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Continuing from our last show on Leave No Trace, Scoutmaster Jerry discusses the next two principles of Traveling and Camping on Durable surfaces and Disposing of Waste properly or Pack it in.. Pack it out! You can learn more about Leave no Trace at the Leave No Trace web site.
A weekend of trash, with old fuel canister Continuing from our last show on Leave No Trace, Scoutmaster Jerry discusses the next two principles of Traveling and Camping on Durable surfaces and Disposing of Waste properly or Pack it in..
The National Council Boy Scouts of America has released a new verison of Scouting.org . This new design is the beginning of phase two of the BSA leveraging Sitecore's web CMS for its nationwide brand management . The new site design that features the 100th anniversary of Scouting and 100 reasons to join Scouting was made public…
Lots of games and action this month Bill Smith, the RT Guy, writes about Communication Jim Jones talks about Doing Your Best Activities for Webelos Aquanaut and Geologist Read it and have fun. As Dave in California wrote me, "I was named Cubmaster of the year but I am just an ordinary guy with a…
Here are the top 10 most viewed posts for May 2009 (other than those solely about monthly theme items): New Cub Scout Belt Loops Coming 2008-2009 Program Helps Leave No Trace Frontcountry Guidelines for Cub Scouts Example Schedule Flyer New Centennial Uniform Kindergarten Lions: Pilot Description Cub Scout Program Helps Online Cub Scout Logo Cake…
Anthony Thomas to Represent 97 Years of Scouting Tradition and Honor, Serve as Youth Representative at BSA 100th Anniversary Events
Scouting for Adventure; an original series based on the BSA and their flagship magazine, Boys' Life. This high-adventure show targets young outdoorsmen, teaching wilderness skills with an emphasis on safety and team-building.
In part 2 of the June Cubcast, we visit with a lifetime Scouting couple on ways to make your fall program planning efficient. Hear some great insights on everything from putting together your annual calendar to getting parents more involved.
To describe one Minnesota teenager as "one in a million" is an understatement – by half. The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) announces that Anthony Thomas, has been named the 2 millionth Eagle Scout since the first Eagle badge was awarded in 1912.
The United Nations Foundation's Nothing But Nets, a grassroots campaign to prevent malaria by sending long-lasting insecticide-treated nets to families in Africa, announced that the Boy Scouts of America has joined the malaria-prevention campaign as part of its 100th Anniversary Celebration.
To describe one Minnesota teenager as "one in a million" is an understatement – by half. The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) announces that Anthony Thomas, has been named the 2 millionth Eagle Scout since the first Eagle badge was awarded in 1912.
Summer's here, and the time is right for athletic activities of all kinds. In part 1 of the June Cubcast, we explore July's theme of "Be a Sport," including tips on great ways to involve your den and pack in a variety of sports, as well as teaching Scouts the ways of good sportsmanship.
New Active Game for Cub Scouts
The Scout Association has a number of awards that it presents to Leaders and adult helpers for long service, good service and gallantry. The only awards given automatically are those given for long service. So, for example, I have my Chief Scout's 15 Years Service Award, which was presented to me in 2007.
These were the most popular tweets for @Scoutsigns in May: 1. http://ow.ly/5sXl BSA Speaker http://ow.ly/5sXl 106 Clicks 2. http://ow.ly/5gC5 Rocket Launch to Be Watchable On the Entire U.S. Eastern Seaboard Tonight http://ow.ly/5gC5 68 Clicks 3. http://ow.ly/55eH Your Scouting Twitter List is Ready!
13 Vote On Idea Our unit structure and leadership requirements create artificial barriers to providing the most effective Scouting programs in many settings, particularly in rural communities and at small churches or organizations with small to mid-sized units. Let's build on one of our greatest strengths: the chartered organization concept.
0 Vote On Idea Currently the Winter Sports Safety section in the Guide to Safe Scouting states that "suitable clothing for the activity and environment should be worn at all times, and equipment should include gloves and helmets when appropriate.
I've seen tweets from people having trouble with the updated Scouting Community. I'm posting Here so they can see what's been reported. Issues Since Upgrade on May 31 By Maria Manzella Please report issues that have occurred since the upgrade on May 31.
0 Vote On Idea The BSA should simulcast selected portions of National and Regional meetings. After returning from the Annual Meeting in Orlando it occured to me that there were a number of volunteers that would benefit from seeing any of the general, large gatherings.
The Boy Scouts of America has just recently redone their entire website. Some of the features that were supposed to be changed include all of the following: layout. Giving it a different and more modern look. Hopefully the website will be easier to navigate.
I just discovered this video on Youtube featuring behind the scenes pictures from Scout Camp: The Movie , which is being released on dvd this month. I am looking forward to seeing this movie. I think the troop will be having a movie night after I get a copy.
Star, Life and Eagle rank all require tenure in a leadership position. For each rank the requirement states: "serve actively (x) months in one or more positions of responsibility " The word 'actively' can be a pinhead on which many angels dance.
One of the more interesting suggestions posted on the BSA Innovation Engine is for permitting girls to join Cub Scouting . Of course, there is plenty to be said both in favor of and against this idea. The posted BSA response to the suggestion is "This idea has been assigned to the Innovation Team .
Yes, you read that correctly. The Boy Scouts of America now has an official Youtube channel. As I write this, the channel has twelve videos posted, eleven "Words to Live By" videos and the "State of Scouting" video. You can even watch them in HD.
The Boy Scouts of America announces Joe Harrington as recipient of the 2009 Woods Services Award. We recognize him for exceptional service and leadership in the field of Scouting for youth with disabilities. The Woods Services Award is provided by the Woods Services and Residential Treatment Center in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, in memory of Luther Wellington…
New Active Game for All scouts
Hello fellow Scouters, Cub Scouts love to bowl, but an outing to a bowling alley can be expensive. But with enough 2 liter soda bottles, a ball and a flat surface, you can bring a bowling alley to your meeting!
You probably noticed a change to the home page of HalfEagle. Namely, that block in the right sidebar with a picture of the cover of "Spirit of Adventure" and some links to book reviews by HalfEagle's Scouting bloggers. A gentleman working with the publisher of the book had contacted myself and a number of prominent…
And so it is, here is Show 5...finally... Click HERE to download it...
Anyone that is familiar with Drum & Bugle Corps will recognize that the Madison Scouts are a Drum and Bugle Corp, however they may not know they are also a venturing crew registered with Glacier's Edge Council, BSA. The Madison Scouts have been a longstanding unit in the Boy Scouts of America.
Our nationwide movement of some 2.8 million youth and 1.3 million adult participants is defined by written policies and procedures. Individual understanding, subject to an individual point of view, can lead to some misinterpretations if we do not read these policies and procedures with an open mind.
-1 Vote On Idea Learn the skills necessary to effectively and safely use the internet. This badge would cover internet safety, internet terms, online shopping, email usage, the basics of web development, social networks and blogs. Comments (0) Boy Scouting , merit badge
1 Vote On Idea Learn about the history of disk sports and how to participate in the various disk sport disciplines of Disk Golf, Ultimate, and Freestyle. Comments (0) Boy Scouting , merit badge
0 Vote On Idea Learn about kites -- their history, the different types, how to construct them and how to fly them. Experience the fun of building and flying several types of kites. Comments (0) Boy Scouting , merit badge
1 Vote On Idea Learn about the ancient and modern history of cryptography and codes and how they have been used in government, politics and business. Learn how to build and codes and how they are used in modern-day security. Comments (0) Boy Scouting , merit badge
0 Vote On Idea Experience the fun of exploring the history of Scouting – both nationally and in your own community. Explore the lives of Scouting's founders, interact with long-time Scouters in your community and learn about your unit's history and the evolution of Scout equipment and programs. Comments (0) Boy Scouting , merit badge
1 Vote On Idea Web & Database Development: Grow your knowledge of how websites really happen and how databases support the web and other applications. Learn about programming languages used, development principals and the career opportunities in this field. Video Game Design: Learn the ins and outs of this fast growing career.
I think this explains one of the reasons that some of us participate in this adventure called Boy Scout (or Cub Scouting): One hundred years from now it will not matter what your bank account was, the sort of house you lived in, or the kind of car you drove; but the world may be…
1 Vote On Idea The H&S Support Committee would like to see mental health issues addressed within the program. They are requesting feedback on the proposal. Their desire is to weave it into the advancement process. SME's are available to support this effort.
1 Vote On Idea I think it would be very helpful for the Internet Advancements to include any and all awards that Cub Scout packs provide such as Sports and Academics Belt Loops and Pins, etc., since it would a selling point for the Cub Scout Pack Advancement Chairs to use because many of them…
0 Vote On Idea Training Completed Reports and Training Not Completed Reports currently provide the unit, position, name, address and telephone number of the volunteers. If the email addresses were provided on these reports, the District Training Chairs could easily sort the reports for specific training that is needed for each individual needing training and…
I was beginning to feel a little burned out after serving as the scoutmaster of Troop 68 for six years in the fall of 1987. I told Paul, a great Scouting friend of mine, how I was feeling about Scouting.
New Active Game for Cub Scouts
0 Vote On Idea When the Troops and Packs do not have any advancement, they are supposed to send a NULL report to council saying they had no advancement. IA does not have a way of doing a submission. It would be really easy for them to have a PDF file print out an advancement…
0 Vote On Idea I know we are all working much harder in the New BSA and it would be absolute heaven if we had either someone come in once or twice a month, or have someone on staff that we could go to for a massage.
I am veering away from the usual song or skit video found on the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast to bring you something created by Eagle Scout Doug Gray. A couple years ago Doug's father, Fred, asked me for some assistance in finding some Scouting videos that his council could not find for him.
At the May National BSA meeting the National OA Committee announced the 2009 recipients of the Distinguished Service Award. These awards will be presented at the 2009 National Order of the Arrow Conference. The Distinguished Service Award was created in 1940 to honor those who rendered service to the Order beyond the lodge level.
The June 2009 ( A Camping We Will Go ) Program Helps pages from BSA National are now available (free) for download. Program Helps is a great resource for crafts, games, activities and more for pack meetings and activities and Tiger, Wolf, and Bear den meetings.
2 Vote On Idea How about an update that includes a policy on Airsoft guns? Comments (0) Other
Don't forget to include the local scout shop on your list of places to go when gathering items for your vacations this summer. Have your scout ask the advancement chair to print a list of his merit badges and work with the scout to figure out what can be worked into the trip.
Other than Scouting, one of my hobbies is music: I play bass guitar (like this one , and recently the one I made as well), and the other day when I changed bass strings I made this woggle (neckerchief slide) for my Scout scarf out of the thinnest string from my bass.
Over the last few months we've been building up a good relationship with another of our local Scout Groups. They have very kindly let us use their climbing wall and use their Scout Hut and grounds to camp at overnight.
Baloo's Bugle is a cool monthly unofficial publication with games, activities, ceremonies, puzzles, crafts, and other ideas for den and pack meetings. This one covers the July " Be a Sport " theme. For Webelos Scout den meetings, this Bugle also has activities for the Aquanaut and Geologist Webelos activity badges.
Show off your photography skills in the Boys' Life "Happy Birthday, BSA" photograph contest and your photograph just might appear on the cover of the February 2010 issue of Boys' Life. What's so special about February 2010? It's the 100th birthday of the Boy Scouts of America!
In his essay The Impending Demise of the University Don Tapscott defines linear learning; In the industrial model of student mass production, the teacher is the broadcaster. A broadcast is by definition the transmission of information from transmitter to receiver in a one-way, linear fashion.
Hello fellow Scouters, One of my favorite camping activities is dutch oven cooking. We converted one of my favorite desserts to make in a dutch oven. It's a fruit cobbler dump cake that is easy to make and comes out great!
Recently Nick wrote a piece on his blog regarding politics and Scouting and how the two should never meet. I agree, after all.. there is no such thing as values and moral thinking in the political arena, no offense if there are political types that follow the blog.
It seems that I have been on a LNT kick lately... well yes and no.. I am always on that bandwagon. It helps out unit get better at our camping skills, in particular planning. My last couple podcasts have been on Leave No Trace, and the next couple will also be on Leave no trace.
Have a Great Scouting Day!...
It's been a while since my last post. I need to get back into it, for me. It helps my mediocre typing skills. I find it ironic this week that the BSA Innovation Engine email comes from Good Ideas @ BSA.
13 Vote On Idea With all the advancements in technology and the internet I think it would be a great time for an interactive Boy Scout Handbook. I am not suggesting that we do away with the printed version of the handbook, but supplementing and enhancing it with a web based interactive version.
Eight lodges have been awarded the 2009 National Service Award. This award is presented to lodges for outstanding service rendered during the 2008 calendar year. The National Service Award was established in 1999 to recognize lodges in each region that have performed outstanding service, both in a qualitative and a quantitative sense, to their council.
OK.. so I know that most of you have already been there and seen it... But I just spent some time watching the BSA You tube channel and the new "Words to live by" campaign. I like it. I think it is a great way of presenting Scouts and Scouting and I'll say that I…
I am a fan of the Ask Andy column at the US Scouting Service Project. Andy's no nonsense, straight answers are just up my ally. I was reading his May 26th column and chanced upon this gem. Giving all the credit where it is due..
Before I can take on the task of getting the troop and crew pumped up about geocaching, I have to master it. Ok, I have to at least have a better idea of what I am doing. I have tried to get prepared by glancing through my book on geocaching (Scout Shop), training (thanks Todd!)…
Over the last few weeks I've done a lot of work teaching our Cubs, Scouts and another Troop's Scouts how to use knives, axes and bow saws correctly and safely (strange how it all happens at the same time!). It is traditional that when you join the Scouts (I mean the Troop here), you get…
Recently Bear Grylls was appointed as the new Chief Scout of the British Scouting Association. For those of us on this side of the pond, this is not a significant news item, except that most everyone I talk to about it seems to think that he will impart his "Survival antics" from the TV show…
Not that I am a number watcher.. BUT... I wanted to say thank you to all of you that read and share the Scoutmaster Minute. The numbers do not mean a thing as I do this out of a love for Scouting, as you can see there are no adds that shoot money my way...
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Some members of the Cub Scout Talk Yahoo Group are hearing from their local scout shops that a 2009 edition of the Webelos Scout Handbook will be coming out this Fall . Perhaps the new edition will incorporate the new Cub Scout Belt Loops.
This article in the Chicago Tribune reports on the progress of Hispanic recruitment efforts in the Windy City; "You can feel, I would say, awkwardness on both sides," said Roberto Colón, a former Eagle Scout in Puerto Rico who coordinates Latino recruitment in Chicago.
At the May National BSA meeting the National OA Committee announced the 2009 recipients of the Red Arrow Award. These awards will be presented at the 2009 National Order of the Arrow Conference. About Red Arrow Award The Red Arrow award was created in 1967 to recognize individuals who are not members of the Order…
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.
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Heresy, I say, It is heresy. Scouting in the US is not a contiuum but 4- 6 seperate programs that should not be mixed. I love making input where I think I can change things that can be changed. Some of you may ask why I said 4-6 programs.
This past Saturday, I had the pleasure in participating in another Eagle Scout court of honor and I cannot tell you what is means to me to watch a court of honor of this magnitude let alone be a participant in one.
What follows is my three point plan for reversing the membership decline we have witnessed for the past ten years. This is written with the clear knowledge that it represents one point of view (your plan may differ) and is purely an exercise in seeking resolution to some difficult problems.
The WOSM or World Organization of the Scouting Movement and the Clean Up the World Organization just announced on the 5th of June that the Scouting Movement world wide was very actively involved in this day in 2008. The CLean up the World organization would also like to mention thatthey are very appreciative of the…
For those of you who did not relize World Environment Day occurred on the 5 of June 2009. UNEP gave approximately US$ 100,000 as a grant to the WOSM to help scouts conduct projects for World Environment Day. Here is the full press release listing all the details: The Boy Scouts of the Philippines have…
I figured that since I have recently been posting about Scouts and the environment I figured it would be a great idea to share some environment quotes. So here a few quotes: Nature provides a free lunch, but only if we control our appetites.
According postings on the Cub Scout Talk Yahoo Group, BSA National has announced that the annual adult and youth registration fee (currently $10) is going up to $15 effective January 1, 2010. Link [ Requires login ] [ Image: Wikimedia.org ] Posted in CUB SCOUTS, Rechartering
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 .
Visit Wisconsin...
We use SPOT Messenger when we go on campouts and high adventure treks. There is now an embeddable SPOT widget so you can publish and share your adventures. It's pretty cool and makes tying pictures to trips much easier. See my sample trip from this past week at Visit Wisconsin . Scout On
New Active Game for Cub Scouts
1 Vote On Idea To many of the volunteers and youth members who participate in our programs the membership card is a point of belonging and pride. For those that server in multiple programs allow them to be granted a membership card for all that they do for each position, even if it means adding…
3 Vote On Idea It would be a great advantage to have a BSA version of Doubleknot where scouters could fill out online registration forms and pay for things through a council website. I realize that councils can purchase the services of a third party vender like Doublenot.
The first camping week for Scouts at Maple Dell Scout Camp in Payson Canyon has been cancelled. The camp will reopen on June 15. Scout units that were scheduled to attend Maple Dell Scout Camp on June 8 have been contacted and will be able to attend camp at one of the other council camps…
-1 Vote On Idea The South Florida Council has created and produced the Camp Card. The concept is a $5 card that is sold by the units to generate funds for camp. The commission rate is 50% if closed out on time.
1 Vote On Idea For each person that raises $5,000 in NEW money in FOS, Special Events, or other direct funding, the Council President welcomes them into the President's Club. Each member is recognized with a distinctive black polo shirt with gold embroidery.
A Scout can be Trusted , a Scout is Trustworthy. Rule or Reminder? IF I am a person of character, a person that has grown with a set of Values, then do I need a rule to tell me to be Trustworthy?
A review of the Trangia Stove from Cool Tools : I've used the Trangia 25-7 UL/HA for a year now, and it's as reliable as sin. Since I got it, I no longer use my MSR Whisperlite stove. This model comes with a frying pan lid (which doubles as a pot lid and serves as the…
#67-Scout Camp The Movie We have a great interview with Garrett Batty, President, Three Coin Productions, Inc. and writer and director of the new movie "Scout Camp". Plus a great giveaway. Win a DVD or poster! Also, sorry I keep referring to the show as #66… Links: Scout Camp The Movie- http://www.scoutcampthemovie.com Contest Rules: 1.
#67-Scout Camp The Movie We have a great interview with Garrett Batty, Partner, DGB Entertainment and writer and director of the new movie "Scout Camp". Plus a great giveaway. Win a DVD or poster! Also, sorry I keep referring to the show as #66… Links: Scout Camp The Movie- http://www.scoutcampthemovie.com Contest Rules: 1.
BSA National has posted these downloadable Cub Scout recruiting flyers as part of the "Words to Live By" campaign. The four pdf flyers are: archery , campfire , Pinewood Derby , and tug-of-war . Link Posted in CUB SCOUTS, Newsletters, Recruiting
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.
Eight lodges have been recognized for their efforts in camping promotion with the E. Urner Goodman Camping Award. The E. Urner Goodman Award was established in 1969 as a tribute and testimonial to the Order's founder, E. Urner Goodman. Its purpose is to encourage and challenge Order of the Arrow members and lodges to increase…
0 Vote On Idea Considering the appeal and influence that Oprah Winfrey has, why not contact her producers and see if they might consider the BSA's 100th Anniversary a topic worth showcasing? They can be contacted through oprah.com under Contact Us - The Oprah Winfrey Show - "Send us Your Show Suggestions".
Bear Grylls appointed new Chief Scout in the UK On 18 th May 2009, The Scout Association announced Bear Grylls ' appointment as the tenth and youngest Chief Scout of the United Kingdom and Overseas Territories. Bear is one of the UK's great outdoor adventurers; he is also a strong supporter of young people as seen…
0 Vote On Idea Has anyone given consideration to a staff position on the National or Regional level that specializes in unit organization and recruiting to support local councils? Would it be beneficial to all to have a person that can go to individual councils for boots-on-the-ground, one-on-one or small group, hands-on, on-the-job training?
