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October 2017 Time to carve: 2 hours Finishing: 1.5 hour Design: Greg Firestone I really like this slide! It reminds of wooden buckets at my grandfather house. I'm not really sure if held water or maybe it was just the way my brother and I pumped water from the old well but it was a…
We adults like to complain about heavy traffic, poorly designed roads and ever-lengthening commutes. One 15-year-old Boy Scout has actually done something about it. Skyler Chapman is barely old enough for a Utah learner’s permit. But for his Eagle Scout service project, the Lehi, Utah, teen came up with a plan to shorten commute times…
Yes, girls in the BSA. I want the BSA to be a fully co-ed organization with no limitations on how girls participate. Before you lose it understand I don’t think girls in the BSA should be forced on anyone. More about that later.
Cub Scouts recruited? Check. Dens formed? Check. Leaders volunteered? Check. Applications submitted and filed? Check. Dens are meeting? Check. Training completed? Ummm…. Something’s missing here. It seems like in the hubbub and rush to get our Cub Scout dens cranked up and running again, families invited and involved, pack meetings held, popcorn sales organized, supplies…
________________________________________ Please take a moment of silent personal reflection before reading this column, in respect to the victims of the Las Vegas massacre and their families, and to honor all those who responded immediately and afterward to this singular tragedy. Thank you.
Scouting teaches responsibility. It teaches young people to take on a role in which they’re accountable to their fellow Scouts. This role is known as a position of responsibility. As a young man advances toward becoming an Eagle Scout, he’s required to take on one of these roles.
Calling all Explorers! Registration is now open for the law enforcement event of the year—the 2018 National Law Enforcement Exploring Conference (NLEEC). This summer, registered Law Enforcement Explorers and advisors from around the nation will have the chance to experience a week of competitions, seminars, exhibits, recreation, and more.
Note from Bryan: October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Each Wednesday this month, the BSA Youth Protection team will share important reminders about what each of us can do to prevent, recognize and report bullying as we work to make Scouting a safe place for all.
Last month’s Scouting 500 at Kansas Speedway welcomed 13,000 youth and adults to one of the largest Scouting events of the year. Everyone in the Heart of America Council family was invited: Cub Scouts (and their families), Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, Venturers, Sea Scouts and Explorers.
Ah, pumpkins. Has there ever been a more fruitful fruit? Pumpkins offer a cornucopia of uses, most of which make great meeting or campout activities for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Venturers. Carve them, paint them, roast them, eat them or spice them.
Please help us congratulate Jesse Roper II, who will serve as Scout executive of Buckeye Council in Canton, Ohio, effective November 1, 2017. Jesse began his Scouting career as a Learning for Life/Exploring executive at Dan Beard Council in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Beavers, beavers, nom, nom, nom" That is all... m ore to come soon
“All in favor, say Aye.” How often do you hear that in your committee meetings? If you’re doing things right, you shouldn’t. That’s because the troop committee isn’t a legislative body and doesn’t make decisions based on what most of the committee members agree with.
There’s one key difference between Scouting friendships and other friendships. It’s a fact Ray Capp has discovered after being involved in Scouting for more than 50 years. During his tenure, the Distinguished Eagle Scout, past chairman of the Order the Arrow and 2016 National Alumnus of the Year has formed countless long-lasting friendships.
A sharp blade can be a useful tool when setting up camp, fishing or cooking. It can also be dangerous when used carelessly. Policies vary among packs, troops, councils and camps when it comes to what blade types and lengths are allowed.
This week wraps up the 30-day celebration of the culture and history of Americans with Spanish, Mexican, Caribbean, and Central and South American heritage. Boy Scouts of America is proud to celebrate the thousands of Hispanic volunteers, youth, and employees that contribute to the success of our organization and the Scouting movement each day.
________________________________________ Do YOU subscribe to the BSA’s “ADVANCEMENT NEWS”? This isn’t a “blog”—it’s a newsletter published about ten times a year that you can subscribe to. Each article is written by an advancement expert and vetted by the BSA National Advancement Team.
Note from Bryan: October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Each Wednesday this month, the BSA Youth Protection team will share important reminders about what each of us can do to prevent, recognize and report bullying as we work to make Scouting a safe place for all.
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Has the Venturing program made a positive difference in your life? We want to hear about it! Current and former Venturers are encouraged to submit stories and photos highlighting their fun experiences and adventures in Venturing as part of 20 Stories to Celebrate 20 Years.
The Boy Scouts of America’s volunteer-led board of directors on Wednesday unanimously approved a plan to welcome girls and young women into all Scouting programs. The historic move means boys and girls will soon experience the values-based, life-changing, Instagram-worthy moments offered in all of Scouting’s programs — from Cub Scouting all the way to Scouting’s highest…
Well, that was fast! Starting next year (2018), girls will be part of the BSA scouting program, not just Venturing, Sea Scouts, Explorers, and STEM. What, you did not realize they were in all that already? Oh my, it will be a busy year of updates - the organization name, logos, training, uniforms, patches, stickers, books…
Today the BSA announced Family Scouting starting next fall with girls in Cub Scouting, and “a program for older girls, which will be announced in 2018 and projected to be available in 2019, that will enable them to earn the Eagle Scout rank.”
For those Scout volunteers looking to identify, recruit and re-engage Scouting alumni, $500 or $2,000 could go a long way. Through its new grant programs, Scouting Alumni & Friends is offering free money to help councils boost their engagement with alumni.
This week, BSA’s volunteer-led board of directors unanimously approved a plan to invite girls and young women into all Scouting programs. Starting in 2018, Cub Scouting will be available to both girls and boys in the first through fifth grades (or 6 to 10 years old).
Wondering what to get Venturing for its 20th birthday next year? Here’s the best gift of all: A personal story about how Venturing impacted your life. Venturing turns 20 in 2018, and to celebrate, the BSA’s program for older youth is asking for Venturing stories and photos from current and past members.
Can you define Scout leadership without using the words “lead”, “leader”, or “leadership”? The Scout oath and law does a great job of defining leadership without any of those words. Look at the simple promise “to help other people at all times”.
During the Great Depression, Laurence Seeger’s family couldn’t afford to buy an official Boy Scout uniform. As a substitute, Seeger’s mother doused his father’s old white dress shirts in coffee grounds, staining them khaki. The Chicago native, who celebrated his 96th birthday last week, owns an official uniform today, which he adorns with an Order…
October 1970? Time to make: unknown Finishing: 1.5 hour Design: unknown I'm often asked about my first neckerchief slide so I wanted to take this time to talk about it. Sometime in the late 60's or early 70's, as a young Scout, I saw a picture of a Turks head somewhere.
Note from Bryan: October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Each Wednesday this month, the BSA Youth Protection team will share important reminders about what each of us can do to prevent, recognize and report bullying as we work to make Scouting a safe place for all.
At the BSA, we’re committed to online safety for both Scouts and Scouters, and we have a plethora of resources to help keep you and your family protected on the web. In fact, October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month, which is an annual campaign to raise awareness about cybersecurity.
Sponsored post courtesy of Yakima The weather is cooling down which means now is the perfect time to hit the road for your next wilderness adventure. Sure, you’ve got the camping gear you need, but is your vehicle equipped to transport everything?
Registration is now live for a pair of 2018 national Wood Badge Pilot Courses that precede a 2019 update to the BSA’s premier leadership training program for adults. The update, known as the Wood Badge Centennial Update, will be released in 2019 for use in 2020 and beyond.
On the lengthy list of reasons to join Scouting, fundraising ranks right near the bottom. But let’s face it, all those Scouting adventures don’t pay for themselves. Fortunately, with the right online tools, you can make your next fundraising effort painless, efficient and — dare I say it?
Life Scout Logan S. was leaving his Krav Maga class when he noticed two green piles on the ground. The money — totaling $4,000 in hundred-dollar bills — was just sitting there in the open where anybody could’ve picked it up. Fortunately, the “anybody” turned out to be a Scout.
Since last week’s announcement that the BSA will invite girls and young women to all Scouting programs , parents, Scouts, and Scouters alike have been weighing in on the news, and we’ve heard some incredible perspectives on what this means for the Scouting community and beyond.
This is an exciting and important time for the BSA. Our recent historic decision to serve families by inviting girls to Cub Scouts and delivering a program that will enable them to earn the rank of Eagle Scout sustains our mission of preparing more young people to live the values of the Scout Oath and…
By now you have heard that the Boy Scouts of America will begin to allow Cub Scout packs to register girls beginning next fall, and a program for older girls is on the way as well. This is a long-awaited (and long-feared) advance in our programs.
It’s the fourth-annual High-Adventure Week here on Bryan on Scouting. This week is all about the once-in-a-lifetime experiences awaiting Scouts and Venturers at the BSA’s four national high-adventure bases. Plus, we share tips for securing your spot in 2018, 2019 and beyond.
I did not start out as a believer in co-ed Scouting. For most of the last 35 years I’ve been a volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America the status quo worked fine for me, co-ed Scouting was a big unknown, and being unknown it was something to resist.
It’s practically every Scout’s least favorite task on the duty roster, but cleaning dishes does not have to turn into a necessary evil. It can turn that way if kitchen police/patrol, aka “KP duty,” is used as a punishment or as the spoils of a competition (e.g.
It’s the fourth-annual High-Adventure Week here on Bryan on Scouting. This week is all about the once-in-a-lifetime experiences awaiting Scouts and Venturers at the BSA’s four national high-adventure bases. Plus, we share tips for securing your spot in 2018, 2019 and beyond.
________________________________________ Dear Andy, I’m proud to say our son Joey is officially an Eagle Scout. He had his board of review successfully in July, and his Eagle court of honor was last night. Even his new Scoutmaster said, “This kid is a rock star!”
All current Boy Scouts — even those who completed their Eagle Scout board of review before Aug. 1, 2017 — are now entitled to receive Eagle Palms for merit badges earned before their Eagle board of review. Previously, only those Scouts with an Eagle board of review date on or after Aug.
Note from Bryan: October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Each Wednesday this month, the BSA Youth Protection team will share important reminders about what each of us can do to prevent, recognize and report bullying as we work to make Scouting a safe place for all.
It’s the fourth-annual High-Adventure Week here on Bryan on Scouting. This week is all about the once-in-a-lifetime experiences awaiting Scouts and Venturers at the BSA’s four national high-adventure bases. Plus, we share tips for securing your spot in 2018, 2019 and beyond.
End of October 2017 Time to make: 1 hours Original design: Bill Macfarlane In this time of Ghosts, Ghouls and Goblins, I think it is time for me to show my emergency Zombie Apocalypse Plan slide. (What you don't have a Zombie Apocalypse Plan?)
It’s the fourth-annual High-Adventure Week here on Bryan on Scouting. This week is all about the once-in-a-lifetime experiences awaiting Scouts and Venturers at the BSA’s four national high-adventure eses. Plus, we share tips for securing your spot in 2018, 2019 and beyond.
Update: Bidding ended Nov. 19, 2017. The final sale price: $9,093.18. The original post follows. There was something different about the baseball these Scouts were tossing back and forth. The year was 1948. The place: a crowded gym in Larchmont, N.Y.
Scouters, are you ready for your big break? A media company is looking for experts in the world of Scouting, outdoor adventure and survival skills to serve as possible talent for a TV show. The company is AMS Pictures, based in Dallas.
You have questions, he has answers. Using the form below, submit your questions now for my sit-down interview with Chief Scout Executive Mike Surbaugh to talk about the BSA Board of Directors’ historic decision to welcome girls into Scouting . We’ll record the conversation on video, and I’ll share that video on this blog.
Next time you’re strolling down a well-traveled sidewalk, study the ground. You might find small black splotches caked onto the pavement. Volunteers at the Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego found 997 such spots. It was all chewing gum — casually discarded over the years and stuck to the mile’s worth of concrete and brick walkways…
