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Please join us as we congratulate Jeff Sulzbach, who will serve as Scout executive of the Greater Los Angeles Area Council in Los Angeles, California, effective November 1, 2019. Jeff began his Scouting career as a local council employee at the Indianhead Council in St.
________________________________________ Dear Andy, I’ve hit a big road-block and don’t know where to turn. I hope you can help me. My twin sons, Brawley and Crawley, are Life Scouts and 17 years old. They have just a little bit to go, and their 18th birthday is only about three weeks away!
October 2019 Time to make: 1 hours Boys Life "Slide of the Month" May 1979, page 70 Original design: Wayne Mason Memory's of Summer, warm temps, kids playing, and the sound of the Ice Cream truck. Sigh...now on to Fall.
On Oct. 1, 2017, Marty Heffernan and his wife, Jeannie, had plans to celebrate Marty’s 56th birthday with a concert in Las Vegas. But when gunshots erupted during the Route 91 Harvest festival, celebration turned to chaos. In the panic that followed, Heffernan showed disregard for his own safety, running into the line of fire…
October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and, according to new BSA data , Generation Z believes bullying is the biggest issue facing their generation and the number one issue they want to solve. As a Scout parent and/or leader, you know that, given the Scout Law, the BSA’s anti-bullying education, and Scouts’ daily Good Turns, Scouts…
Carlos Cortez, Los Padres Council Scout Executive: The observation of Hispanic Heritage Month covers the 30 days from September 15 to October 15. This year’s theme is “Hispanic Americans: A History of Serving our Nation,” which both invites us to recognize the contributions made by Hispanic and Latinx Americans to the United States, and to…
Sure, your Scout can complete many merit badge requirements in a classroom setting. But where’s the fun in that? It’s time for Show and Tell , where Scouters show their favorite photos and tell the story behind them. This time, we want you to share how you or another counselor taught merit badge curriculum in a…
Did you know a clove hitch is essentially two simple knots? When your Scout is tying lashings, all they need to know to create a clove hitch is how to tie a half-hitch. For the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing some camp hacks that the BSA’s national camping subcommittee has shared with us.
You might need a new tent for an upcoming family campout. Or perhaps your son or daughter wants a new backpack — and needs to fill it with some upgraded camping gear. Maybe you know a family new to Scouting and they need some direction on how to prepare for outdoor adventures.
As the Scouts in Troop 1776 of Plano, Texas, get older, their interest in traditional summer camp activities starts to wane. They want to challenge themselves further, to venture deeper into nature’s mysteries. They want high adventure. A year ago, with that in mind, Scoutmaster David Wille approached the patrol leaders’ council with a suggestion.
Congratulations to Greg Balog, who will serve as Scout executive of the Blue Ridge Council in Greenville, South Carolina, effective November 1, 2019. Greg began his Scouting career as a district executive at the Blue Ridge Council, where he also served as finance director and field director.
Richard (left) and Joseph Mercado of Troop 1439, Pathway to Adventure Council. Ask 12 Scouts to select the toughest merit badge they’ve earned, and you might get a dozen different answers. But ask two brothers, each of whom earned all 137 of the BSA’s available merit badges ?
________________________________________ Last week’s issue featured a letter from a fictitious “Scout Mom”—Mrs. Ima Koddler—voicing a plethora of complaints about how her twin 17 year-old Life rank, lackadaisical sons—Brawley and Crawley—were being hindered in her (not their!) quest to shove them through to Eagle rank.
A Scout is Kind and prepared to help others in need. We know that, but perhaps your Scouts’ classmates don’t. According to new BSA data , kids age 6-17 believe the biggest issue facing Generation Z is bullying. In a recent survey, 86% of youth polled said not being bullied is a daily priority.
Benjamin Alva, left, and Cody Clements In the unsullied areas of the Yellowstone National Park wilderness, away from the tourist spots, Eagle Scouts Benjamin Alva and Cody Clements looked for clues that could lead to other-worldly discoveries. They collected samples from 200-plus-degree hot springs, preparing them for analysis of their nitrogen compounds, which are critical…
A challenging journey peppered with obstacles. A road you ultimately travel alone, even though others will be there to cheer you on. Adrenaline-packed adventures in unpredictable weather. Take a look at cyclocross, and you’ll see this fascinating sport has a whole lot in common with the journey to becoming an Eagle Scout.
Making tight wraps and fraps when tying a square lashing can take some time, but not with this method. For the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing some camp hacks that the BSA’s national camping subcommittee has shared with us.
October 2019 Time to make: 3 hours Finishing: 1 hour Original design: Philmont / Bill Macfarlane Days till Philmont Countdown Another widely recognized symbols of Philmont is the black bull. There was also a white bull for female advisors that was available until sometime in 1980's (or so I'm told).
David Taylor pauses during his 2012 Philmont trek. Nathan Flowers and David Taylor began their Scouting careers together more than a quarter-century ago. They were in the same Cub Scout pack and then moved together into Troop 475 of Florence, S.C.
Tuesday, October 15 October 15 is Global Handwashing Day. On this day, all are encouraged to remember that washing hands with soap is a good way to prevent diseases. Another goal is to increase the awareness of the importance of the availability of hand washing facilities.
Update: On October 23, the BSA announced the new fees, as you’ve probably heard: Youth members in Cub Scouts, ScoutsBSA , Venturing and Sea Scouting, $60 per year Youth members in Exploring, $36 per year Adult members, $36 per year Annual charter fee, $60 per unit (previously $40) More information and links in this post on…
Jonathan Andersen never let a little fame get to his head. But he did let it serve as extra motivation along his Scouting trail. Jonathan and his dad, Bruce, were photographed together in 2008 for a Boy Scouts of America recruiting campaign.
Please join us as we congratulate Marc T. Andreo, who will serve as Scout executive of the Patriots’ Path Council in Cedar Knolls, New Jersey, effective October 15, 2019. Marc began his Scouting career as a district executive and then district director with the Greater New York Councils in New York, New York.
You might have seen an email announcing that the Boy Scouts of America will be performing periodic rechecks of criminal backgrounds of all volunteers. Without dedicated volunteers, Scouting wouldn’t be the great, life-changing program it is today. You help make Scouting happen.
________________________________________ Hi Andy, I read with interest your reply a couple of weeks ago about merit badge “colleges.” Your thoughts on their value (or lack of) mirrored my own experience with them. Earlier this year I was asked to “teach” a merit badge at our council’s Merit Badge College.
The years weren’t getting shorter, but Ginger Fearey’s children seemed to be growing up faster and faster. Thankfully, the adult volunteer from Grapevine, Texas, found one place where time seemed to slow down. Whenever she went hiking with her son and Troop 7 — in postcard-perfect places like Colorado, Arizona, Wyoming and beyond — she noticed that…
The largest Scouting event in the world is set for this weekend: the Jamboree-on-the-Air and Jamboree-on-the-Internet . In 2017, more than 1.5 million Scouts and leaders in more than 160 countries participated. This year marks the 62nd rendition of the radio event and 23rd Internet event, held concurrently Oct.
A dining fly is one of the first structures you should put up at camp. But what if you’re in an area away from trees, how do you secure one? For the next couple of weeks, we’ll be sharing some camp hacks that the BSA’s national camping subcommittee has shared with us.
A reader asks: My boys just joined or local pack in our area last August. This pack has like 60 kids. The 1st thing I noticed was that everything was very very unorganized, but I didn't want to be one of those parents that gripes and does nothing.
While most American kids are busy deciding which Halloween costume to wear this year — Stranger Things or Star Wars? — the Scouts in the BSA’s Western Los Angeles County Council have flipped their calendars forward by two months. Yes, they’re already working on holiday cards.
________________________________________ Yup, I actually do take vacations, and one is coming up starting tomorrow. I’ll be back with more answers on November 12th. So, in the meantime… Happy Scouting! Andy
Please join us as we congratulate Brian Tobler, who will be serving as Scout executive of the Golden Spread Council in Amarillo, Texas, effective November 1, 2019. Brian began his Scouting career as a district executive at the Heart of America Council in Kansas City, Missouri.
October 2019 Time to make: 3 hours Finishing: 1 hour Original design: Philmont / Bill Macfarlane Days till Philmont Countdown So lets combine a couple of last few slides into another well recognized symbol of Philmont. Carved from reclaimed white oak pallet wood, I purposefully left this on the rough side because I liked the thought…
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. That’s doubly true in this world that can always use more good news. Read the latest story below, and find instructions for sharing your own Unsung Heroes story at…
Read how April and Miguel Rivas, Scouter parents from Circle Ten Council , passed their passion for the great outdoors on to their children through family Scouting adventures in this ‘Families Like Mine’ story. What Scouting programs are you connected to?
What does your Scout think of Boys’ Life magazine? Do they have ideas of what they’d like to see more of? Less of? What’s their favorite section? Least favorite? What new stories would they like to see? They can let the Boys’ Life editors know by joining an advisory team for the magazine.
This video is a good introduction to maps and cartography for youth. How did maps develop? How were early maps used? Have you ever heard of the Anaximander map? Who are some people and cultures from around the world who helped improve maps throughout the ages?
For a new Cub Scout family, nothing says “we’re glad you’re here” quite like a handcrafted kit containing some items you’ll need during your Scouting journey. Oh, and snacks help, too. A Cub Scout pack in Michigan welcomes new members with cleverly designed bags — made by the pack’s current Cub Scouts — that include a few…
Starting next year, the Boy Scouts of America membership fee will be $60 a year for all registered youth in Cub Scouts , Scouts BSA , Venturing and Sea Scouts . The annual fee for adult members and youth in the Exploring program will be $36.
Outdoor skills aren’t just for the monthly campout. There are plenty of ways your Scouts can hone their outdoor skills on a regular basis, like during unit meetings. Here is this week’s tip that the BSA’s national camping subcommittee shared with us.
Slaton Strey of Troop 577 looks out of what used to be his bedroom window. Scouts are among the first to respond when a disaster strikes. They swoop in to serve, often helping complete strangers without expecting even a simple thanks.
Every couple months, the national advancement team at the Boy Scouts of America puts out an update for council and district advancement chairs and committee members. The current issue has a few items of interest: Scoutbook allows den leaders to set up the year of program activities with just a few clicks.
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 BSA’s Chief Technology Officer, Vijay Challa, shares his unique perspective on the importance of Diwali!
Congratulations to Gary Savignano, who will serve as Scout executive of the Western Massachusetts Council in Westfield, Massachusetts, effective November 1, 2019. Gary began his Scouting career as a district executive at the North Bay Council in Danvers, Massachusetts. He moved on to become a senior district executive and later field director with the Narragansett…
Grab your paddle and venture into pristine wilderness as part of the Northern Tier National High Adventure Program . During a 6- to 14-night trek of 50 to 150 miles, Northern Tier crews explore the natural frontier of Minnesota and Canada.
I haven't actively posted on this blog in a long time. There are lots of reasons for that, but I'm not going to go into those. I'm now a Cubmaster. My wife and I started a new family pack in our area, serving both boys and girls.
None of the Cub Scouts in Elijah Cummings’ pack could afford a full uniform. So, in true Scouting fashion, they improvised — cobbling together uniform pieces at bargain shops and the local Salvation Army. Some boys bought unofficial iron-on patches and cut out the numbers to iron onto their left sleeves.
After the 2018 Ute Park fire, Philmont Scout Ranch is back in a big way. More than 24,000 campers visited there last summer — Philmont’s largest summer ever. The base is best known for seven- and 12-day treks that challenge participants mentally and physically.
Choose your own adventure at the Paul R. Christen National High Adventure Base at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia. Scouts and Venturers can select world-class action sports or take a trek in and around the majestic New River Gorge National River.
Article contributed by Wendy Shaw, National Director of Membership Growth. Leadership60 – 2020 Growth Conference The clock is ticking to achieve year-end membership growth by November 30 th in order to qualify for the 2020 Growth Conference. Across the BSA, 114 districts achieved year-end growth by the end of September.
Article contributed by Wendy Shaw, National Director of Membership Growth. Aspirational Goal – A girl troop in every district As of October 23 rd , there are nearly 3,000 girl troops across the BSA. That is an awesome number in just 8 months.
Josh Gilliland, PR Chair for the Sea Scout Support Committee at the Pacific Skyline Council. Article submitted by Josh Gilliland, PR Chair for the Sea Scout Support Committee at the Pacific Skyline Council. Sea Scouts is a High Adventure program for older youth and is one means of rapidly increasing council membership by retaining Scouts…
Article submitted by Warren Wenner, Chair for the BSA National Special Needs Committee. One of the most frequently asked questions the BSA National Special Needs and Disabilities Committee receives from district executives, leaders, and parents is: where do I go for help with advancement for my Scout with special needs?
Step aboard for high adventure at the Sea Base . With treks in the Florida Keys, Bahamas and U.S. Virgin Islands, the Florida National High Adventure Sea Base offers once-in-a-lifetime adventures customized to the interests of your Scouts and Venturers. Start planning your 2020 or 2021 trek now.
