The Bloggers
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The Chief Scout Executive's notes on STEM, Eagle Scouts, the Jamboree and the Report to the Nation.
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We've been blogging from the Chief's office since November 2007. My predecessor, Bob Mazzuca, launched the concept with "Bob's Blog" and I picked up the blogging baton under the newly titled "Chief's Corner." It was a big social media jump for us, but the initiative has been a valuable exchange of thoughts and ideas from…
Boys' Life magazine has been a wonderful source of enjoyment for Scouts and others more than a century, and now the advertising industry is taking note of its notoriety, thanks to its many readers. Adweek is conducting a poll to celebrate the many magazine brands that are still alive and kicking in this digital age…
As we approach Thanksgiving, I find it appropriate to reflect on special moments from the year. It goes without saying that I have a lot to be thankful for as a husband and father, and my role as Chief Scout Executive gives me additional opportunities to give thanks.
It's always inspiring to witness how many communities involve Scouting in their annual Veterans Day observances. Whether it's placing flags on military grave sites, marching in parades or holding a recognition breakfast, Scouting plays a major role in honoring those currently serving our country, those service men and women who have passed away, and those…
It seems like we just finished catching our breath from the 2013 National Jamboree when we are now announcing the official theme and logo for the next Jamboree in 2017 – where has the time gone? From going big and getting wild in 2013, in 2017, we will "Live Scouting's Adventure."
Many of us (including me) have to struggle to maintain a physical fitness schedule, but how often do we consider ways to keep our mental fitness healthy and well-exercised? Focusing on positive thinking is a mental exercise we can all take advantage of as part of our daily routine.
I know there are many proud parents out there who have watched one or more of their sons achieve Scouting's highest rank – the Eagle Scout Award – but I just had to share this brief story sent to me about a proud Mom in Carmel, CA.
I just wrapped up our 2014 Sustainability Summit and wanted to give you some highlights of what we covered the last few days. It was a terrific experience. We had environmental experts with both national and global credentials helping us define what our next steps should be to build upon and expand our existing vision…
We all have our comfort zones – the places where we feel safe, whether at home or work. So when we are challenged to reach outside of those comfort zones, it can be tough duty until we master the ability to take on these new responsibilities.
One thing we have learned in Scouting is that parents often find the Scouting experience just as rewarding as their sons or the other Scouts they serve as leaders do. Parental involvement keeps our volunteer base strong and provides a consistent stream of quality leaders to make sure our Scouts receive the best possible training…
We are fortunate at the Boy Scouts of America to have a huge cadre of trained volunteer leaders – close to one million – to help teach the principles of Scouting to America's young people – all while having a great time out-of-doors, building adventures, providing service in their communities, or learning new skills.
What we know and learn about the outdoors is not only great for our recreation; it can make a huge difference in how we preserve these natural resources for the future. Recent incidents are discouraging. In early August, a tourist crashed a drone with camera into Yellowstone National Park's world-renowned Grand Prismatic Spring, potentially damaging…
I just read the story appearing in the latest issue of Esquire magazine featuring our National President Robert Gates, headlined: Are There Still Boy Scouts ? His current leadership role in Scouting aside, what a fascinating article! I enjoyed reading about his memories of his father, Mel Gates.
September 11, 2001 is one of those dates that will forever be ingrained in my memory. And yesterday, on the 13 th anniversary, I along with millions of others spent it honoring the memory of the innocent victims, first responders and others who were affected by this terrible moment in history.
Sustainability for an organization can come in many forms – through a broad, sweeping initiative or smaller projects that set a positive example for others to follow. That's how I viewed a project in our Mohegan Council in Worcester, Massachusetts, which partnered with SunEdison and others to power up a 35-acre solar array at its Treasure…
As many of us know, it's tough for parents to best manage the time spent with their children. With so many competing youth activities, it can be particularly difficult for working parents who have busy calendars of their own. Many parents are eager to find ways to make the most of every moment with their…
I think we all need an occasional reminder of how our work impacts others in a positive way – whether it's Scouting or another organization – and hearing encouragement from third party sources is a great motivator. To that end, I'd like to share a guest column that recently appeared in a Pennsylvania newspaper.
As kids are heading back to school – moving away from beach vacations and summer camps toward textbooks, laptops and whiteboards, I'm reflecting on the summer vacation experience and the opportunities within those months to use that time for something great.
I recently read a great blog about the " Power of the Outdoors " and wanted to share it with you. It documents the progress of a Scout who is "the one who's always there." Sometimes his pack is too heavy, or he gets wet, cold, tired and miserable because he didn't pack the right gear.
I just received and read a story about a terrific fundraising program organized by a Tucson, Arizona newspaper to help get young people into the outdoors, and wanted to share it with you. Thanks to the outreach efforts of the Arizona Daily Star and its generous readers, The Arizona Daily Star's Sportsmen's Fund Send a…
Protecting young people from violence – especially gun violence – is a tough job in many communities. Statistics provided by the Children's Defense Fund in its 2014 "State of America's Children" report paint a troubling picture of gun violence in our country: 2,694 children and teens were killed by guns in the U.S.
We often hear stories from our councils and others about extraordinary and heroic acts performed by Scouts to help or save others. The following story is from a Scoutmaster who, with members of his troop, experienced a powerful "Be Prepared" moment that spoke volumes about how Scouting changes lives.
I am always fascinated by the mechanisms by which our Scouts serve their communities. We often see Scouts who have a love for the outdoors, enjoy helping the elderly, or are driven to gather food for the needy. But it's not often that you find a Scout serving his community with barrels.
Our commitment to expanding Scouting's reach to new neighborhoods came to mind as I read a recent Bryan on Scouting blog about a group of refugee families that fled brutal treatment by government leaders in their home country of Myanmar in Southeast Asia to find new homes in the U.S.
Our relationship with other Scouting organizations around the world has become increasingly important, and it requires a strong and creative ambassador to keep us all connected and serving each other's needs to the best of our ability. That's where the BSA International Commissioner comes in.
If there's a way to put outdoor adventures into words, the 2014 BSA Fieldbook certainly ranks among the top guides on sharpening outdoor skills. My first Fieldbook was big – more than 500 pages – so it took up a good bit of room in my backpack.
June 2 always has a big circle on my calendar – it's the wedding anniversary for my lovely wife Ernestine and me. We dated all through high school – both from small-town North Carolina communities – and I couldn't have been happier when she agreed to marry me.
June 6, 1944. Omaha Beach. D-Day. Normandy, France. Almost 70 years later, Scouts from the U.S. and Europe gathered to honor the American and Allied members of the military who gave their lives during the D-Day invasion and those that survived and helped turn the tide of World War II.
Across our country, hundreds of ceremonies are held each year to honor those young men who have earned the rank of Eagle Scout. It's a significant achievement and a bold statement of their commitment to the values of Scouting. It also signals our next generation of nation's leaders.
A while back, I shared some exciting news - that former U.S. Secretary of Defense and CIA Director Dr. Robert Gates would be joining the executive committee of the National Board of Directors, serving a two-year term as national president and our highest ranking volunteer.
Thanks to 21st century technology, one important chapter of Scouting's history has been preserved for generations to come. A rough draft of the first Boy Scout handbook – "Scouting for Boys," authored by Scouting's founder, Lord Robert Baden-Powell – was found recently in the archives of the British Scouting headquarters in London.
Making sure our kids are healthy is a priority for Scouting. It's part of our legacy for encouraging outdoor adventures and helping our young people get the exercise they need for healthy lifestyles. Josh Drosos attempts to win a free t-shirt by doing 20 chin ups at the US Marine Corps Challenge at the National…
You may have seen news reports recently about a troop of Boy Scouts from New Jersey stopping to help an injured woman they came across on a hiking trail in Harriman State Park in New York. Asked if she was alright, she responded, "No, not really.
In Scouting, we use every education tool imaginable to help our young people grow to be great community supporters, strong leaders and friends to the environment. I can't remember the last time one of our Scouts captured all those values by helping bats .
Finding young leaders can sometimes be a simple task. You find kids who excel at sports … or in academics … or in politics … where leadership just seems to come naturally to them. Then there are those who need some guidance, and finding the right way to guide them through life's challenges can be a challenge in…
Our Scouts participate in many activities to help protect the environment – like recycling, outdoor cleanup projects, and conserving water. One recent conservation project that caught my eye has involved generations of Scouts from Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota and Minnesota, and it came to a close this year.
When we talk about how Scouting "creates life-changing experiences," it's often not just about changing the lives of our Scouts, but the people and communities they serve. Case in point: I read a great story about Troop 25 in Madison, New Jersey and how their recent trip to the Philmont Scout Reservation in Cimarron, New…
In Scouting, one of our priorities is to reach out to young people in all neighborhoods so all kids – no matter their origin or circumstances can experience the life changing adventures, lessons, and friendships that Scouting has to offer. We know we haven't reached everyone.
It's important to the sustainability of Scouting to continue to build membership from the youngest members of our organization, our Cub Scouts. It's exciting to watch parent volunteers also take part in Scouting for the first time and work with these young boys as they progress along the Scouting trail to hopefully earn their Eagle…
Eagle Scouts represent the best Scouting has to offer in terms of demonstrating strong character, leadership, citizenship, and values. Their commitment to keeping our communities strong often goes well into their adult lives. We are proud of the contributions they continue to make for our mission to provide a quality Scouting experience for our young…
It seems like our young people are struggling more than ever to set their sights on what career they'd like to pursue after high school or college. A survey of the "100 Best Jobs" for 2014 by U.S. News & World Report ranked these professions as its Top 10: Software Developer Computer Systems Analyst Dentist Nurse…
Scouting thrives on volunteers. Our mission to serve America's youth with a quality Scouting experience relies heavily on more than one million adult volunteers across the country, and we are proud to have them on board. And I've always been interested in how Scouting can round out the lifestyles of our volunteers.
It's important for all youth-serving organizations to find new ways to offer outdoor programs that are not only relevant for today's young people, but teach the importance of safety and respecting the environment as well. I'll use our new partnership with Polaris , the leading manufacturer of off-road vehicles, as an example.
After enduring one of the worst winters we've seen in quite a while, it was a GREAT pleasure last week to turn the 2014 calendar page to the first day of Spring. As eager as many of us are to embrace those first warm Spring moments by pulling out the tent and hiking shoes, there…
Many acts of bravery have been attributed to members of the Boy Scouts of America - a true legacy to our motto of "Be Prepared." But it's not often that a Scout receives national recognition from The Congressional Medal of Honor Society, which March 17th announced recipients of the 2014 Citizen Service Before Self Honors Award.
When I see a headline like this: "The importance of the Boy Scouts in America" – I can't help but stop and give that article a read – in this case, a column that ran recently in the Niagara Gazette . Okay, as Chief Scout Executive, I'm admittedly biased.
I think many of us have a special memory of a Scout that we brought along the trail who didn't really get off to a great start, but later really touched our hearts and minds. Here is such a story , as told by Chicago area Scoutmaster Jack Herman recently to the Chicago Reader: Scoutmaster Jack…
Many of us have tremendous demands on our time and often find it difficult to have enough hours in the day to balance our family/work/leisure activities, myself included. That's why I want to share this refreshing story about a Scout leader who combines her love for horses and children with her commitment to Scouting and…
A few weeks ago, I shared my thoughts on early education information that was discussed during President Obama's State of the Union address. As a follow-up to that conversation, I found an interesting op-ed from a Deborah Lowe Vandell, founding Dean of the School of Education at the University of California-Irvine, who shared findings from…
The official 2013 Report to the Nation was delivered to Congressional leaders by a delegation of nine Scouts yesterday. Below are more of my favorite shots from the trip. To read the full report, click here. 2014 Report to the Nation // Photo courtesy of BSA Flickr Click "Read more" to view more photos.
