A Scoutmaster's Blog

This is a online journal of a Boy Scout troop scoutmaster's point of view and thoughts on over 25 years as a Boy Scout Leader in central Minnesota. This site also serves as the home of the "Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast" which features Scouting related videos. Visit the site of Melrose Boy Scout Troop 68 at http://www.melrosetroop68.org for nearly 200 pages of local Scouting history.

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Name: Scoutmaster Steve B.
Location: Minnesota, United States

Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 68, Melrose, Minnesota for over 25 years. Has been an assistant scoutmaster, roundtable commissioner, Philmont advisor, and Jamboree Scoutmaster. Also on the board of directors for the local cable access television station.

Sunday, May 04, 2008

MSPP #37: Cats In The Cradle

The year was 1997. The Boy Scouts of Troop 68 were nearing the end of their second Laughs For Lunch Show. They were about to do something they had never done before. The piano was brought onto the stage, along with the electric guitar. The scoutmaster explained it was time for something a little more serious, something different from the rest of the show. One Scout began playing the guitar. Then the piano joined in. During the song the Scouts walked out onto the stage in groups of three or four. Before the song was finished every Boy Scout of Troop 68 was on the stage. Parents were crying in the audience. Emotions were running high.

Somehow, the troop had pulled it off. And with only one practice.

I will never forget that performance. It was the last year Tom and Nathan would be with the troop. Both would be graduating from high school in the spring and moving away to college. I wanted to do something special with them during the show. Tom was a excellent pianist, one of the best in the state of Minnesota. Nathan was great on the electric guitar. I wanted to do something in the Laughs For Lunch Show that would bring these talents to the stage. A regular campfire song would not be good enough. We needed something better.

The rock band Ugly Kid Joe had recently released their version of the Harry Chapin classic song Cats In The Cradle. I love the song and thought this could be the right one to bring Tom and Nathan's talents to the stage with the rest of the troop. The two young men agreed, and so did the troop. We threw around a few ideas about how to perform it and came up with something we thought would work well.

Unfortunately, we only had time to practice it once, the afternoon before we held the show.

The show was coming to a close. Some of the skits and songs had gone very well, some could have used a little more practice. I was getting nervous as the time for Cats In The Cradle drew near. Usually performing during a campfire program does not bother me much, but then, most campfire songs and skits are designed to be a bit silly. This song needed to be done seriously. This was not a time for mistakes. And worse of all, I would be the lead singer.

Let me state at this time that I will never be chosen to be on American Idol.

The grand piano was on the stage. The electric guitar was plugged in. The music began. The youngest Scouts began walking onto stage. As the song progressed the older Scouts joined the younger ones on the floor in front of the piano. Before I knew it, it was over. The whole troop was smiling on stage as the crowd was clapping and cheering. The audience loved it. Parents, especially mothers, were crying. The song had hit a nerve and they realized their boys were growing up and would soon move away.

Until then, I had not experienced the power that could be reached while on stage. Never before had I or the Scouts received such an emotional response from an audience. Usually, we did the skit or song and hoped we did it well enough to receive some laughter or clapping as the response. The Cats In The Cradle performance showed us we could accomplished even more.

I have wanted to post this video online for a couple years but did not have a digital version of it. This weekend I finally found some time to copy it to my computer. Now I can share it with all of you. I do not think the video has quite the impact that the live version of it did, but it still turned out well. It does show another side of the Scouts that usually is not seen at a campfire program. I hope you enjoy it. (I apologize ahead of time for the quality of the vhs video, and for my average vocal talent.)

Please leave a comment. I appreciate hearing from you. You can leave one here, or at the PTC media forums. If you leave a comment at the iTunes Music Store you will help the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast climb higher in the ratings.

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Wednesday, April 23, 2008

MSPP #36: Vista!

Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts seem to really enjoy a good campfire program. But so do adult Scout leaders. Sometimes, the adults even enjoy performing for the campfire audience. Really. I am not kidding.

This entry to the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast demonstrates that adults can have fun during a campfire program too. This video clip was taken from Troop 68's annual Laughs For Lunch Show of 2002. It features the troop's scoutmaster bringing some of his adult Scouting friends on stage to perform the song Vista! One of the friends does very well. One cheats. And a couple have a hard time keeping up when things get going fast.

I challenge you to try this song at your next campfire program. It may take a little practice but the audience will love it. By the way, you can find the words (at least the way I learned it) on our troop's website by clicking HERE. " Yip bap biddildee bang!"

I like to read your comments about this podcast. You can leave one here, or at the PTC media forums. If you leave a comment at the iTunes Music Store you will help the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast climb higher in the ratings.

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Saturday, April 05, 2008

MSPP #35 - Gopher Guts

It is the nature of boys. They like gross stuff. They like to get dirty. That's why so many of them like Scouting. It gets them outside where they can explore, play around, sit around the campfire, and have fun.

There is an old song that many Scouts seem to enjoy listening to, and singing along to if they can memorize the verses. That song is Gopher Guts. You know, greasy, grimy, gopher guts. Mutilated monkey's feet. All purpose porpoise puss. Yeah, that song.

This video posting to the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast features the Boy Scouts of Troop 68 performing that very song during their 2002 Laughs For Lunch Show. Brett, the Scout who actual sings the song, did a great job and did not get tongue tied even once.

Leave a comment about this podcast. You can leave a note here, or at the PTC media forums. If you leave a comment at the iTunes Music Store you will help the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast climb higher in the ratings.

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One Year Anniversary of Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast

Okay, I don't know why I missed this, but last Thursday was the one year anniversary of the first post to the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast (MSPP). That first video introduced Buttons, the radical Boy Scout, to many people who had not yet seen him on Youtube.

Since that first video there have been a total of 34 posts made to the podcast. That is a lot of songs, skits, and Buttons videos. Shortly after those first videos I was invited to make MSPP part of the PTC Media network. It has turned out to be a great partnership.

I hope you have enjoyed watching the videos. Leave a comment. I would like to hear what were your favorites. 

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Wednesday, March 26, 2008

MSPP #34: Sledding Fun 2008

What do you do as a Boy Scout troop in the dead of winter in Minnesota? You get out and have some fun in the snow! Add a nice big snow-filled hill and you the makings of a great evening activity while on a weekend outing.

The Scouts of Troop 68 spent a weekend at Camp Stearns in Central Minnesota during the last weekend of February. (See article HERE.) I had the video camera along so I thought it might be fun to record the guys having fun and catching some air as they went downhill sledding. Previous campers had made a few jumps on the hillside that the Scouts of Troop 68 liked to hit again and again, even if they got the wind knocked out of them.

After an hour, the Scouts had had enough and decided to head back to the building. They had a lot of fun on the hill, and a lot of exercise walking back to the top. Thanks to this video, they will have a way to look back on five minutes of the excitement, and you have a chance to see the fun yourself.

Anyone interested in joining us next year?

Don't forget to leave a comment about this podcast. You can leave one here, or at the PTC media forums. If you leave a comment at the iTunes Music Store you will help the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast climb higher in the ratings.

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Wednesday, March 19, 2008

MSPP #33: The Bad Luck Song

After a few days of thought, I have decided to leave the G rated world of Buttons and Boy Scouts skits behind with this podcast post, and enter the PG world music. Oh, do not worry, there will not be any Guns & Roses music or rap nonsense here. What I offer in this podcast is an original song by the Boy Scouts of Troop 68.

This video is of three older Scouts of Troop 68 in 1992, taken from a television show made by the troop for our local community access station. The Scout playing the guitar (he earned the rank of Eagle, by the way) wrote the melody. I wrote the lyrics. The song contains three verses with dark undertones. The first verse is about a pathetic dog. The second is of a boyfriend trying to please his girlfriend. The third is about a stray animal following a person home. I would suggest you listen to it before allowing your Cub Scout aged son to listen to it. The song is dark, but somewhat comical. It also might stick in your mind for awhile.

The song does not contain any bad language. This is a Scouting podcast, after all. I just wanted to try something different this time. I hope you enjoy it.

I like to read your comments about this podcast. You can leave one here, or at the PTC media forums. If you leave a comment at the iTunes Music Store you will help the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast climb higher in the ratings.

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Sunday, March 02, 2008

MSPP #32: Buttons Plays Broomball

It has been a month since the last podcast was posted, but there is a reason for that. I wanted to make a film with Buttons, the radical Boy Scout, that showed him participating with Boy Scouts on an outing. I felt it was time for Buttons to leave the safety of the house, and play a game with the Scouts.

This video features the Boy Scouts of Troop 68 on their winter outing in February, 2008. Their schedule includes an afternoon game of broomball, so Buttons decides to go along with them and watch the game. When one of the boys gets tired, he asks Buttons to play for him. Unfortunately, Buttons is not very good at playing broomball and the Boy Scouts need to put their first aid skills to use.

This video presented several challenges. First, filming outdoors scenes in the sun while looking at a 2" LCD view screen is tough. It is very hard to make out what is being filmed, and what is not. We also had a little trouble with the camera and did not get all the scenes filmed that I wanted to get filmed. Unfortunately, time did not allow us to go back and record scenes that could have used another take or two.

Filming Buttons in the real world is quite a challenge in itself. There is not budget for these films, of course, so we have to develop ways to show him active with the Scouts without creating special sets that would have been made for bigger productions, like the Muppets. Trying to keep a puppeteer out of camera view is a real problem. In fact, in one scene the puppeteer was in the shot and it took some creative editing to get him out of it.

Editing this video was also a challenge. Soon after I started editing it I realized that I would need a little narration to help the story along. I also felt this one would need some music to help it move along, but I did not want to use popular music and violate any copyright laws. So, with the help of Mel-TV, I was about to use their music library and also present them with a film to play on the station.

I hope you enjoy this video. True, Buttons in not in it as much as he is in his previous films, but I really wanted to show the Scouts interacting with the puppet, and thus, the film features the Boy Scouts more then it does the puppet.

I really would like to read your comments about this film. You can leave one here, or at the PTC media forums. If you leave a comment at the iTunes Music Store you will help the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast climb higher in the ratings. Let me know if I should continue to produce more videos like this one.

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Thursday, January 31, 2008

iTunes Reviews of MSPP

The Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast (MSPP) which features videos of Boy Scouts performing skits and singing songs, and videos of Buttons the radical Boy Scout, has been found on the iTunes music store since the beginning. Once nice feature about the iTunes store is that viewers can rate the podcasts and leave comments. I enjoy reading the comments. They keep me fired up about producing new videos. The comments and videos also help to increase the podcast's ranking in iTunes which then gives the podcast more visibility. I like it when I can help Scouting receive more visibility. Here are a few of the comments posted on iTunes.

Scouterbill writes, "Buttons is definitely the most 'Radical Boy Scout'. My Den loves Buttons. Keep up the good work."

saxman104 wrote, "My Scouts enjoy watching Buttons. He is also very helpful in teaching young Scouts about Scouting. Steve does a wonderful job in his acting and writing of material. Highly recommend watching them."

ake... writes, "How can you have anymore fun than watching videos with Scouts? Better then TV."

and the comment made by GCostigan made me giggle, and then got me thinking about merchandising when he wrote, "Something that I can have my Scouts watch and enjoy. Now they want Buttons patrol patches."

I would like to thank you all who have taken the time to leave a comment at iTunes, Youtube, and PTC Media. I also want to thank those of you who dropped me an email to comment about the videos. I do read them all and appreciate them. Keep them coming!

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Wednesday, January 30, 2008

MSPP #31: Buttons and the Outdoor Code

Buttons, the radical Boy Scout, talks about the Outdoor Code in this post to the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast. Not only does he recite it but he also covers the four "C's" of the code: clean in the outdoors, careful with fire, considerate in the outdoors, and conservation-minded. It is a code that all Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts should follow whenever you are in the great outdoors, like when you are camping or hiking or just having fun.

Buttons would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment to this post, or at the PTC Media forums, which is holding a drawing through the month of February. It would also be great if you left a comment and rate the podcast at the iTunes music store which helps Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast get a higher rating and thus, make it more visible to people who search for Scouting podcasts. You can also leave a comment at Digg.com. Thanks for watching.

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Saturday, January 12, 2008

MSPP #30: Singing In The Rain

The Boy Scouts of Troop 68 in Melrose have been doing an annual show called Laughs For Lunch for over ten years. The show follows a campfire program format and features songs and skits you may see while you enjoy a program at summer camp or a camporee. The Laughs for Lunch Shows usually last for ninety minutes or so. Both the Boy Scouts and the audience have a good time.

This entry to the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast features five Scouts from the 1998 show performing an old favorite, "Singing In The Rain". I am sure you are very familiar with the song, but are you familiar with the actions that go with it during a Boy Scout campfire program? It is great fun to have the audience stand up and perform this song with the leaders. Try it yourself. It could be quite interesting to do this song at your next pack meeting or troop weekend camping trip.

Just for your information, it has been ten years since this skit was filmed with a vhs camera. These boys are now close to finishing college. One has even served his country over in Iraq. Gosh, where does the time go?

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Saturday, December 22, 2007

MSPP #29: The Song Never Ends

What is the main reason that boys join Scouting? Is it to earn advancement? Probably not. Is it to learn how to tie knots? I doubt it. Do they join to learn to skills? Maybe, but I do not think that is the real reason. Do they join Scouting to have fun? Bingo! Give the man a cigar.

Boy Scouts like to have a good time, even more then adults do. When they are with their friends they can sometimes get downright silly. That is what happened on fall camping trip in 2003. While sitting around the Saturday night campfire a few members from the Hawks Patrol thought it would be funny to sign the "Song That Never Ends". And it didn't. For nearly twenty minutes they kept signing the song, with other Scouts joining in as the minutes added up.

A Scout had a "great" idea. Wouldn't this be a great joke/song to sign during the troop's annual Laughs for Lunch Show? The audience would not know what to think. I know what they audience would think, I thought to myself. They will think the Scouts have gone mad.

When the time came to plan the show's agenda a few months later I thought that maybe they would forget about this song that never ends. They did not. In fact, they decided to open the show with the song. A few Scouts wanted to sign it for fifteen minutes, like they did around the campfire. I vetoed that idea, however, we came up with a plan to sign it for a few minutes and then remove the Scouts one by one from the stage, to give the impression that the song was going to end. By force.

Today's addition to the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast is the video of that song performance. I thought it went pretty well, and that the Scouts did a great job with it. It is a great example of how Scouts can be silly, have a good time, and share that good time with other people. What silly thing has your troop done lately?

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Saturday, December 08, 2007

MSPP #28: The Mad Scientist Skit

The Mad Scientist Skit was a favorite of the Boy Scouts of Melrose Troop 68 for several years. It became a recurring skit in the troop's yearly Laughs For Lunch Show. The Scouts had a lot of fun with it and tried to change it a little bit each year.

This is a story about a mad scientist who has plans to take over the world! Of course, he has created a monster (like the Frankenstein monster) who will assist in his plans of world conquest. As he is finishing his plans, people begin knocking on his door. The scientist does not want to be disturbed so he uses his monster to take care of the unwanted visitors. Of course, by the end of the skit we discover that things do not go according to the mad scientist's plans.

The troop changes the visitors who come knocking at the door from year to year. Of course, there is the Girl Scout selling cookies, or the Boy Scout selling popcorn. We usually do three visitors during the skit. In this video, the skit does not end when you think it does. The Scouts added one little feature that carried over into the next act during the show.

We appreciate reading your comments, so please take a minute to write one.

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Tuesday, November 27, 2007

MSPP #27: Buttons in "Rec Room Tour"

Buttons, that radical Boy Scout, has taken on a life of his own during the past year. He sure knows his Boy Scout stuff, although he has a thing or two to learn about Cub Scouting yet. He has shown us how to stay in shape, and how to know if we are a real Boy Scout. He has even got a bit opinionated at times.

Take this video, for example. He takes a tour of the scoutmaster's basement recreation room, pointing out things of interest along the way. He talks about the book collection, the patch collection, and the mug collection. But then, he starts to make fun of the scoutmaster, even going so far as to call him a "white and nerdy" dude! Now I ask you, "Is this fair? Is this alright with those of you who watch these videos?" After all, what is wrong with playing a game of Dungeons and Dragons now and then? Who can deny that Star Wars is a great movie?

Watch it, meditate about it, and then leave a message as to what you think of it.

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Sunday, November 11, 2007

MSPP #26: You Know You Are A Boy Scout When... Part 2

When do you know you are a Boy Scout? Is it when you attain the Tenderfoot rank? Is it when you have spent your first night in a tent, away from home, in the middle of the forest? Is it when you lash your first 80' high signal tower?

Buttons, the radical Boy Scout, returns with a second video for the Melrose Scouting Production Podcast to explain "You Know You Are A Boy Scout When..." In this video he talks about internet chat rooms, packing for the camping trip, setting up your tent, and poison ivy.

Enjoy the video. Leave a comment and let me know what you think about it. If you have an answer to "You know you are a Boy Scout when..." then add it to the comments. If I receive enough good ones then maybe Buttons will appear in a third video on this subject.

Do not forget to go to the iTunes music store and leave a comment for this podcast and the other podcasts of PTC Media. When you leave a comment for each of the shows you will be entered in a drawing for some great Scouting stuff. PTC media plans to hold four drawings during the next couple months and the only way to register is to post comments on iTunes. Good luck!

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Friday, November 02, 2007

MSPP #25: Frisbee Follies, A Summer Camp Adventure

Here is a bit of a treat for you. I dug into the video vaults of Troop 68 and pulled out this little gem. Frisbee Follies, A Summer Camp Adventure was one of the first videos made by the Scouts of Troop 68. The Scouts made it during their week-long stay at Many Point Scout Camp in 1988. It was filmed with a vhs video camera almost twenty years ago, thus it is grainier then new digital footage would be.

The footage was filmed during two afternoons. The Scouts and I made up a rough outline of the plot (of which I admit there is not much of one), grabbed the camera and started shooting. It was pretty much filmed in order, and many scenes were sort-of made up as we filmed them. I was the director, cameraman, and editor. I learned a few things while putting this video together, like music in the background of a couple shots would have been nice.

The basic plot was to see how we could eliminate the frisbee players one by one through various mishaps as they chased a frisbee across the camp. I will admit that a couple eliminations where a bit on the weak side, some of the chase scenes are a bit dull, but a few shots turned out better then we could have ever hoped for. My favorites are the monkey bridge and the tether ball mishaps. Just to let you know, no Scouts were harmed during the filming of this project. It just looks that way. If fact, when we saw the footage ourselves the first time, we were amazed that no one was hurt.

I hope you enjoy this first attempt at producing a short film. We did it for ourselves, but we also played it on our local television cable access channel. Let me know what you think about it. Have my videos gotten worse, or better? You be the judge.

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Saturday, October 20, 2007

MSPP #24: Buckskin Camp Staff Sings

Some of the best things about attending summer camp are the campfire programs at the beginning and the end of the week. The 2007 staff of Buckskin Camp of Many Point Scout Camp did an excellent job of keeping everyone entertained during this summer's opening campfire program. Due to a rain storm that happened to wonder into camp that evening, we had to have the program in the dining hall. The location did not damper the spirit of any of the Scouts, leaders, or staff. Everyone had a great time.

This video of the Melrose Scouting Production Podcast features the Buckskin Staff singing a song about Scouting as the campfire program came to a close. I do not know what the song is titled, but it is a great song that includes the twelve points of the Scout Law. It is a catchy little tune and I find myself humming it while I write this blog entry. Enjoy it and tell your friends about this podcast.

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Saturday, October 13, 2007

MSPP #23: The Candy Store Skit

The Boy Scouts of Melrose Troop 68 enjoy performing in front of an audience. That is why they have done the annual Laughs For Lunch Show for eleven years. The Scouts also enjoy watching and being a part of campfire programs during camporees and summer camp. That is where they get many of the ideas, skits, and songs that they perform.

During the 2002 Laughs For Lunch Show two of our older Scouts did the Candy Store skit. This skit has been a popular one for the Scouts of Troop 68 since they first saw it performed at a summer camp campfire in the 1980's. During this version of the skit, Jacob and Enrico, the two Scouts, decided to have a little extra fun with it. They knew this was probably the last time they would perform the Candy Store as Boy Scouts.

I think the two guys had planned a surprise before they went out on the stage. I believe they already had the "volunteers" in mind they would choose to be in the skit. The horsie ride was a new addition to the skit that we had never done before. Enrico chose his father to play that part. Jacob's mother became the cash register. The part of the bench/counter that "broke down" was a buddy of theirs who had earned the rank of Eagle Scout. All the volunteers except one had already seen the skit and knew the punchline, but they were great sports about it and went along with the fun.

Have fun watching this podcast. It is a longer one, over eleven minutes, but I think you will enjoy it. Have your Scouts watch and practice it for their next campfire program.

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Friday, October 05, 2007

MSPP #22: Cub Scouts and PTC Media

The parents, Cub Scouts, and new members of Cub Pack 68 received a surprise during "School Night to Join Scouting" on Tuesday, September 25, when Buttons, the radical Boy Scout, stopped by for a surprise visit. The boys eyes went wide and the grins reached from ear to ear as Buttons introduced himself to the pack. A few of the Cubs already knew Buttons from watching his videos on Youtube and the troop's website, but for the other boys it was the first time seeing the radical puppet.

I decided to bring Buttons to the meeting as I was gathering materials to take along to the school night meeting. I was a little nervous about how the puppet would be received by the boys and parents. It is one thing to make a video of the puppet in my home. It is quite different bringing him before a live audience. Would the boys and the families accept Buttons? Or would they ignore him? It was time to find out.

I did not create a "stage show" for Buttons. Instead, I walked around the room with him, going from table to table, talking to the kids, giving high fives, avoiding being punched, and trading a few hugs. Before I knew it there were a dozen kids following Buttons around the room.

Just before the actual meeting began the boys were given the opportunity to have their picture taken with the radical dude. I offered to post the pictures on the troop's website if the parents were okay with that. They were. The pictures can be seen HERE.

Now that I know Buttons is accepted by the Cub Scouts, I may have to plan another visit or two to the pack during the next year. Who knows. There may even be another video out of that visit.

Speaking of videos, a new video of Buttons has been posted about his trip to the pack meeting. And it is time to announce that the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast can now be found on the PTC Media network! I am honored to be a part of this Scout-related network of podcasts. The Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast has joined The Leader's Campfire, An Hour A Week?, and Akela's Adventure. Check out PTC Media HERE.

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Wednesday, September 12, 2007

MMSPP #21: You Know You Are A Boy Scout When...

If you have been in Scouting for awhile then you probably have an answer to the question "You know you are a Boy Scout when..." (If you don't, then you have not been involved with Scouting long enough.) I belong to a Facebook group which does its best to answer that question in dozens of different ways.

I thought it would be fun to bring back Buttons, the radical Boy Scout, as he covers a few of the answers to this question. We (me and a volunteer crew) had fun filming him as he tries to answer the question at a cabin on King's Lake in central Minnesota. Unfortunately, it was pretty windy that day, as you will hear when you watch the video. Buttons presents five answers to the all important question, and things do not always go according to plan. My favorite part of this episode is when Buttons is sitting on the edge of the tent and the weather changes on him.

This is the first of two videos planned that will feature Buttons on this subject. I have seen many good answers to the question, but unfortunately they do not all lend themselves to being filmed with a character like Buttons. Especially when I do not have the budget that the Muppets have. (Um, there is no budget here.)

I hope you enjoy the video. Leave a comment and let me know what you think about it. If you have an answer to "You know you are a Boy Scout when..." then add it to the comments. If I receive enough good ones then maybe Buttons will appear in a third video on this subject.

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Friday, September 07, 2007

MSPP #20: The Echo System Skit

In 1996 the Boy Scouts of Troop 68 held their first Laughs For Lunch Show. There have been quite a few since then, eleven in all. The boys have a great time doing them, and the audience seems to have a lot of fun watching the shows.

This video is part of that very first show. It is the Echo System skit, which is one of the oldest skits in Scouting. At least I think it is an old skit. It has been one of the favorites of the troop's, and very easy for the younger Scouts to learn. In this version we used a "remote control" to turn the echo system on and off.

One thing that always scares me a little when the boys do this skit is that I never know what line they will come up with for the punchline. It often changes from performance to performance. But that is okay, as long as they keep it clean.

Enjoy it and let us know what you think of it by leaving a comment.
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Saturday, August 25, 2007

MSPP #19: The Many Point Scout Camp Rouser 2007

The summer camp season is over. Troops have gone home, adult leaders have gone back to work, and the Boy Scouts are preparing for school to begin. By now the many young adults who spend their summers as camp staff have also gone home. Many of them are preparing for another year of college.

The staff at the Buckskin Camp of Many Point Scout Camp in Minnesota did an excellent job this year. They were hard working, always cheerful, and ready to assist any of the Boy Scout campers who needed a little extra help. The Boy Scouts of Troop 68 attended camp during July 15-21 and had a great time, mainly due to the wonderful camp staff.

So, this post to the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast is dedicated to the hard working summer camp staff. This video features the Buckskin staff at the week's opening campfire program singing the Many Point Rouser. You may notice that we are inside the dining hall during the campfire program. We like to stay dry when we can. I like the way the staff is so fired up and ready for a good time. That attitude spread among the Scouts like wildfire.

Enjoy it and let us know what you think of it by leaving a comment.
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Thursday, August 16, 2007

MSPP #18: The Movie Skit

The Boy Scouts of Troop 68 in Central Minnesota Council have a tradition of performing for others enjoyment. They have performed at campfire programs, council camporees, summer camp programs, and community events. For over ten years the troop has held an annual Laughs For Lunch Show during which they basically do a ninety minute campfire program. This program is open to the community.

The show held in 2006 was one of the best shows the troop has ever held. Luckily for all of us, it was videotaped on digital tape which makes it easy to break down and put on the web. This podcast will be showcasing some of these skits over the next few months.

Today's post to Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast is The Movie Skit. This skit has become a favorite of the troop's, not only to watch but also to perform. The Scouts have a great time with it and are always trying to come up with new ways of "performing" it. The first three "takes" basically set up the skit. After that it is anything goes. The troop has also tried a couple ways to end the skit. I do not want to give away the ending, or punchline, so you will have to watch this one yourself.

All the members of the group in this skit have graduated from high school and are currently in college. I know they all have some great memories about Scouting. Four of the six Scouts did earn their Eagle Rank. Many of them attended Philmont Scout Ranch. But I think the Laughs For Lunch Shows will always be one of those Scouting experiences they will remember for years to come.

Enjoy it and let us know what you think of it by leaving a comment.
Download Podcast
Watch Video on the troop's website.
Subscribe through iTunes.
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