Browse by year
188 posts, oldest first.
Every Saturday, we are going to add a "Tip of the Week" to the Blog. A tip that will be focused on Backpacking, camping, hiking, cooking, or other skills associated with the great outdoors. This weeks tip is a simple one that will save wear and tear on your pack and keep your gear organized…
On one of the first camping trips I went to, my Troop had the unpleasant duty of cleaning the latrine. No one wanted to do it! I certainly didn't want to, but on an impulse I volunteered to help. Have you ever seen a movie where one guy volunteers for a hard job and everybody…
Mental toughness is a great leadership trait. It allows the leader to think clear and make good decisions. I recently ran into an article in Backpacker magazine that reinforced some of the leadership training that I learned early on in the Army and it applies real well in Scouting and out-door adventures.
Bell Helmets is offering up to $100,000 in technical assistance grants to fund three mountain bike facilities built by IMBA Trail Solutions. Projects will be planned, designed, and built by IMBA's Trail Solutions team of professional trail builders, potentially with assistance from local volunteers as required by Trail Solutions.
You talk too much, you worry me to death You talk too much, you even worry my pet You just talk – talk too much! John Lee Hooker's lyrics made famous in a song by the 1960s R&B singer Joe …
Every unit has a method of tracking their Scouts. Advancement, activities, special awards etc. There are software programs and online resources for tracking, even an Excel spreadsheet can be used. But I want to introduce you to a real cool way of tracking your unit.
Tracy sent in this question: Hello. I am wondering if you know of a tool I can use to quickly determine if an activity/event in the community I would like my den to attend corresponds/matches-up with a requirement toward an Activity Badge for Webelos.
Click image to view e-Letter The February 1 edition of the Finance Impact Department's e-Letter has been published and is now available online. In this issue, readers are presented with information about the March 4–6 AFP Fundamentals of Fundraising course offered by the Council Fund Development Team at the Center for Professional Development.
Even with about 100 million people watching, Cub Scout Thomas Brown didn't fumble. The 9-year-old from Pack 14 of Virginia Beach, Va., ran onto the field and handed the game ball to head referee Terry McAulay moments before kickoff of yesterday's Super Bowl XLVIII.
I'm a big fan of books by best-selling author Alvin Townley , not just because he's an Eagle Scout, but because of the unique way he brings stories to life with inspiration, adventure and purpose. His fourth and latest book that was just released (today/ February 4 th ) – Defiant – features all of those strong qualities.
In a room filled with 175 Sea Scouts, odds are just one earned the Quartermaster Award last year. Finding him or her in this imaginary room won't be easy, but once you do, you'll be face-to-face with a young man or young woman who worked tirelessly to earn Sea Scouting's highest honor.
Sponsored By ScoutmasterCG.com Backers Listen to Scoutmaster Podcast 207 What causes Scouts to behave poorly? Are they just being willful and disobedient or is there something else going on? In this podcast the first part of a two-part series looking into the reasons behind difficult behavior and how we can respond to it effectively.
It's time for all Sea Scout ships to take stock of their 2013 accomplishments and apply for the annual National Flagship Award. The annual Sea Scout National Flagship Award was instituted by BoatUS, the nation's largest recreational boating organization, in honor of the 90th anniversary of Sea Scouts in 2002.
Mining in Society merit badge won't officially launch until Feb. 24 at the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration's Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City. But I've been given the OK to release the merit badge patch and first two requirements today - just to give you and your Scouts a sneak peek at the all-new merit…
The microphones will be open on February 11, 2014, at noon Central time, when the Scouting Alumni Association (SAA) and the National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) will conduct a joint town hall/Q&A webinar. National staff members, as well as NESA President Glenn Adams and SAA Chairman Ed Pease, will open the floor to your questions…
Everything's better when it's free, and now there's a great, free tool to help ensure your council has a trained and engaged executive board. To achieve the silver level JTE objective on Council Leadership, councils must complete a full board self-assessment.
The Pizza Man song is a camp classic. This is one of those songs that has many different versions and they are all fun. All of the catch phrases rhyme (somewhat) with "man" and a lot of emphasis is usually put on the rhyme.
Eagle Scout Alvin Townley's new book Defiant tells of the 11 American prisoners of war who were shipped from the Hanoi Hilton to an even worse prison in North Vietnam they nicknamed Alcatraz. These "ringleaders, diehard resistors and escape artists" endured torture, loneliness and suffering in cells that measured 3 feet by 9 feet and…
Fall 2013 Voice of the Scout results have been posted to the VOS Dashboard. Access the VOS Dashboard from MyBSA (employees) or MyScouting (volunteers). Spring 2014 VOS surveys will launch February 24 and close March 17. If you have any questions, please contact Michael Watkins .
New Merit Badge for Boy Scouts
Before I get into today's post I want to thank every one for their interest in the review of Scoutbook.com. Unfortunately I was only given three free subscriptions and they went to the first three emails I received. But the response was overwhelming.
The Central Wyoming Council #638 has been renamed the Greater Wyoming Council #638 by vote of the council board on January 17, 2014. Greater Wyoming Council remains in Western Region Area 2 with no boundary changes. Their national charter has been changed. If you have questions about this change, please contact Stan Willey .
When someone looks at the list of Cub Scout rank requirements, electives and Belt Loop requirements, it's easy to get overwhelmed and think that your son will never be able to do them. But it's not as hard as you think! Your son is probably completing a Cub Scout requirement every day at home or
Click the image to see full-sized This is probably my all-time favorite Scouting game! The heaving bar is a race to throw rope over the bar, secure it to a peg driven into the ground with a clove hitch, tie a log to the other end of the rope with a timber hitch and then…
________________________________________ Hi Andy, What kind of training is available for new troop committee members, especially as it relates to how to conduct boards of review? (Name & Council Withheld) For general training, the BSA offers "The Troop Committee Challenge" as a training course all members of the committee would benefit by signing up for.
February 2014 Caption Contest for details click the thumbnail! Copyright - U.S. Scouting Service Project | Visit us at http://usscouts.org | News at http://usssp.blogspot.com
In 2014, National Camp Accreditation Program standards require that camp COPE or climbing programs be supervised by an NCS-trained COPE or climbing director. As an alternative, councils desiring to train their own Level II instructors must have an NCS-trained COPE and climbing program manager in place.
In the spirit of Pinewood Derby season, we thought it would be fun to share some photos from last year's winners of our Ultimate Pinewood Derby Experience Contest . Featured in Scouting magazine and on scoutingmagazine.org , this contest gave packs all over the nation the chance to enter to win tons of race day licensed goods!
Lacye asked this: My question is, are tiger cub electives done in a group or can they do them on their own? All Tiger Cub activities are to be done with an adult partner. The adult partner can be a parent, aunt, uncle, grandparent, etc.
Initiative is really what makes leadership work. Those leaders that understand their Patrols [the make up of the guys, how they are motivated, and their skill levels], know what right looks like, and have an idea of the plan, should be able to get anything done.
Looking for a creative tie-in for your Scouts' environmental science or wildlife conservation activities? Look no further! The 2014 Saving Endangered Species Youth Art Contest is accepting entries through March 15, 2014. Students in kindergarten through grade 12 are eligible to enter.
Most of us involved in the Scouting program either know or have heard of the Philmont Grace, the official meal prayer for Philmont Scout Ranch. But did you know the Order of the Arrow has one now? This was recently posted on the Naguonabe Lodge Facebook page: The National Order of the Arrow Committee has…
Is there really a difference between outdoor leadership and leadership in other situations? To my mind just about everything we do in Scouting hinges on how you answer that question. We are familiar with business or management-style leadership in our professional and business lives.
Dawn asked this question: My pack was thinking of having a pancake breakfast, but our neighbor troop also does a pancakse breakfast as a fundraiser. If our troop does one, does that mean we should not? we will do ours at Applebees while the troop does thier on thier own.
It's that time again! Councils around the nation are gearing up for Scouting for Food drives and service projects to support local food banks and pantries. Scouts, in a hands-on effort to fight hunger within their own communities, partner with their neighbors to make a real impact close to home.
It is often said that "Every Scout deserves a Trained Leader"… well.. sure.. Every Scout certainly deserves a trained leader, but do you really think that the Scout cares? The saying should say, "Every Parent deserves a Trained Leader". Right?
It is that time of year to once again celebrate another anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. It has been 104 years since William D. Boyce was granted a charter by the Congress of the United States of America to begin this great institution.
I was a new Patrol Leader at the very first Scout meeting I ever had with my Patrol…. I was nervous and excited. How would the Patrol react to my leadership? How could I make this work? The Senior Patrol Leader gave orders for the Patrols to split up and work on rank advancement.
New Grace for Boy Scouts
BSA provides Bear den meeting ideas for den leaders on the Scouting.org website. These Cub Scout Bear den meeting plans are step by step guides to carrying out a den meeting. In addition to the basic den meeting plans, there are supplemental plans which can be used if you have additional meetings left.
The speedy sport of luge has been in Tucker West's blood since age 6 when his dad built a track in the backyard for Tucker and his fellow Cub Scouts to race on. Scouting's been in Tucker's blood even longer.
Well, It snowed here in Oregon today. The first real snow fall of the "Winter". And as much as we have already prepared for our winter camping experiences, the snow reminded me of the risk we accept when winter camping and more to the point the risk that we mitigate or manage through proper training…
Shooting Sports At Its Best Catch the excitement of The Barrels in this latest video from The Summit. The Barrels is a comprehensive shooting sports venue where you can hone your safety and marksmanship. Sign up for the Marksman program and you'll get well-acquainted with this premiere shooting sports venue.
I know from experience that bored Scouts cause chaos. About a month into my term as Patrol Leader I still hadn't figured out how to run a meeting with my Patrol. Some other Patrol Leaders in my Troop would give up, let chaos reign, and the whole meeting would go by without accomplishing anything productive.
Mark Moshier and the fundraising experts at the Boy Scouts of America hear you. Last week's explanation of why a unit's fundraiser was determined to be against BSA rules left some of you with even more questions about fundraising and the National Council's role in the money-earning process.
Five score and four years ago today, the Boy Scouts of America was born. Yes, the nation's top youth-serving organization was incorporated on this date in 1910. A lot's changed since. In that 104-year span, we've watched 45 Olympics (including the Sochi Games), lived under 18 U.S.
Once I learned the Scouting Program should be active I changed my strategy as a Patrol Leader. Instead of bottling up the energy of Scout chaos until it exploded, I decided I was going to beat the Scouts to it and lead the chaos .
Here is your Saturday Quick tip. This week we are talking about taking care of your sleeping bag. The best way to store your sleeping by laying it flat. But most of us just do not have that kind of room in our house, so the next best method of storing your sleeping bag is…
The National Council has the following lease vehicle for sale: 2010 Ford E dge LTD All-Wheel Drive Approximate Miles: 67,250 Exterior Color: Ingot Silver Metallic Interior Color: Medium Light Stone w/leather Asking Price: $17,755 Location: Carmel, New York Equipment/features: 3.5L V6 Duratec engine AM/FM stereo w/ 6xCD/MP3/Sirius/premium sound 6-speed automatic transmission Power windows/locks/seats Leather-trimmed heated…
Me and my sons at the National Jamboree 2010 Today marks the 104th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America! And the BSA is going strong! As I thought about today's anniversary in preparation for our unit's Red and Green celebration tomorrow I could not help but think about why the Boy Scouts of America…
On April 1, 2014, the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) will launch a campaign to engage Hispanics in boating and fishing as research has shown this population segment is underrepresented as anglers, lacks participation as boat owners, and is generally unaware of aquatic conservation or preservation practices.
In my last post I wrote about the four displays that Troop 68 set up around town for this year's Scouting Anniversary week. I have collected quite a bit of Scouting related stuff during the past 33 years so it is not very hard finding items and photos to fill four displays.
Well, It's Sunday and today we are celebrating our Troops 10th Anniversary as well as Scouting's 104th. Every year our Troop hosts its annual Red and Green Dinner. A celebration of the Troop and Scouting. This year we will recognize former Troop members and have a great time looking back on the 10 years that…
Sitting here this morning going through some Scouting Pictures and getting my stuff ready for the Red and Green Dinner today I clicked on one of the Blogs that I follow. It is Mr. Harrison's Blog. Now, the blog itself is not updated often, but I really don't mind because every time I go to…
The Council Accident and Sickness Insurance renewal with Health Special Risk Inc. (HSR) was completed January 1, 2014. Included in the Description of Coverage, under Covered Activities, it now states that effective January 1, 2014, the policy does not provide benefits for attendance or participation at the national high-adventure bases.
It's time to share your favorite Pinewood Derby moments captured on film! Enter the Pinewood Derby Photo Contest for your chance to win a $25 gift card to ScoutStuff.org. Visit the Cub Scouts on Facebook to post your pic. A new winner will be chosen each day.
There's an old story about two lumberjacks who each thought of themselves as the very best wood cutters in the world. One day they decided to have a log-cutting competition to determine, once and for all, who really was the …
I admit it. Once in awhile I get bored. And when I do strange things sometime happen. Like the other week for example. I was listening to the Carly Rae Jepsen song, Call Me Maybe , when other words started popping into my head.
________________________________________ SAVE THE DATE! SATURDAY – MARCH 8th. If you're in the area, consider signing up for the Greater Alabama Council's UNIVERSITY OF SCOUTING! It'll be held on the campus of Jefferson State Community College, 2601 Carson Road in Birmingham. I'm honored to have been asked to be their keynote speaker that day, and I'll also be…
Have your boys ever used Quizlet to study for a test? It is an incredibly useful tool that our school told us about. And it's FREE! The Quizlet website explains it like this: "Quizlet is a free website providing learning tools for students, including flashcards, study and game modes. It was created by high school
Nancy sent in this question: I would like ideas for a winter camp that we either play outside or inside I have 10 boys. We will be hiking alot of times what are something we can do on a hike or games we can do in the snow.
Only three of these patches were ever made. Baden-Powell's granddaughter sewed each one by hand using thread from a jacket once worn by James E. West." Does that patch-trading pitch make your Spidey sense tingle? In the past, you might have just laughed, said "no deal" and walked away.
Sponsored By ScoutmasterCG.com Backers Listen to Scoutmaster Podcast 208 This podcast features the second and final installment of the two-part series started in podcast 207 discussing difficult behavior in Scouts. There's also email questions about youth leaders roles and who decided how the program will be presented.
As I read President Obama's State of the Union address, these words caught my attention: "Research shows that one of the best investments we can make in a child's life is high-quality early education." I couldn't agree more with that statement.
Commissioner Week at the Philmont Training Center for 2014 will be Week 2: June 15-21. All of the conferences offered last year will be offered again this year and, as in the past, the Commissioner College will be held on Friday.
You've heard of a fire triangle, right? It's the geometric illustration of the three elements a fire needs to ignite: heat, fuel and oxygen. Remove one, and the blaze goes bye-bye. Inspired by this simple illustration, Michael Dulle created what he calls the Scouting triangle.
Click image to view newsletter The Febru ary issue of Membership Impact Department News and Resources has been published and is available online. In this issue, you can read more about the new unit membership chair position, upcoming changes to the reporting of membership data, and the schedule for registrar training.
BSA offers supplemental pack program ideas for each month. One theme for the March core value of Compassion is a Pet Pals theme. Here is what the program helps say about this theme: Compassion is having care and concern for the well-being of others.
New Award for Boy Scouts
Save your right-handed handshakes for boardrooms and networking luncheons. Scouts do things a little differently. The Scout handshake, offered around the world as a token of friendship, uses the left hand, which is the one closest to the heart. Page 20 of the Boy Scout Handbook offers this two-sentence description: "Extend your left hand to…
The next time a Scout in your troop says the road to Eagle is too hard, tell him the story of Nathaniel Gray. Nathaniel, an 18-year-old from the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Homewood, was born addicted to crack cocaine. He was raised by his aunt and couldn't walk or eat solid food until he was almost…
This powerpoint was posted to the web last month on Scouting.org and it describes, in pretty thorough detail, what a Eagle Scout Service Project Coach should be. While, I suppose this should have been self evident with a cursory reading of the Guide to Advancement 2013, I guess I just glossed over it and assumed
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has released an updated version of its Scouting Handbook for Church Units in the United States . The only changes are related to registration and charter renewal. Please follow the link above to access and download the handbook.
I attended my neighboring council's University of Scouting event over the weekend and for the second year now, the Utah National Parks Council has absolutely knocked it out of the park again. I thought 2013 was a home run followed by a grand slam in 2014 with over 100 classes to choose from, well organized…
Are you trying to think of Pinewood Derby awards? Check out this compilation of some great suggestions!
This is the season for recognition dinners, fundraisers, leadership breakfasts, and other events designed to bring your council closer to your Scouts, your volunteers, and your community. No doubt these events are also among your most important revenue generators for council operations.
Any time is a good time for cake. Blue and gold banquets, courts of honor and Scout birthday parties are obvious times to enjoy a Scouting-themed cake. But I propose celebrating with iced deliciousness on less-obvious occasions such as "First Troop Meeting of the Month" or "Our Cub Scouts Are Hungry" or "Second Troop Meeting…
Larry sent in this helpful suggestion for those looking for pioneering projects If you haven't acquainted yourself with scoutpioneering.com , I invite you to do so. Myself and other members of the Jamboree Pioneering Area Staff take pioneering very seriously and the site is available as a resource for any and all who are interested in…
In an earlier article , we shared a sneak peek of the new look coming to my .Scouting Tools. We're excited to announce that the look is here! The new design is faster and more dynamic, and now supports Internet Explorer 10 and 11.
Click the image for the full-sized version Is it possible to have a snowball battle without hitting anyone with a snowball? We tried this game out a short time ago; it was loads of fun and nobody was hit with a snowball.
The all-new Venturing awards program just got a lot more real. Today the Boy Scouts of America announced the names for the new Venturing awards that will replace the current Bronze, Gold and Silver awards. Say hello to the Venturing, Discovery, Pathfinder and Summit awards.
Unlike most Scouting awards, there are no requirements for the Silver Buffalo Award. It's not something you work toward or apply for yourself. But when you consider the recipients, you could say the men and women who earn Scouting's highest honor for adults have been working toward the Silver Buffalo Award their entire lives.
The Philmont Training Center, the national training center of the Boy Scouts of America, is excited to offer new cutting-edge conferences to volunteers from across the nation in 2014. In addition to yearly favorites such as "District Key 3," these new conferences are designed to help volunteers and professionals from across the nation share ideas…
Anyone who attended an Eagle Scout court of honor last year knows 2013 was a great year for Eagle Scouts. The same is true when you step back to look at the nationwide picture of young men who became Eagle Scouts in 2013.
Here are some questions that I have been meaning to ask, it is all for a bit of fun
There's fun. And then there's fun that challenges you, the kind that brings with it a satisfaction that lasts way beyond the activity. The Ropes venue at The Summit is all about that kind of fun. Check out the video above to see why.
Love of country and reverence for our nation's heroes are staples of the Boy Scouts of America. So it should come as no surprise that BSA Scouts and Scouters are the ones leading efforts to preserve the beaches at Normandy, where allied forces made landfall on D-Day.
You have a vision for your Patrol; you know what you want it to be. But how do you get started? Communication is 90% of being a good Patrol Leader! But where do you start? When I was a Patrol Leader, I found one of the best tools to have in my ‘Communication Toolbox' was…
David Harkins, Associate Director, Retail Business Development/Licensing The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) sells products to support the Scouting program in Scout Shops and online at ScoutStuff.org . Some of these products are "official merchandise," meaning the BSA has developed these products specifically to sell to Scouts and Scouters, while other products may be purchased from…
Click image to view e-Letter The February 15 edition of the Finance Impact Department's e-Letter has been published and is now available online. In this issue, readers will learn what they need to do to maintain their councils' tax-exempt status.
Gumdrops and Cub Scouts... Yes, your Cub Scouts can complete requirements and electives using gumdrops! Read on to find out how.
On Wednesday I shared 30 creative and mouthwatering Scout-themed cakes I found by searching around online. At the end of the post, I asked you to share your own Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Eagle Scout and Venturing cakes. Apparently my request did not go unnoticed.
A good friend of mine shared this with me and I shared it with you a while back on the blog, but I was digging through some old stuff on the computer and stumbled on it again. Then last night at Round table I talked with my good friend and this post came up.
How would you like to camp in Moab, Utah for a week in September? The Utah National Parks Council is sponsoring a Leave No Trace Master Educator (LNT ME) course with 5 focus options - Frontcountry, Mountain Biking, Backpacking, Rafting, and Horseriding - from Sept.
BSA provides Wolf den meeting plans for Cub Scout den leaders. Today's plan is a supplemental den meeting plan in which Wolf Cub Scouts get together to play a game of baseball or softball. This plan covers part of Play a game of tennis, table tennis, or badminton.
Who wouldn't like to do Exploring in this pleasant fashion," Scouting editors wrote in describing the April 1959 cover seen at right. "It's a case where it might be more fun to fail than to succeed!" It's a cover that must have been considered risqué in its time, making it unlike any Scouting cover printed…
In the first part of this two-part series, we learned the Patrol Briefing is a cool tool for communicating with your Patrol as a group. A good patrol leader also takes the time to talk with Scouts individually. Talking to a group is a monologue, talking to an individual is a dialogue.
Team USA's bobsledders must be born with a superhuman drive to reach their goals. How else can you explain the fact that 50 percent of USA-1, the four-man Olympic bobsled team with strong medal hopes in Sochi, are Eagle Scouts?
Sunday February 16 join Enoch Heise, Arlen Ward and myself for a wide-ranging discussion about youth leadership in Scouting. Enoch is the author of the GreenBar life articles found at ScoutmasterCG.com. He's a 19 year-old assistant Scoutmaster with a great perspective on helping youth leaders get going and keep going.
Today we are talking about controlling your guy lines. Whether you are a tent camper or sleep under a tarp you will have lines to control. I hate it when lines are tangled and become a mess. This simple way of controlling your lines is a perfect fix.
