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Eagle Scouts lead the way in business, on sports teams and at our nation's military academies. How fitting, then, that the man who led the graduates this year at the U.S. Naval Academy is an Eagle Scout. (Especially considering one in 10 midshipmen earned Scouting's highest honor .)
KNOTS Cartoon for June 2016 Life Saving Ring Toss ... to a Tree?! Cafe Press Items Copyright - U.S. Scouting Service Project | Visit us at http://usscouts.org | News at http://usssp.blogspot.com
BSA’s Silver Buffalo Award, the highest national recognition for adult members, is a rare honor given to dedicated volunteers who have put tremendous effort into growing the Scouting movement. You may not recognize all of their names. But because of their unwavering commitment to serving America’s youth, our previous Silver Buffalo recipients have been invaluable…
The eighth edition of the Boy Scout Handbook was first published in 1972, and was the handbook in publication when Distinguished Eagle Scout Gerald R. Ford became the first Eagle Scout to serve as President of the United States. This version of the handbook brought significant content changes in an effort to better serve America’s…
Unsatisfied with the dictionary definition - "a citizen of the United States of America" - Eagle Scout Dave Jorgenson recently set out to answer a deceptively simple question: What does it mean to be American? You might remember "Dear Dave" from his series of hilarious and thought-provoking YouTube videos for the Independent Journal Review.
I have been on the Melrose Area History Museum board of directors for a little over a year now. I have been finding it to be interesting. I have a feeling that if I am still on the board when I am old enough to retire from work I may spend quite a bit of…
What you can expect from staffing the 2017 NSJ Staffers returning from the 2013 National Scout Jamboree agree that our inaugural event at the Summit Bechtel Reserve was an unqualified success – but as with all new endeavors, we learned there were some things we'd want to improve for the next one.
Staff registration for the 2017 NSJ is open! July 14, 2017 may seem like a long ways away, but the next year will pass quickly – which makes today the perfect time to formalize your jamboree staff commitment by registering for jamboree staff.
You're on a "need to know" basis – and you need to know! During an event as complex as the National Scout Jamboree, it is essential that staff, participants and leaders have access to the most timely information. In 2017, a new team has been established to focus specifically on the communication on-site at the Jamboree…
14 months from now, 35,000 Scouts and Scouters will descend upon the Summit Bechtel Reserve for the 2017 National Scout Jamboree. There is an incredible amount of work to be done between now and then, all of which will be driven forward by a team of dedicated professionals and volunteers.
When Eagle Scout Dave Jorgenson has a question, he gets the answer. We know this from his previous adventures questioning the current state of chivalry and at what time you become an adult . So when the Eagle was unsatisfied with the dictionary definition of “American,” he didn’t just take it to the streets to get…
Some are pretty obvious: the Boston Minuteman Council is in the Northeast Region, the South Florida Council is in the Southern Region, the Mid-Iowa Council is Central and the San Francisco Bay Area Council is Western. Others are less so.
The animals along the local trails are so nonchalant about humans, it's scary. This deer couldn't care less that I walked by no more than 15 feet from it. I almost stepped on a rabbit before it decided to saunter, not hop, rocket, dodge, bolt, scurry, or run, but just saunter off the trail.
June is here, which means troops will be heading off to summer camp starting this month. The annual pilgrimage always involves making sure everyone has what they need in order to have a successful week at camp. There are many lists of what Scouts should bring to summer camp – clothing and personal gear, forms,
Randall Stephenson has a quote on his office wall from Eric Shinseki, the former secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. It reads: "If you don't like change, you are going to like irrelevance even less." Stephenson, the AT&T CEO who took over as BSA president in May 2016, doesn't think the Boy Scouts of…
Are Scoutmaster's Conferences a retest? Can assistant Scoutmasters do them? This week we'll catch up on listener email by answering these questions and more. When it comes to Scoutmaster conferences they are explained unambiguously in teh Guide to Advancement, so n one of this is a matter of opinion or a difference in style, it…
If your Order of the Arrow lodge is planning a council camp or service center project for 2017, you can apply now for a 2017 OA Matching Service Grant. All lodges applying for the grant must be a 2015 JTE Lodge (bronze level or higher) and should not have received a grant from the OA…
Over this past weekend (June 4th) myself and another Scouter went to this years Amateur Radio Conference in Seaside, Oregon. It is called SEAPAC. I had only been to this conference one other time and it was fun then. If …
Right when Troop 55 gets to the "mentally awake" section of the Scout Oath, the meeting room doors crash open. Everyone's head turns to see Colton is here. He's nearly 10 minutes late, as always. Something must be done to reverse this habit.
Some surveys and studies surprise you. Others do not. Into the latter category goes a new survey from the National Recreation and Park Association that asked Americans to select their favorite summer outdoor activities. The top three - taking a walk or hike, going to the beach, and having a picnic or barbecue - share one thing…
Attention council marketers! Just in time for summer, we’re freshening up BSA’s Cub Scout recruitment tools, starting with some brand-sparkling-new visual assets. The BSA Brand Center brings you Camping with Cub Scouts —the latest Build an Adventure toolkit, created to help you take your council’s Cub Scout membership to the next level.
Any pioneering project that cannot safely stand by itself needs to be attached to something that will securely hold it in place. It has to be anchored. Sometimes nature will provide a tree or rock in just the right location or you might be able to shift the project’s placement to take advantage of a…
Have you visited the BSA Brand Center lately on Scouting Wire? If so, you’ve probably noticed a few improvements we’ve added to make the Brand Center easier to use and navigate. Keep reading to get the lowdown on what’s new and how you can get the most out of the available resources for your council.
World Oceans Day is June 8 and Scouts across the country are doing their part to help assess and track clean water in communities from coast to coast. Using specialized water testing kits distributed by EarthEcho International, Scouts can gather data from water in their communities as part of an effort to monitor overall global…
Spend five minutes with some Greenshirts and one thing becomes clear: The passion and enthusiasm among Venturers for this older-youth program is high. Venturers, unofficially known as Greenshirts because of the unique hue to their uniform shirts, gain skills and knowledge in the areas of high adventure, sports, arts, hobbies, religious life and more.
What’s the best thing about the Exploring program? Bridget Mason, mother of an engineering Explorer says it best in the latest Exploring testimonial video: “It gives kids the opportunity to really bring real, live experiences to life. They can touch it, they can feel it and it becomes a reality.
With the 2016 National Annual Meeting in the rearview mirror and the role of the BSA’s National Commissioner now led by Charles W. Dahlquist II, we wanted you to get to know the man behind this volunteer role. Sure, you know he’s the man charged with leading efforts to help chartered organizations and BSA leadership…
It's a question every Scout will face: Once I finish requirements for merit badges and rank advancement, who signs off? Is it the Scoutmaster? The merit badge counselor? My senior patrol leader? Mom or Dad? The answer is all of the above.
________________________________________ Hi Andy, I've just finished my first year as a Cub Scout adult volunteer-Tiger Den Leader-after several decades as a Scout and Scouter. We finished this year with ten Tigers, of which eight were with us for the entire year and two for the past six months (these two participated fully for the months they…
Randall Stephenson, AT&T CEO and BSA national president, has called on the movement to continue to broaden and diversify our leadership. In the BSA district in the heart of the nation's most-visited city, that's already happening. In a scenario that is rare if not unprecedented, the Manhattan-based Big Apple District in the Greater New York…
For delivering an outstanding, year-round Cub Scouting experience for your boys, you deserve an award. You deserve the National Den Award. The National Den Award recognizes dens that run a great program. You can earn it once in a 12-month period; your pack committee decides whether that's the charter year or the calendar year.
Up on the Philmont website, they have a cool plug-in of map data for all the trails and campsites at Philmont that can be used with Google Earth. I would imagine it is great for planning ahead for your next trip or reliving some of the details of trips past.
Princess Leia (real identity: Cubmaster Nancy Burke) addresses the crowd at the Pack 19 Blue and Gold Banquet. " Star Wars and Scouting are a perfect combination," Leia/Burke says. "Both Jedis and Cub Scouts share similar values. They each follow a code of honor and oath, try to live in peace and harmony with their environment…
When a major city faces some of the worst flooding in its history, Scouts leap into action. Scouts like the young men of Pack 1292 of the Sam Houston Area Council in Houston. Cubmaster Patrick Snyder heard on the radio that the Red Cross was opening a flood-relief distribution point at a nearby elementary school.
Following the previous post , here are the sites we stayed at during our 1988 trek, starting at Ute Springs, and working our way up to climb Baldy Mountain, and then out through Ponil.
Earlier this week I posted an article giving adults some guidance, sometimes tongue-in-cheek, about what they should pack for spending a week at summer camp with their troop. In it, I included a link to a packing list for Scouts that my troop has used for a few years now, and on that list was
Just when you think you have social media figured out, something new comes along. Today's teens and tweens fill their home screens with Snapchat, Instagram, Kik, Yik Yak, Whisper, Tumblr and a dozen other apps I've never heard of. Facebook and Twitter?
For more than three decades, Troop 210 has been developing future leaders in inner-city Savannah, Ga. Throughout it all, Herbert DeLoach Sr. has been there as a positive adult male role model to young men - many from single-parent households. For his efforts, DeLoach received the Coastal Georgia Council's Good Scout Award at a special luncheon…
Cole D., waits for help, holding the American flag. (Photo credit: WTVM/ Rhonda Ordway Pester) After an act of valor went viral, Cole D., 18, has been hailed a hero. But this young patriot was just doing what Scouts do—demonstrating Duty to Country .
Scouting needs gardeners more than managers or officers. Scouting isn't the science of management or military discipline, it's much more like a garden. Gardeners prepare the ground, plant the seed, keep the weeds away, make sure there is plenty of water and sunshine and step back.
Bob Heft loved flags, and he loved politics. So when his U.S. History teacher handed out a homework assignment in 1958, Heft had the perfect idea. He would design something nobody had seen: a 50-star version of the American flag.
________________________________________ Last week's column (June 9th – No. 490) about "earned awards" versus "participant recognitions" sparked a whole bunch of responses. Here are a few, to give you all a perspective on not only how boys feel about this issue, but how their parents feel as well… Hi Andy, I'm a regular reader and I LOVED your…
Note: This is the 16th in an occasional series where I share Eagle Scout project before-and-after photos. See the complete collection here . To fully understand the impact Eagle Scout projects have on communities, you need to see to believe. That's why I asked to see Eagle Scout project before-and-after photos - the same photos prospective Eagles…
Calling all BSA employees! Registration is now open for Top Hands 2016 and you won’t want to miss this super-charged Scouting conference. This year’s Top Hands is scheduled for August 24-26 at the Hyatt Regency in New Orleans so mark your calendars now.
Did you know Venturers are unofficially known as Greenshirts? According to Bryan on Scouting , the nickname stems from the distinctive color of Venturing uniform shirts. Greenshirts have a penchant for having expertise in a variety of Scouting topics like High-Adventure, sports, arts, hobbies, religion, and so much more.
June is National Camping Month! Are you already planning your overnight adventure to celebrate? You don’t have to be a wilderness expert to partake in the fun. We’ve got the where, why, how, and more, so round up your friends and family and get ready for the camping adventure you’ve been waiting for.
Maps have always fascinated me every since I was a kid and my parents had a subscription to National Geographic. I particularly like topographical maps. Google Maps and Google Earth are cool because you get great aerial views, but nothing really portrays height and steepness like a topo maps does.
Waiting on that Scout to email or call you back? You could be waiting a long time. These days, three-fourths of teens have smartphones, and their favorite way to communicate is by texting, according to the latest research . If you're a Scout leader, that isn't news to you.
A shift back to traditional Scouting was brought about in BSA’s programming, and this meant the author of the handbook’s ninth edition would need to be a Scout skill expert. Luckily, BSA had the perfect man for the job. Legendary Scouter William “Green Bar Bill” Hillcourt came out of retirement to write the ninth edition…
In 1916, the 6-year-old Boy Scouts of America faced increasing competition from other organizations - groups that wished to capitalize on the growing interest in all things Scouting generated by the BSA. These imitators, Scouting magazine reported at the time, could "destroy the meaning of the Scout uniform and emblems" and rob boys of "the knowledge…
In the wilderness of West Virginia, Scouts have unforgettable adventures at the Summit Bechtel Reserve (SBR). The site has become a pinnacle of the Scouting experience, with incredible outdoor programs and state-of-the art facilities that offer Scouts tremendous opportunities, taking them to the limits of what they think they can do.
You probably can't appreciate what your Scouting legacy will be a few years from now. Today you have your hands and your head full of getting things done; looking into the future may not be high priority. No matter how hopeful or difficult things may seem at the moment, no matter how well or poorly…
What are you teaching your Webelos that will help them with the Webelos to Boy Scout transition? Check out this idea!
I have a new respect for kitchen staff at big events (or really any cook staff). Normally when camping I just have to deal with cooking for myself or family or just a couple people when with the troop. A couple of times I've helped with bigger troop or pack campouts for maybe 50 people…
On its surface, Norman Rockwell's The Scoutmaster painting depicts a satisfied and pensive adult leader peering into a fading campfire. The sun has set. The Scouts are asleep. All is quiet. But go a layer deeper, and there's more to The Scoutmaster than meets the eye.
You don't have to swing like Spieth or blast it like Bubba to earn the Golf merit badge. You do have to know about golf's rules, its equipment and its lingo. (Like: Was that a hook or a slice I just hit?
Here in Wild, Wonderful West Virginia, Scouts have unforgettable adventures at the Summit Bechtel Reserve (SBR). Our site has become a pinnacle of the Scouting experience, with incredible outdoor programs and state-of-the art facilities that offer Scouts tremendous opportunities, taking them to the limits of what they think they can do.
As the Order of the Arrow enters its next century of service, there are a variety of new programs, initiatives and events occurring throughout 2016 and 2017 that will benefit the broader Scouting community. These include NEXT: A New Century, Prism, the Developing Youth Leaders Conference and Operation Arrow.
A flagpole suspended off the ground by a series of lines, so that it appears to be floating, can be a really neat project. The structural principle has been referred to as tensegrity , and is based on using one half the lines to lift the pole off the ground, and the other half to give…
On major news sites and in both houses of the U.S. Congress, everyone seems to be talking about the BSA's big anniversary. One-hundred years ago this week, President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill granting federal incorporation to the Boy Scouts of America and protecting the BSA's name and insignia.
The Zeppelin bend is an easy, secure way of joining two lines. Where it really shines, though, is how easy it is to untie even after it has been under a heavy load. Also called a Rosendahl Bend after Commander of the Lakehurst, N.J.
Where would we be without our Scouting dads? They sacrifice time, money and precious vacation days for the betterment of packs, troops, teams, crews, posts and ships across the country and around the world. From 1992 to 2002 - my youth Scouting years - my dad, Don, introduced me to the adventure of Scouting.
Golf legend Lee Trevino speaks to BSA volunteers. (Photo credit: Chris Jackson/ The Register-Herald ) After a weekend filled with golfing headlines, we wanted to look at a bit of history on two-time U.S. Open winner and big-time Scout fan Lee Trevino from the March 1985 issue of Boys’ Life magazine .
Even though summer camp rolls around each year at this time, we're never quite prepared for it. We generally do a pretty good job, but there are details we tend to forget from one year to the next. Add to this the changing nature of our troops and a refresher becomes a good idea. So,
You've heard it again and again: Eagle Scouts become sports heroes, astronauts, CEOs and high-ranking politicians. Now we have the numbers to prove just how many U.S. Senators - some of the country's most powerful politicians - earned Scouting's highest honor in their youth.
The Cub Scout National Summertime Pack Award recognizes packs that are active during the school's summer vacation. Boys can also earn an individual award.
The May NextConnect webinar scored a hat trick of great topics! BSA marketing experts shared how to jump-start the Lion program, where to get fresh jamboree marketing material, and the keys to taking home a President’s Marketing Award. Currently, more than 180 councils plan to participate in the highly-anticipated Lion program, Cub Scouting’s pilot program…
As of June 30, 2016, there are 66 councils with 85 accounts that now use BSA Asset Management, LLC (BSAAM) as an investment manager. For periods ended June 30, 2016, the BSA Commingled Endowment Fund, LP earned 1.20% for the quarter, 0.92% for 1 year, 6.49% (annualized) for 3 years, and 6.58% (annualized) for 5…
Leadership and character are the cornerstones of our movement. For all of the adventure we provide youth such as hiking, camping and sailing, those activities are proven pathways and opportunities to develop leadership skills and become a person of character.
On a Sea Scout long cruise - defined as an on-the-water activity that lasts two or more weeks - everybody has a job to do. At the top of the list: Get along. It's not all about you and what you want and what benefits you the most.
Last week, BSA celebrated 100 years since President Woodrow Wilson federally incorporated the youth organization into the United States of America on June 15, 1916. Time magazine recounted the history of the BSA’s federal recognition in an article Wednesday, highlighting the special day in Scouting.
Pedro tries competitive eating Does the mailburro have what it takes to be a competitive eater?
21 boys boarded a boat in Poole Harbor… … they had no way of knowing they were pioneering a movement for millions of young people around the world. Several lived well into old age to vividly recount their experiences decades later.
Helping other people at all times" includes those times you don't anticipate. So when two Eagle Scouts and an assistant Scout executive came across the scene of a single-car rollover accident on Thursday, June 16, in Georgia, there was never a question of what they would do.
Peek inside the July 2016 issue of Boys’ Life magazine Here's what you'll find inside the July 2016 issue of Boys' Life magazine. Remember, many articles are only available to subscribers and are not available online. To subscribe to the print or digital editions of Boys' Life magazine, please visit http://boyslife.org/subscribe .
It is time to nominate deserving volunteers for the 2017 Silver Buffalo Award. Only electronic nominations and recommendation letters will be accepted — using the Silver Buffalo nomination form — at [email protected] before the deadline of August 31. When submitting the nomination form, please include as much correct and relevant information about the nominee as possible.
________________________________________ Hi, Andy, I have a question about the Camping National Outdoor Award that you probably have addressed before, and I'm not sure where else to go. I have done an internet search, but have not found a source to answer the question.
With the Summit Visitors Pass, we've got you covered. The Summit is opening up to visitors this summer! A visitors pass is a great time for family and friends, and open to the public. We're all set and can't wait for you to visit.
I'll give you three good reasons to be excited about the future of Scouting. Their names are Nicholas, Anthony and Justin Neves. In January, this set of triplets from Troop 46 of Montgomery Township, N.J., received the Eagle Scout Award.
Be sure to mark your calendars for Tuesday, June 28 at 6 p.m. CST for the next 2017 National Jamboree Livestream event ! This online event will be a quick-hitting 30-minute program of the latest jamboree updates and developments with featured guests Ralph de la Vega, 2017 National Jamboree Chairman; Matt Myers, 2017 National Jamboree Director…
Enjoy the outdoors with your Cub Scout during the Great American Campout. Learn about the National Wildlife Federation's annual event.
No, the title isn't about me and my aging body. Rather, these nice picnic tables. The pack built 4 of them back in 2013 as a donation to our District's Cub Scout Day Camp and the park hosts the camp each year.
To grow Scouting, consider looking in communities where Scouting hasn't yet flourished. That's a skill Brian Collins has perfected. By tapping into underserved markets, this assistant Scoutmaster and district commissioner in the Central Florida Council has started new Scouting units in unexpected places.
A software developer by day and an assistant Cubmaster by night (and weekends), Randy Farmer has one of the coolest hobbies imaginable. Farmer (top row, left) is a member of Chaos Corps, a robot-building team from Atlanta that will appear in tonight's Season 2 premiere of BattleBots on ABC.
I have always been interested in how things work. Be it mechanical or within an organization or a team. I like seeing what is happening behind the scene. Being asked to be part of a team is great. So far, …
The super dirty kid in the middle is Scout 1 at his first day of Cub Day Camp between the Tiger and Wolf year. It was a great year, having completed his first year as a scout, and going off to camp by himself (sort of, we had adult leaders with them, but he was…
A Boy Scout won Season 2 of MasterChef Junior back in December 2014 . If you ask me, it's time for seconds. MasterChef Junior , the Fox competition that awards $100,000 to a preteen cook, is hosting open casting calls for Season 6 in New Orleans, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Houston, and Jacksonville, Fla.
Download the Cub Scout Shooting Sports Guide here! You'll find great information to help range officers conduct their shooting sports events.
Fishing the Summit lives up to hype Whether you're headed to jamboree next summer, or on any trip to the Summit Bechtel Reserve, you owe it to yourself to try a little fishing. And that's not just a load of hype.
You're taking over as advancement coordinator for your troop. Congratulations and thank you – this is an important position with an impact on every youth member. Being advancement coordinator is part recordkeeper, part go-fer, part scheduler and part Mr. or Mrs Know-it-All. You wear many hats and serve many masters. The Scoutmaster and committee will
We think of Wood Badge as a way to deepen our impact within our immediate circles: at home, in Scouting, at work. But Kevin Etter, whose Wood Badge critter is a Bear, has unlocked a way to bring Wood Badge principles beyond Scouting and, indeed, beyond American borders.
The District Roundtable. That once a month training meeting for all Scout Leaders. They are a good meetings for all Scouters to attend, filled with lots of ideas and knowledge, but in reality only a small percentage of Scouters attend them.
Every child should have the opportunity to experience the character-building fun and adventure that Scouting has to offer. Reaching every child, however, can be quite a challenge. But it doesn’t have to be! With a little outside-the-box thinking, developing new units in underserved markets is an excellent growth strategy for councils.
I've been asked all year if we are planning another trip to Goblin Valley this summer. Remembering last year's experience , my answers were always vague and uncertain as I was contemplating the possibility of another option. I really liked having more time to experience those San Rafael slot canyons with the added night to our…
From high-octane adventure to making lifelong friends, your Scouts and Venturers will be talking about the 2017 National Jamboree for years to come. An event this memorable takes a lot of planning, which is why the experts are stepping in to help answer all of your questions about the 2017 National Jamboree.
Sean sent in this question: Hi! This site is so helpful, thank you for doing this! I'm planning on signing up my son for scouts this coming fall & was going to get started on the Bobcat requirements this summer. I was able to access the requirements through your site, & was hoping you could let me…
Scouting is something Scouts do for themselves … … rather than a program of activities presented for them. This week I'll discuss the way Scouts should be engaged in leading one another, in making decisions affecting what they do and how it is done.
Is it a good idea to wear cowboy boots on a hike? Q. Is it OK to wear cowboy boots on a hike? I have a pair that is very comfortable. - B.J. the Cowboy, LeHigh Acres, Florida Interesting question. I've definitely never been asked that one before.
Our Cub Scout pack's summer events do triple duty for us. Read on to find out how we use the events!
The story of Scouting has been told through campfire tales, physical and digital photo albums, and official Boy Scouts of America paintings. In history, only two men have created those official paintings: Norman Rockwell and Joseph Csatari. Now a third has joined that colorful lineage.
