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James Dus, a member of Cub Scout Pack 350 in Evansville, Indiana, has always been a fan of Thor , the Marvel Comics character who has shot into the public consciousness with his appearance in the most recent series of Marvel movies.
The BSA has a message to young people concerned that the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak will prevent them from completing Eagle Scout rank requirements before their 18th birthday: Don’t worry; we’ve got your back. During this unprecedented interruption to Scouting nationwide, the BSA has released new guidance on advancement during COVID-19 .
When I think about survival, hydration is top of mind. It is fundamental to us as humans, as in over half of our bodies are made up of water. Being dehydrated can lead to serious complications and side effects, with fatigue, headache and crankiness being some of the first signs.
Testing the Scouts BSA Handbook on my Kindle e-reader. (It works great!) Carry hundreds of pages of Scouting knowledge right in your pocket. The Scouts BSA Handbook for Boys and Scouts BSA Handbook for Girls are now available on Kindle, making it easier than ever for you or your Scouts to find essential information in…
In times of crisis, Scouts find a way to adapt. We’re hearing from Scouts and leaders across the country who have found creative ways to keep on Scouting even while practicing social distancing (staying home and remaining at least 6 feet from others if you must go out).
As public places, including many parks and campgrounds, are closing to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, you might be left scratching your head on what you and your kids can do. Plenty! As we’ve highlighted this week, Scouts can still meet virtually and serve others .
With schools closed and many Scouting events on pause, how do you continue to “Do a Good Turn Daily”? By remembering that acts of Scouting service don’t have to stop because you’re at home practicing social distancing. “We don’t stop being Scouts just because our meetings are physically on hold,” says Leah Nehls, a volunteer…
With the concerns of COVID-19 spreading, units are cancelling campouts and in-person meetings, but that doesn’t mean Scouting stops. Bob Trejo, Scoutmaster of Troop 98 of Whitpain Township, Pa., shared with us how about 60 Scouts in his troop met virtually recently.
The board of review, like most aspects of Scouting, works best in person. But sometimes, for a number of legitimate reasons, that’s not an option. That’s why, as outlined in the Guide to Advancement (section 8.0.1.6), the BSA allows units to conduct boards of review by teleconferencing, using tools like Skype, Google Hangouts or Zoom.
Roger Tate (right) shows off what he calls his "11th Essential." If you only have room in your backpack for 10 items, make it the Ten Essentials . But let’s say your pack still has some space to spare. What’s the next must-include item to put in there?
It’s more smooth sailing ahead for Sea Scouting as another outstanding young person has been selected to lead the BSA’s aquatically inclined program. Aven Alexander, a high school junior from Texas who has earned the Quartermaster Award, Sea Scouting’s highest honor, will serve as the 2020–2021 National Sea Scout Boatswain .
Scouting can take you to some pretty incredible places. For proof, look up — way up — at a pair of Scouts BSA troops from Connecticut that successfully summited Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. Troop 175 for boys and Troop 1175 for girls were led by senior patrol leaders Max and Kate Hollister.
On land or on the sea, if you want something done, call the Scouts. Scouts at the Florida Sea Base’s Brinton Environmental Center are being recognized by a national nonprofit for their best-in-class efforts to tag dolphinfish, also known as mahi-mahi.
It turns out you, loyal Scouting volunteer, have quite a bit in common with MacGyver — and I don’t just mean your ability to solve problems in creative ways. A recent episode of the CBS action series MacGyver confirms what I’ve long hoped : the problem-solving, day-saving hero is a Scouting volunteer.
Scouts with the Report to the Nation delegation leave the White House. As soon as she returned to the hotel, Star Scout Isabella Tunney grabbed a pen and paper. Her fellow Report to the Nation delegates huddled around her, recounting what happened in the Oval Office.
It’s March 3, 1913. It’s been 65 years since the country’s first women’s rights convention. Those pushing for women’s suffrage are marching in the streets of Washington, D.C., the day before President-elect Woodrow Wilson’s inauguration. By the afternoon, spectators, including hecklers, have started congregating on the march participants’ route — police are losing control of the…
America’s first president is remembered for his humble leadership, bravery and honesty. One of those tales of his honesty — admitting that he had damaged his father’s cherry tree when he was 6 years old — is actually a myth. Still, virtue was instilled in George Washington at a young age.
Carrying the processional cross, Eagle Scout Zachary Bryant walked down the center aisle at the U.S. Naval Academy Chapel, followed by Star Scout Isabella Tunney, Bible in hand. The Report to the Nation delegates helped with a Sunday service at the chapel, including the processions, collecting the offering and guiding congregants during Holy Communion.
Your Scout is looking forward to new experiences and lots of fun at summer camp — one of which can be driving an all-terrain vehicle (ATV). Every year, Polaris Industries donates 150 ATVs to select BSA council camps. It’s part of a 10-year partnership with the BSA, started in 2014, that provides top-of-the-line off-road vehicles, safety…
Report to the Nation delegates snapped some selfies from the roof terrace at 101 Constitution, capturing a spectacular view of the U.S. Capitol. They soon learned they have the mining industry to thank for those photos — and for practically everything they use.
Update, Feb. 29 : Meet the delegates in the video below! Next week’s big news out of Washington likely won’t be covered on cable news. But for those of us who care about the BSA, this will be the top story.
Robots are everywhere. Car manufacturers use them on the assembly line. Doctors use them to perform intricate surgeries. You might have one to vacuum your house. Scouts with Troop 125 of Dallas, Texas, recently saw how robotics help Dr. Elizabeth Coronado, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Medical City Plano hospital.
The Glade Creek Grist Mill in West Virginia. Photo by Gary Hartley Amateur photographers know a whole lot happens between point and shoot. Each shooting situation presents a challenge, and the solution involves the right mix of light, color, composition, distance and a captivating subject.
The Ninja Monkeys. The Flaming Eagles. The Deviled Eggs. Scouts can concoct some pretty awesome patrol and den names — and make really cool flags and emblems to proudly display their creations. You can see some here . Sometimes, adult leaders form patrols, too.
Soldier Field in Chicago could fit the Eagle Scout Class of 2019 — but just barely. More young people became Eagle Scouts in 2019 than in any other year in the 108-year history of the prestigious award. Exactly 61,353 young men earned the Eagle Scout award last year, beating the previous record of 58,659 set in…
Joseph Merton (center) with Scouts Stephen Lombard (left) and Stephen's brother Kevin. Joseph Merton simply had a knack for leadership. As a Scout on the South Side of Chicago, his talent for rallying the guys in his troop came in handy at meetings and campouts.
Shannon Stokes holds an official congratulatory proclamation from her town and the Summit Award medal. Shannon Stokes completed all the requirements for the Summit Award — Venturing’s highest honor. And then the U.S. Army came calling. Shannon’s Venturing crew — Crew 32 of Hope Mills, N.C.
If you’re reading this, you have probably experienced the positive impact of Scouting. And I’m guessing that – like me – you want Scouting to be around to serve kids in our communities for many years to come. I’m hoping you also agree that it’s important that the BSA supports victims of past abuse in Scouting.
I have just three words: Camping. Is. Back. After staking out a spot in seventh or eighth place in popularity from 2014 to 2018, the Eagle-required Camping merit badge jumped to third place in the 2019 rankings, released this month.
Daniel (right) and Joshua Kevil 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.
Thomas and Henry Leskiw look at old reports written by their grandfather, Frank J. Panza, with Investigator Donald Ginnane. At right, Thomas sits in a squad car. While working on the Paws for Action Adventure, Bear Scout Thomas Leskiw could’ve visited a local police station, but his mother, Barbara, had another idea.
Eagle Scout Jason Lee is on a journey — a journey he did not choose. For years, his assistant Scoutmaster abused him. His abuser is now behind bars, serving a 30-year sentence, but that offers little justice for the broken trust, the inflicted grief and the lost innocence.
Mr. Beast (wearing hat) with members of the South Florida Council. When a major YouTube personality visits a beloved Scout camp, the result is comedy gold — and millions of people introduced to the adventure of Scouting. Mr. Beast, a YouTuber whose philanthropic videos and epic stunts (riding a Ferris wheel 1,000 times in a row…
In 2019, hundreds of Scouts, Venturers and adult volunteers spent their spring break at Philmont to help the high-adventure base recover from the fires of 2018 . They called it PhilBreak. This year’s sequel promises to be even better. For the 2020 version, PhilBreak has broadened its eligibility requirements, making this alternative spring break experience open…
Support from the worldwide community of Scouting, including members of the BSA, has been an “enormous comfort” to members of Scouts Australia as the country grapples with the bushfire crisis. “At times like this, Scouts demonstrate that we can come together to help each other no matter where we are from,” says Phil Harrison, Chief…
With Scout Sunday, Sabbath and Jumuah slated for this weekend, it might be an ideal time to examine the 12th point of the Scout Law with your Scouts. Honoring God, being faithful in one’s religious duties and respecting others’ beliefs encapsulates what it means to be “reverent.”
Note: This is the 31st in an occasional series where I share Eagle Scout project before-and-after photos. See the complete collection here and submit your own here . To fully understand the impact Eagle Scout projects have on communities, you need to see to believe.
From the community-shaking feats of Eagle Scouts to the creativity of Cub Scouts, any parent or volunteer who’s seen Scouts in action will tell you: Never underestimate them. The same is true when you marvel at the designs and speed of the Pinewood Derby creations cropping up all over your social media feeds this time…
A seven-day pass to Yellowstone National Park is normally $35 per vehicle. But on five days each year, that fee drops to $0. (Photo by W. Garth Dowling) There’s only one thing better than taking your Cub Scout pack, Scouts BSA troop, Venturing crew or Sea Scout ship to a national park.
The first rule of Pack 1855’s Hiking Club: Don’t forget the snacks. But a few months after launching their new plan to take a hike every month, Pack 1855 leaders realized something amazing. They saw their Cub Scouts weren’t begging for the next snack break.
Let’s go racing, Cub Scouts! It’s Pinewood Derby time, when Scouts turn blocks of wood into fierce and fun race cars. It’s a tradition that dates back to 1953 , and today, it’s a very popular Cub Scout activity. Be sure to check out what’s new at the Scout Shop .
The classic holiday tune “O Christmas Tree” calls those branches “lovely.” But one Scouts BSA troop has another description for those leafy holiday evergreens: instrumental in the effort to stabilize and grow sand dunes on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
The story of Roger C. Mosby’s introduction to Scouting is one to which many of us can relate: When his oldest son first signed up for Cub Scouts, he walked into a parent orientation meeting not knowing exactly what to expect.
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…
A 10-year-old Webelos Scout from Pennsylvania is one of nine finalists in NASA’s contest to name the 2020 Mars rover, and your vote can help send the young man’s name to the red planet. Eamon Reilly, a member of Pack 67 from Dover, Pa., (New Birth of Freedom Council) was one of 28,000 students who…
There’s a reason it’s called the “Death Zone.” At 29,029 feet, the lack of oxygen atop Mount Everest seriously limits how well a person can function. Risks of fatigue, frostbite and stress to the heart and brain skyrocket. It’s so dangerous at that altitude that climbers are cautioned to only linger for about 20 minutes…
When disaster strikes, Scouts step up. They’ve been there after tornadoes, wildfires and hurricanes destroyed homes and uprooted lives in communities across our country. This time, even though the disaster is a little farther from home, it affects the Scouting family all the same.
Looking for a list of tasks that will get you and your pack up to speed on hosting a Pinewood Derby? Well, look no further: we have compiled a list of to-do’s. All you have to do is check everything off the list, and you will be ready and set to race into the perfect…
Alex holds Boys' Life magazine, while Charlotte displays a license plate with both troop numbers: Alex's Troop 361 and her Troop 114. They’re in separate troops, but make no mistake: Charlotte and Alex Beatson are on this Scouting journey together.
Imagine if those weekly meetings at your office had a “good conduct candle.” Blake’s texting and missed a question from the boss? Candle goes out. Rhonda brought her breakfast? Bye-bye, flame. Peter forgot the PowerPoint? Poof. But if the candle burns all the way down, it’s reward time.
