The Bloggers
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Jennifer asked: "Do the 6 merit badges for star rank have to be earned while a 1st class scout, or could they have been earned while a tenderfoot or 2nd class scout?" All requirements to earn Star rank need to be started and completed after First Class has been earned EXCEPT for the merit badges.
Are folks in your community tired of wreaths, mulch, and bulbs? Your troop could be one of eight that receive a big fundraising starter kit from Country Meats via Scouting Magazine's sweepstakes through the end of April. It's no secret that I love their snack sticks, and there's a good chance your troop could be…
There's a scene in the old 1981 movie "Quest for Fire" where the lead character was shown how to make fire by another clan. Until that moment, fire could only be found in nature or stolen from others so it was fiercely guarded and nurtured.
Hey, you probably know BoyScoutTrail.com is giving away goodies every month. Check out my contest page and take a shot. Here are a few more contests you might want to enter... Scouting magazine is giving away gift cards and knives.
It's Klondike Derby time so a little reminder about frostbite danger to the scouts is in order. It only took an hour of walking this morning to develop this cool frost layer. It was -5?F and about 5mph wind - and I was comfortable the entire hike.
A few fun things to do in MN when it gets really cold. Don't you wish you were here instead of on that silly vacation to FL, Mexico, or wherever you went? .
Do you remember what it felt like when Mighty Casey struck out? "Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright; The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light, And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout; But there is no joy in Mudville ?
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Need $25 for Scout Stuff? Boy Scout Trail just hit 2,000 Likes on Facebook. To celebrate, someone gets a $25 Scout Shop gift card. For a chance to win: Go to Facebook and LIKE http://facebook.com/boyscouttrail if you haven't already. Then, leave a comment on this Status post there.
I just got back from walking 1/2 mile to my polling location and casting my ballot. Many of the positions were just the incumbent running for re-election unopposed. There was only one local referendum to vote on. It wasn't a really exciting election.
Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drugs have not been allowed around youth in the BSA program for quite awhile. Recent technological and political changes have caused two items to be added to section IV of the Guide to Safe Scouting . electronic cigarettes : Adult leaders should support the attitude that they, as well as youth, are better off…
Boo! It rhymes with Goo. And, goo is the secret ingredient in HikeGoo foot treatment. No one's going to want a tube of HikeGoo in their halloween bucket, but scouts working on the Hiking or Backpacking merit badges might be very thankful.
Few Scouts don't enjoy a campfire and even fewer dislike cooking over one. I wonder how many marshmallows have been roasted by scouts this past summer? Poking food on a stick, wrapping it in tin foil, or tossing it on a grate have been the main ways to cook over fire.
I'm at University of Scouting today. My LNT presentation went well but I missed this Great dutch oven cooking session. :-( The fella doing this session is fun, and was in a first aid training I did a couple years ago. UofS is a nice opportunity to reconnect with other scouters in your council. Scout On
One of these tents is not like the other - can you tell the main difference? Canvas tents are an old stand-by of Scout Camps across the country. I've stayed in them at Philmont basecamp on both of my treks there.
(click pic for larger view) On my afternoon hike this weekend, I ran into what very well may be the perfect Eagle Scout service project! This is a hands-on Knots and Lashings kiosk and can be found at Lowry Nature Center west of Victoria, MN.
If scouts in your troop or Webelos den are tired of the same old choices in official BSA patrol emblems, have them take a peak at ScoutStuff.org patrol emblems where they may find something new and fun. Maybe the BSA will regain some of the market lost to custom patrol patch manufacturers with these new…
Do your scouts ever cook hotdogs? Here's a new way - it's called the Twisted Dog . Hotdogs and brats are all-American summer food seen around countless campfires and 4th of July family gatherings. They are an easy introduction to campfire cooking for Cub Scouts, and a simple, quick meal for older scouts (even though there's not…
Our troop started carrying a SPOT Messenger on high adventures about seven years ago. A SPOT is a satellite pinging device that can be used to request aid in an emergency. Parents felt much more comfortable knowing this extra bit of safety was along on each trek.
Next month (November) will be the annual Philmont registration lottery when many thousands of units will sign up for a few thousand 2016 treks. Best of luck to you all! If your troop or crew is already accepted for a trek next summer in 2015, then you won't be participating in that lottery, but you…
Fulfilling the vision of the BSA to prepare scouts as responsible, participating citizens and leaders is a real challenge. A responsible citizen can take care of himself, his property, and his family. Very few of the boys I've met in Scouting came with a built-in sense of responsibility and none have had an innate ability…
Did you have a family reunion this summer? What about your Scouting family? When a scout finishes his time with a troop, that is all too often the end of his Scouting experience. He's off to college or work, and no longer has time for Scouting.
It's been 6 years since Heather Dorniden won this 600m collegiate race, but her demonstration of perseverance will never fade. It might be a bit long for a Scoutmaster Minute, at 2.5 minutes, but I think the message of never giving up no matter what happens is worth it.
My Philmont pack started out at 45 pounds in 2005. My long-distance hiking pack now weighs under 25 pounds. You can see the difference in this image. My time on trail is much more enjoyable and there is nothing I used to carry that I'd still like to have along but don't.
Here's a few news blips about Scouts this week. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Most Pathetic - troop treasurer embezzles $16K from scouts. This is a way too common occurrence. A few tips to help prevent this sort of thing: Use checks rather than credit cards.
Hiking 4 miles just as the sun came up today offered me a cool, crisp, clean, clear hour outside. I was reminded that fall is just around the corner and summer is fading quickly as schools are open and wearing white is now a no-no.
I've posted my trail journal, photos, and map from my short Appalachian Trail excursion. You can review it all at AT Hike page . I've been out walking 4 to 8 miles on the local trail this past week to keep my knee moving.
I think a good question to ask yourself when you are participating in a recreational activity, such as a long hike, is: "Is the effort I'm expending worth the enjoyment I'm receiving?" Most outdoor activities include some strenuous effort that result in rewards.
The shelter I stayed in last night was 1.5 miles from a scout camp. The visitor registry had dozens of entries from scouts that had hiked there over the summer for their advancement requirements. Lots of fun to see. Other than that, haven't seen any scouts on the trail.
I walked 68165 steps on the trail today. I traveled about 32 miles today. My first day on the Appalachian Trail has been spectacular! At Harper's Ferry, this sign started my journey at about 6:30am and I'm now settled in Cowell shelter almost 32 miles from my start.
Tomorrow starts this year's long hike for me. I'll be taking a plane to D.C., then bus, metro, and train to Harper's Ferry, WV where I'll find the Appalachian Trail. The trail runs from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mt.
With the blog being dormant for the past few months, I've had a few folks ask, "Where are you?" - not many, but a couple. Well, that little thing called 'life' has gotten in the way of blogging. And, unfortunately, not much of life has involved Scouting.
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Tired of selling wreaths, nuts, mulch, or whatever it is your scouts sell to raise funds? Looking for something new to try? Country Meats might be that something new you need to reach a new audience and fund your adventures.
Two people have already won a Scout Ring from Joy Jewelers. On Sunday, the third and final winner will be selected. It can't be you unless you enter the drawing. The Joy Jewelers scout rings make a cool recognition item.
Jodi asked about uniforms: "I am 6'9" and have yet to find official pants that don't hit me mid-ankle. Even the un-hemmed ones go to a 38" inseam when mine is 42". The shorts are almost obscene, but I've bought a pair of official pants, then cut and hemmed them to an appropriate shorts length.
I completed Second Class requirement #6 on my hike this morning - identifying 10 kinds of wild animals. In just a couple miles, I saw a: chipmunk, grey squirrel, rabbit, red-wing blackbird, Canada goose, mallard duck, cardinal, baltimore oriole, goldfinch, and robin.
I'm not a cat person, but this cat has cornered the market on LOYAL, HELPFUL, and BRAVE . I usually think of cats as being self-centered, pampered, and nonchalant. I guess I really need to expand my view on felines. This short video also shows that our motto "Be Prepared" needs to be followed everywhere and…
Since it's had over 12 million views in the 10 days it's been out on YouTube, you've probably already seen this video. But, if you haven't, sacrifice 5 minutes of your life to hopefully change your view on how you're spending your life.
Gulf Ridge Council presented a Silver Beaver award to Gregg Hilferding who works at ClassB.com in Florida. The silver beaver is the top recognition a council can present to an adult volunteer, and I wholeheartedly applaud their choice in Gregg.
How bad will the mosquitos be at camp this summer? When was the last time that bunkhouse mattress was cleaned? Are there mice running around these floors at night? Whenever a night is spent at scout camp, these sorts of questions might keep you awake.
Life Scout and his grandfather are two victims in yesterday's Kansas City shootings. It was saddening to find out about the attacks, and even more so when another connection is found. One Scouter is assembling a package to help the family here , in case you would like to help.
A BSA executive has posted his opinions on the use of smartphones in Scouting for Bryan @ Scouting magazine . He presents that smartphones are tools that can be used, or abused, similarly to pocketknives. He touches on the problem of some of us old guys trying to force our fond memories of Scouting as youths onto…
Someone's going to win a Scout ring from Joy Jewelers in 5 days - why not you? In March, April, and May, the Boy Scout Trail monthly give-away includes a custom ring, valued at $250! All you need to do is enter your email address on my Contest page for a chance to win.
There have been a lot of comments on my Belt Loops page about the proposed 2015 cancellation of that part of the Cub Scout program. The Academics & Sports program going away is just one of the changes we'll see next year.
Does your Scouting unit include healthy drink, snacks, and activity in all its meetings? It's easy to do, but often lacking. Regular physical activity and healthy eating are two areas for improvement in most Scouting units, in order to advance that "physically strong" part of our oath.
A Cub Leader in England left me a message. Tracey will be visiting Orlando, FL (I wonder what's there to visit? :-) ) in April. She has asked if any Scout Leaders in the area would like to swap patches and badges during her visit.
As winter drags on, the snow keeps falling, and temperatures refuse to climb, it's a great time for scouts to tackle the Art merit badge. I just found Doodle 4 google which might be a nice bit of motivation for some scouts to try their hand at Art.
How would you like to camp in Moab, Utah for a week in September? The Utah National Parks Council is sponsoring a Leave No Trace Master Educator (LNT ME) course with 5 focus options - Frontcountry, Mountain Biking, Backpacking, Rafting, and Horseriding - from Sept.
In the cold and wind yesterday, the scouts provided service to some elderly citizens in their community. We joined a church's project to rake leaves from the yards of seniors that needed assistance. It was a great excuse to be outside enjoying a fall day before the snow finally arrives.
