Wood Badge 120 - The Quartermaster of All Quatermasters

I don't think I have ever been so tired in my life. Ever. 

Wood Badge was awesome and harder than any other Scout event I have ever participated in. Hard in a good way and hard in a bad way. I should have learned from being an Assistant Quartermaster how difficult it would be. Even now 8 days after Wood Badge my body is tired and achy. My feet still hurt like no other. My body pops and cracks when I move (OK, that might be because I am partly old).* Seriously, my feet still stinking hurt. Like hurt after a Goruck event.

How much stuff can you cram in a Jeep? A ton.

The Quartermaster touches everything on our course and by that I mean everything that the Scribes don't touch - for me I can see that both of these jobs are just ridiculously involved (I have never served as a Scribe). When things were needed everyone comes to the Quartermaster. I would have been a billionaire if I got paid every time I heard "Go ask the Quartermaster." I will say I have had dreams of being the Quartermaster on a Philmont Course where the Quartermaster doesn't cook (and for the record, according to my Council's rules I can't serve as Quartermaster again so this will never happen). Not being able to serve again as QM is probably a blessing and a curse. I think I could handle things a bit better and plan a ton better. I put a ridiculous amount of stress on myself because I wanted to cook good food and come in under budget.  The budget was one of my biggest worries. I saw so many examples of how to manage the budget from breaking down costs in each meal to manage the budget individually in each day to just planning a menu and then making changes to make sure you are under budget through substitution. I tried extremely hard to use a lot of the same ingredients in meals so that I didn't use something just once. This also created a fear of not having diversity in the food I planned on serving. Stupid fears? Probably but there is nothing worse than bad food at a Scout event. Nothing..............

My staff was great. They really worked hard and did everything I asked of them on course. We had a lot of fun and we worked our butts off (in 8 days on course my Fitbit said I walked 65 miles!!). If anyone said my staff didn't pull their weight, I would probably attempt to run them down to hurt them but my feet probably wouldn't allow it.

All work and no play makes a lame Quartermaster Staff.

I got to meet very quickly Charles W. Dahlquest II who was at one point the LDS Church's Young Men President.**

At one point during the course, we had a huge meal to cook and I also became short-staffed (family and providing for your family ALWAYS comes first). I got to invite a Wood Badge friend and my wife to come help cook in the kitchen kind of on short notice. My wife watched us sing, she watched us sing Back to Gilwell, etc. She told me later "I finally get it. I finally get why you Scout." At one point I even heard her singing her own version of Back to Gilwell called "Happy Gilwell" a few days after her visit. Having her understand why I Scout it huge. Christi Jo has been a huge calming force for me since the preparation for this course started and when I was ready to lose it due to stress. 

Nothing like having fun during lunch!

I think for now I will be stepping aside for a while from Wood Badge. I want to do another course - I want to be clear about that but it has to be well timed in my life. Doing back to back courses has been extremely hard on me. I wouldn't change it but getting married in between courses (and not knowing I was getting married) was a huge surprise. Getting married was an easy decision thanks to Christi Jo. Serving on a Wood Badge course is an easy decision knowing who I was serving under. Learning how to balance both of those responsibilities is extremely hard especially when I probably micromanaged myself a little more than needed.

I am sad and glad this course is over. Glad for new friends and sad that it won't be like it was before.

* I am preparing for another Goruck event in about 2 months with a honeymoon in about a 3 weeks. I am busy and my body keeps telling me to slow down. More on this in a post later.

** Charles W. Dahlquest II bio. He currently is serving as the BSA's National Commissioner.

Dialogs with a Dad - Me, Scouting, Wood Badge and Being a Single Father

My friend Josh has a blog called Dialogs with a Dad. I really enjoy the podcasts. They are great to listen to on an hour commute one way. In this episode he interviews me and Scouting is a huge topic. I hope you enjoy. 

Wood Badge 117

If I think back to Wood Badge 91, it was a blur and probably the reason I have said yes so many times to staffing a Wood Badge course. It is a chance for me to review the syllabus and relearn the things I was taught on my course. I semi-recently had to drop out of staffing a course due to a divorce. My kids needed me more than the course did. It was heart breaking to make that call even though I know it was the right choice. I was pretty sure that was going to put a black mark on me and it was going to be years before I staffed again but luckily I have awesome friends. David the course director who I had served on previous courses with invited me to serve and I was glad to do it. I taught the Servant Leadership presentation. You won't get any of the Wood Badge secrets from me but I will share one of the videos I used in my presentation along with some ideas.

• Don't limit those we serve. Don't tell them what they can do and what they can't. You will be surprised what they can do when you expect great things!
• We should grow just like those we serve grow. 
• We should never assume those we serve can or can't do something.
• Those with "disabilities" are resources and can do many and great things!
• Encourage the heck out of those you serve.
• Don't ask those you serve to do anything you can't or wouldn't be willing to do!
• Love those you serve!
• Love those you serve!!
• Love those you serve!!! (If you don't love them, find a way to love them!)

The blindfold in this movie was used to remove our own expectations of ourselves! We can go further than we ever imagine. If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together!!

Staff and participant water bottles.

I served as an assistant quartermaster on Wood Badge 117. I know everyone works hard but I have never been so tired on a course ever. Not even as a Troop Guide. The kitchen is no joke. The food was ridiculously good even if I say so myself. I made close to 100 pounds of Dr Pepper pulled pork. It was so good.

I was surrounded by some really good people. Some I knew and some I got to know. Wood Badge attracts some really good people. Really good.

Wood Badge and Goruck go together.

Kathy and I in the kitchen.

Is that Lord Baden Powell?

Dr Pepper Pulled Pork. Oh ya.....

My presentation.

Campfire time!!

Digging flag pole holes in the mud.

Flag poles complete!!

And to think I will be the Quartermaster on Wood Badge 120. I couldn't be more EXCITED by be staffing my 4th course!!!

You will hear more from me on Wood Badge soon. I want interviewed for a buddy's blog about who I am as a Dad and Wood Badge came up.

Wood Badge Staff...AGAIN!!!

I have been asked to staff Wood Badge again!  Third time!!  Couldn't be more excited!!  My position as an assistant Quarter Master will definitely ensure it is 4 days of not sleeping but I am excited none the less.  I will be serving with new friends and old friends.  I am sure, like the courses in the past, this is going to be a ton of fun!

Return from Wood Badge Weekend #2

Wow.  How the heck do you even put into words staffing a Wood Badge course again?  I really don't know but I am sure going to try.

I came home tired as all get out, sad that it was all over, my feet throbbing, energized to see what is going to be done and happy that I think our staff conveyed the message we were supposed to convey.  Our SPL whispered into my ear at the end of the course that her last presentation kind of didn't go the way she wanted.  I whispered back it wasn't really important the message she conveyed but how she made those being trained felt.  And she had done a great job -- she is just way too hard on herself.  (She will be a course director next year for the "LDS"/Sunday Observant Wood Badge Course and I am very sure she will do a great job!!)

I will honestly say I will miss a lot of the inside jokes, the picture below being one of them.  Does that sock and baby shoe on the walking stick below creep anyone out beside me?  I will miss hanging out with friends.  I will miss each day thinking about what I can do to help the course out thought I have already sent emails to participants who wanted my help with Varsity specific issues.  Obviously my life isn't over because Wood Badge is over but like service to others I always get more out of Wood Badge then I gave.  I also think getting this "retraining" as a staffer makes me a better father, better husband, better employee and better Scouter.

I served as Assistant Senior Patrol Leader on this course which is more of a "serve where you are needed and pray the Senior Patrol Leader is there" position but I have to say I also enjoyed being Chaplain on the course.  I enjoyed finding ways to bring Duty to God into the course.  On our last day, the Chaplain's Aides from each patrol made me very proud and they planned and ran the Interfaith Worship Service with very little supervision or council from me.  I got a few questions but other than that and approving and printing the program, they did it all.  It was very EDGE method.

I met my twin on this course (the SPL's future back up course director).  This man has the same blended family situation I have but he is a bit older than me and he gave me a lot of great council and a bit of inspiration in dealing with my five awesome children.  It is funny when you look at someone and sort of think you know them and then find out all the interesting things about them.

I wish a lot of my Wood Badge friends lived closer to me.  My Council is 12 Texas counties.  It is HUGE.  We service 40,000 Scouts with only 45 professionals and 16,000 adult volunteers.  We stretch wide and far!  

I hope to staff again but I am to the point where I know I won't staff every year or even ever again.  I want to though but that is very selfish of me.  Others can do as good, if not better than me as a staffer.  I am constantly meeting good Scouters who I say "Man, he/she would be good on a Wood Badge course!"  I can refocus on my family for a little bit and hopefully work through the bumps of life called the teenage years.  The child I am most concerned about met me at the door when I came home and waited patiently for me to hug and kiss her.  It has been a long time since she has wanted this.

If you haven't been to Wood Badge, GO!!!

If you are ever asked to staff Wood Badge, SAY YES!!

Wood Badge bound again!! And loving every minute of it.

Wow.........6 months have FLOWN by.  Seriously.

This past Saturday we had a work day up at the Beautiful Camp James Ray.  I didn't have much to do so I put my skills to use helping others and enjoyed it much more than I thought.  I go to know the hilarious Assistant Course Director and just died laughing at some of his jokes.  It was awesome.  I love Camp James Ray.  Other courses are using a camp surrounded by highways (i.e. you need earplugs to sleep at night) and I am so personally lucky to live 60 minutes away from the camp we will be using.

This is a Sunday observant course (hence it tends to be more LDS participants though over 50% are NOT LDS).  It is a good mix and I can't wait to see these participants blend. 

As the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader I have a lot more responsibility than I originally thought I had but my main goal is to support my wonderful SPL in her position and make sure that she looks good and whisper in her ear when we have missed things.  I will do all her dirty work and fill in wherever I need to.  She told me my biggest responsibility was to make sure she drinks enough water which I think is hilarious.  It isn't beneath me to get her water and encouraging her to chug her water.  We might be toasting a lot to encourage water consumption. 

I love Wood Badge so much and know that this is going to be an awesome experience for 50+ participants and 20+ staff as learn together and work together.  I am working with some great people who have shown me a lot of love and respect when they barely know me.  I am also very grateful for the SPL asking for me as her assistant.  I loved working for her training new Scouters when we were in the same District together. 

The weather took a turn this weekend for the cooler side.  We are going to be lucky to see low 90's during the day and 60's during the night.  It is so awesome to see the cooling in the weather.  I love Texas but the summer heat is a killer.  I hope we see some awesome weather during weekend #1 but hopefully more beautiful weather for weekend #2. 

Small side note:

My pinched nerve is acting up with all the walking I have been doing and with Saturday's work day up at camp.  My hope is that it will be OK.  I walked 42 miles last week and I have a work out plan for Wood Badge so I don't get out of shape.  My ultimate goal is to be Philmont bound next summer and I am 15 pounds closer to that goal.  (I got a lot to go!)  Counting calories, limiting sugar and portion control has been huge.  Over eating now causes me to get really sick and just want to lie down.  I know my stomach has shrunk big time and I am having to deal with having "fat guy" syndrome - my eyes are still bigger than my stomach - but I am learning to push away from the table and getting smaller portions. 

Hope:

I wanna staff again soooo bad.  I don't want you to think that I am dreaming of a time past this course because I am not.  I just get so much from it personally.  It is a good reminder for me on how I can be a good leader.

Bryan on Scouting Staff's Wood Badge

Bryan on Scouting staffed Wood Badge for Circle 10 at Philmont this summer.  This is his article on his time as a Wood Badge Staffer.

And these are just SOME of the reasons I have staffed Wood Badge!

Wood Badge Fox Patrol - BEST VIDEO EVER!!!

OK, I am PROUD member of Wood Badge's Fox patrol.  I often wondered what sound a fox makes.  Thank goodness for Youtube because that question has now been answered.

To quote Roger Rabbit - "If you don't have a good sense of humor, you are better off dead."

Wood Badge 107 is real!!

I have to admit I have been a little lost as staff for Wood Badge 107 as Assistant Senior Patrol Leader.  I didn't know a lot of the people serving on staff and I was a little unsure of my role - I don't want to step on the SLP's toes and I won't want to just sit back and do less.  We have had three staff developments and I just didn't seem to click.  I know I have said this all before.

I thought they were going to cut me due to lack of participants.  We only had 35 participants about 10 days before Participant Orientation.  We didn't have enough participants and the course was threatening to be cut.  It just was bad all around.  By the time orientation rolled around we had 52 participants with 4 spots available.  It is a huge relief.  Our Course Director gets all the credit for being a hound-dog to get people on this course.  We have 20 LDS participants which is about 10 less than normal but I am grateful to have them.  We even have an assistant Varsity Coach on the Course that I trained probably 4 years!!  I remember his questions and issues in training and he reported to me that things are going well and his Team just earned their Varsity Letters (WAHOOO!!!!!).

I have to say that meeting and getting to know the participants has finally made this course real for me.  This is going to be a fun and challenging course.

The Quartermasters - the life of the party!!

I am grateful to be serving again and so quickly.  I have contemplated that this will be the last time I will staff for a while.  Sad.  I want to staff again but new blood needs to be brought into the program.  I have learned more staffing that participating.

3 More Makes 7

Three leaders in my unit received their Wood Badge beads last night.  We now have 6 trained leaders plus me (if you can count me).  Immensely proud and glad they did it on a course I staffed.

And yes I know you are not supposed to take pictures in the Chapel - easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.  And yes we know the flags are in wrong spot.  ARGH!  We are not a perfect unit.  :)

Wood Badge in Nevada and Wood Badge in General

Evenspor over at LDSScouter Blog is about to head to Wood Badge.  Her course (like the Course I am staffing) is having a hard time getting participants.  My personal feeling on why everyone seems to not want to sign up is the change in membership standards - this isn't a statement for or against the change and whether you agree or not our boys still deserve trained leaders.  LDS Scouters for some reason have been saying for years that the Church was leaving Scouting and this membership change has seemed to give them ammo.  So here it is in black and white - we ain't leavin'!  THE LDS CHURCH IS NOT LEAVING SCOUTING ANYTIME SOON!:

For the past 100 years, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has enjoyed a strong relationship with Boy Scouts of America, based on our mutual interest in helping boys and young men understand and live their duty to God and develop upright moral behavior. As the Church moves forward in its association with the Boy Scouts of America, Church leaders will continue to seek the most effective ways to address the diverse needs of young people in the United States and throughout the world. 

The Church’s long-established policy for participation in activities is stated in the basic instructional handbook used by lay leaders of the Church: “young men … who agree to abide by Church standards” are “welcomed warmly and encouraged to participate” (Handbook 2: Administering the Church [2010], 8.17.3). This policy applies to Church-sponsored Scout units. Sexual orientation has not previously been—and is not now—a disqualifying factor for boys who want to join Latter-day Saint Scout troops. Willingness to abide by standards of behavior continues to be our compelling interest. 

These standards are outlined in the booklet For the Strength of Youth and include abstinence from sexual relationships. We remain firmly committed to upholding these standards and to protecting and strengthening boys and young men.
The Church appreciates BSA’s reaffirmation of its commitment to “duty to God,” which includes service to others and moral behavior—central principles of our teaching to young men. As in the past, the Church will work with BSA to harmonize what Scouting has to offer with the varying needs of our young men. We trust that BSA will implement and administer the approved policy in an appropriate and effective manner.    

A letter signed by the First Presidency of the Church is being sent to all Latter-day Saint congregation leaders throughout the United States. The letter will include the reaffirmation of Church policies and standards referenced in today's public statement.

LDS Scouters - get in the game!  We are here to stay and Wood Badge applies to more than just Scouting! Sign up and learn something!

It is time to do OUR DUTY and GET TRAINED.  Some closing statements from Presiding Bishop Gary E. Stevenson:

Duty—shall we drill down just a little deeper?  Thomas S. Monson, the leader of my church and a longtime member of BSA’s National Executive Board, said, “I love and cherish the noble word duty and all that it implies.”

Duty to God is the heart of Scouting. It is a founding principle as old and deep as the organization itself. What does it imply? The World Organization of the Scout Movement defines duty to God as “adherence to spiritual principles, loyalty to the religion that expresses them and acceptance of the duties resulting therefrom.” And a BSA duty to God task force said, “Spirituality, reverence, morality, [and] ethical behavior . . . are terms which reflect and demonstrate ways to fulfill duty to God.”

........... 

Some may not see the sacred gatekeeping role scouting plays. They may see only fundraising and not a foundation. Others may brand scouting activities as merely outdoor recreation, but it can and must be shown that BSA is not a camping club; it is a character university centered on duty to God. I quote again from Robert Baden-Powell: “The whole of [scouting] is based on religion, that is, on the realization and service of God.”  

I stand here today with a resolute belief that Scouting must never overlook this core principle. We still need duty to God. We always will.  When the societal and political winds come, and they surely will, scouting cannot unhinge itself from this foundational principle. This great organization cannot be deterred when we remain strong in our solid foundation, when we stand united for duty to God. 

Wood Badge - To Cut or Not to Cut

I expressed my concern about being cut to the PL who I am backup for.  She told me the chance of getting cut are slim with me as her backup.  I told her the syllabus said I am one of the first to go.  She told me very unlikely.  So sweet.  Now we just have to work on getting some participants.  Come on people!!!

Wood Badge

I keep getting the impress that the new Wood Badge course I am staffing will be cutting my position due to lack of participants.  I don't know why but that is a gut feeling.  I hope it isn't true but I will continue to prepare like I am going to be there!  I don't care about another set of beads.  I have plenty.  I just want to mentor, teach, instruct and to also learn myself.

Wood Badge 107 Staff

As I stated a while back, I will be staffing Wood Badge again and our first Staff Development is Saturday.  Saturday has taken forever to get here as I was asked to staff about 8 months ago.  This time I will be the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader.  This will be a Sunday observant course.  This time will be much different than last as I was very hands on with the Antelope Patrol previously and this time I will mostly be assisting staff with their needs and presenting in group settings.

I am super excited.  I have to say, minus having teaching moments with my Varsity Scouts where I see the light come on when explaining something to them or doing Eagle Board of Reviews, Wood Badge has been a huge opportunity to not only serve but also learn.  I absolutely love Wood Badge!

There is only one thing I am fearful of.  I am fearful of comparing courses or expecting things to be the same as my last course.  I strive on routine.  I had one heck of a time last course.  Two of my fellow Troop Guides and I clicked really well together.  I wish they were coming with me.  They were good.  I mean, they were really, really good Troop Guides and saw Wood Badge for what it was.  They cut through the crap that others tried to create and were well grounded.  Rob and Chris are great men!!  We shared a lot of pain together preparing for the course and were able to focus on what their participants needed!  I am friends with one of the Troop Guides and it is his first time staffing.  He is very nervous and hopefully

OK, I guess I am fearful of something else.  I have staffed twice so quickly, I am also scared I won't get the opportunity to staff again.  Stupid fear........  I don't want my Wood Badge magic to go away.  I want to be involved.  But with the Council's desire to get rid of "old school" Scouters and not allow the same staff to staff over and over and over again, I probably won't staff again for a very, very long time.  I do not want to make this course about me.  I want this course (as it should be) to be about the participants and what they learn and are able to do.  I don't want to get in the way.  I don't want to be a distraction!!

If you haven't gone to Wood Badge, go!!  What the heck are waiting on?  It will make you a better parent, a better spouse, a better Christian, a better Scouter and a much better person if you apply the things you learn at Wood Badge to your life.

Cross Over Ceremony

My wife and I went to a beading for one of my participants that was scheduled at the beginning of a Cross Over Ceremony.  The cross over ceremony had a burning arrow, a monkey bridge (totally old school), two fires, a billion Scouts, 3 Troops hoping to scoop up some new Scouts and tons and tons of parents.

My non-Scouting wife summed it up in this one phrase that not only shocked me but shocked me because she can actually see a difference between LDS Scouting and regular awesome Scouting:

"Man, compared to this LDS Scouting sucks."

I guess you have to know my wife to more fully understand this.  She isn't a Scouter and didn't enjoy it when she was.  She is a very positive person and tends to see the good in all.  She is very quiet and doesn't speak much.  In one sentence, she said tons.

Wood Badge Beads #1

One of my participants earned his beads.  We met at our "Gilwell Field" to bead him.  Next beading is next week and third is the week after that.  I couldn't be more proud of the Antelope Patrol.

This participant was ready to pack up day #1 and go home.  He had a hard time seeing what everything was for.  I had the "stink eye" given to me a lot by him that first weekend.  I just kept reminding him "There is a purpose in everything going on.  Find the purpose........."  I was honestly worried about him and his tickets. Not that they were not good but I didn't want him to loose the spirit of Wood Badge and not complete.  He was the first one done.  And we met together to break bread for me to help him actually fill out his tickets.  It was a great lesson in text messages don't work, calls don't work, emails are impersonal and getting together eye to eye works.  He would have been beaded two months ago but due to his grandmother's passing we delayed two months.  He would give you the shirt off his back.  

This participant is my brother.  He and I got along very well after the stink eye.  I am proud of him.  I love him.  Scouting (even outside the LDS Scouting program) has brought me some great friends and great resources.  

Being a Good Troop Guide

I got this email from one of my participants (Antelope Patrol!!) about a friend that was going to be Troop Guide and asked for some guidance.  Her email and my reply is below.

Fishgutts,  I have had a lady in our district email me about tips for being a TG for Woodbadge.  She is signed up to be a TG for WB.  I told her that I would email her the things that I thought were great about you.  The things that you did to make us feel welcomed and helping us out.  Stuff like that.  I also told her that I would ask you if you had any tips that you would be willing to pass on.  She is our Cub Fun Day Chairperson.    If you are willing, you could either email them to me and I can forward them to her or you could email them to her directly.  Let me know if you can.  Thanks so much.  I hope that everything is going well. I will talk with you soon.    Antelope L My reply: I think the most important thing is to make sure you love your patrol and it shows.  I really mean that.  Your presentations that you give to them could suck eggs but as long as your patrol knows you would go to the end of the world for them, nothing else matters.  Take active interest in who they are and what they know and can teach you.  I think being mindful of the madness of the first three days is important too.  Watch them and look for physical clues when they are not paying attention as to what they are going through (that first weekend is nuts!!).  Learn their weaknesses and their strengths.  Never speak badly of them EVER!!!  Go to bat for them if the opportunity arises even taking the blame if needs be.  Remember that those participants are yours.  You are their Wood Badge parent.  Look after them like they are yours!!

Gone Home

When a participant to Wood Badge tells the staff and Scouters they "Are the finest people I have ever met" it means a lot.  Buddy has gone home.  My most fondest memory of him was at participant orientation for Wood Badge when he was having a hard time getting out of his car.  When I left the building to go help him, he told me that he could do it himself.  Determined.  He was very determined.

Why would a 79 year old go to Wood Badge?  He answered that question many times for us.  "I still have more to learn."  Wow.......

Wood Badge

I was just asked to serve on another Wood Badge course.  Heck to the ya!!!  September 2013 can't get here fast enough!!!

Morse Code App

I am finally in the 21st Century with an Andriod Phone.  And here is my first app!!

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=hunt.morseDit&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsImh1bnQubW9yc2VEaXQiXQ..