The Meaning of the Scout Law

The Boy Scout Law has 12 points

Excerpted from page 47-54, Boy Scout Handbook, 11th Edition

A Scout is Trustworthy - A Scout tells the truth. He is honest, and he keeps his promises. People can depend on him.

A Scout is Loyal - A Scout is true to his family, friends, Scout leaders, school, and nation.

A Scout is Helpful - A Scout cares about other people. He willingly volunteers to help others without expecting payment or reward.

A Scout is Friendly - A Scout is a friend to all. He is a brother to other Scouts. He offers his friendship to people of all races and nations, and respects them even if their beliefs and customs are different from his own.

A Scout is Courteous - A Scout is polite to everyone regardless of age or position. He knows that using good manners makes it easier for people to get along.

A Scout is Kind - A Scout knows there is strength in being gentle. He treats others as he wants to be treated. Without good reason, he does not harm or kill any living thing.

A Scout is Obedient - A Scout follows the rules of his family, school, and troop. He obeys the laws of his community and country. If he thinks these rules and laws are unfair, he tries to have them changed in an orderly manner rather than disobeying them.

A Scout is Cheerful - A Scout looks for the bright side of life. He cheerfully does tasks that come his way. He tries to make others happy.

A Scout is Thrifty - A Scout works to pay his own way and to help others. He saves for the future. He protects and conserves natural resources. He carefully uses time and property.

A Scout is Brave - A Scout can face danger although he is afraid. He has the courage to stand for what he thinks is right even if others laugh at him or threaten him.

A Scout is Clean - A Scout keeps his body and mind fit and clean. He chooses the company of those who live by high standards. He helps keep his home and community clean.

A Scout is Reverent - A Scout is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties. He respects the beliefs of others.

Extreme Weather

Some of us have earned the weather belt loop.  This year we are going to be talking about severe weather and what to do in a weather emergency.  There are many different kinds of extreme weather conditions.  Some can happen in our area and some are unlikely to happen in our area.  

The Boy Scout Motto is "Be Prepared".  Lord Baden-Powell was once asked, "what should scouts be prepared for.  He replied, "oh, any old thing". Today, scouts want to be prepared for just that, anything.  One such thing is extreme weather.  In our area that is most commonly thunderstorms and snowstorms.  It is important to be ready for the uncommon weather too, such as tornadoes. We should also be ready for the things that accompany extreme weather like power outages and water shortages.

Our government has a website to help you prep for weather related emergencies.

In some parts of our country extreme weather can result in evacuation.  In our area we may be stuck inside for a few days after an unusual snowfall or be without electricity for a while.  In these situations its important to be prepared.

Pocket Knife Safety

Having your Whittling Chip is an earned privilege from the pack and having a pocket knife is an earned privilege from your parents. There are a few places (like a scout event) that its OK to have a pocketknife. There are lots of places that its never OK to have a pocketknife with you. If you want to have a pocketknife with you, always ask if its OK. 

DO: 

Keep the blades closed except when you are using them
Cut away from yourself. 

Keep your knife sharp and clean. A sharp blade is easier to control than a dull one; a clean blade will last longer. 

Close the blades before you pass a knife to someone else. 

DON'T 

Carry a knife with the blade open. 

Cut toward yourself. If the blade slips, you may be injured. 

Pound on a knife handle or blade with another tool. The knife may break.
Throw a knife. 

Pry with the point of a cutting blade. It can snap off. 

Put a knife in a fire. New knife blades are hardened, or tempered, with just the right amount of heat. Reheating them may ruin the temper and weaken the knife. 

Caring for your pocketknife

Most pocketknives are made of a strong steel alloy that won’t rust. However, dirt and lint can collect inside, and ordinary use will dull the blades.

Sharpening

Sharpen your knife with a whetstone or a knife sharpener. Whetstones require a certain amount of skill to get your knife sharp. A knife sharpener can quickly and properly sharpen your blade. The best knife sharpener is always the one that works best for you.

Remember the Pocket Knife Pledge

I will treat my pocketknife with the respect due a useful tool.
I will always close my pocketknife and put it away when not in use.
I will not use my pocketknife when it might injure someone near me.
I promise never to throw my pocketknife for any reason.
I will use my pocketknife in a safe manner at all times.

Camp Fires

The ability to build a fire is an important skill.  With a camp fire you can cook food, purify water, keep warm and keep critters out of your camp. Most often, a camp fire a place where we can gather in the evenings to roast marshmallows.  

As a Boy Scout you will earn your Firem'n Chit. This shows that you have demonstrated the ability to start a campfire and that you have learned about fire sarefty.  As Webelos, we are going to start to introduce fire craft.  There are a few things to remember that will make your camp fire a success.

As Wolves and Bears we learned that fire needs 3 things.  Fuel, Air and Heat. The fuel we use is typically firewood.  The air is all around us.  The heat we will provide by using a fire starter.  This could be a match, a fire steel or friction. You can see a list of good fire starters here.

You also need some small material to get started.  Tinder and kindling are essential to starting your campfire. Here are some tips for building campfires.

When building a fire, you must keep safety your first priority.  The fire must be completely out before leaving a fire.

If you are going to have a campfire:

• Use an existing fire ring, don't create a new one. When not in a designated campground, build your fire within a ring of rocks.
• Clear all vegetation away from the fire ring (remove all flammable materials such as needles, leaves, sticks, etc.)
• Select an open level spot away from trees, logs, stumps, overhanging branches, dense dry grass, and forest litter.
• Keep your campfire small.
• Keep plenty of water and a shovel nearby for throwing dirt on the fire if it gets out of control.
• Never leave a campfire unattended! Even a small breeze could quickly cause the fire to spread. Make sure a responsible adult is always in attendance.

When putting out your campfire:

• First, drown the campfire with water!
• Next, mix the ashes and embers with soil. Scrape all partially-burned sticks and logs to make sure all the hot embers are off them.
• Stir the embers after they are covered with water and make sure that everything is wet.
• Feel the coals, embers, and any partially-burned wood with your hands. Everything (including the rock fire ring) should be cool to the touch. Feel under the rocks to make sure no embers underneath.
• When you think you are done, take an extra minute and add more water.
• Finally, check the entire campsite for possible sparks or embers, because it only takes one to start a forest fire.
• Remember…if it is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave. 

Please take the time to completely put out your campfire, it could prevent a wildfire.

Smokey the Bear has a great website with more information on wildfire prevention

Water

The ability to stay hydrated is essential for survival. You need to drink water throughout the day to keep your self from dehydrating. It is always a good idea to bring a bottle of water with you in the woods.  At pack and counsel events there is always plenty of clean water around, but what about water that we see out in the wild.

Water from creeks, ponds, streams, or any unknown source is always assumed to be unclean.  If you must resort to drinking stream water, it must be made safe somehow.  The most reliable method to make water safe to drink is by boiling it.  Any bacteria or parasites  will be rendered harmless by boiling.  

There are other methods to make water safe to drink.

Filtering - A water filter like a "life straw" will filter out almost everything harmful

UV Light - This kind of light will kill microorganisms. This treatment requires clear water to be effective.

Iodine Tablets - These are tablets of a chemical that will make water safe to drink. They require time to work completely and may make water taste funny.

CDC's Drinking Water Fact Sheet

Internet Safety

A new requirement for Webelos this year is the Cyber Chip. With our youth spending so much time using computers and tablets, the BSA has adapted to modern times.  Just like how we learned about knife safety when we earned the Whittling Chip, we will learn about internet safety by earning the Cyber Chip.

All infomation required for the Cyber Chip can be found at Netsmartz.org

Grades 4-5 (Webelos Requirements) 

Read, commit to, and sign the Level 1 Safety Pledge. (BSA Cyber Chip blue card). 

Watch the video “The Password Rap” and another video of your choosing. 

As an individual or with your den, use the Teachable Recipes to demonstrate Internet safety rules to your den leader, den, or pack. 

Discuss with your unit leader the acceptable standards and practices for using allowed electronic devices, such as phones and games, at your meetings and other Scouting events.

This achievement must be "recharged" every year

Think of the Cyber Chip as a summertime assignment.  This is something easy that we can do independently with our parents and have completed for the first Pack Meeting in the fall.

Scout Oath and Scout Law

On my honor
I will do my best
To do my duty to God
and my country and to 
Obey the Scout Law
To help other people, 
To keep myself physically 
Strong, mentally awake and 
Morally straight.

A Scout is:

Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful
Friendly, Courteous, Kind
Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty
Brave, Clean, and Reverent

Here is a Printable copy of our Law and Oath