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Braxton Moral, a Life Scout with Troop 186 in Ulysses, Kan., isn’t your typical high school graduate. He walked the stage at Ulysses High School in May; a couple of weeks later, he did the same at Harvard University . Braxton, 17, now with a high school diploma and a bachelor’s degree in government with a…
When he wasn’t helping Sheriff Woody corral bad guys or annihilating aliens alongside Buzz Lightyear, Andy Davis was a normal kid. He went to school, helped his mom with chores — and was a member of the Boy Scouts of America.
Boy Scouts of America volunteers and professionals are relentless in their pursuit of outdoor programs that are exhilarating, enriching and safe. That explains the popularity of the National Outdoor Conference , held every other year at Philmont Scout Ranch. This September, volunteers and professionals from across the country will travel to the mountains of New Mexico…
As you prepare to go camping this summer, you’ll likely write a checklist of what to bring. One thing you should have on that list that will help ensure a good time for not only you, but for your fellow campers is a clean bill of health.
Sam Snyder of Troop 175 from Peachtree City, Ga., works on his Eagle project with his helpers. They built a 24-by-20-foot pavilion with four 10-by-10 dog runs for the county animal shelter. Five words — that’s all that fundamentally separates an Eagle Scout service project from a standard Scouting service project.
Timmy working with a speech language pathologist at the Lerner School. Photo courtesy of the Cleveland Clinic. Timmy Hargate was diagnosed at an early age with autism and an extreme speech delay. Thanks to years of hard work and the help of dedicated professionals, he is now an Eagle Scout.
The members of Venturing Crew 1886 in 2006 — four years after the crew was formed. A Lutheran pastor in Virginia, a land development engineer in North Carolina and a fitness-focused Instagram influencer based in Brooklyn, N.Y. One common thread connects each of these three women — and six others with similar success stories.
An aerial photo from April shows the soon-to-be-finished Bunkhouse at Pigott Base Camp. Gone are the days of BSA properties being open for a few weeks each summer and a weekend or two in the spring and fall. The newest trend in the Boy Scouts of America: finding ways to use BSA facilities in all…
Your Scouts can take flight and earn a cool new STEM Nova Award, thanks to a collaboration between iFLY and the Boy Scouts of America . iFLY indoor skydiving gives Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA members, Sea Scouts and Venturers a chance to fly high while working on the “Up and Away” STEM Nova Award.
An inventive new Wood Badge course, scheduled for January 2020 at the Summit Bechtel Reserve, will give participants a chance to experience the “linked troop” model used by many Scouts BSA troops. Everything about the course breaks the Wood Badge mold in exciting ways.
Jennifer Gibbs remembers her family’s camping trips, orchestrated by her father Melbourne “Kenny” Richards, Jr. “My dad had a profound love of nature,” Gibbs says. “His training as an Eagle Scout made my dad the best person to go camping with; my favorite trips with him were to the Southwest or in Colorado.
Yes, Madison Wiley has learned all the knot-tying, sail-raising and boat-steering techniques you’d expect a Sea Scout to know. But the 18-year-old from Sea Scout Ship 16 of Suffolk, Va., part of the Colonial Virginia Council, says Sea Scouting has taught her a lot more than those on-the-water skills.
They’ve led giant corporations and highly ranked universities. They’ve skied at the North and South poles and chased eclipses around the world. They’ve volunteered with music education programs and at their places of worship. Impressive stuff, but there’s something even more remarkable on the résumés of the 13 men and women receiving the Silver Buffalo…
The 2021 National Jamboree logo is seen above. This design for the patch will be unveiled later in summer 2019. Scouting instills confidence, helping young people discover they can achieve more than they thought possible. That’s the uplifting message behind the logo and theme for the 2021 National Jamboree, which the BSA announced today.
When someone needs help, Scouts are there to jump in and serve. That’s what Scouts do, even when it’s their fellow Scouts who are in need. Service plays an integral part in rank advancement, so when Scouts help each other out, the question sometimes comes up: Can helping another Scouting unit count for service hours…
Good news for unit leaders who use Internet Advancement to track their Scouts’ progress along the Scouting trail. The BSA has introduced an array of upgrades designed to make your life easier. The improvements make inputting advancement updates faster, allow leaders to search advancement history in a snap and give Scouters more control over printable…
Troop 223 smiles on the summit of El Montañon on Santa Cruz Island in California. The hike was part of their Alaska training. This sure beats an afternoon at the community pool. This summer, the Scouts of Troop 223 from Pacific Palisades, Calif., part of the Western Los Angeles County Council, will travel to Alaska…
The seventh point of the Scout Law — obedient — is about discipline. An obedient Scout shows discipline by following rules and taking direction from others. That applies whether in the classroom, on a backpacking trip — or on the court during an NBA game.
Summer is just around the corner — time to inspire kids to explore their world and avoid the summer slide. Help keep them engaged in school and hooked on reading with the 2019 Boys’ Life Say Yes To Reading Contest, sponsored by Nat Geo Kids .
If someone presented an award for “earning the most awards,” Benji Rawald would probably earn that one, too. He’s an Eagle Scout. He has earned every available merit badge and several BSA STEM Nova awards . He received the William T.
Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Chapman and his helicopter crew flew low across the sands of Saudi Arabia, attempting to evade enemy artillery after rescuing an injured soldier. Before they could get back to a medical facility, a sandstorm engulfed the helicopter.
The moment Jed Stahlback arrived on the beaches of Normandy, the 11-year-old Star Scout was struck by how peaceful everything seemed. “Climbing through flowers and grass growing in the remains of bomb craters seems crazy,” Jed says. As they stared in silence at a sea of American graves, brothers Andrew and Chris Forbes marveled at…
This proud Scouting mom was not throwing away her shot. Jennifer Smyke knows how much her son, Carter, loves the musical Hamilton . So when Carter finished the requirements for the Eagle Scout award, Scouting’s highest honor, Jennifer took a chance and contacted Lin-Manuel Miranda, who created the wildly popular show.
Logan Hine loves playing tennis and is on his high school’s varsity team. But the Eagle Scout with Troop 64 in Maugansville, Md., soon realized something about the sport. “Tennis is an extremely wasteful sport,” Logan says. “Some balls are used for less than an hour and then thrown away.
Photo by Alex Zarynow Watch your daughter reel in her first rainbow trout. Join your son on horseback and mosey around like New Mexico cowboys. Hike with your entire family to the site of a Tyrannosaurus rex footprint — one of only two such tracks in the world.
A young person doesn’t have to become an Eagle Scout to have a life-changing experience in Scouting. But you can bet some Scouts in your troop will set their sights on that shiny Eagle medal. And chances are some of those Eagle hopefuls will join your Scouts BSA troop this year as 16- or 17-year-olds…
Scouts know every issue of Boys’ Life is full of fascinating features. Publishing industry leaders recognize that, too. Boys’ Life won a Maggie Award and was named a finalist in three other award categories. The annual Maggie Awards, presented by the Western Publishing Association and B2B Media, are the country’s longest reigning awards program in…
As a liver surgeon at one of the nation’s top hospitals, Dr. Nicholas Nissen spends his day fixing problems. But 37 years ago, when Nissen was a Life Scout, he had his own problem in need of fixing. Nissen hadn’t yet completed his Eagle Scout requirements when his northern Minnesota troop folded just a few…
Twilight’s coming and you know a swarm of biting insects will soon descend upon you and your Scouts. How do you prepare for the irritating pests? All you need is a couple of seconds, and faster than you can say, “daddy long legs,” you can have a haven from insects thanks to SansBug .
The BSA's most popular district name is also the name of the U.S. Air Force demonstration squadron. There are 17 Thunderbirds across various BSA councils. Perhaps your pack shines in the North Star or Polaris district. Or maybe your troop makes waves in a district known as Three Rivers, Two Rivers or even Twin Rivers.
Scout Shop has huge surprises for shoppers next week. To help you #GetReadyForCamp, it’s rolling out an epic lineup of incentives. (Pro tip: Read this entire post to find out how you can start taking advantage of all this event has to offer!)
Actually, you can make this stuff up. We know that because it’s the same excuse fabricated by countless high schoolers who forgot to finish last night’s homework: “My dog ate it.” Only, this time, in the case of Jacob Sorenson of Troop 230 from Ames, Iowa, the statement is 100% trustworthy: “My dog ate the…
David Montgomery credits what he learned in Scouting with leading him to this year’s NFL draft. Last week, he was drafted by the Chicago Bears . “To become an Eagle Scout was an experience I needed for me in my life that brought me here to this point and also influenced my mindset and the way…
There’s a reason only about 10% of applicants get accepted into West Point each year. The U.S. Military Academy takes only the best of the best: men and women who are physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight. That explains why Michael Norris, an Eagle Scout from Red Bank, S.C., will join the academy’s Class…
Via Rusty L. of Troop 380, Arlington, Texas. Plans for the Eagle Scout court of honor were chugging along until the parents started looking for a bakery to prepare an Eagle Scout-themed cake for the big day. Bakery after bakery told them they wouldn’t put any trademarked BSA logos on the cake.
Following tonight’s troop meeting program, the senior patrol leader had a game of capture the flag on the agenda. However, with strong thunderstorms rolling through the area, the SPL is at a loss for an impromptu fun indoor alternative. So, our question is this: what are some good indoor games you’ve seen Scouts enjoy in…
If you want to feel old, spent a few minutes watching teenagers use their phones. They tap out messages, swipe through alerts and share selfies while the rest of us are still stuck on our lock screens. Earlier this month, Scouts from Troop 1 of Dover, Mass., part of the Spirit of Adventure Council, put…
Note: This is the 27th 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.
You and your Scout might already be looking forward to summertime fun. It’s a great time to get outdoors, earn some awards a little more conducive to the season and make lifelong memories. But to ensure maximum enjoyment, you should make sure you’re in shape to accomplish your goals.
On April 27, 2014, an EF4 tornado — the second highest on the scale — struck the Tittle family’s house in Ferndale, Ark. The tornado leveled the home, killing three members of the Tittle family: Rob, the dad; Tori, 20; and Rebekah, 14.
Ahoy there! It’s time for Show and Tell , where Scouters show their favorite photos and tell the story behind them. This time, we’d like to see your Sea Scouting ship’s vessel. It can be a kayak, canoe, sailboat or something quite larger.
Lillian Rose Weihert, a Venturer from the Chicago-based Pathway to Adventure Council, received the 2017 Outdoor Inspiration Award in the Youth category. Young people who inspire their peers? Your troop or crew has plenty of them. Leaders who serve their communities?
We’re T minus three months and counting until the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. And over at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala., they’re planning a celebration worthy of the occasion. Why Huntsville? Because that’s where scientists developed the Saturn V rocket that carried Eagle Scout Neil Armstrong and his fellow space…
Sea Scouts and Venturers participated in a service project in March at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. During National Park Week, the country celebrates “America’s best idea” with nine days of adventure, service and fun. In other words, the rest of the U.S.
The wonders of the world are all around us. And young people, like your kids and the Scouts you lead, have all kinds of questions about them. That’s why we’re tackling kids’ toughest questions in an entertaining and educational podcast called PodAsk, brought to you by Boys’ Life .
You check the weather forecast a day before the troop’s campout this weekend: A 60 percent chance of thunderstorms with possible wind gusts of 30 mph. Should the campout be postponed until a weekend with more fair weather? It can be a tough call, and there are many factors to consider — what is the terrain…
It was a mild, overcast day in March — hardly beach weather — but the Scouts were out there anyway, walking the sandy shoreline at Fort Flagler Historical State Park in Washington. They weren’t out there to swim or surf. Scouts BSA Troop 319 was there to scour the beach for trash.
Scouts and Venturers don’t sit still for long. All that moving around — hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, climbing and more — is a big reason why young people join Scouting and invite their friends along. But that constant motion comes with one downside: It’s tough to capture on video without motion-sickness-inducing shakiness.
Front row, from left: Christopher Talbot, Cooper Newsom, William Greening, Reece Breaux, Will Beck and Miles Cavitt. Back row, from left: Scott Neuhoff, Luke Logan, Trey Brooks, Luke Stanford, John Carrie and Jackson Mechem. The mascot for the Episcopal School of Dallas, a well-regarded private school in Texas, is the Eagles.
Better make room on your bookmarks bar. The BSA has refreshed and retooled a pair of online resources for Scouts BSA volunteers. The first is the Program Resources page . Think of it as your quick-start guide to Scouts BSA. Here, you’ll find a collection of links for starting a Scouts BSA troop, helping Scouts earn…
