Sunday 23 December 2012


More about Learning to live in the present moment 


"Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” 

- Mother Theresa

Saturday 22 December 2012


Question: What are some of the topics covered on a Group Commissioner WBI Course?

Answer:  
- Scouts Canada Structure
- Functions and Accountabilities of the Group Commissioner
- Bylaws, Policies and Procedures
- Risk Management
- VRAD
- Group Management – Planning and Time Management
- Group Management – Problem Solving, Conflict Resolution, Decision Making
- Conducting Meetings
- Communications
- Program Delivery 

For more detail click here

If you have a training related question you would like answered please post here in the comment box or e-mail me at plainlytraining@gmail.com ]

Sunday 16 December 2012


Question: What are the different options potentially available for delivering WBI training to volunteers?

Answer:  
For  Section & Group Committee Member WBI - 
Option 1: e-Learning (preferred by most and offered through myscouts.ca)
Option 2: small group e-Learning using a WiFi internet connection (preferred in cases where volunteers may have limited or no internet access to e-Learning)
Option 3: small group e-Learning using DVD or computer movie file and computer (preferred in cases where volunteers may have limited or no internet access to e-Learning)
Option 4: small to large group in-person WBI course (one day course)

For Group Commissioner WBI -
Option 1: small to large group in-person WBI course (one day course)
Option 2: small group in-person WBI course (the one day course spread over 4-5 evenings)

For details or to propose other options please feel free to contact me at plainlytraining@gmail.com  

If you have a training related question you would like answered please post here in the comment box or e-mail me at plainlytraining@gmail.com ]

Friday 14 December 2012


Learning to live in the present moment


"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That's why we call it the present." 

Winnie the Pooh, - A.A. Milne






Tuesday 11 December 2012


Question: What training does a Group Commissioner or Group Committee member require?

Answer:  Group Commissioners require Group Commissioner Wood Badge 1 training which is available as an in-person course. For Group Committee members,  Group Committee Member Wood Badge 1 training is required and is available online through e-Learning.

If you have a training related question you would like answered please post here in the comment box or e-mail me at plainlytraining@gmail.com ]



Wednesday 5 December 2012

You Become What You Practice Most


"One thing I am convinced more and more is true and that is this: The only way to be truly happy is to make others happy. When you realize that and take advantage of the fact, everything is made perfect."
--William Carlos Williams,
American poet and physician

Monday 3 December 2012

Ways to collectively support volunteers after completing WBI?


For starters, thank them for learning how to make their best.. better. Among other things, their training, personal commitment and experience brings value to the program so let them know you appreciate their contribution!

What about encouraging them to 'work' what they have brought back from training. Challenge them to take on something new in the section. Remember 'Learn by Doing' is one of the best ways to transform knowledge into skill!

Do you have a suggestion, comment or story to share on this topic? Join this conversation by posting a comment here, twitter @plainly training #collectivesupport or just send me an e-mail at plainlytraining@gmail.com

Sunday 2 December 2012


On Preparation

"If I am to speak for ten minutes, I need a week for preparation; if fifteen minutes, three days; if half an hour, two days; if an hour, I am ready now."
—Woodrow T. Wilson
28th President of the United States, 
from 1913 to 1921.

Question: What happened to the 3rd & 4th beads accreditation?

Answer:  In April 2012 Scouts Canada suspended the trainer accreditation system and references to Trainer 1/Trainer 2 /Trainer 3 have been invalidated. Nova Scotia Council continues to develop our trainers through opportunities to train and trainer development courses. When the new accreditation system comes in to force, Council will assess both trainer training experience and knowledge towards the appropriate accreditation level/step. 

If you have a training related question you would like answered please post here in the comment box or e-mail me at plainlytraining@gmail.com ]

Sunday 18 November 2012


Take your Group Commissioner Wood Badge Part I by Web Conference!

Sat Dec 8 and Sun Dec 9th, 12:30 - 5 pm

One more way to take this training courtesy of Voyageur Council. To register visit the Voyageur Council training portal at http://www.voyageur.scouts.ca:8080 or for more information please contact:  dcc-­‐training@voyageur.scouts.ca

Thursday 15 November 2012

Circle your calendar...Wood Badge Part I Training Courses

December 1, 2012
Colony Wood Badge I  - Kings Area. 
Course Manager: Lewis Oickle, lewisoickle@eastlink.ca /  847-3577

Pack  Wood Badge I  - Kings Area. 
Course Manager: Lewis Oickle, lewisoickle@eastlink.ca /  847-3577

Troop Wood Badge I - Kings Area. 
Course Manager: Jim Jotcham, marbicon@eastlink.ca / 528-7101

December 8, 2012
Colony Wood Badge I  - Dartmouth Area. 
Course Manager: Gail Shea, gail.shea@eastlink.ca / 435-1248

January 26, 2013

Group Commissioner Wood Badge I Group Commissioner - Kings Area. 
Course Manager George Mawko, scoutergeorge@ns.sympatico.ca / 435-6244

February 2, 2013
Group Commissioner Wood Badge I Group Commissioner - Dartmouth Area. 
Course Manager George Mawko, scoutergeorge@ns.sympatico.ca / 435-6244


Scouters interested in learning more about these courses or participating should contact the Course Manager listed. 

Sunday 1 April 2012


WB1 Recognition During MYscouts.ca Launch

If you have recently completed your Wood Badge 1 through e-learning please contact a member of your Area's service team so that they can arrange presentation of your woggle. Currently the weekly national reports of completed training to Council have been temporarily interrupted by the roll-out of the new membership system (MYscouts.ca).

If you have any questions about this please e-mail me at plainlytraining@gmail.com

Friday 16 March 2012


Free Workshops for HRM Volunteers!

Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) offers a variety of workshops for volunteers. These workshops are free and are intended for those volunteering time in their communities. Some of the workshop titles include:

- Risk Management
- Effective Meetings: How to organize for efficiency
- Step Up To Leadership
- Youth Inclusion
- Working with Difficult People



Tuesday 28 February 2012


Words We Use

Some more of the words used in this blog along with their meanings.



To download a pdf copy of this glossary click here.

[If you don't know the meaning of a word and it is not here then post it here or contact me (plainlytraining@gmail.com) to have it added.]

Friday 17 February 2012


Words We Use

Here are some of the words used in this blog along with their meanings.

Trainer.
A person who assists others in their development through coaching, mentoring, and/or presenting information and skills.

CTS or Course Training Standards.
A list of all the topics covered in a training course, and the approximate amount of time spent on them. Current course training standards are available on scouts.ca under Volunteers.

DAC Training or Deputy Area Commissioner for Training.
A person who works with groups to identify gaps in Scouter training and with Council to provide enough training opportunities for Scouters in the Area.

DCC Training or Deputy Council Commissioner for Training. 
A person who works with Areas to address gaps in Scouter training and to ensure that enough training opportunities are available.

[If you don't know the meaning of a word and it is not here then post it here or contact me (plainlytraining@gmail.com) to have it added.]

Saturday 4 February 2012


WB1 Courses for Colony and Pack Available!

Are you a leader in a Beaver Colony? Or in a Wolf Cub Pack? Looking to have
some fun learning new skills to help you make your best better?  Well look no further!

There is a Wood Badge Part 1 Course for Beaver Colony being held in Halifax on Fri March 2, 2012, 6:30 PM - 10:15 PM - March 3, 2012, 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM.  Contact Karen O'Toole - 868-2991, kareno@eastlink.ca for more information.

There is a Wood Badge Part 1 Course for Wolf Cub Pack being held in  Halifax on Fri
 Feb. 10, 2012, 6:30 PM - Feb. 12, 2012,6:15 PM.  Contact Mark Thornton - 445-0744 / mjthornton@eastlink.ca  for more information.

Interested but unable to take the complete course, then feel to drop in on and take a 1-2hr session of training. Contact either of the course managers above to get a list of the session modules and when they are being offered.

Of course if that's not possible then take it on-line by visiting Scouts Canada eLearning

Thursday 2 February 2012

About PlainlyTraining


This is a blog about volunteer training offered in Nova Scotia Council of Scouts Canada, broadly understood. It features news & notes about training for section leaders, group committee members, support/service scouters and trainers here.

The blog is written by George Mawko, DCC Training for Nova Scotia Council.