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If you have 4:06 now is the time to sit and watch beautiful burn patterns on alcohol stoves. Yes, we are getting back into the swing of real pressing issues. Gear! I picked up the Trangia stove recently and other than taking it out of the box have not really messed with it.
Boys and rockets are a great combination. Learn how to build & launch a rocket using 35mm film containers, Alka-Seltzers & water. Great Cub Scout activity.
If you like to be in the thick of things helping out, you're going to love this. The Summit is entering the final stretch as it gears up for the 2013 National Scout Jamboree, and we've still got openings for excited, qualified staff.
Details are still coming in for the mountainboarding elective at the 2013 National Scout Jamboree, but one thing's for sure: this wildly popular all-terrain action sport will be delivering thrills this year. Never heard of mountainboarding? It was voted the No.
Yesterday things were humming at the Scoutmastercg.com technical annex where we were pushing buttons and throwing switches feverishly trying to fix things. Good news: the site has had a pretty healthy increase in traffic over the past couple of months and it was time to upgrade our hosting service to accommodate this traffic.
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Spring is here-so get outside! To help make sure you're ready for the adventures on your Scouting schedule, we've put together the Gear Up and Get Out Giveaway , featuring the Avila Hydrapak water reservoir ($60) and Road ID's Wrist ID Elite personal identification armband ($30).
On Sunday I conducted an Eagle court of honor for one of the boys in my ward. He is a great young man and his court of honor was really nice. I am really glad he finally got to work and earned his Eagle.
Posted in Science Tech Talk – STEM Award for Cub Scouts (Technology) STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. . The technology Nova (STEM) award for Cub Scouts is called Tech Talk Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in Scouting [ This is a content summary only.
When tragedies strike - be it a major accident, natural disaster, or act of violence - Scouts quickly answer the call to respond. It's in our DNA. That often manifests itself in drives for clothing, blood, and/or supplies. Nobody questions the value of these drives, but Scouters often wonder whether they're acceptable as Eagle Scout service projects.
If your son loved the Alka-Seltzer Rocket activity and if you’re looking for an inspirational movie for your family , you’ll want to get “October Sky” . Set in the late 1950s and based on a true story , “October Sky” describes the coal mining town of Coalwood, West Virginia.
Have you completed your 2013 health actions? UnitedHealthcare's Personal Rewards program allows you to earn a premium incentive toward your BSA medical plan premiums for the 2014 plan year. You'll be healthier and you'll save money. How Do I Earn the Premium Incentive?
Scaffold Hitch rigged with a Bowline Bundles of 4′ Spars The scaffold hitch is a superb knot, and in pioneering easily serves a dual purpose. Primary Role : This is a seriously good knot to use in the construction of a pioneering project bosun’s chair ( boatswain’s chair ) for a small, straight aerial runway adaptation or a…
The May 1 issue of the Finance Impact Department e-Letter has been published and is available online. In this issue, read about how renowned speaker and relationship expert Steve Chandler addressed BSA local council staff and volunteers at the National Development and Fiscal Management Symposium April 24–26, in Chicago.
Posted in Be PreparedCamping Wilderness Survival Merit Badge for Boy Scouts Boy Scouts who like building their own shelters and making survival packs will enjoy the Wilderness Survival merit badge. Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in Scouting [ This is a content summary only.
My first impression of the Lansky Blade Medic was a little cynical. Another knife sharpening gadget? No thanks. A closer look got me interested and Bill Flemming at Conhocreek.com was kind enough to send me a blade medic to test (Bill, you need to put this on my tab, I am keeping it!)
In 2009, the BSA introduced a new methodology that focused on the retention of units. This was greatly needed to address the growing national concern of only one out of every three new units organized surviving into their second year.
Perhaps your pack or troop meets Monday nights. Or maybe your family doesn't have the National Geographic Channel. Whatever your excuse for missing Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout? - the six-episode reality series that matched Eagle Scouts against grown-ups who didn't reach Eagle as boys - now's your chance to see it all from the…
Join us at London Community Pride, where we'll show that Scouting is truly diverse, inclusive and open to all.
Arrowe Park hosted approximately 3,500 people over the Kontiki weekend, but the highlight, and the purpose, of the weekend was the raft flotilla. Here are some of my photographs of the rafts assembled in the bay at night. Yesterday was a good day for KonTiki on South African TV, with both the Western Cape and…
Even the best-looking troop trailer designs can't hide ugly insides. You know the ones I mean: cavernous, unorganized spaces into which gear is deposited and never seen again. That's why many troops add the Scouting touch to their trailers, installing shelving and other improvements to make storing and finding gear a breeze - even if it's…
Posted in Scholarship BSA Bear Supplemental Den Meeting Plan F – Jot It Down Cub Scout Bear den meeting plans are step by step guides to carrying out a den meeting. This plan covers Bear Achievement 18 - Jot It Down. Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in...
You give a graduate a gift when he reaches the high point of his educational career, but what about when a boy reaches the pinnacle of Scouting? In other words: To gift or not to gift, that is the question.
If you are headed off to camp this summer it's likely you will be working with one or more homesick Scouts. Understanding, preventing and treating homesickness ought to be approached like administering first aid for any other illness or injury.
Mike Celland is the author and illustrator of Ultralight Backpackin' Tips , an excellent guide to changing the way you experience the outdoors. (Mike has a great blog too) In the video above Celland touches on the philosophical and practical aspects of ultra lightweight backpacking, and this ought to get you started thinking about camping in…
Patch from Schiff Back in the spring of 1976, while walking through the Mortimer L. Schiff Scout Reservation , then the BSA National Training Center, there was a memorable encounter with a tall man. Seeing the young Scouter, the tall man figuratively embraced him with a smile, warmly acknowledging the younger man like they were lifelong…
I'm in the process of updating all of the current merit badge workbooks to a PDF format that will allow Scouts to type into the form and save their work (but not, of course, change the wording of the requirements).
Though there have been some changes and modifications through the years, in most respects, pioneering in the Boy Scouts remains constant. Why Pioneering! The following text has been extracted from the Introduction to the 1981 Printing of the 1974 Revision of the BSA Pioneering Merit Badge Pamphlet.
Cub Scout leaders don’t volunteer for the recognition , but it’s nice to know that your efforts are appreciated . As the Pack Committee Chair, I wanted to give each of our leaders and committee members a lasting but inexpensive gift. After searching the internet, I decided to make these personalized mugs by using vinyl , a Cricut…
As leaders in the Scouting program, we sometimes think that we have the ultimate authority in how our troop runs. But do we? Yes, we are responsible for ensuring that things are done safely, and that the Scouting program is …
Posted in Culture International Activity Badge The International Activity Badge recognizes scouts who have participated in international activities or interacting with Scouts from around the world. Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in Scouting [ This is a content summary only.
Behold the power of "Yes." When Crystal Bueno and her husband first saw the go-kart their Tiger Cub sons were given at a council derby Saturday in Brooklyn, their first reaction was "No." "No way," Crystal remembers thinking. "Marcus can't do this.
This edition of the Scoutmaster Podcast features an interview with Scout's Australia National Youth Council Chair Chris Nielsen. We discuss the place of organized youth voice and Scouting and Chris shares a bit about Scouting in Australia. All this and your messages in the mailbag!
________________________________________ Dear Andy, Tonight we had a troop meeting. The Scoutmaster does shift work and his wife, the Assistant Scoutmaster, attended their son's band concert. So they asked a parent-who doesn't know much about Scouting-to run the meeting. Can you actually have a troop meeting without either the Scoutmaster or ASM being there, or should the…
I just walked in the door from another fantastic Wood badge course. W1-492-13 is now in its application phase and as the participants walked out of camp yesterday I could not help but think about the impact that was about to hit the Scouting world.
Posted in Scoutcraft Map and Compass Pin for Cub Scouts Map and compass skills are important for all Scouts. It is good to introduce them to Cub Scouts since they will rely on them more when they become Boy Scouts.
As for the best leaders, the people do not notice their existence. The next best, the people honor and praise. The next, the people fear; and the next, the people hate. …When the best leader's work is done the people say, ‘We did it ourselves!'
Several years ago while I was going through Wood Badge, the BSA had the 100 Year Celebration Patch that could be earned. It became a ticket item for me. I knew it would be a good thing for the Scouts to do. It covered many areas and did get the Pack out doing something. One
BeatBullying teams up with Scouting to battle bullying.
New Merit Badge for Boy Scouts
Last night I had the pleasure of sitting down with a couple of Webleos Scouts that needed a Scoutmaster Conference to earn their Arrow of Light. I love the opportunity to sit with these young guys, they always have an interesting take on what they want out of Scouting and they are always enthusiastic about…
This weekend was the Pioneer District Camporee. It was Elliot's first Campout with T432 in Boyscouts. For several reasons overnight, Elliot did not have a good morning. I had to teach ITOLS and the Troop assigned a Scout to be with him. One of the great things about Scouting is that people do take the
Here are my favorite astronomy tools for showing Scouts the night sky. Get out and look at the stars the next clear night you are out camping, you don't have to be an expert or particularly knowledgeable to have a great time finding constellations and doing a little stargazing.
The key to the success of any program, whether it's disc golf at the 2013 National Scout Jamboree or day camp at your community park, is the people who run it. If a program leader is organized, understands the nuances of the program and is excited to share his or her expertise, the program is…
The precious ring can be yours, if you complete a Messengers of Peace project. You can't promote world peace by sitting on your couch. No, you've got to follow the lead of units like Venturing Crew 122 of North Carolina's Tuscarora Council.
Be Prepared: How to light a wet match and 199 other useful things to know contains practical advice for a smoother journey through life.
Put it together, lift it up, and tie it down! Several Scoutcraft skills come into play in order to successfully complete this Simple Flagpole challenge. Each patrol flies their patrol flag from a 14′ flagpole they construct using the following materials: 4 Scout Staves (or 3 Scout Staves if their patrol flag is already tied…
Posted in Culture Indian Lore Merit Badge for Boy Scouts The Indian Lore merit badge is a favorite for our first year Boy Scouts at summer camp. I can always tell which Scouts are working on the badge because they are usually walking around with a necklace with beads on.
This ranks pretty high on my list of Scout games. On a recent trip we retreated to a cabin for a few hours when it started raining. The Scouts played this game too many time to count! The scenario presented to them is that A highly radioactive isotope has been discovered and it must be…
A couple a videos I've made of our Drum Corps playing. The first one is from the St. George's Day Parade the District held in Newcastle and the second is the Drums playing on the bandstand again in Newcastle. Hope you enjoy!
Chief Scout Bear Grylls will take to the air this weekend in the next chapter of Bear in the Air and meet up to 58,000 Scouts from north west England.
I haven't posted anything in a while regarding the BSA's proposed change to the membership policy. Part of that is because I haven't felt compelled to do so, like I have in the past. Before the BSA even announced the resolution to be voted on this month I had what I can only describe as…
I just finished reading The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide by Andrew Skurka . If you've haven't heard about Andrew yet, he's done some insane mileage by foot. We're talking about backpack trips that are typically in the triple digits or more!
To better engage our boys in the science, technology, engineering and math fields, the Boy Scouts of America has developed the Nova and Supernova programs
It made me think that we as Scout leader deliver Micro adventures on a week in week out basis to the young people in our Pack/Troops/Units it could be as simple as cooking bread twists on a fire or more formidable weekend survival camp each one to those young people is an adventure.
How do we inspire initiative in Scout Youth Leaders? The idea of connecting initiative to authority starts with this post by Dan Rockwell , Ineffective leaders seize and hoard authority; successful leaders give it. Those who cling to authority lose it.
Posted in FitnessOutdoor Recreation BSA Wolf Supplemental Den Meeting Plan G – Outdoor Adventure BSA provides Wolf den meeting plans for Cub Scout den leaders. In this den meeting plan Wolf Cub Scouts go on a picnic and play some games together.
Entrepreneur and Eagle Scout Ken Krogue. Where do our values come from? For Ken Krogue, the Eagle Scout and Forbes.com contributor, the idea of values first showed up in Scouts, were further developed at the U.S. Naval Academy, and even made an appearance in a classic John Wayne movie.
Think the Eagle Scout Award is rare? Check out the Sea Scouting Quartermaster Award. First earned around 1930, the Quartermaster Award is Sea Scouting's highest honor. Just how rare is it? Keeping in mind that roughly 5 percent of all Boy Scouts earn the Eagle Scout Award, would you believe that just 0.5 percent of…
What are your expectations for summer camp merit badges? To most of us and to nearly all of our Scouts the central feature of the week at camp is earning merit badges. But what if it wasn't? What if Scouts exchanged earning summer camp merit badges for learning and doing the things that actually interest…
Like Frisbee? And golf? Combine the two and you have disc golf, a fun sport making its jamboree debut at the 2013 National Scout Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Reserve . Staged on Mayhem Mountain , this sport is easy to learn and highly accessible to players of all ages and abilities.
Today was the 16th Annual Jamboree on the Trail. It is a World Jamboree for all those in Scouting. I have written about JOTT before. This year, due to my retirement from Pack 221 I had a few hour or two. The Girl Scout Troop Leader asked if I would be able to put on
Before the ceremony a couple of weeks ago I asked the Eagle candidates and their parents to step into a side room for a minute. I hand each family a velvet covered box. "We'll have mom practice pinning the Eagle medal on their son's left pocket flap first" I announce.
________________________________________ Want to visit the 2013 NATIONAL SCOUT JAMBOREE at Bechtel Summit in July with a group of other fine Scouters? Long-time Scouter David Cooper, of the Cradle of Liberty Council, PA, has put together a wonderful four-day special trip and tour that may be just what you're looking for!
A 10-year-old Cub has been given a top award after helping to save a man's life.
A certificate of insurance is a document that gives evidence of insurance coverage for official Scouting activities. Each council has the ability to issue certificates of insurance of up to $1 million as evidence of general liability coverage to those entities requesting to be named as an additional insured for Scout unit, district, or council…
To get your Cub Scouts more involved in pack meetings , tell them that you’re going to start asking for two or three volunteers to tell a joke at the next meeting . It seems so simple, but Cub Scout pack meeting jokes are actually beneficial in several ways … Practice Public Speaking with Jokes One of the…
If you dig shooting sports and variety, you'll dig The Barrels . There are tons of ways to test your marksmanship this summer at the 2013 National Scout Jamboree . If you select this curriculum, you get a 4-hour priority access pass to all of the activities at The Barrels.
Ok so the Summer is hopefully on it way and a large number of adventures will be had by all. It is also the time of year when the Birthday of this blogger comes around so I have been looking over Amazon and I have selected a number of products that could be added to…
One could argue that uniforming is the most visible of the eight methods of Scouting, even though a lot of boys would rather be invisible while in uniform! The method of advancement, however, certainly has a lot of impact and …
This is just a friendly reminder to complete your curriculum choices for the 2013 National Scout Jamboree by May 14, 2003. Still undecided? Check out the curriculum posts right here on the Summit Blog to get a better idea of what's available.
Posted in Science The Noble Captain Kirk Song Everyone familiar with the Star Trek series knows how much they like to beam people back and forth the transporter. Sing this song as a tribute to the series. Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in Scouting [ This is a content summary only.
Don't just read about the great time we're having at the 2013 National Scout Jamboree this summer. Come see it for yourself. Jamboree visitor passes - including one day, two days, and all days - are available now, starting at $35 for a one-day pass for visitors 11 or older.
(Story adapted from Scouting magazine's "Bryan on Scouting" blog ) Version 1.0 of the Jamboree Summit App is now available on Apple and Android devices. The Android app clocks in at just over 10 MB and costs 99 cents in the Google Play store .
This edition of the Scoutmaster Podcast we discuss how Scouters and parents can prevent and treat homesickness. There's also an answer to an email question about the the ratio if adults to Scouts on camping trips. We wrap things up with belated (honestly, is there any other kind?)
It was the last day of camp in the canyons of West Texas. The sun rose to illuminate the brilliant red and brown textures of the canyon walls that rose around our camp. Despite the wonderful scenery that surrounded us, it had been a fairly average camp.
The 2013 edition of the Environmental Scan is now available. This tool-which includes an indexed summary of social trends and facts affecting the BSA-is designed to assist councils with the development of strategic plans, marketing, fundraising, recruitment, and presentations.
Posted in Fitness Swimming Pin for Cub Scouts Cub Scouts who have earned their Swimming belt loop can go a step further and earn the Swimming pin from the Cub Scout Academics and Sports program. By working on the requirements for the pin, Cub Scouts will improve the swimming...
The Boy Scouts of America offers a unique youth program. It has five distinct features that other clubs and organizations do not offer today's youth. Granted, some clubs do offer one or two of these features, but no other youth organization offers all five of them.
Frank Maynard is a troop committee chairman writes the blog Bobwhite Blather . In a recent article Frank discusses three things that Scouters should never do for their Scouts; As Scouters, though, we really need to put… parenting instincts aside in order to make sure that we not only deliver the Scouting program as promised, but…
The Voice of the Scout council dashboard was due to be updated with spring 2013 data on May 8. However, the 2013 results are not yet available, and we apologize for the delay. Please watch Scout Wire and the National Council News Update window on MyBSA for an announcement once it does go live.
At summer camp, what's more important for Scouts, advancement or fun? Trick question. Scouts who attend the best summer camps and have effective Scout leaders guiding them don't have to choose. For these Scouts, advancement is part of the fun.
Not all merit badges are earned in the traditional troop setting. Enterprising Scouts can earn them at council-run merit badge "colleges" or workshops, summer or winter camps, or on their own with a registered counselor. But some troops restrict or even prohibit this practice, insisting that merit badges must be earned under their own roof…
Making a bird feeder is a great Cub Scout activity. Use it to complete requirements for Tigers, Wolves, Webelos and Arrow of Light.
Evelina London Children's Hospital pilots its own Scout and Guide group.
The following text and diagrams are by Adolph E. Peschke as presented in the 1998 printing of the 1993 edition of the Pioneering Merit Badge Pamphlet: Making rope out of plant fibers is still done today in remote parts of the world.
It is that time of year again, and we are excited to highlight one of our most visible months in Scouting-Indy 500 month. Three years ago, BSA Racing made a huge impact on the national stage during one of the most watched sporting events in the world.
Special Cooking Troop Program Feature for Boy Scouts Posted in Camp CookingCooking on a StickDutch Oven CookingFoil Pack CookingThe Special Cooking Troop Program Feature offers the opportunity to explore cooking with special equipment and techniques, including Dutch oven cooking, foil packs, and...
For a number of years I thought that real Scouts only used real Scout mess kits. The standard issue military type clam shell mess kit has a long tradition in Scouting but, compared to the alternatives available out there it is woefully inadequate.
In part 2 of this 3 part series about bird feeders for kids to make, learn how to make a bird feeder from a soda bottle and a wooden spoon.
Click graphic to open full size The dates and locations for this year's NextConnect National Marketing Summits have been chosen: NextConnect Oakland-Aug. 12–13 NextConnect Washington, D.C.-Aug. 15–16 Looking to make that next connection with Scouting's target audiences? Join us for NextConnect '13, where you'll hear from industry experts and share best practices with marketing staff…
You may have heard there's a big party at the Summit this summer, a little get-together called the 2013 National Scout Jamboree. But did you know that just an hour northwest of the BSA's extravaganza sits the hip, historic city of Charleston, W.Va.?
I recently got an email informing me of the creation of a blog for the Utah National Parks Council. It can be found at http://blog.utahscouts.org/ Since it is new there isn't much there yet (nothing on the "Scouting How-To's" page), but be sure to check out the "Inspiring Stories" section, including posts about "Blackened Scrambled…
Thousands of parents will get their first taste of Scouting this summer.
The Summit and the 2013 National Scout Jamboree are all about high adventure and fun. Visitors will see firsthand what that means at the Summit Center, where they can sample activities ranging from zip lines and BMX to rock climbing and shooting sports.
Develop expert skill, accuracy, and precision at The Barrels shooting sports activity area at the 2013 National Scout Jamboree . This amazing shooting sports venue is on target (see what we did there?) to be ready for this year's jamboree. Ranked No.
