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As young people cross over from Cub Scouts to ScoutsBSA ‘s programs, their parents frequently follow. Often, the more involved adults have been volunteer leaders in their childrens’ packs, and it is this source of talent that many troops seek to help do the many things that adults do for the Scouts.
________________________________________ SCOUT CRACKERS! BRAND NEW! JUST FOR SCOUTS! The BSA just launched a new fund-raising program for Scouts BSA troops for boys and for girls! Almost five years in the making, your Scouts will now be able to sell SCOUT CRACKERS and receive 70% commission for every box of these yummy treats they sell!
If your scouts have already earned the Exploration merit badge and are looking for something more interesting, it's your lucky day! The Tattoo Merit Badge was just announced and the merit badge pamphlet is available in scout shops and as electronic download.
Wildfires forced Philmont Scout Ranch to cancel treks in 2018 , but the BSA’s hiking paradise in New Mexico will be ready to welcome trekkers in 2019. To get ready for the busy summer season, Philmont staffers and volunteers are clearing debris, mitigating the risk of future fires — and preparing to give the Tooth of Time…
________________________________________ Hi Andy, I just attended a College of Commissioner Science. At several junctures, other Commissioners mentioned uniform inspections as being “old-school” and for fuddy-duddies. I’ve poked around on BSA and affiliated websites, and found plenty of PDF versions of the BSA’s Uniform Inspection Form as well as some PowerPoints of indeterminate vintage, but I haven’t…
With 3D printers, laser engraving equipment, and computer-aided design software and machines at the Sinquefield Invention Lab, it’s no wonder Scouts in Missouri’s Great Rivers Council have been able to make some pretty cool stuff, like action figures, robots and computers.
April 2019 Time to carve: 2 hours Finishing: 1.5 hour Boy's Life - January 1987 Design: Bill Fleming It's funny to me how many of these bloody things I rake up in the fall only to find more in the spring.
Asia Preciado was a “clueless but excited den leader” when she and her family began their Scouting journey six years ago. Asia’s son, then 6 years old, was an eager Tiger Cub Scout. Her daughters, then 2 and 8, couldn’t officially join Scouting at the time, but they tagged along at every camping trip, meeting…
Photo by Bill Torpy Lamar Ernest Wallace, a World War II veteran who was believed to be the oldest living Eagle Scout , died on March 31, 2019. He was 107. Wallace earned Scouting’s highest honor on Sept. 17, 1927, in Gotebo, Okla., meaning he could wear his Eagle medal proudly for nearly 92 years.
Venturing couldn’t exist without the dedication of young people and adults who plan events, recruit new members and help crews achieve their goals. Even more remarkable is that most of this work happens behind the scenes, with no recognition expected.
Note: This is the 26th in an occasional series where I share Eagle Scout project before-and-after photos. See the complete collection here and submit your own here . To fully understand the impact Eagle Scout projects have on communities, you need to see to believe.
The values enumerated in the Scout Law stay with you for life. But even the most faithful follower of those 12 points needs a reminder from time to time. That’s why Joel Sampson, who became an Eagle Scout in 1987, printed a small copy of the Scout Law and tacked it to the walls of…
El Entrenamiento de Protección Juvenil está Disponible Ahora en Español Para garantizar que la capacitación de Protección Juvenil de BSA sea accesible para tantas familias como sea posible, ¡el programa requerido de Capacitación de Protección Juvenil de BSA ahora está disponible en español!
For many hikers, the 2,189-mile journey along the Appalachian Trail takes almost six months. Not for Eagle Scout Michael Fibich. Last summer, he made the trek across 14 states in 94 days, 7 hours and 15 minutes — yes, he timed it down to the minute.
________________________________________ Hi Andy, It’s always been my belief that, as a registered adult leader, I could make and receive phone calls to and from my Scouts, but the most current BSA policy on this says that “private online communications (texting, phone calls, chat, IM, etc.)
The signature event of international Scouting is the World Scout Jamboree , held every four years. This summer’s World Scout Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Reserve will be the first on U.S. soil since 1967. But the excitement, camaraderie and unity of world Scouting doesn’t end when the tents come down in West Virginia.
Better make room on your bookmarks bar. The BSA has refreshed and retooled a pair of online resources for Scouts BSA volunteers. The first is the Program Resources page . Think of it as your quick-start guide to Scouts BSA. Here, you’ll find a collection of links for starting a Scouts BSA troop, helping Scouts earn…
Please join us as we congratulate Jeff Hotchkiss, who will serve as Scout executive of the Catalina Council in Tucson, Arizona effective May 1, 2019. Jeff began his Scouting career as a district executive at the Orange County Council in Santa Ana, California.
Front row, from left: Christopher Talbot, Cooper Newsom, William Greening, Reece Breaux, Will Beck and Miles Cavitt. Back row, from left: Scott Neuhoff, Luke Logan, Trey Brooks, Luke Stanford, John Carrie and Jackson Mechem. The mascot for the Episcopal School of Dallas, a well-regarded private school in Texas, is the Eagles.
Scouts and Venturers don’t sit still for long. All that moving around — hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, climbing and more — is a big reason why young people join Scouting and invite their friends along. But that constant motion comes with one downside: It’s tough to capture on video without motion-sickness-inducing shakiness.
You find them in just about every council. They can take place once or several times a year. Sometimes they’re run by the council; much of the time they tie in with a local college, museum or company. They’re attended by dozens or hundreds of Scouts.
It was a mild, overcast day in March — hardly beach weather — but the Scouts were out there anyway, walking the sandy shoreline at Fort Flagler Historical State Park in Washington. They weren’t out there to swim or surf. Scouts BSA Troop 319 was there to scour the beach for trash.
Hello and Welcome Back! Just when you think everything is going well, and you pat yourself on the back for being such an effective Scouter, you are confronted with a behavior problem. Oh for Pete’s sake! Not again! Yes, again… and again, and again.
You check the weather forecast a day before the troop’s campout this weekend: A 60 percent chance of thunderstorms with possible wind gusts of 30 mph. Should the campout be postponed until a weekend with more fair weather? It can be a tough call, and there are many factors to consider — what is the terrain…
The wonders of the world are all around us. And young people, like your kids and the Scouts you lead, have all kinds of questions about them. That’s why we’re tackling kids’ toughest questions in an entertaining and educational podcast called PodAsk, brought to you by Boys’ Life .
Master of the Universe Prayer Master of the universe Grant me the ability to be alone; May it be my custom to go outdoors each day Among the trees and grass, among all living things. And there may I be alone, and enter into prayer, To talk with the one to whom I belong.
Are your Webelos working on the First Responder adventure? Learn how to make a mini Cub Scout first aid kit with ideas for 3 different containers.
April 2019 Time to make: 1 hours Original design: Bill Macfarlane Something a little different. I was cleaning out some old electronics I came across a circuit board the was interesting so why not make it into a slide. I carefully cut around the area I wanted to use, sanded the edges and then glued…
Sea Scouts and Venturers participated in a service project in March at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. During National Park Week, the country celebrates “America’s best idea” with nine days of adventure, service and fun. In other words, the rest of the U.S.
We’re T minus three months and counting until the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. And over at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala., they’re planning a celebration worthy of the occasion. Why Huntsville? Because that’s where scientists developed the Saturn V rocket that carried Eagle Scout Neil Armstrong and his fellow space…
For as long as most of us can remember, the Scout flier has been one of the primary options in your recruiting toolbox for attracting new members to your packs and troops. When executed well, a Scout flier can be an effective tool.
Info updated for 2021. Many school districts use digital communications platforms like Peachjar for delivering items like activity fliers to parents. For Scouting, that means learning how to follow some basic guidelines to optimize communications items for that platform. Here, we explain more about what Peachjar is, how to follow their guidelines, and their expert…
________________________________________ Huge THANKS to the Scouters of the Michigan Crossroads Council 2019 Academy of Scouting & College of Commissioner Science! Michigan Crossroads is a unique “super-council,” comprised of four councils functioning as “districts” in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula (locally called “The Mitten”): Great Lakes Field Service Council, President Ford Field Service Council, Southern Shores Field Service Council, and…
Wow . I hadn't realized how long it has been since I posted anything new - almost a year, and much has happened in that year! As many can relate, real life got in the way a little. Just about two years ago, my company announced they were closing our site.
Lillian Rose Weihert, a Venturer from the Chicago-based Pathway to Adventure Council, received the 2017 Outdoor Inspiration Award in the Youth category. Young people who inspire their peers? Your troop or crew has plenty of them. Leaders who serve their communities?
Boy Scouts of America has teamed with the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and its award-winning environmental education program, Project Learning Tree (PLT). We’ve been working together to provide Scout leaders with ideas and outdoor, hands-on activities from PLT to help support Cub Scouting Adventures and Scouts BSA Merit Badges.
Story contributed by Andrew Allgeier, district executive from the Greater Wyoming Council My name is Andrew. I’m a district executive with a camp assignment, and I struggle managing my time. There, I said it out loud. It took years, some very serious feedback from family and friends, and a serious dose of humility to admit…
Are you looking for a training opportunity that will take your volunteering experience to the next level? District and unit volunteers are invited to visit the Philmont Training Center to explore unique ways to better serve their Scouting communities. The Philmont Training Center (PTC) is the national volunteer training center for the Boy Scouts of…
Story contributed by David Rico “Rico,” Southern Region – Membership Growth Coach As professionals, we face many challenges to meet our membership goals. While many pros have developed processes in the past, it’s a good idea to revisit those processes from time to time to stay current.
Providing a quality, year-round Scouting program should be the goal of every Scouting unit. This program planning guide will help district executives develop an annual program plan, a budget to go along with that plan, and a fundraising plan to reach program goals.
Ahoy there! It’s time for Show and Tell , where Scouters show their favorite photos and tell the story behind them. This time, we’d like to see your Sea Scouting ship’s vessel. It can be a kayak, canoe, sailboat or something quite larger.
On April 27, 2014, an EF4 tornado — the second highest on the scale — struck the Tittle family’s house in Ferndale, Ark. The tornado leveled the home, killing three members of the Tittle family: Rob, the dad; Tori, 20; and Rebekah, 14.
Fellow Scouters, The tragedy of child abuse, be it physical, sexual, or emotional is one that is truly heartbreaking. Painfully, there have been incidents of abuse that occurred in our program, and we sincerely apologize that some despicable individuals used their positions in Scouting to harm children.
You may have heard media coverage discussing the Boy Scouts of America’s Volunteer Screening Database and our organization’s Youth Protection efforts. The safety of children in our Scouting programs is our top priority. As an organization, we have an important duty and an incredible opportunity to focus on keeping children safe, supported, and protected.
You and your Scout might already be looking forward to summertime fun. It’s a great time to get outdoors, earn some awards a little more conducive to the season and make lifelong memories. But to ensure maximum enjoyment, you should make sure you’re in shape to accomplish your goals.
Note: This is the 27th in an occasional series where I share Eagle Scout project before-and-after photos. See the complete collection here and submit your own here . To fully understand the impact Eagle Scout projects have on communities, you need to see to believe.
The aims of the Boy Scouts of America – character development, citizenship training, and mental and physical fitness – are carried out through application of the methods of each program. You can probably name at least a few of them off the top of your head.
If you want to feel old, spent a few minutes watching teenagers use their phones. They tap out messages, swipe through alerts and share selfies while the rest of us are still stuck on our lock screens. Earlier this month, Scouts from Troop 1 of Dover, Mass., part of the Spirit of Adventure Council, put…
Please help us congratulate George Villalobos, who will serve as Scout executive of the Ventura County Council in Camarillo, California effective June 1, 2019. George began his Scouting career as a district executive at the Los Angeles Area Council in Los Angeles, California.
Following tonight’s troop meeting program, the senior patrol leader had a game of capture the flag on the agenda. However, with strong thunderstorms rolling through the area, the SPL is at a loss for an impromptu fun indoor alternative. So, our question is this: what are some good indoor games you’ve seen Scouts enjoy in…
________________________________________ Hi Andy, I’m a bit confused and need your help understanding something regarding Youth Protection. I’m a registered leader in a Cub Scout pack and, as such, have completed the BSA’s Youth Protection Training. Our pack is sponsored by a Roman Catholic parish, which happens to be a different denomination from my own.
