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Congratulations to Russell Etzenhouser, who will serve as Scout executive of the Orange County Council in Santa Ana, California, effective December 1, 2019. Russell began his Scouting career as an Exploring executive at the Hiawatha Council in Syracuse, New York.
December 2019 Time to make: 2 hours Boys Life "Slide of the Month" Nov. 1990, page 59 Original design: Terry Gilbert Well, its time of the year again (and maybe I'll post it in time) for a holiday-themed slide. A bit prep work with this slide by drilling a hole in the center and cutting…
On a rainy Thursday at the 2017 National Jamboree, a Scout approached me and introduced himself. Jackson Rogers, then 15 years old, wanted to tell me about his seemingly impossible goal. He said he was trying to earn every available merit badge — all 138 a Scout could earn at the time.
________________________________________ (Yes, I’m up and running again, thanks to our fabulous USSSP “team”! Here’s a November column I couldn’t post until now. Others are right behind this one!) Here are some comments on troop-level merit badge “classes,” merit badge fairs, and such, from a few weeks ago… Hi Andy, At a recent troop committee-and-parent meeting, the…
________________________________________ (Here’s another column that was delayed while we fixed our glitches…) Dear Andy, Unfortunately, our troop’s Committee Chair has been bullying our Senior Patrol Leader over our planned orienteering project for “Webelos Woods.” He just sent our SPL an email (yes, he copied others too, which is how I came to see it) that criticized…
Decorations pictured from Jennifer Hettinger, Jessica Painter and Rebbecca Jackson ‘Tis the season to deck the halls with tinsel and ornaments. For some Scouting families, that means Scout-themed holiday decor. That means it’s time for Show and Tell , where Scouters show their favorite photos and tell the story behind them.
An Eagle Scout project is an extreme act of service. It requires meticulous planning, servant leadership and a professional juggler’s ability to multitask. Most young people wouldn’t embark on such a difficult endeavor. Nicolas Salazar isn’t most young people. The 15-year-old Eagle Scout from Troop 400 of Pace, Fla., part of the Gulf Coast Council…
When you cycle 1,500 miles, you’re bound to run into a few problems. “I had five flat tires — my tire exploded once,” Star Scout John McBroom says. “I had a couple of crashes.” But that didn’t stop John or Eagle Scout Akhil Long, both 16-year-old Scouts with Troop 4010 of Clarksvillle, Ind., who completed a…
Think of it as a drive-thru in reverse. Instead of picking up, say, a chicken sandwich and waffle fries at the drive-thru, a bunch of Los Angeles area drivers left behind canned items for a good cause. The eighth annual Food Drive-Thru , held last month, was staffed by Scouts and Venturers from the Western Los…
Story by Melanie Mays of the Greater Tampa Bay Area Council “What in the world are you kids gonna do with 50 cups of coffee?” the clerk at the truck stop asked my 7-year-old daughter, Dakota and 10-year-old son, Demarkus.
The end of the year is hectic, with packs, troops and crews wrapping up their roster review, collecting membership fees and filing their recharter paperwork. It can be a big job, especially if there’s lots of turnover either with youth members leaving as well as joining.
When it comes to the Scout Law, last is certainly not least. Being “reverent” is a year-round part of a Scout’s life, but there’s one time each year when the connection between Scouting and faith takes on even more significance.
Every few years, the BSA updates its Annual Health and Medical Record after consulting with health care professionals, Scout executives, council and camp health officers and other experts to ensure it is up-to-date and helpful. This was one of those years, meaning a new form is available for everyone to use for 2020.
One of my favorite things about the holiday season is the spirit of generosity that never fails to show out in full force. It just seems like the brisk air and long, dark, twinkly nights are synonymous with giving. In true alignment with the season and with the values of Scouting, This year, just like…
Flashlight games are a great way to enjoy the outdoors after the sun goes down! These games are perfect for Cub Scouts or any group of kids.
Picking the best unit website is a bit like selecting the best recipe for Dutch oven cobbler. There are way too many to choose from, and because it’s all about taste, the selection process is totally subjective. But after browsing hundreds of unit websites, I’ve come up with a list of 10 that do it…
________________________________________ Hi Andy, The “position of responsibility” requirement for Star rank states: “While a First Class Scout, serve actively in your troop for four months in one or more of the following positions of responsibility…” One of our Scouts was Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (“ASPL”) at summer camp for a week this past July.
Ten years, more than 40 million page views. Thanks to you, the loyal Bryan on Scouting reader, the 2010s were the best decade yet for the official blog of Scouting magazine. And because the blog launched in March 2009, the 2010s were also the only decade yet for the official blog of Scouting magazine.
As presented in Bryan on Scouting: Try this easy technique next time you need to whip a rope 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.”
William D. Boyce didn’t start the BSA all by himself. Sure, he was the man who signed the papers to make the Boy Scouts of America official — at exactly 11:03 a.m. on Feb. 8, 1910 . But just like the volunteers who start new BSA units every year, Boyce had plenty of help.
Please join us as we celebrate the selection of Robert Nakagawa as Scout executive of the Del-Mar-Va Council in Wilmington, Delaware, effective January 1, 2020. Robert began his Scouting career as a district executive at the Aloha Council in Honolulu, Hawaii.
September 2019 Time to make: 3 hours Finishing: 1 hour Original design: Philmont / Bill Macfarlane Days till Philmont Countdown Yes, it is a logo I saw on a bottle opener on the Tooth of Time Traders site but I thought it was so cool that I had to make it as a slide.
As presented in Bryan on Scouting: Always tie a square knot correctly with this tip 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.
After crossing over from Pack 82 to Troop 99 in Benton, Ark., Nicholas Burrell was looking forward to many campouts, fishing trips and summer camp adventures. But before he could complete his first year in the older youth program, the 11-year-old went to see a doctor about the intense headaches he began having — and another…
Note: This is the 30th 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.
Here’s a tip to help your Scouts remember how to tie a clove hitch 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.
Scouts in girls Troop 606 of Chicago recently reviewed the eight steps of handling an emergency as outlined in the First Aid merit badge pamphlet. As they went over the steps, the girls decided to create a mnemonic device, similar to the one they learned for Leave No Trace principles .
Here’s a simple way of setting up a dining fly in an open field 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?
Smart, talented and brave. A friend to those in need. Someone who relishes learning new skills. While one group carries hiking sticks and the other lightsabers, I’d argue that Scouts and Jedi have more in common than you might think.
Article contributed by Owen McCulloch, National Venturing and Sea Scouting Director In November 2019, the US Coast Guard Auxiliary (USCG-AUX) announced that they have adopted Sea Scouts BSA as their official youth program. There are over 800 Auxiliary flotillas (like a Scout unit) across the USA (except ND, SD, WY…sorry!), and each of them has…
Article contributed by Brian Gorman, Sr District Executive at the Theodore Roosevelt Council More than 18 months ago we began our relationship with the Hillside Islamic Center to begin the process of bringing Scouting to their mosque. The main reason this worked was because they wanted to partner with an organization that represented American culture…
Congratulations to John K. Fabsits, who will serve as Scout executive of the Great Rivers Council in Columbia, Missouri, effective January 1, 2020. John began his Scouting career as a district executive at the Great Rivers Council in Columbia, Missouri.
Photo by W. Garth Dowling Ryan Davis, VenturingFest 2020 Youth Chairman Ryan Davis is ready to fly right past his comfort zone. Next summer, on the winding and bumpy mountain bike trails at the Summit Bechtel Reserve, you’ll find Ryan zooming downhill at top speed.
Here are some ideas to put outdoor skills into action at Scout meetings 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.
Teach your Scouts how to build a monkey bridge Scouting founder Robert Baden-Powell believed every Scout should know how to build bridges. From designing the structure to gathering materials and putting it all together, bridge construction combines technology, teamwork and enthusiasm to complete a span that is memorable and useful.
The theme of Pack 164’s annual Christmas party hasn’t changed in four years: service before self. Every year, members of the pack from Madison, Miss., gather to assemble care packages for military personnel deployed overseas. The Cub Scouts fill boxes with things like dental floss, gum, foot powder, candy bars, shaving cream, beef jerky and…
In September, Ashley Panko looked up from her computer in shock. On TV, a reporter was telling the heartbreaking story of Troop 193 of Duncanville, Texas. The reporter said a thief had stolen Troop 193’s trailer and all the camping gear inside.
Here is our year-end camp summary for 2019: 1) Jan – Cold weather camping at Fivemile Pass 2) Feb – Cold weather camping at Willow Park (Lehi) – CANCELLED* 3) Mar – 5th annual Winter backpacking on snowshoes in Little Cottonwood Canyon 4) Apr – 5th annual Spring outing to White Rock – CANCELLED* 5) May – Rescheduled 5th annual Spring outing…
Let’s give a giant Scout salute to the den chief. When entrusted with enough responsibility, this young person can be a Cub Scout leader’s best friend. A den chief is a Scout, Venturer or Sea Scout who: Helps plan and conduct den meetings.
As we head into another year, packs and troops will be holding Blue and Gold Banquets and Courts of Honor where we recognize our Scouts for their achievements. We should also remember to recognize our adult volunteers, because without them we wouldn’t have a Scouting program.
Crystal Hot Springs in December has been a tradition in our troop since 2012, and this month’s scout outing was an historic one for sure. It was the last one of the year, the last one of a decade and, most significantly, the last one as Boy Scouts of America for the vast majority of…
