The Scouting Stuff Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Transatlantic Council Oct 12, 2023

Show notes

A bit more information about how Scouts BSA' Transatlantic Council is structured, and the role Kandersteg plays in it.

Podcast Topics

Scouter Will, from Scouts BSA’s Transatlantic Council, joins the podcast to discuss the Council and its role in allowing the children of deployed soldiers and diplomats to continue participating in Scouting even when they’re nowhere near the United States.

And as it turns out, Kandersteg International Scout Centre – which they call Camp Alpine – is an integral component of the Council, and their main meeting place for camps.

Also discussed:

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Music

Upbeat Rock (Good News), by Alex Grohl

Scouting Five - Week of October 2, 2023 Oct 06, 2023

Show notes

A successful musical fundraiser, Scouts Canada apologizes...and Scouts in Brazil get crafty with plastic waste.

News Stories

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Upbeat Rock (Good News), by Alex Grohl

Battleship Sep 29, 2023

Show notes

Scouter Paul from the Hudson Explorers explains a fun game his unit plays with paper boats...and fire.

Podcast Topics

Whilst at Kander100, Scouter Ken met up with Scouter Paul from the Hudson Explorers, an Explorer Scout unit based in Sutton Coldfield, just outside of Birmingham. Some of the unit are regular listeners of the podcast, and that little meet & greet turned into an invitation to join them - and a few other contingents from various countries - in a game they called “Battleship”.

“Battleship” begins with the Scouts breaking into teams and folding 20 origami boats. While they’re busy with this, the Scouter set up a rectangular or square area outdoors, which the Scouts spread their boats around once they’ve got them made.

Each team then gets a metal garden spade, a flint & steel, and fifty cotton balls. The rest is fairly self-explanatory: they light each cotton ball in turn with the flint & steel, then use the spade to fling the fireball at an opposing team’s boat.

The team with the most undamaged boats left wins!

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Music

Upbeat Rock (Good News), by Alex Grohl

Scouting Five - Week of September 18, 2023 Sep 22, 2023

Show notes

Scouts respond to disasters, another Scout Group loses gear to theft...and you can now get a podcast necker or badge!

News Stories

Scouting Stuff Merchandise Pre-Orders

Ride the Waves Not the Waste with Scouts of Trinidad & Tobago

Libyan Scouts' Heroic Response to Devastating Floods

Morocco’s Scouts unite to launch relief efforts after deadly earthquake

Moncton, N.B. scout troop loses $8,000 worth of camping equipment in theft

Scouts celebrate 70 years in Rossland

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Music

Upbeat Rock (Good News), by Alex Grohl

Jamboree Debrief Sep 13, 2023

Show notes

The Kander100 Jamboree was a huge success. World Jamboree 2023...not so much.

Podcast Topics

Ken and Colin discuss the challenges - to put it mildly - faced by those who attended the 25th World Scout Jamboree in Korea this summer, as well as the response of WOSM and various national contingents to the heat wave and other issues that emerged at the site.

And then the conversation shifts to Kander100 and the experience of the Canadian Contingent thereat, as well as how Ken and his family enjoyed their Swiss vacation.

Also: check out the Scouting Stuff Stuff page! You can order stickers there at the moment...and soon, neckerchiefs and badges will be available as well. Watch our social media for more details!

Shout-Outs

Samuel Ip was a member of the Hong Kong contingent at Kander100. While his campsite was right next to the Canadians’, he and Scouter Ken didn’t end up crossing paths...but he reached out to say hello and ask for some stickers.
Scouter Nathalie also reached out to ask for some stickers, and followed up to say she enjoyed listening to the recent Pinkies episode...which happened to feature her daughter!
And Simon left a five-star review on the website!

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Music

Upbeat Rock (Good News), by Alex Grohl

Scouting Five - Week of September 4, 2023 Sep 06, 2023

Show notes

Jamborees around the world, a new WOSM member organization...and a disturbing documentary.

News Stories

Scouts Honor: The disturbing true story behind Netflix documentary

Former Scouts Canada employee sentenced to 4 years for sex crimes

Proposed settlement reached in Ralph Rowe lawsuit

A wave of transformation: 80,000 Scouts spark change in Algeria

Saudi Girls in Scouting Volunteer in Large Numbers During Pilgrim Service

Kander100

43,000 Scouts unite for 25th World Scout Jamboree in South Korea

WOSM Statements from the 25th World Scout Jamboree

Closing ceremony of the 25th World Scout Jamboree reunites Scouts at Seoul World Cup Stadium

Scoutisme Congolais joins global Scout Movement as 174th Member Organization

Scouts Plant Seeds of Hope in Senegal

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Music

Upbeat Rock (Good News), by Alex Grohl

Pinkies Sep 01, 2023

Show notes

Ever wondered what it’s like to be a volunteer at Kandersteg International Scout Centre?

Podcast Topics

Scouter Ken chats with Sam (from Canada) and Laura (from the United States), two “Pinkies” (read: seasonal volunteers) at the Kandersteg International Scout Centre (KISC).

Sam and Laura explain what it’s like to be a Pinkie, as well as how to apply for the role. Pinkies serve three-month terms roughly corresponding to the four seasons, and the application process includes a motivation letter, a CV, a picture, and a video explaining why you’d love to volunteer at KISC.

Shout-Outs

A big “thank you” to – who else? – Sam and Laura for agreeing to this interview, to Sam for reaching out to Scouter Ken ahead of Kander100, and to Laura for being a listener to the podcast as well!

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Music

Slow Burn, by Kevin MacLeod

Interview with Jack Higgins Aug 15, 2023

Show notes

An interview with Jack Higgins, the director of the Kandersteg International Scout Centre (KISC).

Podcast Topics

Scouter Ken was at Kander100 (also called KISC100), the large(r) jamboree held to celebrate the centenary of the “permanent mini-jamboree” that the Kandersteg International Scout Centre (KISC) in Switzerland was founded to be.

As it happened, some of the media staff at KISC had heard Episode 137, and asked Scouter Ken if he’d be interested in doing an interview with Jack Higgins, the director of KISC.

Shout-Outs

Many thanks to the Kandersteg International Scout Centre (KISC), the media team thereat (especially Myles and Luis) for setting everything up and providing recording gear, and of course Jack Higgins for taking the time to do this interview.

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Music

Drive Acoustic Rock, by ArtMusic