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BSA Wolf Supplemental Den Meeting Plan E – Be an Actor and Be an Artist BSA provides Wolf den meeting plans for Cub Scout den leaders. Today's plan is a supplemental den meeting plan which gives Wolves the opportunity to do some activities related to theater.
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Troop 676 of Bozeman during their August 2012 traverse across Spanish Peaks in the Lee Metcalf Wilderness of Montana, standing atop Indian Ridge listening to our oldest Scout tell an animated story about another adventure from the past. (Photo from Ryan Jordan) Scouts need some structure and direction but they also need the opportunity (plenty…
BSA's latest new merit badge, GAME DESIGN, is now available for Scouts to earn. BSA released the requirements for the new badge on March 6, 2013. The US Scouting Service Project has posted a copy of the requirements, and a note to counselors from the merit badge pamphlet, along with a workbook we prepared (with…
Rope Ladder Attached to a Tree The kind of rope ladder referred to here is constructed using two lengths of rope and short spars (3′ x 2″ are ideal) to serve as ladder rungs. To easily and effectively attach the rungs to the ropes, a marlin spike hitch, also known as a lever hitch can…
Our Favorite Clothing Rack Design You’ve got to love this design. It’s compact, it’s sturdy, and it’s ingenious! This drying rack is based on suspending two equilateral triangles to make six cross sections for hanging wet clothing or towels during a long term encampment, and there’s no reason you can’t put it up on an…
The Webelos II recently took their last outing/hike of their Cubscout career. It was to make sure that everyone got the requirement of taking a Day Hike. Which, really was part of the Outdoorsman Pin. Most of the Scouts did a Hike at Summer camp. This hike completed #9 of the Outdoorsman Activity Pin.
The Virgin Islands Council #410 in Christiansted, VI, has been acquired by the National Capital Area Council #82, effective March 1. The council will be known as the National Capital Area Council #82 in Bethesda, MD. All mail and/or contact for the Virgin Islands should go through the National Capital Area Council at 9190 Rockville…
I have just put up a cork board with a lot of my patches from Scouting thus far. All of these patches were either given to me by #Scoutnation (a group of Scouters world-wide), earned through trainings or a process. Some of the patches especially the Council Shoulder Patches were picked up within the Council
The North Florida Council is encouraging supporters of Scouting to come out and take the leap from the top of the EverBank Center building in downtown Jacksonville to help raise funds. Join the Jacksonville Sharks Mascot "Chum" as he rappels down the EverBank Center building on May 17–18 in downtown Jacksonville, Florida.
I was recently asked the question regarding my thoughts on programme restrictions by section for activities in scouting. So here they are
As the Christian world approaches Easter, the scriptures that are read center more and more on Jesus in his final days, as he traveled and taught, working closely with his disciples and followers. A favorite reading at this time of …
As we work to prepare these boys, sometimes I lose focus on the goals of the program because of everything that is going on. I love the way this video kind of brings home what our efforts can and will …
Venturing Ranger Award Elective – Outdoor Living History 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 Outdoor Living History.
I recently completed a survey for the BSA regarding a potential change in the membership policy. One of the questions is this: What is your greatest concern if the policy is changed to allow charter organizations to make their own decisions to admit openly gay Scouts and leaders?
What could possibly bring Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout? to a screeching halt? See for yourself-no spoiler alerts, here-tonight at 8 p.m./7 p.m. Central when the next episode of the National Geographic Channel's exciting new reality show returns, pitting adult former Scouts against current Scouts.
March 16th was the Cascade Pacific Council's Commissioner's College. I love training and for $10 I got a patch and lunch to boot! I am not a Commissioner, but I went anyway. I went to this training for several reasons. First, I love learning new things. Second, I am thinking about my next career
In this Podcast we discuss the difference between planning and preparing, and answer an email question about patrols Links in this Podcast: Working the Patrol Method (my review with links to purchase the book) Scoutmaster Podcast 163
Our national strategic plan calls for us to offer new and relevant programs to attract and keep scouts and their families. Welding is a great example of doing just that. Many people would like to learn how to weld, but have no idea how to go about it.
It has been an interesting week or so and the blog once again, while always on my mind took a back seat to the daily working of being a Scoutmaster. As we prepared for the camp out and then went out on another winter adventure the Scouts of Troop 664 kept me busy and looking…
Jamboree-on-the-Air and Jamboree-on-the-Internet will be held Oct. 19 and 20, 2013. JOTA and JOTI are annual World Scouting events that provide an opportunity for Scouts to communicate with other Scouts from around the world! Last year, JOTA worldwide participation reached just short of 700,000 Scouts operating from more than 13,500 amateur radio stations, operated by…
Family Travel Pin for Cub Scouts If you are planning a vacation, then this would be a good time for your Cub Scout to earn the Family Travel pin from the Cub Scout Academics and Sports program . This recognition helps Cub Scouts understand all of the things you must do before you even set out…
A new patrol leader may think, at first, their position is one of great power and authority. Truth be told patrol leaders do have great power and authority but it's not aimed at bossing people around or commanding their respect.
I'm not sure if every Cabela's location supports activities for local youth groups, but I know the one in Lehi, Utah does – they offer a scavenger hunt that your Scouts can play inside their store! The boys wander around looking for answers to 20 fun questions about Cabela's, each with a point value to make…
I'm not sure if every Cabela's location supports activities for local youth groups, but I know the one in Lehi, Utah does – they offer a scavenger hunt that your Scouts can play inside their store! The boys wander around looking for answers to 20 fun questions about Cabela's, each with a point value to make…
Did we finally have a fair fight on our hands? After two weeks of pitting adults who didn't make Eagle against teenagers who did, Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout? turned up the heat last night. Forget excuses like "I came three merit badges short" or "my troop folded."
Since the Scouting Pen Pals feature was added to Boy Scout Trail last summer, there have been 218 units sign up! Messages are flying back and forth from USA to UK, and Canada to Africa. There's lots of room for more scouts to find pen pals.
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.
Ahh, medical forms. They're always a pain to finish filling out. And that due date always seems to sneak up on us. Speaking of which, the deadline for turning in medical forms for the 2013 National Scout Jamboree is April 15, so it's time to get rolling.
We are in the listening phase of our Membership Standards Study Initiative where we are giving everyone in the Scouting family an opportunity to share what they think and feel about this issue. We are surveying or interviewing seven groups and will compile the results into a summary report to be given to our volunteer…
The End or the Beginning? Well, not too long ago, I turned 18. That means that I am 'officially' no longer a 'Boy Scout'. Wow! I can't believe how quickly time has flown! I joined when I was 13, and I still vividly remember so many of those early memories as if they were last…
The BSA is pleased to announce the release of the Local Council Guide to the 2012 IRS Form 990. The updated guide brings together what's new for 2012, including special instructions, an illustrative checklist, and actual Form 990s into one handy reference manual to serve as a resource for practitioners and local councils alike.
April Cub Scout Theme – My Family Tree (Faith) BSA offers supplemental pack program ideas for each month. One theme for the April core value of Faith is a My Family Tree theme. Here is what the program helps say about this theme: Faith means having inner strength and confidence based on trust in a higher…
These leadership questions were part of our annual leadership challenge event this past weekend. Scouts were asked to evaluate their leadership skills at the beginning and the end of the weekend by rating themselves on how well the understood and applied these concepts.
For teens, it just might be saying no - to tobacco, to drugs, and to alcohol. And now, courageous Scouts and Venturers who pledge to remain tobacco-, drug- and alcohol-free have the opportunity to to win an all-expenses-paid trip to any of the BSA's high-adventure bases: Philmont Scout Ranch, Northern Tier, or Florida Sea Base.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that if we start our new Cub Scout families off with a quality experience, it will affect retention. Once again, we are offering to councils an updated version of the Cub Scout parent onboarding envelops at no cost.
As always, in all Scouting activities, safety must come first. In and through the challenges, fun, and rewards that go hand in hand with Pioneering, there can be no substitute for prudent behavior and common sense. The following text is by Adolph E.
Success in training the boy depends largely on the Scoutmaster's own personal example." - Robert Baden-Powell What better quote than this one to introduce the April 10 JTE Leadership Club topic: BSA Training in its Second Century? We will discuss the impact of effective training on retention, how successful training councils have reached 90 percent or…
Max Keevill soon after crossing over into Boy Scouts. Max Keevill had it all - and did it all. The 16-year-old was a straight-A student, a member of the National Honor Society, a violist for his high school's orchestra, a soccer player, and a Life Scout just a few months away from earning Eagle.
Posted in Aims of Scouting Game Design Merit Badge for Boy Scouts This badge give Scouts the opportunity to design and prototype a game. The game can be electronic, athletic, tabletop, or a pen and paper game. Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in Cub Scouting, Boy...
Backpacker Magazine's Complete Guide to Outdoor Gear Maintenance and Repair is your ticket to becoming a camping gear repair guru. Author Kirstin Hostetter's well illustrated, carefully explained directions return your investment with the first piece of damaged gear you save.
It's got adventure, humor, drama, and it makes Mondays better! Tune in to the new reality TV show "Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout?" each Monday at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on the National Geographic Channel through April 1 (when two episodes will be aired).
No one really likes the taste of salt… Take your finger and dip it in salt then stick it in your mouth… you really don't like the taste do you.. honestly… But take the salt out of your pie dough and you take away flavor that is pulled out by the salt.
Western Cape Kontiki is being held this weekend. Like last year , I'll be posting any photos and news I come across, and I recommend following @SAScout on Twitter to get the latest news.
This infographic was generously provided by reader and listener Roger Thor Roop – Thank's Roger! Click the infographic to see full size. pioneering chair Pioneering Camp Seat Infographic
Posted in Fitness BSA Tiger Supplemental Den Meeting Plan J – Go See It: Visit a Bike Repair Shop and Take a Bike Ride This Tiger Cub Scout den meeting plan covers Tiger Elective 38 – Bicycle Repair and Tiger Elective 37 – Take a Bicycle Ride.
Can't attend the 2013 National Jamboree this summer? Consider the next best thing. Mark your calendars today for the 2013 editions of the Jamboree on the Air and Jamboree on the Internet , held this fall. As the names imply, the events give Scouts a chance to communicate with fellow Scouts from across the country or…
If a pregnant Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, can do it, so can you. I'm talking about getting trained, an important step for any Scout volunteer - whether a Cub Scout leader from California, a Scoutmaster from South Carolina, a Venturing advisor from Vermont, or, yes, even a member of the British royal family.
We've seen nine Scouts-vs.-adults challenges this season on Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout? , and the adults have lost all but two of them. You could say it's been one lashing after another. But in Monday's new episode, we're in for a different kind of lashing - the diagonal, square, and round kind familiar to…
Scouting is outdoor adventure like camping, backpacking, climbing and canoeing, right? Does that leave the technology-heavy learning to a realm outside of Scouting? Not exactly. This video from code.org has been making the rounds of the internet, and it got me thinking about how we teach kids about programming.
If you want to serve a memorable campfire meal I can't imagine a much more flavorful or impressive dish than this paella. Dave Herzog (the chef who developed this recipe) is a real dutch oven impresario – you can get his recipe collections through the Cook'n recipe organizer , this requires purchasing the Cook'n software - something you…
Going camping? Go light! Here's an infographic of the collective wisdom of a number of my favorite authors, Nessmuk , Aldo Leopold , Horace Kephardt , Ellsworth Jaeger and more. Click the go light infographic to see full-size Printable PDF of the go light infographic Going Camping? Go Light!
Boy Scout Troop 68 held its spring fundraiser last Friday, a Dad's Belgium Waffle Supper. This was the fourth year we held a spring waffle supper. The troop use to hold a Palm Sunday pancake and sausage breakfast but when the troop membership became less than a dozen Scouts we switched to the Dad's Belgium…
I subscribe to the eBay Scouting Hot Finds Newsletter that is done by Jason Spangler. While most of the eBay auctions featured are for various patches once in awhile he lists something new that catches my eye. Today was one of those days.
Starting this month, I'm beginning a series of monthly articles based on a portion of my class at University of Scouting this year. Besides talking about issues that committee chairs typically encounter, I handed out and we discussed a suggested …
You may not know it yet but last Monday night was historic. In the community room of our local REI a group of interested Scouts, former-Scouts, never-been-Scouts, and their parents met up with some of the adults that decided to start a new troop in our area.
Posted in CultureFamily Pack Meeting Plan for April – My Family Tree (Faith) The My Family Tree meeting plan features ideas for the core value of faith- games, group activities, songs, and more includes a Raingutter Regatta as the featured activity.
Both groups "make really good salespeople." That's the contention of Ken Krogue, an entrepreneur who wrote this interesting article over at Forbes.com last week. When looking for the best salesmen, you can toss out the research questionnaires, behavioral analytics, surveys, training manuals, business books, and more, Krogue says.
In this Podcast we discuss the difference between planning and preparing, and answer an email question about patrols Links in this Podcast: 23 Leadership Questions Leadership Self-Evaluation April ScoutCircle details Kevin Callan's Book Dazed but Not Confused: Tales of a Wilderness Wanderer Scoutmaster Podcast 164
________________________________________ Hi Andy, I'll be going to camp this summer with my son and his troop. The camp offers the Mile Swim award. According to both the BSA's "Scout Stuff" (www.scoutstuff.org) and "advancement" section of the U.S. Scouting Service Project (usssp.org) the Mile Swim is for both youth and adults.
What one tool could help the adults end their losing ways? If anything can, it's The Boy Scout Handbook . For the first time this season, the adult challengers on Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout? were shown with copies of the preeminent Scouting text before embarking on their first challenge against the Scouts.
Posted in Fitness Basketball Pin for Cub Scouts It is basketball season again. If you have a Cub Scout who plays basketball, see if you can interest him in the Basketball pin from the Cub Scout Academics and Sports program.
It's kind of like finishing a marathon but heading straight for your car instead of stopping to pick up your medal. A Scouter from the St. Louis area - I'll call him "Tim" - emailed me last week with a problem: Three Scouts in Tim's troop finished all the requirements for the Eagle Scout award, but when…
A wall cloud like this is never good news. (The storm that followed caused tornadoes, thankfully a good distance from where we hunkered down!) Scouting disasters in the wild loom when things start to get sketchy, the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, you get that feeling that something is not quite…
We just held an Eagle Court of Honor for my oldest son this past weekend. During the ceremony, our troop traditionally has a slide show that shows the Scout's career. This is probably my favorite song for that kind of …
In The Book of Mormon we read an account of a man known simply as "the brother of Jared." He (and his brother, Jared) were living at the tower of Babel when God confounded the languages. They were able to obtain a promise from the Lord that their language, and that of their families and…
Posted in Culture Faith and Our Ancestors Game The Faith and Our Ancestors Game is an icebreaker activity with a genealogy twist. Players ask each other questions about how they think their ancestors lived. Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in Cub Scouting, Boy...
This just in: All jamboree youth participants are invited to register as National Hometown News Correspondents . An email home to Mom and Dad? These Scouts and Venturers will do one better, sharing their first-person jamboree experience with local news organizations back home.
Here's another idea to put in your file of Scout Games – we've had great fun with this one by creating a maze of chairs and tables for the ship to navigate, or as an inter-patrol competition. It's a foggy night at sea, a ship full of passengers must reach a safe harbor.
Sandra says Wood Badge was the "most exciting and incredible experience" ever. Wood Badge builds lifelong memories, regardless of the setting. So whether you're at Philmont Scout Ranch ( where I'll be staffing a course this summer ), a council camp in the midwest, or even an island in the Caribbean, you're getting the same great course.
Speaking about Adult Training, Baden-Powell said "Don't be content with the what, but get to know the why and the how." I believe this is integral in our delivering a good program to our Scouts. For example, a Scoutmaster should …
Did you see last night's episode of NBC's comedy The New Normal? It's a show about a gay couple living in Los Angeles. In that episode, titled "About a Boy Scout," the main character is an Eagle Scout who wants to reconnect with Scouting, but because he's in violation of the BSA's current membership policy…
Here's my favorite Boys' Life cover of all-time. It's from July 1971, and Bench was kind enough to sign it for me last year. What's your favorite BL cover?
Grow your Scouting with start-up grants.
There are hundreds of adventures awaiting you at Scout Activity Centres, where we've been working hard to improve facilities and deliver more unforgettable experiences.
Scouts and Guides braved the cold weather this weekend to take part in Wintercamp 2013.
The Scout Association is delighted to announce that HRH the Duchess of Cambridge is attending a volunteer training event at Great Tower Scout Activity Centre on 22 March.
To gauge performance of our Info Centre and identify how to develop our services, a customer service survey has been devised to understand the needs of all members.
A record number of walkers tackled the Southern 50 challenge in the Chiltern Hills on Saturday.
Find out about the escapades of a group of courageous Scouts in our Survival Squad series of adventure novels for 9-13 year olds.
Find out more about the Bright Sparks - our exciting UK-wide talent search to discover creative talent within the Movement.
Help make Scouting even better and have your say in the Scout Shows review consultation.
We plan to review POR to ensure that it is easy to access, easy to understand and easy to apply to everyday Scouting.
A number of new resources are now available on the Print Centre to help you recruit volunteers locally.
Give us your feedback on the latest rolling review.
Find out how you can get involved in Safer Internet Day - and educate young people about responsible use of online and mobile technology
The latest edition of POR (Policy, Organisation and Rules) is due to be released and we are keen to hear your comments on the proposed updates.
The Muslim Scout Fellowship (MSF) has received national recognition at the British Muslim Awards.
Nearly half of new volunteers in Scouting are parents of young people enjoying the everyday adventure. Why not ask parents to help out at your camp this summer and give them a taste of how much fun volunteering can be?
This month is LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) History Month and Scouting invites you to join in the celebrations.
Changes to Policy, Organisation and Rules now allow Beaver Leaders to take their Colonies away for one night either camping or indoors. Weekend workshops are on offer to support volunteers who run residential experiences for Beaver Scouts.
We are hosting a number of one day workshops for adults in Scouting who are interested in learning more about the media and communications.
Our rolling review of the governance of activities aims to remove unnecessary barriers to activities taking place in Scouting, ensuring that they remain safe for young people and easy for leaders to operate.
Each of these three lashings can be used to join two spars together to make an extension. With each there are no frapping turns. The manner in which these lashings need to be applied results in the spars being in a position where they are already tightly touching.
The Skylon was a suspended tower erected at the 1951 Festival Of Britain in London. To this day, Scouting literature refers to suspended flagpoles as 'Skylons' in reference to this tower. Here is an article from the November 8, 1951 edition of THE SCOUT that shows two of the first Skylon Scout towers, built during…
Posted in Science Surveying Merit Badge for Boy Scouts Boy Scouts who earn the Surveying merit badge will learn about calculating the distance and angles between different points and how this skill is used. Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in Cub Scouting, Boy...
New Dutch Oven Recipe for Boy Scouts
It takes a few years but that gawky 11-year-old becomes a responsible young man when Scout parents cooperate with the process. I received this email from a Scout parent: I am new to the Boy Scout Program and I am not getting answers to questions .
What's better than a new episode of Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout? Two new episodes, of course. And that's just what we're getting as the Tougher season comes to a close Monday night, starting at 8 p.m. (7 Central) on the National Geographic Channel.
Congratulations and thanks to Tim Osburn, who recently completed his Eagle Scout Project focusing on ShelterBox awareness. See the full story at: ShelterBox USA: – News.
