Helping leaders to grow...
First among them the Buffalo (okay, not technically correct, but being a Buffalo, and my blog...)
Where Beaver dams up the stream
And Bobwhites are part of the team
Where Eagles dare each day
Wondering what does the Fox say
And Owls wisely look on.
But how I do err
Ending with the Bear
For all that know the roll
Know that it ends with the Buffalo
Because in our course there was no hope
To have the last, the Antelope.
Having spent three days time
Learning to rhyme
Writing in this fashion is too slow
But after all, I am a Buffalo
Therefore I will not oppose
The writing of the blog in prose.
We had many rhymes during the first weekend of my Woodbadge course. Yes, after decades as an adult in Scouting, I am finally getting around to Woodbadge. I won't make an excuse, because I have no proof. Darn, there I go again.
For those not in the know, Woodbadge is advanced training for adult leaders for the Boy Scouts of America. It encompasses all parts of BSA, and one must be position specific trained in their current job to be able to attend. We had many from Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, and even Venturing. Let me try to encapsulate the intensity of training in the first three days.
I attended some 7 or 8 management courses during my 10 years as a manager with the FAA. The Federal Government spent thousands of dollars to send me off to various locations for any where from 3 to 14 days. During those courses I learned most of what was taught in the three days of Woodbadge except it was crafted to a different audience. Those teaching those courses were professionals, in that they make their living teaching these leadership skills.
The Woodbadge instructors receive... the satisfaction of passing on their knowledge, of helping to prepare additional leaders to improve the BSA in the Pony Express Council and beyond. They spend countless hours leading up to the course, prepping, making arrangements, budgeting the funds generated by the fees (hint, it isn't tens of thousands of dollars). They give up time with family, take time away from employment, and put up with people like me for two weekends. (Actually, I am pretty unique, if I do say so myself, just not in the best way, most of those being trained are awesome scouters).
The skills learned in the training, as should be obvious from what I mentioned earlier, are applicable far beyond Scouting. They are life skills, usable in our relationships with others, professional, familial, casual, or otherwise. They help us to be better human beings, better spouses, employers, employees, friends. Yeah, that was kind of a weak paragraph, but how do we learn? Through repetition.
From understanding the vision of the organization and to building our own vision, to active listening, and crucial conversations, it was all amazing, even if already familiar. The opportunity to build relationships and cooperation within our patrol (Buffaloes! Leaving fuel on the prairie!), has been very interesting to watch (hey, I am an INFJ, we do a lot of observation. No it's not stalking). Recognizing each other's strengths and weaknesses, as well as those with whom we associate, makes it so much easier to get tasks accomplished, by catering to those strengths. It is amazing what has happened in our patrol in just three days.
In less than two weeks, we resume our training, finish up the lessons, and finish writing our tickets, though they should be mostly finished before we go back. The completed ticket, at least from my view, is sort of the Eagle project of Woodbadge, and I look forward to a correction on that if I a wrong. While we did camp out last weekend, it was on the platforms in Strong Bull, with meals served in the Dining, I mean Gilwell Hall. Next time around, we get to set up tents in Scoutcraft Valley, and cook two meals.
The progression is designed to help all understand the programs of BSA. First day, we were Cubs, in Dens, supper the first night was the Blue and Gold where we crossed over to Scouts BSA, and assigned patrols (from Den 2 to Buffalo Patrol). On Friday we had a Den Chief constantly helping us, and Saturday and Sunday, that Den Chief became the Troop Guide, and his involvement has gradually been more and more distant.
This has been a lot longer than I thought, and I had deleted how I originally started, as it felt so wrong. Let me know what you think, and I will follow up with what I learn in the final weekend.
Philip Lovesee
C5-311-20
Buffalo
SM Brian Miller
SPL Gary Proffit
TG Eugene Lickenbrock
Where Beaver dams up the stream
And Bobwhites are part of the team
Where Eagles dare each day
Wondering what does the Fox say
And Owls wisely look on.
But how I do err
Ending with the Bear
For all that know the roll
Know that it ends with the Buffalo
Because in our course there was no hope
To have the last, the Antelope.
Having spent three days time
Learning to rhyme
Writing in this fashion is too slow
But after all, I am a Buffalo
Therefore I will not oppose
The writing of the blog in prose.
We had many rhymes during the first weekend of my Woodbadge course. Yes, after decades as an adult in Scouting, I am finally getting around to Woodbadge. I won't make an excuse, because I have no proof. Darn, there I go again.
For those not in the know, Woodbadge is advanced training for adult leaders for the Boy Scouts of America. It encompasses all parts of BSA, and one must be position specific trained in their current job to be able to attend. We had many from Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, and even Venturing. Let me try to encapsulate the intensity of training in the first three days.
I attended some 7 or 8 management courses during my 10 years as a manager with the FAA. The Federal Government spent thousands of dollars to send me off to various locations for any where from 3 to 14 days. During those courses I learned most of what was taught in the three days of Woodbadge except it was crafted to a different audience. Those teaching those courses were professionals, in that they make their living teaching these leadership skills.
The Woodbadge instructors receive... the satisfaction of passing on their knowledge, of helping to prepare additional leaders to improve the BSA in the Pony Express Council and beyond. They spend countless hours leading up to the course, prepping, making arrangements, budgeting the funds generated by the fees (hint, it isn't tens of thousands of dollars). They give up time with family, take time away from employment, and put up with people like me for two weekends. (Actually, I am pretty unique, if I do say so myself, just not in the best way, most of those being trained are awesome scouters).
The skills learned in the training, as should be obvious from what I mentioned earlier, are applicable far beyond Scouting. They are life skills, usable in our relationships with others, professional, familial, casual, or otherwise. They help us to be better human beings, better spouses, employers, employees, friends. Yeah, that was kind of a weak paragraph, but how do we learn? Through repetition.
From understanding the vision of the organization and to building our own vision, to active listening, and crucial conversations, it was all amazing, even if already familiar. The opportunity to build relationships and cooperation within our patrol (Buffaloes! Leaving fuel on the prairie!), has been very interesting to watch (hey, I am an INFJ, we do a lot of observation. No it's not stalking). Recognizing each other's strengths and weaknesses, as well as those with whom we associate, makes it so much easier to get tasks accomplished, by catering to those strengths. It is amazing what has happened in our patrol in just three days.
In less than two weeks, we resume our training, finish up the lessons, and finish writing our tickets, though they should be mostly finished before we go back. The completed ticket, at least from my view, is sort of the Eagle project of Woodbadge, and I look forward to a correction on that if I a wrong. While we did camp out last weekend, it was on the platforms in Strong Bull, with meals served in the Dining, I mean Gilwell Hall. Next time around, we get to set up tents in Scoutcraft Valley, and cook two meals.
The progression is designed to help all understand the programs of BSA. First day, we were Cubs, in Dens, supper the first night was the Blue and Gold where we crossed over to Scouts BSA, and assigned patrols (from Den 2 to Buffalo Patrol). On Friday we had a Den Chief constantly helping us, and Saturday and Sunday, that Den Chief became the Troop Guide, and his involvement has gradually been more and more distant.
This has been a lot longer than I thought, and I had deleted how I originally started, as it felt so wrong. Let me know what you think, and I will follow up with what I learn in the final weekend.
Philip Lovesee
C5-311-20
Buffalo
SM Brian Miller
SPL Gary Proffit
TG Eugene Lickenbrock
I enjoyed it, like I was there. 😃
ReplyDeleteHi Phil!!! I loved reading it and would really enjoy reading your follow-up! It was nice getting to know you a bit more outside of the store! :) Have a GREAT day!
ReplyDelete