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When you planned a big spring event for your pack, troop, crew or ship last year, you weren’t counting on a global pandemic disrupting everything. The same can be said about the volunteers who created the 2020 Journey to Excellence scorecards.
May 2020 Time to make: 2 hours Boys Life "Slide of the Month" June 1983, page 45 Original design: Kenneth Kobb Cheese (repeat) Sauce (repeat) Anchovies (repeat) Pizza (repeat) Eatta Lotta Eatta Lotta Eatta Lotta Pizza (repeat) Oh No Don't Drop The Pizza (repeat ) If You Drop The Pizza Nobody Eatza (repeat) Gobble Gobble Gobble…
A family from Troop 599 works together to assemble face coverings. When Ryan Spellecy heard about the need for face coverings to help slow the spread of the coronavirus in Milwaukee, he knew just what to do. Spellecy, who is commissioner of the Southern Shores District in the Milwaukee-based Three Harbors Council, had heard about…
The summer of 2020 in Scouting is shaping up to be very different from any other summer we’ve experienced in our lifetimes. With personal protection and social distancing the current norms, a lot of the activities that Scouts enjoy either cannot happen or need to be modified substantially.
We need Scouts’ help to create a BIG thank you video for the people who are keeping our world running. Since we can’t thank them in person right now, we’ve got another idea! Scouts, here’s your charge: Get your parents’ permission and put on your Class A uniform or a Scout shirt and neckerchief.
________________________________________ Several weeks ago, a discrepancy in the descriptions of the points of the Scout Law was pointed out to me. The online versions (verify these for yourself at https://www.scouting.org/about/faq/question10/ ). You’ll notice that these tend to take all self-determination away from Scouts; instead, they’re much more like “rules” and, as such, they eschew Scouts’ self-evaluations as…
Andrew Buchanan (left) and Andrew Nelson aren't related, but they have a whole lot in common. Each year, about 6% of eligible Scouts become Eagle Scouts. Zoom out to consider the entire population of Scout-age youth in the United States, and that percentage drops to about 0.3%.
From left to right: Tyler, Ryan and Preston It’s not like Tyler, Ryan and Preston Mantel didn’t have anything else to do. It’s just that, back in March, when the three Eagle Scout brothers from Troop 804 of the Crossroads of America Council in Indianapolis found out that the world needed more ventilators, they knew…
Scouts don’t get discouraged when life throws a curveball. They get creative. When Aaditya Gulati realized his troop couldn’t give its longtime Scoutmaster a more traditional send-off at a court of honor or special going-away party, the Life Scout devised another way.
Left: A Scout from Troop 1345G talks about her favorite recipe. Right: Scouts from Troop 2 talk about their Scout ranks. While staying home protects us, Scouting connects us. As virtual meetings and camp-ins link families within cities and towns, this same technology allows Scouts to reach across oceans to share in the Scouting spirit.
Story by Kendall Jackson, Life Scout (future Eagle) and Venturing Crew President from Pathway to Adventure Council Schererville, Indiana Kendall, a Scout in Troop 53G. Just like every other youth, I’m not attending school right now. For me, online learning is just a change in routine; however, for some, not going to school means losing…
Waving American flags, holding up congratulatory signs and honking, drivers filed past Blake Kenney’s home, honoring the new Eagle Scout. The 15-year-old of Troop 908 in Pleasanton, Calif., watched the parade of cars, filled with family members, friends, teachers, coaches and Scouting families.
________________________________________ Hi Andy, Inspired by Ken King’s recent posting of the famous Ashley Book of Knots, here’s a question… Let’s say I need to join the ends of two hanks of the same kind (and diameter) of rope. Assuming the rope is woven like parachute cord and not “laid” or a monofilament, which one of these…
A Venturer from Pennsylvania who’s strengthening the link between Venturing and the Order of the Arrow. An adult volunteer from Texas who’s finding innovative ways to keep Venturing exciting and relevant to today’s youth. The young man who will become Venturing’s top youth leader next month.
Chickasaw Council Executive Richard Fisher gives blood. The need for lifesaving blood doesn’t stop during a pandemic. Scouters in the Chickasaw Council in Tennessee and Yawgoog Scout Reservation in Rhode Island have been doing their parts to facilitate donations from healthy donors.
We all can’t wait to get back to outdoor Scouting adventures — camping, hiking, canoeing, swimming and more. As restrictions from COVID-19 shutdowns slowly lift, it’s important to Be Prepared for any future activity. Now may be a great time to review aquatics safety rules , appropriate guidelines and other safety resources .
Left: Scoutmaster Elaine Mitchell (left) and her troop in January 2020. Right: A handmade card Mitchell sent to her Scouts this month. A text feels impersonal. An email can get lost in spam. But a handmade card with a personal message?
The stage was a grassy front yard with a brick-house backdrop. The guests wore face coverings and stayed at least 6 feet apart the whole time. At the end, a parade of cars saluted the latest recipient of Scouting’s highest honor.
Restaurants and retailers go to great lengths to land on the first page of Google. They know a Google search is typically the first stop for customers wanting to order takeout, stream a movie or buy a new desk chair.
Left, from left: Caitlin Kagawa, Rick Kagawa, Debbie Kagawa and Sarah Breskman Battis at the 2005 National Jamboree. Right: Cosplay of Poe Dameron from Star Wars, made and worn by Caitlin Kagawa. (Poe Dameron photo by Salina Conlan) Some people watch their favorite characters on screen.
When Washington state’s governor issued a lockdown, 17-year-old Rafferty Escame soon realized the planned workday for his Eagle Scout project wouldn’t abide by social distancing requirements. The Life Scout of Troop 330 in Federal Way, Wash., and his family watched the news about the local response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the panicked purchasing of…
As Unit Serving Executives prepare for Fall Recruitment, they are encouraged to check out some tips and tools provided by other key professionals from around the BSA network. Below are a few items that can assist you and your membership team as you prepare for Fall Recruitment.
Article Submitted by Gene Butler, Growth Coach, National Service Center When asked where religion came into Scouting, founder Lord Robert Baden-Powell replied, “It does not come in at all. It is already there. It is a fundamental factor underlying Scouting.”
Article Submitted by Lauren Howery Family Scouting Executive Last Frontier Council, Oklahoma City Recruiting is an integral part of our service to the youth and units in our communities and can have its difficulties during a normal year, let alone during a pandemic.
Imagine getting free art lessons from the most accomplished illustrators from around the country. Maybe you want to ask them questions about their techniques. Maybe you’re looking for tips for your next art project. Maybe you’re bored and just want to draw along with the pros.
This year, Memorial Day is an opportunity to think less of beaches, parades and barbecues, and more about remembrance. With that in mind, our council has passed along the following information from the BSA about how Scouts and Scouters can mark the occasion.
May 2020 Time to make: 2 hours Finishing: 1.5 hour Original design: Philmont\Bill Macfarlane Days till Philmont Countdown OK, I'm running a bit behind in my posts but there has been a whirlwind of change going on ... Our crews are all holding our breaths for the June 1st announcement.
Here’s some food for thought: Your Scouts don’t have to be together to cook together. For a taste of what I mean, just check out the skillful Scouts from Troop 301 of Cross River, N.Y., part of the Westchester Putnam Council.
It’s not about the patch or the medal or even that epic cake at the ceremony . It’s about all the incredible Scouting adventures that preceded them. Scouting awards — from the very first Cub Scout adventure loop to that final Eagle Palm and beyond — are physical representations of the Scouting journey.
May 2020 Time to make: 2.5 hours Finishing: 1.5 hours Original design: Philmont\Bill Macfarlane Days till Philmont Countdown This is another one of my favorate designs combining several of the elements (Tooths of Time, Arrowhead, and Zita) found in Philmont logos.
Recording service hours and camping nights just got easier. The Scoutbook team has introduced Activity Logs. Scoutbook, the Boy Scouts of America’s online tool for tracking Scouting advancement, is continuously improving, adding more features to help you save time, stay connected and enhance your Scouting experience.
It wasn’t just knowing the proper technique that allowed Tyron Hardowar to perform lifesaving CPR on his younger brother, Jayden. It was something else he learned in Scouting, too. “It takes courage and the 10th point of the Scout Law: being brave,” Tyron tells Bryan on Scouting.
