Scouts participate in wreath-laying at Tomb of the Unknowns (opens in a new tab)
Members of the BSA's Report to the Nation delegation participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns.
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Members of the BSA's Report to the Nation delegation participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns.
Boy Scouts of America representatives visited the Pentagon, where they found a bunch of Scouting fans working for the Department of Defense.
Back at the start of 2015 I decided to do a reading challenge this is my review of my reading challenge
Now’s your chance to be a television star! Two casting agencies call for outdoors-minded leaders for future TV shows.
The group of 10 youth delegates BSA presented our 2015 Report to the Nation to President Obama, who is also the BSA's honorary president.
Michigan Scouts collected and hand delivered 2,500 cases of water to 300 residents in Flint, a city crippled by lead-tainted water.
Helicopter Parents March 2016 Cafe Press Items Copyright - U.S. Scouting Service Project | Visit us at http://usscouts.org | News at http://usssp.blogspot.com
Eagle Scout saves lives on Everest By Aaron Derr Photographs courtesy of the Moniz family and Damian Benegas Matt Moniz, a 17-year-old Eagle Scout from Troop 171 in Boulder, Colorado, stood near the base camp of Mount Everest in the country of Nepal, watching a wall of snow, ice and rock tumble toward him.
________________________________________ Dear Andy, My district has established an "Every Leader Trained" emphasis to encourage volunteers to train for their position. So far, training is up four percent. Looking at individual unit size and the number of adult volunteers, we noticed several units with very large adult registrations and discussed how this would affect training emphasis and…
In Scouting, we pride ourselves on the character- and leadership-development opportunities we provide for our nation’s youth. That pride approaches an apex when we see our members go on to do tremendous things and then credit our movement with helping them succeed.
Author Sarah Kirkconnell ( Trailcooking.com ) has revised and expanded her excellent book Freezer Bag Cooking with the addition of many, many great new recipes. Freezer bag cooking is a simple technique that is perfect for Scouts, hot water is added to dry ingredients in freezer bag much like one adds hot water to a prepackaged freeze-dried…
Anywhere, any time, any place is a good time for Boys’ Life magazine. March 1 marks the 105 th birthday of Boys’ Life , and to celebrate, the classic publication has a great gift for readers of all ages: the official Boys’ Life app!
The new Cub Scout shooting sports program has arrived! Get the new requirements, see the new recognition devices and read the FAQs about the change.
Ten youth delegates on Tuesday presented the Report to the Nation to Speaker Paul Ryan. They even had time for a quick selfie with the representative.
Gil Kerlikowske, commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, is also chairman of the National Law Enforcement Exploring Committee.
BSA initiatives on the responsible use of medicine, on physical activity and on nutrition align with what the Surgeon General deems most important.
Cub Scout Robert R. displays his Medal of Merit Award for rescuing two toddlers from drowning. (Photo credit: Catholicphilly.com) When one Cub Scout visited his local swim club last summer, he didn’t expect to leave the pool a life-saver. Yet when the Scout spotted two toddlers drowning in the deep end, he sprung into action…
This slide is based on an idea found in "Whittlin' Jim's" column in the December 1950 issue of Boy's Life . Check out my carrick bend infographic (part if the PDF package ) This neckerchief slide can be made from just about any straight-grained wood, the piece I use in the video is probably the smallest workable…
A lot of life has happened in the last couple years, and this domain has suffered because of it. Well, now I'm about back to a point I can spend some time on it! Changes are coming to the layout, design, and content so stay tuned! –Arlen
In the spirit of peace and brotherhood, the Transatlantic Council invites Scouting youth, families, professionals, volunteers and veterans to the Omaha Beach Camporee in Normandy, France for an unforgettable opportunity to recognize the sacrifices of American and Allied soldiers, who fought and died fighting for freedom and peace in 1944.
It’s time to start pumping up and counting down because the 2017 National Jamboree will be here before you know it. The Summit Bechtel Reserve just announced a contest for jamboree enthusiasts to show off favorite memories and begin planning new ones!
The seven Scouts, one Venturer and one Explorer handed their report to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who spent about 15 minutes with the young people.
The shared language of what it means to be an Eagle was spoken fluently at the annual Gathering of Eagles on Wednesday in Washington, D.C.
On Feb. 29, President Obama awarded Senior Chief Petty Officer Edward C. Byers Jr. the Medal of Honor. Byers is a former Scout.
They turn them upside down when they get their Bear badge??" My wife incredulously asked me that as she showed me a picture that a friend of hers, a parent of a Cub Scout, had posted on Facebook. His son was dangling from his ankles as the Cubmaster pinned his badge on. It sounds fairly
The delegates, including one Cub Scout, eight Boy Scouts, one Venturer and one Explorer, met President Obama on Tuesday at the White House.
Just call me Noah. My wife, eagle scout son, and I volunteered for a week at Camp Noah in 2014 and my wife and I will be doing it again this summer. What's Camp Noah? Camp Noah is a locally hosted day camp for elementary-age children whose communities have been impacted by disaster.
Download this FREE Cub Scout camping checklist to share with the families in your pack. Share all the details about the campout in one document.
Catdrill 'lashing' details 'CatDrill' is an Italian technique for staving or lightweight pioneering , that involves preparing the staves to be used by drilling a small hole and notching the surface of the pole. Lightweight synthetic kernmantle rope is then used to tie the staves together, using stopper knots on the starting end of the rope…
A group of Scouts met with Interior Secretary Sally Jewell to discuss ways to get young people away from screens and out into nature.
Veterans Affairs Secretary McDonald talked to the BSA's Report to the Nation delegates about his Scouting past.
You can't conquer Half Dome halfheartedly. Thousands of hikers make it to the top of the granite rock formation in Yosemite National Park each year, thanks to steel cables that run 4,800 feet up, but that doesn't make the trip any less intimidating when you're at the bottom looking up.
Write a funny caption for this photo and it could be printed in the June issue! What's going on in this picture? What is that bird doing and what is the alligator thinking? If you can think of a funny caption for this photo, just post it in the comment form at the bottom of…
VIEW VIDEO: How to Tie a Zeppelin Bend The Zeppelin bend is such a secure joining knot, it’s reputed to have been used by the US Navy used it to moor airships (zeppelins). It’s easy to tie, will not fail, and most significantly, it’s easy to untie.
Suppose that instead of a usual weekend campout, the Scouts of your troop have decided to go on a weekend hike – maybe to get a taste of what a longer voyage like a Philmont trek might be like. They'll start out by getting dropped off Friday night, hike to their first campsite, set up
Outdoor Code + Leave No Trace + Tread Lightly + Land Ethic = Outdoor Ethics Just like that little equation might be confusing, there's been some confusion about the Outdoor Ethics part of the Boy Scouts of America program. I've heard BSA is breaking ties with Leave No Trace.
Scouts meet President Obama in Washington, D.C. (Photo credit: Official White House Photos by Pete Souza) Scouts proudly shook the hand of the Commander in Chief on Thursday, carrying on the nearly century-old BSA tradition, Report to the Nation. The youth delegates met with President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C., to deliver the 2015 annual…
It's all about asking the right question… When it comes to Scouts planning activities there are two major threads of observations I hear about: They don't plan at all, they are incapable OR they plan the same things over and over.
Adam Keys, an injured veteran of the war in Afghanistan, said the support he received from Boy Scouts helps him maintain a positive outlook on life. (Photo credit: Lauren Loricchio/Capital Gazette) Fifteen-year-old Boy Scout Ryan O. of the Del-Mar-Va Council has always had a passion for serving veterans.
Looking for the perfect mix of Scouting and STEM adventures? How about an educational program focused on conservation and leadership development at the magnificent Philmont Scout Ranch? If you think this sounds like a recipe for the perfect STEM camping experience, you’re in luck: there’s still time to sign up for Philmont’s Roving Outdoor Conservation…
Who is responsible for tent care in your troop? How do you hold Scouts accountable for damaged or dirty tents or lost tent stakes?
The high school I went to (and my father before me for that matter) was torn down several years ago. They sometimes do that to old buildings approaching 90 years old, particularly if they can raise the money for a new modern building.
The 2015 merit badge rankings are here, and the winner is clear. More Scouts earned one merit badge than any other, and it wasn't close.
This fall, Scouting will launch a new pilot program called “Lions” in select councils nationwide. This new pilot program is designed to test whether or not Scouting can and should serve kindergarten-age boys. Originally piloted and developed in the Northern Star Council, and joined by a few others, it has proven to be popular with…
When the Baltimore Area Council tried to develop a STEM camp they knew just whom to ask: the guys in Troop 944 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Scouts met multiple times to discuss ideas and share their thoughts on what a summer camp focusing on science, technology, engineering and math could look like.
Becoming a trained Venturing volunteer has never been so easy! The new online learning portal for Venturing has been released in the BSA Learn Center, and starting is as simple as firing up your web browser. As an alternative to classroom training at the local council, this portal allows volunteers to complete their leader-specific training…
Select councils will gear up this fall to pilot Lions, a new Scouting program for kindergarten-age boys. Sounds simple, right? Isn’t it just a matter of adding a new rank to Cub Scouting?… Not so fast! Although there are similarities, there are also differences between Lions and the core Cub Scouting program and we’re here…
Did you know there is more than just the Pinewood Derby for Cub Scouts? There is a triumvirate of races, collectively referred to as the Grand Prix. Pinewood Derby (car race) Raingutter Regatta (boat race) Space Derby (rocket race) And of course the BSA makes official kits for each.
Many young men may be improperly recording their Eagle Scout service hours completed on projects, one volunteer says.
In Lions, the new pilot program for kindergartners, boys wear T-shirts instead of uniforms and earn adventure stickers instead of adventure loops.
Image copyright Advocate Egerov From Russia, via Youtube, comes this technique for converting a PET soft drink bottle into a strong 'tape' that can be used for lashings. ??????? ?????? (Advocate Egerov) has two videos that explain how to build the Bottlecutter2.0 device to strip the bottles, and demonstrates how to use the strips to make lashings.
In the year 2016 , the Lord came unto Noah, who was now living in England and said, "Once again, the earth has become wicked and over-populated, and I see the end of all flesh before me. Build another Ark and save 2 of every living thing along with a few good humans."
Nancy Reagan, the former First Lady of the United States who died Sunday, addressed 30,000 Boy Scouts at the 1985 National Scout Jamboree.
Introducing "Scouts Then and Now," a new feature on Bryan on Scouting. Send me two photos of your Scouts: then and now.
________________________________________ Dear Andy, I'm the Chartered Organization Representative for a Boy Scout troop. Recently, our Scoutmaster started demanding access to the troop's checking account. We said no, as it's been our policy since the troop started. But he somehow went around us to the District Executive, who got him placed on the troop's checking account without…
Clotheslines are so 1960s. Today's most cunning campers build a camp clothes drying rack out of sticks and ropes.
You will have seen these posts a number of time your top x number for dinner I thought it was a good idea I would write my version. The premise is, and I am sure you have been asked the question may time before, if you could invite 6 people to dinner living or dead…
When tying the basic, oft-used, simple “two-half-hitches” (double-half-hitch), instead of applying a clove hitch around the standing part, there’s a thing about mistakingly tying a lark’s head. This accident rears its head time and again, and many Scouts (both youth and adult) somehow don’t recognize the difference.
The list of merit badges earned in 2015 is out. I updated my infographic on them. Mostly it is the same as last year, give or take 10% on any given badge. The top 13 are Eagle required, all being awarded over 47,000 times (which makes sense with over 50,000 Eagles being awarded each year).
We spent Friday night on an overnight climbing event at a local climbing gym. They do a great program for scouts to earned the Rock Climbing merit badge, and the troop goes every year. It is actually one of our more popular events, I think they like the novelty of stay up all night (the…
This batch of 15 projects includes a meditation center, a wheelchair-accessible garden and a restoration of Colorado's largest sundial.
You know the routine. It happens every month. The committee gets together for the monthly committee meeting. The meeting gets off to a late start because the chairman waits for stragglers (not a good idea, and the subject of another article). The treasurer goes into great detail about who has paid for camp and who
Three ways to document your Scouting adventure When you go on a Scout trip - whether it's hiking, camping or something else - you're making memories. Consider keeping a journal of your Scout outings that will keep those memories fresh for years to come.
I am not thinking about the nature of Scouting activities… When Scouting is happening, when it's really popping and sizzling along, Scouts are doing things that few, if any of their peers are doing. I am not thinking about the nature of their activities, that's something we've discussed many times before, what I am thinking…
There’s nothing quite like that amazing feeling you get when you finally pry the lid off a Dutch oven and peer down into its depths. Your nostrils fill with a heavenly aroma and your mouth begins to water as your gaze falls lovingly on a hearty dish you’ll soon devour around a campfire.
Recently, I had the opportunity to spend a brief time with our delegates during Scouting’s annual Report to the Nation journey to Washington, D.C. Due to office demands, I couldn’t spend the entire week with them (I certainly hope to in future years), but I did get a strong sense of how powerful this trip…
More Information on the New Lion Program As we mentioned earlier on the Cub Hub , Select councils will gear up this Fall to pilot Lions, a new Scouting program for Kindergarten age boys. Sounds simple, right? Some might think it's simply a matter of adding a new rank to Cub Scouting.
A new, two-year initiative launched by the National Baptist Convention of America International is aimed at growing Scouting in five states.
Management Speak 101 Here is a beginner's guide to management speak. Now you can sound very knowledgable in any management meeting. It is very likely you have seen these before but I came across them again and they are still funny. A 404 Someone who's clueless. From the World Wide Web error message "404 Not
Use the clues and photo to name the destination. You could win $100 to Scoutstuff.org.
________________________________________ Dear Andy, I've noticed that the activities qualifying for certain segments of the National Outdoor Awards have been changing rather quickly, but a few BSA activities still seem to have been left out. Specifically, can dog sledding at Northern Tier be counted for toward the mileage requirement for the "Riding" activity?
In this first chapter of "Scouts Then and Now," check out the same Scout in two phases of his life: his early Scouting years and his later Scouting years.
Any Cub Scout leader can tell you, every pack is unique – so their anniversary celebration should be also! For some packs, participating in new activities is the highlight of the banquet. The main event for other packs might be an age-old Cub tradition.
Scout Ryan V. was awarded the Medal of Merit after he saved a man’s life with the skills he learned in Scouting. (Photo credit: DNAinfo/Mina Bloom) One quick-thinking Boy Scout from the Pathway to Adventure Council is thanking Scouting for equipping him with skills that are not only preparing him for life – they’re the difference…
Unlike some fleeting childhood hobbies or interests, Boy Scouts of America invites youth to a lifetime of unforgettable character-building experiences that transform them into the leaders of the future. Opening young people to a world of discovery, fun and friendship, Scouting introduces its members to relationships they can count on, forging bonds as strong as…
Whether he’s leading new relationships with outside corporations, heading up our in-house sales agency or spearheading new green efforts for the organization, the BSA’s top guy for corporate engagement and sustainability has his hands full with an array of jobs that are helping Scouting reach families and businesses far and wide.
In case you haven’t noticed, warmer temperatures have begun to roll across the the country and summer vacation will be here before we know it. Have you procrastinated your summer planning? Don’t panic—There’s still time and availability to sign up for an awesome summer camping event and we’re breaking down what you need to know…
Troop 117: Merit Badges Earned in 2015 : The troop earned 117 merit badges by my count in 2015. The breakdown is shown in the image above.
The 1985 National Scout Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill, Va., produced stories that have been told and retold for more than 30 years.
Scout Program: Climbing and Rappelling When you're rappelling or rock climbing as part of a BSA program, you aren't going at it alone. Your right-hand man is called a belayer, and his job is critical. He also has a backup belayer, so you have a team on your side.
I attended the District Awards Night for my district, and it had a great "Scoutmaster Minute" closing by the Council President. He spoke of who his father, and scoutmaster, told him there are 3 types of people. First are the ones who makes things happen.
An Eagle candidate from Texas has completed an impressive Eagle Scout service project to benefit the Greyhound Adoption League of Texas.
Watch exclusive BL interview with Olympian Abby Wambach This week, Nintendo chose soccer great Abby Wambach to be its spokesperson for the 3DS version of Mario vs. Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Watch the video below to see the two-time Olympic Gold medalist talk with the Games Guru about soccer, gaming and Mario…
Shawn sent in this question: Is there a decent CD or iTunes album of Boy Scout songs? I find the Cub and Boy Scout Songbook CDs quite lacking. A search turns up several Girl Scout albums, and few things on YouTube.
When teaching fire building skills, it can be fun to try some fire starting methods other than matches. This video shows how to start a fire with a lemon, copper brads, zinc nails, wire, and steel wool.
Boy Scout troops don't seem to have the same drought of willing adult helpers as Cub Scout packs do, but they still need a few to serve in roles supporting the Scouts in running their troop, and a few more to help with the support tasks that the Scouts can't do for themselves. Still others
Has your pack defined acceptable uses of technology at Cub Scout events? You'll need to so that the boy can earn the Cub Scout Cyber Chip.
This summer, head to Philmont Training Center for "Engaging Millennial Parents in Scouting," a weeklong course.
St. Benedict's Prep in Newark, N.J., has a lot in common with a Boy Scout troop. According to "60 Minutes," that's by design.
What should Scout parents do if a child want's to quit Scouts?… This is the first of three podcasts about Scout parents. Just about every child will reach some impasse along the way that will make them reluctant or downright adamant about participating.
Getting excited for summer yet? So are we! But if the countdown is starting to make you a little impatient, we’ve got just the thing. Pass the time and brush up on your warm-weather adventure skills with these four need-to-know knots for summer: 1.
Attention Veterans! In an effort to strengthen Boy Scouts' Duty to Country, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has teamed up with several veterans organizations, including The West Virginia National Guard, Paralyzed Veterans of America…
This week's batch of 18 includes a firefighter wall of honor, a dog park, a beautiful new fire pit and more incredible Eagle projects.
________________________________________ Hello Andy, Can an older (age 21) Eagle Scout wear his old Scout uniform and Eagle medal to his younger brother's Eagle court of honor, even though he's no longer active or registered in Scouting? (Ray Pietersen, their dad) All adults who are Eagle Scouts can and should wear their Eagle medals to courts of…
The BSA came out with a new Scout Handbook this year, which means changes to the requirements. The first set of changes revolves around the Scout badge. It was previously just a badge, and had a few simple joining requirements, but wasn't officially a rank.
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Josh Hart, the Villanova guard who led his team to the Sweet Sixteen, says Scouting instilled in him the work ethic necessary to succeed.
One of the many great things about the Scouting program is its hands-on approach to leadership development. Time and time again, BSA’s youth members demonstrate an ability to rise to the occasion and put their leadership skills to good use.
Often times at a campsite, there are no picnic tables with benches, or array of thick, wooden discs from downed trees positioned around a fire site, or fallen tree trunks, or a large outcrop of smooth boulders. So, through the years, the answer to the query, “what will I sit on during a camping trip?”
The Cub Scouts of Melrose Pack 68 recently had fun making a project during the March 21st pack meeting. They boys constructed display stands for their Pinewood Derby cars. Each stand is able to display five cars, enough from 1st Grade Tiger Cubs through 5th grade Webelos Scouts.