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IRVING, Texas ( April 10, 2012 )-One hundred years after Arthur Eldred of New York earned this nation's first Eagle Scout Award, new, independent research demonstrates the significant, positive impact Eagle Scouts have on society every day. Since it was first awarded in 1912, more than 2 million young men have achieved the Boy Scouts of…
The core value for the month of May is Health and Fitness. Along with the regular pack meeting plan for this core value, BSA also plans to release a Cub Cafe theme. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
There has been little post activity on the blog because I took four days off work following the Easter Bank Holidays to do some jobs around the house.
As adults in positions of authority our exchanges, no matter how casual, carry the weight of position and authority. This is why I school adults to be very careful about what they tell youth leaders
Have you ever run across a great Cub Scout activity on the Web and wished there was an easy way to file the information for later use? (And I'm not talking about writing down the URL address on last night's dinner napkin.)
Whitewater rafting is the most fun you can possibly have while sopping wet. We all know that. But have you wondered: What age do you have to be to go rafting? No Whitewater Rafting Age Restrictions for Jambo Participants Guess what?
It seems like it is only just out of concept but I do hope they make it and it comes to the UK
If you have been following this blog and the Melrose Scout Productions Podcast you know that two of the four parts of the scoutmaster retirement party video have been posted. Here is the third part. It features more alumni of Boy Scout Troop 68 as they step up to the podium and share their memories…
Wildflowers abound in Arkansas Russellville, AR . Team East spent the past two days working with students and faculty at Arkansas Tech University. An educational partner of Leave No Trace, Arkansas Tech strives to promote Leave No Trace within the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Hospitality Administration .
Four new minibuses delivered to Scout Activity Centres thanks to a generous donation from the Robert Hall Foundation
Wayne ponders on some of the comments made in response to the recent media coverage following our very successful launch of a new clothing range designed for Muslim girls and others in the movement, and what these mean about us.
Show me the Ropes ' is a series of Youtube videos covering basic knots and lashings, and is being updated all the time. The videos are made by First Walmer, a Scout group in Port Elizabeth , South Africa. From the thumb knot to the Carrick bend , the videos cover a lot of ground.
Wonderful, relaxing, belly-filling day in Pine with no miles on the trail. Picked up bounce box at the post office. Ate breakfast at HB's (a small restaurant). Used the public internet at the library. Then Kyle arrived and drove us to Payson to shop where we had lunch at Subway.
Aperture Overview: Last time we talked about the shutter speed on your camera. I want to focus on aperture this week. Aperture Did you know that the human eye works like the aperture on a camera lens? If you were in a dark cave, your pupils would get bigger to try and let more light…
Boy Scouts make a carpentry project while working on the Woodwork merit badge. Our local carpenters union holds a skill center for this badge every year and the Scouts who have gone have really enjoyed it. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
While you may dream of a picturesque backyard-dotted with mountain peaks, green trees, and acres of land for you to explore-more than 80 percent of the U.S. population resides in urban areas. And, as our cities grow, it's more important than ever to appreciate, conserve, and cultivate urban forests in our neighborhoods.
One troop is led by adults, one is led by the Scouts. What’s the difference? At the risk of oversimplifying the answer the difference is focus. Troops run by adults are focused on results. Troops run by Scouts are focused on process.
One troop is led by adults, one is led by the Scouts. What's the difference? At the risk of oversimplifying the answer the difference is focus. Troops run by adults are focused on results. Troops
Editor's Note: This post is part of an ongoing collaboration between Patrol Z and the BSA Supply Group. For a full list of available products, visit www.scoutstuff.org . All content is produced by Scouts and Venturers from Patrol Z. For a pack under $150 that can last your entire backpacking career in Scouting, the Osprey Kestrel…
At last nights Roundtable I was pleased to see a great turn out in the Boy Scout break out. Last nights attraction was Camporee and what units can do to get ready for it. We had about a half hour left so I thought it would be worth our while to talk a little District…
San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA: Last week Team West spent a few hours with Park Rangers from all over the County of San Diego. The collective will be returning to their individual parks and sites with strategies and tactics of how to best connect the messages of Leave No Trace into their visitors…
On our way to higher elevations this am. Stopped for lunch right by BSA Camp Geronimo. This is the Mogollon Rim which rises a couple thousand feet to a high mesa. We'll be climbing this afternoon to the top where we'll have colder temps and probably snow tonight.
Joseph Elfelt wrote to us at the U.S. Scouting Service Project and asked whether we could mention his new Gmap4 topographical maps on our site. I took a look at his topographical mapping tool and was instantly impressed with what it can do.
Last month I finally broke down and bought an iPad (the newest version). I have been having fun with it. It looks great and works well. I have to admit, playing Angry Birds on an iPad is a lot more fun then playing on an iPod Touch.
Welcome back to the SMMPodcast, we dusted off the mic and got back to talking Scouting! We are trying out a new segment.. "The Mobile Thought".. In this show, we talk about Reverence, Troop Elections, and Youth Leadership. Hope you enjoy the show.
Welcome back to the SMMPodcast, we dusted off the mic and got back to talking Scouting! We are trying out a new segment.. "The Mobile Thought".. In this show, we talk about Reverence, Troop Elections, and Youth Leadership. Hope you enjoy the show.
I walked 48438 steps on the trail today. I traveled about 21 miles today. Hiked east below the Mogollon Rim for about 19 miles going in and out of draws, through burned sections, brushy sections, and cool forested sections. There were many beautiful views like this one.
Reblogged from The Scoutmaster Minute: At last nights Roundtable I was pleased to see a great turn out in the Boy Scout break out. Last nights attraction was Camporee and what units can do to get ready for it. We had about a half hour left so I thought it would be worth our while
Hello Friends, Scouters and Country people! Quick update on getting me "OVER THE EDGE" I have had several donations in the past 72 hours, which is awesome! Thank you to those who have donated. I really appreciate it. Right now, there is $785 in donations. Which leaves $1,715 to go! If you have not donated,
BSA provides den meeting plans for den leader on the Scouting.org website. Today, I am going to go through the eighth Bear Cub Scout plan. This plan focuses on Bear Achievement 11 – Be Ready. If you don't already have the BSA den meeting plans, download BSA Bear Den Meeting Plan 8 to follow along...
That's right, stop doing requirements for ranks. Instead focus on doing the things Scouts do. What do Scouts do? Scouts go camping and while they are camping they- Cook the food that they selected, purchased and packed Light campfires
Riding a bike through Grand Teton National Park! "A man on foot, on horseback or on a bicycle will see more, feel more, enjoy more in one mile than the motorized tourists can in a hundred miles." - Edward Abbey , Desert Solitaire From October through the end of April, the Teton Park Road in Grand Teton…
Here's a pic of warmer days and fresher legs. That's me on the very first day at the Mexico border. I've hiked about 478 miles of the AZ Trail since then and have about 339 left to go. It's been 30 days since I started this little adventure and I've learned a tremendous amount on…
Most successful leaders didn't get that way by accident. Leadership is a learned skill, based on guiding principles and developed through experience. For an organization, these guiding principles are usually codified in a mission statement, which members of that organization …
On Saturday I attended my first staff development meeting for this year's Wood Badge course. I get to be a Troop Guide for the second year in a row. Which means, I already have all my presentations basically ready--I just need to do some tweaking.
The Star Boy Scout rank is the fourth rank a Boy Scout can earn. It is earned after First Class. With Star, the focus shifts from scout skills to leadership, service, and merit badges. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
This is a guest blog by Jay Loschert, Dolores River Stewardship Assistant for American Whitewater American Whitewater and Lower Dolores Boating Advocates recently sponsored a Leave No Trace Awareness Workshop on March 31 in Dolores, Colorado. Nine whitewater enthusiasts from the Four Corners area joined Rick Ryan, retired Bureau of Land Management river ranger and…
IN THIS PODCAST Contribution Syndrome, Brick Mason, Eagles LINKS IN THIS PODCAST My review of The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide My Gear list for Scouts Contribution Syndrome KEEP IN TOUCH Contact Clarke Green Call and leave
Imagination helps provide meaning to experience and understanding to knowledge; it is a fundamental faculty through which people make sense of the world,and it also plays a key role in the learning process. April 16th was Pack Meeting night for us. Another night that we all come together and hopefully learn something and celebrate being
Our Cub Pack worked on the Nutrition belt loop at the March Cub Scout Pack meeting. If you still need a pack meeting idea for May, this would also fit in well with May's core value of Health and Fitness.
Parents (especially mothers in my experience) are the family scheduler; keeper of the family calendar and maker of schedules. We need a direct, accessible and detailed line of communication with parents (again, in my experience, especially mothers) if we expect to have Scouts attending outings and meetings.
Last night we had another Webelos Scout cross over into our Troop. He started in his last year of Cub Scouts a little late and wanted to complete his Arrow of Light, so rather than cross with the rest of his Den, he waited, finished his AOL, and crossed last night in a ceremony with…
Parents (especially mothers in my experience) are the keepers of the family calendar and maker of schedules. We need a direct, accessible and detailed line of communication with parents (again, in my experience, especially mothers) if we expect to
Over the last few months, I have been working on a secret project with Gilwell. We are now able to launch a brand new Scouting Theme 4 WordPress, called Scouts 4 WordPress , to add to my existing stable of themes available for download .
____________________________________________ Rule No. 69: • First Law of Guides, Manuals, and Handbooks: The topic you need the most is always absent from the index. ________________________________________ Hi Andy, Youth Protection guidelines state that a Scout "can't sleep in a tent with an adult who is not his parent or guardian?"
You've got 60 seconds; make them count. After a pack or troop meeting filled with learning, fun, and fellowship comes the grand finale: the Scoutmaster's or Cubmaster's Minute. Consider it a closing argument to your Scouts - one last chance to inspire before they head home.
Our latest additions to the i.Scout activity clothing range were showcased at the Alternative Fashion Week event, with Scouts modelling the new range.
A Scout follows the rules of his family, school and troop. He obeys the laws of his community and country. If he thinks these rules and laws are unfair, he tries to have them changed in an orderly manner rather than disobey them."
Earning the Energy merit badge will help Boy Scouts think about the supply and demand issues for energy in our modern world. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
The BSA is on the move to deep green. For the past century, the Boy Scouts of America has been instilling a conservation mindset in young people. At the Summit, this practice of stewardship is going to reach a whole new level.
Individual active instruction and personal evaluation are at the heart of Scouting but classroom style instruction is the universal default method of sharing knowledge. Please don't mistake what I am about to say as denigrating
A reader recently inquired to the origins of the left handshake as a greeting for Scouts. After researching the question the short answer is that, while no one can really determine who first started the tradition, the left handshake is
In this episode, I talk about how the BSA works with international Scouting and what are some of the upcoming activities. Please use the comments feature below the video window if you have any questions for Scott and me or to share your experiences with Scouts from other countries.
This pic is PapaBear having a fun outdoor meal at LF Ranch awhile back. Right now, he's back in Tempe and no longer on the trail due to a medical problem. So, if you would, your prayers for healing would be appreciated by me since I really miss having him along.
I walked 53863 steps on the trail today. I traveled about 25 miles today. I got a ride to General Springs from Pine and started hiking about 8:45 The high plateau is amazing! I walked for 9 hours on a carpet of pine needles under a vaulted cathedral of towering Ponderosa while the breeze freshened…
Census results report a seventh successive year of growth
Buttons, the radical Boy Scout, has unofficially been the mascot of the Melrose Scout Productions podcast and the Around The Scouting Campfire podcast. He has even made guest appearances on the MISS Show and Akela's Adventure. This puppet has his own Twitter and Facebook accounts.
I walked 57317 steps on the trail today. I traveled about 27 miles today. This was the view for most of the day. The high pine forests continued and gradually thinned at times. I wore shorts the past two days for the first time on this trek since there were no prickly, poky, scratchy plants…
A glimpse into the life of the e-tour Traveling Trainer team as they cook up dinner using their Coleman stove!
Over the last couple of weeks Scouter friends and I have had numerous discussions about Scouting in our District. After the last Scoutmaster training session it became pretty clear that many Scouters have heard about the methods of Scouting, but do not really put them into practice in their units.
A few weeks ago our troop camped at Johnson Shut-Ins State Park in southern Missouri. The campground was completely rebuilt following the Taum Sauk hydroelectric power station disaster in 2005. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
Once in a while a young, energetic Scout leader bounds up on my front porch here and says: ‘I have a great new idea!' I grip my cane, stare over my bifocals and reply ‘There
Every hour in the United States, a child dies from a preventable injury. Car crashes, suffocation, drowning, poisoning, fires, and falls took the lives of more than 9,000 children in 2009, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released this week.
I'm following an old railroad grade toward Flagstaff for the next few miles. Logging of huge pine trees has been a key industry in these parts. Just a glorious day this morning with birds, breeze, and a good trail.
Kurt S. just passed me on the trail riding north. Scared the beejeebers out of me! He is the lead rider in a race that started Friday at the southern end of the AZ Trail. He expects to finish in 2, maybe 3, days.
Your have seen the presentation in the first video. You have heard from the former members of Boy Scout Troop 68 during the next two videos. Now it is time to hear from the retired scoutmaster. In this, the final of four parts of the retirement party, we finally get to hear what Steve has…
The Scout Promise is a core part of the movement. But the National Secular Society (NSS) is claiming that atheist children are being excluded. But that is not the case. This is the Scout Promise: On My Honour, I promise that I will do my best To do my duty to God and to the…
Crawfordsburn and Yr Hafod are added to the network of National Scout Activity Centres.
With total membership going above 525,300 and some stunning increases in the number of Explorer Scouts (teenagers) and especially young leaders the past 12 months has been another great one for Scouting in the UK. Thank you.
Today (April 19) is Holocaust Remembrance Day. The remembrance day marks the day of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camps. Last night my wife and I caught a program on television, telling the stories of seven survivors of the holocaust.
Tonight was a good night… 2 times per year, the troop gets "booted" from the lodge to allow the hunter's safety group to come in and teach their classes. We take the opportunity to go bowling. Now, we aren't like Bryan's troop where we would need a whole bowling alley, but we have pretty good…
The Patrol is, like the ideals, the foundation of the Troop. The Patrol is where the Scout learns citizenship, it is where they practice democracy, leadership, and teamwork. It is where they find companionship, life long friendships, and a place where they belong.
Just as I found my way into Flagstaff I was walking up off the local trail system onto a city street. A jeep pulled up and I thought maybe it was the folks I'm to stay with tonight. I was wrong.
copyright Chris Eason Masked Weavers are very common birds in South Africa, building their unusual woven nests in summer. A male will build many nests and attract a female to lay eggs in each one. I have seen clusters of up to ten nests built by one male.
I walked 64735 steps on the trail today. I traveled about 33 miles today. Mormon Lake to Flagstaff is too far for 1 day. I set a new record for myself - about 35 miles in 10 hours. The flat terrain and cool temps made it possible but I don't plan on doing days this long…
Scouting sees the distribution of this game as a way of putting the Scouting adventure in front of more young people than ever before.
The Fly Fishing merit badge will teach Boy Scouts how to tie their own flies and then go after the big catch. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
If you're a ham radio buff, the six-month wait until the next Jamboree on the Air feels like a lifetime. Fortunately, there's hope. Wait just two months and attend the American Radio Relay League's annual Field Day on June 23 and 24.
There will be gallons of different ways to get wet at the jamboree. Will you be able to jump into them all in 10 days? Scuba! Sign up for scuba and snorkeling. Located in a sunny area near Mayhem Mountain , the aquatics Adventure Area will have four above-ground pools, just like you might have seen…
It was very pleasing to read yesterday that the number of Scouts in the UK had risen again for the seventh year on the trot ( see here ). It was also pleasing to see that the number of 14 – 18 year olds showed a 6.8% increase.
One of the real joys of working as a volunteer Scout leader is discovering Scouting. Scouting shares similarities to other endeavors but it is a unique field of work. Like the work of churches it
San Bernardino Area, CA: This week Team West had the pleasure of spending time with two extremely active student recreation programs. We spent Tuesday at Pomona College with their Outdoor Education Center staff and adventuring members. Thursday we joined CSU San Bernardino's Recreational Sports department for another set of campus outreach and workshops.
What's the only thing better than visiting a national park with Scouts? Taking that same trip for free. That's the beauty of National Park Week, held this year from April 21-29. For these nine glorious days - spanning two full weekends - all 397 national parks waive entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees.
Youth unemployment is undoubtedly one of the challenges of our time - we can play our part in equipping young people to overcome it. Not just because we want to do our best - but so they can too.
After the holidays food banks around the country see a shortage of food as the holiday cheer and helping spirit seems to take back burner to springtime activities. Not for Scouts around Flint, Michigan. They've collected over 40,000 pounds of food in their 26th annual Scouting for Food drive.
________________________________________ Rule No. 70: • Light travels faster than sound, which is why some people look intelligent…until you hear what they have to say. ________________________________________ GOOD NEWS! That little email hack problem I had a while back has been solved. Feel free to send to [email protected] ________________________________________ OK, Folks, here's a little quiz for you.
Saturday afternoon (April 21st) was our first Cubmaster Hike. I selected the Wood Memorial Park as our hike for several reasons. First, it's very close to the school. It is actually right next to the SW Community Center & Gabriel Park. Secondly, it's an easy hike. Nothing like climbing Mt Hood or Everest. My goal
Just a little follow up on the Patrol Method.. It serves us all well to know what, why, and how we are deliver the promise of Scouting. "[F]irst and foremost: The Patrol is the character school for the individual. To the Patrol Leader it gives practise in Responsibility and in the qualities of Leadership.
Click to open April issue The April issue of Learning for Life and Exploring Today has been published and is available online. At the Learning for Life Executive Board meeting in February, the board voted to increase the Exploring registration fee from $10 to $15 effective July 1.
If you've ever had to stand in front of a group and try to teach them something, you've experienced it. Sometimes you can talk until you're blue in the face and still get the feeling that you're not getting through. …
BSA provides Wolf den meeting plans for Cub Scout den leaders on the Scouting.org website. Today, I am going to go through the tenth Wolf Cub Scout den meeting plan. This plan covers Wolf Elective 13 – Birds, and part of Wolf Achievement 10 – Family Fun.
You might say they're the unsung heroes of the jamboree. Except we're singing their praises right here. If you want to be on the inside at the first-ever jamboree at the Summit in 2013, here are 10 of the most important Logistics Group jobs that will contribute to making it the best national jamboree yet…
Robert Baden-Powell called St. George "the Patron Saint of Boy Scouts everywhere." Image found at Pine Tree Web - http://www.pinetreeweb.com/eer-scouts5b.htm From Scouting For Boys : "St. George was born in Cappadocia in the year AD 303. He enlisted as a cavalry soldier when he was seventeen, and soon became renowned for his bravery.
Your 10-cents-per-text plan seems cheap when you consider this: Pressing send behind the wheel will soon cost you 3,000 times that amount. Thanks to a new bill signed into law this month, handheld cell phone use in West Virginia - the home state of the Summit Bechtel Reserve - is against the law and punishable by a…
Can you spot Kate? The Goat Trail over looking the Buffalo River. Respect the Resource...Kate and Tracy
I was getting water from Alfa Fia tank at mile 603 north of Flagstaff. It's a beautiful pond with great water and possibly the only good water for about 50 miles. As I reached out with my 1quart zip-loc to scoop up some h2o, PLUNK went my cellphone from my shirt pocket into the pond.
I walked 63784 steps on the trail today. I traveled about 30 miles today. Taking the higher trail, I passed through some stands of aspen. Once I got to Alfa Fia tank for water, the trail was a gradual downhill for the rest of the day - so I just kept walking.
I walked 80000 steps on the trail today. I traveled about 40 miles today. I found out my pedometer stops counting at 65000 steps in a day so I have to estimate for today. I started my day feeling great, but bummed that my phone wasn't working.
View from the top of the GrandView lookout tower! I climbed to the top but the trapdoor is locked, so it's not QUITE the top. There's been a swarm of helicoptors heading east, maybe tours or maybe something more serious. I'm heading to Grand Canyon Village now and should get there this evening. "
IN THIS PODCAST The Pivot Point, Scouts with special needs LINKS IN THIS PODCAST My review of The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide My Gear list for Scouts KEEP IN TOUCH Contact Clarke Green Call and leave
