BALOO'S BUGLE

BALOO'S BUGLE - (September 2016 RT / October 2016 Prog Ideas) Page 24
Positive Values Emphasis
Every Scouting activity should be a positive experience
in which youth and leaders feel emotionally secure and
find support from their peers and leaders. Everything
we do with our Scouts - including songs, skits, and
ceremonies - should be positive, meaningful, and
should not contradict the philosophy expressed in the
Scout Oath and Law.
Guidelines to Determine
Appropriate Scouting Activities
Cheers, songs, skits, stories, games and
ceremonies should build self-esteem and be
age-appropriate.
Name-calling, put-downs, or hazing are not
appropriate.
References to undergarments, nudity, or bodily
functions are not acceptable.
Cross-gender impersonations are not
appropriate.
Derogatory references to ethnic or cultural
backgrounds, economic situations, and
disabilities are not acceptable.
Alcohol, drugs, gangs, guns, suicide, and other
sensitive social issues are not appropriate
subjects. Refrain from “inside jokes” which
are exclusionary to the audience.
Wasteful, ill-mannered, or improper use of
food or water should not be used.
The lyrics to the following patriotic songs
should not be changed: “America”, “America
the Beautiful”, God Bless America”, and “The
Star-Spangled Banner.”
Similar respect should be shown for hymns
and other spiritual songs.
Avoid scary stories and bad language.
Model the values of BSA and set a high
standard for appropriateness in ALL Scouting
activities.
IF IN DOUBT, TAKE IT OUT
2016 – 2017
CS RT PLANNING GUIDE
IS ISSUED!!!
You can obtain a copy at the Roundtable Support
page of the National Commissioner's page:
http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Commission
ers/roundtable.aspx
Page 5 of the 2016-2017 Cub Scout Roundtable
Planning Guide (CS RT PG) states –
"There is an exciting new look to the Cub
Scout Roundtable this year."
With which I must agree. There have been very
exciting changes in the CS RT PG for 2016-2017.
The team that was assembled was on a mission to
revitalize CS RTs and increase attendance. They had
survey results and front line knowledge of what was
happening in Cub Scouting and at Roundtables across
the BSA.
Some of their goals were:
Fresh New Material. No reusing old stuff
from previous years.
Roundtable is to be supplemental training
where leaders go to learn about new things,
new methods, best practices, and network.
The CS RT PG no longer provides pack
meeting monthly themes or pack resource
sheets. The pack meeting plans found online at
Scouting.org are designed to help the
Cubmaster plan terrific pack meetings and
support den leaders with pack assignments.
Effect on Baloo's Bugle
Based on the increased emphasis on Interest
(Training) Topics and decreased emphasis on Pack
Meeting Pizzazz and Den Meeting Crafts, Baloo's
Bugle will probably also decrease the space
devoted to these items. And increase space for
items related to the Interest Topic.
Several Scouters (volunteer and professional) in
my area agreed that it is time to move on from
crafts as den meetings are now advancement
oriented. And so Baloo's Bugle will move on,
also. But there was hesitation amongst those
Scouters about Pack Meeting pizzazz. And so we
will continue to publish hints for Pack Meetings.