Scouts experience the best and worst of humanity (opens in a new tab)
There's evil in the world. There's goodness, too. On a recent camping trip to the California coast, the Scouts of Troop 57 encountered both.
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February 2016
147 posts, oldest first.
Posts in February 2016
The secret is out: ROCS, TCT and STEM Treks at Philmont are a hit (opens in a new tab)
There's time for your Scouts to experience Philmont magic this summer, and they don't even need a crew to do so. Philmont's individual programs beckon.
Giving kids what's lacking in school (opens in a new tab)
If you have children in school, you have undoubtedly noticed that they are learning more complex subjects than you did as a kid, and are encountering concepts earlier in life. The stuff I learned in college – organic chemistry, calculus and nuclear physics – are being covered in high school, and our middle school students
13th Edition (opens in a new tab)
The new 2016 13th Edition of the Boy Scout Handbook should be in the hands of every new scout joining your troop this year. The new edition made what I believe to be some nice improvements, along with just a couple things not so much.
Scout Program: Citizenship (opens in a new tab)
You're automatically a citizen of the country in which you were born. But that doesn't automatically make you a good citizen. As a citizen of your community and your country, you have certain rights, such as freedom of speech. You also have certain responsibilities, such as paying taxes.
Podcast 304 – Founder's Day (opens in a new tab)
What do you know about Scouting's founder? February 22nd is founder's day, the birthday of Scouting's founder, born in 1857, 159 years ago, in Paddington, London, England World Thinking Day is celebrated annually on 22 February by all Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around the world.
What You Learn In Scouting Could Save Lives (opens in a new tab)
When I was a boy and Boys’ Life magazine arrived, it was always a challenge to know what to read first. Would it be the jokes in “Think and Grin” ? The stories about Boy Scouts trekking in the wilderness? So many options!
Inside the March 2016 issue (opens in a new tab)
Inside the March 2016 issue Here's what you'll find inside the March 2016 issue of Boys' Life magazine. Remember, many articles are exclusive to the printed magazine and are not available online. To subscribe to Boys' Life magazine, please visit http://boyslife.org/subscribe .
Game Day (Game Design Merit Badge) (opens in a new tab)
The troop decided to add a "Game Day" to the calendar this year, which seemed like a great idea to me, particularly for a winter activity. I have a great passion for games of all sorts (my other pastime when not scouting, though that blog doesn't get the same love as this one), and even…
When Nepal earthquake hit, this Eagle Scout stayed to help (opens in a new tab)
Eagle Scout Harrison Gibson was three weeks into a trip to Nepal when the earthquake hit. What happened next showcases the best of Scouting values.
Pinewood Derby display case is a functional work of art (opens in a new tab)
A Scouter created a beautiful Pinewood Derby display case that's functional, too. It securely stores 150-plus cars to make them ready for race day.
Shooting Sports Award (opens in a new tab)
New Award for Cub Scouts
Learn It Young. Remember It Forever (opens in a new tab)
I think that BSA should license and use this for their advertisements.
Issue 475 – February 23, 2016 (opens in a new tab)
________________________________________ Bunch of years ago, while living in southern California, I had the delight and honor of being the first Scoutmaster of a brand-new troop. These young Scouts-recently graduated from nearby pack-just ate up the Boy Scouting program! We started small; just two patrols of six Scouts each, plus a popular and knowledgeable slightly older Scout…
CS Shooting Sports (opens in a new tab)
Did you notice there are no shooting activities in the new Cub Scout program adventures? Nothing to replace the old BB Gun and Archery belt loops. Have no fear! A replace award is here! The Cub Scout Shooting Sports award should be available at your local district and council camps this summer.
How This 81-Year-Old Man Joined the Ranks of Eagle Scouts (opens in a new tab)
81-year-old Harry Persons Jr. salutes longtime friend Jim Scarbrough after receiving the Eagle Scout award. (Photo credit: Karen Murphy/Times-Enterprise) Sixty-three years have passed since one man completed the requirements toward earning the Eagle Scout rank his teenage self worked so hard to achieve.
2016 Blue and Gold (opens in a new tab)
The Cub Scouts and families of Melrose Pack 68 held their annual Blue and Gold Banquet on Monday, February 15th at the Melrose American Legion. Sixteen of the eighteen Cub Scouts attended the event. I was quite happy with the turnout.
Delivering Adventure and Fun to Scoutreach Units This Summer at the Summit (opens in a new tab)
At the BSA, we believe Scouting programs should be available to all youth, no matter their location, background or economic circumstances. We want all young people to have the opportunity to join Scouting. Through Scoutreach, we are helping to make that happen.
Accentuate Your Summer With an Appalachian Adventure (opens in a new tab)
Looking for a one-of-a-kind camping expedition this summer? The Summit Bechtel Reserve has the solution for a campout you won’t forget! If you want to experience High-Adventure, but also want the flexibility of making your own activity schedule, then the the Summit’s Appalachian Adventure is the perfect camping trip for you.
Eagle Scout Class of 2015, by the numbers (opens in a new tab)
Let's look at the Eagle Scout Class of 2015 by the numbers, including average age, a state-by-state breakdown and the number of service hours recorded.
Apply to the 2016 NESA World Explorers Program (opens in a new tab)
Eagle Scouts age 18 and older can apply for a chance to join world-class researchers across the globe in the NESA World Explorers Program.
Lions, a new pilot program for kindergarten boys (opens in a new tab)
Lions, a new Boy Scouts of America program for kindergarten boys, will begin a pilot in participating councils this fall.
What’s in Store for the New Scouting U! (opens in a new tab)
Think you’ve mastered all there is to know about Scouting? What you may not know is the Scouting U development team is in the process of expanding the Learning Center. Volunteers will soon have access to a trove of educational materials relevant to their roles in the Scouting movement.
Florida Scouts (opens in a new tab)
Before my Hike through Florida last month, I contacted some troops in towns along the trail. I hoped to visit with the scouts, share some hiking stories and advice, and encourage them to get out and enjoy the trail in their neighborhood.
Morgan Freeman Receives Distinguished Citizen Award (opens in a new tab)
Morgan Freeman took a break from Hollywood’s award season to receive a different kind of award – the Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Award. The award recognizes noteworthy and extraordinary leadership of Mississippians and serves as a way to inspire Scouts to lead while delivering a message that character counts.
The Baden-Powell Method of Scout Skill Training (opens in a new tab)
Baden-Powell was a master teacher. I don't know how much of the success of the Scouting movement was due to his instinctual charisma for training and inspiring others to catch his vision, but it certainly played an integral part. He became the world's first Scoutmaster in August of 1907.
Which state had the most Eagle Scouts in 2015? (opens in a new tab)
Once again, Utah takes the crown. No state produced more Eagle Scouts in 2015 than Utah. Here's the full list, 1 to 50.
Scout troop lending a bunch of hands (opens in a new tab)
Scout troop lending a bunch of hands Boy Scout Vishakk Rajendran and the rest of Troop 100 from Tucson, Arizona, is participating in a cool service project: using a 3-D printer to create parts for prosthetic hands, then assembling them for those in need.
8 joys of playing the Mega Man Legacy Collection (opens in a new tab)
8 joys of playing the Mega Man Legacy Collection Here's what we like about this collection of original games celebrating Capcom's iconic Blue Bomber. 1. You get six classic platform games, all remastered in high-definition. Each gives you that pumped-up feeling of challenge, and the level design is nearly perfect.
Telling our Scouting Story to the Nation (opens in a new tab)
Scouting has a great story to tell — not just about where we have been, but also about our strategy for bringing new adventures to more young people across the nation. Next week, we’ll do just that when I join 10 Scouting delegates for our annual Report to the Nation journey to Washington, D.C.
Floating School in Lagos, Nigeria: Rafts in architecture (opens in a new tab)
Image courtesy of NLE via their Makoko Floating School press kit . Makoko is a floating slum neighbourhood in Lagos, Nigeria , built on stilts and rafts across the Lagos Lagoon. NLÉ is a Nigerian architecture firm who designed this floating school in 2013, to provide a teaching and learning space in this very crowded area.
What was the average age of 2015 Eagle Scouts? (opens in a new tab)
Eagle Scouts are getting older. In 1949, the average age of Eagle Scouts was 14.6 years. In 2015, that number was 17.34 years old.
Morgan Freeman honored by council in Mississippi (opens in a new tab)
On Feb. 12, 2016, Morgan Freeman received the BSA's Distinguished Citizen Award from the Yocona Area Council in northeast Mississippi.
So Far, So Good! Audio Book
Happy to announce today that my book So far, So Good! A a new Scoutmaster's Story is now available as an audio book. If you aren't familiar with the book it's the story of Chuck Grant's first few months as a new Scoutmaster.
The Boy Scouts of America's 2015 Report to the Nation (opens in a new tab)
On June 15, 1916 — 100 years ago — President Woodrow Wilson signed a charter incorporating the Boy Scouts of America. The charter says the BSA will promote “the ability of boys to do things for themselves and others, to train them in Scoutcraft, and to teach them patriotism, courage, self-reliance, and kindred virtues, using the methods…
Make a plywood carabiner (opens in a new tab)
How to make a useful plywood carabiner to secure your stuff. It's not strong enough for climbing, but you can use this simple wooden clip to secure your stuff. WHAT YOU'LL NEED 3? carabiner 3?8? birch plywood Pencil Drill 1?4?
6 Amazing Research Expeditions Eagle Scouts Should Apply for Now (opens in a new tab)
**Updated for 2017** Eagle Scouts with a thirst for adventure and discovery have the opportunity to travel the world and dive into a field of interest by applying to the National Eagle Scout Association’s World Explorers Program . The World Explorers Program pairs extraordinary Eagles with world-class researchers at sites around the globe.
A Night of Wood Badge 2016
This is the third year for a Wood Badge Dinner. It was something that I had asked about ever since I went through in 2009. Now, it is a staple of annual events within Cascade Pacific Council. The first dinner …
Camp Maid Lid Lifter (opens in a new tab)
I'm not in the habit of reviewing products, but I got this as a gift and figured I'd report on it. The great parents from our Webelos II den gave me the Camp Maid 4-piece combo set as a gift at the end of our time together and the scouts bridged on to various troops.
Large Patrol Raft (opens in a new tab)
Down through the decades, Scout Pioneering has always consisted of building bridges, towers, and… RAFTS . Raft building provides some unique challenges, and is fun in many ways. Whenever you don’t have a boat or canoe, and there’s a desire to float on, or across, a body of water, making a raft is what commonly comes…
Cards for Jacob aims to cheer Cub Scout after major surgery (opens in a new tab)
One mom launched a Cards for Jacob campaign to help cheer up her Cub Scout son who faces surgery on his scull and neck next month.
At the U.S. Naval Academy, ties to Scouting run deep (opens in a new tab)
Walking around the majestic campus of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., your chances of running into an Eagle Scout are high: roughly 1 in 10.
Meet David Hunt, Eagle Scout and Smithsonian bone specialist (opens in a new tab)
Eagle Scout David Hunt is collections manager for physical anthropology at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.
The committee's most important duty (opens in a new tab)
The troop committee has many responsibilities and functions that facilitate a well-run troop. These include equipment, finance, advancement, training, transportation, helping to provide camping opportunities, and generally supporting the Scoutmaster. We know the Scoutmaster's number-one job: to train and mentor the youth leaders so they can run their troop effectively. But what is a committee
Oscar Cookies (opens in a new tab)
Did you watch the Academy Awards last night? I watched the first thirty minutes and the last two hours. I thought Chris Rock did a pretty good job as the host. His opening monologue was funny and had a nice bite to it.
Podcast 305 – Thurman on Patrols (opens in a new tab)
What Did John Thurman say to Patrol leaders? Richard Francis "John" Thurman (4 April 1911 – April 1985) became the third Camp Chief at Gilwell Park in 1943 and ably developed Gilwell Park and leader training for 26 years. Author of 15 books on Scouting He made a considerable impact on World Scouting and his influence…
Leap Day Last Day (opens in a new tab)
Hey, you get an extra day to enter my monthly give-away this month - only a few hours left. Check out my contest page and take a shot. Here are a few more contests you might want to enter... Scouting magazine gives away stuff.