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I've never had a jamboree experience without my dad, and I couldn't be happier about that. My dad, Don, and I attended or served on staff together at the 1997, 2001, 2005 and 2010 jamborees. And as you can see in the photo above taken backstage at the stadium a few moments ago, we're both…
Nearly 4,000 Explorer Scouts and Senior Section Guides took on the Gilwell 24 challenge and enjoyed a sun-drenched weekend of activities.
A Scout and Troop 1363 parted company a couple weeks ago. Why did the Scout leave? The reason that he left really isn't what I am writing about. I don't want to go into the issues that led to this Scout leaving.
The long-awaited 2013 revision to the standard reference text for Scouting’s advancement programs has been released, leaving a somewhat bewildering series of changes and clarifications in its wake. The 2011 document did a great job of consolidating, codifying and clarifying BSA’s rules relating to advancement.
Did You Know........ In the past one hundred years, over half a billion men and women have taken the Scout Promise. Source: http://scouts.org.uk/news/2013/06/30-amazing-facts-about-scouts/ Yours in Scouting Service Mark West Eagle Scout ASM Troop 1316/Troop 0669 Council Aquatics/Outdoor Ethics Council Program/Training/Camping If you are paid to do Scouting, you are called a professional.
The long-awaited 2013 revision to the standard reference text for Scouting's advancement programs has been released, leaving a somewhat bewildering series of changes and clarifications in its wake. The 2011 document did a great job of consolidating, codifying and clarifying …
Ready … set … go green! The long-awaited requirements for the Boy Scouts of America's Sustainability merit badge have been released. The badge joins the Eagle-required list as an option to Environmental Science merit badge . Scouts must earn either Sustainability or Environmental Science on their journey to Eagle.
Cub Scout patch placement can be very confusing. Updated for the 2015 Cub Scout program, find out where to put all those patches.
This edition of the Scoutmaster Podcast features email answers about getting started as a Scoutmaster, Ist class requirement 3, and uniform choices. All this and you messages in the mailbag. Edge of the Firelight by Gordon Bain Scoutmaster Podcast 179 – Email Questions
Much of Baden-Powell's vision for Scouting still holds true today. But put this one in the category of something B-P never could have predicted. Today the Boy Scouts of America releases Programming merit badge , an elective badge that challenges Scouts to, among other requirements, "write, debug, and demonstrate a functioning program."
Do your Scouts prefer their bike tires fat instead of thin? Then I've got good news. Beginning today, Cycling merit badge now includes a mountain biking option. That means Scouts can choose between road cycling or mountain biking when earning the Eagle-required badge.
Forty-one years after he was a high school band director, Wayne Brock hasn't lost his touch. Late this morning, the Boy Scouts of America's Chief Scout Executive took over and led the band in a couple of tunes, including the classic "Stars and Stripes Forever."
OK, Spartan patrol and Unicorn patrol: You guys start setting up tents," says Chris Schwartz, senior patrol leader of jamboree Troop D424 out of the West Tennessee Area Council. "Phoenix patrol and Cougars: cots and kitchen stuff," he continues. "And leadership corps, you fill in where needed."
Early this morning, I watched history be made. For the first time ever, Venturers joined the jamboree fun. As buses streamed in, green-shirted young men and women hauled off their gear and made the uphill hike toward Basecamp Foxtrot. Identifying jamboree shoulder patches as the Venturers rushed past me proved a daunting task, but I…
More intense! Big and wild! These are words that we've been sharing for months – yes, even years – about how we'd like to deliver a quality Scouting experience at the 2013 National Jamboree . And now, it's here. Hello again, everyone! We are planning to generate some serious energy – more than any previous Jamboree – as we launch…
Members of the scout staff make their way up the hill behind the staff mess hall Monday morning. Beautiful sunrise. The first Scouts to arrive at the Summit. Tico and I shaking hands with our National Venturing President and National OA Chief.
Did You Know........ In January 2012, Scout Bryony Balen became the youngest ever Briton to ski to the South Pole at 21. Source: http://scouts.org.uk/news/2013/06/30-amazing-facts-about-scouts/ Yours in Scouting Service Mark West Eagle Scout ASM Troop 1316/Troop 0669 Council Aquatics/Outdoor Ethics Council Program/Training/Camping If you are paid to do Scouting, you are called a professional.
Our first day of 2013 National Jamboree coverage comes to you from the Jamboree's very own radio station, QBSA Radio. The guys behind The Eagle's Voice have been "blastin' stuff atcha" nonstop since Friday to bring you coverage of the big event.
Jim Thweatt has been at the helm of some big productions, including the 125th Anniversary celebration of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, presidential inaugural balls, and the tours of Elton John, James Taylor and Journey. He's even done large, elaborate outdoor productions.
Think of the Summit as a puzzle," said BSA Chief Scout Executive Wayne Brock. "But the final piece was not in place until yesterday. That piece was the Scouts and Venturers of the Boy Scouts of America." The Summit has been a complicated puzzle indeed, one that volunteers and professionals have poured their time, talent…
Clarke, I would like to hear your thoughts regarding association with adults as a Scouting method, and how Baden Powell's own statements are applied in the context of the Patrol method. I think some leaders have a hard time striking the right balance, because the adults are not supposed to be affecting what Scouts are…
If the packed tent is any early indication, Mining in Society merit badge will be a hit when it debuts in February 2014. Scouts attending the 2013 National Jamboree got a sneak peek at the new elective merit badge, set to be released at the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration's Annual Meeting in Salt Lake…
The beeping on Bram's handheld radio intensified, and then: "I'm getting something!" Like a trio of bloodhounds, three Scouts from Troop A120 out of Durham, N.C., were off to follow the digital scent. Eight minutes later, they found their prize: a hidden radio transmitter.
A collection of Kiff's Instagram Photos for you to enjoy TTFN Kiff ©ChrisMeadows2013 Hello Reader – Are you new to Jabbering All Day Long can I suggest that you check out our Starter for Ten Page which will hopefully give you a guide as you take your first couple of footsteps around this site.
Gill Clay, Baden Powell's granddaughter salutes during the pledge of allegiance with members of Chief Seattle Council Troop D108. Speaking to the sea of Scouts at this morning's Opening Stadium Show. Scout salute during the opening ceremonies. Headed to the opening ceremonies.
Do you know an Explorer Scout who is keen to promote Scouting and learn more about the media? The Scouts Speak Up course trains Explorer Scouts to be confident spokespeople.
Did You Know........ There's a Scouting poster in both the EastEnders and Coronation Street Cafes. Source: http://scouts.org.uk/news/2013/06/30-amazing-facts-about-scouts/ Yours in Scouting Service Mark West Eagle Scout ASM Troop 1316/Troop 0669 Council Aquatics/Outdoor Ethics Council Program/Training/Camping If you are paid to do Scouting, you are called a professional.
Check out the gallery above. The jamboree at the Summit is all about scale. From the smallest detail to the pageantry of the AT&T Summit Stadium, this place is amazing. Remember to check back throughout the jamboree for more images from Patrol Z.
Before Scouts can drink in every ounce of summer adventure, they have to put a hurt on thirst. It's West Virginia and we're having a HEAT WAVE. It seems that Jamboree is issuing a Be Prepared challenge to all its participants… in the forms of beating the heat and staying hydrated.
Here's a clever idea from Camp Wanderer that combines a canning jar and the top section of a solar re-charged garden light to create a lighted container for things like matches at camp. While I am at summer camp I'll have a jar sitting on my picnic table with a spare headlamp or small flashlight…
When we talk about " Prepared. For Life. ™ " in Scouting, that's what we teach. We provide the skills necessary to help America's young people meet the challenges of today's society, and then use those skills to mentor others behind them from generation to generation.
Last week, I told you about some great Cub Scout scrapbook products that I had found. Today, I want to share some information and ideas that I discovered while researching Cub Scout scrapbook ideas. Resources: Although it's old, Scouting Magazine published an article about scrapbooking your Scouting memories that you might find helpful. Jeri Sullivan
From the opening flag ceremony to climbing to zip lines, there's so much to see at the Summit this jamboree. Patrol Z is on the ground, immersed in the full-on jamboree experience and documenting it all through the lens. Look for more Patrol Z posts and see the 2013 National Scout Jamboree through their eyes.
Eagle Scout projects make a visible difference in the community , but they aren't cheap to complete. So that's why Lowe's, the home-improvement giant with more than 1,700 stores, has teamed up with the BSA and local Scout councils to give selected Eagle Scout candidates $100 grants for their projects.
Creating and maintaining the Summit Bechtel Reserve brought jobs and money to West Virginia, a state ranked 47th in per-capita personal income last year. But now that the Summit is built, that positive impact on the community will only continue to grow thanks to initiatives like the Messengers of Peace Day of Service, which launched…
Cameron Johns, 14, of Grand Canyon Council Troop D239 climbs up the Challenge course Enjoying the water on standup paddle boards. A scout showing tremendous skill and determination on the Water Reality Obstacle Course. Callie Copeland, 15, of East Carolina Council Crew F604 focusing as she makes her way across the Challenge course.
Tell us your thoughts on how to make future Scout Community Weeks even more successful
Here's one for the "unexpected jamboree moments" file. Yesterday, I happened upon the scene shown in these photos. As the attached sign informed me, it's ga-ga , an Israeli version of dodgeball played in a octagonal pen. Participants try to hit other competitors below the knee with a large rubber ball.
Did You Know........ To mark the Centenary of Scouting in 2007, Scouts planted half a million trees across the UK. Source: http://scouts.org.uk/news/2013/06/30-amazing-facts-about-scouts/ Yours in Scouting Service Mark West Eagle Scout ASM Troop 1316/Troop 0669 Council Aquatics/Outdoor Ethics Council Program/Training/Camping If you are paid to do Scouting, you are called a professional.
This day of 2013 National Jamboree coverage comes to you direct from the ClassB booths in Summit Center, the heart of all the Jamboree excitement! We are honored to have the opportunity to exhibit and to set up some super fun booths.
Frustration in organizations begins with someone saying "If I only had the authority to I'd … (fill in the blank)". When someone says this one of two things are happening ; they are either expressing a strong propensity for leadership, innovation and initiative, or just cloaking a complaint in language that doesn't make them responsible for change.
Now this is what I call hands-on fun. Right this second up in the Cloud area at the 2013 National Jamboree, Scouts are building a real race car, rivet by rivet, for Team SLR (Scott Lagasse Racing), the folks behind the BSA No.
Stand-up paddleboarding is so new that when most of the instructors arrived during staff week, none had set foot on a paddleboard. Not that you could tell this morning when I visited the area staffed by a knowledgeable, passionate, hilarious group of Scouters from Alaska, Baltimore, Minnesota, Michigan and Arizona.
As I drove to the 2013 National Scout Jamboree on Sunday, I went from the mountains of New York to the farmland of Pennsylvania before I came upon something special: the hills of West Virginia. There are hills all around the nation, but some are special.
Like the dinner menu, a Scout's favorite patch changes daily at the jamboree. But this afternoon, I walked around asking Scouts to show off what they consider their coolest patch - for today, at least. These were mainly national jamboree patches, though one Scout chose a Cub Scout day camp patch "because it has a smiling…
There are tons of ways to keep up with all the action on various social media channels. From images to articles to video, it's almost as awesome as being there. Almost. Without further adieu, here they are: Official BSA Twitter Feeds The Cub Scouts
No, dude, I swear," a Scout said. "There were only 500 of these patches ever made." I heard similar claims all throughout the patch trading bazaar that has cropped up under the overhangs at the still-to-be-completed Scott Visitor Center at the Summit.
Update on 2014 fee and future plans.
The Scout Association has been ranked one of the most trusted institutions in the UK
You're going to like this. It's super simple. There are two ways to see the big show at the AT&T Summit Stadium. 1. Go to the Summit. Anyone can go. Seriously. Learn more about how you can visit the Summit here .
Fire Writing ' is an Israeli Scouting tradition for special occasions. Details, with instructions and drawings, are available in this post .
Did You Know........ The only five countries in the world that do not have scouting........China, Cuba, Laos, North Korea, and Andorra. Source: http://scouts.org.uk/news/2013/06/30-amazing-facts-about-scouts/ Yours in Scouting Service Mark West Eagle Scout ASM Troop 1316/Troop 0669 Council Aquatics/Outdoor Ethics Council Program/Training/Camping If you are paid to do Scouting, you are called a professional.
It's no surprise that Jambo '13 attendees have a lot to share. Waking up to world-class adventure every day, they're hot to share every thrilling moment. So whether they're postin' pics, tweeting, texting, or eblasting… they've discovered the value of the reliable charge.
Scouts install part of a new boardwalk at Wolf Creek Park in Fayetteville, West Virginia during a Day of Service at the 2013 National Scout Jamboree After conquering a class 2 rapid on the New River, Venture Scouts load their raft back onto the trailer at the Fayette River Station pull out spot, just short…
Before long (January 1, 2014) the list of Eagle required merit badges will change slightly with the addition of cooking as a required merit badge and the new sustainability merit badge as an alternative to environmental science. Here's an overview of the current and new lists: Current list of Eagle-required merit badges Earn a total…
What Scouting is Not Experience in different fields shows that there are certain shoals to be avoided in launching Scouting, lest it get stranded in commercialism or diverted into dead-end channels that never lead to the open sea. Here, then, …
When people think of Scouts doing service, they usually picture Scouts holding hammers and shovels, not trombones and trumpets. George Pinchock wants to change that. The band director for the 2013 National Jamboree Jazz Band brought his 57-member group off the Summit property to perform two shows in nearby West Virginia cities on Friday.
Did You Know........ Scouts were the original Olympic Games Makers. During the 1948 "Austerity" Olympics in London, Scouts were described as "The Oil within the Wheels of the Olympic Games Organization".........performing tasks like serving tea, running messages and carrying placards in the Opening Ceremony.
With severe weather forecasted for tonight, the jamboree's closing stadium show will take place several hours earlier. As first reported in this Jamboree Today story , the show will begin with a preshow at 3 p.m. Eastern and continue with the main show from 4 to 6 p.m.
Reading the requirements for sustainability merit badge got me to thinking about merit badges as tools to achieve the aims of Scouting in general and Eagle required merit badges in particular. Faithful readers will understand that I like to think about these things and write about possibilities, take it all with a grain of salt.
It's not every day you see a stranger holding a sign with your name on it. In fact, I can say it's never happened to me - until today. Strolling near the AT&T Summit Stadium this afternoon, I happened across Hunter, a Scout from C346 out of Georgia.
This day of 2013 National Jamboree coverage comes to you direct from the Summit's Sustainability Treehouse, located near Action Point. This structure was built to demonstrate The Summit Pledge program's commitment to sustainable practices. This tiered building has been LEED Certified by the U.S.
Nick Vernon, 17, Life Scout, slides in the mud as Nick Davis, 13, Life Scout, looks on during a brief rain storm that hit the 2013 National Scout Jamboree on July 18, 2013. They are both from Great Salt Lake Council D110.
Did You Know........ Gilwell Park, the scouts' UK Headquarters is home to part of the old London Bridge designed in the 19th Century by John Rennie. The rest is in Arizona. Source: http://scouts.org.uk/news/2013/06/30-amazing-facts-about-scouts/ Yours in Scouting Service Mark West Eagle Scout ASM Troop 1316/Troop 0669 Council Aquatics/Outdoor Ethics Council Program/Training/Camping If you are paid to…
Missed Tuesday morning's "Welcome to West Virginia" opening show because you were, oh, I don't know, busy at your day job? Relive the nearly two-hour show from your computer, tablet or smartphone right now at jambolive.org . Rock out with the West Virginia Army National Guard band; hear from Wayne Brock, Wayne Perry, Stephen Bechtel, West…
At the jamboree, no power outlet remains empty for long. Everywhere you look - using official AT&T charging stations, orange Summit Bechtel Reserve power arrays ( not to be used when raining ), outlets inside and outside of shower houses, and solar chargers hanging from backpacks - Scouts and Scouters grab every drop of power for their devices.
Faith is a powerful thing. Heavy rain soaked each of the three largest worship services this morning at the 2013 National Jamboree, but that didn't stop Scouts and Scouters from gathering to pray together. The LDS, Protestant and Catholic services were held back to back to back at the AT&T Summit Stadium this morning and…
Eagle Scout Mike Rowe once got the worst advice he's ever heard. A teacher, Mr. Dunbar, told him to "work smart, not hard." Ever heard that advice from a boss or teacher? At Saturday afternoon's stadium show, Rowe rewrote Mr.
It's not a party until someone brings out a beach ball. Thousands of Scouts, Scouters and Venturers assembled in a light drizzle Sunday to attempt to set the Guinness World Record for "most people keeping beach balls in the air."
Directing the Jamboree Band in a John Phillips Sousa march. A great moment. BSA's National President, Wayne Perry, greets King Carl Gustav of Sweden, the head of the International Scouting Movement. Eagle Scout Mike Rowe speaks to the crowd during Saturday's stadium show.
To celebrate the royal arrival Scouts have sent a suitably practical and outdoorsy gift to the happy couple: a baby carrier backpack.
This day of 2013 National Jamboree coverage comes to you from the Summit's very own Brownsea Island Experience. This modern-day reenactment serves as a tribute to the first ever Scout campout organized in 1907 by Scouting's founder, Baden Powell , at Brownsea Island in England.
Did You Know........ Liam Payne from world-dominating boyband One Direction is a former Scout, as is "reem" ankle watch-wearing TOWIE star Joey Essex . Source: http://scouts.org.uk/news/2013/06/30-amazing-facts-about-scouts/ Yours in Scouting Service Mark West Eagle Scout ASM Troop 1316/Troop 0669 Council Aquatics/Outdoor Ethics Council Program/Training/Camping If you are paid to do Scouting, you are called a professional.
In last week's article, we listed some of the changes incorporated in the 2013 Guide to Advancement, the current revision to the comprehensive 2011 edition. Many policies have been tweaked and clarified, and since most of us have become familiar with …
When I first saw this chess set made from nuts and bolts online, I thought it was the coolest thing ever! I knew I wanted to use it as a Webelos Craftsman project to fulfill the non-wood useful items requirement. The problem was that the sets got very expensive very quickly. Some of the sets
After rain caused Saturday night's fireworks display to be canceled, Scouts and Scouters had been intentionally kept in the dark about when - or whether - the show would be rescheduled. And then: boom! Zambelli Fireworks and jamboree leaders lit up the sky Sunday night, surprising Scouts, Scouters and Venturers who enjoyed the visual and auditory show…
Zambelli Fireworks launched more than two tons of explosives during Sunday's show , but a truly amazing fireworks display takes more than just sheer volume. Today I met Damian Dicola, production manager with Zambelli and the man who has the dream job of every Scout who loves big explosions (aka every Scout, period).
I I expect if you are viewing this blog of mine you're involved in the Scouting world online and are already aware of Scoutmaster Clarke Green's blog. (That's him in the pic) He posts much more than I do - both quantitatively and qualitatively.
K. Stevens's Venturing crew out of Denver has a very narrow aim. In her crew, it's all shooting, all the time. "That's all they want to do," she said. "We have boys who are older and able to do so many things [outside of Scouting].
We're introducing an annual survey to give members the chance to express their views. We're keen to hear about your Scouting experiences.
While waiting in line for action archery this afternoon at the Bows, I met Matt, a Scout from Troop A210 in Georgia. He challenged me to a friendly competition to see who could hit the higher number of targets at this difficult but exciting activity at the 2013 National Jamboree.
A spectacular fireworks show wrapped up a day of church, games, and fellowship yesterday. A glorious sunset on a great weekend of fun, fellowship and Scouting. This is the view from Basecamp Foxtrot. Nate Feldman, 17, from Old Bridge, New Jersey, is all smiles as he is stuck in a group hug at Base Camp…
Pretty sweet, right? Scouts from first timers to veterans are all over the BMX and skate courses at the Summit and having a blast. If you didn't get your fill of skating and BMX during jamboree, check out 2014 programs at the Paul R.
Friday was Airborne Day at the 2013 National Scout Jamboree. The airborne group of the armed forces is an elite assembly of warriors who are trained in advanced techniques of parachuting. These soldiers can be dropped anywhere, including behind enemy lines, because of their superior training.
Shortly after becoming a 21 year old scoutmaster in 1981 I began attending the monthly district roundtable meetings, and learned quite a bit about how to be a good adult Scout leader. It did not take long for the commissioner to recognize my enthusiasm about Scouting.
Did You Know........ Each day 100 thousand people in the UK take part in Scouting activities............more than the capacity of Wembley Stadium. Source: http://scouts.org.uk/news/2013/06/30-amazing-facts-about-scouts/ Yours in Scouting Service Mark West Eagle Scout ASM Troop 1316/Troop 0669 Council Aquatics/Outdoor Ethics Council Program/Training/Camping If you are paid to do Scouting, you are called a professional.
It's a little difficult to get ultralight backpacking explained in a simple, straightforward way. Thankfully there is no International Convention of Backpacking Standards and Terminology. We are left to our own devices to individually define "Lightweight" and "Ultralight" backpacking and argue endlessly over our definitions with other zealous backpackers (that's half the fun of it…
BSA has gone from green to "deep green." We've been a leader in conservation for more than a century. Our LEAVE NO TRACE ® philosophy has been followed by generations of Scouts as we camp, hike or conduct other activities with a potential for leaving litter or waste.
“ How about making HIKING your hike objective this month? In other words – have a hike for the sake of hiking! It's about time for all of us to rediscover hiking. It is one of the best exercises known. It strengthens the lungs and heart, straightens the back, develops the muscles, makes the blood run tingling…
I love Thunder and Lightening Storms! Usually I am in a Cabin in the Beartooth Mountains with a fire going. Usually someplace safe. The photo is from the Harlowtown, MT area of my home state. I remember when I was young and foolish running outside with an umbrella and standing in a puddle barefoot
Did You Know........ The first World Scout Jamboree in 1920 was attended by 8 thousand Scouts from 34 countries as well as an alligator from Florida, a baby crocodile from Jamaica, a lioness cub from Rhodesia (AKA Zimbabwe), monkeys from South Africa, a baby elephant and a camel.
A Scout Fundraising Project will help our Scouts get to Kandersteg International Scout Center in Switzerland next summer. We discussed lots of different ideas, did a bit of research and settled on selling coffee. We contacted a local coffee roasting company and set up an arrangement where we could buy coffee at their wholesale price…
A couple of years ago, I made these Cub Scout magnets to recognize the volunteers at our Cub Scout day camp. It was quick and easy to make over 50 of these. I love to shop at our Goodwill Outlet Store (yes, a Goodwill outlet!), and at some point in the past, I found a
At breakfast one morning early in the jamboree, staffer John Norkus was feeling a little left out as Scouters went around the table describing their jamboree jobs. "We were feeling kind of puny around extreme BMX, extreme mountain biking, extreme skateboarding," he said.
Rousing music performances, impassioned speeches, bright young Scouts, the King of Sweden and the guy from Dirty Jobs - Saturday's "Celebration of Scouting" show had everything you crave from a jamboree show and more. If you weren't one of the 40,000-plus watching in person at the AT&T Summit Stadium, now's your chance to watch the archived…
A look back at the last two days of a really spectacular gathering of Scouts and Scouters from all across our own great nation and many others. OA members perform a Native American grass dance at the Indian Village on the Garden Ground Mountain.
This final day of 2013 National Jamboree coverage comes to you direct from the summit's CONSOL Energy Wing Tip Bridge. This uniquely designed 786-foot-long, 100-foot-tall structure serves as the main route from two of the campsite villages to the the adventure activities.
Did You Know........ Singer and DJ Jarvis Cocker donated the platinum disc for Pulp's biggest ever album, Different Class, to his old Scout Group in Sheffield. Source: http://scouts.org.uk/news/2013/06/30-amazing-facts-about-scouts/ Yours in Scouting Service Mark West Eagle Scout ASM Troop 1316/Troop 0669 Council Aquatics/Outdoor Ethics Council Program/Training/Camping If you are paid to do Scouting, you are called…
I am sure that the wilderness rescue volunteers and professionals in Ontario are the nicest people you could ever meet, but I'd like to avoid them. Well, at least in their capacity as SAR (search and rescue) folks. Here's a recent article from Ontario Parks that shares eight tip[s to avoiding wilderness rescue taht should…
Backpacking Merit Badge for Boy Scouts Posted in FitnessHikingIf your Boy Scout troop is planning some backpacking outings, check out the requirements for the Backpacking merit badge. Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in Scouting [ This is a content summary only.
