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We've talked about ways to spruce up your den with Spring Recruiting and piqued your interest with tidbits on Fall Recruiting, and now we visit with Tom Jansen, a Specialist from the Center for Professional Development in Westlake, TX to explore this classic method for making your den grow.
Cub Scouts will develop appreciation and respect for different families and traditions while working on this core value for December. "How", you ask? Let's listen to what Denise Bahler has to say. She's the District Training for the Indian Nations Council in Tulsa, OK with 38 years of Cub Scout experience and has lots of…
I asked which idiot is responsible for updating the website & found out it was you! So ran an email I got from a work colleague the other day (it was meant jokingly – I hope!) with regard to a work website.
Imagine you are riding your mountain bike up a steep technical climb, when you see 3 horses coming down the trail towards you. Do you know what to do? What if you are running up your favorite single-track trail, and 6 mountain bikes are coming down towards you?
Reverence, Email answers Scoutmaster Podcast 41 Feel free to send your questions and comments (you can rate the podcast on iTunes). Use the email link above left or the comments feature of the blog. Links in Podcast 41 Working the Patrol Method (my review with links to purchase the book) Good Turn iPhone App Mike…
Happily serving others is a fundamental part of the Boy Scouts of America. And the Scouting for Food program, an annual drive to collect and distribute food to those in need, is a key element of Scouts' service to their community.
It is a new month so it is time for a new electronic (epub) book. In fact, this month, let's make it two books. After all, these old Scouting novels from nearly 100 years ago do not take long to read.
On Friday we had the opportunity to join Osprey Packs on a staff outing in the HD Mountains of Southwestern Colorado led by Freedom to Roam. Freedom to Roam is a Denver based non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and commitment about the need for wildlife corridor conservation while setting a new and innovative industry…
Hello Dear Reader Following on from Ben's great post on accountability I thought I would write about asking for Help. It is a funny thing asking for help, primarily because as humans (well most of us) we don't like to show our weaknesses and asking for help does that.
Llandrindod Wells is described as being equally inconvenient for everybody in Wales to get to, nestled in the picturesque Brecon Beacons – and so it tends to be the venue for All-Wales meetings and this weekend was no exception as it played host to an Explorer Scout gathering and the Welsh AGM…...
On Friday, we traveled to Statesboro, Georgia to be a part of the 6th annual Iron Eagle Challenge . This adventure race is held on the campus of Georgia Southern University and requires teams of two to off-road/urban cycle, run/walk, canoe, and conquer many mystery challenges along the way.
The Leave No Trace State Advocate Program helps the Center create volunteer networks in every region of the country. Advocates respond to inquiries, act as the liaison between the Center and the community, host events with the Traveling Trainers and coordinate regional trainings.
On Monday, Scouting Ambassador and journalist, Ian Hislop launched a new film made by four Scouts this summer that showcases what Scouting looks like in their local community.
Forum Q&A, feedback and troop stuff… Tonight's show sponsored by Badge Magic Join the forum discussion on this post Share with Others:
X Rock is a popular climbing area in Durango, CO. With over 70 routes to climb in an easily accessible area, the impacts on the land are evident. Josh Kling, owner of Kling Mountain Guides, organized the first annual Rock the X cleanup on Saturday October 30th.
The next time your guys whine about long miles on the trail, tell them about Troop 460 of the Las Vegas Area Council. A group of Scouts from that troop recently participated in the Ragnar Relay Las Vegas, a grueling, 195-mile relay from Valley of Fire State Park to Red Rock Resort and Casino in…
Wow, November is here and the year is coming to a close. Sorry for the lack of updates. I try not to randomly post things here and want to make sure they are related to Scouting and not just the usual ramblings in the blogging world.
I read this article in my local newspaper tonight - SCOUTS wants to lease land where they can set up a new base after a church council kicked them out of the headquarters they have used for decades. The 21st West Stafford Scout Group has asked Stafford Borough Council to lease them a patch of land…
The Education Select Committee has opened an inquiry into Services for Young People, looking at youth services beyond the school/college day for young people aged between 13-25.
Every year since 1982 I have attended a long term camp with the Boy Scouts of Troop 68, Melrose. Most of these have been week-long summer camps, but they also included five treks at Philmont Scout Ranch, one trip to the High Knoll Trail of West Virginia, one trip to the Northern Tier High Adventure…
We started the week off by meeting with 41 before and after school specialists from Durham Public Schools and training them in the PEAK (Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids) program . PEAK is the result of a unique partnership between REI and the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics to educate children about the outdoors…
As you gain experience as a Scout, you'll undoubtedly have leadership opportunities. Serve your troop in areas where your skills and talents are best utilized. The Scouts offer several " Badges of Office ," varying from administrative positions, such as scribe or librarian to patrol leader or even musician.
Northrop Grumman Corporation announced the donation of a robust geospatial data set and capability to the Boy Scouts of America in support of their 100th anniversary and to help further scouting education. Northrop Grumman presented the data to the Boy Scouts at a ceremony at the GEOINT 2010 Symposium in New Orleans on Tuesday, Nov.
HRH Prince Harry today joined Chief Scout Bear Grylls and a group of Scouts from throughout the UK to launch ABF The Soldiers' Charity's Soldier Challenge fundraising event.
New Activity for All scouts
Starting December 1st we will be launching our second online auction! Just like the first auction, our partners have kindly donated some really cool items. All proceeds will go to benefit our Youth Initiative Programs. STAY TUNED FOR MORE DETAILS!
Hello Dear Reader Sorry this week has been quiet on the post front sadly work has got in the way of my blogging activities. However I have managed to do one think on my check list. I have found and installed a Simple CAPTCHA on the comments I have also re-opened the ability to register…
Thirty-two of you would make great detectives. That's the number of correct responses we got to last week's Name That Council challenge. Those eagle-eyed individuals knew that the patch above belongs to the Kinston, N.C.-based East Carolina Council . Only one detective can earn our prize, though.
(The following is an excerpt from my 1992 trek at Philmont Scout Ranch. It was not my best day at Philmont Scout Ranch.) Wednesday, August 5, 1992, Day 8 "Wake up," Josh yells in the early morning stillness. A new day is upon us.
Ready for your next challenge in our popular Name That Council series? Here you go! Tell us the name of the council that wears the patch seen here, and you could win that very patch. Most Scouts and Scouters use the visual clues in the mystery patch to come up with the right answer.
Thanksgiving Day is still three weeks away, but now is the time to start planning on how you can help those in your community who are in need at this time of year. Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks – and what better way to do it than to give back to your community.
Our troop has 32 tents currently in service. With 80 scouts in the troop, I've had lots of opportunity to see how tents wear out, break, or get damaged. Sometimes it is due to nature, other times it is neglect, and on rare occasion it is malicious.
This episode of The Buzz explores the Boy Scouts of America's commitment to the Hispanic community through a number of measures, including the creation of a team devoted to Hispanic initiatives and the creation of Spanish language marketing and program materials. Featuring: Marianne Elden from internal communications and Marcos Nava from Hispanic initiatives
(This is part 2 of an excerpt of my 1993 trek at Philmont Scout Ranch, about the day that everyone was exhausted and ornery, and I questioned my own sanity.) Wednesday, August 5, 1992, Day 8 Webster Park is an unstaffed camp with an excellent view of Tooth Ridge.
(This is part 3 of one of the worst days I had at Philmont Scout Ranch. Amazingly, it ended pretty well.) Wednesday, August 5, 1992, Day 8 A buck, two does, and a yearling are grazing in the meadow that borders the east side of our site.
At a campsite, with the Cubs about to start the fire for our campfire!
I've got used to being introduced in many different ways, but Monday was a first though when Ian Hislop introduced me as the person to do the "crude bit", subtly – I'm not sure anybody has accused me of being subtle before ………
There are many things you and your scouts can do to promote your troop to prospective new scouts that don't require a huge effort or expense. If your troop is hoping to grow, think about giving these tips a try: Eagle Scouts - Tell Webelos den leaders you have two Eagle Scouts that would love to…
Once again we set out for Maryland and another funweekend. We participated in the annual orienteering meet put on by the Baltimore Area Council, and this year we had something to celebrate! Two of our younger Scouts, Dylan and Evan, placed 7th out of ??
Hello Dear Reader If you are on twitter and follow @UKScouting you will have seen the tweet on Friday UKScouting UK Scout Association Waiting for a very high profile media event to start in South London. More information real soon as many people tried to work out where and what UK scouting were up to…
Dream Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park - Photo by B. Lawhon "We simply need that wild country available to us, even if we never do more than drive to its edge and look in. For it can be a means of reassuring ourselves of our sanity as creatures, a part of the geography of hope."
I have been invited to serve as a Troop Guide for the upcoming Wood Badge course! I am extremely excited about the opportunity, yet another way to influence and share my love for the Scouting program. I tried to serve on the last two course, but because of the National Jamboree schedule of training, outings…
Troop 914 has a lot to be proud of this month. On Saturday, 11 of its Scouts earned the Eagle Scout rank at a single ceremony. A 12th boy earned Eagle as well, but he was away at college and wasn't able to formally accept his award.
Contribution Syndrome, Hazing Scoutmaster Podcast 42 Feel free to send your Publish questions and comments (you can rate the podcast on iTunes). Use the email link above left or the comments feature of the blog. Subscribe on iTunes Music in Podcast 42 First Call - U.S.
There is an old African proverb that goes "Every morning in Africa, a Gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a Lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest Gazelle or it will starve to death.
Recently I have received quite a bit of email from listeners of the podcast and folks that follow the blog. I want to say thanks for the feed back, its important to me to know that the little bit of extra time put in for Scouting is reaching and in some cases touching those that…
Tell me, and I will forget. Show me, and I will remember. Let me do, and I will understand." -Confucius This past weekend we were in Seminole County, Florida for a two day Trainer Course with Boy Scouts from around the Sunshine State.
Leave No Trace member, Steven Kominsky contacted us recently with the following: "I live in southern Oregon, a region that is associated with purity and beauty. However after decades of destructive logging, increased illegal off highway vehicle use and general destructive behavior in national forest and wilderness lands our backcountry is in danger.
#243-The Scream New Roundtable items, Fall Fund Days, Camporees, Special Needs Scouts, Pow Wow and the Question of The Week are on the show tonight. Links: Scoutings Traveling BSA Man, Stadri Emblems Scouting Blog- http://www.stadriemblems.com/scouting/blog/?p=179 Special Needs Scouts- http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/hqdocs/facts/#sec_110 Tonight's show sponsored by ClassB Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts Share with…
#79-Feedback This show was originally recorded late in the Summer, so a few of the items are a little dated. Links: Words To Live By Campaign – http://scouting.org/sitecore/content/Home/Marketing/Recruiting/WordsToLiveBy/PSAs.aspx BSA Motorsports – http://www.scouting.org/motorsports/schedule.aspx Tonight's show sponsored by Boy Scout Store Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts Share with Others:
With nearly 24 million veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces living among us, chances are good that at least one of these American heroes is a family member or close friend of you or someone in your Scouting unit. Though these men and women deserve our recognition and thanks every day, Thursday is Veterans Day…
Here is a beltloop from the Cub Scouts Academics and Sports Program for the bookworm in your family. After he completes these three requirements, he can start working on the pin.
Facebook. Myspace. Twitter. Linked In. Social websites seem to rule the internet these days. Everyone and their grandparents seem to be using them. Most of the Boy Scouts of Troop 68 have a Facebook profile, as do I. In fact, I have an account on all four sites.
Hello Dear Reader You may or may not have come across the woggle-gate over the last couple of days this was something that came about when 1st Rhosnesni Scout group suggested on their website that they have a Woggle Ban (while your there take a look at their fantastic programme of events for young ...
Approximately 300 Cub Scout leaders attended Cub Scout College this past weekend at Fox Valley Tech. in Appleton, and I have found that there is no better way to make new scouting contacts and address issues new leaders may have than being at such an event.
New Grace for Boy Scouts
New Grace for Boy Scouts
Friday's Name That Council patch took us to Long Beach, Calif., known to many as simply "the LBC." Just 18 of you knew the name of the mystery council, meaning the odds were good for the winner we selected. That was Dirk Graddy of the Chattahoochee Council.
You think you know when it works but you really don't. It seems to be going right, and everything starts to fall in line just like training and you are positive it is working. You talk to the other leaders, post on Twitter and chat on forums about how it is 'working' for you.
Published by DK Publishing, Be Prepared Fishing is a fisherman's dream guide! Covering everything from rod basics to vertical jigging and fly fishing, this book covers it all. The first thing we noticed when we opened the book for the first time is that it is absolutely jam-packed with information.
Visit Bryan Spellman's Blog The Scoutmaster and read about when it works; You think you know when it works but you really don't. It seems to be going right, and everything starts to fall in line just like training and you are positive it is working.
Last week we spent time in Ridgway, CO for a series of youth workshops within the public school system. Each of our events were filled with lively, energetic students that were motivated to learn about Leave No Trace. We worked with two 3rd grade classes at the elementary school.
New Loud Game for
New Game for Boy Scouts
Today Scouts throughout the United Kingdom join people around the world in remembering the sacrifices of ordinary people who served in extraordinary ways in two world wars.
With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children, England mourns for her dead across the sea. Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit, Fallen in the cause of the free. Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.
The three aims of Scouting are Character Development, Citizenship Training, and Mental and Physical Fitness. So how are physical and mental fitness is incorporated into the Scouting programs offered by BSA?
I just received an email from a Leave No Trace individual member who wrote " Do I get extra credit for finding a Leave No Trace mobile in the field while wearing my Leave No Trace shirt?" I would say that is worth some of extra credit for sure!
If you're responsible for your unit's Web site or newsletter or have a Scouting-related PowerPoint presentation coming up soon, here's a resource that might help. The Boy Scouts of America's Marketing team has created a Web site of current logos that are available for unit leaders to download for free.
On November 11th in 1918 the armistice agreement between the Allies and Germany was finally signed, bringing an end to the war which had raged throughout Europe, at least in the western front. This agreement, which had taken several weeks to negotiate, was signed in a railway car in the Compiègne Forest in northern France…
This is a picture of one of my Eagle Scouts on the front page of the West Point website http://www.usma.edu/ I think it is so cool that on this Veteran's Day one of our own is honored. He is a member of Troop 199, an Eagle Scout, 2x SPL, White Stag staff member and a…
In 1989, several women who were involved with the Scouting program in Melrose, met at the local community access television studio to do a talk show about Cub Scouting and Boy Scouting in Melrose. The show was titled The Women Of Scouting .
This weekend sees Scouts of all ages participitating in events to observe Remembrance Sunday, and there are plenty of examples of creative ways in which young people are getting involved.
Here is a snack for your Cubs in the kitchen. This one is simple enough that they should be able to do most of it themselves.
Hello Dear Reader I have seen this on a number of other blogs so I though I would do one on my blog so here goes 1 – Chicken Gristle Finder In my youth I worked for eight dreadful hours in a chicken processing factory, to quote the film chicken run it really was "Chickens in…
Where is that bridge? I know I've seen it before! That's the thought sure to be rushing through the minds of our Name That Council competitors this week. The arched bridge seen above is easily the biggest (or only?) clue on the patch.
Last weekend several boys from both Pack 19 and Troop 18 participated in the John Colter race at the old Camp Hook (now the southern half of Twin Creek Metropark) over in Carlisle. John Colter race is an annual event put on by Troop 572 (also of Middletown).
Every week as I scan the newswires for stories, I am amazed at the things Scouts are out there doing on a daily basis. From rescuing drowning victims and helping feed the hungry to something as small as helping an elderly person go grocery shopping, or teaching younger kids how to go fishing – you never…
A local Boy Scout troop cleaned veteran's tombstones Nov. 11 at Bellingham's Bayview Cemetery for an annual Veteran's Day service project.
My den seemed to enjoy doing this badge. They are all good at talking, but they had to spend some time listening and cooperating to finish the requirements.
Boy Scouts from Troop 1 in Toms River, NJ, place 4900 flags outside the Ryan Funeral Home in commemoration of each of the soldiers who were killed in the Iraq war. ASBURY PARK PRESS VIDEO BY THOMAS P. COSTELLO
Giving the talks was definitely the high point of this meeting. My den all brought in props and were well prepared for the talks.
Now that I have been playing around with my Flickr account and adding pictures to the site (over 4000 so far), I thought I would share a few of the Flickr groups that are dedicated to sharing pictures of Scouting taken in the United States and around the world.
Back in 2007, I had the opportunity to visit scout units in Australia's Gold Coast and I became interested in scouitng on the international level as little is known about what goes on within the scouting world in other countries (the BSA doesn't necessarily report events on the goings on in other parts of the…
Troop 11's Trebuchet for the punkin chunkin at Bayport Troop 11 placed 6th in the Punkin' Chunkin' at Bayport Scout reservation on the 13th of November. They chunked their 10 pound punkin' 343 feet! Good going guys. Wish I could have been there .
Every year, my group attend the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at Watford Town Hall. This year, it was rather wet as we stood outside the cenotaph – nigh on pouring, in fact. Which was quite annoying, since the morning had been totally dry!
I love November. This is the time of year that I thank God for all that I have, the service men and women serving their country, a new scouting year, the end of the hay fever season, and a time to give thanks for the family that I have that surround me.
Essex Scouts are on top of the Public Relations world as a local newsletter walked away with a prestigious prize at a glittering industry ceremony.
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The core value for Cub Scouts for the month of December is Respect. This is a simple ceremony which can be used as an opening or a closing for a meeting.
When you think of the people most influential to Scouting's history in the United States, names like W.D. Boyce, James West, and, of course, Lord Baden-Powell come to mind as three of the several founding fathers of the Boy Scouts of America.
What effect does a footstep have? The answer is, it depends. A footstep means different things to a tree sapling and meadow grass, to leaf litter and cryptobiotic soil, to a gravel riverbank and rain forest moss. Unfortunately, trampling causes vegetation damage and soil erosion in virtually every environment.
Pack 19 held their monthly Pack Meeting last night and even though it ran a little longer than expected, it went very well! The core value of the month was citizenship, and we integrated this and Thanksgiving (which, as a national holiday fits right in there) to come up with our activities.
Over the weekend, we were invited to present two awareness workshops at the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education (AORE) conference in Keystone, CO. In our first workshop, we addressed techniques and strategies on how to run a successful Leave No Trace awareness workshop .
So apparently you can make a cobbler that isn’t in a dutch oven…who knew? Last night’s dessert started out as “There is a half a #10 can of apple pie filling leftover from the pack meeting. What are we going to do with this?”
#244-Strange As Angels Mostly a discussion of our November Roundtable covering Blue & Golds. Tonight's show sponsored by Badge Magic Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts Share with Others:
Our hosts for the evening, Explorer Scouts Hannah Johnstone and Charlotte Reid promised the 300+ guests a great evening as we reviewed their year and presented awards to 100 young people, and nobody was disappointed, but first….
Leadership tenure email question Scoutmaster Podcast 43 Feel free to send your questions and comments (you can rate the podcast on iTunes). Use the email link above left or the comments feature of the blog. Subscribe on iTunes Music in Podcast 43 First Call - U.S.
Why not encourage our Scouts to take that unfilled space in their lives and turn it into something useful?
I'm working on a scout challenge project and would like to know which stock patch emblem is most popular. Select your favorite at This Page - it just takes one click. Thank you
