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In Congress, it’s the rare subject about which there’s unanimous agreement. It’s the Congressional Award , the highest recognition Congress bestows on young people. To qualify, a young person must meet certain goals in four key areas: voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness and expedition/exploration.
Please join us as we congratulate Mark Saxon, who will serve as Scout executive of the Green Mountain Council in Waterbury, Vermont, effective August 1, 2020. Mark began his Scouting career in 2008 as a district executive at the Old North State Council in Greensboro, North Carolina.
________________________________________ Dear Andy, Unlike other Scouts in his troop, my son (let’s call him “David”) decided to complete his Eagle Service Project before taking care of other requirements like merit badges, tenure-in-position, and so forth. His project was a success and his merit badges came along just fine, but tenure-in-position has become a problem and we…
The Boy Scouts of America today announced a voluntary recall of Cub Scout Outdoor Activity pins that depict a gold animal paw painted on a blue background sold between April 2016 and January 2020. The pins were sold at local Scout Shops, authorized BSA distributors and online at scoutshop.org .
If you want to learn how to fold Cub Scout neckerchiefs, check out this post. You'll find out the easiest way ever to fold or roll it.
Not everyone knows how to respectfully retire an old, tattered American flag. Scouts do, though. However, not everyone knows a Scoutmaster so they can donate their flags to be retired. To help people in his community, Life Scout Chip Gaddis of Troop 511 in Medina, Ohio, decided to build a flag retirement box.
The Scout Saturday Live! Orchestra has a special performance planned for the Fourth of July You can measure the success of Scout Saturday Live! — the biweekly web series created by and for Scouts with a new episode coming on the Fourth of July — in a number of ways.
As the Story Goes: Members of the Enterprise’s fact-finding contingent consisting of Mr. Spock, Dr. McCoy, Lt. Sulu, and two members of security beamed down into what appeared to be a remote, forested area of a faraway planet in a newly charted solar system.
Whether you’ve experienced the life-changing feeling of traversing the Tooth of Time alongside your best friends or had the most hilariously epic moment with your buddies at a unit meeting, it’s time to share your story! From adventures big to small, we want to hear about your most epic Scouting experience so we can share…
July 2020 Time to make: 2 hours Boys Life "Slide of the Month" June 2000, page 59 Original design: J eff Springer Happy Independence Day (or Treason day if you are in England...lol) This is one of the slides that strike a note of summer days laying under a tree reading comic books.
Try this one-question test when assessing an Eagle Scout project idea: Does it come from the heart? In my experience, Scouts who answer yes stay motivated throughout the demanding process of planning, developing and giving leadership to others as they uplift their community in a meaningful way.
When Avery Moore isn’t volunteering as Scoutmaster of Troop 11 in Rocky Mount, N.C., you can find him helping out at a local pediatric burn survivor aftercare program. It was during a virtual meeting for the latter that he discovered a need that could be met by the former.
________________________________________ Hi Andy, In your column last week—June 30, Issue 646—you talked (accurately) about “dark” troops and tenure-in-position. I’ve done some further checking and there’s an even more COVID-19-specific reference that includes the GUIDE TO ADVANCEMENT you mentioned for the Scout who is Senior Patrol Leader of a presently “Covid-dark” troop.
If you consider Hercules Mulligan, John Laurens and the Marquis de Lafayette to be three of your closest quarantine companions, you aren’t alone. Now that the Broadway musical Hamilton is available to anyone for just $7 (the cost of a month of Disney+), this hip-hop history lesson is gaining an even wider audience.
A couple of years ago, Mitch Lynch, Cubmaster of Pack 2010 in Aldie, Va., sang his version of Irving Berlin’s “ Gee, I Wish I Was Back in the Army ” at the pack’s blue and gold banquet. He got the idea while planning the banquet’s program over Christmastime.
Left: Kyle Lambert stands in his front yard during his Eagle Scout court of honor, which was held during the COVID-19 pandemic. With letters of acceptance from six Ivy League schools, several prestigious scholarships and the Eagle Scout Award, you’d think Kyle Lambert would be ready for a well-deserved break.
July 2020 Time to make: 3 hours Finishing: 1 hour Original design: Bill Macfarlane Days till Philmont 2022 Countdown Today is the day! (That was till Covid-19 reared it's ugly head) So, my pack is unpacked and I'm back in prep mode for Trek 7-11C in 2022.
An eight-hour flight to Paris? Even in pre-pandemic times, that seems like a lot of work for a single merit badge requirement. But with the Louvre Museum just a click away, the Art merit badge is within reach during COVID-19.
Please join us in congratulating Karen Meier, who will serve as Scout executive of the Pacific Harbors Council in Tacoma, Washington, effective July 16, 2020. Karen began her Scouting career as a district executive at the Transatlantic Council in Mannheim, Germany.
Not only can trekking 50 miles put a feather in your hat of Scouting accomplishments, but it can also add a patch to your collection. The 50-Miler Award is a favorite among Scouts who conquer long, multiday adventures. Often, they go on foot, by boat or on a bicycle.
The Boy Scouts of America is committed to the safety of all youth in its programs. The unpredictability of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic coupled with the impact it has had on BSA councils so far prompted the difficult decision to postpone the 2021 National Jamboree .
________________________________________ Hi Folks! On Monday, our fifth grandchild (bringing the “count” to three boys and two girls, the youngest now two days old and the oldest approaching his 19th birthday in October) was born healthy and noisy in Washington, DC, to our Eagle Scout son and his beautiful wife!
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…
The Chickasaw Council's 2008 Eagle Scout Class was named after Sammie and Phil Gilmer, who also have a campsite at Philmont Scout Ranch named in their honor. No Eagle Scout reaches that mountaintop moment alone. While the young person initiates and completes the work themselves, they are supported by a team of selfless adults.
In 2019, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the BSA asked six teams of volunteers and professionals from the local, area, regional and national level – including current or recent youth members and subject-matter experts – to develop plans on how to optimize the BSA for success in key areas based on input provided by more than…
“Zoom fatigue” is a term that has crept into our lingo, given that so much of our collaborative work-from-home activity is done through online real-time video sharing tools like Zoom, Webex and GoToMeeting. In our district, we’ve been holding our monthly Commissioner and Roundtable meetings via Zoom since March, and it has largely been successful…
We could use a few more Jimmy Stewarts in the world. The Oscar-winning actor, philanthropist and military officer was a Scout in Troop 3 of Indiana, Pa. — about an hour east of Pittsburgh. As an adult, he was a dedicated friend of Scouting and received the Silver Buffalo Award , the BSA’s top honor for adult…
Congratulations to Mark Kraus, who will serve as Scout executive of the Connecticut Yankee Council in Milford, Connecticut, effective August 16, 2020. Mark began his Scouting career in 1990 as a district executive at the Central Ohio Council in Columbus, Ohio.
Every year, people watch colorful floats, horse-drawn carriages and marching bands make their way down the streets of Pasadena, Calif., on New Year’s Day. That won’t happen next year. Last week, officials cancelled the 132nd Tournament of Roses Parade because of concerns stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Issue 648 – July 21, 2020 ________________________________________ (The correspondence immediately below is from in July 2018. I’m offering it to you here because I believe it calls up an issue that has—I certainly hope—been put to rest, as a result of the huge enthusiasm of girls everywhere, many of whom have grabbed on to SCOUTS BSA “like…
It doesn’t take much digging to uncover the parallels between an Eagle Scout and an investigative journalist. Both are helpful, courteous and brave. They’re curious — willing to ask questions and go places others might avoid. They’re committed to helping other people at all times — especially the forgotten or downtrodden.
Article Submitted by David Rico, Southern and Central Region Membership Growth Coach Using tools like Facebook geofencing and Nextdoor events can be useful in the promotion of Scout recruiting events like Join Scouting nights — even if those events are virtual.
What's going on in this picture? What is that dog doing or thinking? If you can think of a funny caption for this photo, just post it in the comment form at the bottom of this page. After we approve it, your funny caption will be on this page for everyone to read.
Because of COVID-19, some parents simply aren’t involving their children in as many in-person group activities as they otherwise would have. Many of those activities, like youth sports, for instance, may be difficult to conduct safely in some communities. Scouting, on the other hand, can conduct much of its programming through virtual means or safely…
From the awe-inspiring to the aww!-inspiring, the BSA’s Family Fun Fest is shaping up to be the summer’s biggest event. On Aug. 8, you’ll hear from NASCAR driver Joey Logano, discover the secrets of spacewalks from a barrier-breaking NASA astronaut and score expert advice for crafting the fastest, best-looking Pinewood Derby car ever built.
Trevor deRosier embarks on the mystery hike devised by his mom, Cindy. Scoutmaster Hassler is missing! Perhaps he’s at Rockville Hills Park, a frequent hiking destination for Troop 482. Or maybe he’s at Cenario’s Pizza, a favorite pre-pandemic meeting spot for the Troop 482 patrol leaders’ council.
If you were to tell a time traveler from any year before 2020 about William Shuster’s Eagle Scout project, that visitor might furrow their brow. “Say what? He made face coverings for senior citizens? And he planned everything without a single in-person meeting?”
How will recruitment work this year? If you haven’t asked this question yourself, you’ve likely heard it asked at least several times over the past few months. With many communities practicing social distancing—or even stay-at-home orders—it’s no secret that introducing more families to Scouting could be a challenge, but Scouters are ready!
Last summer, more than 120 Scouts met at the Chicagoland Lionel Railroad Club’s clubhouse in New Lenox, Ill., to learn about the world of model trains. The 3,600-square-foot clubhouse features dozens of model trains that run through handcrafted terrain built by club members.
________________________________________ Hi Andy, We’ve got a sticky situation here and it crosses several levels. We need some outside, non-partisan help and you’re the guy for that, so here it is… I’m a District Commissioner and have a bunch of pretty darned good Unit Commissioners on the front-lines.
As the school year begins, it’s time to encourage everyone to use social media to spread the word about Scouting. You can start sharing right now with a few simple items like hashtags or ready-to-post social content. Be sure to visit the BSA Brand Center and use the official logos, social media images, videos, and…
It has become the most overused word of the pandemic: pivot. As in: “When Synergy 2.0: The Business Jargon Conference was canceled, organizers pivoted to a digital-first experience.” But as Scouts, we’ve been pivoting since long before that was a buzzword.
