Have you ever considered how service projects are related to being a good citizen? There are even a few parts of our Scout Law involved-like being kind and helpful, to name two! As Scouts, we get involved with all kinds of service projects in our communities through our units.
What's The Difference Between A Canopy Tour And A Zip Line?
- Tell me about The Summit's canopy tours and zip lines? Maybe I'm the only one in this category, but I didn't know much about canopy tours when I first got involved in developing the program for the Summit. I know a lot more now!
My sons collect all sorts of things. So the really enjoyed earning the Collecting belt loop from the Cub Scout Academics and Sports Program. As a den leader, I always did this in conjunction with Wolf Achievement 6 - Start a Collection.
Leave No Trace Bonfire - June 2012 Join the official KNOTS or Not Scout Cartoon Fan Page on Facebook! TIA! Copyright - U.S. Scouting Service Project | Visit us at http://usscouts.org | News at http://usssp.blogspot.com
I love what the Boy Scouts of America's Marketing team has done with its new recruiting materials. (If you haven't seen them, drop everything and take a look .) But my BSA pride doesn't preclude me from pointing out the latest bit of genius from our Scouting friends across the pond.
Recently I was asked: "Do you have any updates on the knots?" The Scouter asking wanted to know the new knot requirements and get a complete list of which ones are being phased out. Then more and more emails started coming in, so I thought I'd share with you what I learned at the National…
I recently watched the movie " Courageous " and thought this final scene is an awesome message as we approach Father Day's. I hope that we as fathers, leaders and mentors take our positions of influence seriously and work hard to make a real difference in the lives of those around us.
Scoutmasters are not disciplinarians. We are volunteers in the game of Scouting and our job is to mentor and train youth to lead themselves. When there is a question of accountability – a Scout who is
You can always find the area of Boy Scout summer camp where they are working on the Leatherwork merit badge by the noise of boys busily stamping leather. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
Hard work pays. And in the case of these four Eagle Scouts, I mean that quite literally. The recipients of the four most-prestigious scholarships from the National Eagle Scout Association have one thing in common, in addition to their rank in Scouting: Each went above and beyond in their commitment to service, education, and leadership.
Earlier this month, I mentioned that Pip wowed the crowd at the BSA's National Annual Meeting with his rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner." Now you can see what all the fuss was about. Pip Arnold, the Eagle Scout who snagged the spotlight on The Voice , received rave reviews from the gathering of volunteers and professionals…
Bear Grylls, Chief Scout, takes to the skies in the fifth instalment of Bear in the Air, his mission to meet as many Scouts as possible during his five years as UK Chief Scout.
Scout Community Week (14-20 May) has prompted thousands of volunteers to do their bit for local communities while raising awareness for local Scouting.
So a taxi was done, it was clear they had to use a bus next and no other bus says Great Britain than the iconic half front of a London Routemaster bus, making 'Japan or Bust' an entirely unique expedition.
Parents are usually less prepared for summer camp than their sons. Parents concentrate on preparing boys for camp but may be unaware how much they will miss and worry about their Scout while he is
Parents are usually less prepared for summer camp than their sons. Parents concentrate on preparing children for summer camp but may be unaware how much they will miss and worry about their child. They may
There's a green movement afoot - and it's going to help ensure the Summit is around for as long as there are Scouts excited to go there. Sustainability is a big part of the Summit experience, and Scouts who attend the 2013 jamboree will get to take part in it.
7 Sustainable Practices In Action At The Jamboree Another cool article about what the Summit & the 2013 Jamboree is going to be about!. Make sure to check out this article and see other awesome and interesting facts, details, and stats about the Summit aka SBR aka Summit Bechtel Reserve aka permanent home of the BSA…
BSA Tiger Den Meeting Plan 16 – Cleanup Treasure Hunt, What Kind of Milk?, and Snack Time
This Tiger Cub Scout den meeting idea covers Tiger Elective 33 – Cleanup Treasure Hunt, Tiger Elective 23 – What Kind of Milk?, and Tiger Elective 25 – Snack Time. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
Below is an email that my wife wrote out for me to send to the Parents within the Pack that I am the Cubmaster for. Since I have the list of emails for the entire Pack, I steadfastly held out on pelting them with requests of donating to what I am doing. I did not
Don't tell your non-Scouting friends, but Scouts aren't the only ones who have fun at pack, troop, team, or crew events. Yes, the program is for Scouts, but as you and I know, adults get something out of it, too.
Here's a new job for Mike Rowe, he of Dirty Jobs fame: Keynote speaker at a gathering of BSA professionals and volunteers. Rowe traded his usual duds - well, he kept the jeans - for a nicely pressed shirt at this month's National Annual Meeting in Orlando.
Rule No. 81: • It takes just one careless match to start a forest fire, but it'll take a Scout the whole box to start a campfire. ________________________________________ Dear Andy, May I use your Memorial Day piece at an upcoming meeting? (Gary Marquardt) Any number of Scouters like you have asked about this, and the answer is…
As of this posting, were are 43 people who donated to Over The Edge fundraiser to allow me to rappel down a large pink bank tower in Portland, OR. Thank you to all of you. These people are special in many ways. I am not going to name them directly, but I will describe them.
In an egg drop challenge, Scouts try to design a container which can prevent an egg from breaking when dropped. This is an excellent project to get kids interested in science and engineering. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
I found and downloaded the new First Aid App from the American Red Cross on Thursday. I am a huge fan of the Red Cross. I give blood and do Apherisis through them. I also have my First Aid and CPR certification through their local Chapter in Portland. This App is available on both the
Summer camp time has arrived! Here's some information from ScoutmasterCG.com for everyone heading to camp this summer: A Scoutmaster's day at Scout Camp It's a great privilege to be a guest of the Scouts while we are
Communication Services is now providing Language of Scouting quarterly updates through Scout Wire . The department regularly updates the BSA's style guide to ensure that the reference continues to reflect editorial changes throughout the organization. The following entries have been recently updated in the Language of Scouting .
The Olympic flame finished its tour of Newcastle in fine style on Friday (15 June) when Bear Grylls zip-wired with the Torch from the top of Tyne Bridge.
For many Scouts, the national jamboree can reignite their passion for Scouting. Scouting parent Pat Wellen saw her teenage son getting older and getting busy with all the things that can fill up a busy kid's schedule. As it happens for many, his interest in Scouting had a lot of competition.
If you like challenge courses, get ready for one like no other. Challenge courses featuring tree-to-tree platforms, zip lines , balance beams, rope bridges and more are nearing completion at the Summit Center. At the heart of the national jamboree , the Summit Center will feature a little bit of every adventure you can experience on site.
BSA offers supplemental pack program ideas for each month. It looks like the newest theme for the July core value of Courage will be a Cubs in Shining Armor theme. This one was the program theme at least once in the past.
Big headlines were made last year when allegations of child sexual abuse came forth against former Penn State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky. The failure to maintain accountability when faced with the allegations led to the dismissal of the …
Want to get your unit's recruiting up to speed? Consider hauling your "Join Scouting" message everywhere your pack, troop, team, or crew travels. Start by taking a page from Canton, Ohio, Troop 4's playbook, which just wrapped its trailer with a complete visual history of the unit.
IN THIS PODCAST Summer camp, a true story, email answer LINKS IN THIS PODCAST Shout Out! KEEP IN TOUCH Contact Clarke Green Call and leave a voice mail comment or question at (484) 734-0002 Subscribe to
'Marketing News': Register Now for NEXTConnect '12
Click to open June issue The June issue of Marketing News has been published and is available online at the Marketing Toolbox. Learn what's next in connecting Scouting to the communities you serve at the NEXTConnect '12 National Marketing Summit, planned for July 26-27 in New Orleans.
The requirements for the new Kayaking merit badge page are now available on usscouts.org http://usscouts.org/mb/mb149.asp .The page also contains some information from the pamphlet specifically aimed at counselors, and a link to the requirements for the Kayaking BSA award patch at http://usscouts.org/advance/boyscout/kayaking.asp .
I got this from a Scouts Canada Facebook Page that I am apart of. It does not matter that this camp is in Canada, nor the Scouts are Canadian. It's CAMP and Scouts! Pure Awesomeness…. Camp is sweet freedom.
I am proud and excited to join in our announcement about the availability of our latest merit badge-Search and Rescue. We talk often about our Scouts being Prepared. For Life.™, but the meaning behind that identity jumps to an even higher level when it comes to learning the skills that may help save a life-or…
I must say what a brilliant use of twitter and hash tags by the Scout Association. It is defiantly something I am going to try and get behind and support.
Take Me Out to the Forest is a classic Scouting song. Sing it around the campfire, when you're out on a hike, or when you are camping. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
Via Facebook Tracey Lucas asks: We've helped our Elks with an annual Flag Day Ceremony and Flag Retirement Ceremony for many years. Some years we have over 400 flags that have been collected during the
Find the tools to make recruiting for your Venturing crew easy
Have you ever slept 300 feet underground? Stood atop a 14,000-foot peak? Created a robot? The BSA is betting those questions and other enticing messages will help bring prospective members to your Venturing crew. It's all part of the new Venturing Tool Kit , released this month by the BSA's Marketing Group.
More than 30 percent of U.S. students report being bullied, with 40 percent being bullied online. Help schools in your community take a proactive approach to turning this statistic around with the Learning for Life anti-bullying program, which is designed for students, parents, and educators.
2012 Council Market Analysis Reports Now Available
The 2012 Council Market Analysis reports are now posted on MyBSA. These customized reports are based on your council's 2011 year-end membership and include information about each ZIP code in your council-including total available youth and membership for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venturers; BSA market share; race and ethnicity data; household incomes; suggestions for…
In 30 plus years of Scouting this past Saturday was particularly meaningful. My wife and I were invited to the wedding of one of the men she calls ‘our boys'. Andy worked with me on
This question keeps popping up, mostly from past jamboree participants and staff. The short answer is "Yes." Jamborees at the Summit will be physically demanding experiences. West Virginia is called the "Mountain State" for a reason. While there are level areas, there are also regular changes in grade as you hike from point to point…
All of my sons earned the shooting sports recognitions as Cub Scouts, either at day camp or resident camp. If you have a Cub Scout who loves to shoot, find an opportunity for him to earn the Archery pin from the Cub Scout Academics and Sports Program.
After my wife and I found out we were having a baby boy, she started to work on a present for him/me. He showed up a bit on the small side so he couldn't try it out until recently--just in time for our last court of honor.
It sounds like the kind of headline you might find on a red top news paper, and with some of the things he eats it would not surprise me to see it one day.
In this episode of WBtv, I find myself in an interesting situation. I had planned on interviewing the new Chief Scout Executive … Since I was chosen to fill that spot when Bob Mazzuca retires later this year, I'll spend my time in this episode discussing the reasons I wanted to be Chief, as well as…
Scouting Magazine is giving away 3 backpacks in their Got Your Back giveaway. You can enter daily from now to June 30: Enter at http://contests.scoutingmagazine.org/r/7PY3Tdu6sp3?r=132716 [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
National Camp Accreditation Program-the Future of BSA Camping-Unveiled at NAM
The National Camp Accreditation Program and 2013 camp standards were unveiled during the BSA's National Annual Meeting. If you would like to learn more about the program, visit this link. This website will be updated regularly with support material and literature.
Iftar 2012 is a national campaign that will celebrate the fact that the Olympics 2012 will this year fall within the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, and Scout Groups will be at hand to help out.
With thanks to James Eager, District Advancement Chair, Thunderbird District, Gulf Ridge Council, and Mike Walton (Settummanque) we are pleased to offer Scouters a training presentation on adult awards that addresses the recent changes to what square knots will be available in the future.
Click to open June 15 issue In the June 15 issue of the Finance Impact e-Letter , read more about local councils' audits, which are steadily arriving-59 percent have already been received. Other topics include: 403(b) plan filing due date Steps to help councils be in compliance with state fundraising activities laws Reminder to file for…
Photograph by: Marice Cohn Band, Miami Herald , timescolonist.com (June 2012) A great article from Canada's Cindy MacDougal: Parents in my generation often treat our children as if they are too easily broken to be
Boy Scouts who enjoy the design and beauty of outdoor spaces can pursue their interests by earning the Landscape Architecture merit badge. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
Scoutmasters — wouldn't you enjoin on your boys that as Scouts they are expected to differ from ordinary boys by carrying out this simple Irish camping motto: On breaking up camp leave two things behind you
June 11th…my twins graduated from High School… June 12th my oldest son enlisted in the United States Army… June 13th my daughter takes off on an adventure with girlfriends to LA for a week to celebrate their graduation… June 14th I secured my last $1500 to qualify to Go Over the Edge… June 15th the…
Senior writer Aaron Derr points out some really great videos the guys out at the Summit are posting. (The Summit Bechtel Reserve is the new permanent home of the National Jamboree and BSA's fourth national high-adventure base.) Mountain Biking At The National Jamboree | Summit Bechtel Reserve | BSA High Adventure (by TheBechtelSummit )
One of the coolest photos I've seen in a while. And you thought cats hated water. I guess they love food more. inothernews : LIFE AT STEAK A Bengal tiger dives for a piece of meat thrown into a pool at Six Flags in Vallejo, California. (Photo: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images via The Telegraph)
My Jambo Troop is always looking for ways to help earn the funds necessary to attend the National Jamboree and our East Coast Tour next summer. That said, we were recently introduced to an opportunity called Ready, Set, Dough. This fundraiser looks pretty simple through selling gift cards – no minimum orders, no start-up fees, no…
In case you haven't noticed, the Boy Scouts are embracing technology across the board - from merit badges for Robotics, Computers, and Electronics, to Jamboree infrastructure, to the new STEM program. In an effort to promote online safety, the BSA has created a Cyber Chip program.
An independent study examining the effects that being a Scout as a youth has on men's later life was funded by the John Templeton Foundation and conducted by Baylor University. The first report from this study, released by Baylor University during the 2012 National Annual Meeting, focuses on the difference earning the Eagle Scout Award…
Help deliver the promise with the new Alternative Cub Scout Lesson Plans Manual: Year B ( please note : huge PDF file, will take a while to download). This follow-up manual to Year A consists of the traditional Cub Scout program and can be delivered by volunteers and program managers.
A dozen years ago this month, we tackled the subject of youth drug abuse. The subject, sadly, is just as relevant today. "The truth is, no matter what illegal substance you snort, smoke, inject or eat, a drug user has no way of knowing whether his next high will be his last.
Wayne reviews an article from Judith Hackitt, Chair of the Health & Safety Executive, highlights the value of good induction and finds time to return to Wales for the All Wales Scout Camp.
These drawings record four gateways from the Welsh Jamboree held at Picton Castle in August 1952. Drawn by G.R. Duce and published on page 200 of the 1953 Scout annual. Click the image to enlarge .
The past few days, I have thought about what Wood Badge teaches you. I am reminded of the tenets of Wood Badge, which I have my Challenge Coin to help. Bring the Vision to Life. Leading to make a difference. Models for success. Living the Values. Tools of the Trade. The goal of Wood Badge,
Venturers from New Orleans, Louisiana, recently went through the intense BSA climbing instructor training. The course certifies both Scouts/Venturers and leaders as official BSA climbing instructors. Climbing is a fun, yet somewhat risky, activity with much to learn in order to keep everyone safe, and these Venturers completed the training in just under 18 long…
BSA provides Webelos den meeting plans for Cub Scout den leaders on the Scouting.org website. The twelfth Webelos den meeting plan completes the Engineer Activity Badge which was stared in the previous meeting. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
Yesterday I blogged about the ‘reasons' that I have been away from the blog and podcast. Trending comments and emails would suggest that something is wrong over here in Jerryland.. and while life has its struggles in all of us.
You have to be to work in t-minus 14 minutes and seconds and the only thing you can think of wearing is your "hello kitty" pajamas and your slippers. Continue reading → No related posts.
You'll get sneak peeks at future BL content, like this sweet shot from the August issue. For Scouts who read Boys' Life (and the Scouters who steal their son's copy), the BSA's premier monthly magazine for youth can't come soon enough.
Just lovin' BSA's partnership with IndyCar. Not only because of our No. 19 Indy car owned by Dale Coyne Racing, but because of great events like this one recently in Newton, Iowa, that made STEM fun. (STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
Rule No. 82: • Some volunteers are sort of like Slinkies… not really good for very much, but you can't help smiling when you see one tumbling down the stairs. ________________________________________ Dear Andy, This is more of a comment rather than a question; however, I'd like your thoughts on the matter… The BSA's Activity Consent Form (permission…
Read to Lead! : It's a proven fact: Today's readers are tomorrow's leaders. That doesn't refer only to readers of Boys' Life (though BL certainly is a big part of raising tomorrow's leaders). It pertains to everyone. If you're a student, being off school for the summer shouldn't mean you should a break from reading.
Today I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts, the Dennis Prager Show . I was listening to an older show in which he was talking about values, which, if you listen to his show for more than 10 minutes you will find that values is the main subject and the answer to most of…
Mineral Hardness Scale (Mohs' Hardess Scale Scratch Test)
If your Scout is working on a geology badge, he might need use a mineral hardness scale such as the Mohs's Hardness Scale Scratch Test. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
Look Out for Helga, the BSA Hawk! The big news at the BSA national office this week is the arrival of a not-so-friendly Cooper's hawk that has taken up residence in one of our trees out front. The momma bird is very protective of the two or three babies in her nest.
DOING A GOOD TURN… OR WORKING FOR PAY? In addition to Scouting, I'm also a Rotarian; been a member of our local Rotary Club for a half-dozen or so years. Our club's regularly on the lookout for ways we can help our community.
It's not the award, it's not the patch, it's not the badge. It's action. And when you find Scouts who do something, it doesn't much matter what their medal says or doesn't say; it's their mettle, not their medals." - Mike Rowe, star of TV's Dirty Jobs and a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award…
A specially designed scarf and badge to celebrate Scouting's participation in the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is now available to Members.