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Those of you that have followed the blog for a while know that I am a fan and collector of Scouting literature. I don't just collect the books, magazines, and other literature, I love to get into them and see how Scouting was, how Green Bar Bill wrote and what the program looked like over…
I am posting this just for clarification. I will not debate this nor will I further the discussion about it. The reason I am posting this is that there seems to be some confusion as to what the policy change says and will mean.
Even before I took over as the scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 68 in Melrose, troop meetings were sometimes held at the Jaycee Park. After I took the scoutmaster position, we began to use the park for our summer meetings, from May through September.
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Last week I attended an orientation session at the university my son is attending in the fall. There were separate sessions for the new students and for the soon-to-be parents of a college kid. Besides the expected talks on dorm …
Venturing Ranger Award Elective – Shooting Sports Posted in Outdoor RecreationTo complete the Venturing Ranger Award requirements for Shooting Sports, a Venturer must learn all shooting safely using air pistols or rifles, archery, muzzle loading rifles, pistols, shotguns or small-bore... [ This is a content summary only.
Go barefoot at the lake without worrying about stepping on a painful rock thanks to a pair of Vibram-soled shoes. The Merrell Barefoot Water Torrent Glove shoes protect bare feet during your favorite water sports - from stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing, kayaking, and more.
This edition of the Scoutmaster Podcast I join Frank Maynard and Walter Underwood for a discussion about the recent change to BSA membership policy. Our aim is to look at the process, the vote, and lend some assistance and advice to Scouters who may be encountering difficulties arising form the change.
So far, Ask the Expert posts have offered one often-lengthy answer to one complicated Scouting question. You can read past posts here . Perhaps a question you have is answered there. But now it's time for the lightning round. Here's a collection of questions I've received along with the short answer: blue cards Question from Ramona…
Half of the world cooks on a wood fire every day, and nearly half the wood supply in the world is used for fuel. High efficiency wood burning technologies have reduced the health and environmental impacts of wood fires in the developing wold.
Scout Community Week has got off to a flying start with fantastic projects happening all over the UK.
Scout camp is right around the corner for us… in fact, at the end of this month! We'll be attending week #2 at the Bear Lake Aquatics Base and couldn't be more excited… especially after hearing about the change with the Aviation Merit Badge at BLAB !
This coming Saturday will be the first day of Staff Week for Camp Gorsuch and while I am looking forward to having the opportunity to serve on staff as the Cheechako Trail Director which is my councils First Year Camper Program with its focus on Tenderfoot to First Class Rank Requirements, I also have some…
The other day I read this article about an upcoming vote by the Southern Baptist Convention on whether or not to abandon Scouting after the recent change in membership policy. According to the article, it is a sure thing. I have already posted ( h ere and here ) about my thoughts regarding the new membership policy.
I know this has been talked about Ad Nauseum, but I wanted to reblog this as it is precisely to the point! Don't leave yet. The other day I read this article about an upcoming vote by the Southern Baptist …
Scouting Traditions are, for the most part, wonderful things, they connect us to the past and provide a bridge into the future. Scouting has many hallowed traditions that have only grown more meaningful with the patina of time. As laudable as they may be these traditions can drift from the core concepts that created them…
Perhaps the better question would've been where are Scouts not going this summer? Earlier today on our Facebook page , I asked where packs, troops, teams, and crews are headed for their summer adventures. More than 175 responses later, the answer is "far and wide."
One of my biggest focus areas in Scouting has to do with Scouts with Special Needs. This is probably because I am on the Autism Spectrum on the fairly high functioning side of the spectrum. I believe that with practice and effort on the part of boy the boy, the boys parents, the Scout Leaders…
I have been in discussions lately.. yeah still talking about "The issue".. the good news is simply this. All of the discussions that I have been engaged in as of late are about where we go from here. Moving on.
Orienteering Merit Badge for Boy Scouts Posted in ScoutcraftOrienteering is a sport that requires navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in unfamiliar terrain. Boy Scouts can learn all about orienteering when they earn their Orienteering merit badge.
A Scout is Helpful, and the folks in Texas and Oklahoma whose lives were uprooted by recent tornadoes need our help. Thousands of people, including Scouts and Scouters, have been affected by these disasters. Scouting professionals and volunteers are doing what they can to return some normalcy to these Scouting families - a process that could…
EcoZoom Dura Stove While researching information to write this EcoZoom Stove review I learned some interesting things.: Half of the world cooks on a wood fire every day. They use open fires or unimproved stoves. Nearly half the world's wood supply is used for fuel and deforestation rates are rising all over the world.
Ok.. So to get back to the Future.. we need to focus on those basics that I referred to in the last post. I am going to, in the next few post expand on what I think we need to focus on.
The 2013 National Scout Jamboree is no weekend camping trip. You'll have a chance to experience all kinds of amazing ways to test your physical fitness and mental skill and ability with the activities offered. Hopefully, you're already exercising more.
The Bridge Builder An old man, going a lone highway, Came, at the evening, cold and gray, To a chasm, vast, and deep, and wide, Through which was flowing a sullen tide. The old man crossed in the twilight dim; The sullen stream had no fear for him; But he turned, when safe on the…
Mile Swim BSA Posted in Aims of ScoutingThe Mile Swim is a tradition at most Boy Scout summer camps. It is a challenge for Scouts and those who complete it have a great sense of accomplishment. Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in Scouting [ This is a content summary only.
So we've made the decision. We're going to change," says Rex Tillerson. "Now what?" Less than 24 hours after the volunteer delegates voted to change the BSA's membership policy for youth, Tillerson addressed a large room full of Scouting volunteers and professionals at the closing general session of the BSA's National Annual Meeting.
Scoutmaster Conferences are a great time to go over the goals and dreams of a Scout and to encourage them on, however, it seems that a lot of times that once a Scout leaves the conference, it is out of …
Last night I was reading through a brief history of Scouting in the LDS church (It's our centennial this year!) and learned something new. I had already known that the church started a Scout group (known as MIA Scouts) before officially adopting the BSA.
We're rewarding Honorary Scout Activity Badges to some well-known faces and need your votes
Scouts from all over the UK have been busy making a huge impact on their local communities this week as part of Scout Community Week.
We're awarding Honorary Scout Activity Badges to some well-known faces and need your votes
Boys join Scouts for the Outdoors.. they join for the adventure and fun times that they are promised. Parents sign them up for Character development, life skills, and the values of the program. The outdoor program is the heart of Scouting.
It seems that the positions I serve in grow more numerous as each month goes by but it really isn't adding more positions per-say but instead it is taking on the position in a more serious manner. Currently I volunteer at the Unit, District, and Council level and have developed a very close working relationship…
The Ropes challenge courses at the Summit are nearing completion and will be ready for the 2013 National Scout Jamboree . These courses are all about helping Scouts and Venturers develop leadership and teamwork skills and learn more about themselves. At the 2013 jamboree you'll have a chance to do just that at the Summit's six…
Win Davis has been a member of the Boy Scouts of America for more than sixty years as a Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Scoutmaster, Sea Scout Skipper, Commissioner, Commodore and other positions too numerous to mention. As a professional Scouter Win attended the National Executive Institute at Schiff Scout Reservation in 1970.
The color scheme on your troop's website is red and blue, but is it the right red and blue? Is that the right shade of yellow on your pack page? And what about that Venturing logo you converted to 3D "for effect"?
________________________________________ Gonna be at the NATIONAL JAMBOREE? Be sure to stop by the NESA exhibit tent at the Summit Center's LEGACY VILLAGE on Monday or Tuesday, July 22-23. I'll be there both days for a couple of short talks each day and some quality Q&A time with you!
Beginning Nov. 1, 2014, the National Council will phase out the BlackBerry Enterprise Server and all BlackBerry support. After this date, BlackBerry users will have to subscribe to the BlackBerry Internet Service for data connectivity. This can be taken care of through your personal service provider.
Nearly every spring in the past twenty years the Boy Scouts of Melrose Troop 68 have spent a weekend at Camp Watchamagumee, usually in May. The camp is actually privately owned forty acres found north of Melrose. The land owners have allowed the troop to clear out campsites and create our own camp setting.
Andrew Coe is the Lodge Advisor for Octoraro Lodge 22, Order of The Arrow, in Chester County Council, Pennsylvania. Andy became an Eagle Scout, served on the Camp staff at Horseshoe Scout Reservation and was involved in a number of youth leadership positions in Octoraro Lodge.
Celebrate Flag Day at the National Scouting Museum ! Show off your patriotic spirit! Fun for the whole family! The celebration will begin with a flag retirement ceremony at 10 a.m., followed by an exciting array of activities and entertainment for everyone, including: Live music Food trucks (food for purchase) Educational activities for all ages Crafts…
The Visual Storytelling Photography Workshop , as it is currently called, will be held this summer at the Philmont Training Center, Aug. 4–10. Share this link with those who you think might consider attending this year!
From the beginning of our movement, it's been clear that training is the key to success. Baden-Powell had a way with training, in that he believed that it was important to educate the soldiers he led in battle so they …
Venturing Ranger Award Elective – Watercraft Posted in Outdoor RecreationTo complete the Venturing Ranger Award requirements for Watercraft, a Venturer must learn all about safely operating a watercraft. Then the Venturer must teach others about paddlecraft, board sailing, or sail boating...
Ten Scouts, two leaders, 3,700 miles, and something to prove. This morning, a group of Scouts from Troop 845 in Chapel Hill, N.C., dipped their tires into the Atlantic Ocean in Havre de Grace, Md., and headed west for the Oregon coast.
This edition of the Scoutmaster Podcast features the third installment of ‘The Colorado Experiment" as we continue to track the first months of a brand new Scoutmaster with a brand new troop. All of this and your messages in the mailbag.
If you're looking for suggestions on ways to develop your council's camp properties, please visit the new Camp Development and Maintenance website , where you will find the following information: An extensive library Rangers Roost FAQ section Design guidelines Camp Maintenance Software (CPMS) And, coming soon are downloadable area and region maps and much more!
I felt it was time to provide you with an update on some how some of my 40 before 40 challenges are going. The honest truth is slowly but that ok I am only really in my first year of doing it.
Diabetes Week takes place between 9-15 June and is a good opportunity to make sure you're familiar with the condition.
Life stays busy for TeamSLR and Scott "Scotty" Lagasse Jr., even with some weeks off before his next NASCAR Nationwide Series race. One of the unique aspects of TeamSLR's relationship with the Boy Scouts of America is that there are seemingly limitless opportunities and events in which the team can engage Scouts and their families.
Effective Scouters are alert to possibility, to the challenge of the moment. If we aren't watchful, though, those transient moments of possibility become obscured by our preoccupation with competence. There's no inherent virtue in being an experienced Scouter, after all if you stick with something long enough you become experienced.
BSA Wolf Supplemental Den Meeting Plan H – Even More Spare Time Fun Posted in Outdoor RecreationBSA provides Wolf den meeting plans for Cub Scout den leaders. In this den meeting plan Wolf Cub Scouts build and fly kites. Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in...
If you only listen to one CubCast this year (although we hope you catch them all), make this the one. Hilda Blaine, a five-year Cub Scout volunteer extraordinaire with the Grand Canyon Council in Phoenix, Arizona, chats with us about everything you need to plan your Cub Scout year and how it will make your…
Scouts have been enjoying outdoor music, celebration and nights under canvas for over a century, so who better to give advice on everything from noxious toilets to campsite navigation?
Find out how you can get involved at our Scouts Speak Up events during party conference season
If you have been following this blog of mine, you will have noticed that it is not a blog heavy about the things you should do to create a great Boy Scout troop, or about all the training you need to become a fantastic Boy Scout leader.
You may have seen news stories or blog post about Scouts Troops and Cub packs in the US loosing their Charter Organisations but for those of us Scouting outside of the USA the concept of the Charter Organisation may be completely alien. So I decided to ask someone who would know.
Learn more about the new council employment processes through webinars June 18–20. Each 30- to 45-minute session will highlight the changes, explain why they were made, and discuss how they benefit the local council. There also will be time for questions.
Two key skills for Scouters – sometimes we all feel that plate spinning and/or cat herding is just about all we ever do! Click to see full sized image PDF version of Two Key Skills for Scouters Two Key Skills for Scouters
Want proof as to how passionate Scout volunteers are about the Boy Scouts of America? Just look at my inbox. Last week, I provided answers to eight frequently asked questions , and at the end of the post, I provided information on how to ask your own Scouting-related question.
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.
The original Good Turn. Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venturers go out of their way to help others. Often that takes shape as a pack, troop, or crew service project. Those service projects - totaling nearly 13.5 million hours last year - help define Scouting within our communities.
Charitable trust, Join In, has launched the biggest ever event for volunteers.
I saw this video posted on Scouter Adam’s blog, and I had to share it. It’s a recruitment video from the Coronado Area Council in Kansas. On YouTube, they describe the video this way: A fun video that reminds parents that if getting your son prepared for life is important to you then making time…
Click to open the June 15 issue The June 15 issue of the Finance Impact e-Letter has been published and is available online. In this issue, you can read more about the Development and Corporate Alliances Department and how it provides draft communications to help local councils communicate effectively with their donors regarding the changes…
Architecture Merit Badge for Boy Scouts Posted in The Arts and CreativityArchitecture is both an art and a science. Boy Scouts who are interested in learning more about the design and creation of buildings can earn their Architecture merit badge.
Marbles Camp Axe Great fit and finish for a very good price. The marbles is a bit larger than most camp hatchets or axes and it's a quality product. Available from Conoho Creek Outfitters available at Amazon Sarge Boy Scout Knife Well made pocket knife with a classic, utilitarian design.
Excerpted from Scouting magazine's "Bryan on Scouting" blog ) So we've made the decision. We're going to change," says Rex Tillerson. "Now what?" Less than 24 hours after the volunteer delegates voted to change the BSA's membership policy for youth, Tillerson addressed a large room full of Scouting volunteers and professionals at the closing general session…
An inspirational Cub Scout from Norfolk has been recognised for his bravery.
I recently went before my Board and found out that I had been set up for failure by my Council Commisioner. He had recruited certain people from my past to write negative letters and submit them to my Eagle Board, which he hand-delivered.
Building sculptural gateways with pioneered frames is an Israeli Scout tradition. Here are a few posts about it: Pioneered Animal Sculptures More Pioneered Animals Step by Step Dove Sculpture
To quote the nursery rhyme, “how does your garden grow?” Some families have wonderful vegetable gardens, others have beautifully landscaped lawns and some have fabulous window boxes full of fragrant flowers . Use the summer gardening season to introduce your Cub Scout to gardening in some fashion.
Here's some summer camp advice from a former camp director to anyone fortunate enough to spend a week at summer camp as a Scouter. Your camp director's biggest difficulties aren't caused by Scouts or their staff but by ‘adult' leaders who accompany the Scouts to camp.
If you're pumped about the 2013 National Scout Jamboree and all that action packed into the Summit but can't swing all 10 days of the event, head on over to VisitJambo.org to sign up for one-day or multi-day jamboree visitor passes.
FIrst of all, the square knot (reef knot) is primarily a binding knot. That is, it’s used to secure a rope or line around an object. In pioneering, its most basic function is to commonly finish off a strop lashing , Japanese square lashing , Filipino diagonal lashing , West Country shear lashing , and both the West Country…
How well are we applying the patrol system? I often ask myself this question and I am constantly looking for ways to improve the experience for our Scouts. I've set up a patrol system survey to see how the patrol system is used in other troops, ( there aren't any ‘right' answers).
The SCOUTS-L list was moved today to its new server home hosted by the US Scouting Service Project. As part of the move, all of the subscriptions and files were automatically moved as well. So the archives, every message ever posted to this list, going back to the first message Doug Coffman, the original Listowner…
Wanigan is borrowed from Ojibwa word for "storage pit" as a name for a storage box like the ones shown here. In some regions a houseboat, temporary hut on a log raft, a small house, bunkhouse, or shed mounted on skids may all be called a wanigan.
Cubs from across Wales gathered for the All Wales Cub Scout Fun Day on Saturday.
We are hosting a number of one day workshops for adults in Scouting who are interested in learning more about the media and communications
The Barrel (Bucket) Hitch One never knows when this specialized hitch might be needed. The barrel hitch can come in handy for hoisting up or suspending a bucket or other container that has no attached bail or handle. Forming the hitch is a very easy operation stemming from the tying of a simple overhand knot.
Soon our troop heads off to summer camp, as does just about every troop. This week I sent out the following advice to our troop parents: Summer camp is coming up in just a couple weeks. Summer camp is a …
(The following article was written by Nathan Blommel, an alumni of Melrose Boy Scout Troop 68. Nathan was a Boy Scout from 1988 to 1993. He has earned the Life Rank. This is the first of a series of guest articles written by former members of Troop 68.)
We went to Summer Camp last week. Every year we go back to the same camp, Camp LaNoChe in the Central Florida Council. We promote it to our first and second year scouts and we usually get a number of …
When summertime fires break out in northern New Mexico or southern Colorado, there's understandable concern within the Scouting community about Philmont Scout Ranch, located in northeastern New Mexico. First, the good news: There are no fires on Philmont property or on areas hiked by crews at Philmont.
I posted earlier about our trip to Camp LaNoChe and will probably have a number of follow ups as there are a lot of things to talk about. Camp LaNoChe was listed in Scouting Magazine's Guide to Cool Camps this …
Before: Indian cemetery makeover The journey to Eagle benefits more than just the young man who earns the award. He leaves his community a better place, most visibly through his Eagle Scout Service Project. I've blogged about how to find Eagle Scout project ideas , explained that blood drives and other drives are acceptable projects , and…
This edition of the Scoutmaster Podcast I share ten things that will help make your summer camp stay this year a success and answer an email question about the patrol leader's council. All this and your messages in the mailbag! Visit our YouTube Channel ! Scoutmaster Podcast 175 – Summer Camp
We are down to only 25 days before our Jamboree plans get put into action! As our troop makes final preparations to pull together the remaining gear needed for this awesome adventure, we have benefited by generous discounts from local businesses and equipment manufacturers in our area.
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Taking Scouts caving is a popular, adventurous and exciting activity, but it's not something to approach casually. The National Speleological Society, A volunteer organization dedicated to the study, exploration, and conservation of caves has made it clear that untrained, unprepared cave explorers endanger themselves and cause irreversible damage to fragile cave environments.
With the finish line tantalizingly close, you'll never guess what slowed down John L. on his trail to Eagle. John, a Life Scout from Texas, had finished his position of responsibility requirements and completed his Eagle Scout project. He had signatures from his counselor and Scoutmaster on the blue card for his final required merit…
An ASM and I have talked a lot about homesickness and our new scouts lately. Over the last few months we've had a number of conversations about why we do things, what to expect at Summer Camp, etc. Thought I'd …
The Ask the Expert floodgates are wide open. I'm now getting roughly 50 emails a week with Ask the Expert questions, a sign that Scouters out there care enough to seek out the right answer to their burning BSA queries.
Volunteers are getting ready for a fantastic London Community Pride on Saturday 29 June.
The following text is by Adolph E. Peschke as presented in the 1998 printing of the 1993 edition of the Pioneering Merit Badge Pamphlet: Bridges are very popular pioneering projects. Essentially, a bridge consists of one or more trestles that support some sort of walkway.
What's beyond the 2013 National Scout Jamboree ? Check out the video above for a hint. That's just a glimpse of the action you'll find next summer at The River , one of four programs offered at the Summit from June 8 to August 16, 2014.
(The following article was written by Pat Christenson, an alumni of Melrose Boy Scout Troop 68. Pat was a member of the troop from 1994 to 2001. He earned the Star Rank. It is the second of a few guest articles written by former members of Troop 68.)
