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To call the adults in Troop 96 carnivores is a bit of an understatement. As in any youth-led troop, the Scouts in Troop 96 of the Northeast Illinois Council are on their own at mealtime. Scouts in each patrol plan the menu, shop for ingredients and prepare the meals.
January 2019 Time to carve: 1 hour Finishing: .5 hour Boy's Life -July 1992, page 71 Design: James C. Hansen Sr. I've always been fascinated with the Scouting Campaign hat but alas, I've never owned one. It seemed to me, as a Scout, that most of the old Scouters had both one of these and…
Don’t just experience the National Jamboree. Bring it to life. Applications are now being accepted to serve on staff at the 2021 National Jamboree , coming July 2021 to the BSA’s adventure-packed Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia. The first 2,021 people who sign up and pay their deposit to serve on staff, now known as…
A celebration that happens just once every four years. World-class venues packed with incredible moments. A spirit of unity, patriotism and courage. Turns out the National Jamboree and the Summer Olympics share a lot of similarities — with one exception: At a National Jamboree, everyone leaves a winner.
Congratulations to Kenn Miller, who will serve as Scout executive of the Baltimore Area Council in Baltimore, Maryland, effective January 15, 2020. Kenn began his Scouting career as a district executive and then field director of the Northeast Illinois Council in Highland Park, Illinois.
Bear Grylls collects firewood in Sardinia, Italy. (National Geographic/Jeff Ellingson) It has traveled deep into the jungles of Panama, through slot canyons in Arizona and down a waterfall in Italy. It has shared screen time with celebrities like Brie Larson, Channing Tatum and Zachary Quinto.
Tanya Acker, a judge on the hit television show Hot Bench , recently talked with major national media outlet Parade.com about her involvement with Scouting and her excitement about the opportunities available to young people as part of the Scouts BSA program.
Looking for the "official" BSA Pinewood Derby rules for Cub Scouts? Find out all about the rules and inspections with printable examples.
The Pinewood Derby can seem like a maze of tasks that make up a million-piece, very complicated puzzle, but it is time to simplify things a bit and make this all about fun for everyone. These steps should guarantee that you throw a successful and well-run race day event, whether it’s your pack’s first time…
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.
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…
You wouldn’t know the cemetery near Thorntown, Ind., was the resting place of nearly 50 African Americans. For a long time, it was a patch of grass, recognized only by a few decrepit stone tombstones and a black-and-white sign. Four years ago, Reece Thompson of Troop 350 in nearby Advance, Ind., decided to do something…
Please join us as we congratulate Dana Kuhns, who will serve as Scout executive of the Rip Van Winkle Council in Kingston, New York, effective January 13, 2020. Dana began his Scouting career as a district executive at the Bucktail Council in DuBois, Pennsylvania.
Madison Burrell uses these adjectives to describe her time at the wet and windy West Point Camporee: “tiring, scary, wet, muddy, crusty and painful.” Hardly a ringing endorsement, right? But then read what Madison says next: “I hope I’ll get to make more memories like this.”
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…
As we move forward into 2020, the Boy Scouts of America’s advancement team is out with a few reminders and new advice on the ongoing quest for one of our most visible methods – advancement. The evolution of Scoutbook brings us new opportunities to manage our programs.
We’re in the middle of registration periods for 2021 adventures at the BSA’s national high-adventure bases, with sign-ups at Sea Base starting this week. While you and your Scouts might have your sights on a specific experience, keep in mind that there’s more than one path to adventure.
January 2020 Time to make: 3 hours Finishing: 1 hour Original design: Philmont / Bill Macfarlane Days till Philmont Countdown Loosely based on the Silver Dollar ("P" or "Dollar" if you prefer) patch, this patch and the segments ringing the patch (NOT SHOWN HERE) were the crowning gems of Scouts attending Philmont from 1942 to 1956.
From left: Northeast Region Chief Conor Power, Southern Region Chief Seth Greiling, National Vice Chief Noah Smith, National Chief Zachary Schonfeld, Central Region Chief Patrick McInerney and Western Region Chief Gavin Cho Zachary Schonfeld, an Eagle Scout from Virginia, has been elected by his peers to serve as National Chief of the Order of the…
Sometimes, a merit badge will spark a future career path for a Scout. For Brian White, it was a leadership outing. White, who earned the Eagle Scout Award with Troop 299 of Dublin, Ohio, in 2004, owns a restaurant in Columbus, Ohio.
Congratulations to Michael R. Marchese, who will serve as Scout executive of the Sequoia Council in Fresno, California, effective January 1, 2020. Mike began his Scouting career as a district executive, district director and then assistant Scout executive at the Oregon Trail Council in Eugene, Oregon.
________________________________________ This was supposed to have been a Christmas issue, on December 25th. Obviously, that didn’t happen—the result of a family tragedy from which we’re not yet fully recovered. Thanks for your patience. Here it is, as originally written for you.
Imagine if those weekly meetings at your office had a “good conduct candle.” Blake’s texting and missed a question from the boss? Candle goes out. Rhonda brought her breakfast? Bye-bye, flame. Peter forgot the PowerPoint? Poof. But if the candle burns all the way down, it’s reward time.
Alex holds Boys' Life magazine, while Charlotte displays a license plate with both troop numbers: Alex's Troop 361 and her Troop 114. They’re in separate troops, but make no mistake: Charlotte and Alex Beatson are on this Scouting journey together.
January 2020 Time to make: 3 hours Finishing: 1 hour Original design: / Bill Macfarlane Inspiration: Philmont Days till Philmont Countdown So there I was happily carving a neckerchief slide when suddenly the knife slipped and grazed my plam. Although the cut was small, bright red blood shot across the table every time my heart beat…
By now, you’ve probably caught word of Scoutbook’s Den Leader Experience , the free web app that makes it easier than ever for den leaders to prepare for and lead meetings, track advancement and attendance, and more (if not, just check out the video at the end of this post).
________________________________________ Dear Andy, Last night was my board of review for Eagle. It went okay and they told me that I’m an Eagle Scout, but the date they said it’s going to be is last week and not yesterday. That’s because the man who was the chair of my board of review said that, because there…
Looking for a list of tasks that will get you and your pack up to speed on hosting a Pinewood Derby? Well, look no further: we have compiled a list of to-do’s. All you have to do is check everything off the list, and you will be ready and set to race into the perfect…
When disaster strikes, Scouts step up. They’ve been there after tornadoes, wildfires and hurricanes destroyed homes and uprooted lives in communities across our country. This time, even though the disaster is a little farther from home, it affects the Scouting family all the same.
There’s a reason it’s called the “Death Zone.” At 29,029 feet, the lack of oxygen atop Mount Everest seriously limits how well a person can function. Risks of fatigue, frostbite and stress to the heart and brain skyrocket. It’s so dangerous at that altitude that climbers are cautioned to only linger for about 20 minutes…
Please join us in congratulating Stuart Williams, who will serve as Scout executive of the Central North Carolina Council in Albemarle, North Carolina, effective January 16, 2020. Stuart began his Scouting career as a district executive at the Gulf Ridge Council in Tampa, Florida.
A 10-year-old Webelos Scout from Pennsylvania is one of nine finalists in NASA’s contest to name the 2020 Mars rover, and your vote can help send the young man’s name to the red planet. Eamon Reilly, a member of Pack 67 from Dover, Pa., (New Birth of Freedom Council) was one of 28,000 students who…
The season for Blue & Gold Banquets is upon us. The Blue & Gold tradition is to celebrate the birthday of Scouting in the United States. It was on February 8, 1910, that the Boy Scouts of America was established, and the first Scout troops formed that year.
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…
This conference is designed to increase a unit’s rate of retention and membership. Price = $495 for the week at PHILMONT, all inclusive!
The story of Roger C. Mosby’s introduction to Scouting is one to which many of us can relate: When his oldest son first signed up for Cub Scouts, he walked into a parent orientation meeting not knowing exactly what to expect.
________________________________________ Hi Andy, In your column last week, you helped an Eagle Scout straighten out the real date of his board of review. I’m also glad to see that the board of review member who was blatantly wrong was taken away.
Article contributed by Virginia Molina, District Director of the Cascade Pacific Council Thanks to technology, people remain more connected through phone calls, texts, and emails than ever before. For those of us who serve rural areas, we can use these tools to engage our volunteers and provide great service.
Article contributed by Ashton Ballard of the Lincoln Heritage Council. One of the most important characteristics a district executive can possess is the ability to build and maintain strong relationships. Within every hand we shake, every conversation we have, and every connection we make, lies an opportunity to improve and cultivate the Scouting program.
The classic holiday tune “O Christmas Tree” calls those branches “lovely.” But one Scouts BSA troop has another description for those leafy holiday evergreens: instrumental in the effort to stabilize and grow sand dunes on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Congratulations to Jesse Lopez, who will serve as Scout executive of the Aloha Council in Honolulu, Hawaii, effective January 16, 2020. Jesse began his Scouting career as a district executive at the Monterey Bay Area Council in Salinas, California. He moved on to become the senior exploring executive and later district director with the Pacific…
Let’s go racing, Cub Scouts! It’s Pinewood Derby time, when Scouts turn blocks of wood into fierce and fun race cars. It’s a tradition that dates back to 1953 , and today, it’s a very popular Cub Scout activity. Be sure to check out what’s new at the Scout Shop .
The first rule of Pack 1855’s Hiking Club: Don’t forget the snacks. But a few months after launching their new plan to take a hike every month, Pack 1855 leaders realized something amazing. They saw their Cub Scouts weren’t begging for the next snack break.
