you haven't already earned this Eagle Scout required merit badge, now is the time to obtain a copy of the new pamphlet, read it, and earn this merit badge! Don't forget to check out the Resources Chapter. It lists books, organizations and Web sites that could be helpful in school.

I wish I'd had this merit badge pamphlet in college (I was an International Relations major).

Mark A. Sands
Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop 64 Lompoc, California

Arrow Corps 5

The Order of the Arrow has had a long-standing interest in coordinating a national service project, utilizing the infrastructure and leadership established over many years of success at the Boy Scouts of America's high adventure bases.

[http://event.oa-bsa.org/]

Zoo Adventures — "Den Meeting in a Box"

This kit follows the monthly theme in the Cub Scout Program Helps recommends beginning with September "Zoo Adventures". Each kit contains a set of ten books, patches and craft materials in a generic 12.5" x 12.5" x 4" box to provide a den leader with the materials needed to produce four weeks of meetings. The following items are included:

10 - Zoo Activity Books
10 - Zoo Adventures emblems
20 - Cub Scout Note Cards
10 - Bear Cub Foam Visor craft kits
1 - Local Tour Permit form

Zoo Adventures — "Den Meeting in a Box"
"Den Meeting in a Box" Tiger Item # 14394, Price $37.50	"Den Meeting in a Box" Wolf Item #14410 , Price $37.50	"Den Meeting in a Box" Bear Item # 14411, Price $37.50	Zoo Adventures Activity Booklet Item # 34758, Price $ 1.95

Eagle Scout Cards

Eagle Scout Congratulations Card
This new Eagle Scout congratulations card features Csatari's "Court of Honor" painting. The card measures 5" x 7" after folding and comes with a matching envelope. Each card is sealed in a protective cellophane sleeve.

Item # 32538 price: $2.95

Eagle Scout Invitation Cards, 50 pk.
This package of new Eagle Scout invitation shells is 10" x 7" flat and scored for folding producing a 5" x 7" finished invitation plus 50 A7 envelopes. The image features Csatari's "Court of Honor" painting.

Item # 32555 price: $19.95