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In one of the most popular Cubcasts of the year, the secret to selling lots of popcorn is revealed! Join us as we talk with Robert Moore, the Northwest sales manager for Trails End. He has served as Cubmaster and committee chair for his son's pack in the Mount Baker Council in Everett, Washington.
Abraham Lincoln once said, "You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today." So pull up a chair and join us as we talk with Michelle Gee, a National Training Committee member and Supplemental Training Chairman for the Last Frontier Council in Oklahoma City.
Lion Cubs are alive in Northern Star Council! Lion Cubs are kindergarten boys just starting on the Boy Scout Trail. A boy and his adult partner get to do fun, age-appropriate activities - sounding much like the original Tiger program. By adding this program, the BSA provides a K-12 experience, dropping the entry age a bit…
The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is excited to send off the first-ever Leave No Trace Colorado Tour on September 2nd. The Colorado Tour program will reach a diverse group of young people to encourage outdoor recreation and, most importantly, teach them how to enjoy the outdoors responsibly.
In 1982, the longtime director of the Little Rock, Arkansas Parks and Recreation Department, Julius Breckling, mentioned the concept of a trail of parks alongside the Arkansas River. His vision was to link a chain of parks together along the river.
Today marks the 66th day of triple-digit temperatures in North Texas this summer. So don't mind me while I browse the newly redesigned Northern Tier Web site for a while. You know, to get my mind off the searing heat outside.
For more than a century, the Boy Scouts of America has honored the United States during times of remembrance-encouraging all members to serve and contribute to the common good. Leading up to Sept. 11, when the United States of America marks the 10-year anniversary of one of the darkest days in the nation's history, the…
The winner of the first SMMPhoto contest is Dominic Galloro! There were many great pictures submitted.. but this one seemed to capture the spirit of summer camp and the adventure of Scouting for me. Three guys with a common goal..
Scout leader training tends to focus on the practical and, I fear, often misses the big picture. Most of the questions and comments I receive are about action oriented, practical matters. More often than not problems arise because people have missed the big picture rather than their lack of knowledge of some procedural process.
Soccer is a great sport for young boys because most of them can pick up the basic skills quickly. And it also promotes the BSA aim of fitness. So if you are looking for a theme for your pack meeting or a pack activity, consider soccer.
Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. These 3 famous R's aren't losing popularity anytime soon. In fact, the Summit designers are wholeheartedly supporting them with some big plans to cut back on waste at the 2013 National Scout Jamboree . The idea is less plastic, more composting, as much recycling as possible and a little thinking outside the box.
Met two scouts for a 10 mile hike this morning and pounded it out in 2 hours 50 minutes - that's 17 minute miles. It was a great hike and I didn't notice the pace or the time. The scout leading the hike kept us on route and moving along.
Fellow Scouts and their families in the upper part of our council can use your assistance after Hurricane Irene. Patriots' Path Council would like to thank everyone for your efforts in helping those in need after Hurricane Irene. Our council currently has many families who are in critical need of assistance which includes families who
Let's not have a wildfire tonight! The e-tour stopped in at a campground last night outside St. Louis, and found corn fields rustling, sprawling grassy camp spots, and four abandoned campfires. Yes, four! This one took 40 liters of water to cool down.
Drat that was 126 not 26 -0000- I am wondering if people have...
The e-tour will be spending the Labor Day holiday with fellow campers at O'Connell's Jellystone Park and Camp Resort in Amboy, Illinois. We are excited for a weekend of entertainment, education, outreach, and all things Leave No Trace. Always looking for an excuse to use our trusty America the Beautiful annual pass, the e-tour took…
One suggestion I have when working with Cub Scouts is to draw up a large soccer field on poster board and use some Lego figures or something similar to be players. Then you can give a visual demonstration of these terms.
Our central work, our focus, as Scout leaders is to create opportunities for Scouting: to create chances, approaches and advantages : OPPORTUNITY: A combination of circumstances favorable for the purpose; a good chance or occasion to advance oneself. Favorable circumstances: an opening, event, probability, possibility.
I love my technology during the workweek, but I'm a Luddite when it comes to my outdoor life. My smart phone comes with me to schedule meetings, keeps me in touch with Leave No Trace members and it even pays for my coffee (well, technically I still pay for it...).
Looking for some of the best wilderness adventure in the world? Don't worry, the Summit Bechtel Reserve will open soon enough. But if you're one of those who just can't wait (we don't blame you), there is plenty of adventure to be had at the Northern Tier High Adventure Bases , in the meantime.
Hiking at Blue Hills, MA. Kate takes a moment to point out the fragile mushrooms growing along side the trail to a Mommy and Me Hiking Club.
It's happened to all of us. You call a customer service hotline, and the computer can't comprehend your plain-English request. No matter how many times you say "agent" or press 0 or bang your phone against the kitchen counter, you can't seem to get a human being on the other end.
This is the seventh in the series of Tiger den meeting plans provide by BSA. If you are using this series, it works best if you do the plans in order. This meeting plan covers the Go See It for Tiger Achievement 2 - Where I Live and completes Tiger Achievement 4 - How I Tell It.
Yesterday a notice went out among our council that volunteers were needed to help distribute relief supplies that were being trucked into our area by the Red Cross. I don't have exact statistics but I've been told that more than 800 households in our immediate area were severely impacted by Irene and the flooding that
New Dutch Oven Recipe for Boy Scouts
Following the Scouting trail is similar to life's journey. The expectations you have sometimes happen to your benefit and sometimes you have disappointments. The trail is a winding one with many twists and turns and even forks that you have to decide which path to follow.
Scouting and sports go together. Many recognitions require that the Scout discuss sportsmanship. So what does good sportsmanship mean?
Adults from all over the UK enjoyed activities, adventure and Scouting entertainment at a sundrenched Gilwell Reunion last weekend.
Be Considerate of Other Visitors is the 7 th of 7 Leave No Trace Principles . It is important to regard fellow visitors and respect the quality of their experience. An easy way to do this is by following the yield triangle on a multi-use trail.
If you are having a soccer themed meeting or a sports themed meeting, you can let the scouts do a simple soccer drill during the gathering time. When my den meetings were immediately after school, I often did a physical activity during the gathering time.
A hands-on blacksmith station gave Scouts the opportunity to try their hand at tool-making. (Photo by Gary Hartley) A man sharpens a hatchet. Another picks up a firearm. Beside them is a woman weaving. Animal skins are spread across tables.
Once-in-a-lifetime Adventures; an interview with Mike Malone and David B. from troop 466 in Sunnyvale California about their incredible troop adventures. Chisholm Trail Adventure in Scouting Magazine Lewis and Clark Adventure local TV coverage Civil War Adventure in Leesburg Magazine Subscribe to the Scoutmaster Newsletter Call and leave a voice mail comment or question at…
New Skit for Boy Scouts
Clarke regularly has postings that are more philosophical in nature. Recently he had a post ( The Big Picture in Scouting ) that got me thinking about something sort of philosophical rather than the regular practical stuff. That's kind of scary but here goes.
Glacier National Park, MT - Last week, Team West had the opportunity to venture into the backcountry of Glacier National Park for a 5-day trip. Backcountry trips usually take an incredible amount of preparation and in Glacier one of the additional things we had to plan for was the presence of Grizzly bears.
Crew 5.14 put down the tools and picked up the gear in the second installment of Adventures in Service. With their new appreciation for the New River Gorge sandstone, Venturers climbed some of the rock they helped to re-equip earlier in the day.
The Scout Law: Twelve guiding principles that govern our movement. Twelve points that never change. Or do they? In looking up the meaning of A Scout is Kind a few days ago, I found this history of the Scout Law …
We're back with a new format. Tonight we cover giving to BSA, ScoutStrong, ADA and BSA, a new Merit Badge. Links: Boy Scouts of America Joins America's Charities for Workplace Giving- http://bit.ly/pu65cS Federal judge in Baltimore: ADA doesn't apply to Boy Scouts- http://bit.ly/o0TB82 Boy Scouts launch healthy living initiative- http://bit.ly/m4cOPh BSA Fit- http://bit.ly/jPcR3W Tonight's show…
We often get questions about Cub Scout and Boy Scout uniforms. "Where do I put ....?" Fortunately, BSA provides an online insignia guide. This online resource has all of the information parents and scouts need to figure out where all of the various emblems are worn.
While at a meeting, a Cubmaster shared an idea with us that his pack uses to increase the amount of new boys joining the pack. His pack had a fun idea for recruitment night. On recruitment night at the elementary school, the night goes just like any other pack's recruitment night with one key difference.
It wasn't just his dancing at the Gilwell Reunion that helped Wayne get back into the swing of things, as he has also made good use of his time during August.
Hikelight.com is has a wealth of advice for trimming down your backpack weight. Steve Green (no relation) explains ultralight backpacking in 80+ videos – here's an introduction to how ultralight backpacking works: The website is home to the Only The Lightest Camping Equipment mail order store.
Buckskin games, Native American presentations, drumming, dancing, competitions and bonfires. Excited yet? As a part of the new jamboree model, each Scout at the 2013 National Scout Jamboree will get to experience all of the above during the full-day trek to Garden Ground Mountain.
The sumac is changing colors. The last few chilly mornings have convinced them it's time to start the show. The maples and oaks take a little more convincing, but they'll come around soon. It's been below freezing up North, but just 50 here.
The American Business merit badge can help Scouts understand the history of business in the United States and practical aspects of modern business. If you have a budding entrepreneur in your troop who runs his own lawn care service or summer snow cone stand, then this is the badge for him.
The requirements for the chess merit badge are available on scouting.org and HERE . Scouts get to use EDGE to teach other scouts Chess skills. I especially like requirement #5c where the board is set up and the scout needs to demonstrate how to force checkmate.
Raise your hands if you love clean water to play in? So do I. As a Southern California native, I learned to swim before I learned to walk. Water sports are a part of me and I've dedicated my life to raising support to protect the places I love.
Spring Meadow Lake State Park, Helena, Montana - Earlier this week Team West was back in the field for for a PEAK workshop with the Montana Wild after school program. During the afternoon session we had the chance to enjoy a few activities with the group that highlighted the seven program principles of Leave No Trace…
Scouts found new and innovative ways to use the flags. (Photo by Order of the Arrow/Facebook) You've heard about SummitCorps . You've heard about the miles of hiking and biking trails constructed by the Order of the Arrow . But what was happening weeks before the Scouts even arrived?
Why take a chance? Encourage some adults in your unit to learn CPR. It's one of those things you hope you never need, but if you do it could save a life.
The Clymb is a retailer featuring deep discounts on outdoor gear and apparel. (You do have to register with them to see the sale items on offer. They do this so the sale items aren't linked to search engines because the items are only available for three or four days.)
More than 24,000 youth in Scouting programs in Kenosha, Milwaukee and Racine counties have now banded together in a new Boy Scout council as the result of a consolidation vote on Wednesday. Representatives of the Milwaukee County Council and the Southeast Wisconsin Council, that serve Kenosha and Racine counties, voted to consolidate into one council…
Every month Leave No Trace hosts the Bigfoot Challenge, a set of three challenges that ask people to practice Leave No Trace principles at their local places of outdoor recreation. This month, the three challenges were: - This Labor Day weekend cook a meal outside with your family and practice Leave No Trace techniques in your…
This month's Bigfoot Challenge drives us all to practice Leave No Trace in our own backyards. By encouraging the practice of Leave No Trace ethics on Labor Day weekend, our family barbeques and community events can be minimum impact events.
The holidays are over, the nights are drawing in and life begins to get busy again on the Scouting front. The Scouts are camping this weekend, it's Harvest at church next weekend and the Cubs are camping next month to name but a few things we have on.
An exciting new partnership outlines '14 things to do before you're 14'.
The Boy Scouts of America has a new merit badge. Chess anyone? That is correct. You may now earn the Chess Merit Badge. According to the B.S.A. Supply Line, "The USCF (United States Chess Federation) provided the primary contributing writers for the Merit Badge pamphlet.
It's not too late to plan a way for your Scout unit to honor the 10-year anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001. Gather together, grab a big screen, and watch the film New York Says Thank You at 8 p.m. EST shown here .
Judith Bruner was the love of my life in second grade. Miss Bruner was a young, idealistic new teacher who played guitar. In 1968 she taught me how to play chess. I will never forget her for it. I was on our high school chess team and played a great deal during those years.
The backdrop for the arena show will now be the Summit Center. Could you think of a better place to have the biggest party Scouting has ever seen? (Summit Blog Staff Photo) Not going to the 2013 National Scout Jamboree as a participant?
There's more to building a high-adventure base than shovels and bulldozers. You also need some benevolent, big-hearted donors. And, thankfully, the BSA has philanthropists who are eager to help make The Summit dream a reality. Yesterday, the Boy Scouts of America announced an additional $85 million in contributions to The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout…
It's been a while since we've given anything away here on Scouting News , so we figured we'd have an end of summer giveaway. We are also trying out a new application to handle the contest. Just follow the instructions below to enter by liking our facebook page, following us on twitter, answering a simple question…
If you are having a soccer or sports themed meeting, a soccer drill can be a fun way to burn of some energy. Soccer marbles is a three person soccer drill. It is simple enough for young Scouts.
Help the BSA celebrate its newest merit badge -Chess!-tomorrow by watching fellow Scouts in a live, human chess match. The event, shown online at this link , will take place between 1:05-1:25 p.m. CST on Saturday, Sept. 10. Scouts will serve as pieces, challenging one another as they move across the gigantic chess board at The…
Click this picture to see the whole thing. It is a sign describing what happens when someone drops litter - how long it takes to decompose. Someone designed and made that sign and it effects the decisions made by the people that visit the park where it is located.
I can’t say that we have the perfect recruitment plan, but we have a plan and we’re working it and it appears to be working. Perfect or not, I can share with you all what I believe was beneficial in our recruitment efforts this year.
Wildfires continue to burn out of control in Central Texas – from USA Today : "Texas is in the midst of its worst wildfire outbreak in state history. The Bastrop-area fire has been the largest of nearly 190 wildfires the forest service says erupted this week, leaving nearly 1,700 homes statewide in charred ruins, killing four people…
Sandstone Falls is one of the most scenic places in the whole New River Gorge and that's saying something. (Photo by Gary Hartley) Kayakers pitch themselves from the top of it. Fishermen wade into it. Some simply look at it with awe.
A couple years ago, I built the North Country National Scenic Trail . Oh, it wasn't all me - I had some help. Actually, I helped build about 600 feet of the 4600 mile trail. Many sections of the trail still don't exist - but they will some day.
Tonight was the broadcast of NY Says Thank You Started in 2003 at the suggestion of a 5-year-old boy, The New York Says Thank You Foundation has grown into one of the Nation's leading organizations to transform the 9/11 Anniversary into a positive, hands-on platform for national volunteer service. Each year on the 9/11 Anniversary,
BSA provides den meeting plans for den leader on the Scouting.org website. Today, I am going to go through the third Webelos plan.This plan completes Naturalist and Forester. It also covers some Webelos badge requirements.
I have and I have always thought about it as being around the adult support, being able to offer adults who work on shifts or could only give their support one weekend a month the opportunity to support the movement.
These have been incredibly handy. Vistaprint will allow you to create a set of 250 business cards for FREE. We used them for our Pack Family and Friends Picnic & BeltLoop Extravaganza. We provided each boy with 4 cards each and they were to hand them out at school inviting another boy and his family to…
Andy's Rule No. 28 : Order of the Arrow elections are always "popularity contests." Scouts who best live the Scout Law with their fellow Scouts will always be the most popular. Andy's Rule No. 29 : Things you never want to see being made: Sausages and Troop Bylaws.
Ten years ago a few days after the events of September 11th had spread their cloud of confusion, fear, uncertainty, and unthinkable suffering our Scouts all came to their regularly scheduled Troop meeting. As they gathered to close that meeting I was searching for words that could express what I was feeling at the time.
Do you have a Cub Scout who loves to watch the weather? Or maybe he always knows the forecast for the next week. I have one Scout in my Webelos den who is fascinated by the weather. He has made his own weather website and even brings his weather radio to camp with him.
The e-tour has been camping around the watery, green Northwoods of Wisconsin and Michigan this past week where the lack of internet has undoubtedly saddened our faithful blog-o-philes:). The bounty of crisp, clean water around has afforded us some great swimming, frog watching, and the occasional evening serenade by a solitary Loon.
It was an honor to have our troop provide the color guard for the dedication today of Kenilworth's new 9/11 memorial. The Scouts raised the flag and then lowered it to half mast. To know that the first time the American flag was raised over this steel that was once part of the Twin Towers,
We've released a new video to help you recruit more Scouting volunteers.
Not often you can describe an AGM as a fantastic day, but that was the case for the Association's AGM and Council in Conference on Saturday, but before then Wayne made a special Scouts of the World presentation...
Unfortunately, we are not able to go in to the schools to talk to boys as its been set as a rule of the School District and prohibits it. However, what they do allow, we try to take every advantage of.
It's the 10th Anniversary of a day that changed the world and changed my life. I've written much on this date over the past 10 years. Today I spent it in the woods, with the PLC of Troop 199. The rest of the Troop was at a local Ceremony honoring the victims and heroes of…
It has been 11 days since I last posted.. Announcing a winner to the SMMPhoto contest. 11 days since I have really sat at the computer and gave the time to jot something down of significance. Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites are great ways to let the world know about our minute by…
In a partnership with Discovery Channel UK the Scouts association published this list of 14 things for young people to do before they are 14: 1. Navigate using a map 2. Climb a tree 3. Make and fly a kite 4.
Talking about September Roundtable for the October theme of Responsibility. Tonight's show sponsored by Badge Magic Share with Others:
From the Burlington Free Press . As Vermont's fall hiking season opens, most of the 400,000-acre Green Mountain National Forest and its 900 miles of trails are still closed due to damage from Tropical Storm Irene. Also essentially off-limits: Camels Hump, one of the most popular hikes in Vermont, because the access roads leading to the…
Our parish Fall Festival is coming up in a couple of weeks. Our Crew asked if they could do some sort of service project at the event, and it was decided that they would provide some sort of gathering spot for the teenagers.
Swimming at sunset. Lake Marion, Ottawa National Forest. Mark and Tara
Troop Leadership Summit, How (not) to Kill a Troop, Flight 93 Chad Fisher's Varsity Scouting Blog 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!
Freeport, ME . Kate Bullock sips on a fresh cup of bean while posing with the iconic L.L. Bean boot in Freeport, ME. The L.L. Bean flagship store has been a staple along Main St. in Freeport, ME for nearly a century.
In my mind, this is one of the more important ones. For people to know about your program, they first have to know that you exist. A couple of moms within the pack made this awesome banner that we’ve used at every opportunity — at the 4th of July parade, Riverfest, Back to School Resource Fair…
Last week, the Boy Scouts of America announced more than $85 million in new philanthropic gifts to help further fund the development of the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve. Led by a $25 million gift from West Virginia billionaire Jim Justice, president and CEO of Justice Companies, Inc., which includes the iconic Greenbrier Resort…
Volunteer Scouters often have to explain themselves and dispel persistent misconceptions. Here’s a few things I think people who don’t volunteer don’t get: 1. I have already heard all of the jokes and impolite innuendos about Scouting and Scouters. I have a pretty good sense of humor, but how about you think a little more…
This article at the Atlantic got me to thinking about what people don't understand about the work of being a Scout leader. (I am not really interested in what you think of the article. You can comment to the author on their website if you like – let's not discuss the article here please.)
Who can name all of the following animals and wildflowers? #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 Good luck, Agata and Jason
Skateboarders and Scouts may seem at first like completely different groups of kids. Scouts are seen as courteous, obedient, cheerful, and clean, while skaters have been typecast as disrespectful, rebellious loners who wear dirty, ripped clothing and hang out in …
The Troop Historian records troop activities. This job is perfect for a Scout who likes to take pictures and write journal entries.
New Skit for All scouts
This post first appeared 8-22-11 on the InsaneScouter blog. A few times a week, Stadri's shipping department excitedly announces on the intercom: "the patches are ready for viewing!" It's an exciting chance for the sales staff and artists who design the patches to see the finished work before they are individually boxed and shipped.
Get on your bikes, and throw on your hiking boots, because the Arrowhead Hike & Bike Trail is officially open. The National Park Service commemorated the official opening of the trail in Fayetteville, West Virginia, with a ribbon cutting ceremony held Wednesday, Sept.
