WARNING: If you are sensitive in nature and have a problem with someone being absolutely honest & frank about "What Should Parents Do When There Son Wants to Drop-Out of Scouting" I would highly recommend that you discontinue reading this post immediately.
Scouting is dependent on interested leaders and interested parents. John Copley, leader of the National Council Volunteer Development Committee's ScoutParents task force, joins us to explain how we can use the ScoutParents program to help keep that interest to recruit and retain leaders, parents, and ultimately Cub Scouts.
Honesty defines the moral character of a person perhaps more than any other attribute. We here at the BSA are all about character building, so Michelle Gee, council supplemental training chairman for the Last Frontier Council in Oklahoma City, is bringing us great ideas on giving our Cub Scouts the perfect foundation for building their…
June 30th was the Cubmaster Hike #3 just outside of Carson, WA in the Wind River area. This was a great 1.5 mile hike in a place that my family has ever been. It was very flat and easy with no up or down. I wanted to find the Wind River Crane section, but due
Hope you enjoyed June's content, Comments on these posts are still open so feel free to voice your thoughts. I am always happy to hear from readers either in comment on Twitter, Facebook or via the Contact Me
Enter daily for a chance to win one of 10 camping hammocks from Grand Trunk, Hennessy Hammock, and ENO. Plus, winners will take home a new hammock-camping guidebook. From Scouting Magazine. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
Enter daily for a chance to win a Wenger Swiss Army Mike Horn knife. Plus, five runners up will take home the new Gerber Steady Tool. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
So this is the promotion video for next years Over the Edge Event!!! They used some footage from my camera as well as a few remarks from yours truly… Enjoy! Have a Great Scouting Day!
Here is the video of my descent to downtown Portland from the US Bankcorp Tower. I wrote a blog about it that explains more about the event. There is also a more professional one done as well. Jerry is in both videos.
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. The Osprey Ace 48 is an ideal pack for overnight camping and backpacking adventures.
Where can a boy read, and get inspired, about getting fit, cooking a meal, riding a horse, exploring a cave, identifying trees, leading an expedition, gazing at the stars, catching a fish, and saving a life? If you've guessed the …
Whitewater kayaking has been a part of the Whitewater merit badge, but now there is a merit badge for flat-water kayaking, which will make this one a good merit badge to earn while out on the lake at summer camp.
We've all been there: waking up in a haze of discomfort after sleeping on a rocky, uneven surface in a tent. It's not pleasant. Derek Hansen says it doesn't have to be that way. Instead, he says, try sleeping in a hammock.
In recent years parents seem increasingly reluctant to allow their children to do things for themselves – to be ‘free range kids'. It makes me wonder if some parents have written activities like Scouting off
BL 's Gear Guy tackles a question on the minds of many guys this time of year: How to get those knives sharp… Hey Gear Guy, which devices (other than a traditional whetstone) can I use to sharpen my knife? How well do they work?
IN THIS PODCAST Interview with author of Free Range Kids and ‘World's Worst Mom' Lenore Skenazy. LINKS IN THIS PODCAST Shout Out! Free Range Kids Blog Buy Free Range Kids on Amazon My review of Free
In the July 2012 episode, you'll learn how to teach Cub Scouts to be honest. Listen up: A simple download of the Boy Scouts of America's Cubcast , an audio podcast featuring how-to topics for Cub Scout leaders and parents, can improve your pack or den.
Once again, the BSA is offering Naturally Slim ® to benefits-eligible employees and their spouses at no cost! Naturally Slim is an online health improvement program that helps you lose weight, reduce stress, increase exercise, and improve your overall health-all while eating the foods you actually like to eat!
Everyone knows Scouts do service. But there are some who don't understand the concept very well. I don't know how often I've gotten a call from someone requesting the help of my young men on some project or another. It's always put forward as a great opportunity for service.
In several past post‘s I have talked about Knots that are either awarded or earned by an Adult Volunteer. I also wrote an email to the BSA directly about their changing of the knots. I got a tad grumpy about it. In the past couple of weeks this Summer, the BSA has now come out
Click to open June issue The June issue of Supply Line newsletter has been published and is now available under the "Newsletters" header on Scout Wire . (The May issue also has been added under the " Supply Line Previous Issue" link.)
A review of our troop's week of Boy Scout summer camp at Camp Drake in eastern Illinois, near Champaign-Urbana. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
Your Scout comes home from summer camp more capable and mature than the boy you waved goodbye to a short week ago. Outside of the normal support structure of his family, away from the solitary distractions of
As I suspect you all know by now, most of the northeast section of the U.S. got hit by a severe wind storm on June 29th. The Summit was no exception, so I'll interrupt my normal blog topics to give you an update on our situation here at the Summit.
Be a Better Leader : From our friends down the hall with the Bryan on Scouting blog: Listen up: A simple download of the Boy Scouts of America's Cubcast , an audio podcast featuring how-to topics for Cub Scout leaders and parents, can improve your pack or den.
Pop quiz! Which "first-ever" will be happening at the 2013 National Scout Jamboree? A . The first ever jamboree at the brand new Summit Bechtel Reserve B . The first ever jamboree where Venturers will participate C . The first ever jamboree to include whitewater rafting, rock climbing, AND mountain biking all in one place D .
INDEPENDENCE DAY The usual day we make resolutions for ourselves is January first. I think today-Independence Day-may be even better. Here are my Independence Day resolutions… o As Scoutmaster, I will train and guide the Scouts in my troop to lead themselves.
In 2011, the National Council's Awards Committee conducted a review of the hundreds of awards presented to Scouts and adults in the BSA. Many recommendations were made to update procedures and the awards themselves. Among the recommendations was the update of the unit leader training awards requirements and a review of the Cub Scout leader…
Landscapes, a set on Flickr. Hello all This a collection of Landscapes I have taken, feel free to view them The reason behind this post is I needed to test the post from Flickr function and needed some content so …
On Independence Day we celebrate the founding of our nation - We celebrate the trust our nation's first leaders invested in one another. We celebrate loyalty mutually pledged: our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.
**CAUTION- THIS MAY COME ACROSS AS A RANT.** The two subjects that cause the most argument and trouble historically are those of religion and politics. I try to steer clear of both. Not because I lack opinions in those matters, just that I believe at the end of the day, your opinion is yours and…
Click to open July issue The July issue of Marketing News is now available online in the Marketing Toolbox. In this issue, you can read more about NEXTConnect '12, the National Marketing Summit, which will be held July 26-27 in New Orleans.
Three Simple Rules in Life: Rule #1: If you do not got after what you want,... You will never have it; Rule #2: If you do not ask..... The answer will always be no; Rule #3: If you do not step forward....
Steve Jobs Quote: Your Time is Limited... S0 Don't Waste It... Living Someone Else's Life; Don't Be Trapped by Dogma... Which Is Living With The... Results of Other People's... Thinking; Don't Let the Noise of Others'... Opinions Drown Out Your...
BSA Medical Plans: Becoming a Smarter Health Care Consumer
Being a smarter consumer of health care services is about making decisions on the cost and quality of health care before you make the purchase. The BSA's new High-Deductible with HSA Plan is designed to help you do just that.
The Boy Scout Roundtable Planning Guide suggests a Safety troop program feature for August 2012. This program feature offers the opportunity to introduce kids to safety programs in a troop setting. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
We camp in the kingdom of the timber rattler and the copperhead so I keep up on current best first aid practices for treating venomous snake bites in the field. Dr. Paul Auerbach, author of Medicine for
Some would argue that this Scouter is doing exactly what he should do at camp: Relaxing somewhere Scouts can find him if they need him. I know a place where adults voluntarily give up a week of vacation to oversee a bunch of teenage boys.
Our pursuit of the Main Thing-delivering a quality Scouting experience to the youth of America-can take on a whole new look when it comes to the challenges of urban Scouting. So that's why I was excited to read a recent article posted on NewsWorks , the online news network for Philadelphia's WHYY-FM, about the efforts under…
Click to open July 1 issue The July 1 issue of the Finance Impact e-Letter has been published and is available online. Need to take the Fiscal Management I (FMI) course? The Finance Impact Department has added another session to its training schedule: FMI will be offered just prior to the Top Hands Conference in…
This week, Wayne discusses presentations, projects and Scouting's online presence. He also talks about being quizzed by County Commissioners and getting muddy in the Cotswolds.
Scouting Magazine's blog, Bryan on Scouting recently posted an article discussing 25 ways Scouters can make the most of Summer Camp . I found it interesting some of the comments made, by and large, they were spot on. I thought this was one worth sharing.
images courtesy www.urbanrun.co.za The Nelson Mandela Bay Urban Run takes place in September in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Last year, the Scout groups of Nelson Mandela Bay built two obstacles- a monkey bridge and a tripod-based bridge , pictured above. They have been approached to build obstacles again for the race this year.
LFL and Exploring Today: Read About Anti-Bullying Program in July Issue
Click to open July issue The July issue of Learning for Life and Exploring Today has been published and is available online. ( Note: Large PDF, will take a while to download.) In this issue, you can read more about LFL's anti-bullying and intimidation programs, as well as the following stories: New digital programs for grades…
For those of you who weren't able to attend the National Annual Meeting or want to share the presentations with your volunteers, please click on the NAM tab at the top of Scout Wire's site. The presentations currently available include the Strategic Plan 4-1-1 update by chairman Russ Hunsaker, as well as the Americanism Breakfast…
What do 50 acres, 200-plus shooting stations, and 3D courses have in common? They'll all be ready and waiting for you at the 2013 National Jamboree's adventure area for shooting sports! From the expertly designed course to trying your hand at shooting skeet with arrows, your quiver will be full of activities and excitement.
Google the title of this post and you'll find some pretty elaborate plans and opinions for Eagle Scoutmaster conferences. Some of them leave me thinking I should don a wizard's robes and start boiling up some eye of newt
A provides Wolf den meeting plans for Cub Scout den leaders on the Scouting.org website. This plan includes Wolf Elective 6 – Books, Books, Books and Wolf Elective 12 – Be an Artist. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
Saying that Scouts serve their community is a bit like saying fish swim or dogs bark. Service is in Scouting's DNA. So it's no surprise that when I asked for photos of Scouts doing service projects last month, the response was huge.
The Higgs Boson: Why You Should Care - The Daily Beast : I edit a magazine for youth. I have the attention span of a 12-year-old. The Higgs Bosum has completely befuddled me. Until now … thanks, Daily Beast, for one of the best common-man explanations I have read.
Fiscal Management I Course to be Offered in Phoenix Prior to Top Hands
An excellent course for council treasurers, fiscal volunteers, accounting staff, Scout executives, and fiscal managers preparing to become Scout executives will be held Aug. 19-21 in Phoenix prior to Top Hands. For more information on the course, which is designed to give council staff and volunteers a greater understanding of the fiscal management and administrative…
Chief Scout Executive Bob Mazzuca will be retiring at the end of August. Many have said Bob's leadership not only inspired BSA youth, volunteers, and staff, but led to many positive differences and outcomes for our movement. And, we've heard folks would like the opportunity to let Bob know the impact he has had.
Personal items have been packed. The troop gear has been loaded. The freshly uniformed Scouts have chosen their rides. The vehicles have left town. Boy Scout Troop 68 is on its way to a week of camping at Many Point Scout Camp in northern Minnesota.
My wife and I took the kids to the Oregon Zoo on Saturday. We had not been there for years. It was a great place to take them when they were little and also the Grandparents when they visited. The Zoo has updated and changed a lot since the years. We took about 4.5 hours
5 Rules of Happiness: Rule #1: Don't Hate! Rule #2: Don't Worry! Rule #3: Give More! Rule #4: Expect Less! Rule #5: Live Simply! Thank You, World: Thanks to Those: Who Hated Me... You Made Me Stronger; Thanks to Those: Who Loved Me...
Gandhi Quote: Many People... Especially Ignorant people... Want to Punish You for... Speaking the Truth for Being... Correct, for Being You; Never Apologize for Being... Correct, or for Being... Years Ahead of Your Time; If You are Right and You...
In 2007 at the occasion of the 100 anniversary of the Scout Movement, the Austrian Scout Association declared August 1 a "National Scout Scarf Day" and asked all active and former scouts to wear their scout scarfs in public. Many people including prominent business persons followed the call and thus made the spirit of scouting
With the opening of the Summit for the 2013 National Scout Jamboree, you'll see plenty of sustainable design in operation - and some of it won't be so obvious. The list of deep green innovations is long; how will you know them when you see them?
If you're a trainer. BSA has some excellent resources on the national website, which are updated periodically. Recently they posted some helpful tips for trainers. Following are a few of them, primarily dealing with the mechanics of giving a training …
One of the interesting things about Scouting in the LDS Church is that the leaders don't (usually) volunteer. They are called. That is, they are asked by an inspired leader to accept the responsibility. That also means that most Scouters don't retire.
Bear Den Meeting Plans: Bear Achievement 8 – The Past Is Exciting and Important and Bear Achievement 17 – Information Please. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
IN THIS PODCAST Scoutmaster Panel Discussion – Emergency Preparedness LINKS IN THIS PODCAST Boy Scouts of America Emergency Preparedness Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Catalog of Youth Disaster Preparedness Education Resources Lifesaving and Meritorious Action Awards
You'd have to be living under a mushroom to not know about the Summit's opening event, the 2013 National Scout Jamboree. With this being our first jamboree at the Summit, even experienced jamboree staffers have many questions. I thought I'd use this week's blog to answer some of the most frequently asked questions: What duffel…
Rule No. 84: • If God is indeed watching us, the least we can do is be entertaining. ________________________________________ Dear Andy, Thanks for all the great information you provide. My question's about BSA trek safety. Reading the GTSS information, it seems to say that all activities now require two adults: one at least age 21, and one…
On Saturday, Wayne kicked off a very wet Gilwell 24 with Scouting's newest Ambassador, Ed Stafford and 5,000 Explorer Scouts. He then travelled to York to join the National Scout Car Races in the glorious sunshine.
Sorry about the lack of updates, but I've been a bit busy with other things (mainly 2 small girls!). However, Scouting hasn't gone all quiet, in fact I have been quite busy. Two recent highlights have been the Beaver camp that I went on and the Group's Annual General Meeting / BBQ / Olympics event.
BSA offers supplemental pack program ideas for each month. The newest theme for the August core value of Honesty will be a Kids Against Crime theme. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
There's a danger inherent in going too far with the whole ‘kids these days' thing. Each successive generation is pretty sure the next one is headed to hell in a hand basket. Your great-great grandparents were convinced that your great grandparents
Ultralight backpacking may be the biggest change to hit Scout backpacking since the development of the hip strap. While still slightly contentious among some traditional Troops, Ultralight is increasingly accepted as a viable alternative to carrying the entire equipment list developed by traditionalists.
Think you know Philmont? Never been? Either way, you can get a backstage pass to the BSA's famous hiking and training destination in New Mexico with PhilCast, the weekly behind-the-scenes video series I told you about last summer . It's back for a second season, and you can watch all the 2012 videos right here .
The Disabilities Awareness belt loop is another of the recognitions from the Cub Scout Academics and Sports program. This belt loop encourages Cub Scouts to find out what it is like to live with a disability. We had a lady who trains assistance dogs come to a pack meeting and show the Scouts all of...
As an adult volunteer in Scouting how would you react if you were made aware of suspected abuse? As the Penn State investigations proceed they reveal more about how the administration of the school handled
Yes our priority should be improvement for young people but when there is an opportunity to impact something wider we should not shy away from that challenge. Continue reading → No related posts.
Violence rages in nearly every corner of the world. That makes Baden-Powell's vision for Scouts promoting world peace seem even more prescient today than it did a century ago. Fortunately, Scouts and Scouters in the U.S. live far from any war zone.
Summer Scout Camp for our troop is less than two weeks away. As the PLC works through sorting out equipment needs, meal planning and duty rosters, I'm gathering up things we can do while hanging out around camp. More specifically, stuff for lashing and whittling contests or Stick-Pull and Tug-o-war games.
You Are Unique: You May not Think that the... World Needs You, but it Does... for You are Unique like No 1... That has ever Been Before or.. Will Come After; No 1 can Speak with Your Voice... Say your Piece, Smile your Smile...
Do your Scouts count the strategy guide for their favorite video game as summer reading? Does "staying active" involve little more than their thumb on the remote control? If so, it's time for you to intervene. Take part in the Corporation for National and Community Service's summer United We Serve: Let's Read!
It's important to keep safety on the agenda of meetings at all levels of Scouting. This is a short guide to the sort of items that might come up in the name of safety.
Within My Power: I'm not a very Important Man, as... Importance is Commonly Rated, I Don't... Have Great Wealth, Control a big Business... or Occupy a Position of Great... Honor or authority; Yet I may Someday mold Destiny... For it's within my Power to Become...
Advice on what to do when lost in the woods was created in 1947 by the Forest Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. ( It is part of the Oregon State University Archives). The advice still rings
When a few of our Boy Scouts earned their Small-Boat Sailing merit badge a couple of years ago, they would yell "Pirate Adventure!" as they walked down to the waterfront at camp. They loved doing this badge. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]