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So if you couldn’t tell from previous posts, one of the things I like about camping is the outdoor cooking. And that includes backpacking. I’m all for lightweight, believe me, but not at the expense of MAH BELLAH! So this week’s shiny of the week is my Jetboil .
Astronomy Merit Badge Today I: Placed an order with the National Catholic Committee on Scouting for their Rosary Patch Program . Spoke with parents who very supportive of their Boy Scout...and maybe a little too helpful. ;-) Updated the 100 Days list of participants again--22 now!
When I was a Boy Scout in the 1970′s there was no such thing as a home video recorder, so there was not a Cinematography Merit Badge. There was the Photography Merit Badge, however. I like taking pictures so I thought I would try earning that badge.
Today was a slow day compared to earlier in the week. I started the day at Midnight finishing out the recording of Scout Nation Episode 2. I did OK, my co-host was sick and I rambled a bit. It was good but not my best.
Cross my heart and Hope to die" was second only to "Scouts Honor" when I was a kid. And you know those words meant something and no matter who you were.. Scout or Non Scout.. those words stuck like glue to the person making the proclamation.
Day 10: Two scoutmaster conferences for First Class and one for Life today. A Tenderfoot showed me how to handle knife, axe, and saw and even got a fire going with one match in the cold wind - good job! I think his mom was impressed.
Tonight, we had our first Board of Review for our troop. Robert earned his Tenderfoot, passing his first Board of Review. He was a but nervous, and the committee took their time waiting to give him an answer, but in the end, he completed it.
Two weeks in a row now I've come home from our Troop meeting with the Scouter's high. You know that feeling when it's not so much that the present is so great, but things seem to be lining up well and your ambitions are charged 110%. It's the un-Quixote. Tonight the Patrol leader taught his
Pumpkin bread is a favorite snack bread and dessert at our house. This recipe is easy enough for kids to make.
Last night, my brand new Lightning Patrol leader came to the meeting a bit late. When he arrived, he wouldn't take his coat off. I told him, "Take off your coat, stay awhile"...he insisted that he was hot. I got curious and then I insisted that he remove his coat (my first thoughts were about…
It's traditional in Boy Scouts that the Troop meeting be closed by the Scoutmaster with a Scoutmaster's minute. This is something our Scoutmaster used to do all the time (he told me so) but as the years went on it seems to have fallen out of practice. Last night we brought the tradition back. Before
Time flies when you're having fun. That explains why we've gone through 50 mystery councils in the blink of an eye. And with roughly 250 councils still to go, I don't plan on stopping any time soon. This week's patch, seen above, could be tricky, so here are a couple of clues: Both the mystery…
LEAVE NO TRACE JOB OPENING Are you interested in one of the premier outdoor jobs in the industry? Do you have a passion for teaching and working with youth? Are you looking to work with a friend or a significant other?
Last year, ClassB hit a personal record of using over 1,000 gallons of ink on our custom t-shirts. To commemorate this milestone, we put together a really cool infographic that shows how much of each color was used. The results were pretty interesting!
Today is not a busy Scouting day. I did finally cash in some gift cards that I'd been holding on to order some new camping gear for my son and I. Other than that just prepping for our Troop snowtubing trip tomorrow. Going to be an early morning too after going to see the Globetrotters
Athletics Merit Badge OK, lots to be excited about today. Yep, camping trip with the troop. Securing the sites (always an adventure in the free campground in our nearby National Forest). Setting up tents. Getting food going in the dark.
It's a veritable Who's Who of Washington, D.C. I'm talking about the list of high-powered officials the Report to the Nation delegates have met this week. The delegates, hand-selected by the BSA, are in our nation's capital to deliver the annual Report to the Nation , a look back at the past year in the Boy…
This lashing, a simple whipping applied to two poles, is an alternative to the Round lashing . I found this on the German Scout Wiki (here in English for those who don't read German). My troop will be doing some experiments to see whether this knot performs as well (or better) than the round lashing The…
New Dutch Oven Recipe for Boy Scouts
In addition to reciting the Scout Oath, Scout Law, or the Outdoor code as an opening for their troop meetings, the patrol leader council of Troop 68 has looked toward other ways to start their meetings. One code that seemed to make its way into a meeting every month or two is a little thing…
Day 10: Attended the first of three Blue Golds this evening. We had one older scout (8th grade) and four young guys there to welcome two new scouts. It was great to see this older scout that has never really had much leadership experience step up and organize the younger ones.
Wolf Achievement 7 - Your Living World - focuses on conservation. This den meeting plan covers the whole achievement.
Six Webelos scouts crossed over into the Boy Scout Program on Wednesday, February 16, Cub Scout Pack 4477 held their annual Blue and Gold banquet at Lannoye Grade School in Pulaski, Wisconsin. Tiger Scouts, Wolf Scouts, Bear Scouts and Webelos celebrated their accomplishments with an awards presentation.
Once you have been a Boy Scout or Cub Scout leader for awhile you may notice something that starts to occur. Slowly and gradually, Scouting begins to take over your house. It may start with a few items in the corner of one room.
Over the past 15 years or so, a lot of Scout Groups / Districts etc. will have set up their own websites. Some will still be going and some will have long since vanished. These websites provide useful information about what is going on in that Group / District but also what has gone on.
Since the beginning of the scouting program Scouts have given much of themselves to performing acts of public service without recognition. That still happens today. Going back in time when William D. Boyce got lost in that London fog and an unknown scout helped him find his way.
Automotive Maintenance Merit Badge OK, so today didn't go as planned. After a long night of high winds--30-40 mph--I checked the weather (loving my new smartphone!) and found not only a new "wind advisory" but that it was expected to get worse during the day, with gusts of 60 mph.
Great Day today, follow up on Friday. Damn good day... Shawn ---------- Sent from my Wireless Device
Day 12: The troop held it's Klondike Derby today at a local elementary school. The Duct Tape patrol scheduled, planned, and ran the event - they did a great job! Each patrol built their own sled out of absolutely anything they wanted over the past month.
Today was the Troop snow-tubing trip. All 3 of the Phoenix patrol had a great time. After tubing we hit a local "skillet" restaurant for a great (afternoon) breakfast. A good day with my Scouts.
This is a board game I came across recently on the NASA Space Place website. It is going to take a little time for you to print and prepare the materials, but I think this would be a hit at any weather themed scout meeting.
Adults leaders need training. I think most people would agree to that. We need to be trained so that we may properly train our youth leaders to do their job well. Call it "train the trainer" if you want to.
Sunday isn't always a work free day. Today I had some consulting work to do but turned it into a Scouting opportunity. The client I was doing work for is a horse breeding farm. My son usually comes with me when I work for them as he gets free reign to wander the fields and
You may think that this is a miss number but I posted on Twitter, Days 11 and 12 because I was on the run and away from a computer. If you missed it....Troop left for Ski Trip, met with DE about finding a CO for a new Troop, attended Blue and Gold, and talked about…
You don't understand Wayne, its different here" is a phrase I hear often, no more so than when I visit Northern Ireland. But you know, I'm not so sure……
Wayne reflects on what 22 February means for Scouting and Guiding.
Medicine for the Outdoors Paul S. Auerbach MD There is nothing in this book that you don't need to know. You don't have to commit the book to memory but I would encourage you to know what's in it and how to find it quickly.
Aviation Merit Badge Wow, really tired today! It is always that way after a campout. The first night I never sleep well, and since it was called on account of severe weather, I didn't get to make it up the second night.
Over the weekend, our pack held it's annual winter camp. The weekend had high hopes, in that most of the attendees hadn't ever been on an outing like this...going camping, in my opinion, defines a scout's career. If they have a good time, they are probably hooked and they are a scout for life...a bad…
The Cub Scout core value for the month of March is compassion. The pack program helps have opening and closing ceremonies which involve shoes - for walking in another's shoes.
Me gushing about my Day Camp School training this weekend. Tonight's show sponsored by The Boy Scout Store Join the forum discussion on this post Share with Others:
On this Memorabilia Monday I would like to present four books of my collection that share a theme of Scouting History. The first book is The Boy Scouts: An American Adventure , written by Robert W. Peterson, and published in 1984.
The harder the challenge the sweeter the reward.. I grew up with that little phrase deeply embedded in my brain and this weekend the Scouts of my Troop learned a bit about it. Friday night we camped at the trail head of Barlow Pass Road and the PCT.
Day 13: We got blasted by snow all day, so a scoutmaster conference got cancelled in the evening. It was pretty much a "day off" from scouting and everything. I guess that's ok once in awhile. Scout On Challenge your Scouts
Sorry to disappear for several days there, but I’ve been incommunicado. I wasn’t abandoning my 100 Days of Scouting efforts, I was immersed in a totally new (to me) Scouting environment: Girl Scout encampments. I’ve stopped counting how many bag nights I’ve had camping as a Scout leader since getting back into the movement in…
Backpacking Merit Badge Well, today sure wasn't what I had planned. We've gone from a couple of 70 degree days last week to snow and ice tonight. Lots of email work today, to keep my Scouts moving along. Today I: Set a date and notified all of the parents in our pack and troop about…
Interview with wilderness medicine pioneer Dr. Paul Auerbach Scoutmaster Podcast 57 Links in this Podcast Merit Badge University appearance in Murfeesboro Tenn esee Frank Maynard's Blog Bobwhite's Blather Dr. Auerbach's blog on Healthline Read my review of Medicine for the Outdoors Medicine for the Outdoors on Amazon This week you can participate in the podcast…
Wayne reflects on what 22 February means for Scouting and Guiding.
Chief Guide and UK Chief Commissioner for Scouts endorse the many examples of good partnership working practice they have seen over the last year.
Since leaving Boulder a few weeks ago, we have been asked numerous times a common question: "Is it really that big of a deal if I toss a banana peel out the car window, or leave my orange peels under a rock while on a hike?"
This past weekend, I attended our pack's annual winter camp. I have been asked to cook for the last 3 years, and I have obliged. We have attendance around 20 scouts and 15 adults. Our cost for the campout is $20 for the weekend.
Day 14: Had a scoutmaster conference with the scout that had to cancel yesterday. Just in time for him to also have his board of review this evening. I met with the two high school-aged patrols this evening to discuss their general leadership in the troop - and have rootbeer floats. Scout On Challenge your Scouts
Very little time for Scouting today… Was under the weather today and had issues at home that took priority after work. I did manage a handful of emails at least. > Responded to a Webelos II parent about merit badges and when Scouts can start on them; > Emails with District advancement committee about finding
Today is Founder's Day where Scouts and Guides (and all variations there of) celebrate the births of Lord and Lady Baden-Powell. To celebrate the WOSM and the SA are encouraging Scouts to wear their neckers (scarf) at work, school etc.
Hello dear reader, Just a short miniblog to wish you all a wonderful Founders day. Hopefully you will follow all the activity on Twitter using the #iScout as people try...
When I look at the young men and women I work with in Boy Scouts and Venturing, I have nothing but hope for the future.
Scout Vespers is a song sung by Boy Scouts and Scout Leaders to close a campfire program, to end a meeting, or to finish an evening on a camping trip. It is a great song that is beloved my millions.
On Friday of last week, we met with ten home-schooled children and their parents to introduce them to the Leave No Trace program. Ranging in ages from 6 to 14, the kids had a great time coming up with creative nature names, deciding how long trash can last, and figuring out the gear they were…
Check out this link to see a video of Jennifer Lowe, National Venturing President, chatting with the hosts of "Good Things Utah" last week. Lowe, who lives and goes to college in Utah, is Venturing's top youth ambassador. In the video, she explains the benefits of the program for America's young men and women and…
You'll hear about a troop's history in a variety of ways. Some seasoned Scouters will sit at the campfire and tell you the story of their troop from memory. Other units keep detailed scrapbooks or photo albums to pass on to future generations.
(This is a follow-up to my previous post on Arrow of Light / Cub Scout Career Arrows, found here .) So they’re done. Finally! And they look pretty sweet! Probably because after doing the design, I had NOTHING to do with them after.
The first of many Backyard Sessions was just recently hosted at the San Diego REI store! Backyard Sessions are new in 2011. They are a chance for community members to mingle and share their ideas with area educators, volunteers, community partners, and members to discuss all things Leave No Trace for their community.
Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell was born on February 22nd, 1857. In addition to founding the International Scouting Movement, Powell was a Lieutenant-General with the British Army and later authored several books on military reconnaissance and training before completing Scouting for Boys in 1908.
Basketry Merit Badge Today has kind of flown by, and I've kept my eye out for Scouting opportunities (tried really hard not to say, "Scouting for opportunities"...) We've had ice and snow to get in the way, and if they cancel school tomorrow, our Blue and Gold will be postponed a week, too.
The 22nd of February is an important day for Scouts worldwide. Today, we celebrate Lord Baden–Powell and Lady Olave birthdays also known as Founders Day, we also remember that the Scout Movement was founded by Lord Baden-Powell over one hundred years ago. > Started the day by wishing all my international Scout friends a happy
Another day in the Scout Nation. Got tons of work to get done for TLT so I will make this short: - today was the PLC Meeting, but it was different from other PLC Meetings as it was a training experience as well and the start of Troop Leader Training.
Day 15: Attended second Webelos cross-over this evening. Two scouts from our troop did the Order of the Arrow's Arrow of Light ceremony. This was the first time for one and 2nd time for the other. After this ceremony, they had to zip across town to a 2nd one for another pack.
The second weekend of October Ga-Hon-Ga Lodge 34 held its annual Fall Induction weekend at Camp Russell in Woodgate, NY. The Lodge's Ceremonies Team after the Pre-Ordeal Ceremony. The weekend started off Friday night as the staff members and lodge delegates began arriving early Friday evening.
The most important meal of the day, right? That's what they say, whoever they are...not that I really care, but I know that in the morning, I am one hungry Scoutmaster, and this past weekend, I had 37 others that were hungry, too.
Today is a very important day for scouting. Today is the birthday of the founder of the Scouting movement, Lord Robert Baden-Powell. Without BP scouting would have never begun in the UK and thus the unknown scout would not have been able to help William D.
In this show we talk about keeping your Scouts engaged in the program. We also talk a little about Founders Day! This show is sponsored by The Boy Scout Store. Leave us some feedback at the Blog and on iTunes..
Tuesday February 22, 2011. Founders Day and the Anniversary of my marriage. Founders Day. Today we celebrate our Founder, Lord Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell. Born on this day in 1857. Number 7 of 10 Children. Chief Scout of the World, founder of the greatest peace movement the world has ever seen.
Check with gymnastics programs in your area. Chances are that one will be happy to have your Cub Scouts in for a session at a reasonable price
As we enter the third week of 100 Days of Scouting , it is time to ask you more trivia questions. As in previous trivia posts, the questions come from the 1986 Scout Trivia book. Today's questions are taken from the "Basics and Badges" section of the book.
Anthony Wayne statue in Fort Wayne's Freimann Square. (Photo by g cobb on Flickr) Revolutionary War buffs surely recognize the name of "Mad" Anthony Wayne, the American statesman and U.S. Army general. Wayne, who was given the nickname "Mad Anthony" because of his fiery temperament, helped lead the Americans to victory in the Battle of…
OK, so you got the jist on breakfast...our midday meal went over real well, but it didn't start that way. Most didn't trust me when I said that everything that we had would feed everyone, but it did. Don't doubt Scoutmaster Shawn...
Last night we had the pleasure of working with the outdoor program On the Loose (OTL), the outdoors club of the Claremont Colleges! The goals of the OTL program are a natural fit for the Leave No Trace program. Their mission is as follows, "OTL dispatches student-led trips to destinations across California and the Southwestern…
Yesterday, you heard Venturing President Jennifer Lowe's thoughts about the Report to the Nation trip to our nation's capital, and now it's Solomon Goodwin's turn to share his experiences. Solomon sat down for an interview with The State newspaper, based in his hometown of Columbia, S.C.
I am seriously freaking out right now. Several months ago, we scored an epic win by scheduling Troop 572 to do our AOL ceremony at Blue & Gold. 572 has hands down the best AOL ceremony around. We were all really pleased about this (okay, except the CM who is also a leader or three with…
Bird Study Merit Badge Wednesday's are usually hectic...den/pack and troop meetings. Tonight we had originally planned a Board of Review for the troop, following the Cub Scout's Blue and Gold. Patrol Leader's Council cancelled the BOR, since no one is ready.
Worked on the induction ceremony for the incoming Webelos. Our OA chapter will be doing a crossover ceremony but I wanted something special to welcome them to our Troop. Also only 3 of the 5 Scouts crossing to our Troop will be earning Arrow of Light so I need something to include all the
Day 16: Had a fun scoutmaster conference with a Tenderfoot candidate. Great scout moving along a bit slower than he had planned, but appears to be getting a lot out of scouting. Gave a patrol leader some advice on planning next month's campout on Troop Kit .
Years ago I tuned into the new 'reality' show Survivor thinking that it would offer some kind of practical advice on the subject, or at least provide an honest depiction of what happens in a true survival situation. Boy was I disappointed.
One of the things our Crew has been discussing lately is planning a super activity. A super activity is something beyond the normal weekend campout.
On Saturday of last week, we met twenty-six high school students at Eisenhower Park in San Antonio. These students are in the Upward Bound Program , which provides intensive college preparatory support to high school students from low-income backgrounds with the potential to be the first generation in college from their families .
I am switching it up and posting the next morning because I do a lot of work into the night... An almost NON-Scout day, as in no meetings but plenty of work was done! - worked on the TLT Powerpoint for this weekend.
To follow up on my post from yesterday, after several phone calls and IM conversations with a few different people it seems we have managed to fix the issue where the troop that was supposed to do our AOL ceremony this Saturday had to back out on us.
Bugling Merit Badge Thinking a lot about the 100 Days of Scouting project today. I get feedback via Twitter and email from other Scouters who are enjoying the activity. Made me start thinking about some other ways to take the 100 Days approach in other areas of my life.
There are some really nice deals on Victorinox Swiss army knives at The Clymb for the next two days. I don't post things like this as a rule (and if you don't think I should let me know) but there are some great prices for these knives and I thought it was worth it.
The traditional lashing for extending poles is the round lashing . Recently I blogged about an alternative, the German round lashing . My troop did some tests to see which of the two works better. After teaching both knots to their patrols, the Patrol Leaders made two sets of round lashings, one with the shear lashing and…
Two sleeping bags are gone, but there's plenty more to go in my weekly gear giveaway. Just in time for the fast-approaching camping season, this week's prize is the SteriPEN Sidewinder , a hand-powered UV water-purification system valued at $100. Using ultraviolet light, the Sidewinder purifies a liter of water in 90 seconds.
The Los Angeles Area Council, Boy Scouts of America raised $350,000 by honoring Ming Hsieh, Founder and CEO of 3M Cogent Systems. Born and raised in China, Ming Hsieh is the son of an electrical engineer, and was educated in secret at home during the Cultural Revolution.
UK Scouts can help our counterparts in New Zealand respond to the devastating earthquake in Christchurch.
Thousands of Scouts took part in our Founder's Day social media campaign, including Chief Scout Bear Grylls.
Tonight was our weekly Troop meeting. Went well. Scouts found a geocache, had gear instruction on sleeping pad selection and did a quick review of their completed rank requirements. I can see the fever of wanting to advance kicking in. Had a chance to play Swing the Thing but opted for practice throwing rescue line.
Yeah.. along with a bunch of online (some close, some far) Scouting friends we are trying real hard to maintain a daily log of our "Next" 100 days of Scouting. I have been pretty good at going about it.. but as activities like a Troop camp out etc get in the way..
The second weekend of January our Order of the Arrow Lodge held its first annual Moose Fest Winter Fellowship and Banquet. Moose Fest was held at Camp Russell in Woodgate, NY. Why name the event Moose Fest? Well the totem of Ga-Hon-Ga Lodge is the bull moose and, well that's the only reason.
These hooks are designed for untying stubborn lashings. I haven't used one myself yet, but they look pretty handy. Made by Ken Stanton, those of you in South Africa can pick one up for R25 from Bramley Scout Shop
Scouts should know how to build a fire. I am always amazed how many kids don't understand the concept of using tinder and small sticks. This snack will help introduce the concept.
The work of a Scoutmaster is never done! Yesterday I: - dropped off USB Drive at Staples to make the final copied for the TLT Book - Talked with the Outdoor Chair and Advancement Chair about getting ready for Summer Camp - promoted Scout Nation Episode 2 (out now at PTC Media.net) - updated Annual Calendar - assembled 20 TLT…
