2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 6

Archaeology Merit Badge

A quiet day today, preparing for a quick St. Valentine's Day trip tomorrow.

The calendar was actually clear today of Scouting commitments--in fact the whole weekend was.  Pretty unusual event around here.  None of us really knew what to do instead! ;-)

Today I:

• Made sure my Friends of Scouting speaker will be available for the Blue and Gold this week.
• Scheduled a Board of Review.
• Notified the troop that there will be a BOR next week if anyone needs it.
• Emailed the fellow doing the hiring for summer camp this year about when my son (finally old enough to be a CIT--counselor-in-training) needs to report for training, prior to our Cub Resident camp weeks.

My time commitment today was short, but will make a big impact in the lives of a bunch of Scouts--my own son included.  What did you do today in the life of a boy?  Share in the comments below.

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 5

Animal Science Merit Badge

Nice day out today, prematurely warm.

Spent a lot of time out looking at my garden, cleaning up the area in between the square-foot boxes, and adding more leaves to add to the rot.

So what does that have to do with Scouting?

Everything.

Today I:

• Spent time thinking about the direction of our program, and admitting holes that need filling.
• Cleaned up some of the loose ends that have been hanging out there--getting Scout Sunday patches tallied, clearing out old Scout related email, and checking the calendar for the week.
• Confirmed my extra adult for the campout--and released another who was in a bind with his schedule.

Plenty of new material added to our Scouting, and it will need to sit and rot for awhile before any good comes from it.  What Scout gardening did you tend to today?

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 4

American Labor Merit Badge

100 Days of Scouting is off to a great start.  Seventeen people are involved...so far!  Rumors of others out there...we'll see.

The first weekend of the program is coming up, and is usually a hurdle to cross.  I know it is for me--squeezing in a little Scouting and time for blogging while I'm trying to catch up with the rest of my life is a real challenge.  I'll definitely keep an eye out for the easy opportunities!

Today I:

• Reminded a parent about their unpaid annual fees and dues--never a fun conversation to have, but important.  A Scout is thrifty.
• Advised a Scout that our campout next weekend would be a great chance to continue his efforts on the Wilderness Survival merit badge.
• Looked over the Pet Care belt loop for my own Wolf.
• Updated the list of Scouters on the 100 Days of Scouting project--pretty exciting!
• Updated the pack and troop YahooGroup main pages--a monthly housekeeping task.  Added two new family email addresses to them, also.
• Advertised to my Cub Scout families and other Scouters that Lowe's has a great program for youth 5-11 building projects a couple of times a month for free.  We will definitely be there tomorrow!
• Added a number of new blogs and Scouters to my reading list and followed a lot of new folks on Twitter...all from the 100 Days of Scouting project.

I'm still hoping a Scout, a professional Scouter, a Scouting vendor (like @classb) and even an international Scouter will join us.  What are your hopes for Scouting?

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 3

American Heritage Merit Badge

I was looking for a little adventure today, and found this guy: @SamuelHGardner

Think you have goals?  12500 mile hike in one year.  Never been done.

Think you have struggles?  First 4600 miles is the North Country Trail.  In winter.  It's only been done once.

Puts my whole two-hour long round-trip drive to Roundtable tonight in perspective...

Today I:

• Hopefully convinced a Scouter to join us on the 100 Days of Scouting project.
• Updated the list of Scouters already committed to doing the 100 Days of Scouting.  16 officially right now, already at least twice the number from last year.
• Providing transportation to three Boy Scouts who want to attend the district OA meeting tonight.
• Attending Roundtable.
• Provided feedback on logistics issues around district times and meeting places (pitched one mega-meeting night a month, instead of two).
• Trying to help a new Scout family grow in their comfort of Scouting so their son can go camping...;-)

While we root for Mr. Gardner (man, I hope he was a Boy Scout!), let's get to work on forming the young men and (Venturing) women we have influence over right now.  Did you step up today?  Tell us about it on Twitter or in the comments below.

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 2

American Cultures Merit Badge

Wednesday is still the most hectic Scouting day of my week.

Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, email, calendar corrections, meeting plans, trips to the store, and merit badge counseling.  Oh...and blogging, confirming appointments for other Scouting events, Blue and Gold updates...you get the idea.

But I wouldn't have it any other way!

Today I:

• Confirmed a meeting next week to discuss creating "video roundtable" (can't wait!).
• Emailed Cub Scout families to remind them that the Blue and Gold is in two weeks.
• Made a list of special folks to invite to the Blue and Gold--our parish priest, the office staff, our district executive, our COR and the head of our sponsoring organization, the Knights of Columbus.
• Pulled together Wolf Den Meeting #11--my youngest son's den, so I wear two hats in the pack.  Shoot me.
• Located water purification items for tonights troop meeting, per the SPLs request.  Tablets, boiling, filtering...
• Posted a list of 100 Days of Scouting participants (thanks all!).
• Responded to last minute request to start counseling Citizenship in the Nation tonight.

I'm sure there is more...there is always more!  

It's only an hour a week...so how are you spending it?  Who in Scouting will directly benefit from today's work?

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 1

American Business Merit Badge

Today begins the 2nd Annual 100 Days of Scouting.

Happy Birthday to us!

I've already heard from Scouters who have kicked off their own blogs to participate in this year's event.

Read them, offer comments, share the experience...and maybe even join us!

Today I:

• Spoke to our Senior Patrol Leader about our camping trip next weekend--The Flood, and our skills work on water purification for tomorrow night's meeting.  He wants me to test those working on the Wilderness Survival merit badge.
• Confirmed OA meeting and District's annual Fireside Chat with our Scout Executive.
• Emailed Arrowmen in the troop to offer them a ride.
• Blogged on Scoutsigns!  Man, that felt good!

I've waited all year to get back to 100 Days of Scouting.  Please post comments to let me know what you think, your ideas and how it impacts you.  What have you done for Scouting today?

Ready...Set...Share

Tomorrow is a big day.

Scouts--and Scouters--all over America will celebrate the birthday of Scouting.  101 years strong and already taking on a new century.

It is also the beginning of 100 Days of Scouting.  Tomorrow is Day 1, where each and every day I will log in what I've done for Scouting that day.

Every day...for 100 days.

For those of you who have been around, this is the second year of the program.

And there are a number of you who will be joining me.  I know of at least 4 other Scouters (and maybe one Scout) who have decided to step up and share this journey with their readers.  Collectively, we will list hundreds and hundreds of good deeds.

Maybe you:

• Help a Tiger Scout earn the Marbles belt loop.
• Explain the history of Scouting to a Cub Scout Blue and Gold banquet.
• Sign off on the Citizenship in the Nation merit badge.
• Congratulate an Eagle Scout.
• Volunteer to be the District Popcorn Kernal.
• Give a speech with the BSA Speaker program.

So much to do, so little time.  But you have to do something, every day.

Follow us.  Get ideas.  Read about it on Twitter (#100DaysofScouting).

Or even better...join us.