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No, not this kind of Boy Scout tie. Despite some of the misperceptions out there, today's Scouts do so much more than tying knots. But don't get me wrong: If you need someone to fashion a bowline, finding a Boy Scout is still your best option.
Whenever a new merit badge comes out, a handful of well-meaning volunteers usually ask that question. "If you're adding Welding merit badge ," they write, "which one will you take away?" For me, though, the beauty of the BSA's merit badge program lies in its diverse selection.
Are You Tougher?" comes from Thom Beers, the man behind "Deadliest Catch," "Ice Road Truckers," "Ax Men," "Storage Wars," and "Pitchmen." If seeing is believing, consider me a believer. Five months after I first told you about Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout?
The May-June "Where Am I?" contest was tough, judging from the relatively small number of guesses. Only 315 entries were received, compared to 666 in the March-April contest. Many readers guessed "Arches National Park." However, the true location of this picture is thousands of miles away from the sunburnt-orange Utah arches.
If your son told you tomorrow that he's thinking of leaving Scouting, what would you say? For "Dave," a concerned parent from an East Coast troop, that's no hypothetical question. The parent, whose name I changed to conceal his identity, writes: My son is 15 and has been in Scouting since he was a Tiger…
Most of my best memories from summer camp involved the water. Where else but Camp Cherokee's epic waterfront could I swim, canoe with my friends, or sit on a massive airbag called "the blob" and get propelled 15 feet into the air?
You'll get sneak peeks at future BL content, like this sweet shot from the August issue. For Scouts who read Boys' Life (and the Scouters who steal their son's copy), the BSA's premier monthly magazine for youth can't come soon enough.
Have you ever slept 300 feet underground? Stood atop a 14,000-foot peak? Created a robot? The BSA is betting those questions and other enticing messages will help bring prospective members to your Venturing crew. It's all part of the new Venturing Tool Kit , released this month by the BSA's Marketing Group.
Want to get your unit's recruiting up to speed? Consider hauling your "Join Scouting" message everywhere your pack, troop, team, or crew travels. Start by taking a page from Canton, Ohio, Troop 4's playbook, which just wrapped its trailer with a complete visual history of the unit.
Here's a new job for Mike Rowe, he of Dirty Jobs fame: Keynote speaker at a gathering of BSA professionals and volunteers. Rowe traded his usual duds - well, he kept the jeans - for a nicely pressed shirt at this month's National Annual Meeting in Orlando.
Don't tell your non-Scouting friends, but Scouts aren't the only ones who have fun at pack, troop, team, or crew events. Yes, the program is for Scouts, but as you and I know, adults get something out of it, too.
Earlier this month, I mentioned that Pip wowed the crowd at the BSA's National Annual Meeting with his rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner." Now you can see what all the fuss was about. Pip Arnold, the Eagle Scout who snagged the spotlight on The Voice , received rave reviews from the gathering of volunteers and professionals…
Hard work pays. And in the case of these four Eagle Scouts, I mean that quite literally. The recipients of the four most-prestigious scholarships from the National Eagle Scout Association have one thing in common, in addition to their rank in Scouting: Each went above and beyond in their commitment to service, education, and leadership.
I love what the Boy Scouts of America's Marketing team has done with its new recruiting materials. (If you haven't seen them, drop everything and take a look .) But my BSA pride doesn't preclude me from pointing out the latest bit of genius from our Scouting friends across the pond.
Amateur radio: Fun but not free. That makes the recent sponsorship agreement between the Boy Scouts of America and Icom America, a world leader in the amateur radio market, such big news. The deal makes Icom the exclusive amateur radio transceiver and repeater supplier for the 2013 National Scout Jamboree .
Well if the BSA IndyCar had to lose on Saturday night, at least it was like this. James Jakes and the Boy Scouts of America No. 19 car finished 10th at the Firestone 550 in Texas, but Jakes' teammate, Justin Wilson, won the whole thing .
To be honest, this week's Photo Friday topic - Great Moments at Summer Camp - is a little redundant. After all, it's hard to find any moment at summer camp that isn't great. I speak from experience. I attended Camp Cherokee (now called Trevor Rees-Jones Scout Camp ) with my troop six years in a row when I…
Big congratulations and my thanks to this year's Silver Buffalo Award honorees. At last week's National Annual Meeting, 11 volunteers (nine are pictured above) earned Scouting's highest honor for adults . In doing so, they joined a prestigious list that includes Walt Disney, James E.
When it comes to life-changing experiences, there's no substitute for camping. And when it comes to the Eagle-required Camping merit badge, there's no substitute for Requirement 9a. It reads as follows: 9. Show experience in camping by doing the following: a.
This morning, the Boy Scouts of America responded to media reports about its membership policy. Follow the jump for the full text of the news release: Contrary to media reports, the Boy Scouts of America has no plans to change its membership policy.
Don't panic! The Scout Law isn't changing. Why mess with something that's been guiding Boy Scouts in this country since 1911? The BSA's version - one of several variations from around the world - is a slight tweak from the 10 original points Baden-Powell published in his Scouting for Boys in 1908.
But that's a good thing. At least, it is for Scouts who love to mountain bike. The BSA has approved a mountain biking option for Cycling, a merit badge mainstay since 1911. So for the first time, Scouts who prefer fat tires instead of thin can earn the badge.
The patch comes in blue for Cub Scouts and green for Boy Scouts, Venturers, and Sea Scouts. Kids spend more than 7.5 hours a day using some kind of electronic device, according to a 2010 Kaiser Family Foundation study . In other words, if they're awake and not at school, they're probably online.
Who's going backpacking this summer? (Yep, I've got my hand raised, too!) After you've collected the essentials-like a great stove, sturdy boots, a lightweight tent-did you remember the most important item for a long-distance trek? … a comfortable backpack? We've got your back.
Once again, everyone is singing Pip's praises. This morning, Phillip Arnold, whom you probably know from my posts about The Voice , performed an impressive rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner." After that final note, the crowd at the Americanism Breakfast at the BSA's National Annual Meeting in Orlando roared its approval for the Eagle Scout from…
Happy Friday, everyone! Bryan is in Orlando this week at the National Annual Meeting. ( Follow Scouting magazine on Twitter for his live updates! ) But just because he's away doesn't mean we can't have some fun-especially with Funny Moments photos that you've captured during your Scouting adventures.
Joseph Csatari's latest work of art was unveiled at this morning's Americanism Breakfast at the Boy Scouts of America's 2012 National Annual Meeting. The piece celebrates this year's 100th Anniversary of the Eagle Scout award, first presented to Arthur Eldred in August 1912.
What does the Boy Scouts of America logo mean to you? Perhaps it represents childhood campouts you took decades ago. Or maybe it signifies the special bond you now share with your son or daughter. All good answers. But ask the folks at the Web site Top Nonprofits , and they'll tell you it provides "an…
Scouters and Scouts, start your televisions. The Indianapolis 500, easily the best-known auto race of the year, is Sunday. I've always enjoyed watching, but ever since the BSA IndyCar debuted in 2010, I've had even more reason to tune in to "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."
Here's something else for you to love about Fridays. Photo Fridays, which debuted last week , showcases real photos from real Scouters. Each week, the photos fit a different theme. This week it's High Adventure , and the 29 photos below highlight a few of the many different kinds of adventure Scouts can have.
OK, this is really nice. The Greater New York Councils created the special-edition council shoulder patch seen above to commemorate the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The patch, called "A Tribute in Light," depicts the real-life Sept. 11 memorial displayed in New York each year.
This just in, LDS Scouters: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has updated its Scouting Handbook. The May 2012 version of the document, only available online (PDF) , offers updates on "guidelines and policies relating to Scouting programs in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," according to the document's introductory section.
Todos los Scouts se merece un líder entrenado. In other words, "Every Scout deserves a trained leader." The statement is true in any language, and now, Scout leaders who are more comfortable speaking Spanish can take the highest level of adult leader training, Wood Badge, at a first-of-its-kind Spanish-language Wood Badge course.
Trails have been a part of Scouting since the beginning. There are figurative trails - the one to First Class and to Eagle - and literal ones, like the 350 miles of trails at Philmont or the familiar 10-mile loop at your favorite state park.
Like rare patches? How about one only 11 men have ever worn? Today, we learned the identity of the next man to join the impressive fraternity of Chief Scout Executives that started with Scouting legend James E. West. (See the full list below.)
Merit badges don't teach themselves. And with the 2013 National Scout Jamboree just 14 months away, the BSA's looking for a few good men and women to demonstrate their skills. The focus is on the six newest merit badges making a big splash at the Summit Bechtel Reserve next summer.
And now for something completely different. Starting today and continuing for the next seven weeks, I'm introducing Photo Fridays here at Bryan on Scouting. It's simple, really. I give you a theme, and you e-mail me with photos that fit that theme.
Give and you shall receive. At this fall's Volunteer Vacation at Philmont Scout Ranch, participants give a week of trail service and receive an unforgettable adventure in the captivating Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northeast New Mexico. The American Hiking Society and the Boy Scouts of America joined forces to craft this trail stewardship event…
Here's a new one: An East Coast troop's uniform policy involves telling older Scouts not to wear their uniforms in public. Yep, it happened in Scouter B.C.'s troop. Here's how B.C., who asked me not to use their full name, explained it in an email to me last week: I have recently become the assistant…
A new merit badge rewarding you for creativity, fun, and strategy? I'm game. Your Scouts will be too when the Game Design merit badge debuts next year. Approved and listed on my Guide to New Merit Badges for a month now, the new badge is still in the planning stages.
You don't tell young people why they should join Scouting. You show them. That's the thinking behind the BSA's new Visual Storytelling Workshops , happening this summer. Here's a chance to spend several days learning the secrets of storytelling in the age of social media.
Thirsty? If you're not now, you will be in a couple months-summer is right around the corner! Be prepared for thirst with this package of water-purification gear offered in the JUST ADD WATER GIVEAWAY , starting today and ending May 31 .
At this point of the school year, are your Scouts ready to put down F. Scott Fitzgerald and pick up a Frisbee? Embrace their urge to get outside once school's out, but don't let reading take the summer off. And fortunately, there's help to do just that.
Get ready to dot-dot your I's and dash your T's. Today, the Boy Scouts of America released the Morse Code Interpreter Strip , an official patch for Scouts and Scouters who can demonstrate their ability to "speak" this special language. Morse Code joins languages like Spanish, French, Italian, German, Japanese, Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew, Sign Language, and…
I've never written a gear review. Best leave that to the experts (like our gear guy Stephen Regenold), I say. But after using the Avex Wells AutoSpout water bottle for the past few weeks, I just had to tell you about it.
Earning the Eagle Scout Award is something to write home about - literally. Politicians, astronauts, celebrities, and other recognizable figures have been sending hand-signed letters to new Eagle Scouts for, well, 100 years. The very first congratulatory letter was sent in 1912 when the first Eagle Scout, Arthur R.
Hey, you with the post-hole digger! Let me see some ID! When it comes to service projects, nobody does it better - or safer - than the Boy Scouts. But before you gather equipment for your next Good Turn, ask yourself some questions: Can my 14- and 15-year-old Boy Scouts use lawnmowers and string trimmers to cut…
When our gear guru Stephen Regenold (founder of thegearjunkie.com ) selects items for Scouting magazine's "Great Gear" column, he uses two important criteria when making his final selections: style and function. Buff headwear- featured in our May-June issue -meets both of these standards.
Can a unit set attendance requirements? Can Scouters mandate, for example, that Scouts show up for at least half of all meetings and outings? When I first received this question in 2009 , the answer was no. But that was back when Bryan on Scouting was called "Cracker Barrel."
Allow me to amend the Scout Law to add this: A Scout is Grateful. I'm grateful to the Western Publishing Association for naming Bryan on Scouting the Best Web Publication Blog/Trade & Consumer at its 61st Annual Maggie Awards last week.
