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William "Green Bar Bill" Hillcourt is the man who wrote the book on Scouting, literally. His Patrol Leader's Handbook is, without a doubt, his best and most influential work. His understanding of scouting was simple, but not simplistic. Here he lays out the scoutmaster's job in a few sentences: "Let them lead in practically everything.
In celebration of the collective energy created by all the Moments shared on the Meet the Moment site, we are happy to announce CLIF Bar's Day of Action on October 1st. As part of CLIF Bar's Day of Action, the Center will be hosting a trail building day in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.
The regional path was very busy today. I passed about 12 joggers, 9 bikers, and 4 or 5 walkers as I put in my 8 miles and I waved to each one of them. After all, the path is only about 8 feet wide and it's just polite to say "Howdy".
Chess is a great game. And it really isn't as difficult to learn as you might think. I know many young kids who can grasp the concepts and play a good game of chess. Chess also teaches kids to look ahead and to stick with something, In today's world of video games and instant gratification…
The e-tour had the joy of meeting another welcoming Community Partner during a song-filled day at Rockbrook Camp for Girls in Brevard, NC. Campers thought about how there are living organisms everywhere and how important it is to stick to trails and Choose the Right Path during their outdoor adventures.
Your local council's goal of achieving diversity just got way easier. Two new BSA partnerships with the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) aim to help with the challenges of finding manpower, funding, new charter opportunities, and sponsorship-specifically among Latino business leaders and families.
My uncle recently sent me a box of stuff which included a couple of Scouting related books – 'Gilcraft's First Class Book' and 'How to Pass First Class Tests'. These books were written in 1945 and 1959 respectively (these were actually printed in 1960) and are to help the Scout pass his First Class Badge.
International charity is 'totally overwhelmed' by the response to its book collection initiative.
From Rules of Thumb : The most successful teaching lessons last 22 minutes, the exact length of the average TV sit-com. - Steven M. Keisman, New York City high school resource coordinator
What do Jack and Jill, Mother Hubert, Spiderman, Justin Bieber, Barney, Lady Gaga, Chuck Norris, Rebecca Black, Bob the Builder, and Barbie have in common? They are all part of the fun one afternoon as the Boy Scouts of Buckskin Camp at Many Point Scout Camp sing Throw Them Out The Window before entering the…
Break Time… Break Time”¦ Those few words used to be music to my ears when I worked in the hub at UPS.. Today, they mean something a little different. Remember a few weeks back when we talked about everyone needs to take a break..
No matter what the situation, you should "Be Prepared" for first aid. Even at den meetings I keep a very small personal first aid kit on hand for dealing with scrapes and small cuts which can occur during games.
Have you registered for the 2013 National Scout Jamboree? If not, the time is now. Zip-lining through the 175-foot-tall canopy of West Virginia's towering Hemlock trees. Scaling sandstone rock-climbing routes in the New River Gorge. Biking, hiking, rafting-whew, we're outta breath just thinking about it!
Salt Lake City, UT - This past weekend, we attended the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market , a bi-annual event where the outdoor industry come together to showcase new products, network, and connect with non-profit organizations. In collaboration with Backpacker Magazine and Subaru of America we were able to facilitate the Great Gear Giveaway, where participants answer a…
Watch Kim from Stockton-on-Tees enjoy Home Hospitality with a Dutch family after the World Scout Jamboree.
I've created a new type of page on HalfEagle, site pages! In the main HalfEagle feed, there's a small link at the end of each summary that says "From Site Name x hours ago" which now connects to that site's page on HalfEagle.
Every Scout parent struggles with letting go as their child grows up. From the Swedish Scouting is awesome! blog. Thoughts on how Scouting helps parents understand letting go so children can become adults: One of the aims of scouting is to make young people independent and self sufficiant.
This month I am focusing on cycling. Helmets are required for all BSA cycling activities. It is important to note that this applies to adults also. Your helmet isn't going to do you much good if it doesn't fit correctly. Here are some guidelines.
A couple nights ago at our Troop meeting we had a Scout attend who hasn't been able to attend for a couple months. While participating in one of the activities he made a comment about "I'm not a Scout…" as he was deferring his level of input to the other Scouts in attendance who've been
And LAUNCH me in the water:) The e-tour beat the heat this week in Charlotte by checking out the famed US National Whitewater Center , where for a reasonable price you can extreme sport yourself into being reasonably sore the next day.
BSA provides den meeting plans for den leader on the Scouting.org website. Today, I am going to go through the first Bear plan and including some tips and ideas which are related to the covered requirements. If you don't already have the BSA den meeting plans, download BSA Bear Den Meeting Plan 1 to follow…
Does anyone else enjoy these? Whether we're masquerading as a community hero, or posing as local flora, the e-tour has a penchant for these instant souvenir photo cut-outs. Document your face-in-a-hole trip memories and share them with us. Tara's little ray of sunshine;) Mark and Tara Find the e-tour nearest you .
This month I am featuring a cycling theme. If you are doing this theme with Cub Scouts, they might enjoy making their own "license plates" for their bikes. They can put their names on them or decorate them however they like.
The Boy Scouts and Venturers Troop 65 visited custom software development company Amadeus Consulting on Wednesday, July 20, 2011. Troop 65 Scoutmaster Roosevelt Wright and the group, dubbed the "time travelers," as recognized by Scouting Magazine, are taking the journey to help scouts better understand how their academic curriculum applies to future careers.
Alex Lloyd outlasted tough track conditions and much on-track contact today as he drove the #19 Boy Scouts of America car to a 13th place finish at Sunday's MoveThatBlock.com Indy 225. Even with rain dropping constantly throughout the race to make the track slick, and six caution periods, Lloyd was able to finish in a…
A Scouting favourite makes a comeback this month with the publication of The Scouting Adventure Annual 2012.
Since the introduction of the new Robotics merit badge , Scouts from across the country have built some pretty cool robots. Some have created unique tasks for their robots to perform while others, like Nathan, are completing events in pre-existing robotics competitions.
Day Camp support, software for Scout tracking, retaining Scouts, Autism Spectrum Disorders and Scouting, fundraising, and homeless Scouts are on tap for tonight's show. QOTW: What do you do to welcome and educate new Cub Leadership? Links: ASD and Scouting- http://bit.ly/ogFeue Scouting Membership Help- http://bit.ly/nLwU3l Retention: Six reasons Scouts drop out and how you can…
Plan Ahead and Prepare is a criticial planning component of the 7 principles of Leave No Trace . When proper time and care is dedicated to trip planning, you will find it easy to follow through with the remaining six Leave No Trace principles.
In my last post I mentioned several ideas that Webelos leaders can use now to get the most out of the program. Here are a few more. First-year Webelos leaders: Map out the next few months' worth of den meetings. …
Our pack might be doing a bike rodeo this year. I have visited these before, but we have never put one on ourselves. So I am researching possible "stations" which the kids can rotate through for the activity.
Could some or all of these rescues have been avoided if the people involved had put more time and effort into planning and properly preparing for their outings? LANDER, Wyo. - When Laura Mason's controlled slide Thursday on a snowfield on 11,901-foot Nez Perce Peak sped out of control until she collided with rocks below, she…
The e-tour has been enjoying some spectacular evening thunderstorms in central North Carolina. All this fast moving water makes us think about what might be cascading along with it. We found two great pieces of signage in the downtown Greensboro Gardens , urging visitors to Trash Your Trash and Pick Up Poop .
The August issue of Marketing News has been published and posted to the Marketing Toolbox. Stories in the August issue include: NextConnect 2011 Content Available Online New Blog Provides Inside Glimpse of The Summit Work With Units to Populate Their Google Pin To read more about these topics, as well as the full issue of…
The countdown has begun for the launch of the BSA's newest merit badge, Chess. While the kickoff event will take place at the grand opening of the new Chess Hall of Fame on September 10, other key milestones for the launch of this new badge include: Chess merit badge requirements will be posted on scouting.org…
Public relations is a low-cost, high-impact way to promote the Boy Scouts of America's story. What return are you getting on your public relations efforts? The best way to secure positive attention from the media is by regularly cultivating and maintaining relationships.
Scouts and volunteers across the country are being encouraged to create service opportunities from September 1-10 to remember the tragedy and heroism of 9/11 as part of Scout Surge 9/11 . Promote the activity, but let each district, troop, or crew make it as big and exciting as they want.
The New President's Orientation materials have been converted so there is now a one-on-one, hourlong version. This version can be used by an area director or Scout executive to give the first level of training to new council presidents. The materials can be found under the "Resources" tab of MyBSA by going to: MyBSA > Resources…
After its summer hiatus, the Council Operations Breakfast Club resumes its monthly schedule with a great program lineup for Wednesday, September 7. Joining Assistant Chief Scout Executive Gary Butler on the panel will be the four regional directors who will discuss the fall roundup campaigns around the country.
A new version of employee handbook guidelines for local council employees will be rolled out at Top Hands. If you're going to be in attendance, be sure to attend the elective session on Wednesday (and the human resources portion of the general session on Friday morning) to hear about the latest changes to this vital…
The August 15 issue of the FID e-Letter has been published and is available on the Finance Impact site. As you begin to plan your fund-raising efforts for 2012, this issue of the FID e-Letter focuses on providing solutions to fundraising challenges during these difficult economic times, along with appropriate training courses to help you…
You've asked for it, and now it's here-additional enhancements have been made to BeAScout.org to assist councils as they manage leads and units in the BeAScout system this fall. A PowerPoint presentation has been created to support council executive staff on how to manage and download unit leads and unit pin reports in an Excel…
The BSA HR and Financials software upgrade project has a new name, BSA 2 , and is moving along toward its goal of simplifying how we deliver information, standardize business processes, remove work redundancies, and improve communication between the National Council and local councils.
Adults on Scout camping trips part 1, the Scoutmaster's role in merit badges. Subscribe to the Scoutmaster Newsletter Call and leave a voice mail comment or question at (484) 734-0002 Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes Podcast Music Eureka and Coleman Tents On Sale at Campmor!
Just up the road from the Summit, citizens of Fayetteville, West Virginia, one of America’s Coolest Small Towns, have noticed Scouts hanging around town. It’s hard not to notice. Scouts are in the stores, the restaurants, the trails, and even the river.
In the beginning of August, we posted about an opportunity for Minnesota Scouts to Call Space Station Astronauts . Check out this video of the question and answers with the Space Station! The astronauts are Ron Garan Jr. and Mike Fossum and the Scouts were at Northern Star Council's Base Camp.
Medicine Bow National Forest, WY - Last week, the University of Wyoming Outdoor Program held two days of training for their staff at Vedauwoo , an incredible area of rocky outcrops that was once a popular hideout for outlaws and now attracts adventurous rock climbers and other outdoor recreationists.
Hello Folks – arrived back home last night from three weeks of traveling and Scouting. There's plenty to write and talk about but I have to catch up with things around the house before I get back to a regular schedule.
Troop 198 scouts put out a small brush fire in Oregon. Great to see them have the SPL do most of the interview! It would be interesting to hear who started the fire. A faulty camping stove doesn't just start a fire - it must have been lit by someone.
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Boy Scouts working on their Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class ranks might want to check out the early rank requirements videos from the BSA. Troop Instructors will also find these videos helpful when preparing to teach younger scouts a skill.
There's no better way to honor the memory of Sept. 11, 2001, than by reaching out and lending a hand to members of your local community. This year, Scouts will once again focus acts of service as tribute to the 10-year anniversary of the Sept.
A team is adding an artistic touch to clean up efforts following the London riots.
Across the country, Scout camp dining halls are full of staffers leading campers in songs and cheers to thank the kitchen staff for their daily meals. But at the Cedarlands Scout Reservation (CSR) , a camp nestled deep in the Adirondack Park in Long Lake, New York, Scouts are at work in a different way.
From BSA Health & Safety alerts: As summertime swimming activities continue and youth become more comfortable in the water, it's not uncommon for their water games to become more challenging and competitive. For qualified supervisors of Safe Swim Defense activities, for parents watching their children in the water, and for youth participants themselves, hyperventilation has been…
From The Patrol System Published by Scouts Canada in 1960. Not a new idea, but a good one none-the-less. What would happen if you put this information in the hands of your patrol leaders? You want your gang to become a real Patrol-and only a hiking Patrol is a real one.
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces is the second of 7 Leave No Trace principles . A durable surface is defined as one that is resistant and resilient to people traveling or camping upon it. Examples of durable surfaces are: rock, gravel, snow, sand, dry grass, and established trails/campsites.
Kandersteg is a picture postcard town in the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland that is home to Kandersteg International Scout Center (KISC). Surrounded by some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world KISC hosts thousands of visiting Scouts each summer.
The Emergency Preparedness merit badge is one of the most useful badges a Boy Scout can earn. You hope you will never need to use the information you learn, but if you do find yourself in an emergency situation, you can make a difference. This badge is all about being prepared for the unexpected.
We here at the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics are firm believers that good campsites are found, not made. Sometimes in developed campgrounds even the 'made' campsites are not constructed perfectly :). With a fully flooded tent pad, and a groundsheet reminiscent of a waterbed the e-tour awoke warm and dry.
Wayne is off doing other things at the moment and foolishly left me the keys to his blog.
Scouting is not an organization. Scouting is a movement. Scouting is also a philosophy. The philosophy drives the movement, the movement uses various organizations. An organization possesses and uses structure, resources and power. Organizations hire workers, issue policies, buy and sell products, build buildings.
Jackson Lake State Park, CO -- Located about 70 miles northeast of Denver, Jackson Lake State Park has been dubbed "an oasis in the plains." When we arrived in the early evening last Saturday we were not surprised to find that nearly all 260 campsites at the park were occupied.
I love it when a scout figures out that he needs to take responsibility for completing merit badges and rank requirements. Sometimes, scouts can have a path of badges required to advance through Star, Life, and Eagle laid out for them by the troop, offering badges in a cycle.
For some cycling recogintions, Scouts must record the time or distance spent riding. A basic log sheet is located at the bottom of this post to help you complete this. If you really become interested in cycling, you might consider getting a simple bike computer to aid you in figuring out this data.
Thinking about next summer already? You're not alone. With summer camp behind you and the school year about to start, it's natural for Scouters like you to start dreaming up their next big adventure. That makes it the perfect time to check out Philmont's recently released 2012 training center schedule.
When doing a Scoutmaster Conference I always leave the last question for the Scout. It is his opportunity to ask me ANYTHING. I've been asked many things over the years: What's your favorite...is the common one of most young Scouts; What did you do as a Scout, How do you like being a Scoutmaster, What…
We finished the 20 mile hike at 3:45 after starting at 8:40 this morning. Two scouts set the pace and I just had to keep up. It was a great hike, exploring a few new places around the community, and the weather was terrific.
To keep myself physically strong" has been part of the oath that Boy Scouts have followed for more than 100 years. Even with fitness and wellness already one of its aims, the Boy Scouts of America is making a formal commitment to do even more to address the major health concerns facing today's youth.
The Summit Bechtel Family Reserve is big — more than 10,000 acres big. It’s hard to fathom just how huge 10,000 acres really is. Most of us can understand the number 10,000, but you also have to add in the size of an acre to the equation, which most of us, excluding farmers and ranchers, can’t.
In offering this collection of yarns, I do not suggest that these are anything more than further illustrations of the steps already schemed in Scouting for Boys for self-education in character and good citizenship. But illustrations by themselves are of comparatively little value unless the theories and ideas conveyed by them are also put into…
Where does the time go, living away is bad but I thought I would have time to post more
Sports drinks like Gatorade or Power Aid are designed to replenish the water and salt your body loses when you are active or exercising. You can mix up your own powdered mix to accomplish this for a fraction of the cost of purchasing these drinks by the bottle.
I love a good road trip because being in a car allows you to stop and explore along the journey. Earlier this month I got to explore some great parts of northern Utah while sharing Leave No Trace with other summer travelers.
A SCOUT IS A FRIEND TO ALL, AND A BROTHER TO EVERY OTHER SCOUT, NO MATTER TO WHAT SOCIAL CLASS THE OTHER BELONGS. Today is World Humanitarian Day, which focuses on the aid workers who put so much of their personal time and effort to helping those in need all around the world. In honor
Now, when a friend of your son or daughter-or even a fellow adult-asks, "How can I get involved in Scouting?" your answer just got easier: BeAScout.org . While the recruitment Web site isn't new, the BSA has simplified its searchability, making it a breeze for new Scouts or Venturers to get plugged into their local Scouting…
New Silly Skit for Boy Scouts
We asked all of you to help Shape the Summit , and you most definitely did. Over 1,000 survey responses and Facebook comments were received from Scouts, Venturers, Scouters, volunteers, and many more. Your input was used to help design the Summit with the best possible campsites and facilities.
The core value for Cub Scouts for the month of September is Cooperation. According to the program helps cooperation is being helpful and working together with others toward a common goal. Cooperation is a key element in teamwork. Cub Scouts will gain a better understanding of the importance of supporting each other as they play…
Moonrise over Falls Lake, NC Mark and Tara Leave No Trace e-tour Team
Whilst browsing a list of available tools for WordPress I came across Polldaddy and I wanted to give it a whirl so my first poll is below. TTFN K
This is one of those things which 99 percent of you probably already know how to do, so I am really posting this just to remind you that things like this make a good gathering activity, especially for Tigers and Wolves.
It is clearly evident that Scouting needs an outlet by which Scouts and Venturers can tell their own stories from their own perspectives using their own voices. Enter Patrol Z. A promotional video was introduced to the Scouting world in March 2011 inviting media-savvy Scouts and Venturers to apply for a brand-new initiative called Patrol…
I haven't been hitting the blog lately, my head has still been swimming and I really can't contain my thoughts. I have so many thoughts going in and out of my head lately, that I haven't been able to concentrate on one thing without jumping to the next….SQUIRREL!
Dispose of Waste Properly is the 3rd of 7 Leave No Trace Principles . Pack it in, pack it out is a common phrase in the outdoor world that easily conveys the gist of this principle. Our kid-friendly version of this principle gets the point across in a different light: Trash Your Trash!
When the new Leave No Trace Nalgene bottles were added to the store I was skeptical to say the least. It wasn't so much the bottle itself, rather it was the lid and closing mechanism. I was thinking I'd break it before it even left the house on it's first outing.
Wolf Achievement 7 - Our Living World - is all about conservation. For requirement e, Wolf Cub Scouts are supposed to read some stories about people who are participating in conservation.
Why I'm thinking of resigning as Scoutmaster and why it may be a good thing. Yes you read that right. The man who for the past almost 8 years who has bled khaki, is thinking about hanging up the expedition hat. This weekend at our campout I told my Scouts that if things continued as
Back home from my summer travels! How do we handle discipline in Scouting? Subscribe to the Scoutmaster Newsletter Call and leave a voice mail comment or question at (484) 734-0002 Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes Podcast Music Eureka and Coleman Tents On Sale at Campmor!
The Boy Scouts of Troop 68 had an opportunity to do two service projects in one day for the Melrose Riverfest celebration. The event was held last Saturday, August 20th. The first project took place before the parade which was scheduled to begin at 7:30 pm.
The 22nd World Scout Jamboree was held in Sweden – and I wish I'd been able to go! I did get an opportunity to attend a selection weekend fo the IST (service team), but was unfortunately unable to make the weekend.
We want to hear about your adventures! We want to hear about the amazing things Scouts are achieving in your area! How are you getting ready for the next jamboree? Do you have a story idea for Patrol Z? If you’ve got a tale to share, let us know by filling out the form below.
It’s 2013. You’re at the national Scout jamboree. You’re a volunteer at what is quite simply the greatest service project in the history of earth. Question: How’d you get there? Coming To A Blog Near You: Jambo Jobs, Fees, and Schedules The New River Gorge Bridge is just a few miles downstream on the New…
There will be several scheduled events for all Scouts to attend, including the arena show. (Summit Blog Staff Photo) The 2013 National Scout Jamboree will be full of change. How so, you ask? Well, let’s take a look at the schedule.
The late summer harvest is bountiful. The e-tour has really enjoyed visiting many local Farmers Markets throughout North Carolina this month. Eating out of our cooler has never tasted better! There are many benefits to visiting a Farmers Market near you, check out a few of the resources we found, try one out and decide…
Oh yes but of course that was the answer I thought this quiz was not that difficult it was just about reading...
New Minute for All scouts
Every day is a transition. Scouting volunteers are rewarded with seeing an ongoing transition in the scouts over months and years as they learn skills, push their leadership skills, and outgrow pants. Sometimes these transitions are gradual and sometimes instantaneous.
Break is over, Summer camp was an awesome experience and I need to share more with you once I collect me thoughts. I will share this with you today however. Shared Experience! One of Scoutings treasures is the shared experience of your Scouts and you.
We haven't had anyone earn this badge in recent memory. The Scouts in our troop always earn the Swimming merit badge their first year at summer camp. The troop does go out riding occasionally, especially on Grant's Trail which is very close to us.
