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Ship 198 of the Del-Mar-Va Council, in a photo taken earlier this year. An impressive recruiting effort to introduce area teenagers to Sea Scouting. Community service projects that build goodwill — and often make the local news. An I-gotta-try-that schedule of monthly outings that includes sailing, swimming, fishing, waterskiing and wakeboarding.
We’re a few months into coping with the COVID-19 pandemic — though it probably feels like so much longer. Your Scouts’ summer adventures might have been cancelled; you might feel frustrated navigating life at home or going out in public; you might be examining your and your family’s mental health like never before.
Rafe Kotalik of Troop 777 in the Woodlands, Texas (Sam Houston Area Council), makes face coverings to donate. Today’s in-demand superhero skill isn’t flight or invisibility. It’s the ability to sew. Sewing machine sales have skyrocketed as dextrous do-gooders put their skills to work making face coverings that could save lives.
This year has been hectic, to say the least — disrupted schedules, cancelled campouts and constant adjustments have become the norm. Any resource to help you keep track of changes and plan accordingly would be welcomed. Say no more. Boys’ Life magazine offers free downloadable calendars, notebooks and charts to help you Be Prepared and continue…
Get ready this Saturday for the most fun event you and your Scouting family can attend from home. Introducing Family Fun Fest – where you get to join Scouts across the nation in building a Pinewood Derby car, putting together a model rocket, learning how to draw something new, listening to some really cool guest speakers…
Jasper Wang (left) and his brother, Malcolm. Since its debut a year ago, our Unsung Heroes series has spotlighted 16 underreported acts of heroism. We’ve told you about a Venturer who rescued a family after a car crash, a Cub Scout who stopped a friend from choking and a Scout who saved an injured hiker…
During a pandemic, Scouts have had to get creative to continue their adventures and service. Sometimes, the changes transformed their plans into something much greater than they conceived. John-Aaron Bozanic, an Eagle Scout and current Venturer with Crew 774 in Laguna Woods, Calif., was working on a conservation project when the COVID-19 virus began spreading…
Weekends in the Munsch household flew by like a 90 mph fastball. On Saturdays, Jason Munsch, who at age 11 pitched a no-hitter in a Little League All-Star Game, played baseball. After the final out, Dona and Keith Munsch drove their son to meet his fellow Scouts wherever Troop 566 was camping that weekend.
It has become the most overused word of the pandemic: pivot. As in: “When Synergy 2.0: The Business Jargon Conference was canceled, organizers pivoted to a digital-first experience.” But as Scouts, we’ve been pivoting since long before that was a buzzword.
Last summer, more than 120 Scouts met at the Chicagoland Lionel Railroad Club’s clubhouse in New Lenox, Ill., to learn about the world of model trains. The 3,600-square-foot clubhouse features dozens of model trains that run through handcrafted terrain built by club members.
If you were to tell a time traveler from any year before 2020 about William Shuster’s Eagle Scout project, that visitor might furrow their brow. “Say what? He made face coverings for senior citizens? And he planned everything without a single in-person meeting?”
Trevor deRosier embarks on the mystery hike devised by his mom, Cindy. Scoutmaster Hassler is missing! Perhaps he’s at Rockville Hills Park, a frequent hiking destination for Troop 482. Or maybe he’s at Cenario’s Pizza, a favorite pre-pandemic meeting spot for the Troop 482 patrol leaders’ council.
From the awe-inspiring to the aww!-inspiring, the BSA’s Family Fun Fest is shaping up to be the summer’s biggest event. On Aug. 8, you’ll hear from NASCAR driver Joey Logano, discover the secrets of spacewalks from a barrier-breaking NASA astronaut and score expert advice for crafting the fastest, best-looking Pinewood Derby car ever built.
It doesn’t take much digging to uncover the parallels between an Eagle Scout and an investigative journalist. Both are helpful, courteous and brave. They’re curious — willing to ask questions and go places others might avoid. They’re committed to helping other people at all times — especially the forgotten or downtrodden.
Every year, people watch colorful floats, horse-drawn carriages and marching bands make their way down the streets of Pasadena, Calif., on New Year’s Day. That won’t happen next year. Last week, officials cancelled the 132nd Tournament of Roses Parade because of concerns stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.
We could use a few more Jimmy Stewarts in the world. The Oscar-winning actor, philanthropist and military officer was a Scout in Troop 3 of Indiana, Pa. — about an hour east of Pittsburgh. As an adult, he was a dedicated friend of Scouting and received the Silver Buffalo Award , the BSA’s top honor for adult…
The Chickasaw Council's 2008 Eagle Scout Class was named after Sammie and Phil Gilmer, who also have a campsite at Philmont Scout Ranch named in their honor. No Eagle Scout reaches that mountaintop moment alone. While the young person initiates and completes the work themselves, they are supported by a team of selfless adults.
This is Unsung Heroes , a Bryan on Scouting blog series celebrating under-reported acts of Scouting heroism. These are stories that don’t make national headlines — but should. That’s doubly true in this world that can always use more good news. Read the latest story below, and find instructions for sharing your own Unsung Heroes story at…
The Boy Scouts of America is committed to the safety of all youth in its programs. The unpredictability of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic coupled with the impact it has had on BSA councils so far prompted the difficult decision to postpone the 2021 National Jamboree .
Not only can trekking 50 miles put a feather in your hat of Scouting accomplishments, but it can also add a patch to your collection. The 50-Miler Award is a favorite among Scouts who conquer long, multiday adventures. Often, they go on foot, by boat or on a bicycle.
An eight-hour flight to Paris? Even in pre-pandemic times, that seems like a lot of work for a single merit badge requirement. But with the Louvre Museum just a click away, the Art merit badge is within reach during COVID-19.
Left: Kyle Lambert stands in his front yard during his Eagle Scout court of honor, which was held during the COVID-19 pandemic. With letters of acceptance from six Ivy League schools, several prestigious scholarships and the Eagle Scout Award, you’d think Kyle Lambert would be ready for a well-deserved break.
A couple of years ago, Mitch Lynch, Cubmaster of Pack 2010 in Aldie, Va., sang his version of Irving Berlin’s “ Gee, I Wish I Was Back in the Army ” at the pack’s blue and gold banquet. He got the idea while planning the banquet’s program over Christmastime.
If you consider Hercules Mulligan, John Laurens and the Marquis de Lafayette to be three of your closest quarantine companions, you aren’t alone. Now that the Broadway musical Hamilton is available to anyone for just $7 (the cost of a month of Disney+), this hip-hop history lesson is gaining an even wider audience.
When Avery Moore isn’t volunteering as Scoutmaster of Troop 11 in Rocky Mount, N.C., you can find him helping out at a local pediatric burn survivor aftercare program. It was during a virtual meeting for the latter that he discovered a need that could be met by the former.
Try this one-question test when assessing an Eagle Scout project idea: Does it come from the heart? In my experience, Scouts who answer yes stay motivated throughout the demanding process of planning, developing and giving leadership to others as they uplift their community in a meaningful way.
Whether you’ve experienced the life-changing feeling of traversing the Tooth of Time alongside your best friends or had the most hilariously epic moment with your buddies at a unit meeting, it’s time to share your story! From adventures big to small, we want to hear about your most epic Scouting experience so we can share…
The Scout Saturday Live! Orchestra has a special performance planned for the Fourth of July You can measure the success of Scout Saturday Live! — the biweekly web series created by and for Scouts with a new episode coming on the Fourth of July — in a number of ways.
Not everyone knows how to respectfully retire an old, tattered American flag. Scouts do, though. However, not everyone knows a Scoutmaster so they can donate their flags to be retired. To help people in his community, Life Scout Chip Gaddis of Troop 511 in Medina, Ohio, decided to build a flag retirement box.
The Boy Scouts of America today announced a voluntary recall of Cub Scout Outdoor Activity pins that depict a gold animal paw painted on a blue background sold between April 2016 and January 2020. The pins were sold at local Scout Shops, authorized BSA distributors and online at scoutshop.org .
In Congress, it’s the rare subject about which there’s unanimous agreement. It’s the Congressional Award , the highest recognition Congress bestows on young people. To qualify, a young person must meet certain goals in four key areas: voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness and expedition/exploration.
Books can transport readers on exciting journeys to fantastic places and experiences. Not only does National Geographic’s Explorer Academy book series accomplish this, but it incorporates scientific and cultural elements, exploration of important ideas and values, critical skill-building and examples of upstanding characters.
If you don’t know an octave from a treble clef, you might be a little intimidated by sheet music. Wouldn’t it be helpful if you could hear how a song goes? Now you can listen to your favorite tunes featured in the revised Cub Scout Songbook .
For something so small, tiny houses are tough to ignore. There are more than a dozen tiny-house TV shows on cable and streaming, and entire tiny-house communities are popping up in California, Texas, Florida and beyond. It’s kind of a big deal.
Explore the sandy streets of Tatooine, outrun a Tyrannosaurus rex on Isla Nublar and snag an ancient artifact from a booby-trapped temple — all without leaving the comfort and safety of your car. This summer, the William H. Pouch Scout Camp on Staten Island, N.Y., is becoming a drive-in movie theater , giving families a safe way…
Scouting can be a family tradition. We often hear of Scouts following in the footsteps of their parents and grandparents, going to the same camps, learning the same skills and achieving the same ranks. We hear of siblings enjoying Scouting adventures together, too.
“A Scout is…” Those three words of the Scout Law are just as important as the 12 points that follow. They mean that all Scouts and Scouters strive to exemplify those 12 traits at all times —both tranquil and turbulent.
This summer, the adventure continues. Families in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA and Venturing can participate in one (or more!) virtual summer camp experiences. With so many typical summer activities on hold or canceled, families are looking for ways to keep their Scouts engaged in fun, rewarding and ( shhh!
Scouts and Scouters serve their communities, nation and world. The BSA offers special awards for certain accomplishments and extraordinary service — one such award is the Woods Services Award. This award is presented through a cooperation with the BSA and the Woods Services Foundation.
Every time he drove by the Sumner County Veterans Home, Mason Wettengel couldn’t help but think about the sacrifice of the veterans inside. And he couldn’t help but notice something else about the place. “I could tell that the converted 1950s motel could probably use some extra help,” Mason says.
The heroes: Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss (left to right). It was a relatively low-budget movie directed by a young man with only two feature films to his credit who also happened to be an Eagle Scout. It ended up being the biggest blockbuster of the year and would remain the highest grossing…
The motto of Venturing , the BSA’s program for older youth, is “Lead the Adventure.” Jadah Foltz doesn’t just recite that motto at crew meetings. She lives it every single day. Jadah, a member of Crew 288 of the BSA’s North Florida Council, is the first person in the history of her council to receive the…
Six young men from Troop 746 became Eagle Scouts on the same day in January. The group of six includes five cousins (from right): Jeffrey Dangl, Tyler Gilmore, Caleb Wheeler, Brian Gilmore and Spencer Kettley. They're joined by longtime family friend Elliott Streiff, left.
Bu Wei He (wearing hat) teaches chess. Both photos were taken Jan. 31, 2020. Eagle Scout service projects, like a lot of things in life, don’t always go as planned. But when a Scout learns to stand tall, to pivot, to find a way forward, the lessons learned could be some of the most important…
When students at the Dayton Regional STEM School would go outside for recess or an outdoor lesson, they had to sit on the ground. Alex Arehart, a sophomore at the school, noticed the lack of seating and other improvements that could be made to the fledgling campus.
It’s just an old photo, but it packs a perfect one-two punch. First, it’s a cool snapshot of two famous boxers meeting with Scouts more than a half-century ago. But second, it’s the beginning of a photographic treasure hunt to determine more info about the picture.
The Scout Shop is here to make sure that you are ready to camp this year, whether you’re heading off to summer camp or staying home for a backyard campout. First, you can visit Scoutshop.org or your local Scout Shop, and get up to a 20% discount from this Saturday, June 13 through Saturday, June…
Submit ideas, art and poems for Friday’s Facebook Live It takes cooperation from all groups and individuals to work together so that we can all get along. Learning to accept people for who they are, no matter what their background, makes good sense for us all.
We can never say it enough, but that won’t stop Scouts from trying: Thank you, essential workers. In an effort devised and executed by the Scouts themselves, Troop 394 of Interlachen, Fla. (North Florida Council), created homemade signs to thank essential workers in their community.
They’re leaders in their cities, in their businesses, in their faith communities and in Scouting. This year’s Silver Buffalo Award class combined has given more than 400 years of service to Scouting. These outstanding men and women join a long list of distinguished adult leaders dating back nearly 100 years.
