Monday, November 24, 2014
Hot Springs Campout
For our annual Hot Springs Campout we camped at Diamond Fork Campground, then after setting up camp we drove to the trailhead and then we hiked up the 2.5 miles to Diamond Fork Hot Springs and soaked for about an hour before the night life started coming up so we packed up and hiked back down. People have spent quite a bit of time creating pools to soak in so you can actually sit down in it!
On the hike back down we realized that one of our boys had done everything for his hiking merit badge except for one 10 mile hike (he'd already done a 20 mile in one day hike, and four 10 mile in one day hikes), so we asked if he would like to hike back to camp and he did! So he and a couple of us leaders hiked down to the campground and finished his 10 miles! Then when we got to camp the others had dinner waiting and ready for us!
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Scoutbook Online Unit Advancement Software
I'm always looking for a better way to keep our scouting advancements and merit badges up to date and accessible. We've been using a spreadsheet for quite a while, but this year I started using Scoutbook. (www.scoutbook.com) I love it!
It's all available online, accessible from a computer, tablet, or smart phone. I can invite parents and give them access to their son's progress and info so they can be up to date on what their kid has done and what he needs to do. They can also log information for a leader to then approve when he logs into the site.
I use it to keep track of camping nights, service hours, and leadership tenure. It's easy to keep updated and now has individual scout printout that gives all the advancement and merit badges a scout has earned in one page.
It does cost, but it has a 30 day trial. I used it for the trial, and then paid the $ to keep using it. I still need to get all the other adults and parents involved and converted, but it's coming.
Oh, and you can import from some of the other scouting software packages out there to make it easier to switch over!
Check it out and let me know what you think!
It's all available online, accessible from a computer, tablet, or smart phone. I can invite parents and give them access to their son's progress and info so they can be up to date on what their kid has done and what he needs to do. They can also log information for a leader to then approve when he logs into the site.
I use it to keep track of camping nights, service hours, and leadership tenure. It's easy to keep updated and now has individual scout printout that gives all the advancement and merit badges a scout has earned in one page.
It does cost, but it has a 30 day trial. I used it for the trial, and then paid the $ to keep using it. I still need to get all the other adults and parents involved and converted, but it's coming.
Oh, and you can import from some of the other scouting software packages out there to make it easier to switch over!
Check it out and let me know what you think!
Friends of Scouting and Rechartering
Why does Friends of Scouting and Rechartering have to come on the same month? I am in charge of both this year and have been scrambling to get it all done!
I am glad the Friends of Scouting is available online this year though. I was able to create routes and route leaders from past years donors to get all organized, which was very nice! Unfortunately when you go to print the donation slips, they all come out in alphabetical order, not grouped by route! I would think whoever is making their web pages and stuff should be able to fix that!
Rechartering is good because it gives us the chance to make sure our records are up to date and everyone has the trainings they all need. It is also online this year and it's nice to be able to move scouts from the scout troop to the Varsity Team without having to enter their info all over again!
I just wish they both didn't come in the same month! They're both due this week in fact! It looks like I'll be able to get it done, but I wouldn't have been able without the help of my sweet wife!
I am glad the Friends of Scouting is available online this year though. I was able to create routes and route leaders from past years donors to get all organized, which was very nice! Unfortunately when you go to print the donation slips, they all come out in alphabetical order, not grouped by route! I would think whoever is making their web pages and stuff should be able to fix that!
Rechartering is good because it gives us the chance to make sure our records are up to date and everyone has the trainings they all need. It is also online this year and it's nice to be able to move scouts from the scout troop to the Varsity Team without having to enter their info all over again!
I just wish they both didn't come in the same month! They're both due this week in fact! It looks like I'll be able to get it done, but I wouldn't have been able without the help of my sweet wife!
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