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Scouting Blogs and News | Find out how Scouters are preparing for the 100th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America in 2010.

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EPA 50th Award

The Environmental Protection Agency turned 50 last year, so the BSA and EPA came up with a special, limited-time award that scouts can only earn during 2021. So, you've got 3 months left to get 'er done! Fortunately, if you've got some merit badges... From Scoutmaster Musings 3 years ago

I Can Do That With One Hand Tied Behind My Back Game

This is a game we played at a Pack meeting about a month ago. The goal is for two Scouts to work together to make a simple lunch. The challenge is that they each have one hand tied behind their back. This forces them to communicate to get the job... From Scouter Mom 5 years ago

Moon Day

Saturday, July 20 July 20 is Moon Day. It commemorates the day the first man walked on the lunar surface. Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon. Michael Collins, the pilot for the mission, stayed in the command module... From Scouter Mom 5 years ago

A change of attitude

Last weekend my wife and I attended our council's University of Scouting event. We were there to take classes to learn what we need to know to start a new family pack in our area. It was mostly a good day. I say mostly because there was one major... From Adventures and Accidents 5 years ago

Hidden Money Pocket

Orginal brand: October 2010 Build: 2016 Time to build: 1.5 hours While I was at Wood Badge the staff had a brand and I just happened to have a piece of leather. The result was a great start to this slide. The front is the branded leather and the... From Channeling Whittlin Jim 7 years ago

Year Round Camping Summary for 2016

Here is our year-end camp summary for 2016: 1) Jan – 2nd annual Winter backpacking on snowshoes in Little Cottonwood Canyon 2) Feb – Last minute change to Crystal Hot Springs* 3) Apr – 2nd annual April outing to White Rock near... From My Scout Stuff - A Scoutmaster's Blog 7 years ago

Man on 21,000-mile walk around the world invites 2 lucky Scouts to join

There's a guy spending a decade walking around the world. Just let that sink in for a sec. Photo by Mark Schulte His route traces the pathways of the first humans and spans 21,000 miles. In a refreshing departure from the norm, he isn't looking to... From Aaron on Scouting Magazine 7 years ago

Tom Eaton, who illustrated Pedro for Boys' Life for three decades, dies at 76

Tom Eaton, whose whimsical and wacky illustrations over three decades enlivened iconic Boys' Life characters   like Pedro the Mailburro and Dink and Duff, died Dec. 11, 2016, in Kansas City, Mo. He was 76. Anyone who has picked up a copy of Boys'... From Aaron on Scouting Magazine 7 years ago

Distinguished Eagle Scout Rex Tillerson nominated as secretary of state

Rex Tillerson, a Distinguished Eagle Scout, Silver Buffalo Award recipient and past national president of the Boy Scouts of America, has been nominated to be the nation's next secretary of state. Tillerson, upon Senate confirmation, would be the... From Aaron on Scouting Magazine 7 years ago

One Good Deed After Another

One Good Deed After Another It started when Parker Schmidt was a Webelos Scout from Pack 95 in Georgetown, Delaware, and it hasn't slowed down since. First, Parker was recognized for saving a cat that was trapped in a burning fireplace . Then,... From Inside Boys' Life 7 years ago

Scouting for…

Yesterday was our annual Scouting for Food drive.  Scouts from all over our Council hit the neighborhoods with enthusiasm and the knowledge that for two hours of service they will help feed many people in our community that are in need. Now, we... From The Scoutmaster Minute 7 years ago

At Interamerican forum, Scouts and Scouters imagine world peace

Can't we all just get along? If there were more Scouts in the world, absolutely. That's the irresistible takeaway from the 2016 Interamerican Youth Forum and Interamerican Scout Conference, held last month in Texas. Representatives from the BSA met... From Aaron on Scouting Magazine 8 years ago

Nominations for national, regional Alumnus of the Year awards due Dec. 31

Why is the symbol for the Alumnus of the Year Award an acorn? Because the individuals who receive this award at the national, council and - beginning next year - the regional level plant seeds for trees under which they may never sit. From now... From Aaron on Scouting Magazine 8 years ago

Parker Scout Camp 75 Years

My good friend Bob recently send me a photo of a new patch available from the council office. The patch celebrates the 75th anniversary of Parker Scout Camp, our council's camp. Of course, I needed one for my collection. He picked one up for me and... From A Scoutmaster's Blog 8 years ago

Inside the newly updated Conservation Handbook, Earth's instruction manual

While others offer scary predictions about the future of our planet, Scouts and Venturers do something to ensure those dire warnings never come true. In short, Scouts, Venturers and Scout leaders strive to leave this planet better than they found... From Aaron on Scouting Magazine 8 years ago

Mid-America Council shatters Guinness World Record for longest Pinewood Derby track

You've never seen a Pinewood Derby track this long, guaranteed. The Nebraska-based Mid-America Council now owns the Guinness World Record for the longest Pinewood Derby track ever constructed, with a track that surpassed the previous record-holder... From Aaron on Scouting Magazine 8 years ago

The Rockwell Wall

Many Boy Scout councils use incentives during their Friends Of Scouting campaigns. During the last several years, our council has used special council strip patches to entice donors to give a little more. Each year's patch features a different... From A Scoutmaster's Blog 8 years ago

Hometown USA Award rewards Scouts for efforts to Keep America Beautiful

Always leave a place better than you found it. For more than 100 years, Scouts have followed that doctrine everywhere they go. It's in our DNA. And it's why the Boy Scouts of America has teamed up with  Keep America Beautiful , a nonprofit devoted... From Aaron on Scouting Magazine 8 years ago

56m suspension bridge at Manjedal Activity Centre, Western Australia

Greg from West Australian Scout Pioneering wrote in with photos and a description of the awesome bridge, supported by A frames on each end and a raft in the centre. Here's Gregs description: Photo courtesy Greg Barbera Project : Build a Rope bridge... From Ropes and Poles 8 years ago

The Uniform Police

We have all heard of the "Uniform Police" in our Scouting circles.  I am not a member of the Police Force charged with making a scene about uniform violations and forcing a Council wide investigation on this patch or that.. tongue in cheek, but we... From The Scoutmaster Minute 8 years ago

The Best Scouting Apps of 2016

It's 2016. The smartphone doesn't detract from the Scouting experience; it enhances it. Where in the past there was a debate over whether smartphone use is appropriate in Scouting, these days most Scouters see the devices like pocketknives... From Aaron on Scouting Magazine 8 years ago

The Life of a Serendipitist

I think it is important to have "Hero's" in life. People that we look up to or try to learn from chapters of their lives. William "Green Bar Bill" Hillcourt is one of my hero's. His love for the Scouting program drove him and in the end elevated... From The Scoutmaster Minute 8 years ago

How to plan a troop or camp reunion to celebrate 25, 50 or 100 years

Troop 1 of Sacramento, Calif., celebrated its 100th anniversary with a powerful, well-made video and a special neckerchief . Troop 1 of Wichita Falls, Texas, reminisced about a century of existence at a reunion banquet attended by Glenn Adams,... From Aaron on Scouting Magazine 8 years ago

Scout family halfway to goal of visiting all 413 National Park Service sites

There are more than 400 National Park Service sites across America, including national parks, national seashores and national battlefields. The Rice family of Atlanta - a proud Scouting bunch - is on a mission to visit every single one. In... From Aaron on Scouting Magazine 8 years ago

Getting your EYO program off the ground

Here's an email I got from a couple who were just called to be Eleven Year Old (EYO) Leaders of an LDS unit in Sacramento, California.  Sheri wrote: My husband and I have been called to teach 11 year old scouts in the LDS church. I am looking for... From My Scout Stuff - A Scoutmaster's Blog 8 years ago

John Lithgow caught the acting bug at Boy Scout summer camp

If not for Camp Birch near Springfield, Ohio, John Lithgow might not be the award-winning actor he is today. Lithgow is a star of the big screen ( The World According to Garp , Terms of Endearment ); small screen ( 3rd Rock from the Sun , Dexter );... From Aaron on Scouting Magazine 8 years ago

2017 National Jamboree subcamps will be named after national parks (with patches to match)

It's the National Park Service's 100th birthday, but you get the gift. 2017 National Jamboree leaders this week announced the creation of 22 special subcamp patches, each celebrating a different national park. As first reported on the Summit... From Aaron on Scouting Magazine 8 years ago

Jamboree subcamps renamed in honor of the National Park Service centennial

August 25, 2016 is the one hundredth anniversary of America's National Park Service. Just two months after he signed the congressional charter for the Boy Scouts of America, President Woodrow Wilson signed the National Park Service Organic Act,... From Summit Blog 8 years ago

A Million Miracles

Seven Boy Scouts of Melrose Troop 68 recently participated in a trek at Philmont Scout Ranch. I was there to see them off when they left and wished them a good trip. After I returned home I was in a Philmont mood and noticed I had an email from the... From A Scoutmaster's Blog 8 years ago

Time to learn the name of Ryan Held, Eagle Scout and Olympic swimmer

At the U.S Olympic Swimming Trials in June in Omaha, Neb., nobody was talking about Ryan Held. Even NBC's colorful analyst Rowdy Gaines, usually prone to hyperbole,  called Held a "no-name." But there he was, on the blocks in the 100-meter... From Aaron on Scouting Magazine 8 years ago

2018 VenturingFest will celebrate the program's 20th anniversary

Venturing turns 20 in 2018, and you and your crew are invited to the party. The BSA's high-adventure program for young men and young women has announced that the next VenturingFest, celebrating the program's 20th anniversary, will take place July 1... From Aaron on Scouting Magazine 8 years ago

2016 U.S. Olympic Team boasts at least five Eagle Scouts

At least five members of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team competing in Rio de Janeiro this month are Eagle Scouts, the National Eagle Scout Association has confirmed. Before they wore red, white and blue uniforms for Team USA, these men - two swimmers, a... From Aaron on Scouting Magazine 8 years ago

Eagle Scout performs with Blue Angels

Navy Cmdr. Frank Weisser, an Eagle Scout, will rejoin the Blue Angels as a solo pilot. He'll perform with the U.S. Navy's flight demonstration squadron as Blue Angel No. 6 - known as the "opposing solo pilot" - for the remainder of the 2016-2017... From Aaron on Scouting Magazine 8 years ago

Ten Years of "A Scoutmaster's Blog"

Wow. I just realized I missed the anniversary of this blog. It is hard to believe all the years that I have been sharing my thoughts, activities, and special events with you through this site known as A Scoutmaster's Blog . How many years is that,... From A Scoutmaster's Blog 8 years ago

A message from Girl Scouts of the USA's Interim CEO, Sylvia Acevedo

Hello, Girl Scouts! As you may have heard, I was recently appointed interim CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA), and I am thrilled to help during this time of transition. I am succeeding Anna Maria Chávez, who is departing GSUSA to pursue a... From Scouting News 8 years ago

Issue 493 â€" June 28, 2016

________________________________________ Hi Andy, My question is about the 1910 Anniversary Ring patch that goes around the World Crest. At first, the 1910 patch was available to anyone who was BSA-registered at the time it was issued. But what... From Ask Andy 8 years ago

Where to Find Examples for Bobcat Requirements

Sean sent in this question: Hi! This site is so helpful, thank you for doing this! I'm planning on signing up my son for scouts this coming fall & was going to get started on the Bobcat requirements this summer. I was able to access the... From Scouter Mom 8 years ago

100th anniversary of BSA charter gets congressional recognition

On major news sites and in both houses of the U.S. Congress, everyone seems to be talking about the BSA's big anniversary. One-hundred years ago this week, President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill granting federal incorporation to the Boy Scouts of... From Aaron on Scouting Magazine 8 years ago

Accept no substitutes: On June 15, 1916, Woodrow Wilson made the BSA official

In 1916, the 6-year-old Boy Scouts of America faced increasing competition from other organizations - groups that wished to capitalize on the growing interest in all things Scouting generated by the BSA. These imitators,  Scouting magazine... From Aaron on Scouting Magazine 8 years ago

Extreme Makeovers, Round 16: Eagle Scout project before-and-after photos

Note: This is the 16th in an occasional series where I share Eagle Scout project before-and-after photos. See the complete collection here . To fully understand the impact Eagle Scout projects have on communities, you need to see to believe. That's... From Aaron on Scouting Magazine 8 years ago

Meet your 2016 Silver Buffalo Award class

The Archbishop of New York, the former CEO of Kampgrounds of America and the driving force behind the Composite Materials merit badge are three of the dedicated Scouters who received the Silver Buffalo Award at a special ceremony tonight. The 2016... From Aaron on Scouting Magazine 8 years ago

This car in the Indy 500 has Scouting written all over it

No, your eyes aren't deceiving you. That blur you saw zip by at more than 200 mph really did say "Scouting!" on it. That's the No. 19 Boy Scouts of America car, owned by longtime Scouting supporters Dale and Gail Coyne. The car, driven by... From Aaron on Scouting Magazine 8 years ago

A salute to outgoing National Commissioner Tico Perez, a Scouting stalwart

Tico Perez has received nearly every award in Scouting: Eagle Scout, Silver Buffalo Award, Order of the Arrow Distinguished Service Award - the list goes on. He has served on the committees that selected the past three Chief Scout Executives. And... From Aaron on Scouting Magazine 8 years ago

Outgoing NESA president Glenn A. Adams helped countless Scouts down the Eagle trail

Glenn A. Adams ended each of his quarterly columns for  Eagles' Call  magazine the same way: "from the Eagle trail." How appropriate, because for eight years as president of the National Eagle Scout Association, he has led the way as countless... From Aaron on Scouting Magazine 8 years ago

A Colorful Drape

Melrose Boy Scout Troop 68 has been using the Boy Scout decorative drape for many years, decades even, at its court of honors and special functions. It adds a nice bit of color to the ceremony and makes things look a bit more official. At least I... From A Scoutmaster's Blog 8 years ago

The life of a Wood Badge scribe: Great days, late nights

Late on Saturday night, the printer sounded an alarm: the cyan and yellow ink cartridges were running dangerously low. I turned to Brian, my assistant scribe, to help me make a  life-or-death critical decision. "OK, here's the situation. We have... From Aaron on Scouting Magazine 8 years ago

Camping Recipes: Cook Your Favorite Foods at Camp

Sometimes Scouts have trouble coming up with new ideas when planning meals for camp. Foil packs, hamburgers, hotdogs, repeat. This article from Boy's Life Magazine give some suggestions for cooking foods that boys enjoy at home. Recipes include:... From Scouter Mom 8 years ago

Scouting Helps Prepare Boys For An LDS Mission

I just finished reading a new book by Brad Harris, author of Trails to Testimony , called A Parent's Guide to Raising Successful Missionaries .  Even though my two Eagle Scouts recently left for their missions – one to Modesto, CA in September and... From My Scout Stuff - A Scoutmaster's Blog 8 years ago

A super busy Weekend

Here's the recap: First,  Friday night the Troop headed to the CPC's winter lodge for a great night of fun.  We stayed the night at the lodge and on Saturday morning ventured out to White River for a night in the snow. Once we got the Troop over to... From The Scoutmaster Minute 8 years ago

The 5 Gallon Mark

I will do anything for a patch, shirt or some sort of swag.  I will also do things that help others.  In 2010 the Boy Scouts of America held it's 100th Anniversary.  To celebrate it, the BSA created a patch … Continue reading â ’... From Scouter Adam 8 years ago

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