Working through Problems on ScoutmasterCG Archive

Bedwetting and Scouts

Sat, 23 Apr 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Every so often I hear from a Scouter or parent about a Scout who has a problem with bedwetting. It goes without saying that I am not a medical expert, but I did a little research and several sources agree an estimated 3.75 -5.25 million boys (and a smaller number of girls) in the United States have a medical condition known as nocturnal enuresis (NE) or involuntary urination during sleep, commonly called bedwetting. At those numbers NE is one of the most common pediatric health issues. Once considered a psychological problem NE is most likely caused by a developmental delay in the bladder that children eventually outgrow.

A New Scoutmaster - Chapter Thirteen

Sat, 18 Apr 2015 00:00:00 +0000

This is the thirteenth installment in a story that follows a new Scoutmaster, Chuck Grant, attempting to use the patrol method in a troop that has forgotten how. I’ve based this work of fiction on the stories shared by readers and listeners, questions they have asked, and the advice I commonly share in reply.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN The next evening Dave and I sat at the picnic table with Jason and Bob, John was speaking to Bob’s mother Cheryl, and Jason’s father was waiting nearby. “The story I have,” I began, “is that you, Jason, punched Bob this weekend. Do I have that right?”

Scout Spirit as First Aid

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Scouters encourage and assess Scout Spirit in Scouts, but how often do we apply that same scrutiny to examine our own attitudes and actions?

Speaking for myself; I don’t always live up to what I’d consider an ideal expression of Scout spirit; but I doubt anyone does either. How do we build Scout Spirit in ourselves?

Think of it in terms of first aid training.

Exercise Rational Control While we can’t control what happens around us, we can control how we react. If someone’s clothing catches on fire their first reaction is running away from the flames, an objectively irrational, but predictable response. To counter that irrational response we teach people a rational alternative; “stop, drop and roll”. When Scouters find themselves in a emotionally or physically challenging situation we should apply the same rationale; stop, drop and roll. Of course I am not suggesting you literally drop to the ground and start rolling around (although you may feel like doing just that sometimes!); but intentionally reacting with Scout spirit, not the just the first thing that comes to mind. In first aid our initial task is gaining control of the situation. If we succumb to panic or emotional reactions instead of gaining rational control we can’t render effective first aid. When faced with challenges and difficulties our initial task is reacting intentionally with Scout spirit. If we succumb to an emotional reaction instead the problems just grow worse.

How Should We Respond to a Scout Who Wants to Quit?

Thu, 19 Dec 2013 00:00:00 +0000

There he is, waiting for our reply; how do we respond to a Scout who wants to quit? Not every boy is going to maintain an active interest in Scouts, it doesn’t automatically mean that anything is wrong with them, the program, or ourselves.

I expect that every Scout will have a tough time once in a while, because I have tough times myself. If a Scout says they want to quit imagine what you would like to hear if you were in their place. Few boys are going to approach an adult with something like this without having been told they have to, or without having agonized over it for some time. They are probably a little scared, and troubled by having to do this.

Working With Homesick Scouts

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

If you are headed off to camp this summer it’s likely you will be working with one or more homesick Scouts.

Understanding, preventing and treating homesickness ought to be approached like administering first aid for any other illness or injury.

Homesickness is not imaginary, it’s not an indication of weakness or lack of character, it’s not a symptom of bad parenting or bad leadership and, thankfully, it’s reasonably easy to prevent.

Mistakes Scout Leaders Make and How to Correct Them

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Sometimes it seems we are doing all the right things but the results we are hoping for never materialize. When Scout leaders grow frustrated with their work it’s usually because they are making one or more of the following mistakes: You’ve heard the term ‘helicopter’ applied to parents, teachers and Scout leaders who are over-involved in children’s lives.

Scout leaders can over-plan, seek to control too many of the variables and reduce the Scouting experience to something more like a carefully guided tour rather than an open-ended adventure. We can become too driven by the concept of educating Scouts to the exclusion of real growth. Our honest, good intentions can cause exactly the opposite results they were hoping for. In our efforts to protect our Scouts from uncertainty and adversity, to optimize the productive use of their time, to develop balanced and healthy personalities we can undermine some important natural developmental processes that actually drive the results we are so fervent to obtain.

Understanding Risky Behavior in Scouts - Part Three

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0000

The first two parts of this discussion deal with why Scouts make poor decisions and how we can help them decide well . How do we react to bad decisions? If we understand the way our Scout’s brains are working we know that reactive punishment is going to have little effect on their future ability to make better decisions.

Anger or the punishments we employ may make them even more recalcitrant and drive them towards even more risky behavior.

Reacting, Rules and Resolutions

Wed, 20 May 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Scoutmasters tend to respond to problems by instituting rules or policies.

Rules must be enforced to have effect so Scoutmasters become enforcers.

In working with Scout-aged boys one quickly discovers that there are very few rules that do not have legitimate exceptions, so Scoutmasters become judges.

As the matrix of rules and policies grow Scoutmasters may find that most of their time is spent in making, enforcing and interpreting them.

Tag - You Are It!

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 00:00:00 +0000

My youth leadership sometimes plays a game of tag – for some sudden reason they cannot make a meeting or event and dump their responsibility on another youth leader; tag, you’re it! Most of the time they do this with a phone call or a quick word at school. They imagine that this is adequate – after all that’s how a game of tag works.

Sometimes they just don’t show up; then we play another game called ‘talk to the Scoutmaster’. By now you should be wearing a grin of recognition, this is not an uncommon problem, right? No policy, leadership contract or procedural writeup will help, and a good stiff talk with an angry Scoutmaster is only marginally effective. So what is the answer?

Scouts and Homesickness

Tue, 27 Jun 2006 00:00:00 +0000

Night falls on the first day at summer camp; the big opening campfire is over, the troop has returned to the campsite, the Scouts are preparing for taps. Just after we end the Patrol Leader’s Council a young scout, at camp for his first time, is wandering around the edge of a pool of lantern light.

I know exactly why he is there; he and his brethren have been there for twenty plus years – he is one of my homesick Scouts.