Podcasts on ScoutmasterCG Archive

Scoutmaster Podcast 372

Mon, 30 Apr 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with extensive listener responses to last week’s discussion about girls joining the BSA, covering the policy requiring separate troops and listeners’ frustrations with it. He then pivots to Eagle Scout advancement, reading advice from the National Advancement Team about keeping Eagle paperwork simple. The main segment addresses how Scoutmasters should handle snotty, last-minute

Scoutmaster Podcast 371

Mon, 20 Feb 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green reads listener mail praising the podcast and quarterly troop planning, then answers two listener emails in depth: one from a Webelos den leader asking how to introduce the patrol method, and one from an anonymous experienced leader frustrated by older scout disengagement and resistant younger volunteers. Clarke closes with a candid editorial on BSA’s separate-unit approach to integrat

Scoutmaster Podcast 370

Mon, 13 Feb 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with a humorous story about Beavis and Butthead imitators before diving into an extended discussion on working with older Scouts. He explores what older Scouts want from the program, what Scouters want from them, and how to navigate the friction between those expectations. Clarke offers practical guidance on being an authority figure without being a friend, listening without jud

Scoutmaster Podcast 369

Mon, 06 Feb 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers listener emails on two recurring challenges: annual planning conferences and how to make them work without overwhelming scouts with open-ended choices, and patrol structure issues including older scouts who gravitate toward their own peer group. He argues for observing actual scout behavior and applying the patrol method’s spirit over rigid system adherence. The episode also i

Scoutmaster Podcast 368

Mon, 30 Jan 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green wraps up his scouting foundations series with a detailed look at constructive discipline — emphasizing that discipline should build character, not just compel compliance. He discusses responding to misbehavior as an adult and with kindness, using proportionate consequences rather than corrective punishments, and always turning to the Scout Oath and Law as the first reference point. Th

Scoutmaster Podcast 367

Mon, 23 Jan 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green presents the penultimate installment of his Foundation Series, focusing on engaging scouts in leadership. He challenges common misconceptions about youth leadership, arguing that the true aim of scouting is developing character through the patrol method — not training leaders — and that every scout is already practicing leadership in one of four ways. Clarke outlines practical concept

Scoutmaster Podcast 366

Mon, 16 Jan 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green responds to listener feedback about the patrol method and scouts working in large groups rather than separate patrols, sharing practical tips for encouraging patrol-based leadership. The main teaching segment explores the proper place of advancement in Scouting, drawing extensively from Baden-Powell’s ‘Aids to Scoutmastership’ to argue that badges are indicators of effort and progress

Scoutmaster Podcast 365

Mon, 09 Jan 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green presents episode 365 as part of his foundation series, focusing on patrols as the fundamental unit of Scouting. He traces the origins of the patrol back to Baden Powell and John Thurman’s account of boys forming their own patrols before any organization existed, and distinguishes between the ‘patrol system’ (an administrative tool) and the ‘patrol method’ (the process of discovery and

Scoutmaster Podcast 364

Mon, 02 Jan 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green reads and responds to feedback from Scoutmaster Tom Finnan about today’s youth, contextualizing concerns about screen time, organized play, and sports within the long history of adult worry about the younger generation. The episode then delivers the fourth installment of the Fundamentals Series, exploring scouting as a game with a definite field of play — the outdoors — and arguing th

Scoutmaster Podcast 363

Mon, 26 Dec 2016 00:00:00 +0000

In episode 363, Clarke Green continues his series on the foundational elements of scouting, focusing this installment on scouts as the players of the game. He shares listener letters from new Scoutmasters Heath Richardson and Tim Standard, then delivers a teaching segment on why scouts volunteer, what motivates them, and why their development toward character is the only thing that truly matters.

Scoutmaster Podcast 362

Mon, 19 Dec 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green continues his foundational series by exploring the role of Scouters as coaches in the game of Scouting. He reads an email from Frank Maynard expanding on the ‘scouting as a game’ analogy, then delivers a detailed teaching on the five key tools Scouters use: perspective, observation, dialogue, discovery, and responsive application. The episode concludes with a discussion of attitude as

Scoutmaster Podcast 361

Mon, 12 Dec 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green launches a multi-episode foundational series explaining what scouting is at its core, using the analogy that scouting is a game. He covers the history of scouting’s origins with Baden-Powell and Seton, the key method (small group/patrol method), the goal of character development based on Scout ideals, and how rules, strategies, location, skills, and measurement all fit together. Clark

Scoutmaster Podcast 360

Mon, 05 Dec 2016 00:00:00 +0000

In this short holiday episode, Clarke Green shares a listener-submitted mosquito joke and offers warm holiday greetings to his listeners. He presents a Scouting-themed parody of ‘A Visit from St. Nicholas,’ featuring raccoons and a bear raiding a Scout campsite. Clarke announces a brief holiday hiatus and teases the upcoming Foundations of Scouting series for the new year.

Scoutmaster Podcast 359

Mon, 28 Nov 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green presents a thought on troop discipline by contrasting two troops: one that uses a formal rulebook with defined penalties, and one that measures conduct against the Scout Oath and Law on a case-by-case basis. He argues that internalizing the ideals of the Scout Oath and Law is harder but sets higher and more effective standards than a simple list of rules. The episode also previews an

Scoutmaster Podcast 358

Mon, 21 Nov 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers two listener email questions about parent involvement in scout advancement. The first concerns a new scout whose parents are heavily involved in merit badge pursuits, and the second addresses an ambitious scout with demanding parents pushing hard toward Eagle. Clarke emphasizes that advancement is the scout and supportive adults working together against the requirements — not

Scoutmaster Podcast 357

Mon, 14 Nov 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green interviews Canadian outdoor author Kevin Callan about his new book on winter camping. They discuss the appeal of cold-weather camping, essential gear like wool layers, hot tents with wood stoves, sleeping bag systems, and the joy of a boil-up with foraged tea. Kevin shares stories from his wilderness experiences and encourages Scouts and leaders to embrace winter as a prime season for

Scoutmaster Podcast 356

Mon, 07 Nov 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers three listener emails in depth: advising an inexperienced assistant Scoutmaster on whether to take over a failing troop, explaining proper procedure when a Scoutmaster wrongly withholds an Eagle Scout conference, and discussing counselor judgment calls on prior or outside merit badge work. The episode is entirely email Q&A with no other recurring segments.

Scoutmaster Podcast 355

Mon, 31 Oct 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green shares a listener email describing a serious misbehavior incident involving inappropriate cell phone use during a Webelos visit, and uses it to explore how Scoutmasters should respond proportionately to misbehavior. He argues that misbehavior is inevitable and that the Scout Oath and Law—not increased supervision—is the proper framework for addressing it. Clarke emphasizes constructiv

Scoutmaster Podcast 354

Mon, 24 Oct 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green devotes this non-standard episode entirely to his post about girls joining the BSA, explaining how his thinking evolved after visiting Kandersteg International Scout Center where co-ed scouting is the norm. He addresses the range of responses he received — organizational concerns and gender-based objections — and returns repeatedly to one central question: should gender define scoutin

Scoutmaster Podcast 353

Mon, 17 Oct 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green discusses two core ideas for better Scouting: first, that Scouting is non-academic experiential learning where Scouts discover skills through doing rather than instruction; second, that effective Scouter leadership is grounded in the Scout Oath and Law as aspirational ideals that bring people together rather than divide them. He reflects on how the language of the Scout Oath — ‘on my

Scoutmaster Podcast 352

Mon, 10 Oct 2016 00:00:00 +0000

After a summer break, Clarke Green devotes episode 352 entirely to catching up on recent events. He shares reflections on a trip to Kandersteg International Scout Centre, weighs in on the BSA’s ‘serving the whole family’ initiative and co-ed scouting, and offers guidance on how Scoutmasters should handle political divisiveness with youth using the Scout Oath and Law. He also updates listeners on t

Scoutmaster Podcast 351

Mon, 03 Oct 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers a listener email about a scout who participates only to fulfill requirements and left camp early without permission. Clarke advises scoutmasters to focus on praising desired behavior, avoid making rules to force compliance, and instead engage scouts in self-evaluation discussions about scout spirit and the Scout Oath and Law. The episode also includes welcome remarks, listener

Scoutmaster Podcast 350

Mon, 26 Sep 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green celebrates episode 350 by reading listener mail and answering questions from Scoutmasters. Topics include involving new Scout parents in boards of review, handling last-minute transportation cancellations at troop events, and understanding how chartered organizations own and oversee unit finances. Clarke also shares a brief update on Wade and Bucky’s Appalachian Trail through-hike.

Scoutmaster Podcast 349

Mon, 19 Sep 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers listener emails covering a scout who refuses to go camping, whether scoutmasters should use leadership contracts with scouts, and who qualifies to sit on a board of review. He also reads mail from listeners about name pronunciation, the Ten Essentials PDF, and reflections on last week’s episode about who leads the leaders.

Scoutmaster Podcast 348

Mon, 12 Sep 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers three anonymous listener emails covering who decides NYLT attendance, how an assistant Scoutmaster might approach changing an adult-led troop to the patrol method, and why sending lengthy policy emails to troop families usually backfires. He closes with reflections on the enduring challenge of working with Scout parents and the importance of a strong Scoutmaster-committee chai

Scoutmaster Podcast 347

Mon, 05 Sep 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green reads listener mail including a pronunciation correction and feedback on the Appalachian Trail podcasts. He then answers four listener email questions, covering how to handle long-time troop associates who struggle with re-registration, advice to stop over-teaching and just go camping, tips for reviewing an Eagle project proposal, and how to structure an annual program planning calend

Scoutmaster Podcast 346

Mon, 29 Aug 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listeners back after an unannounced spring break and reads mail about Baden-Powell’s early scouts, high adventure fundraising, and a William Hillcourt tribute book from Denmark. The main feature is a third check-in interview with former Eagle Scouts Wade Bastion and Bucky Kellogg, now joined by fellow thru-hiker Bear, as they report on their progress at mile 727 of the Appala

Scoutmaster Podcast 345

Mon, 22 Aug 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers listener emails about increasing attendance at roundtable meetings and courts of honor. He argues that the key to better participation is consistently excellent, brief content that rewards the effort of showing up — not more advertising or reminders. Clarke also shares responses to his article on junior assistant scoutmasters and invites listeners to weigh in on how troops int

Scoutmaster Podcast 344

Mon, 15 Aug 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers listener emails focused on the Patrol Method and youth leadership: how to handle patrols with low attendance on camping trips, how to move older Scouts toward genuine youth leadership, and how a quarterly program plan with advance permission slips has improved patrol critical mass and senior patrol leader attendance. He also touches on the Junior Assistant Scoutmaster position

Scoutmaster Podcast 343

Mon, 08 Aug 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers listener mail covering troop recruiting challenges, district/council relationships, and Eagle Scout rank timing. He then addresses three advancement-related email questions: whether a Life Scout who was inactive for three years can still earn Eagle, how to interpret interdependent First Class requirements, and how a Scoutmaster conference should actually be conducted per the G

Scoutmaster Podcast 342

Mon, 01 Aug 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers three listener emails in episode 342: one on the perceived benefits of district and council involvement, one on STEM in scouting programs, and one from a Scoutmaster in Massachusetts worried about declining enrollment. For the recruiting challenge, Clarke advises stepping back from Webelos-only recruiting and instead having Scouts and parents each identify five potential recru

Scoutmaster Podcast 341

Mon, 25 Jul 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listeners and reads mail from Dennis Runyon (regarding Wade and Bucky on the Appalachian Trail) and Courtney Clapper, plus updates on the website redesign and live chat sessions. The main teaching segment covers the distinction between asking and telling as it relates to developing youth leadership — Clarke argues that experiential learning guided by open-ended questions is f

Scoutmaster Podcast 340

Mon, 18 Jul 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listeners back and shares a letter from Bruce Kolkbeck, an assistant Scoutmaster who through-hiked the AT, reflecting on scouting’s value compared to expensive outdoor programs. Clarke then plays a recorded conversation with two of his Eagle Scouts, Bucky Kellogg and Wade Bastion, who are currently through-hiking the Appalachian Trail, discussing miles covered, knee injuries,

Scoutmaster Podcast 339

Mon, 11 Jul 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listeners back after a brief holiday break, shares mail from Bill Chapman and Australian friends Bess and Carl, and announces a major website redesign. The bulk of the episode answers two listener email questions about the service component of Scouting: how to manage increasing community service requests to a troop with a strong reputation, and what qualifies as a service pro

Scoutmaster Podcast 338

Mon, 04 Jul 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green interviews two of his former Eagle Scouts, Wade Bastion and Bucky Kellogg, who are thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail northbound from Georgia to Maine. They recall their first chaotic backpacking trips as 11- and 12-year-olds in the troop, discuss how earning Eagle Scout built their leadership and communication skills, and share stories from their first week on the trail. The episode i

Scoutmaster Podcast 337

Mon, 27 Jun 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail touching on patriotism, the Scout Oath and Pledge, and one-sentence job descriptions for scouters. The main segment answers a question from troop treasurer Brad Watts about whether scouts should handle dues and paperwork, with Clarke sharing his troop’s experience moving to adult-managed finances and a quarterly sign-up and planning system. Clarke offers a nua

Scoutmaster Podcast 336

Mon, 20 Jun 2016 00:00:00 +0000

This episode is not currently available in our archive. If you have a recording, please get in touch.

Scoutmaster Podcast 335

Mon, 13 Jun 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers listener emails on getting scouts and parents to bring appropriate clothing on outings, responding to families leaving over BSA policy changes, helping a struggling Venturing crew, and how to run effective quarterly parent nights with courts of honor. Clarke emphasizes that parental non-compliance is ’the price of doing business’ and encourages scoutmasters to adjust their exp

Scoutmaster Podcast 334

Mon, 06 Jun 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green returns from a holiday break to read listener reviews and mail, then dedicates the episode to answering email questions. Topics include helping parents of new Scouts understand the program’s value despite unfamiliar challenges, and addressing a case where a Scoutmaster was improperly adding extra requirements before signing an Eagle Scout application. Clarke advises the affected Scout

Scoutmaster Podcast 333

Mon, 30 May 2016 00:00:00 +0000

In episode 333, Clarke Green answers two listener emails: one from Kevin Callahan about organizing quarterly parent meetings alongside courts of honor, and one from ‘Obligated Scoutmaster,’ a new female Scoutmaster feeling overwhelmed and uncertain. Clarke offers practical guidance on brief, informal parent meetings, youth-led planning, and encourages the new Scoutmaster to trust the program. Clar

Scoutmaster Podcast 332

Mon, 23 May 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers listener mail including comments on badges vs. program and letting Scouts run their own elections. He then addresses two email questions: how to encourage Scouts to actually fulfill positions of responsibility (and whether it’s appropriate to withhold a Scoutmaster conference signature when they haven’t), and whether an annual permission slip is practical for a Venturing crew.

Scoutmaster Podcast 331

Mon, 16 May 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke responds to a listener whose son objected to the CyberChip requirement for Star rank, using it as a springboard to explore the difference between rules and ideals, and between conduct and character. He argues that scouting’s true purpose is to develop an internal standard of character rooted in the Scout Oath and Law, not to compel compliance through external rules and contracts. A listener

Scoutmaster Podcast 330

Mon, 09 May 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener replies to last week’s episode on merit badges, with scouts and scouters weighing in on how merit badges have become overly school-like and detract from real scouting. The bulk of the episode answers four listener email questions covering how to handle a senior patrol leader’s misconduct outside scouting, whether fundraisers count as service hours, the definition o

Scoutmaster Podcast 329

Mon, 02 May 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers two listener emails: one about a troop with a well-meaning but overloaded Scoutmaster and a struggling program, and one about merit badge counseling in group settings. The second email launches Clarke into an extended soapbox discussion critiquing the ‘merit badge industrial complex,’ drawing on Baden Powell’s own writings to contrast the original intent of proficiency badges

Scoutmaster Podcast 328

Mon, 25 Apr 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers listener mail including a note from Darryl, Verl Dasher, and Kevin Lensch, then dives into two detailed email responses. The first addresses a Scoutmaster pushing the patrol system and why scouts grasp youth-led scouting naturally. The second covers a scout whose position of responsibility was reassigned for advancement purposes, leading Clarke to explain that responsibility d

Scoutmaster Podcast 327

Mon, 18 Apr 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green returns after an extended absence following his father’s passing, thanks listeners for their condolences, and reads listener mail. The bulk of the episode is devoted to answering an anonymous email about a troop imposing probation on a Scout for a school incident, repeatedly denying a Star Scout’s service project, and using age as a reason to block Eagle advancement. Clarke addresses

Scoutmaster Podcast 326

Mon, 11 Apr 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green reads a Facebook comment from John Pollock about merit badge program reform, then welcomes listeners and mentions live chats. The bulk of the episode is devoted to a lengthy listener email from a concerned Scout mom asking for advice her son can use as newly elected senior patrol leader to bring patrol method principles to his troop. Clarke offers detailed guidance on respect, constru

Scoutmaster Podcast 325

Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green returns from summer break and dives straight into the mailbag, sharing notes from listeners about summer camp successes and High Adventure trips. He then answers three listener emails: one on removing a problem scout from a troop, one on the BSA’s policy discouraging mock boards of review, and one on strategies for working with young adult assistant Scoutmasters aged 18-20.

Scoutmaster Podcast 324

Mon, 28 Mar 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail including a question about Trail to Eagle summer camp programs and whether participation fulfills rank requirements. He then delivers a substantial reflection on the future of scouting, arguing that scouting’s core — developing character through the patrol method by balancing individual self-realization with service to others — ensures its lasting relevance. C

Scoutmaster Podcast 323

Mon, 21 Mar 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listeners back for a summer episode with minimal mailbag activity, thanking new backers and patrons. The bulk of the episode features recordings and reflections from the Horseshoe Scout Reservation alumni association gathering, including conversations with longtime staffers Bob Matchy, Mark Hammond, and former camp director Ernie Heegard. Clarke reflects on the deeper meaning

Scoutmaster Podcast 322

Mon, 14 Mar 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green discusses youth engagement in Scouting, distinguishing it from the binary ‘boy-led’ concept and laying out a progressive model of adult-youth partnership. He answers listener emails about where the SPL and ASPL should camp relative to adults and patrols, and clarifies Youth Protection guidelines for one-on-one phone calls with Scouts. The episode also includes Clarke’s welcome remarks

Scoutmaster Podcast 321

Mon, 07 Mar 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with a reflection on the Orlando tragedy and encourages Scouters to look for helpers and find hope in their Scouts. His Scoutmastership segment explores the concept of the ‘Brown Sea Island moment’ — the sense of wonder and anticipation first Scout campers experienced with Baden-Powell in 1907 — and how Scouters and parents can create space for that same transformative experienc

Scoutmaster Podcast 320

Mon, 29 Feb 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail from Jacques Navier, Phillip Farmer, and Dwayne Reindel, then delivers a Scoutmastership teaching comparing scouting to gardening — nurturing each scout’s individual growth potential. He then answers listener emails on BSA general liability coverage for volunteer scouters and the rules around a scout turning 18 while serving as Senior Patrol Leader.

Scoutmaster Podcast 319

Mon, 22 Feb 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers five listener email questions covering scout master conference best practices, whether assistant scout masters can sign blue cards, the senior patrol leader attending committee meetings, alcohol at scout outings, and supporting a socially withdrawn scout. The episode also features follow-up notes from two previous anonymous correspondents sharing positive outcomes.

Scoutmaster Podcast 318

Mon, 15 Feb 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listener mail and then presents the second half of a two-part panel discussion with author Mark Ray and Walter Underwood about the second volume of the official BSA Troop Leader Guidebook. The conversation covers making troop meetings extraordinary, high adventure programming, working with older scouts, the Order of the Arrow, and responding to special challenges including sc

Scoutmaster Podcast 317

Mon, 08 Feb 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listeners, reads mail from Bus Price and Brent Dixon, and promotes live chat sessions and backers. The episode features part one of a two-hour conversation with Mark Ray, author of the BSA’s two-volume Troop Leader Guidebook, joined by Walter Underwood. They discuss volume two’s chapters on troop vision, self-evaluation, team development, the patrol method, and working with y

Scoutmaster Podcast 316

Mon, 01 Feb 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with a chat-room discussion about Scoutmaster conferences and scout spirit requirements, clarifying that a Scoutmaster conference is not a pass/fail event and that scouts cannot be held back on those grounds. The main feature is a Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes or Less installment built around an extended pyramid analogy, arguing that scouting is a field of discovery that scou

Scoutmaster Podcast 315

Mon, 25 Jan 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listeners and reads mail about the Troop Leader Guidebook, senior patrol leader resources, and the ‘10 ways to frustrate a youth leader’ article. The main feature is a replay of an interview with Alex Kasev, author of the AMC Guide to Outdoor Leadership, covering the triad of outdoor leadership skills, expedition behavior, group development stages, and risk management. Clarke

Scoutmaster Podcast 314

Mon, 18 Jan 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers four listener email questions covering a wide range of troop challenges: supporting a troop after the sudden death of an adult volunteer, addressing an older scout who shared profane content with younger scouts, the BSA’s policy on private social media groups for troops, and how a scoutmaster should directly confront an overbearing parent who is undermining the program. Clarke

Scoutmaster Podcast 313

Mon, 11 Jan 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes back Walter Underwood to discuss the first volume of the new BSA Troop Leader Guidebook. They offer detailed praise for its coverage of the patrol method, working with youth leaders, advancement, health and safety guidelines, and troop administration, calling it a major improvement over previous Scoutmaster handbooks. Clarke also shares listener mail from Dave Jenkins and not

Scoutmaster Podcast 312

Mon, 04 Jan 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green dedicates episode 312 entirely to summer camp preparation. He replays a recording of ten tips for scouters attending camp, covering self-care, respecting staff, supporting youth leaders, and maintaining patience. He then shares advice aimed at scout parents — helping them think positively, ask questions, plan communication, and make the most of the week while their scout is away.

Scoutmaster Podcast 311

Mon, 28 Dec 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listeners back and shares a listener voicemail from Kevin Rhodes about stepping back and letting scouts solve their own problems on a backpacking night hike. Clarke then answers several listener emails covering how to re-engage older scouts who have drifted away, how a brand-new troop of eight scouts should structure its leadership, what constitutes a qualifying campout for m

Scoutmaster Podcast 310

Mon, 21 Dec 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Episode 310 is the third installment of Clarke Green’s series on parents and Scouting. Clarke addresses listener comments about overbearing parents and committees, then discusses the golden rule that scouts should never suffer for their parents’ attitudes or actions. He covers advancement expectations, the Guide to Advancement’s ‘personal growth’ section, and the unique challenges of being both a

Scoutmaster Podcast 309

Mon, 14 Dec 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green reads listener mail including a heartfelt note from Eric Fletcher of Troop 309, then devotes the remainder of episode 309 to the second part of his three-part series on scout parents. He explains that scouting is something young people do for themselves — not something done for them — and urges parents to cooperate with the process rather than shield scouts from the natural consequenc

Scoutmaster Podcast 308

Mon, 07 Dec 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green kicks off a three-part series on the most challenging parent situations in Scouting, focusing on whether parents should compel a reluctant child to continue. He walks through how to listen carefully, triage serious problems, give the decision time to develop, and why consistency and expectations help adolescents thrive. The episode includes a welcome with listener mail from Alex Fayah

Scoutmaster Podcast 307

Mon, 30 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail praising the ‘So Far, So Good’ audiobook and discusses the Patreon-supported SeminarCG initiative. The main teaching segment explores why Scouts get to do what nobody else does—through trust, autonomy, and the necessity of failure in gaining real experience—drawing on Green Bar Bill’s ’train, trust, and let them lead.’ Clarke then answers an email from Scoutma

Scoutmaster Podcast 306

Mon, 23 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail from Brian Hildebrand about the John Thurman patrol story, then promotes the seminar and Patreon support. The main content is an extended teaching on why scouts should begin planning by asking ‘Who are we?’ rather than ‘What do we do?’, drawing on the paradox of choice to explain why unlimited options can hinder rather than help the planning process. Clarke li

Scoutmaster Podcast 305

Mon, 16 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green reads extensively from John Thurman’s 1950 Patrol Leaders Handbook, exploring what the patrol method really means and why it remains as challenging and relevant today as ever. He emphasizes that patrols must be vibrant living units, not merely convenient subdivisions of a troop, and that patrol leaders are the key to making the system work. The episode also includes listener mail abou

Scoutmaster Podcast 304

Mon, 09 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green celebrates Founder’s Day (February 22nd) with a brief biography of Baden-Powell and a reading from his final message about the purpose of Scouting. A listener, Craig Dixon, shares observations from his visit to the Scouting Museum in Irving, Texas. Clarke then answers a follow-up email expanding on last week’s discussion about patrols, emphasizing that BP’s ideas remain valid even whe

Scoutmaster Podcast 303

Mon, 02 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail praising episode 302 and thanks new backers and patrons. Mike Marty shares a story about his SPL learning to connect with an autistic scout by finding common ground. Clarke then answers a detailed email from Andy Davis about how to handle 10 new scouts joining a troop, using the question to explore the patrol method and the importance of letting scouts form pa

Scoutmaster Podcast 302

Mon, 26 Oct 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail from James Chaplin and welcomes new Scoutmaster Shane Sherwin, then shares a touching story from Mike Marty about an SPL learning to connect with an autistic Scout. The main segment answers a question from Scoutmaster Andy Davis about how to handle 10 new Scouts joining the troop, with Clarke delivering an extended lesson on the patrol method and the importanc

Scoutmaster Podcast 301

Mon, 19 Oct 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green celebrates episode 301 with listener mail congratulating him on the 300th podcast milestone. He presents a Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes segment on the concept of vision — how Scouters should shift from imposing their own idealized picture to helping Scouts form and realize their own vision. He then answers an email from unit commissioner James about coercive troop practices, inclu

Scoutmaster Podcast 300

Mon, 12 Oct 2015 00:00:00 +0000

In this 300th episode, Clarke Green celebrates a decade of the Scoutmaster blog and five years of the podcast. He shares congratulatory listener mail and then delivers a personal stop/start/continue exercise: retiring the app and Google Plus, continuing the blog and podcast with higher-quality content, and announcing new initiatives including SeminarCG.com online courses, a Patreon program, more v

Scoutmaster Podcast 299

Mon, 05 Oct 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listeners to episode 299, reads mail from Terry Dutton agreeing on STEM’s limited role in Scouting, and thanks new backers. He then delivers a Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes segment on controlling one’s temper and practicing patience with Scouts. The remainder of the episode answers three listener emails covering patrol leaders council planning, positions of responsibility,

Scoutmaster Podcast 298

Mon, 28 Sep 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green returns from a holiday break to answer listener emails covering three topics: crafting a personal first Scoutmaster’s Minute, navigating the 2016 BSA rank requirement transition, and integrating the patrol method into a Venturing Crew focused on STEM activities. Clarke also reads mailbag letters and thanks new backers, and previews upcoming announcements planned for episode 300.

Scoutmaster Podcast 297

Mon, 21 Sep 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens episode 297 with listener mail touching on Scout-led discovery, adult-to-Scout ratios, and returning volunteers. The main teaching segment presents a single-sentence mission statement for all Scouters — ‘shape character by applying the patrol method’ — arguing that one aim (good character) and one method (the patrol method) encompass everything in Scouting. Clarke closes by noti

Scoutmaster Podcast 296

Mon, 14 Sep 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers three listener emails: whether a pack should subsidize dues for a disengaged family, the difference between enriching merit badge instruction and improperly expanding requirements, and how to select a new Scoutmaster using Admiral Byrd’s ingenious peer-selection method. Clarke also reflects on parental apathy and the overreliance on merit badge classes in modern Scouting.

Scoutmaster Podcast 295

Mon, 07 Sep 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green reads listener mail from scouts in Ukraine, Kenya, Hawaii, and a follow-up on cooperative volunteering. He then answers two listener emails: one about whether it’s a shame a scout aged out without earning Eagle (arguing against apple-to-orange comparisons), and one from Brian Kerner asking if a scout can hold the same position of responsibility across multiple ranks. The episode close

Scoutmaster Podcast 294

Mon, 31 Aug 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green discusses how to be an effective Scouter when you’re not in a key position and want to influence change in your unit. The core lesson is that building mutual trust and respect — guided by the Scout Oath and Law — is the only effective path to becoming a trusted advisor. Clarke uses the analogy of an uninvited house painter to illustrate why barging in with ideas and criticisms backfir

Scoutmaster Podcast 293

Mon, 24 Aug 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with a reflection on Baden Powell’s 1922 Sorbonne address on educating in love in place of fear, connecting it to contemporary events. He then answers two listener emails: one from a new Scoutmaster with young scouts struggling with sibling conflict and negative influences, and another on handling chronically disruptive scouts by setting clear expectations and involving parents

Scoutmaster Podcast 292

Mon, 17 Aug 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with a joke about jumping higher than a house, then reads listener mail from James Montigny describing dramatic troop growth through youth-led scouting, and Tim Clark commenting on Eagle paperwork. The main segment is a Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes teaching on the idea that ‘doing what scouts do’ is the foundational secret of scouting — advancement, badges, and all other pro

Scoutmaster Podcast 291

Mon, 10 Aug 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers two anonymous listener emails: one about an overscheduled Scout whose parents are pushing him hard toward Eagle Scout, and another about a scouter nominated to the Order of the Arrow whose son was not elected. Clarke offers practical advice on working with the Scout to build a realistic plan and reframe his perspective, and explains the proper process for adult OA nominations

Scoutmaster Podcast 290

Mon, 03 Aug 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers three listener email questions in episode 290. He addresses whether a scout’s handbook needs to be initialed for an Eagle board of review (it does not, as it is not in the requirements), advises an advancement chair who lost a scout’s blue cards to recreate them with a note, and confirms that troops can still retire American flags in a dignified manner by burning. The episode

Scoutmaster Podcast 289

Mon, 27 Jul 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green devotes this episode almost entirely to the question of what it means for a Scout to ‘be active’ as required for rank advancement. He explains the relevant Guide to Advancement section (4.2.3.1), argues against rigid numerical attendance metrics, and walks through an example Scout Master’s conference conversation that treats each Scout as an individual. He closes by advising parents i

Scoutmaster Podcast 288

Mon, 20 Jul 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listeners and reads mail from Scoutmasters and parents in Tanzania, Hong Kong, and the US. The main teaching segment, Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes or Less, explores how scouting’s rules and measurements are useful tools but should never overshadow the individual character development of each Scout. Clarke uses Baden-Powell’s writings to argue that progress in scouting mus

Scoutmaster Podcast 287

Mon, 13 Jul 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers listener emails on two key topics: how a parent and volunteer crossing over from Webelos can best assess a troop by interviewing scouts of different tenure rather than adult leaders, and how small troops of nine to ten scouts should scale their patrol and leadership structure logically rather than filling an organizational chart. He also briefly addresses whether troop fundrai

Scoutmaster Podcast 286

Mon, 06 Jul 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with a listener email from Gerald Dosh offering encouragement, then pivots to a detailed discussion of positions of responsibility prompted by a troop committee that proposed having scouts sign contracts. Clarke argues that reducing leadership development to paperwork misses the foundational principles of scouting, and explains that clear expectations, a shared understanding, an

Scoutmaster Podcast 285

Mon, 29 Jun 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail, a book review mention, and thanks to new backers and Facebook milestone. The main segment is an extended Scoutmastership teaching on dealing with outside influences — video games, cell phones, parental involvement — by focusing on what is within a Scoutmaster’s control: providing vibrant scouting opportunities rooted in the Scout Oath and Law to build charact

Scoutmaster Podcast 284

Mon, 22 Jun 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail including thoughts on experienced Cub Scout leaders staying at the Cub level, then delivers a lengthy reflection on organizational change within the BSA and the importance of listening to youth. The main content answers three listener emails covering how to run a Webelos den like a Scout patrol, permission to reuse Clarke’s materials, and — most extensively —

Scoutmaster Podcast 283

Mon, 15 Jun 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green discusses Dr. Sugata Mitra’s TED Talk on self-organized learning environments, drawing parallels between Mitra’s ‘hole in the wall’ experiments and Baden Powell’s vision of experiential Scouting. Clarke explains the ‘granny method’ — be present, be encouraging, ask questions, and salute the learning — as a practical alternative to school-style instruction for Scoutmasters. The episode

Scoutmaster Podcast 282

Mon, 08 Jun 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers several listener emails covering how the Patrol Leaders Council meets and what other scouts do during that time, how to guide a small new troop using the patrol method, how to formally remove disruptive non-registered adults from a unit, and how to handle a scout with behavioral issues using the Scout Oath and Law as the only necessary guide to conduct.

Scoutmaster Podcast 281

Mon, 01 Jun 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green returns from summer break and works through a backlog of listener email questions. Topics include how to handle scouts who are disrespectful to their parent-volunteers (and vice versa), whether helping at Cub Scout events counts as service hours for rank, and how to organize a troop of only eight scouts. Clarke emphasizes character over procedure, using the Guide to Advancement as a r

Scoutmaster Podcast 280

Mon, 25 May 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green presents an archival interview with Canadian author and canoeist Kevin Callan, known as the Happy Camper, discussing canoe routes in Ontario including Algonquin and Temagami Provincial Parks. Kevin shares practical advice on outfitters, the value of long portages, bear encounters, black flies, and the story of conservationist Grey Owl. The episode also highlights Kevin’s guidebooks, h

Scoutmaster Podcast 279

Mon, 18 May 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green replays an archival interview with Survivorman Les Stroud, recorded around the publication of Stroud’s book ‘Will to Live.’ Stroud discusses the survivor’s mindset, key additive factors in survival (will, luck, skills, and kit), and practical advice for leaders taking young people into the wilderness. The episode is a summer re-run from the archives, with Clarke noting regular program

Scoutmaster Podcast 278

Mon, 11 May 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green presents an encore interview with Mike Malone, author of ‘4%: The Story of Uncommon Youth in a Century of American Life’, a history of the Eagle Scout Award. The conversation covers the story of Arthur Eldred (the first Eagle Scout), the evolution of the Eagle project requirement, famous Eagle Scouts like Neil Armstrong and Paul Siple, and what it truly means to be an Eagle Scout. Cla

Scoutmaster Podcast 277

Mon, 04 May 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green presents an encore interview with Andrew Skurka, one of the most accomplished long-distance backpackers in living memory, covering over 30,000 miles across Alaska, the Yukon, and the continental US. Andrew discusses his gear philosophy as detailed in his book ‘The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide,’ the evolution from an over-packed beginner to an ultralight expert, and a transcendent encou

Scoutmaster Podcast 276

Mon, 27 Apr 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green presents an encore interview with Rob Ferris and Harry Wimbrough, two of the three authors of ‘Working the Patrol Method.’ The conversation covers the history and philosophy behind Baden Powell’s patrol method, how adult leaders can facilitate youth planning without taking over, and the concept of caring leadership. The authors emphasize that a Scout-run troop is harder but far more e

Scoutmaster Podcast 275

Mon, 20 Apr 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green presents an archival interview with historian and author David C. Scott about his book ‘The Scouting Party,’ which examines the first ten years of the Boy Scouts of America through the lens of its three founding figures: Ernest Thompson Seton, Robert Baden-Powell, and Dan Beard. Scott discusses the often contentious relationships between these three strong personalities, their differi

Scoutmaster Podcast 274

Mon, 13 Apr 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listeners back and reads mail from Rich Cubiak and Mark Levesque before announcing a summer replay schedule. He then plays an interview recorded at a local scout camp with Joe Briggs and Alan McConnell, leaders of the 91st Dublin scout group from Scouting Ireland, who are celebrating their group’s 50th anniversary with 60 youth on a trip to the US. The conversation covers the

Scoutmaster Podcast 273

Mon, 06 Apr 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with a listener email from Beth Ann Kim about common Cub Scout pack problems, then delivers an extended Scoutmastership segment critiquing the BSA’s age-division structure — arguing that having separate packs, troops, and crews creates a perpetual volunteer emergency and poor transitions. He proposes the ‘group concept’ used by most world scouting organizations as a solution. Th

Scoutmaster Podcast 272

Mon, 30 Mar 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green hosts a laid-back summer episode focused entirely on listener email questions. Topics include how to interpret chaotic troop meetings as a sign of healthy youth-led scouting, how to handle an advancement error without penalizing the Scout, and why the phrase ’eagling out’ misses the point that earning Eagle is just the beginning of a lifelong journey.

Scoutmaster Podcast 271

Mon, 23 Mar 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers a range of listener emails covering troop size limits and Baden-Powell’s patrol-scale philosophy, how long to retain scout records, when to accept rough-around-the-edges youth leadership versus demanding adult-quality results, and how a brand-new scoutmaster can hand responsibility to young scouts without losing their enthusiasm. The episode is entirely Q&A-driven, with no rec

Scoutmaster Podcast 270

Mon, 16 Mar 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green dedicates episode 270 almost entirely to the inspiring true story of Kazimierz Pracowski (Kazik), a Polish Scout who became prisoner 918 at Auschwitz and engineered a daring escape in 1942 by disguising himself and friends as SS officers. Clarke connects the story to his own memories of a 1988 reunion of Scout concentration camp survivors held at his home camp, and reflects on how sco

Scoutmaster Podcast 269

Mon, 09 Mar 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listeners back after a Memorial Day break, reads listener mail including an update from a father of a scout with Asperger’s syndrome, and thanks new backers. In Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes, Clarke addresses how parents can prepare themselves for the anxiety of dropping their scout off at summer camp. The email segment covers patrol method safety after a disturbing incide

Scoutmaster Podcast 268

Mon, 02 Mar 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with a quote from Horace Kephart about the timeless joy of camping gear, then reads listener mail including an inspiring report from new Scoutmaster Robert Williams about a successful Patrol Leaders Council meeting. The main teaching segment covers BSA policy on who may sign off rank requirements, citing the Guide to Advancement and Scoutmaster Handbook. Clarke then answers seve

Scoutmaster Podcast 267

Mon, 23 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green dedicates episode 267 to answering a backlog of listener email questions. Topics include interpreting the Tenderfoot cooking requirement, recruiting den chiefs, changing troops gracefully, the pitfalls of writing troop policy manuals, how scouts should address adult leaders, and evaluating whether a ‘supertrip’ qualifies as optimal scouting. The episode features no interview or teachi

Scoutmaster Podcast 266

Mon, 16 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green presents the third and final installment of his series on the ‘source code of scouting,’ tracing Green Bar Bill Hillcourt’s connections to Baden-Powell and the BSA, and explaining how Hillcourt’s rewrite of the Scout Handbook in the late 1970s distilled scouting’s purpose onto a single page. Clarke reads page nine of the ninth edition of the Boy Scout Handbook — ‘Your Life as a Scout’

Scoutmaster Podcast 265

Mon, 09 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green continues his series on the Scouting Source Code, featuring a recording of Green Bar Bill Hillcourt describing how he came to write the Patrol Leader’s Handbook, Scout Master’s Handbook, and Scout Handbook. Clarke also answers a listener email from Robert Williams of Troop 15 in Sherman, Texas, about BSA policies regarding parents and family members attending troop campouts and youth

Scoutmaster Podcast 264

Mon, 02 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green reads listener mail covering topics like Wilderness First Aid, Eagle Scout graduation ceremonies, and long-time Scouters, then previews the week’s content. The main feature is a recording of William ‘Greenbar Bill’ Hillcourt telling his own story — how he discovered Scouting in Denmark, formed his first patrol, attended early World Jamborees, and eventually came to America — framed by

Scoutmaster Podcast 263

Mon, 26 Jan 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers several listener email questions covering wilderness first aid certification requirements for backcountry trips, the BSA’s actual uniform policy and troop sweatshirts, how Venturing crews organize themselves, and the correct effective date for Eagle Scout rank advancement. The episode also includes listener mail from Matt Hickman, Dave LaVenter, and Craig Dixon sharing troop s

Scoutmaster Podcast 262

Mon, 19 Jan 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green discusses the scale of scouting using Baden Powell’s own words about the importance of patrols over herds, emphasizing that patrols are the fundamental unit where scouting truly works. He then answers listener emails on guiding new scouts into balanced patrols by empowering the Patrol Leaders Council, and on the timely presentation of advancement badges after a board of review. The ep

Scoutmaster Podcast 261

Mon, 12 Jan 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green addresses the Android app issues and welcomes listeners back before diving into the ‘Troop Program Death Spiral’ — a teaching segment explaining how troops fall apart when adults take over from scouts, and how proper application of the patrol method prevents this. He then answers listener emails covering Eagle Scout application edge cases, the proper role of Scoutmaster conferences an

Scoutmaster Podcast 260

Mon, 05 Jan 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listeners and reads from the mailbag, including feedback on training youth leaders and the Socratic Method, plus news about the Kondersteg 2016 trip. He then answers several listener email questions covering permission slip challenges, preparing for homesickness at summer camp, merit badge placement on uniforms, and questions from a new scoutmaster about senior patrol leader

Scoutmaster Podcast 259

Mon, 29 Dec 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listeners and reads mail from reviewers and live chat participants, then shares a teaching segment on ‘Socratic Scouting’ — using Baden-Powell’s advice on listening and the Socratic Method to guide Scouts toward self-discovery rather than lecturing them. He then answers two listener emails: one about blue cards signed without unit leader approval at a merit badge clinic, and

Scoutmaster Podcast 258

Mon, 22 Dec 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail covering topics including a Cub Scout leader survival guide adapted for Canada, a book review, and a post about bedwetting and Scouts. In Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes, Clarke argues that Scouts themselves are the most important volunteers in Scouting. The remainder of the episode answers listener emails on first-year patrol programs, getting Scouts to step

Scoutmaster Podcast 257

Mon, 15 Dec 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail about young Scoutmasters and community feedback, then delivers a Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes segment on the Scoutmaster’s role in leading and coordinating fellow adult volunteers. He then answers three listener emails covering blue card policy, Webelos insignia rules, and whether patrols need adult supervision for day activities, citing the Guide to Advan

Scoutmaster Podcast 256

Mon, 08 Dec 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers listener emails covering a range of topics: a young man in his mid-20s stepping up as Scoutmaster, using the Guide to Advancement’s alternative requirements for a scout who is a cancer survivor with permanent disability, whether Webelos can attend camperees, the Alligator River game for field days, and transitioning to a year-round troop meeting schedule. Clarke also shares up

Scoutmaster Podcast 255

Mon, 01 Dec 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail covering song sources, a Wood Badge survey request, blog feedback on the 10-point troop checkup, and live chat participants. The main teaching segment covers planning and executing high adventure trips on a modest budget and timeline without relying on national high-adventure bases. Clarke then answers two listener emails: one about combating sports-schedule c

Scoutmaster Podcast 254

Mon, 24 Nov 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers two listener email questions in episode 254. The first covers how to handle a completed merit badge application from a clinic where requirements may not have been properly fulfilled, directing the concern to the district advancement committee. The second provides detailed guidance on counseling a scout who is bullying peers, emphasizing character development through the Scout

Scoutmaster Podcast 253

Mon, 17 Nov 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers two listener email questions: one about whether a separate Scoutmaster conference is required for joining requirements after a Webelos Scout earns the Arrow of Light, and one about a Scout who has underperformed in a position of responsibility. Clarke discusses the importance of individualized expectations, shared understanding, and ongoing dialogue with Scouts. The episode al

Scoutmaster Podcast 252

Mon, 10 Nov 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers four listener emails covering a range of troop management topics: handling a scout struggling with peer language and anxiety, BSA liability insurance and safe scouting guidelines, cell phone policies on outings, and how merit badge counselors can enforce proper use of the official merit badge book over worksheets. The episode is entirely devoted to listener Q&A with no recurri

Scoutmaster Podcast 251 - Make the most of being a Scouter

Mon, 03 Nov 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Scoutmaster Podcast 250

Mon, 27 Oct 2014 00:00:00 +0000

In episode 250, Clarke Green tackles the question ‘What is an Eagle Scout?’ in Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes, arguing that any Scout who completes the requirements deserves Eagle and then spends a lifetime becoming one. He follows with two anonymous listener email questions: one about signing off on a Scout’s Eagle work inherited from a previous Scoutmaster, and another about whether a Scoutmas

Scoutmaster Podcast 249

Mon, 20 Oct 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green returns after a two-week holiday hiatus, reads listener mail, and announces his new book ‘So Far, So Good: A New Scoutmaster Story.’ The bulk of the episode is devoted to answering a backlog of listener emails covering topics such as the Cub Scout-to-Boy Scout continuum, starting a new troop from scratch with six Webelos, reviving the patrol method, and how much direction adults shoul

Scoutmaster Podcast 248

Mon, 13 Oct 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Episode 248 is a brief holiday special in which Clarke Green reads listener mail, thanks backers, and announces a podcast vacation over Christmas and New Year’s. The main content is a humorous scouting parody of Clement Clark Moore’s ‘A Visit from St. Nicholas,’ featuring raccoons, a bear, and a campsite raid. Clarke signs off with warm holiday wishes and promises a return in January with podcast

Scoutmaster Podcast 247

Mon, 06 Oct 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail including comments on his fictional new Scoutmaster series and chat session attendees. The teaching segment covers using voice tone and volume wisely, advocating for a yell-free zone built on voluntary obedience rather than compliance through fear. The email segment addresses troop newsletters, backpacking gear, a contentious Eagle board of review situation, a

Scoutmaster Podcast 246

Mon, 29 Sep 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers a themed set of listener emails focused on the letter C: merit badge classes, patrols cooking their own chow, scouting’s urban legends (chimeras), scouts changing troops, and troop election chicanery involving adult interference in senior patrol leader selection. The episode includes brief blog updates and thanks to new backers Michael Duff and Will Adamson.

Scoutmaster Podcast 245

Mon, 22 Sep 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail covering a troop that illegally restricts rank advancement and a question about accessing the podcast archive. The bulk of the episode is dedicated to answering listener email questions on topics including how to change a poorly-run troop, the Scoutmaster’s proper role in Eagle paperwork, forming patrols fairly, Scout discipline, and a Scoutmaster stepping dow

Scoutmaster Podcast 244

Mon, 15 Sep 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail including chat participants, a merit badge fair question, and a blog comment on Eagle Scout boards of review. His Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes segment focuses on talking to Scouts with compassion and humility rather than relying on authority or compliance. The email segment answers questions on merit badge fair sign-offs, training senior patrol leaders, el

Scoutmaster Podcast 243

Mon, 08 Sep 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers listener mail from Scouters in Namibia, Germany, and across the US, then explores the concept that youth leadership in Scouting must operate within the context of the program and the Scout Oath and Law. He addresses five listener email questions covering Eagle board of review conflicts of interest, guiding versus directing scouts, merit badge and rank requirement overlap, patr

Scoutmaster Podcast 242

Mon, 01 Sep 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green reads listener mail about constructive scouting discipline, boards of review, and the patrol method, then dives deep into a large mailbag of questions. Topics covered include senior patrol leader elections and campaigning, Webelos camping requirements, resolving scout conflicts through the Scout Oath and Law rather than direct conflict-resolution programs, and whether merit badge work

Scoutmaster Podcast 241

Mon, 25 Aug 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers extensive listener mail covering boards of review, scout master conferences, and the guide to advancement’s clear rules on both. He addresses a question about burned-out Webelos and the organizational wall between cub scouts and boy scout troops, then answers emails on Order of the Arrow conflicts with troop leadership and managing disruptive older scouts.

Scoutmaster Podcast 240

Mon, 18 Aug 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens episode 240 with an Einstein-inspired joke about the definition of insanity and how it applies to Scoutmasters. The welcome segment covers extensive listener mail touching on the patrol method, blog posts on true north and the patrol system’s origins, and a call for backers. The remainder of the episode is dedicated to answering listener email questions, beginning with a detaile

Scoutmaster Podcast 239

Mon, 11 Aug 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers a large backlog of listener emails covering topics including combined Eagle Courts of Honor, removing or electing a Senior Patrol Leader, how to delegate volunteer responsibilities, backyard camping for rank advancement, and BSA advancement policy violations. The episode closes with a Scoutmaster’s Minute connecting the ecological concept of trophic cascades to the cascading p

Scoutmaster Podcast 238

Mon, 04 Aug 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green wraps up his four-part series on the patrol method with five practical tips for making it work in a 21st-century troop, including redrawing the org chart, letting scouts form their own patrols, being patrol-centric, keeping adults at a distance, and staying open to change. He then answers several listener emails covering how to transition to scout-formed patrols, handling a scout’s of

Scoutmaster Podcast 237

Mon, 28 Jul 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green presents the third installment of his Patrol Method series, addressing seven common objections adults raise against giving scouts real self-governance, from unbalanced patrols to fears about advancement. He then answers three listener emails dealing with supporting individual scouts: a socially challenged scout in a board of review, a scout with Down syndrome seeking to join a pack, a

Scoutmaster Podcast 236

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listeners and reads mail from Brent Dixon, Mike Martin, Paul Fife, and Jeff Freeman on topics ranging from scout songs to patrol stoves to youth-led troops. The second installment of a four-part patrol method series explains that adults should act as responsive guides rather than directive leaders, following the scouts’ elected leadership structure. Clarke then answers an ano

Scoutmaster Podcast 235

Mon, 14 Jul 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail about bulk book purchases and pioneering techniques, then launches a four-part series on the basics of the patrol method, drawing on Baden-Powell’s writings to explain why the patrol is the central unit of Scouting and character development. He follows with a striking email exchange about a troop that collapsed from 120 to 32 scouts after adults repeatedly re-

Scoutmaster Podcast 234

Mon, 07 Jul 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail praising the Little League and Scouting post, and promotes a 2015 Kandersteg trip opportunity. The main feature is Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes or Less, where Clarke draws on Baden-Powell’s writings to explore how assuming goodwill and detaching from expectations about others’ reactions can resolve most difficulties between adults and scouts. Clarke closes

Scoutmaster Podcast 233

Mon, 30 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green shares listener mail praising the patrol system and announces a 2015 Kandersteg trip opportunity. In Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes, he plays a recording of a patrol leaders council meeting at summer camp, offering commentary on youth-led leadership. He then answers listener emails on family camping expectations, troop bylaws and interfering parents, and re-engaging older scouts.

Scoutmaster Podcast 232

Mon, 23 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green returns from a summer that included his retirement as active Scoutmaster after 30 years and a trip to Kandersteg International Scout Center in Switzerland. He reads extensive listener mail about the Kandersteg trip and announces plans to organize a group visit for listeners in 2015. The rest of the episode answers accumulated listener emails on topics including rank sign-offs, yearly

Scoutmaster Podcast 231

Mon, 16 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green returns from summer camp to a full mailbag and devotes the entire episode to answering listener emails. Topics range from understanding scouts’ perspective, managing first-year campers, separation anxiety, merit badge counseling by parents, blue card procedures, and the distinction between responsibility and leadership in rank advancement. Clarke offers a thoughtful argument that scou

Scoutmaster Podcast 230

Mon, 09 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listeners with reader mail including a book review, notes from international scouts, and a new scoutmaster seeking advice. In the Scoutmastership segment, Clarke discusses building an internal standard of character in scouts through the Scout Oath and Law, using Scoutmaster Conferences, Patrol Leaders Council meetings, and Scoutmaster Minutes. Clarke then answers an email fro

Scoutmaster Podcast 229

Mon, 02 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers a range of listener email questions in this episode. Topics include appointing versus electing patrol leaders, sending scouts to summer camp without their troop, who should choose a camp, and — most substantially — how to handle serious misbehavior such as theft and physical fights using a ‘first aid’ analogy that keeps adult leaders in their proper role. Clarke also advises a

Scoutmaster Podcast 228

Mon, 26 May 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with a humorous report card on summer camp counselors, then reads listener mail covering council mergers, the ‘failing fast’ concept in scouting, and outdoor leadership. The main segment speaks directly to parents about what to expect when sending their sons to Scout summer camp — addressing homesickness, communication, and the growth that comes from the experience. Clarke close

Scoutmaster Podcast 227

Mon, 19 May 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listeners with mail from Dave Klein, Lindsay O’Rourke, and Rob Kerrigan, then covers blog and resource updates. The Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes segment explores the unique qualities of outdoor leadership versus business management. Clarke then answers four listener emails covering the Guide to Safe Scouting as binding rules, cell phone policies at campouts, introducing t

Scoutmaster Podcast 226

Mon, 12 May 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail from Greg Curtis and Steve in Michigan, discussing how to recruit volunteers by breaking roles into tasks. In Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes he explores three leadership styles — authoritarian, permissive, and responsive — using quotes from Baden-Powell and Lao Tzu to illustrate the ideal Scouter as a guide. He then answers a detailed listener email on how t

Scoutmaster Podcast 225

Mon, 05 May 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers listener mail including questions about Scout Circle and knot-tying resources, then addresses two anonymous emails: one from a committee member frustrated by overzealous boy-led philosophy blocking her work, and one from a new Scoutmaster seeking guidance on training and transitioning a troop toward youth leadership. Clarke offers frank, experience-based advice on both, emphas

Scoutmaster Podcast 224

Mon, 28 Apr 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail including thanks from Jeff and a detailed note from Steve Kearns on advancement training. Clarke’s Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes uses the campfire as a metaphor for building a thriving Scout program, encouraging patience and faith in the program. The remainder of the episode answers listener emails on scouts at partisan political events, a parent-led patrol

Scoutmaster Podcast 223

Mon, 21 Apr 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listeners with mailbag comments about the PDF resource package, patron thanks, and a Memorial Day note. The main feature is an interview with Scoutmaster Bob Case and his 15-year-old son Joe, the outgoing Senior Patrol Leader of Troop 61 in Corning, New York, who share a meaningful story from the 52nd Annual West Point Camporee about the patrol method coming together after ye

Scoutmaster Podcast 222

Mon, 14 Apr 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green, fighting a spring cold, skips the mailbag and goes straight to an interview with Darnall Daily Jr., author of The Commissioner’s Corner. Darnall shares decades of Scouting experience — from Scoutmaster to 16-year Council Commissioner — covering boy-run troops, the importance of cheerfulness, and his famous essay ‘Guardian of the Gate’ about keeping advancement working for Scouts rath

Scoutmaster Podcast 221

Mon, 07 Apr 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail covering gear advice for parents, logistical vs. mission success, and high adventure planning. His Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes segment focuses on ‘real responsibility’—giving Scouts the latitude to fail and learn. The email section addresses running a Cub Scout pack with reluctant volunteers and offers detailed advice to a new Scoutmaster dealing with uns

Scoutmaster Podcast 220

Mon, 31 Mar 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listeners back with mailbag highlights including comments on scout accounts, disappointment, and an Ontario canoe adventure. In Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes or Less, Clarke debunks common myths about High Adventure — that it requires an official base, exotic travel, expert leadership, or big budgets. The Listeners Email segment addresses two questions: how to help a Scout

Scoutmaster Podcast 219

Mon, 24 Mar 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Episode 219 of the Scoutmaster Podcast opens with Clarke Green reading listener mail about the podcast, blog posts on delegation and scouting training do’s and don’ts, and a preview of upcoming content. The episode then features a Brick Mason comedy sketch about knife safety, followed by Clarke answering three listener emails covering aquatic award patch placement, how to lead and limit adult inte

Scoutmaster Podcast 218

Mon, 17 Mar 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers two listener emails: one from Hugh McCann about administering medications to scouts on camping trips, where Clarke argues scouters should act as responsible parents would; and one from an anonymous sender about using planning forms and checklists to support the patrol method, where Clarke explains that haphazard, boy-led progress is normal and worth celebrating. Clarke also sh

Scoutmaster Podcast 217

Mon, 10 Mar 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with a story about Girl Guides substituting baking soda for sugar, illustrating the value of letting scouts learn from their own mistakes. In the Scoutmastership segment, Clarke addresses how scouters in non-decision-making roles should handle disagreements about unit direction, explaining that only two real options exist: accept the status quo or find a different unit. The list

Scoutmaster Podcast 216

Mon, 03 Mar 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green discusses positive peer pressure as a cultural force in troops, explaining how modeling respect and delegating responsibility to youth leaders fosters constructive behavior across generations of scouts. He then answers several listener email questions covering BSA unit donation policies, how assistant senior patrol leaders are appointed versus elected, and when a new Eagle Scout may w

Scoutmaster Podcast 215

Mon, 24 Feb 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green reads listener mail touching on topics like belief in scouting, the Scouting as a Craft blog post, and an overprotective parenting article. The main teaching segment focuses on the power of reflection as a tool for developing character and leadership in Scouts, using dialogue and open-ended questions rather than lectures. Clarke illustrates the technique with a sample conversation bet

Scoutmaster Podcast 214

Mon, 17 Feb 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes Webelos den leaders crossing the bridge into Scout troops, offering guidance on stepping back and letting youth lead. He then answers a set of listener email questions covering lost handbooks, faith discussions at Scout conferences, faith-specific prayers, sharing medical information with troop leaders, and how a new Scoutmaster can engage disengaged older scouts. The episode

Scoutmaster Podcast 213

Mon, 10 Feb 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail from John, Tom, and Andy McDonald praising the podcast’s practical advice. His Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes segment explores how focusing on positive Scout values—rather than fighting outside influences—is the key to working effectively with adolescent Scouts. He then answers an email about youth leader training, arguing that hands-on, in-the-moment coachi

Scoutmaster Podcast 212

Mon, 03 Feb 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers a large batch of listener emails covering topics including implementing the patrol method as a new Scoutmaster, recognizing scouts at Courts of Honor, the Scout Master’s Minute, calling scouts ‘Scouts,’ prerequisites for positions of responsibility, a problematic venture patrol contract, ideal troop size, including a scout with Asperger’s syndrome, siblings in leadership roles

Scoutmaster Podcast 211

Mon, 27 Jan 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes back Scoutmaster Arlen Ward of Troop 17 in Colorado to discuss the first full year of his brand-new troop. Arlen shares how the troop grew from 6 to 30 Scouts, the growing pains of patrol formation, finances, advancement, and family communication. The conversation covers how his expectations about troop meetings evolved and what he learned about empowering youth leaders.

Scoutmaster Podcast 210

Mon, 20 Jan 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green interviews Elizabeth Elwell Cook, a Girl Guides leader with the Cambridge Garden Guides in Sydney, Australia. They discuss the history of Girl Guiding in Australia, the patrol system, Thinking Day, and the universal fellowship of scouting across borders. Clarke opens with listener mail from Jamie Barnes, Kendall Brown, and Craig Dixon before launching into the interview.

Scoutmaster Podcast 209

Mon, 13 Jan 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with a listener letter from unit commissioner Matt Rosenfeld and discusses the Scout Circle presentations and the Green Bar Life Post. He then presents a Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes segment on the relationship between citizenship and leadership, outlining four components: self-leadership, cooperative following, assisting leadership, and directive leadership. The episode clo

Scoutmaster Podcast 208

Mon, 06 Jan 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listener mail touching on the Managing Chaos article series and previews part two of difficult Scout behavior. The main teaching segment covers consequences, counseling techniques, and a three-tiered approach to persistent misbehavior using the Scout Oath and Law as the standard. Listener emails address managing conflicting adult opinions in a troop and ideas for engaging old

Scoutmaster Podcast 207

Mon, 30 Dec 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail about cast iron cookware and announcements about the redesigned ScoutMasterCG.com. His Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes or Less covers the first part of a two-part series on responding to difficult Scout behavior, identifying four types and their physical, mental, and developmental causes. He then answers a listener email about what qualifies as a service proj

Scoutmaster Podcast 206

Mon, 23 Dec 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail including app reviews and notes on the Green Bar Life section for youth leaders. The teaching segment covers the skill of listening to scouts without an agenda or judgment. Two email questions are answered: one about supporting Trail Life and other scouting programs, and one about the BSA’s new policy on individual scout accounts.

Scoutmaster Podcast 205

Mon, 16 Dec 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green discusses the important distinction between ’leadership positions’ and ‘positions of responsibility,’ arguing that Scoutmasters should evaluate individual progress in responsibility rather than applying written metric standards. He also answers several listener emails covering Eagle Scout rank requirements, displaying old rank patches, troop meeting planning, and how to handle a reluc

Scoutmaster Podcast 204

Mon, 09 Dec 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens episode 204 with an extensive mailbag, introduces Enoch Hyze and the new Green Bar Life youth leader resource at ScoutmasterCGcom, and recognizes new backers. The main teaching segment shares a listener’s method for evaluating Scout Spirit by involving parents and patrol leaders in individual feedback conversations. The episode also includes a humorous Brick Mason skit on the bo

Scoutmaster Podcast 203

Mon, 02 Dec 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with welcome remarks, a Scout Circle winter camping announcement, and updates on ScoutmasterCG.com development. In Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes or Less, he addresses Alan’s question about merit badge classes in troop meetings, drawing from the Guide to Advancement to explain why scout-initiated, individual merit badge work shouldn’t default to classroom-style troop meetings.

Scoutmaster Podcast 202

Mon, 25 Nov 2013 00:00:00 +0000

In this brief year-end episode (202), Clarke Green welcomes listeners back, shares mail from supporters including a guide leader in Australia, and announces upcoming new resources. His Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes segment encourages Scouters to embrace productive dissatisfaction with the program while avoiding frustration directed at people. He also answers a listener email from David about BS

Scoutmaster Podcast 201

Mon, 18 Nov 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens episode 201 with listener mail about beard-growing Scouters and a thank-you from a new Scoutmaster. His Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes segment delivers a holiday reflection on the quiet rewards of Scouting service. The email segment addresses BSA policy on boards of review, explaining why Scouts should not be required to organize their own reviews.

Scoutmaster Podcast 200

Mon, 11 Nov 2013 00:00:00 +0000

This episode is not currently available in our archive. If you have a recording, please get in touch.

Scoutmaster Podcast 199

Mon, 04 Nov 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens episode 199 with listener mail covering topics like adult involvement in scouting, the patrol method, and pioneering resources. He then delivers a tribute to Nelson Mandela, reflecting on Mandela’s scouting patronage and leadership lessons. The episode concludes with email Q&A addressing merit badge integration with high-adventure trips, implementing the patrol method, and BSA b

Scoutmaster Podcast 198

Mon, 28 Oct 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listeners and reads mail from scouts around the world, including questions about adult leaders without youth in the program and the ‘voluntold’ concept. The Scoutmastership in 7 Minutes segment addresses the challenges of being both a Scouter and a parent simultaneously. The remainder of the episode answers listener emails on youth leadership training, handling a disruptive p

Scoutmaster Podcast 197

Mon, 21 Oct 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with a full mailbag including news of a new book, ‘The Scouting Journey,’ and the ScoutmasterCG Android app. His Scoutmastership in 7 Minutes segment tackles the subjective evaluation of positions of responsibility for Star, Life, and Eagle ranks, arguing that progress—not performance against a fixed standard—is the right measure. The Listeners Email segment answers questions ab

Scoutmaster Podcast 196

Mon, 14 Oct 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listeners back and reads mail from several backers and listeners, announcing the new backer program and the ScoutmasterCG app. He then presents a Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes segment on making scouting’s rites of passage positive and affirming for young people. The episode concludes with a lengthy listener email segment covering swimming requirements, patrol formation, cu

Scoutmaster Podcast 195

Mon, 07 Oct 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green announces a backer program, his new book ‘The Scouting Journey,’ and a new Android app for the podcast. The episode features listener mail about Eagle Scouts and merit badge colleges, followed by two email Q&As: one on choosing a backpack for a small 12-year-old scout, and one on how to implement the patrol method with a young, new troop. Clarke uses the analogy of teaching someone to

Scoutmaster Podcast 194

Mon, 30 Sep 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail covering Stitcher Radio, podcast downloads, and a note about upcoming changes to Eagle-required merit badges. The main content focuses on Eagle Scout advancement: a teaching segment on what actually makes an Eagle Scout, followed by three listener emails covering pencil-whipped merit badges, a committee chair overstepping his role on Eagle applications, and a

Scoutmaster Podcast 193

Mon, 23 Sep 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers listener emails about managing over-involved parents on camping trips, deciding whether to accept a Scoutmaster position when you can only attend half the meetings, and how to build a strong working relationship with assistant Scoutmasters. The episode closes with a classic Halloween campfire story about the legendary ‘Pumpkin Man’ and his giant mallet.

Scoutmaster Podcast 192

Mon, 16 Sep 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke opens with a reflection on the Goblin Valley hoodoo incident as an allegory for resisting the urge to alter carefully balanced aspects of the Scouting program. The Scoutmastership segment tackles how to judge the ‘demonstrate Scout spirit’ requirement, arguing that progress — not perfection — is the true standard. Listener emails address Totin’ Chip policy, sheath knife rules, whether a Boy

Scoutmaster Podcast 191

Mon, 09 Sep 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green reads listener mail touching on backpacking, pioneering humor, and the Iditarod before diving into Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes on running effective Courts of Honor — covering length, scout-led ceremonies, scheduling, and attendance. He then shares a passage from his forthcoming book ‘The Scouting Journey’ about the Scouter as a guide rather than a director, contrasting a bus tour

Scoutmaster Podcast 190

Mon, 02 Sep 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail from Damien Law about handling Patrol Leaders Council decisions, inclusive scouting for unpopular scouts, and scouts with special needs. The main teaching segment covers Clarke’s 15-minute patrol leader training method, a catechism of questions and answers covering goals, first class advancement, participation, communication, and the three steps of planning, p

Scoutmaster Podcast 189

Mon, 26 Aug 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail covering patrol method insights, a new podcast archive feature, and an upcoming Scout Circle on backpacking. The Scoutmastership segment explains how to make Webelos den visits effective by having scouts talk directly with visiting parents. The remainder of the episode answers listener emails on two-deep leadership for patrol activities, running the patrol met

Scoutmaster Podcast 188

Mon, 19 Aug 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green presents Baden-Powell’s five fundamental principles of the patrol method from the 1920 booklet ‘Aids to Scoutmastership,’ emphasizing patrol autonomy, real responsibility for patrol leaders, and the Patrol Leaders Council. He then answers three listener emails covering non-scout siblings on campouts, reworking patrol assignments, and dealing with an adult-led troop as a new assistant

Scoutmaster Podcast 187

Mon, 12 Aug 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail praising the podcast and discussing batch downloads, then covers Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes on breakthrough scouting versus chasing numbers. The bulk of the episode answers several listener emails covering scout leader training, proper board of review composition, dual leadership roles, handling a senior patrol leader conduct complaint, and how to decisi

Scoutmaster Podcast 186

Mon, 05 Aug 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail from Paul Simonetti and Bill Duncan, then discusses the BSA’s new membership standards FAQ and upcoming Scout Circle events. The main teaching segment explores how to mentor youth leaders by measuring out information carefully — giving them only what they need to act, then letting experience build skill, analogous to teaching someone to ride a bike. Clarke clo

Scoutmaster Podcast 185

Mon, 29 Jul 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green shares a listener email from Kurt Huber about the camping kitchen box, then previews the episode’s sole feature: the latest installment of the Colorado Experiment with Arlan Ward of Troop 17 in Thornton, Colorado. Arlan describes his new troop’s first summer, including how the boys chose Camp Buffalo Bill near Yellowstone, how Scouts spontaneously drove their own advancement at summer

Scoutmaster Podcast 184

Mon, 22 Jul 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail covering FaceTime Scoutmaster conferences, youth protection in virtual settings, and a roundup of high adventure trips submitted by listeners. The main segment is a Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes or Less teaching on the Guide to Advancement 2013, urging leaders to ‘run to the resource’ rather than guessing at advancement policy. Clarke explains the document’

Scoutmaster Podcast 183

Mon, 15 Jul 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green returns from a week of canoeing in Algonquin Provincial Park and encourages all troops to plan a high adventure trip for 2014. After reading listener mail from Aaron, John, Scott, and Mike Frame, he answers two email questions in depth: one on cell phone policies for outings, and one on letting Scouts choose their own patrols — arguing that happy Scouts with their friends get the work

Scoutmaster Podcast 182

Mon, 08 Jul 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green replays his classic interview (originally from episode 54) with distinguished Eagle Scout and wilderness author Cliff Jacobson, recorded while Clarke was on a canoe trip in Algonquin Provincial Park. Before the interview, Clarke shares listener reviews and comments from iTunes and international listeners. Cliff discusses his Scouting roots, canoeing expeditions in Northern Canada, wil

Scoutmaster Podcast 181

Mon, 01 Jul 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listeners back after summer camp, shares a story about his senior patrol leader, and reads mail from Barry Carney, Paul Coutts, Kevin Smith, and Gary Klotz. He then discusses neckerchiefs as a practical activity uniform in Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes, followed by an in-depth answer to an anonymous email about the patrol leaders council annual planning process, including

Scoutmaster Podcast 180

Mon, 24 Jun 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green hosts a short summer camp episode, reading a letter from listener Jim Crutchfield and briefly promoting his book ‘Thoughts on Scouting.’ The main feature is a replay of ‘The Boy from Our Hoose,’ a detailed biographical story of William Hillcourt — from his boyhood in Aarhus, Denmark, to his decades of service as one of Scouting’s most influential figures in America. Clarke closes with

Scoutmaster Podcast 179

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers listener mail in this light summer episode. He reads complimentary reviews and notes from listeners, then responds in depth to a new acting Scoutmaster named John who is struggling with adult interference, scout-led planning, and keeping activities scout-appropriate. He also addresses questions from Brian Parton about First Class requirement wording for Leave No Trace and from

Scoutmaster Podcast 178

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green reads a letter from author Mike Malone praising Clarke’s new book, then delivers a Scoutmastership in seven minutes or less segment centered on Green Bar Bill Hillcourt’s declaration that Scoutmasters should make every promise on page 9 of the 1979 Scout Handbook come true in the lives of their Scouts. Clarke emphasizes that outdoor experiences in the patrol method naturally produce a

Scoutmaster Podcast 177

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens episode 177 with listener mail praising the patrol method, including a Scoutmaster who stood firm against parents wanting more adult involvement. The Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes segment explores Baden Powell’s ‘main aim’ of scouting — building decent human beings — using an archery analogy. Clarke then answers emails about scouts signing off on rank requirements and youth p

Scoutmaster Podcast 176

Mon, 27 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail including a success story from Ed Bruce about switching to the patrol method, and announces his new book ‘Thoughts on Scouting.’ The main teaching segment explains the ‘Troop Program Death Spiral’ — a predictable sequence where adults take over, scouts get bored, resentment builds, and the troop collapses. Clarke then answers an email from an assistant scoutma

Scoutmaster Podcast 175

Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail from Michael Harrington and Daniel Desjardins, then delivers a Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes segment with ten tips for adult leaders attending summer camp, covering self-care, respecting camp staff, supporting youth leaders, and maintaining patience. A humorous skit about a Scoutmaster ordering pizza while lecturing about hardship leads into a Listeners Ema

Scoutmaster Podcast 174

Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listener mail praising the podcast and scouting before introducing the third installment of the Colorado Experiment. He interviews Arlam Ward, Scoutmaster of the newly formed Troop 17 in Colorado, about their first camping trip over Memorial Day weekend, covering patrol-led cooking, duty rosters, parent management, and the stop-start-continue reflection process. The episode w

Scoutmaster Podcast 173

Mon, 06 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail from Kim Jones and Malcolm Dickinson, then introduces a panel discussion about the BSA’s recent membership policy change with Frank Maynard and Walter Underwood. The three Scouters discuss the process leading to the decision, regional differences in opinion, chartered organization concerns, and how unit leaders can handle interpersonal conflicts respectfully.

Scoutmaster Podcast 172

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Episode 172 opens with an extensive mailbag segment featuring letters from listeners across the country sharing encouragement and troop updates. Clarke then dedicates the bulk of the episode to a thorough and balanced discussion of the BSA’s pending membership standards resolution, including projected impacts of both changing and maintaining the policy, historical context from Baden-Powell, and a

Scoutmaster Podcast 171

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail covering topics from bullying prevention to sharing podcast content internationally. The Scoutmastership in 7 Minutes segment covers homesickness prevention strategies for both Scout leaders and parents, including establishing contact plans and avoiding rescue plans. Clarke then answers an email from Jeff Zook about managing too many adults on camping trips, o

Scoutmaster Podcast 170

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listeners, reads appreciation mail and announces a voluntary subscription option for supporting the podcast. The episode features an extended interview with Chris Nielsen, chair of the National Youth Council of Scouts Australia, covering the structure of Scouts Australia, the Rover section, and how the NYC gives youth a formal advisory role at the national level. Clarke draws

Scoutmaster Podcast 169

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green reads listener mail touching on merit badge blue cards, picky eaters on patrol campouts, and supporting the Scoutmaster role. The bulk of the episode is the second installment of the Colorado Experiment, an interview with brand-new Scoutmaster Arlen Ward about forming a new troop and running his first patrol leaders’ council meetings. Arlen shares three key phrases — ‘I didn’t see a r

Scoutmaster Podcast 168

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listeners and reads mail touching on the BSA membership standards resolution and scouts with disabilities before transitioning to several listener email questions. Topics covered include how to handle persistent bullying and pranking within a troop, the proper wear of the Eagle Mentor Pin on uniforms, resolving patrol meal-planning disputes, and whether to accept non-standard

Scoutmaster Podcast 167

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail praising the podcast and a recap of the April Scout Circle with author Kevin Callan, then previews the episode. In Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes or Less, Clarke explains that Scout leaders are not disciplinarians — punishment belongs to parents, while leaders use only positive reinforcement and direct natural consequences. The Listeners Email segment answer

Scoutmaster Podcast 166

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes a voicemail from new Scoutmaster Cameron Smith of Troop 51 in Minnesota, who shares how he ended up as Scoutmaster after arriving as a trained ASM. Clarke then hosts the April 2013 Scoutmaster Panel Discussion with Larry Geiger and Tom Gillard (Walter Underwood absent on vacation), focusing on how Scoutmasters can evaluate their own effectiveness using objective tools, peer f

Scoutmaster Podcast 165

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with an April Fools’ Day fake merit badge news bulletin, then reads listener mail touching on a popular post about what Scout parents should understand. The bulk of the episode is the first installment of ‘The Colorado Experiment,’ a new monthly feature following Arlen Ward as he starts brand-new Troop 17 in Thornton, Colorado, covering the process of finding a charter organizat

Scoutmaster Podcast 164

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail from several Scouters, then presents a Scoutmastership segment on 23 leadership self-evaluation questions drawn from NOLS materials, covering competencies like communication, judgment, tolerance for adversity, and vision. He then answers an email from a new Scout parent named Melissa who is frustrated by the lack of information provided to parents, explaining

Scoutmaster Podcast 163

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with an anecdote about a young Scout scolding the King of Sweden at an international camp. He then presents a lesson on the difference between planning and preparation in the Patrol Leaders Council, showing how mentoring Scouts through preparation with questions builds lasting skills. The episode closes with a detailed email exchange with Carl Smith from Troop 603 in Cave Creek,

Scoutmaster Podcast 162

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers listener email questions covering three topics: whether a troop can withhold a board of review due to unpaid rechartering fees (it cannot), how to improve courts of honor so Scouts and families actually attend, and how to diplomatically handle a helicopter parent who is driving her son’s merit badge advancement. Clarke also touches on uniforming policy and the difference betwe

Scoutmaster Podcast 161

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail from scouts and leaders across the US, Canada, and Australia. His Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes segment covers four common mistakes Scout leaders make — being over-involved, risk-averse, misunderstanding failure, and overemphasizing rewards — with practical advice on balanced leadership. The email segment answers questions on troop recruiting strategies and

Scoutmaster Podcast 160

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail covering helicopter scouters, pioneering lashings, and site redesign feedback, along with a sponsor spot and Scout Circle announcement. The main content is the February Scoutmaster Panel Discussion with Larry Geiger, Tom Gillard, and Walter Underwood, tackling two listener questions: one about a troop misusing patrol leader positions and blocking younger scout

Scoutmaster Podcast 159

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listener mail praising the podcast and infographics, then conducts an extended interview with Jeff Kvistad, Scoutmaster of Troop 965 in Kuwait. Jeff describes the challenges and rewards of running a multinational BSA troop in the desert — managing extreme heat, dehydration risks, cultural and religious diversity, and distance from council resources. Clarke closes with contact

Scoutmaster Podcast 158

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green interviews Dean Post, a Scouts Canada venture advisor, about how Scouts Canada navigated its transition to fully inclusive membership — covering membership trends, co-ed scouting, and youth leadership. Dean’s 17-year-old son Alex also shares his perspective. Clarke then answers listener emails on whether scouts are held to a higher standard and how to improve patrol leaders’ planning

Scoutmaster Podcast 157

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green discusses the BSA membership policy debate and shares listener mail on the topic, then presents a Scoutmastership in 7 Minutes segment on competition in Scouting and how to put winning and losing in perspective for boys. He follows with a Listeners Email answering a question about troop rules that prohibit scouts from attending merit badge days, explaining why such rules are outside B

Scoutmaster Podcast 156

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listener mail from Kelly in Arkansas and Ron Herrera in Erie, Pennsylvania, then previews the episode’s content. In Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes or Less, Clarke discusses the importance of reading Scout requirements carefully, paying attention to verbs and modifiers. He then answers an email from Brad in New Hampshire about how to handle patrol realignment when some scout

Scoutmaster Podcast 155

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listeners with mail from TC in Medina Ohio, David, and John Nelson, plus a segment with Bill Fleming from Conahoe Creek about scout gear. The Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes segment covers both ends of the spectrum: hosting a Webelos den visit using scouts as spokespersons, and ten strategies for retaining older scouts including real responsibility, accepting mistakes, and n

Scoutmaster Podcast 154

Mon, 24 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke welcomes listeners and reads mail from Jeff Berg about the STEM NOVA Scout Circle hangout, and discusses the new Scout Gear Bundle from Conahoe Creek sponsor Bill Fleming. The episode features the first Scoutmaster panel discussion of 2013, with regulars Tom Gillard, Larry Geiger, and Walter Underwood joined by guest Maury, a newly minted Scoutmaster in Northern California. The panel covers

Scoutmaster Podcast 153

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens episode 153 with listener mail from Kevin in Nebraska and Curtis in North Carolina, then introduces Arlen Ward to discuss an upcoming Google Plus Hangout on BSA STEM and NOVA programs, and Bill Fleming of Conahoe Creek Outfitters, the new podcast sponsor. The main teaching segment covers objective vs. subjective decision-making in scouting, arguing that scout leaders should ask

Scoutmaster Podcast 152

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green presents a New Year’s retrospective of the podcast’s best interviews from 2012, featuring Lenore Skenazi on free-range parenting and Scouting, Andrew Skirka on long-distance backpacking and gear philosophy, Michael Malone on his book about the centennial history of the Eagle Scout Award, and Chief Scout Executive Robert Mazuka on his own Eagle Scout journey and the future of the BSA.

Scoutmaster Podcast 151

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +0000

In this Christmas Eve episode, Clarke Green hosts a Scoutmaster Panel Discussion with Larry Geiger, Tom Gillard, and Walter Underwood. The panel addresses a listener email about scouts using electronic devices during meetings, covering appropriate discipline approaches, the impropriety of adult-imposed physical punishment, why demerit systems are incompatible with scouting, and the limits of commi

Scoutmaster Podcast 150

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Episode 150 opens with Clarke’s heartfelt reflection on the Sandy Hook tragedy and how scout leaders can help youth process frightening events. The main teaching segment covers the fourth and final step of scout advancement — ‘A Scout Is Recognized’ — including badge presentation, court of honor guidance, and Eagle Court of Honor considerations. Clarke then answers two listener email questions: on

Scoutmaster Podcast 149

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green presents the fourth installment of his advancement series, covering step three: a Scout is reviewed. He explains the purpose and conduct of Scoutmaster conferences and boards of review, drawing from the Guide to Advancement 2011 and the Scoutmaster Handbook. Clarke also answers a listener email about troop record-keeping practices and the proper handling of lost blue cards.

Scoutmaster Podcast 148

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Episode 148 of the Scoutmaster Podcast features listener mail responding to the previous episode on scout advancement, followed by Clarke Green’s third installment in a five-part series on the four steps to advancement. The teaching segment focuses on ‘a scout is tested,’ drawing on Baden-Powell, the Scoutmaster Handbook, and the Guide to Advancement to explain how requirements should be evaluated

Scoutmaster Podcast 147

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green discusses the financial realities of blogging and podcasting before diving into his series on the four steps to Scout advancement, focusing on Step 1: a Scout learns. He contrasts experiential, inquiry-based learning with passive academic instruction, using Einstein’s ‘Holy Spirit of Inquiry’ to frame scouting’s approach. Clarke then answers listener emails about boys avoiding chores

Scoutmaster Podcast 146

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail from Jason Reedy (new troop), an anonymous driver from California, and Jeff in Kuwait City. A recorded story from Shane Stillwell illustrates the value of letting boys solve problems themselves. The main teaching segment launches a multi-episode series on the four steps to Scout advancement, grounding the discussion in Baden Powell’s original intent. Listener

Scoutmaster Podcast 145

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green hosts a Scoutmaster panel discussion with Larry Geiger, Tom Gillard, and Walter Underwood, joined by guest Arlen Ward, a Cubmaster considering starting a new Boy Scout troop. The panel covers practical topics including securing a charter organization, filling key adult leadership positions, startup finances, and the importance of stepping back to let boys lead from the very beginning.

Scoutmaster Podcast 144

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green presents the third and final installment of a series on youth leader development, covering practical strategies such as backing off, responding to initiative, and guiding reflection rather than directing. He then answers an email from Charles Sanders about whether the Troop Bugler position counts toward rank advancement, using the opportunity to clarify the distinction between ‘positi

Scoutmaster Podcast 143

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green hosts episode 143 during Hurricane Sandy, opening with a trivia contest offering a copy of ‘The Scoutmaster’s Other Handbook.’ The main teaching segment covers the second installment of youth leader development, focusing on adult attitudes, capacity for adversity and uncertainty, and the reflective versus directive approach. Clarke also answers an email about an adult volunteer who wa

Scoutmaster Podcast 142

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with a full mailbag covering listener responses to recent blog posts on transcendent values and divisive issues in scouting, including notes on the patrol method and boy-led troops. The main teaching segment is the first of three installments on youth leader development, arguing that development is an ongoing process rather than a one-time training event. Clarke then answers two

Scoutmaster Podcast 141

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail including thoughts on divisive times in scouting and a call to unity around Baden-Powell’s vision. He then answers several listener email questions covering position-of-responsibility and active requirements for advancement, den chief training, Webelos camping rules, and new scout patrol pros and cons. The episode closes with Clarke’s contact information and a

Scoutmaster Podcast 140

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green hosts a Scoutmaster panel discussion with Tom Gillard and Walter Underwood, covering the Journey to Excellence program and how its criteria changed from the previous year. Topics include advancement, retention, training, camping, patrol method, fitness via Scout Strong, and the new court of honor requirements. The episode wraps with a reminder about Jamboree on the Air and Jamboree on

Scoutmaster Podcast 139

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail including thanks from backers of the Stuff Adult Leaders Say t-shirt Kickstarter project and notes from Scoutmasters around the country. The main teaching segment draws from a popular blog post titled ‘Are You a Safety Net or a Nursemaid?’ inspired by Andy’s column at the US Scouting Service Project, exploring how much adult intervention is appropriate when Sc

Scoutmaster Podcast 138

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green discusses why intelligence and experience alone don’t make someone a good instructor, drawing on an article about how smart people overwhelm learners with too much information. He then answers a listener email about whether conducting merit badge workshops at troop meetings is a good idea, arguing that the independent process of finding counselors and managing time is the most valuabl

Scoutmaster Podcast 137

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listener mail about senior patrol leader term limits before diving into a lengthy interview with technology writer and Eagle Scout Mike Malone, author of ‘4%: A History of the Eagle Scout Award.’ The conversation covers the story of Arthur Eldred, the first Eagle Scout, the evolution of the Eagle service project, notable Eagles like Neil Armstrong and Paul Siple, and what it

Scoutmaster Podcast 136

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes back listeners with a full mailbag including notes on Philmont, senior patrol leader resources, and a Kickstarter t-shirt project announcement. The main feature is a Scoutmaster Panel Discussion with regulars Larry Geiger and Walter Underwood, joined by Enoch, a 17-year-old Life Scout from Texas who blogs at Scouting Rediscovered. Enoch shares his journey from joining at 13 w

Scoutmaster Podcast 135

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail from Bill McFarlane, Ann Olson, and Larry Geiger touching on Neil Armstrong, the Northern Tier base pronunciation, and a moving Appalachian Trail story. The Scoutmastership segment covers two topics: ten practical tips for working effectively with your Senior Patrol Leader, and BSA survey findings showing that boys primarily drop out because they don’t go camp

Scoutmaster Podcast 134

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke opens with a tribute to Neil Armstrong, Eagle Scout and first man on the moon, reflecting on his humility and servant leadership. The Scoutmastership in 7 Minutes segment reviews a detailed guide by Hal Dommie on how a scout troop operates — covering the patrol method, patrol leaders council, senior patrol leader, and troop committee roles. Clarke then answers a listener email about reconci

Scoutmaster Podcast 133

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green returns from a week of canoeing in Canada with two crews and shares a humorous story about one adult’s quest to spot a moose. In the main teaching segment, Clarke covers the essential reading list for new Scoutmasters — including the Scout Handbook, Scoutmaster Handbook, Guide to Safe Scouting, Guide to Advancement, Uniform and Insignia Guide, and Baden-Powell’s Aids to Scoutmastershi

Scoutmaster Podcast 132

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green pre-records this episode while on a canoe trip in Algonquin Provincial Park, rebroadcasting content from episodes 23-25 about planning troop-based high-adventure trips. The episode covers the philosophy that crew preparation matters more than destination, and walks through the four key requirements: vision and leadership, attention to details, commitment to training and skill developm

Scoutmaster Podcast 131

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listeners back with mailbag highlights including notes about the Eagle Scout history book ‘4%’ and various blog comments. Due to a scheduling conflict, Clarke rebroadcasts the first-ever Scoutmaster Panel Discussion featuring Larry Geiger, Tom Gillard, and Walter Underwood, who share hard-won wisdom for new Scoutmasters. The episode closes with listener email answers on music

Scoutmaster Podcast 130

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +0000

This episode is not currently available in our archive. If you have a recording, please get in touch.

Scoutmaster Podcast 129

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green returns from a successful week of summer camp and reflects on how capable youth leadership made the trip nearly adult-free. He shares 10 tips for working with the Senior Patrol Leader, covering topics like letting the SPL own the program, giving feedback sparingly, and guarding the youth leadership playing field. The episode closes with a shout out from Mike Beck to an assistant Scout

Scoutmaster Podcast 128

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke opens with a series of camp-themed jokes and welcomes listeners back with shout-outs to Derek Morton, Dan White, and Alan Green, plus a note about Mike Malone’s upcoming Eagle Scout history book ‘4%’. The main feature is an in-depth answer to an anonymous listener’s email about how far in advance a Patrol Leaders Council should plan events, with Clarke emphasizing patience, teaching boys to

Scoutmaster Podcast 127

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green discusses how to structure troop meetings using a seven-step framework — from pre-opening through post-meeting planning — emphasizing scout-led programming and avoiding merit badge instruction at meetings. He then answers an email from a parent whose son was sent home from camp and suspended for three months for a minor infraction, offering practical advice on dealing with an unreason

Scoutmaster Podcast 126

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green hosts a Scout Master Panel Discussion with Larry Geiger, Tom Gillard, and Walter Underwood on emergency preparedness and disaster training for Scouts. The panel covers community partnerships with agencies like CERT and the BSA’s Emergency Preparedness program, the value of first aid training in real emergencies, and how Scouts fit into structured disaster response as typed and spontan

Scoutmaster Podcast 125

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green interviews Lenore Skenazy, author of ‘Free Range Kids,’ about the culture of fear surrounding child-rearing and how over-protection undermines children’s development. Skenazy makes a compelling case for scouting as a vehicle for building self-reliance, confidence, and real-world competence in children. The conversation covers media-driven fear, the three R’s of abuse prevention, and h

Scoutmaster Podcast 124

Mon, 28 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail from Bryce Scott asking a follow-up question about requirements vs. scout activities, and thanks from Terry Dutton and Jody. The main segment is Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes or Less on the topic of discipline — Clarke explains that scout leaders are not disciplinarians, that the Scout Oath and Law are the only code of conduct needed, and walks through the

Scoutmaster Podcast 123

Mon, 21 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green revisits Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes or Less from episode 74, covering practical advice for adult leaders attending summer camp. He then shares a memorable true story about a LOG craze that swept through camp in 1993. The episode concludes with Clarke answering a listener email about a parent-Scout master conflict over advancement requirements, advising that following the Scout p

Scoutmaster Podcast 122

Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listeners and reads mail before previewing the episode. Larry Geiger contributes a standalone segment on framing the Scouting program as serving parents’ goals for their sons. The bulk of the episode is a panel discussion with Larry Geiger and Tom Gillard on recognizing and handling difficult parent types — pushy, whiny, helicopter, and bully parents — as well as conflicts be

Scoutmaster Podcast 121

Mon, 07 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green discusses the core role of the Scoutmaster — framing it as coach and facilitator rather than leader — covering what a Scoutmaster must be, know, and do. The episode includes a shout-out congratulating Zachary on his Quartermaster rank, Eagle Scout, and other awards. A Scoutmaster’s Minute reinforces that scouting is experiential: the way to the brain goes through the hand.

Scoutmaster Podcast 120

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green introduces a new ‘shout outs’ feature and shares a five-star iTunes review before presenting a detailed Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes segment on the troop tradition of Vespers — an evening reflection practice. The episode also features a recorded shout out from Portland, Oregon, and a touching ‘This Has to Be the Truth’ story from Donnie Grandy about how his son asked to join Cub S

Scoutmaster Podcast 119

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green reads listener mail about starting a troop from scratch and shares a preview of the episode’s content. The main teaching segment covers volunteer recruitment strategies, including Bill Daniel’s ‘guilt-free troop’ model and Larry Geiger’s advice on matching volunteers to roles they enjoy. The listeners email segment answers questions about managing scouts with asthma on high-altitude h

Scoutmaster Podcast 118

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listeners back with iTunes reviews and listener mail, then presents a Scoutmastership in 7 Minutes segment on how to organically start a brand-new Scout troop by taking boys camping and letting them discover Scouting for themselves. He follows with an interview with Craig Cohen, a camp program director, discussing how Scout leaders can best support the summer camp experience

Scoutmaster Podcast 117

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with a personal reflection on trusting BSA national guidelines rather than approaching them with suspicion, using the new age guidelines for tool use as a context. The bulk of the episode is a Scout Master Panel Discussion with Larry Geiger, Walter Underwood, and Tom Gillard, covering the new tool use and service project planning guidelines, immediate rank recognition, scouts wi

Scoutmaster Podcast 116

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with a soapbox moment on the older boy program, arguing that real leadership responsibility — not entertainment — keeps older Scouts engaged. He then delivers a Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes segment exploring what ‘fun’ truly means for Scouts: hanging out with friends, facing challenges, and experiencing independence. The episode closes with a detailed email answer about part

Scoutmaster Podcast 115

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green discusses the ‘pivot point’ between adult-led and youth-led troops, arguing that the core difference is a focus on process versus results, using transportation logistics as a practical example. He then answers an email from a new Scoutmaster named Barney about integrating scouts with ADD and autism into patrols, sharing his experience that scouts generally accept differences with litt

Scoutmaster Podcast 114

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail covering Jamboree logistics advice, downloading older episodes, blue card misuse, and Andrew Skurka’s speaking tour. His Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes segment tackles ‘contribution syndrome’ — the compulsion to always contribute — and the power of asking simple questions like ‘why.’ The episode also features a comedic vintage radio sketch starring superhero

Scoutmaster Podcast 113

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Episode 113 features the April edition of the Scoutmaster Panel Discussion with Larry Geiger, Tom Gillard, and guest Walter Torres, a soon-to-be new Scoutmaster from suburban Chicago. The panel covers the proper use of merit badge blue cards as a tool for Scoutmaster-Scout conversation rather than gatekeeping, the BSA’s current guidance on patrol activities and overnight camping with appropriate a

Scoutmaster Podcast 112

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail covering backpacking gear and the previous episode’s interview with Andrew Skirka. The main teaching segment explores the various roles Scout leaders play within their volunteer positions—manager, administrator, coach, mentor, counselor, disciplinarian, leader, advisor, teacher—along with the skills (observation, knowledge, vision, positive reinforcement) and

Scoutmaster Podcast 111

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green interviews Andrew Skurka, adventurer of the year and author of the Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide, about his record-breaking long-distance hikes, gear philosophy, and guided trips. Clarke then issues a personal challenge to listeners to get their Scouts out on a multi-day wilderness experience, drawing on his own experience leading canoe trips to Algonquin Provincial Park and beyond. The

Scoutmaster Podcast 110

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listener mail and introduces a panel discussion on the troop committee and its relationship with the Scoutmaster. Regular panelists Tom Gillard, Walter Underwood, and Larry Geiger are joined by Frank Maynard, committee chair for Troop 407 in Novi, Michigan and author of the Bob White Blather blog. Topics include defining committee vs. Scoutmaster roles, running effective meet

Scoutmaster Podcast 109

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green kicks off a series of interviews with notable Eagle Scouts to mark the 100th anniversary of the Eagle Scout Award, featuring a conversation with Chief Scout Executive Robert Mazzucca about his scouting roots in Troop 28 in San Juan Bautista, California, his path to becoming an Eagle Scout, and his advice on leadership and the future of the BSA. The episode also includes a produced aud

Scoutmaster Podcast 108

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green dedicates this special episode to Scouts Canada, opening with listener mail and a personal reflection on his troop’s annual canoe trip to Algonquin Provincial Park. He then conducts a lively panel discussion with three Canadian Scouters — Tom Brewer (Ottawa), Harry Snyder (London, Ontario), and Dean Post (Guelph, Ontario) — covering the structure of Scouts Canada from Beaver Scouts th

Scoutmaster Podcast 107

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail praising the podcast and previews the episode’s two segments. In Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes or Less, he walks through a developmentally progressive approach to building youth leadership in a brand-new troop of 11- and 12-year-olds, using specific Scout Handbook pages and a tricycle-to-racing-bike analogy. The listener email segment addresses Scoutmaster

Scoutmaster Podcast 106

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green hosts an extended Scoutmaster panel discussion with Larry Geiger, Tom Gillard, and guest T.W. Cook covering the history, membership, elections, and lodge structure of the Order of the Arrow. The second half welcomes brand-new Scoutmaster Blaise Vitale from Wisconsin, who shares his struggles building a boy-led troop with young scouts and receives practical encouragement and coaching a

Scoutmaster Podcast 105

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Episode 105 features a candid field interview with Dave, an Eagle Scout and adult leader, who shares his experience with Scouting from three perspectives: as a boy whose mother enrolled him after his father’s death, as a parent navigating his son’s involvement including a temporary dropout, and as an adult leader who found renewed purpose through the program. The conversation explores the difficul

Scoutmaster Podcast 104

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with a listener letter from Tom Gillard about a ‘clinker’ troop policy requiring Scouts to redo merit badge requirements older than a year. He then delivers a Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes segment arguing that the only real qualification for a youth leadership position is being a Scout who wants the job. A listener email from Mark Bowie of Troop 531 in Orange, California prom

Scoutmaster Podcast 103

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with a Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes segment about ‘clinkers’ — misinformation and urban legends that circulate among Scout leaders — urging leaders to verify information before repeating it. The main segment is a detailed answer to Scoutmaster Shane Stillwell, who left an adult-run troop to start a new one and wants to know how to build a genuinely boy-led program from the g

Scoutmaster Podcast 102

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Episode 102 presents an extended Scoutmastership segment tracing the origins of the Scouting movement from Ernest Thompson Seton’s Woodcraft Indians to Baden Powell’s development of the patrol system. Drawing extensively from Baden Powell’s Aids to Scoutmastership, the episode explains why the patrol method is the one essential feature that distinguishes Scouting from all other organizations. Clar

Scoutmaster Podcast 101

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Episode 101 features the regular panel of Tom Gillard, Larry Geiger, and Walter Underwood discussing two key Scouting topics. The first segment covers Scoutmaster conferences, emphasizing they are conversations to connect with Scouts—not pass/fail evaluations—and that no Scout can fail one. The panel then addresses a question from Andre Crawford about maintaining the boy-led principle while ensuri

Scoutmaster Podcast 100

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green celebrates the 100th episode of the Scoutmaster Podcast by sharing listener emails and voicemails from Bill McFarlane, Jamie Humphries, Frank Maynard, and John Marsh, and reflecting on the global reach and purpose of the scouting movement. He recounts a humorous summer camp story about discovering a copperhead snake living under a scout’s tent platform and the chaotic extraction that

Scoutmaster Podcast 99

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

In episode 99, Clarke Green reads listener mail celebrating the podcast’s milestone and announces the upcoming 100th episode. He answers an email from Dave about how to convince new scouts and their families to commit to summer camp, focusing on the intangible growth boys experience. The episode closes with a Scoutmaster’s Minute.

Scoutmaster Podcast 98

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listener feedback on episode 97’s advancement interview, then reads mailbag letters including a question about the senior patrol leader. In Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes, Clarke draws on a Google Plus discussion to offer practical advice on mentoring Scouts through the planning process. He then answers a listener email clarifying that Webelos Scouts with the Arrow of Light

Scoutmaster Podcast 97

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green interviews three members of the BSA National Advancement Committee — Steve Bowen, Wayne Huddleson, and Dan Maxfield — about how the new Guide to Advancement was developed. They discuss key clarifications including the definition of ‘active,’ positions of responsibility, boards of review procedures, and significant changes to the Eagle Scout project process. The episode also covers the

Scoutmaster Podcast 96

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green hosts a Scoutmaster panel discussion with Tom Gillard, Larry Geiger, and Walter Underwood, joined by call-in guest Mike, a new Scoutmaster from Valerico, Florida. The panel covers strategies for welcoming Webelos crossovers and cold-join Scouts, orienting new parents, and building a troop culture that integrates new families effectively. Clarke notes that recording issues caused part

Scoutmaster Podcast 95

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green discusses the new position code 92U for college scouter reserves, then delivers an extended Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes segment on the Patrol Leaders Council — its role as the administrative center of a troop, the philosophical case for youth-led planning, and practical tips for coaching senior patrol leaders through the process. Clarke emphasizes that the value lies in the proce

Scoutmaster Podcast 94

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green discusses social media tools in scouting, breaking them into publishing outlets, social networks, and personal networks, while emphasizing that closing the communication loop still requires personal contact. He also addresses a listener question from the archives about merit badge days, arguing that scoutmasters should trust the merit badge system and stay out of the counselor’s role.

Scoutmaster Podcast 93

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listeners with mail from Mike Manzer praising the panel discussion and from Richard in Canada with a progress report on moving his troop toward youth leadership. Clarke then presents a Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes segment drawing on Andy’s advice column to emphasize treating each Scout as a unique individual. He closes with a listener email from Mike Beck of Troop 61 in B

Scoutmaster Podcast 92

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green hosts a Scoutmaster panel discussion with Larry Geiger, Tom Gillard, and Walter Underwood reviewing three new BSA publications: the Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (ILST), the new Guide to Advancement, and the revised Eagle Project workbook. The panel also takes a call-in question from David, a committee chair in Pennsylvania, about how to divide responsibilities between

Scoutmaster Podcast 91

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes listeners back and responds to follow-up from John Sloan about adults on camping trips. In Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes or Less, he explains the new Guide to Advancement’s three-step process for evaluating the ‘active’ requirement. He then answers an email from David Shoup about how to properly sign off rank requirements and maintain consistent standards across a troop, i

Scoutmaster Podcast 90

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with a joke from listener Tom Brewer and reads a comment from Anne Voyageur. The bulk of episode 90 is devoted to answering an email from Scoutmaster John Sloan, who asks how to ensure scout safety when adults are camped separately from the boys. Clarke provides a thorough discussion of BSA’s Sweet 16 of Safety, emphasizing qualified supervision, training, experience, skill asse

Scoutmaster Podcast 89

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green reviews the new BSA Guide to Advancement and new Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook, highlighting 13 significant changes and praising the clarifications they bring. He then answers three listener emails covering classroom-style meetings, parent participation at campouts, and handling a difficult Scout at a Scoutmaster conference. The episode also features a brief mailbag from two li

Scoutmaster Podcast 88

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green hosts the first-ever Scoutmaster Panel Discussion featuring Larry Geiger, Tom Gillard, and Walter Underwood. The panel covers what makes a good Scoutmaster, working with youth leaders, managing parents and committees, relating to charter organizations and districts, balancing family life, and the pitfall of adult meddling in scout decisions. Clarke also shares brief mailbag items incl

Scoutmaster Podcast 87

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green hosts an in-depth interview with Mark Dwyer, a Shelterbox response team member and scouting program head for Shelterbox USA, and Doug Matz, a Scoutmaster and Shelterbox ambassador. They explain how Shelterbox provides emergency shelter kits to disaster victims worldwide and how Scout units can get involved through awareness events, fundraising, and even Eagle Scout projects. The episo

Scoutmaster Podcast 86

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green interviews Peter LaRue, a group scout leader from South Africa and author of the Ropes and Poles pioneering blog. They discuss the similarities between BSA and South African scouting, the unique Contiki raft-building competition, the group scouting structure with cub packs and rover scouts, and Peter’s experiences at the 22nd World Scout Jamboree in Sweden. The episode emphasizes the

Scoutmaster Podcast 85

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes Hab Butler, Northeast Region commissioner and Silver Buffalo Award recipient, who chaired the committee that designed the BSA’s new Journey to Excellence program. They discuss how the program uses five key indicators — finance, membership, program, service, and governance — to differentiate high-performing units and drive continuous improvement. Clarke also reads a warm email

Scoutmaster Podcast 84

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail on the new chess merit badge and a discussion about scout discipline before previewing the episode. In Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes, Clarke details how his troop ran its first annual troop leadership summit, bringing the PLC, troop committee, and assistant scoutmasters together for a full Saturday of calendar planning and leadership coaching. The Great Bro

Scoutmaster Podcast 83

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green interviews Assistant Scoutmaster Mike Malone and Life Scout David Bauer of Troop 466 in Sunnyvale, California about their series of extraordinary once-in-a-lifetime adventures, including a recreation of part of the Lewis and Clark expedition on the Missouri River in Montana. Mike describes his systematic approach to building historically rich, service-centered trips — from a Wainwrigh

Scoutmaster Podcast 82

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers two listener email questions in this episode. The first, from Scoutmaster Michael Beck, addresses how youth leaders can get scouts to listen and cooperate, emphasizing respectful requests, patience, and the Scout Oath and Law over added rules. The second, from Scoutmaster Steven Jensen, tackles how to manage the high volume of Scoutmaster conferences in a large troop, with Cla

Scoutmaster Podcast 81

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green returns from three weeks of traveling including a trip to Kandersteg International Scout Centre in Switzerland with his troop. He shares reflections on world scouting brotherhood and then delivers an extended Scoutmastership segment on discipline in scouting, arguing that punishment is not part of the scouting experience and that discipline should focus on teaching and connecting acti

Scoutmaster Podcast 80

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green rebroadcasts a summer favorite: a Skype interview with Rob Ferris and Harry Wimbrough, two of the three authors of ‘Working the Patrol Method.’ The conversation covers the history and philosophy behind the patrol method, how adult leaders can facilitate youth planning without taking over, and the concept of caring leadership. Clarke closes with a brief outro noting the rebroadcast con

Scoutmaster Podcast 79

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Episode 79 is a summer rebroadcast of highlights from the past year. Clarke Green revisits a Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes segment on the Patrol Method, drawing on Baden-Powell and an old Scout Masters handbook to argue that Scoutmasters should step back and let youth leadership run troop meetings. A Scoutmaster’s Minute honors Ernest Thompson Seaton and the value of challenge over convenience,

Scoutmaster Podcast 78

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green presents part two of Larry Geiger’s framework for adult behavior on Scout camping trips, covering topics like chain-of-command questioning, letting Scouts instruct each other, and family camp-outs. The Scoutmaster’s Minute draws on the TV show ‘The Paper Chase’ to illustrate the Socratic method as a tool for developing independent thinking in Scouts. Clarke also shares a listener comm

Scoutmaster Podcast 77

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener responses about homesickness at summer camp, then presents the first five of Larry Geiger’s ten tips for managing adult leaders on scout camping trips. The main feature is a detailed discussion of Merit Badge counseling policy, sparked by a blog commenter who withheld advancement forms — Clarke explains that the Merit Badge counselor has final authority by BSA poli

Scoutmaster Podcast 76

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green offers a summer edition of the Scoutmaster Podcast, keeping things brief before heading to camp. He covers strategies for dealing with homesickness at summer camp—setting parent expectations, staying active, and talking it through—then answers a listener email about how to support a high-functioning autistic Scout whose parents want his diagnosis kept private, suggesting indirect disc

Scoutmaster Podcast 75

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green reads listener mail from two Scoutmasters, then presents a Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes segment on preparing parents who stay home while their scouts attend summer camp. He follows with a Scoutmaster’s Minute that turns into a frank rant arguing that the so-called older-boy retention problem is solved by running the patrol method and letting older scouts lead the troop.

Scoutmaster Podcast 74

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail from Ron Morris about sharing the podcast and shares a gift from Bill McFarland, a carved neckerchief slide. The main teaching segment covers how adult leaders can thrive at summer camp — taking care of themselves physically, supporting camp staff, and letting youth leaders run the show. The listener answer segment addresses a parent’s strategy of withholding

Scoutmaster Podcast 73

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green tells the remarkable life story of Wilhelm Beherrgaard Jensen — who became William ‘Greenbar Bill’ Hillcourt — from his boyhood in Aarhus, Denmark to becoming one of the most influential figures in the Boy Scouts of America. The episode traces how a broken leg from a falling crate of surplus flagpoles led to Hillcourt’s pivotal role writing the Patrol Leader’s Handbook, the Boy Scout

Scoutmaster Podcast 72

Mon, 30 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green interviews Mark Wray, author of ‘The Scoutmaster’s Other Handbook,’ ‘The Eagle Court of Honor Book,’ and ‘Growing Up Right, Growing Up Strong.’ They discuss balancing Scouting’s aims and methods, working effectively with youth leaders, rethinking patrol size for modern schedules, and best practices for Eagle Courts of Honor. The episode opens with listener mail about the Kiber Pass ca

Scoutmaster Podcast 71

Mon, 23 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens episode 71 with listener mail covering topics like helicopter parenting in Scouting and the rewards of stepping back. As a Memorial Day weekend re-broadcast, he features a Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes segment on volunteering with boundaries, followed by a camp story about the night a Medevac helicopter landed at summer camp. Clarke closes with a personal tribute to family me

Scoutmaster Podcast 70

Mon, 16 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green celebrates the 70th episode of the Scoutmaster Podcast with a retrospective on the blog and podcast’s growth. He reads mailbag feedback from listeners responding to episode 69’s commissioner and Scout dad content. The main feature answers a Facebook question from an assistant Scoutmaster about how to nudge his son along on merit badges without overstepping as a parent or leader.

Scoutmaster Podcast 69

Mon, 09 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail from Nick Demos, Jeff Swartt, and Mike Manzer before answering an anonymous listener’s question about what makes a good district commissioner, offering six detailed recommendations. He then shares a poetic personal narrative about a father’s journey through Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts alongside his son, ending with the discovery that a grandchild is now interest

Scoutmaster Podcast 68

Mon, 02 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green welcomes new blog contributor Larry Geiger and announces the April giveaway winner before diving into a full-length interview with Alex Pasek, founder of the Outdoor Safety Institute and author of the Appalachian Mountain Club Guide to Outdoor Leadership. The interview covers the three pillars of outdoor leadership (technical, interpersonal, and judgment skills), practical tips for wo

Scoutmaster Podcast 67

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with a letter from Tom Brewer of the 3rd Orleans Beaver Colony in Ottawa about managing leadership transitions. He then presents his Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes segment on training youth leaders through action, reflection, and discovery rather than formal classroom instruction. The episode closes with a detailed answer to Scoutmaster Tim Aiken’s question about what qualifie

Scoutmaster Podcast 66

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers listener emails and reviews on podcast 66, then delivers a Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes segment on conducting Eagle Scout Scoutmaster conferences. He follows up on questions from podcast 65, sharing listener responses on handling a retiring Scoutmaster who won’t step back, addressing a Scout in trouble outside of Scouting, and managing email flame wars in the troop.

Scoutmaster Podcast 65

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green covers the BSA training continuum for Scoutmasters, tracing its evolution from multi-night in-person sessions to online modules, and encourages leaders to engage with blogs and podcasts as a supplement. He then turns the tables on listeners with four open questions about common troop challenges. The episode closes with Clarke’s Scoutmaster’s Minute — a speech from his troop’s Eagle Co

Scoutmaster Podcast 64

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with a mailbag segment covering listener emails on topics ranging from last-minute sign-ups to high adventure resources and PLC planning. The main teaching segment, Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes or Less, explains how adhering to BSA policies and procedures protects the program’s quality without leaders needing to become ‘quality police.’ A listener email from Brian follows, a

Scoutmaster Podcast 63

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with mailbag responses on no-show scouts at camping trips, sharing a policy tip from Scoutmaster Jerry and follow-up from listener Todd Grady. He then covers Scoutmaster conferences in his ‘Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes or Less’ segment, explaining how to use them as informal, encouraging conversations rather than retests. The episode closes with Clarke’s personal advice to n

Scoutmaster Podcast 62

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers two listener questions in episode 62. The first, from Don on Facebook, addresses whether troops can legally require attendance percentages for advancement or leadership — Clarke explains that BSA policy explicitly prohibits units from modifying advancement requirements, and encourages youth-led programming as the real solution. The second question, called in by Todd Drady of T

Scoutmaster Podcast 61

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with a humorous story from Walter Underwood about a Scout stomping a nickel in his sleeping bag, then answers mailbag letters on Webelos recruitment and troop competition. The main teaching segment covers the four stages of competence and the Dunning-Kruger effect as frameworks for developing Scout leadership. Clarke also answers an email from Assistant Scoutmaster Michael Vino

Scoutmaster Podcast 60

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens episode 60 with listener feedback on homesickness at summer camp and troop cooking, then previews a new website launch. The main segment covers Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes on welcoming new Scouts crossing over from Webelos, focusing on relationships between older and newer Scouts and new parents. A Scoutmaster’s Minute uses a carpentry metaphor to remind leaders that Scouts

Scoutmaster Podcast 59

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with mailbag items including a conference thank-you, a paddling workshop announcement by Cliff Jacobson, and a newsletter giveaway winner. The main content covers mental health awareness in Scouting — warning signs to watch for in adolescents and how to approach parents — followed by a phone-in question from a new Scoutmaster about encouraging first-year Scouts to attend summer

Scoutmaster Podcast 58

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener emails praising the podcast and discussing the patrol method and survival skills for young adults. The main feature is an interview with Survivorman Les Stroud about his book ‘Will to Live,’ covering the survivor’s mindset, additive factors in survival, and the importance of sharing knowledge with your group. A listener phone call about a memorable rainy JLTC campi

Scoutmaster Podcast 57

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail from Scoutmasters Tony Place and Jason Pettis, plus notes from Larry Geiger and Frank Maynard, before previewing the episode’s main feature. The bulk of the episode is an in-depth interview with Dr. Paul Auerbach, Stanford professor and world-leading authority on wilderness medicine, covering hydration, injury prevention, improvisation in the field, and recomm

Scoutmaster Podcast 56

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green reads inspiring excerpts from the 1913 proof edition of the first Scoutmaster Handbook, covering discipline, reverence, dynamic leadership, and the ultimate aim of scouting. He then answers a phone-in question from Jason Pettis of Troop 130 in Golden, Colorado, who is preparing for 16-20 new Webelos crossing over at once. Clarke offers practical advice on preparing youth leadership, o

Scoutmaster Podcast 55

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail debating the ground-cloth-inside-or-outside-the-tent question from the Cliff Jacobson interview. He then covers three features: a Scoutmastership in 7 Minutes segment on earning respect using a Scouting Magazine ‘What Would You Do’ column, a listener email from Tom in Portland about Scout advancement and skill sign-offs, and a ‘This Has to Be the Truth’ story

Scoutmaster Podcast 54

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green interviews wilderness guide and author Cliff Jacobson, an Eagle Scout and author of over a dozen books on camping and canoeing. They discuss Cliff’s scouting background, his most memorable expeditions in Northern Canada, and practical outdoor wisdom including the importance of skills and judgment over gear. Clarke also reads listener mail responding to the previous episode’s discussio

Scoutmaster Podcast 53

Mon, 17 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with listener mail covering special needs scouting stories and advice on merging new crossover scouts into existing patrols. He then dives into a detailed explanation of venture patrols — distinct from venture crews — as a way to organize older-boy high adventure outings, and closes with a clear answer on BSA driving age requirements from the tour permit form.

Scoutmaster Podcast 52

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens episode 52 with a large mailbag including listener feedback on the patrol method book and follow-up on the Eagle Scout ambush topic from episode 51. In Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes, Clarke discusses the importance of responding with unalloyed encouragement to any initiative shown by scout leaders, no matter how imperfect. The listeners email segment answers Ray’s questions a

Scoutmaster Podcast 51

Mon, 03 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green addresses a detailed listener email about a Scoutmaster who is blocking a Life Scout’s Eagle advancement with invented attendance requirements, explaining BSA policy and the options available to the family. He then answers a question from Scoutmaster Jeff in Arkansas about the pros and cons of mixed-age versus same-age patrols, advocating for putting patrol formation in the hands of t

Scoutmaster Podcast 50

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

A special milestone 50th episode. Listener thank-yous from Davey Gravy and Larry Geiger, plus the launch of a monthly Scoutmaster newsletter. Then a wide-ranging interview with Kevin Callan — Canadian author, canoe enthusiast, and the Happy Camper — on paddling Ontario wilderness, portaging, and the value of wild places.

Scoutmaster Podcast 49

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green reads listener mail including a review from Skater Brian on iTunes, then shares the audio from a vintage patrol method filmstrip—a relic from the BSA’s past that still has plenty to say about the core of Scout leadership.

Scoutmaster Podcast 48

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green reads letters from listeners including Ray from Oak Ridge, Tennessee, then digs into two listener questions about troop management and Scouting practice.

Scoutmaster Podcast 47

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green shares listener letters from Larry Geiger, Phil, and Jim, then digs into what Scoutmastership actually means in Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes, and answers Phil’s email about leading a young troop with an inexperienced SPL.

Scoutmaster Podcast 46

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green explains why Scouting is fundamentally a process—not a production line—and why liberating yourself from the need for measurable outputs is essential to understanding the mission. A Scoutmaster’s Minute uses the metaphor of a Scout shirt to describe the Scouting program to non-Scout audiences.

Scoutmaster Podcast 45

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green discusses how boards of review should be conducted and provides resources for training board members—emphasizing they are not retests of scout skills but meaningful conversations. The episode also marks the blog’s fifth anniversary and discusses how to support the podcast and blog.

Scoutmaster Podcast 44

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green reflects on Roald Amundsen’s famous observation that adventure is just bad planning brought to light by trial, then responds to listener feedback on patrol leader elections from the previous episode.

Scoutmaster Podcast 43

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green shares a blog post by new Scoutmaster Brian Spellman of Fishers, Indiana, who describes the moment he truly saw his Scouts lead themselves. The episode explores what it looks and feels like when the patrol method actually works—and a listener email touches on similar themes.

Scoutmaster Podcast 42

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with Kin Hubbard’s line—‘Boys will be boys, and so will a lot of middle-aged men’—then covers Contribution Syndrome (great leaders ask questions rather than give answers) and hazing in Scouting.

Scoutmaster Podcast 41

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green shares a letter Mike Rowe (host of Dirty Jobs) wrote to an Eagle Scout, and a response from Colin who is on the home stretch to Eagle. Includes a Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes on duty to God and the 12th point of the Scout Law, followed by listener emails.

Scoutmaster Podcast 40

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

A milestone 40th episode. Clarke reads listener thank-yous celebrating the occasion, then interviews Rob Ferris and Harry Wimbrough, two of the three authors of Working the Patrol Method, on how the patrol method works and why it matters.

Scoutmaster Podcast 39

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green shares how he runs the annual parents meeting—including a Friends of Scouting presentation and group gear order through Campmor—then covers courts of honor and ceremony in Scouting, arguing for brevity, tradition, and meaning over florid theatrical displays.

Scoutmaster Podcast 38

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

An extended interview with Larry Geiger, Scoutmaster in Cocoa, Florida, who has been a frequent commenter on the blog and podcast. The conversation covers his troop’s program, the journey toward a truly boy-led troop, and what success looks like when Scouts can do the whole thing themselves.

Scoutmaster Podcast 37

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

A shorter episode recorded while preparing for a council training event. Clarke reads listener mail, announces upcoming interviews with long-time blog readers and the authors of Working the Patrol Method, and discusses the 20th century realities that shape how patrols can operate independently today.

Scoutmaster Podcast 36

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green continues his series on building youth leadership and the patrol method, focusing on how to train scouts through ongoing mentoring rather than one-time training events, using questions and small successes to develop initiative. He also recommends the classic outdoor book ‘Woodcraft and Camping’ by George W. Sears (pen name Nessmuk), still in print from the 1880s. The episode opens wit

Scoutmaster Podcast 35

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with a recommendation for ‘The Left Handshake,’ a history of scouting during World War II, sharing a personal connection to Polish scouts in exile. The main segment is a second installment of Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes, exploring how adults can step back and trust the patrol system and youth leadership as a developmental process. The episode closes with a Scoutmaster’s Min

Scoutmaster Podcast 34

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens episode 34 with a shout-out to frequent commenter Larry Geiger, then launches into the first of a multi-part series on youth leadership and the patrol method, explaining three ways Scouting differs from other youth organizations and why educating adults is the essential first step. He answers a listener email about who has authority over neckerchief decisions, citing the BSA Uni

Scoutmaster Podcast 33

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green discusses den chiefs as a valuable entry-level leadership position for older Scouts, featuring an interview with one of his Scouts about the role and its rewards. The episode also includes the return of the ‘This Has Got to Be True’ summer camp story segment.

Scoutmaster Podcast 32

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green describes the structure of a model Scout troop campout from preparation to execution, emphasizing the independence of youth leadership throughout. The episode also includes a quiz on merit badge counselors to test knowledge of the program’s requirements.

Scoutmaster Podcast 31

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Back from summer camp and a canoe trip, Clarke Green shares listener letters about troops that have become truly boy-led, including Larry Geiger’s story of an Appalachian Trail hike where the Scouts cared for their adult leaders—not the other way around.

Scoutmaster Podcast 30

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Recorded while at Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario, Clarke Green wraps up the troop meetings series with Baden-Powell’s century-old advice about trusting patrol leaders and concludes the four-part series on planning the future of your Scout unit. Includes a Scoutmaster’s Minute.

Scoutmaster Podcast 29

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green continues the troop meetings series, using the story of a painter’s chaotic-looking studio as a metaphor for the productive disorder of a well-run Scout meeting—where what looks like a mess is actually Scouts learning. Also continues the series on planning the future of your unit.

Scoutmaster Podcast 28

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green begins a multi-part series on troop meetings, explaining what the Scoutmaster’s role should and shouldn’t be—setting things in motion and stepping back to let Scouts work through what looks like organized chaos. Includes a Scoutmaster’s Minute on the BSA’s 100th anniversary.

Scoutmaster Podcast 27

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

A special episode recorded while Clarke is away at Scout camp, featuring a curated selection of scouting-related music—jazz renditions of campfire classics, folk songs, and traditional Scout tunes—with commentary on the artists and where to find the recordings.

Scoutmaster Podcast 26

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers a question from Scoutmaster Ray Britton about cooking and menu planning for Scout outings, then continues the series on planning the future of your unit—asking what Scouting should look like in your community in the next few years.

Scoutmaster Podcast 25

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

A broken paddle 75 yards from the dock after a week-long canoe trip becomes the perfect illustration of why patrol logs and trip reports matter. Clarke covers patrol logs in depth, followed by a Scoutmaster’s Minute on persistence, and wraps up the three-part series on building a troop-based high adventure program.

Scoutmaster Podcast 24

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

A long episode covering the three central leadership groups of a Scout troop in Scoutmastership, followed by a listener-requested story about a copperhead snake discovered under the patrol campsite platform, and the second installment of the high adventure planning series.

Scoutmaster Podcast 23

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green discusses the Scout uniform as a program tool rather than a rule to enforce, and continues the high adventure planning series. A hiking song is played for Troop 175 from Niles, Illinois, who were listening to the podcast on the road to an outing.

Scoutmaster Podcast 22

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green presents a summer camp special: a former camp director shares tips for Scoutmasters on pacing yourself and staying out of the way, followed by reflections on homesickness at camp — how to recognize it, understand it, and handle it well.

Scoutmaster Podcast 21

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green discusses the two paths to recruiting new Scouts—transitioning Webelos and reaching everyone else through one-on-one outreach rather than wholesale methods. The episode also returns to the story of Scoutmaster Brick Mason and addresses a listener question about troop leadership dynamics.

Scoutmaster Podcast 20

Mon, 31 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green interviews historian and author David C. Scott about his book ‘The Scouting Party,’ which examines the first decade of the Boy Scouts of America through the relationships of its three founders: Ernest Thompson Seton, Robert Baden-Powell, and Daniel Carter Beard. The interview explores their clashing egos, competing ideas, and surprising contributions to the movement we know today. Cla

Scoutmaster Podcast 19

Mon, 24 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with a story about Boy Scouts attending a Girl Scout Halloween party only to find the guests were much younger than expected. The episode features a Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes segment on setting volunteer boundaries, a classic Brick Mason Scoutmaster audio segment from the vault, and a reflection on what makes Scout volunteers extraordinary people.

Scoutmaster Podcast 18

Mon, 17 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green shares his personal ten best moments as a Scoutmaster, ranging from meteor showers to Eagle Courts of Honor. He then answers an email from Scoutmaster Chuck on how to reorganize a 38-scout troop into new patrols, advising that the SPL and PLC should lead the process. The episode also includes a short Brick Mason historical comedy sketch before the sign-off.

Scoutmaster Podcast 17

Mon, 10 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with a joke about Smokey the Bear and campfires, then delivers a Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes segment on retaining older Scouts through real responsibility, realistic expectations, and a positive troop culture. A humorous skit features ‘Brick Mason, Scoutmaster Superhero.’ Clarke closes with a Listeners Email segment addressing whether adults should form their own patrol on

Scoutmaster Podcast 16

Mon, 03 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green answers an email from Scoutmaster Larry in Minnesota about his Patrol Leaders Council’s lack of imagination and poor planning skills, offering practical advice on working with scouts incrementally and getting on their side rather than demanding perfect plans. Clarke then introduces a new recurring feature called ‘A Great Brotherhood of Service,’ interviewing Mohamed Faswi-Jemma, a sco

Scoutmaster Podcast 15

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with a teaching segment on kindness and compassion as core Scoutmaster qualities, arguing that compassionate leaders produce compassionate Scouts. He then shares a humorous camping story about an exploding can of Vienna sausages. The episode concludes with the fourth installment of Avoiding Eagle Scout Drama, focusing on the Eagle Project workbook’s actual requirements — clarify

Scoutmaster Podcast 14

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes covering Bill Hillcourt’s formula: train them, trust them, let them lead. He then interviews Richard Bennett, author of ‘Everything I Needed to Know I Learned in Boy Scouts,’ about his experiences in Troop 826 in Irving, Texas. The episode concludes with the third installment of Avoiding Eagle Scout Drama, focusing on how Scoutmaster confere

Scoutmaster Podcast 13

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green discusses how Scoutmasters should handle youth leader mistakes with empathy rather than punishment, using a football fumble analogy. He continues his four-part series on avoiding Eagle Scout drama, focusing on Baden-Powell’s concept of individualized achievement standards. The episode also features a humorous first-camping-cook story and a Scoutmaster’s Minute on the difference betwee

Scoutmaster Podcast 12

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green asks whether the hundreds of volunteer hours devoted to a Scout troop really matter, and answers with the story of Scoutmaster John Sexton and his Scout Otha Thornton, who went on to become a lieutenant colonel, served on the White House communications staff, and helped rebuild Scouting in Iraq during his deployment.

Scoutmaster Podcast 11

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke Green opens with a Mark Twain quote about teenagers and shares audio feedback from listener Kevin. He then presents a Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes segment featuring an interview with his senior patrol leader about a ‘Magical Mystery Tour’ outing themed around Australian culture. He follows with a summer camp story involving drunk intruders, a medevac helicopter, and a fire truck. The ep

Scoutmaster Podcast 10

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Baden-Powell called the patrol system ’the one essential feature in which Scout training differs from all other organisations’ — and where it is properly applied it is ‘absolutely bound to bring success.’ Clarke explains what this means practically in a modern troop where scouts are driven to meetings rather than living in the same neighbourhood: turning one meeting per month into a pure patrol me

Scoutmaster Podcast 9

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Drawing on recent brain science showing that adolescent decision-making is physically limited — not a choice to be irrational but a developmental reality — Clarke makes the case for second chances in Scouting. In over two decades he has dealt with fights, lies, theft, smoking, and scouts charged with crimes, but has never expelled anyone. He then describes taking in a Star Scout who was asked to l

Scoutmaster Podcast 8

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke works through ten ways adult leaders undermine their own scouts: talking too much, using coercion to narrow the scouts’ options, nitpicking how things are done, and seven more. He’s speaking from experience — these are things he has done and sometimes still does. Delivered as the third instalment of the adult-to-youth leadership series. Opens with Green Bar Bill’s easy-chair test from the 1

Scoutmaster Podcast 7

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke confesses his early mistake: writing a detailed troop policy manual and making patrol leaders sign contracts, in the hope that formalising expectations would produce responsible youth leaders. It didn’t. The manual was quoted to miscreants and ignored by everyone else; the contracts were equally useless. The real work is mentoring, coaching, and accepting that attendance and discipline prob

Scoutmaster Podcast 6

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Commissioner Andy’s essay on why the word ‘Scoutmaster’ has caused a century of trouble in America: Baden-Powell borrowed ‘schoolmaster’ from British education to mean ’teacher of scouts,’ but Americans translated ‘master’ as boss. The UK, Australia, and Canada have all moved to ‘Scout leader’ or ‘Scouter’; the US alone retained a title that implies command rather than service. Clarke also introdu

Scoutmaster Podcast 5

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

When a Webelos den leader crosses into the Scout troop — as Scoutmaster or assistant — the hardest thing is unlearning the instinct to answer questions and fix problems directly. Clarke explains why former den leaders must redirect every scout question to the patrol leader, even when they know the answer, and why watching their former Webelos flounder under a developing patrol leader is not a cris

Scoutmaster Podcast 4

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke responds to Mark Bowie of Troop 531 (Orange, CA) on the contentious question of Merit Badge Days. His position: the Scoutmaster’s role in advancement is deliberately minimal — he sees only blue cards, not counselors, instruction quality, or scheduling. If a counselor is cutting corners, that’s a council advancement committee issue, not a Scoutmaster issue. The episode also covers how to han

Scoutmaster Podcast 3

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Episode three marks the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America (February 8, 1910). Clarke reads Baden-Powell’s founding principles — three simple points about the aim of Scouting, the scout’s desire to learn for himself, and working through patrol leaders — and traces W.D. Boyce’s discovery of Scouting in London and its rapid spread across America. Also includes early listener mail; a thir

Scoutmaster Podcast 2

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Five practical principles for every Scout leader: trust the program and its hundred years of refinement; conduct age-appropriate activities; work professionally with other adults even when you disagree; keep perspective and proportion; and focus always on the scouts’ success rather than the process. Clarke shares the story of Ken Ryan — a retired Scoutmaster who joined his troop and taught him a l

Scoutmaster Podcast 1

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clarke’s inaugural episode introduces the podcast and his 25-year Scoutmaster background. He argues that Scouting works because it capitalises on what boys naturally do anyway — form gangs, adopt uniforms, dare each other — and channels those instincts into something constructive rather than outlawing them the way schools do. Includes a cautionary camp story about a Scoutmaster who filled a fire t