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From the Connecticut Yankee Council Webpage: Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the families in Newtown today and in the difficult days to come. We are heartbroken about this terrible tragedy. We are very saddened to share that our Scouting family has been struck by this tragedy. Lost from Pack 170 are: Cub
The National Council is offering the following lease car for sale: 2010 GMC Terrain SLE-2 Approximate miles: 39,182 Exterior color: Mocha steel metallic Interior color: Light titanium cloth Asking price: $18,118 Location: National Council Equipment/Features: 3.0L V6 SIDI VVT engine AM/FM stereo with CD/MP3 player, XM Radio 6-speed automatic transmission Power windows/locks/driver seat Cruise control…
Click to open December issue The December issue of Supply Line has been produced and is available online. In this issue, you can learn more about last-minute holiday collectibles and gift cards, as well as two handy outdoor resource books that are now available in paperback.
This morning took a little walk in a local park on the Sandy River and had a great cup of coffee.. Enjoy this weeks Sunday Morning Coffee as we try our Starbucks Medium Breakfast Blend brewed up using a French Press.
The BSA has formed a partnership with professional bass angler Tom Redington to help teach Scouts about the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) aspects of the outdoors and fishing and to encourage young people to become active in the outdoors.
Through the awesomeness of Twitter, we caught wind that some of you coming to the 2013 National Jamboree are big into journalism. We were pretty stoked about that because you know what? We are, too! With the story-writing chance of a lifetime coming up next year, it was our duty to help you budding journalists…
Committing to become a den leader (or other adult leader in Scouting) means not doing it halfway, otherwise the boys don't benefit as much, and the adults don't have as much fun either. Sure, accepting a leadership role is a …
Posted in Outdoor Recreation Venturing Ranger Award Elective – Equestrian To earn the Venturing Ranger award, a young man or woman must complete eight core requirements and four electives. One of the electives to meet the Ranger award requirements is Equestrian.
A collection of Kiff's Instagram Photos for you to enjoy
In this edition of the Scoutmaster Podcast: Talking to our Scouts about tragic events. Fifth and final installment in our series about the steps of Scout advancement ‘A Scout Is Recognized . We discuss immediate recognition and courts of honor. Answer to an email questions about starting a new troop and Scout spirit.
If you're wondering if there's anything you can do to help folks in Newtown, even though you're hundreds or thousands of miles away, there are many opportunities to support them. Here's one... Two of the slain children were Tiger Cubs in Pack 170.
The BSA's top three professional and volunteer leaders have created a special holiday greeting …
It breaks my heart to report that the horrendous school shooting in Connecticut has hit the Scouting family. The Boy Scouts of America learned that two of the victims, 7-year-old Chase Kowalski and 6-year-old Benjamin Wheeler, were new Tiger Cub Scouts with Pack 170 in the Connecticut Yankee Council.
Jill Gloster has completed her term in office as Chief Commissioner of Wales, and now the search is on for her successor.
There's plenty to celebrate this week with Scouting winning awards and Wayne getting to know our CEO designate.
New JTE materials have been uploaded to the JTE site on Scouting.org ( www.scouting.org/jte ), including information for 2012 JTE year-end and new 2013 JTE goal-planning tools for councils and districts.
Fifth in a series of articles about the four steps to Scout Advancement. Articles will be published each Tuesday beginning November 20, 2012 Immediate recognition is a powerful incentive of the BSA's advancement program. A Scout should receive his new badge as soon as possible after his achievement has been certified by a board of…
Posted in Scholarship Reading and Writing Pin for Cub Scouts My kids all enjoy reading. I often find them sitting in a quite corner reading a book. Cub Scouts who are interested in books and writing can earn the Reading and Writing pin from the Cub Scout Academics and Sports program.
The Health and Safety Support Committee Wilderness First Aid Task Force is meeting in February to consider changes to the current Wilderness First Aid Curriculum and Doctrine Guidelines , initially published in 2009. The public comment period is now open, and comments will be considered until Feb.
We are changing our website to make it possible for anyone interested in Scouting to easily find the information they need.
Cardiff East and South District has recently won a British Youth Council award.
If you're still looking for something small to give your scouter this Christmas, what about a cool mini LED flashlight? The one I'm thinking about is called a "PICO Zipper Light" by eGear . One of these came in the Adventure Kit I got with my SPOT Satellite Messenger last Christmas.
In the Dec. 6 issue of Scout Wire , you were provided information regarding the new Incident Reporting Kit as well as where to find information on how to report and set up online reporting in the Risk Management Notebook (found at MyBSA > Resources > Risk Management > Risk Management Notebook > #17 ).
I have been podcasting for over five and a half years. I have co-hosted one podcast ( The Leaders Campfire ), produced an audio podcast ( Around The Scouting Campfire ), and continue to post videos to the Melrose Scout Productions Podcast . All three podcasts have had Scouting related themes.
Well for those of you have follow me on twitter you will know that the last 10 days I have been saying buongiorno alot as I am in Italy
Posted in Science Inertia Demonstration This demonstration can be used to fulfill Webelos Scientist activity badge requirement 3. It could also be used as part of a demonstration of the scientific method or a science experiment for the Science belt loop and pin from the Cub Scout Academics and...
Here's some court of honor ideas we use that you may find helpful: Some court of honor ideas can enhance the central theme (recognizing Scout advancement) and some detract from it; Ideas that Enhance: 1. Recognition of Scout achievement in Scouting and outside of Scouting (If we know about a special accomplishment or award a…
Monday night at after our Troop meeting a young Scout came to me with a very concerned look on his face. He asked if I had a minute and of course I said "sure". He hummed and hawed for a second and then said "I know this sounds silly, but… what do we do if…
Mountain biking . It's fun to experience, but hard to describe. You can talk rolling over flowy trails and watching the woods blur by in your periphery. Or picking your way through a gnarly rock garden like a ninja , grinning all the while.
Two years ago, in December 2010, I introduced the BSA's six operating principles, and asked each of you to incorporate them into your daily activities. Since that time, I have witnessed countless occasions where our employees have exemplified these principles.
It is time to complete the 2013 annual local council membership validation process . The procedures linked above must be reviewed and certified by all professionals, paraprofessionals, council registration staff, council service center employees, program aides/project workers, and designated volunteers. The appropriate signed forms must be returned to area directors no later than Feb.
The hits just keep on coming. Exactly one month after the BSA locked in Train to close the 2013 jamboree , we now know who will kick things off at the Summit Bechtel Reserve next summer. It's Carly Rae Jepsen, the 27-year-old Canadian songstress whose single "Call Me Maybe" won MTV's Best Song Of 2012 honors…
I got home from work to find an email in my ‘In Box' from a local Scoutmaster that I had a conversation with at Round table. We were talking about our annual plans and I told him that our Troop would be Shot Gun Shooting in January at the local Gun Club and camping at…
If you're still looking for something small to give your scouter this Christmas, what about a cool mini LED flashlight? The one I'm thinking about is called a "PICO Zipper Light" by eGear . I got one of these last Christmas in the Adventure Kit that came with my SPOT Satellite Messenger .
Please join us on Wednesday, Jan. 9, for the second installment of the Mission Delivery Leadership Club (formerly known as the Council Operations Breakfast Club). We encourage both employees and volunteers to join in each month as we discuss current topics that focus on optimizing the delivery of the Scouting experience through councils and units.
Posted in Careers and VocationsThe Arts and Creativity Drafting Merit Badge for Boy Scouts I took a drafting course in college and enjoyed it. Boy Scouts can learn more about this precise way of drawing a design by earning the Drafting merit badge.
If you haven't discovered the Wirecutter blog check it out, they have excellent in-depth reviews of all kinds of interesting stuff. Here's what their review of the best hand warmers concluded: Zippo Hand Warmer Sometimes gloves aren't enough. That's when hand warmers come in.
Those of you that follow Buttons, the radical Boy Scout, on Twitter (@buttonst68) have noticed that he has been posting a Scouting themed Twelve Days of Christmas. The twelve days follow the twelve points of the Scout Law, beginning with trustworthy and ending with reverent on the twelfth day.
The BSA chemical fuels policy is a good common-sense approach to the safe use of any gear using chemical fuels. Here it is in it's entirety: Purpose This policy directs Boy Scouts of America members how to safely store, handle, and use chemical fuels and equipment.
Communication to key audiences-including national employees, local council employees, and top volunteers-can be a critical part of any project's success. To ensure communication is built into your project's strategic plan, consult the 2013 Scout Wire production schedule so we can help spread the word: 2013 Scout Wire production schedule
In a touching gesture, the two Tiger Cubs killed in last week's shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School have been awarded the Spirit of the Eagle Award. BSA Chief Scout Executive Wayne Brock and other top professionals presented the families of Chase Kowalski and Benjamin Wheeler with the award, "an honorary, posthumous special recognition for…
T-minus 200 days 'til our council leaves for Jamboree… WOW, how time flies! It doesn't seem that long ago we were just at 300 days . As we look at what needs to be done between now and July, I thought I'd share the Equipment List my co-leaders have organized over the years.
Images courtesy of Facebook page Edmend Leong wrote in with this project being built by Shiang Yang Open Scout Troop 219 Kinta, Perak in Malaysia. The troop has previously built a 40m high tower, and this tower will be the largest pioneered structure in Malaysia when complete.
I'd like to wish everyone who visits my site, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Many thanks to those of you who have taken the time and effort to comment on my posts, I really appreciate it, and I hope to see you all in 2013.
Posted in Scoutcraft Wolf Supplemental Den Meeting Plans – Spare Time Fun Your Wolf Cub Scouts will be working on their Pinewood Derby cars, so this meeting is intended to be completed before your Pack Pinewood Derby. They will be starting the car at this meeting and completing it at the...
Kayaking or SUP in your wheelhouse? Then sign up for an aquatics staff position and be like Gandalf , imparting wisdom to all who venture into your domain. Maybe we love playing around in water so much because we're made up of more than 60 percent of the stuff.
I was never a Scout as a boy but I had a copy of the patrol Leaders handbook illustrated with line drawings of perfect campsites and campfires, of Scouts in perfectly neat uniforms lining up eagerly to listen to their patrol leader, cheering heartily, rallying around the patrol flag waving their hats.
Scoutmaster Mike Lodes writes the blog An Hour a Week…. left over after Scouting . Here's a recent post that got me laughing - So, I agreed a little while back to be the Chartered Org Rep for our Church's Cub Scout Pack.
Well it's another Sunday and we made it past yet another Apocalypse.. So that means it's time for Coffee with Scoutmaster Jerry. This week we take a little trip to a local State Park and brew up a cup of coffee and chat about gear.
With the close of the year and the special Eagle patch given to those scouts that earn their rank this year, I've been working with a lot of scouts on Eagle Projects. I've been reading and advising on proposals, helping …
Welcome back to the SMMPodcast. In this show we ask the question; "Is this the last show?" You tell me. We also discuss the tragic events in Connecticut and wonder what we can do to help. And of course… a Very Merry Christmas to one and all.
By now, hopefully you've had a chance to complete your troop's annual Journey to Excellence scorecard and turn it in to your district professional. Generally, these are due by December 31st, in order to qualify for the award and help …
Welcome back to the SMMPodcast. In this show we ask the question; "Is this the last show?" You tell me. We also discuss the tragic events in Connecticut and wonder what we can do to help. And of course… a Very Merry Christmas to one and all.
In this edition of the Scoutmaster Podcast: Scoutmaster Panel discussion with Larry Geiger, Tom Gillard and Walter Underwood about discipline and punishment in Scouting, we also touch on Scouts using electronic devices during meetings and activities. Past editions of the show are available at the PODCAST ARCHIVE Scoutmaster Podcast 151 – Panel Discussion
A year or so ago I came across an article about how PMI (Project Management Institute) was looking to propose a Merit Badge specifically for Project Management. As I manage projects for a living, this piqued my interests and I've …
You've asked for them– Here they are! My "101 RULES" for Scouting and for Life. With personal thanks to Ken King, Diana Cilluffo, Mark Twain, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Douglas MacArthur, Laurence Peter, Oscar Wilde, and Murphy. No. 1: • Stupid has no cure.
Functional AND good-looking. One of the essential mandates in the B.S.A.’s Outdoor Code is: BE CAREFUL WITH FIRE. I will prevent wildfire. I will build my fires only where they are appropriate. When I have finished using a fire, I will make sure it is cold out.
The wrapping paper is thrown all about, smiles on every face. Hope everyone got what they wanted or needed and the smell of Christmas cooking is filling the air. I wanted to take just a minute and share my Christmas wishes to you all.
UNDERWATER See-Saw We were introduced to and adapted this project thanks to the great Pioneering Made Easy website. It was inspired by Fun With Ropes and Spars by John Thurman who, with his inimitable approach to providing pioneering challenges and robust Scouting activities, dubbed it the “Underwater See-Saw.”
How fast can the flag be raised! Flags engender pride! Flying ‘em high is great for Scout spirit, and making a flagpole is really easy. All you need are straight sticks (Scout staves work great), rope for round lashings, rope for guy lines, and three stakes.
Posted in Fitness Tennis Belt Loop for Cub Scouts If you want to introduce your Cub Scouts to a sport which many of them probably don't play, try the Tennis belt loop from the Cub Scout Academics and Sports program.
Because we overheard on Twitter that we have some Scouts who love journalism, we wanted to get some insider tips for you. Of course, we would only settle for advice from the best that Scouting has to offer. So, we immediately turned to Scouting magazine's Bryan Wendell and got him to divulge all the tips…
Authoritative leadership is marked by high expectations and active responses. Parenting styles and adult leadership styles have a lot in common. Authoritative is not authoritarian; in this context they are polar opposites. Balanced responsiveness is a key factor to being a good authoritative leader, authoritative leaders listen more than they talk and readily reason with…
The Three Phases of the Chippewa Kitchen Cooking Experience The Chippewa Kitchen can be seen as the indisputable KING of all “camp gadgets.” It’s the ultimate camp kitchen pioneering project, providing a huge element of convenience to a wide range of camp cooking operations.
Adjusting knots and lashings after the first test crossing. The well-known, time-tested, traditional Monkey Bridge is perhaps the most familiar of all Scout pioneering projects. It’s frequently featured at Scout Expos, Camporees, Scout Camps, and is often a central attraction at public gatherings where Scouting is represented.
Posted in Careers and VocationsScience Engineering Merit Badge for Boy Scouts Engineers use their knowledge to solve a wide variety of problems. Boy Scouts can investigate this profession by earning the Engineering merit badge. Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in...
How's this for a busy life? Quinn Alec Hoover, a 17-year-old from Hagerstown, Md., was an honor student, band member, soccer player, runner, award-winning Indian dancer, swimming instructor, church volunteer, and Life Scout. He touched so many people during his life, and after his tragic death in March, he's touched even more as an organ…
From an article by columnist David Brooks , read the full article at The Heart Grows Smarter In 1938, a group of researchers began an intensive study of 268 students at Harvard University. The plan was to track them through their entire lives, measuring, testing and interviewing them every few years to see how lives develop.
Scouters love to shoot the breeze about the next campout, newest merit badge, or tastiest recipe. But when someone brings up a more-sensitive topic at a roundtable or leader meeting, it's often greeted by silence. That's where the new ScoutCast comes in.
Even in the midst of the holiday season you still took the time to send us some awesome photos; and for that, we THANK YOU! Your events are always so special and we are as enthusiastic about making your shirts as you are about wearing them!
John Thurman Some special quotes by JOHN THURMAN , Camp Chief, Gilwell Park from 1943-1969: “ There are few activities which, properly presented, have a greater appeal to the Scout and Senior Scout than Pioneering and ever since the introduction of Wood Badge training, Pioneering has been given a full share in the programme of Scouters’ training.
Yesterday all over sports talk radio they discussed the recent incident between Tim Tebow and his head coach. Now I don't know all the details as they never really got into it, but the jest of the matter is that for obvious reasons Tebow is not to happy about his role on the New York…
Posted in Outdoor Recreation Tiger Den Meeting Ideas: Picnic Fun, Snack Time, Safety in the Sun, and Fun Outdoors BSA provides a set of Tiger den meeting ideas for Cub Scout den leaders. The focus of this Tiger den meeting plan is an outdoor picnic.
For new Cub Scouters, the terms "monthly core values" and "roundtable" might as well be in a foreign language. We've all been there, and Cubcast knows it. For newbies or anyone needing a refresher in those two essential Cub Scouting subjects, listen to the January 2013 edition of the monthly podcast.
This infographic shows the tarp knots I use. Rigging a tarp or dining fly provides shelter from the wind and rain and shade from the sun. I often use a tarp rather than a tent because there's plenty of room to spread out and they can be rigged in many different configurations.
This small camp table is completely functional and provides a convenient raised surface for personal, patrol, or general use. It’s simple design provides for quick and easy set up, and it is surprisingly stable. Make the table legs . Start by lashing four 6′ staves with shear lashings, to make the table’s legs.
Boiling up some water on a cold morning. It’s a sight right out of the old frontier, a cooking fire with some game roasting on a wooden spit supported by two forked sticks. It’s easy to make, and the wooden spit is often a crossbar from which pots are suspended for boiling water and cooking…
Tools are Organized, Accessible and Looking Good Fundamentally speaking, as long as a campsite is safe and clean, all’s well. However, especially for longer term camps (or when displaying demonstrations of Scoutcraft skills), there’s definitely something to say for the added convenience of a campsite tool rack.
Hey folks.. THIS IS AN UNSOLICITED Blog post about perhaps my favorite of the packaged "Just add water" meals. Packitgourmet.com makes some fantastic food for backpacking or for those of you that are getting ready for a zombie attack.. I suppose you can add this to your preper stock.
A few weeks ago I showed my First Aid Kit while drinking coffee from the hammock. I have since received multiple emails asking for a break down of what is in my First Aid kit. Well.. here you go. Feel free to ask questions or leave a comment here on the blog.
The following explanation and diagram is from the pioneering resources on the Scouts of South Africa website . “The Filipino diagonal lashing serves the same purpose as the ordinary diagonal lashing. It is particularly useful when lashing thin spars or bamboo spars together when they spring apart or need to be pulled together to close a…
Hey everyone, this week we try out the Taster's Choice instant (singles). It turned out to be a good cup of coffee and the price can not be beat. We are introducing a new segment to the video and blog this week also..
Simple and Convenient! Mighty useful in the camp kitchen! This is just about the easiest of all useful campsite improvements, But, beyond its simplicity, it’s just plain functional, adding mucho convenience! Take three sticks, about 4′ long and sharpen one end of each.
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog. Here's an excerpt: 600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 2,600 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt.
It's that time of the year when we all take a look back at our year and take stock in what we have learned, what we accomplished, and what we look forward to in the coming year. It is also that time of the year that all the "Lists" come out and WordPress sends us…
It's been a busy year, just not all of it with Scouts; though as my family will tell you that takes plenty of time. Lucky for me the WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog. Here's an excerpt: 600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog
A few weeks ago, our council president addressed the fall meeting of our council leadership. He gave us the usual statistics on membership and how each of us can help with recruiting. He outlined the council property plan, news from …
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog. Here's an excerpt: 4,329 films were submitted to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. This blog had 27,000 views in 2012. If each view were a film, this blog would power 6 Film Festivals Click here to see the complete report.
For Scouts and Scouters, 2012 had plenty of ups - and a couple of downs. We welcomed changes: new merit badges, new Eagle Scout requirements, a new Chief Scout Executive, and a new high-adventure base in West Virginia, to name a few.
Here it is, the last post to the Melrose Scout Productions Podcast for the year of 2012. The goal has always been to post at least one video each month, or at least twelve per year. This podcast will keep that twelve per year goal.
My special, heartfelt, thanks to all of you who have joined in listening and reading over the past year! In this podcast I'll replay excerpts from some of this year's interviews. Lenore Skenazy – Scout mom and author of Free Range Kids Andrew Skurka – long distance backpacker and author of The Ultimate Hiking Gear Guide .
