Top 10 Reason Why Not to Be an Eagle Scout: Reason #1: The Scout Uniform isn't a... "Babe Magnet!"; Reason #2: Outdoor Latrines have this bad... Habit of not Having Any Walls!; Reason #3: You get to Miss the Chance to see...
I love this place. This cabin has been in the family for many, many years and currently under the loving care of my wife’s brother. Years ago when my in-laws were still alive, we used to come up here nearly every weekend of the summer.
The name and fame of Jack Cornwell are known to every boy in Britain as the lad who in the great sea-fight off Jutland in 1916 stuck to his gun aboard the Chester when all the gun’s crew were killed or wounded and he might have got away under cover.
20 Things Not to Do ~or~ Say at Your Eagle Board of Review Thing #1: You call THAT a question?... Why the Heck did they Make you... a Leader?; Thing #2: Come to the BOR Wearing your... Uniform Backwards!; Thing #3: Answer every Question with "Mind your own Business!; Thing #4: There will be a…
Naguonabe Lodge 2012 NOAC patches Several Boy Scout members and adult advisors of our Order of the Arrow Lodge, Naguonabe Lodge, attended the National Order of the Arrow Conclave (NOAC) last week. Unfortunately, I did not attend, but I heard that those who were there had a great time.
• EAGLE – It's a No-Brainer! ________________________________________ This is for all Scouts; especially those destined to become Boy Scouts in February 2013. Here's the big idea: EAGLE'S A NO-BRAINER! That's right! Who says you have to earn Eagle just in time for it to be another 18th birthday present, and you never get to wear the Eagle badge…
While watching the meteor shower last night I had the opportunity to try out this free app on the iPad that I learned of via the Scouting Magazine Blog . This is an awesome little app. Simply hold the iPad up and point it towards a cluster of stars and it will tell gyou what your…
For scouts attending WashJam this next week, they will have an opportunity to be some of the first scouts to possibly earn the new Search and Rescue merit badge . Via the WashJam Facebook page, I learned yesterday that one of the requirements is for scouts to take and pass FEMA’s ICS-100 online training and exam…
When Baden-Powell first conceived the idea of the Boy Scout, part of the uniform that he designed included the hiking staff. Yes, indeed, he considered the hiking staff or ‘Scout staff’ to be an indispensable part of Scout equipment. This was for good reason, for the Scout staff has been and always will be a…
Informative article from Tim MacWelch at Outdoor Life Survival on how to find and use fungi fire starter: If you have birch or black Locust trees growing near you, then you probably have some very
This fall mark's Elliot's last year in Cubscouts. He started in 2008. He will transition to a Boy Scout Troop in March. Also, this fall, is the first year for many boys who become Tigers. They are so very small and bouncy! I follow many blogs and get several email subscriptions. One of them
“To meet their spirit of adventure I held up for their ideal the doings of backwoodsmen and knights, adventurers and explorers, as the heroes for them to follow.” ~ Baden-Powell I have particularly enjoyed doing the research for this third installment of the Keystones of a Scout series: Exploration.
IN THIS PODCAST High Adventure Trips KEEP IN TOUCH Contact Clarke Green Call and leave a voice mail comment or question at (484) 734-0002 Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes Listen on your mobile device with Stitcher
You probably heard that the Scouts built a lot of hiking and biking trails at the SummitCorps back in July 2010, but did you know they also established friendships that will last a lifetime? In addition, the youth weren't the only ones making friends.
Developing leadership in others is always a challenge, but developing leadership in youth is particularly so. Young people haven't acquired the seasoned reasoning ability that many adult leaders have. As adult leaders in Scouting, we must recognize this and meet …
Venturing Ranger Award Core Requirement – Wilderness Survival
Venturing Ranger Award: A young man or woman must complete 8 requirements and 4 electives. 1 of the core requirements is Wilderness Survival [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
I was thinking about BSA's software solutions the other day after renewing my Youth Protection and found myself asking again the same question that is always on my mind: WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET BETTER TOOLS TO HELP ADMINISTER THIS PROGRAM??
I was thinking about BSA's software solutions the other day after renewing my Youth Protection and found myself asking again the same question that is always on my mind: WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET BETTER TOOLS TO HELP ADMINISTER THIS PROGRAM??
I was thinking about BSA's software solutions the other day after renewing my Youth Protection and found myself asking again the same question that is always on my mind: WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET BETTER TOOLS TO HELP ADMINISTER THIS PROGRAM??
I received a call this morning from a father of one the Boy Scouts, who is also a troop committee member, asking if I was going to attend the troop meeting tonight. He and his family would be gone on vacation next week and his son would not be able to attend the committee meeting…
One of the very first times, if not the first time that the Japanese Square lashing appeared in print was in John Thurman’s Pioneering Principles in 1962. John Thurman was an influential British Scouter who discovered the lashing while on a tour of Japan, hence the name.
I was pleased to open my copy of The Wall Street Journal to the Opinion page earlier this month and spot a five-column article headlined, "A Century of Eagle Scouts," written by Michael S. Malone, author of Four Percent: The Story of Uncommon Youth in a Century of American Life , a new history of Eagle…
To be honest, when it comes to sport, I am not interested (unless it an Ashes Test! ). However, I have been very impressed with the Olympic games that have just finished. The performances by some of the athletes have been truly impressive, be it Usain Bolt, Jessica Ennis, Victoria Pendleton, Sir Chris Hoy or Hamadou…
BSA offers supplemental pack program ideas for each month. One theme for the September core value of Cooperation is a Hometown Heroes theme. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
You have been asked to take on one of the greatest, most challenging roles in Scouting; you are a new Scoutmaster. What next? Get trained! Here's the steps; Be prepared for training by being teachable. A new
You can't blame this one on inflation. More than 60 years ago, the average age of a boy earning Eagle was 14.6. Today it's 17.1. As we celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Eagle Scout Award this month, it's a good time to ask: Why the increase?
The last couple weeks here have been spent creating a Pen Pal Connection feature on Boy Scout Trail - see Pen Pals page. It's a simple way to get your den, pack, patrol, colony, unit, ... listed and find other groups that want to connect.
Click to open August issue The August issue of the LFL and Exploring Today newsletter has been published and is now available online. In this issue, you can read more about Learning for Life's anti-bullying and cyber intimidation programs , as well as putting your 2012 fall Exploring Growth Plan to use.
Colorful New 'Guide to Awards and Insignia' Replaces Obsolete Version
The BSA has published a colorful, 112-page Guide to Awards and Insignia , which is now available in Scout shops. It replaces the 2009-10 Insignia Guide, which is now obsolete. The new guide, No. 33066, includes official policy related to insignia and uniforms, as well as guidelines for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, Venturers, Sea…
Hiker and the Eagle - Wishful Thinking - August 2012 Copyright - U.S. Scouting Service Project | Visit us at http://usscouts.org | News at http://usssp.blogspot.com
Today’s edition of The Scout’s Scrapbook is a quotation from John Thurman on the relationship between the Patrol and the Troop: The picture that John Thurman gives here is quite different from the one that I have seen in many Troops.
Want to get your Scouts connected and inspired? Hook them up to the Patrol Z social channels and watch the engagement grow! We all know that kids are social beings. They are no strangers to Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc., where they enjoy checking out the flurry of their peers' activity.
Available now, you have two new tools on myuhc.com to help you choose a medical plan and shop for health care services-the Plan Cost Estimator and myHealthcare Cost Estimator. Plan Cost Estimator When it's time to select a medical plan that meets your needs and fits within your budget, the Plan Cost Estimator can help.
Over 2,000 Scouts and Scouters participated in our recent Summit Shakedown experience. Clearly, it created a buzz as we hoped. It also accomplished our other primary objective to test certain aspects of the Summit and learn more about running program there.
Researching far-off destinations for the "Where Am I?" contests is one of my favorite things to do while on the job. Why? Because I always find myself in awe of how many cool places exist in our great nation. Take, for instance, the secret location of the July-August challenge : Effigy Mounds National Monument in Iowa.
A new Scoutmaster needs to be trained but that training needs to be supplemented by your own reading and study. Most of the time when Scouting goes awry it's because adults are ignorant of the program. You'll
This song about a dog is mentioned in Wolf Den Meeting Plan 13 – Pets. This song is sung to the tune of Six Little Ducks. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
Learn More About Your Local Population With 2012 Council Market Analysis Report
The 2012 Counci l Market Analysis Report now contains additional general market data. A demographic and income profile has been added to the appendix of the report. This profile includes information on population, income, age, and race and ethnicity for 2011, as well as projections for 2016.
An updated Annual Health and Medical Record will be available to Scouts everywhere Sept. 3. Its use will be mandated by Jan. 1, 2014. The 2012 AHMR revision includes several noticeable changes. In an effort to support the BSA's All Markets Strategy, we have developed a bilingual format.
I have been blessed it seems. I don't know how it happens, but I have been getting some really good scouts lately. A couple months ago, a new Scout, Weylin, came to the troop meeting on Thursday night, signed up and was at the campout the next night, ready for a great weekend.
Heading to Philmont! In a couple days I'll be heading to Philmont Scout Ranch to complete a week-long Wood Badge leadership course. Big deal? It is. Philmont is an incredible place; once you have been there it gets in your blood.
For this installment of the Keystones of a Scout series, I will be talking about a skill that has been emphasized greatly ever since Scouting was founded. This virtue and skill is very valuable and the mastery of which is one of the marks of a true Scout.
Giving Times: Honoring a Legacy, Funding STEM, and More in Summer 2012 Issue
Click to open summer issue. The summer 2012 issue of the Giving Times newsletter has been published and is now available online. In this issue, you can read more about the legacy of philanthropists Ed and Jeanne Arnold, as well as funding efforts for the BSA's strategic goals and STEM initiative.
Click to open Aug. 15 issue The Aug. 15 issue of the Finance Impact e-Letter has been published and is now available online. As we approach the end of the third quarter, it is our hope that BSA local councils have begun focusing on the upcoming 2013 fiscal year.
Ever wonder who signs off on major changes to the Scouting program? Instead of wondering, why not be one of those people? Yep, by joining the Scouting Research Panel , you'll be one of the insiders who give their thumbs-up (or down) to new merit badges, updated rank requirements, or other major changes to the Scouting…
Boy Scouts who like to tinker with their family cars can earn the Automotive Maintenance merit badge. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
At some point you'll be trained, you'll have studied the resources and be reasonably confident that some changes need to be made. These may just be changes of style or they may be fairly systemic. Bear in mind that all
The Scout Laws as a Photographer : Scouting seeds success. Check out this tale from one of the founders of our favorite online digital-photography course, Digital 1 to 1: digital1to1 : A Scout is… Trustworthy Loyal Helpful Friendly Courteous Kind Obedient Cheerful Thrifty Brave Clean Reverent I served as a Boy Scout until I moved away from…
Scouts Can Start Earning New Search and Rescue Merit Badge Aug. 20
Aug. 20 is the date that the Search and Rescue merit badge will be available and ready to earn! You should start seeing the pamphlet and patch appear in Scout shops and online very soon. The best places for units and Scouts to start looking for merit badge counselors include local SAR groups, fire or…
In the last blog post we answered some questions that were asked by participants and leaders at the Summit shakedown. This edition answers a few more. Garden Ground Mountain Trek The model for 2013 has some activities that are new for a national jamboree.
We all know that member email collection establishes a vital channel for communication with this group. For the Voice of the Scout program, however, it is the single-most important activity that councils can do now to unlock the potential of true membership engagement.
Pioneering has always been part of Baden-Powell's vision of Scout training, from the first edition of Scouting for Boys (Chapter IV- Camp life- deals with huts, bridges, towers and lashings). BP would have been exposed to pioneering as a military discipline in the army- pioneers were engineers who moved in front of the main column…
Patrol Z is a group of new-media journalists made up of Scouts and Venturers from all across America. High adventure, service, and achievement are what we're all about. Want to get in touch with us? Tweet to us @PatrolZ , and follow our photos on Instagram @PatrolZ.
Wayne Brock is the new Chief Scout of the BSA. He has an interview in the Sept-Oct issue of Scouting magazine. In it, he mentions technology a few times, and I'm happy to see that he realizes technology is here and is a tool to be used.
BSA provides a set of Tiger den meeting plans for Cub Scout den leaders. This is the second of the supplemental tiger den meeting plans. It starts Tiger Elective 17 – Make a Model. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
When the going gets tough, Scouts get going. Just look at what's happening in Michigan. The place has experienced some of the toughest economic times in America and it also boasts some of the toughest volunteers and professionals in the Boy Scouts of America.
In the last installment of my Keystones of a Scout series, Observation , I briefly touched on the importance of being able to remember what you observe. Memory, indeed, is a very important skill to have, especially as a Scout. In order to Be Prepared, we need to learn and remember many important skills such as…
For those of you who didn't this summer the Summit aka the PERMANENT HOME of the JAMBOREE held its FIRST official event there. The purpose was to TEST & FIGURE OUT what is going to be NECESSARY to ensure that the 2013 National Scout Jamboree is ABOVE & BEYOND all EXPECTATIONS that our SCOUTS & SCOUTERS will get…
Willy Volk succinctly describes how he applies his experience in the Peace Corps to his work. I have known several Scouts (all Eagles) who went on to serve in the Peace Corps and gained a great deal from it.
Much like the Order of the Arrow and Woodbadge, within ShelterBox training there is an element of keeping the details to yourself as not to spoil it for future participants. What I can tell you is that the past week has been mentally and physically exhausting (as promised); and I loved it. Myself and 11
Reblogged from A Scouter's Journey: Much like the Order of the Arrow and Woodbadge, within ShelterBox training there is an element of keeping the details to yourself as not to spoil it for future participants. What I can tell you is that the past week has been mentally and physically exhausting (as promised); and I
I captured this shot at WashJam 2012 where they were letting the boys build some 2 Liter Bottle Rockets and launch them themselves. I wanted to capture this for an idea on how to build my own set of launchers.
Today was the final day of WashJam 2012. I was pretty impressed with how the whole thing went. It’s quite a feat to put on such an event of this size and I think the folks from the Pacific Harbors Council did an awesome job planning and pulling it off.
Scouts play games. A lot of Games. But, here is my question. Scouts will bring games to a campout or outings or summer camp. I have listed a few of them here. You can suggest others that I have not listed. What do you see Scouts play. I am only after board or card games.
The full programme for Gilwell Reunion 2012 is now available to help you plan your weekend. If you're attending, let us know in advance and we'll share your story.
Today, I’m going to continue the series, Keystones of a Scout: The 10 Virtues that Make a Scout, which I introduced: here. Previously in this series, I talked about Endurance, Self-Discipline, Exploration, and Observation. Each of these are traits or virtues that I have shown to have been with Scouting from the beginning, and each…
At last! Search and Rescue merit badge requirements released
The search is over. The hotly anticipated debut of Search and Rescue merit badge - the BSA's 130th current merit badge - has finally arrived. Search and Rescue merit badge, or SAR for short, has an official earn date of Monday, Aug.
Do you know who can claim the densest "city" in the U.S. in 2013? If you don't, you've got some brushing up to do on your Summit facts, my friend! Let us help you. We've arranged the fascinating facts and figures in a handy, dandy infographic to get those mind wheels of yours spinning.
A recent article aimed at the new committee chair listed a few things that I've found to be helpful when starting the job or any job in Scouting. But what are the actual responsibilities of the committee chair? Hopefully if …
Presented my 12th, and hopefully last for the year, Red Cross Wilderness First Aid (WRFA) session this weekend. Between my long hikes, most of my weekends have been consumed by this training. I've presented to 160 people this year with most of them being Scouting folks.
I was officially released from the young men on Sunday, when we sustained the new YM president in our ward. I know he will be great for our youth and will do a fantastic job with them. I'm confident he will continue the work I started with the Venturing program in our ward and I…
Here is a tip for Scouts working on the Reptile and Amphibian Study Merit Badge for a homemade fly trap to help save money feeding your critters. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
IN THIS PODCAST What a new Scoutmaster Needs Resources Scoutmaster's Bookshelf KEEP IN TOUCH Contact Clarke Green Call and leave a voice mail comment or question at (484) 734-0002 Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes Listen on
Today’s edition of The Scout’s Scrapbook is a quotation from Sir Robert Baden-Powell (the founder of Scouting) on how a Scout looks on Success: This quote excellently captures the spirit in which a Scout takes on life and looks on success.
Enoch is an active 17-year-old Scout and blogger at Scouting Rediscovered I asked Enoch to write about his experiences with adult volunteers in Scouting: When I first joined my Troop, I really didn't know what to
Enoch is an active 17-year-old Scout and blogger at Scouting Rediscovered I asked Enoch to write about his experiences with adult volunteers in Scouting: When I first joined my Troop, I really didn’t know what to expect; I was never a Cub or Webelos, and my family had not really been involved in Scouting.
Call it a temporary role reversal. The team behind Cubcast - which Cub Scout leaders listen to every month for practical tips - is now listening to you. I told you all about the monthly, BSA-produced podcast when I previewed the July and August editions.
The Totin Chip certification grants a Scout the right to carry and use woods tools. Recently it also proved to be a great way to recruit new Scouts for our troop. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
Prayer of the Woods I am the heat of your hearth on the cold winter nights, the friendly shade screening you from the summer sun, and my fruits are refreshing draughts quenching your thirst as you
I promised to tell you more about the 2013 National Jamboree programming in my last blog, so here goes: In previous jamborees, activities were largely centered within regional hubs. Each hub had identical activities delivered in action centers and each action center only had one degree of difficulty within each event.
Today I’m going to start a new series here on “Scouting Rediscovered” that will run in parallel to the other series that I’m currently writing. Over a year ago, I borrowed a book from my local library called: Baden-Powell: The Two Lives of a Hero .
The Cub Scout core value for the month of September is Cooperation. The Hometown Heroes meeting plan features ideas for the core value of cooperation - games, group activities, songs, and more to help kids learn to cooperate [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
If you read and listen regularly you know I am a big promoter of High Adventure in Scouting. How are your plans for your next high adventure trip coming along? That's right, you, how are
Yesterday, I introduced a new series where I will be going through the biography: “Baden-Powell: The Two Lives of a Hero” by William Hillcourt. In this post, I will be giving a brief synopsis and commentary of the first Chapter: “The Seventh Son”.
Stamp collecting is one of the most popular hobbies in the world. Boy Scouts can earn the Stamp Collecting merit badge. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]