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So what if dogs can’t say the Scout slogan? That hasn’t stopped Ranger from doing his Good Turn daily. For the past few years, Ranger has been helping his best friend, Ethan Warren, cope with the sometimes-violent “triggers” Ethan experiences as part of his Asperger’s syndrome.
Congratulations to Patrick Linfors, who will serve as Scout executive of the Garden State Council in Westhampton, New Jersey, effective August 1, 2019. Patrick began his Scouting career as a district executive at the Central Florida Council in Apopka, Florida, where he later served as a senior district executive and field director.
September 2019 Time to make: 2 hours Boys Life "Slide of the Month" Oct. 1994, page 65 Original design: Jeff Springer Of course, when I think of cartoon fish I can't help but think of the yellow submarine in the sea of green.
With fall comes our surge of new members in the Boy Scouts of America – mainly in the Cub Scouting program – and with it comes the paperwork. The BSA membership of our current members gets renewed at recharter time, but those new to Scouting or new to our units (including transfers from other packs) need to…
________________________________________ EAGLE – An Attainable Goal! Seven years and 290 issues ago I first wrote this piece. Since then, an entire generation of Scouts has moved on, “Scout” has been added as a seventh rank, and we now have girls in Scouts BSA troops.
Outdoor retailers Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s are an outdoorsman’s paradise. Most retail stores feature at least 80,000 square feet (many are a lot bigger) full of equipment for camping, hunting, fishing, boating and off-roading. This month, they’ll also have merit badge counselors.
Even the best-designed recruiting flyer is just part of the equation. These days, recruiting more families to your pack, troop or crew means getting out there into your community. It means sharing the story of Scouting directly. It means word of mouth.
Pictured are Life Scout Noah Dietrich, Eagle Scout Joshua Dietrich, Eagle Scout and Assistant Scoutmaster David Dietrich, Assistant Scoutmaster and Eagle Scout Craig Dietrich, Assistant Scoutmaster and Eagle Scout Matt Dietrich and First Class Scout Aidan Dietrich Although it might still feel like summer in some places, most units are looking forward to traditional fall…
A century ago, in a forest not far from London, a group of Scouting volunteers made history. Over a span of nearly two weeks, they experienced a course, devised by Scouting founder Robert Baden-Powell, that offered “practical instruction as to how a camp should be run.”
By Corey Siegfried, Troop 45 Bolivar, MO I’ve never seen morning fog settle in a mountain valley. Where I live in Missouri, it’s pretty flat. The view at the Summit Bechtel Reserve definitely made getting up early on a summer morning more pleasant and the 15-hour bus ride to West Virginia well worth it!
Jean Perea shakes hands with Scott Sorrels after Sorrels presented Jean with the National Medal of Merit. This is Unsung Heroes , a Bryan on Scouting blog series celebrating under-reported acts of Scouting heroism. These are stories that don’t make national headlines — but should.
Please join us as we congratulate Justin Williams, who will serve as Scout executive of the Palmetto Council in Spartanburg, South Carolina, effective October 1, 2019. Justin began his Scouting career as a district executive at the North Florida Council in Jacksonville, Florida.
As our volunteers’ lives continue to become busier, the BSA has looked for ways to streamline and simplify our leaders’ ability to deliver the Scouting program effectively. Recently, a cross-functional team of some 20+ BSA employees has been developing an innovative set of Den Leader Experience features for Scoutbook, the free web app used by…
________________________________________ Navigating the course to EAGLE – A Few Hints My column last week apparently struck some chords. Thanks to all of you readers who let me know I was on the right track! Here are a couple of letters from you all… Hi Andy, I always look forward to Ask Andy but I loved this issue.
Today’s employers are looking to hire someone with problem-solving skills, a strong work ethic and the ability to work in a team. “Sounds an awful lot like the traits we develop in Scouting,” says Peter Boll. When he’s not working as communications coordinator for the American Camp Association’s New England chapter, Boll is an assistant…
Hurricane Dorian has slipped off the North American coastline after leaving a wake of death and destruction, primarily in the Bahamas. Prior to landfall, Florida Sea Base staff stationed in St. Thomas and St. Croix were evacuated to safety and crews to those areas were called off, says Tim Stanfill, Sea Base Director of Program…
T. Boone Pickens at a 2012 TED Talk. (Photo by James Duncan Davidson, used under Creative Commons license.) T. Boone Pickens, the former Boy Scout, oil tycoon and philanthropist who once donated $250,000 to support local Scouting, died on Wednesday at age 91.
Photo courtesy of UK Athletics When Kentucky’s starting quarterback went down with a knee injury last week, the Wildcat offense suddenly faced an unexpected challenge: tackling a formidable conference schedule without one of its captains. Going into this Saturday’s match-up with Florida, the No.
Play Cheese Patrol Help your mouse buddy munch his next meal. Can you complete all the levels? Help your mouse buddy munch his next meal. Can you complete all the levels? View On WordPress
September 2019 Time to make: 3 hours Finishing: 1 hour Original design: Philmont / Bill Macfarlane Days till Philmont Countdown Yes, I'm headed to Philmont as a part of a Council Continent and I thought I would come up with a series of Philmont inspired neckerchief slides.
There’s something different in the way Scouts respond to a tragedy in their community. Instead of worrying about their own needs, Scouts exhibit a deep-rooted duty to step up and help people heal. In the very embodiment of the Scout Law, they show what it means to be helpful, friendly, courteous, kind — and even brave.
Congratulations to Terry Whitaker, who will serve as Scout executive of the Suwannee River Area Council in Tallahassee, Florida, effective September 1, 2019. Terry began his Scouting career as a district executive and later senior district executive with the Northeast Georgia Council in Jefferson, Georgia.
To err is human, said the poet Alexander Pope over three hundred years ago. Everyone makes mistakes. Scouts make mistakes. In fact, the Scouting program is built partly to allow young people to safely make mistakes and learn from them.
________________________________________ Hi Andy, In last week’s column you said to Scouts: “For each merit badge you’d like to earn, go to your Scoutmaster first, and tell him of your interest. After a brief chat with you, your Scoutmaster will give you a signed Blue Card along with the name and contact information for at least one…
Scouting opens doors to lifelong learning and adventure. If you have what it takes to share the adventure with future generations, consider West Virginia University’s Scouting Degree Programs, which will set you on the path to becoming a Scouting professional.
For many Scouters, a high-adventure base is like a second home. Anyone who has spent time at Sea Base, the Summit Bechtel Reserve, Northern Tier or Philmont understands what I mean. These places change you, challenge you and build memories that stay with you for life.
Whipping a rope can be a little tricky. If your Scout is struggling with the traditional method , you can teach them another way, called “West Country whipping.” For the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing some camp hacks that the BSA’s national camping subcommittee has shared with us.
What's For Breakfast Around the World...
Kathryn Wyatt (right), director of Base Camp in Minnesota, will appear in Season 4 of Small Business Revolution . If you’re looking for an expert in running an efficient, fun and safe climbing facility, look to the Boy Scouts of America.
An awesome array of new resources for Cub Scout leaders is designed to help you welcome new families to your pack, learn more about the Cub Scout program and recruit new leaders. Regularly refreshing resources is just one way the BSA has your back as you deliver an amazing program to your Cub Scouts.
From 2009 to 2018, the state of Michigan reported seven total human cases of Eastern equine encephalitis, a mosquito-borne virus that can cause brain infections. However, this year, Michigan has already reported seven cases, including three that were fatal. Infections have also been reported in Connecticut, New Jersey, North Carolina, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
________________________________________ Hi Andy, Every year, our council holds a “Merit Badge College” for Scouts. It’s done classroom-style and attendance is usually pretty good. Lots of Scouts show up, especially for some of the Eagle-required merit badges. But this year, there’s a new rule that we haven’t had before.
Article submitted by Lawrence “Ty” Washington, Jr., Central Region Growth Coach at the National Service Center. The National Service Center is committed to supporting local councils. Part of this commitment is to host Scoutreach Conferences. The Central Region Scoutreach Conference takes place October 8-10.
Article submitted by Keenan M. Pallone, Chain Bridge District Executive of the National Capital Area Council . Step 1: Understanding Challenges from the Event We need to figure out what areas can be improved from the first event in order to have a more successful follow-up event.
Article submitted by Derrick Russaw of the Southern Region. In order to continue to serve its youth members, it is incumbent on the district to elect a strong district committee. Thus, it is the task of the district nominating committee to select a slate of excellent officers and members at large for the next year.
Article contributed by David Rico “Rico,” Southern Region Membership Growth Coach at the National Service Center. What can you do to get ready for your 2020 Friends of Scouting (FOS) campaign before year-end? As we get through the big wave of fall membership, we need to think with the end of the year in mind.
In our “A Scout is Reverent” series, Scouting Wire takes a look at how Scouting families across the country observe a variety of religious holidays of their own faith and support fellow unit members in theirs. Join us as National Director, Cub Scouting Anthony Berger shares the importance of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur to…
The official logo for the New Member Coordinator position. Joining a new Scout unit can be a little overwhelming at first. You’re presented with a calendar full of fun upcoming activities, but all the new people, places and things can seem like a lot to digest.
Tying a square knot might be confusing for Scouts. “Right-over-left” or was it “left-over-right?” For the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing some camp hacks that the BSA’s national camping subcommittee has shared with us. This week’s tip involves a technique to tying a square knot correctly every time.
With recruitment season in full swing, BeAScout.org is more important than ever, and it is vital to ensure that all unit information on the site is accurate and up-to-date. The easier it is for new families to find Scouting units and sign up, the sooner they can begin experiencing the adventure and life-changing value of…
It started, as great ideas sometimes do, as a joke. Back in March, Chris Mahn was sitting at a troop committee meeting with fellow volunteers from Troop 26 of Wilmington, N.C., part of the BSA’s Cape Fear Council. The leaders started to discuss the troop’s epic summer calendar, where two separate groups of Troop 26…
September 2019 Time to make: 3 hours Finishing: 1 hour Original design: Philmont / Bill Macfarlane Days till Philmont Countdown One of the most recognizable symbols of Philmont is the Arrowhead with the Tooth of Time on it. First issued in 1957 , the Arrowhead patch is awarded to each participant who compleats a 7 or 12-day…
Time to open the mailbag and answer a couple more of your questions. First, from the chartered organization representative of a Cub Scout pack: We’re chartered by the Parent-Teacher Association of the elementary school that we serve. Up until now, the PTA has been a affiliated with the school, but they are separating and the…
Jamie Bone calls it her “escape from Guadalupe Peak.” While her life wasn’t in danger, Bone’s wind-whipped, rain-soaked experience in this West Texas national park was plenty harrowing. In March, Bone had planned to climb to the highest point in Texas and spend the night about a mile from the summit.
A mom sent in this question Our crew wants to stop the scouts from serving as President in the crew and Sr patrol leader at the same time. Does anyone else have this rule? I've never heard that rule before.
