Scouts on TV

Anyone else out there watch Mantracker? I love that show. In fact, this year at spring group camp, we played "Scouter Stan Tracker" for a few hours. Great game.

What would happen if SC nominated two leaders, Rovers, or Venturers to be on that show, perhaps a third as the sidekick. I think that would be awesome publicity for SC. Especially, if we matched it with a SAR badge and local events (can you imagine a Tracking Beaveree / Cubaree?), we could make it into something big that really wouldn't require much extra effort (we already have Beaverees, just change it to a Mantracker theme).

Anyone else interested in doing this?
Tom

I like the idea. I'd be willing to give it a try, although there are probably more skilled Scouters out there.

You probably have to be a legal adult to be in the show, so most Venturers wouldn't qualify.

Very cool idea, and I think that some Rovers would give the Mantracker a run for his money. National could pitch the idea, and the Rover section could hold some sort of national contest, perhaps at its next Moot (I believe one is coming up), to select a pair or group of Rovers, if the producers of the show like the idea.

It is a good show, and would show the real character of Scouting as it is now, not like image some people have (like the cover of the old Cub Book from the 1970's):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joadhenry/3460686154/

So, here is what I have done. I've pitched the idea to one of the Voyageur Council Field Exec's. She's back from vacation in August so we'll see what she says. Fingers crossed. One of the questions we have to ask though is what demographic watches Mantracker. Would they be a demographic that we could pitch to? Or, do we do this so that our fellow Scouters can see us and show their friends?
Tom

Good day all,
Just to let everyone know, the field exec got back to me. I am submitting this through the SC Creative Marketing Challenge. Here is a link to the application form just in case you too have ideas.
http://www.scouts.ca/pdfs/CMC_AppForm.pdf

Fingers crossed there is a chair headed my way! (Preferably not thrown at me although that is all too possible!
Tom

To build on this idea a wee bit, Les Stroud has already shown his support for Scouting in the Survivorman challenge.

How about approaching him with an idea like this as well, as a special edition of his show, having Rovers demonstrate their skills?

Just a thought.

You know, that’s an awesome idea. I would like to build on it.

How many survival situations are solo? If you read Les Stroud’s book of survival stories you’ll see that most involve groups of people. So, why not have a “Scouting family” (Beaver, Cub, Scout, leader / Rover “parents”) go on his show with him. The youth can all take part in some of the work and explain their mental challenges with surviving. It would have to be in a more “controlled” situation with shelter close by (just to show that we Scouters aren’t all crazy) but it could be a really great way to show what our youth learn. My Tenderpad built his own fires two weeks ago (box and tee-pee fires, I lit and maintained them). If he can do it (he learned the skills in Beavers), I am sure that other youth can too.

The idea is yours. You should submit it through the CMC. I hope you get a chair thrown at you!
Tom

So I submitted the Survivorman idea, as amended by Tom, and hopefully I'll get a chair chucked at me sometime soon (if I was one of the first fifty).

Couldn't really do a budget for it, though, as the submission rules require. I assumed that the show would cover the costs of that sort of stuff, since they get the ad revenues.

Hello everyone,
Well, the application is in. 3rd Orleans has applied for Mantracker! Let's do the social media thing... share this video with your Scouting contacts and encourage them to reply (in video form). How would they escape from the Mantracker? What can they do to hide? What makes your youth scream like a little girl???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WckddYQW ... e=youtu.be

This was filmed by two of our Beavers, stars two of our Cubs, and features ideas from Beavers, Cubs and leaders. Enjoy!