You came. You saw. You considered. So do you know the answer to Thursday's Name That Council challenge? Well, with all of the fireworks and flag-waving, we'd understand if you had too much on your mind. We'll give you one last look at the patriotic patch above and a hint: independence.
Feeling patriotic? So are we. That explains this week's Name That Council selection, a patch perfect for the weekend celebration of Independence Day. So put down that hot dog and cold soda for a second, and come up with the name of the council whose patch is pictured.
Nothing screams patriotism like your community's Independence Day parade. You'll see it all: red-white-and blue floats, a high school marching band or two, and-of course-a bunch of smiling Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venturers. But the key to making sure the celebration of America's birthday goes off without a hitch is in planning.
When you see a fellow Scouter wearing this red, green, and yellow knot, what does it tell you? For us, it's a sign that this Scouter was dedicated to the program from a very young age. So dedicated, in fact, that he earned the Arrow of Light Award , the pinnacle of Cub Scouting, before he…
We hope you had an easy time figuring out the location of the peaceful scene shown in Friday's challenge. After all, getting stressed would prevent you from enjoying the idyllic panorama of the lighthouse and lake pictured in the patch.
On Monday we promised that today's Name That Council would be easier than last week's. But we hope you didn't expect a gimme. If you think you know the council whose members wear the patch shown, e-mail us with your guess along with your name, unit number, position, and hometown.
Here's a new spin on recycling the news: Keenan Klos and Pack 249 used hundreds of newspapers to celebrate the March Cub Scout theme, "Jurassic Pack." Pack leaders asked the boys to roll newspaper tubes with their parents at home.
Take a break from corralling your den full of energized 7- to 10-year-olds, and listen up. We know you work hard as a den leader, and we want give you a hint on how you can get your just rewards.
What's the best way to keep up with Scouting news, information, and tips on the go? That's easy. Load the BSA's official podcasts, audio or video files that you can download to listen to or watch, into your MP3 player.
OK, last week's Name That Council was tough. But you might have gotten it-if you looked closely at the most-prominent element of the patch (shown above). Follow the jump for the correct answer. That's it. The Yankee Clipper Council , based in Haverhill, Mass., about 40 miles north of Boston.
This week we take Name That Council out to the high seas. The traditional-looking ship pictured is essentially your only clue. There's no skyline, well-known landmark, or state flag to assist you this week. If you think you know which council wears the patch pictured above, e-mail us with your choice along with your name…
If you're seeking extra protection from the sun's harmful UV rays-and really, who isn't-listen up. What you wear is as important as the sunscreen you put on. And by wearing any of the items in the new Centennial uniform you'll help block out damaging rays.
Scouting is universal. No matter where you go in the country, you'll see Scouts of every religion, race, and socioeconomic level. In honor of the BSA's desire to encourage development of Scouting programs in Hispanic communities, the ¡ Scouting… Vale La Pena!
You don't mind if we toot our own horn for just a second, do you? Scouting magazine picked up two Distinguished Achievement awards over the weekend from the Association of Education Publishers . Our own John Clark, Scouting magazine's senior editor, won for his money-management article, " Shut Down the Parental ATM ," which appeared in our October…
We gave you the whole weekend to figure out the council whose members wear the shoulder patch shown above. How did you do? Follow the jump to check your answer. There it is. The Steel City. Pittsburgh, Pa., and the Greater Pittsburgh Council .
Ready for the next Name That Council challenge? If you recognize the area depicted in this week's patch, then don't delay in e-mailing us your guess . We want the council name, your name, your unit number, and your position within your unit.
Requirement 8 of the Citizenship in the Nation merit badge asks boys to write a letter about an important issue to their U.S. congressperson. Just think of it. Thousands of Boy Scouts each year send these letters to elected officials who are probably too busy to care about a letter written by a boy working…
If you think about it, labor unions are a lot like Scouting units. Both consist of a group of similarly minded people who are all working toward a common goal. That explains why thousands of Scout leaders are also union members.
If you're like us, reading Scouting magazine's exclusive excerpts from Alvin Townley's Spirit of Adventure helped increase your appetite for more great stories about Eagle Scouts. So, in search of additional inspiring and exciting stories, you picked up a copy of the book (pictured above) at most major booksellers or Amazon.com .
It seems like it was forever ago when we presented you with this Name That Council challenge, but now we're back with the answer. Some of you guessed that it was the Northern Lights Council, which is a good guess, but that isn't it.
Time for us Cracker Barrelites to get up and stretch our legs a bit. But we'll be back after a short break on Monday, June 8 , with more great stories about Scouters, weekend adventures, square knots, and more. In the meantime, browse our archives for posts you might have missed.
OK, this one's tough. You see a river, some tents and canoes, and a scenic mountain range. That could be lots of places, right? But it's only one. Find any clues you can and play Name That Council . Think you know?
Who should have access to opportunities like Scouting? Whitney Young knew the answer to that question: everyone. The famed Civil Rights leader once said: "Every man is our brother, and every man's burden is our own. Where poverty exists, all are poorer."
Did you ever have to make up your mind-between Scouting and sports? You're not alone. Get input from fellow volunteers in Front Line Stuff from the current issue of Scouting magazine. Some great advice there. But here's another option: Soccer and Scouting.
Last Friday, we showed you this patch (above) and asked you to identify the council whose members wear this shoulder strip. Did the mountain scene look familiar? Follow the jump to find out if you were correct. If you chose the Yucca Council , give yourself a pat on the back.
That's a nice council shoulder patch there, eh? But wait; something appears to be missing. Your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. We've removed the council's name, leaving only the colorful scene behind. Your job: Name That Council . Think you know it?
Yes, you recycle, drive a hybrid car, and plant trees on Earth Day. You're doing your part to help protect our planet. But a select few are driven to make an even bigger impact. Those people are eligible for the William T.
In the past weeks, we've introduced you to the high-level leadership training offered at Philmont Scout Ranch. You learned about NAYLE for Scouts and the Philmont Leadership Challenge for Wood Badge-trained adults. Now, you're ready to hit the road for Cimarron, N.M.
After more than four decades of involvement in Scouting, Sven J. Rundman III can stand proudly in this week's Scouter Spotlight. Before you meet him, though, take a moment to e-mail us with the name of a great volunteer for a future Spotlight.
Most council shoulder patches have some clues about their location. Usually it's a state flag, a natural landmark, or a skyline. In Name That Council , your job is to use those clues to, well, name that council. Friday's challenge is pictured above, and it was probably a piece of cake if you recognized the skyline.
We've removed the name from the council shoulder patch above. Your challenge: Name That Council . This patch essentially has just one clue: a skyline. If you recognize it, the answer will be easy. If not, put on your thinking cap!
Take a look at the seven knots we've covered in our Knot of the Week series so far. They all have one thing in common: We want you to earn them. And with enough dedication to the Scouting program, you can.
It's May, so we have to ask: How will the boys in your troop or crew spend their summer? If a boring summer job or hours of quality time with a PlayStation 3 look likely, listen up. NAYLE, the National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience, is gearing up for another summer of high-level training at Philmont.
Great Scouters keep coming our way for Scouter Spotlight, but we're always looking for more people to feature. Do you know someone who should be next? Send us an e-mail [insertlink], and you might see that volunteer in an upcoming week.
On Friday, we presented you with another Name That Council challenge: Identify the council that wears the shoulder patch pictured above. Got it? You certainly saw the lighthouse, the bridge, and the skyline. You probably noticed the alligator, too. Were those enough clues for you?
Let's get serious. The H1N1 flu, commonly known as "swine flu," is spreading rapidly across the United States, and the BSA is asking all unit leaders to be prepared and stay informed. The CDC has the most up-to-date information on the H1N1 flu at their Web site , and the BSA's Health and Safety team has…
Last week, we introduced Name That Council , a fun Friday game that challenges you to identify a council using only the council shoulder patch. This week, we're back with another test for you. Use the images in the CSP above to guess which council wears this patch.
Just when the temperatures start warming up, severe weather moves in to spoil the fun. Tomorrow is the first day of May, and that means we're closing in on thunderstorm season. Is your unit ready? The threat of severe weather doesn't always mean you need to cancel your weekend camping trip.
We at Cracker Barrel are landlocked here in Irving, Tex. Because of that, we must admit feeling some envy when we hear about the Sea Scouts. This specialized division of Venturing takes the Scouting experience to the water. How cool is that?
Scouting has no shortage of great volunteers. Let's meet one now. Today's Scouter Spotlight shines on Kay Trick , committee chairperson with both Pack 3508 and Troop 508 of Susquehanna Council in Williamsport, Pa. She's also involved on the council, regional, and national level, and she'll head up the staff dining halls at the 2010 jamboree.
On Friday we introduced Name That Council , a game that asks you to correctly identify one of the BSA's 300 councils using just one clue: the council's shoulder patch. If you missed it and want to play, click here before you look at the solution.
As a dedicated volunteer, you probably see Scouting as a full-time job. That's on top of your regular full-time job, of course. But for a lucky few, their full-time job is Scouting. BSA professionals earn a salary to help deliver the program to millions of Scouts around the nation.
It's Friday, so how about a little fun? This week we're introducing Name That Council , a weekly game that tests your knowledge of council shoulder patches. The first CSP is above. As you can see, we've blurred out all of the relevant words.
With great Scouting stories from across the country, just waiting to be told, newspapers and other media outlets are catching on. Here are some recent highlights: Looking for a good, inexpensive tent for your new Boy Scout? This article pitches a few that might interest you.
Knot of the Week: Scoutmaster/Venturing Advisor Award of Merit
About a month ago we discussed in this space the National Eagle Scout Association. We were introducing you to the new NESA Life Membership Award . You remember, of course. What we didn't tell you then is that when NESA first started in 1972, another knot was available for leaders: the NESA Scoutmaster Award.
Wherever you read Cracker Barrel-at your office (we won't tell your boss) or in front of the home PC-you're probably not thirsty. You can find plenty of water nearby. But even if you're not thinking about dehydration now, it's a danger that could harm you later.
On the stage, a spotlight shines on someone who is the center of attention because they choose to be. Scouter Spotlight is different because the people we highlight don't seek applause or praise. Instead, they work behind the scenes to make Scouting better for the kids.
Be proud of those Wood Badge beads around your neck. It was no small task to earn them. But now we bet you're hungry for even more high-level leadership training. Until last year, your options were few and far between, but not anymore.