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How to survive a ven
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 29th, 2016
How to survive a venomous spider bite... [more]
DIY gift ideas for Mother's Day
Posted to Inside Boys' Life on April 29th, 2016
DIY gift ideas for Mother's Day Mother's Day is May 8. Show Mom she's the best with a handmade gift. Build-a-Bag Make Mom this fancy purse out of a placemat. What You'll Need: A durable placemat in Mom's favorite colors Heavy-duty thread A needle... [more]
Enter your favorite
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 29th, 2016
Enter your favorite Dutch oven recipe and you could win one of two Lodge prize packages!... [more]
Can a volunteer serve in multiple positions within a unit?
Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on April 29th, 2016
Yes, your official title - the position indicated on your BSA registration - says you're an assistant Scoutmaster. But now a Scouting colleague has asked you to sit on the troop committee as well. You agree (just an hour a week, right?), but when... [more]
Tips from the pros:
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 28th, 2016
Tips from the pros: How to capture the best photos and videos of your Scouts... [more]
How to alleviate or
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 28th, 2016
How to alleviate or (better yet) avoid poison ivy... [more]
How to encourage a S
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 28th, 2016
How to encourage a Scout-led troop... [more]
How to prevent and o
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 28th, 2016
How to prevent and overcome heat exhaustion... [more]
How to create a pack
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 28th, 2016
How to create a pack handbook for new parents and Scouts... [more]
Read the letter Chris Hemsworth gave to an Eagle Scout on 'Ellen'
Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on April 28th, 2016
When a famous Hollywood actor calls your good turn "an example of excellence and a source of pride for your community," you know it's a good day. Seems like Illinois Eagle Scout Tristin Budzyn-Barker has had nothing but good days recently. It... [more]
Lions Volunteer Dinner 2016
Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on April 28th, 2016
The Melrose Lions Club holds a special dinner every year to recognize volunteers in the community. This year's dinner was held on the evening of April 27th at the Melrose American Legion. Over 100 people from nearly a dozen volunteer organizations... [more]
How Do You Purify Water?
Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on April 28th, 2016
We'll purify many gallons of drinking and cooking water for three crews spending a week canoeing in Ontario's Algonquin Provincial Park this summer. Here's what I have learned about purifying water for a hundred or so Scouts and adults who have... [more]
In full gear: Here's your first look at Lion Scouts T-shirts and hats
Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on April 28th, 2016
If seeing is believing, prepare to be a believer. This week we get our first look at the new T-shirts and caps to be worn by Lions - members of the pilot program for kindergarten boys set to roll out in participating councils this fall. The team... [more]
World's Greatest Webelos Den Leader
Posted to Scouter Adam on April 28th, 2016
Ever have that one person that just wants to make you better than you are at something? I showed up at a Join Night back in 2008 and somehow figured out I wanted to be a Tiger Den Leader. But ââ¬Â¦ Continue reading ââ â... [more]
Go behind the scenes
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 28th, 2016
Go behind the scenes at the wildly popular Swamp Base in Louisiana... [more]
5 gifts that you can make for Mother's Day
Posted to Inside Boys' Life on April 27th, 2016
Make 5 handmade gifts that Mom will love on Motherââ¬â¢s day Mother's Day is May 8. Show Mom you care with these handmade gifts. HEART ART Mom can always keep you close to her heart with this matchbox locket. What You'll Need: Scissors Matchbox... [more]
Scout leader Phillip
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 27th, 2016
Scout leader Phillip Martinez shares his tips for how to motivate Scouts... [more]
Seven reasons why Sc
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 26th, 2016
Seven reasons why Scouts should try packrafting... [more]
Issue 485 â" April 26, 2016
Posted to Ask Andy on April 26th, 2016
________________________________________ The term "Inner City" hadn't been invented in the late 1940's and through the 1950's, when my neighborhood pals and I grew up in America's third most densely populated city (bracketed by numbers one and... [more]
Use these tips to be
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 26th, 2016
Use these tips to be prepared for summer camp swim checks... [more]
Tips to help first t
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 26th, 2016
Tips to help first time resident campers be prepared for homesickness... [more]
Car Camping at White Rock
Posted to My Scout Stuff - A Scoutmaster's Blog on April 26th, 2016
My troop just spent the weekend camping at White Rock near Dugway, for the second April in a row. We like this destination in April for a few reasons. First, it's generally warmer and drier out in Utah's west desert as my scouts "transition"... [more]
Car Camping at White Rock Near Dugway
Posted to My Scout Stuff - A Scoutmaster's Blog on April 26th, 2016
My troop just spent the weekend camping at White Rock near Dugway, for the second April in a row. We like this destination in April for a few reasons. First, it's generally warmer and drier out in Utah's west desert as my scouts "transition"... [more]
Day Camp or Bust â" the Final Round
Posted to Summit Blog on April 25th, 2016
Day Camp Activity Bracket Challenge Update It's been a couple of weeks, and the Day Camp Activity Bracket Challenge has continued to narrow down what voters in the ââ¬Ëdigital pack' view as their favorite Day Camp activity. Of course, this... [more]
Scoutmaster Podcast 313 â" Troop Leader Guidebook
Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on April 25th, 2016
Have you seen the first volume of the Troop Leader Guidebook? Join Walter Underwood and myself as we review the first volume of the Troop Leader Guidebook. Like Walter I accumulated a collection of Scoutmaster Handbooks. From the very first edition... [more]
This slideshow requires JavaScript. Click here to watch a video tutorial. To create an adjustable...
Posted to Inside Boys' Life on April 25th, 2016
This slideshow requires JavaScript. Click here to watch a video tutorial. To create an adjustable loop that stays in place, use the taut-line hitch. This is the knot to use for staking out the guy lines of your tent or dining fly. Pass the running... [more]
Will Lions Join Tigers and Bears? Oh My! - A Lions FAQ
Posted to Summit Blog on April 25th, 2016
Lions: Answers to your top questions We've seen a lot of great feedback, comments and questions from the announcement earlier this year about Lions, the pilot program for kindergarten boys slated to roll out this fall. It's been great to see so... [more]
Summer topics to think about now
Posted to Bobwhite's Blather on April 25th, 2016
Although Scouting is a year-round activity, many troop and pack committees don't hold regular meetings during the summer months. There's either just not enough business to make holding a meeting worthwhile, or there aren't enough committee members... [more]
Troop 111 shares the
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 25th, 2016
Troop 111 shares their fitness tips to help your troop get in shape... [more]
All aboard! Sea Scou
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 24th, 2016
All aboard! Sea Scouts learn life lessons on a 700-mile journey aboard the Propeller... [more]
How to add weights t
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 24th, 2016
How to add weights to your fitness routine without investing in expensive workout equipment... [more]
Social Media and Scouting
Posted to Scouter Adam on April 24th, 2016
Social Media and Scouting is a tough thing to understand. In this digital age, we want to share what is happening or what we are doing. As well as what we are eating! I first wrote about Social Media ââ¬Â¦ Continue reading ââ â... [more]
A tent of the future
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 24th, 2016
A tent of the future: the Tentsile Flite will elevate your camping experience... [more]
How to tie 10 essent
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 24th, 2016
How to tie 10 essential Scouting knots... [more]
Train for your next
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 24th, 2016
Train for your next adventure using Troop 111's fitness plan... [more]
Want More Productive Scout Meetings? Add a Little Action
Posted to Summit Blog on April 24th, 2016
Productive Scout Meetings Are Here! No buts about it, Cub Scouts can often be a wiggly bunch. That youthful energy, curiosity and endless need to explore is simply what makes a Cub Scout a Cub Scout. But sometimes there are moments where sitting... [more]
Ditch your tradition
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 24th, 2016
Ditch your traditional tent and opt for a futuristic fortress like the Sea to Summit Specialist... [more]
Sea Scouts learn how
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 23rd, 2016
Sea Scouts learn how to chart during a 700-mile journey from Seattle to Ketchikan, Alaska, and back... [more]
All you need to know
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 23rd, 2016
All you need to know about Boy Scouting's positions of responsibility... [more]
Feed the healthy bug
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 23rd, 2016
Feed the healthy bugs in your gut with these tasty treats... [more]
Sea Scouting cooks u
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 23rd, 2016
Sea Scouting cooks up much more than food... [more]
Time to upgrade your
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 23rd, 2016
Time to upgrade your tent? Try a well-loved REI Camp Dome, a favorite of our gear editors... [more]
Add excitement and i
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 23rd, 2016
Add excitement and interest to the sometimes snooze-worthy Scouting Heritage merit badge... [more]
Get Cooking With These Dutch Oven Recipes from Scouting
Posted to Summit Blog on April 23rd, 2016
It's Time to Get Cooking Outdoors When the weather changes and your day dreams turn to spending more time in the beautiful outdoors, there's one universal question that comes with camping season: What to eat?? Well, Scouting Wire has mined the... [more]
Trick out your camp
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 22nd, 2016
Trick out your camp tent with the Coleman Steel Creek tent - perfect for your next car camping expedition... [more]
This slideshow requires JavaScript. Two half-hitches form a loop that can secure a rope to a post or...
Posted to Inside Boys' Life on April 22nd, 2016
This slideshow requires JavaScript. Two half-hitches form a loop that can secure a rope to a post or grommet. It is commonly used to tie guy lines onto a dining fly. Here's how to tie this knot. Pass the running end of the rope around the post or... [more]
Dedicated volunteer
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 22nd, 2016
Dedicated volunteer Karen Jones shares how she helps special-needs Scouts succeed - and you can, too... [more]
The Mountain Hardwea
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 22nd, 2016
The Mountain Hardwear Hoopla tent is far from traditional - it's hula hoop shape packs up small and is super lightweight... [more]
How to evade or esca
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 22nd, 2016
How to evade or escape a dangerous forest fire... [more]
What Sea Scouting is
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 22nd, 2016
What Sea Scouting is all about... [more]
Ditch the traditiona
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 22nd, 2016
Ditch the traditional tent and try the pop-up MSR Thru-Hiker shelter that uses a hiking pole... [more]
Cub Scout Wood Projects: Build a Table
Posted to Cub Scout Ideas on April 22nd, 2016
I love the wood projects that we make at our Cub Scout day camp! Because they are useful items, they aren't likely to be thrown away. I suspect that some of the children of our day camp attendees will see the table or chair or tray that dad built... [more]
Strategies to help y
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 22nd, 2016
Strategies to help you ground your helicopter-parent tendencies. (Hey, we all have them!)... [more]
Time for a new tent?
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 21st, 2016
Time for a new tent? Our gear expert shares his favorites, including the Marmot Tungsten - perfect for backpacking!... [more]
Use these ethical di
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 21st, 2016
Use these ethical dilemmas to help generate healthy debates at your troop or crew meetings... [more]
Troop 111 trains for
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 21st, 2016
Troop 111 trains for future Scouting outings as a group. Try their workout at your next Scout meeting... [more]
Trade in your tired
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 21st, 2016
Trade in your tired tent for a new shelter. Our gear expert shares his favorites, including the Big Agnes MtnGlo - complete with LED lights!... [more]
Make your next pack
Posted to Scouting Magazine Pinterest on April 21st, 2016
Make your next pack meeting more productive by adding more action! Use these strategies to keep active boys busy - and focused... [more]
Issue 484 â" April 19, 2016
Posted to Ask Andy on April 19th, 2016
________________________________________ Hi Andy, I hope you can guide us! In just this past week, our Chartered Organization Representative ("CR") out of the blue started tearing apart our troop. First, he removed our Scoutmaster, replaced her... [more]
Camping Recipes: Cook Your Favorite Foods at Camp
Posted to Scouter Mom on April 19th, 2016
Sometimes Scouts have trouble coming up with new ideas when planning meals for camp. Foil packs, hamburgers, hotdogs, repeat. This article from Boy's Life Magazine give some suggestions for cooking foods that boys enjoy at home. Recipes include:... [more]
Scoutmaster Podcast 312 â" Summer Camp!
Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on April 18th, 2016
How about your Scouts? How about their parents? This podcast features advice for Scouters attending summer camp and parents who are staying home. I'll discuss ten things that will make life at summer camp smooth sailing for you and your Scouts, and... [more]
This slideshow requires JavaScript. Click here to watch a video tutorial. The timber hitch is the...
Posted to Inside Boys' Life on April 18th, 2016
This slideshow requires JavaScript. Click here to watch a video tutorial. The timber hitch is the perfect knot to use for dragging a log across the ground. It is also the knot that starts a diagonal lashing. Here's how to tie a timber hitch: Pass... [more]
This slideshow requires JavaScript. Click here to watch a video tutorial. The clove hitch is used to...
Posted to Inside Boys' Life on April 18th, 2016
This slideshow requires JavaScript. Click here to watch a video tutorial. The clove hitch is used to begin and end many lashings. Here's how to tie it: Bring the running end of the rope over and under a pole. Take the end around a second time,... [more]
This slideshow requires JavaScript. Click here to watch a video tutorial. The sheet bend is the...
Posted to Inside Boys' Life on April 18th, 2016
This slideshow requires JavaScript. Click here to watch a video tutorial. The sheet bend is the preferred knot for tying together two ropes of the same or different diameters. Here's how to tie the sheet bend: Make a bight in the end of the thicker... [more]
Scout Program: Fitness and Nutrition ⦠Get FITT
Posted to Inside Boys' Life on April 18th, 2016
Scout Program: Fitness and Nutrition ⦠Get FITT Not only is good fitness essential to many of the most fun Scout activities, it's also a major contributor to a long, healthy life. Improve your fitness by keeping track of the frequency, intensity,... [more]
The way Scouts learn
Posted to Bobwhite's Blather on April 18th, 2016
Our older son, a second-year medical student, came over and joined us for lunch this weekend. He filled us in on some of what the school is planning for next year's incoming class. For the past year, he has been the volunteer leader of a... [more]
By Aaron Derr Photographs by Beth Wald and Rachid Dahnoun When the young men of Troop 16 in...
Posted to Inside Boys' Life on April 15th, 2016
By Aaron Derr Photographs by Beth Wald and Rachid Dahnoun When the young men of Troop 16 in Columbus, Ohio, went west last summer, they did it in style: 13 days, thousands of miles on a train, six major cities, two national parks ⦠and one giant... [more]
Get Your Summit Visitors Pass Now for 2016!
Posted to Summit Blog on April 13th, 2016
With the Summit Visitors Pass, we've got you covered. The Summit is opening up to visitors this summer! A visitors pass is a great time for family and friends, and open to the public. We're all setââ¬Â¦... [more]
5 reasons why the new Ratchet & Clank is so cool
Posted to Inside Boys' Life on April 12th, 2016
5 reasons why the new Ratchet & Clank is so cool Ratchet & Clank are two of the most beloved characters in the world of games. Here's why their first game for the PS4 is one of the year's best family-friendly games. Classic Heroes and... [more]
Issue 483 â" April 12, 2016
Posted to Ask Andy on April 12th, 2016
________________________________________ Dear Scoutmasters, I've just received another letter inviting me to a court of honor for your troop's newest Eagle Scout-the most recent in a string of several hundred in the past ten years alone. Your... [more]
Scoutmaster Podcast 311 â" Scout Camping
Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on April 11th, 2016
What constitutes a night of Scout camping? You'll find the qualifier "under the auspices of Scouting" or something similar in advancement requirements that describe nights of camping. What, exactly, does this mean? I'll give you my best answer to... [more]
Ouch! How to remove a fishhook without making it worse
Posted to Inside Boys' Life on April 11th, 2016
Ouch! How to remove a fishhook without making it worse It's happened to almost every fisherman at some point. Those fishhooks are sharp, and when they get stuck in your skin, you're going to feel it. First, don't panic. Let a doctor remove the... [more]
Melrose Museum Scouting Display
Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on April 11th, 2016
I am not sure how many small town communities have their own museum of local history, but I am happy to say the Melrose has one. The Melrose Area Museum is located in the old St. Mary's convent building, found near St. Mary's Catholic Church and... [more]
Our barriers to abuse
Posted to Bobwhite's Blather on April 11th, 2016
Once again, there are sordid details of child abuse by a prominent member of society in the headlines. The latest incident involved former Congressman and speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert (R-Illinois) who is accused of sexually molesting boys... [more]
My Eagle Project Update
Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on April 10th, 2016
If you were reading this blog last December, you probably read the article I wrote about my "Eagle Project". It is not an Eagle project in the normal use of the term. I am too old to be working on my Eagle Scout requirements, after all. No, this... [more]
A Busy March
Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on April 9th, 2016
I like working with the Scouts. I think it is one of the best organizations for a boy or young man to be a member of. That is why I was a scoutmaster for thirty years, and than stayed on as a committee member. That is why I am now serving as a... [more]
BSA Environmental, Health and Safety Reminder on Mosquito-Borne Illnesses
Posted to BSA Health and Safety Alerts on April 8th, 2016
... [more]
Get in the Game with this Day Camp Activity Bracket Challenge
Posted to Summit Blog on April 7th, 2016
Cub Scout Day Camp Activity Bracket Challenge We had a lot of fun with March Madness this year, and even cheered on Villanova's Eagle Scout, Josh Hart . But just as March Madness ends, and baseball season begins, our thoughts turn to the warming... [more]
From streams to rivers to lakes, you can fish it all at fish camp. By Aaron Derr Photographs by W....
Posted to Inside Boys' Life on April 7th, 2016
From streams to rivers to lakes, you can fish it all at fish camp. By Aaron Derr Photographs by W. Garth Dowling There are lots of different ways to experience freshwater fishing. You can take a trip to a river, you can take a trip to a stream or... [more]
Issue 482 â" April 7, 2016
Posted to Ask Andy on April 7th, 2016
________________________________________ Dear Andy ââ¬â My grandson has just completed his Eagle project and wants to place a commemorative sign at the location. When my two previous grandsons were completing their Eagle projects, I remember... [more]
Here are 7 giant creations to make in Minecraft
Posted to Inside Boys' Life on April 6th, 2016
Here are 7 giant creations to make in Minecraft Block Wonders by Kirsten Kearney tells you how to build giant, super structures in Minecraft. Here are a few of the coolest: Space Shuttle It took Felix, the designer, eight hours to make this... [more]
Clayton Kershaw has a heart to match his other-worldly talent
Posted to Inside Boys' Life on April 6th, 2016
Clayton Kershawââ¬â¢s heart matches his other-worldly pitching talent. @KershsChallenge @ClaytonKersh22 @Dodgers By Sam Blair Clayton Kershaw is a champion in two starkly different worlds. One world is full of glamour and acclaim - the bright... [more]
White Rim Trail, March 2016
Posted to A Volunteer in the Movement on April 6th, 2016
After spending the winter months getting the trailer ready for camping duty, we were itching to get out and put it through it's paces. What better place to do that than the White Rim Trail in Canyonlands National Park ? Day 0 We left Denver after... [more]
Recapturing a Vision for Active Patrols
Posted to Scouting Rediscovered on April 6th, 2016
Curlews. Bulls. Wolves. Ravens. ââ¬â These are the very first Scout Patrols that ever existed. They were the Patrols Baden-Powell formed from the twenty-one boys that had come to Brownsea Island for his famous experiment with the Scouting... [more]
Recapturing a Vision for Active Patrols
Posted to Scouting Rediscovered on April 6th, 2016
Curlews. Bulls. Wolves. Ravens. ââ¬â These are the very first Scout Patrols that ever existed. They were the Patrols Baden-Powell formed from the twenty-one boys that had come to Brownsea Island for his famous experiment with the Scouting... [more]
The Adventures of a Well-Traveled Scout Pack
Posted to Summit Blog on April 5th, 2016
The Well-Traveled Scout Pack Look closely and you might recognize the red insignia on the vintage canvas bag below. But more than an old Scouting knapsack, this bag is a well-traveled, good-luck charm. That's according to its owner, anyway. In an... [more]
The Jamboree Band will provide music for ceremonies, events and shows throughout the 2017 National...
Posted to Inside Boys' Life on April 5th, 2016
The Jamboree Band will provide music for ceremonies, events and shows throughout the 2017 National Scout Jamboree. But first, they need to find the right musicians. Jamboree Band members should be Scouts, Venturers or adult leaders who can play an... [more]
Scoutmaster Podcast 310 â" Parents 3
Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on April 4th, 2016
We work with our Scouts as they come to usââ¬Â¦. I'll discuss two different parent-related issues in this third (and final) in a series of podcasts about Scout parents ââ¬â First we'll acknowledge getting parents to understand the way... [more]
Tea, How Do You Like to Drink Yours
Posted to Jabbering All Day Long on April 4th, 2016
Tea that is hotter than the Sun I remember a little while ago stopping at services, did my business, and went to get a cup of tea from McDonalds (you wouldn't by choice get anything else). While in line I overheard the following conversation:... [more]
How to become a merit badge counselor
Posted to Bobwhite's Blather on April 4th, 2016
Aside from Eagle Scout, merit badges are probably the most visible and iconic part of Scouting to those not involved in the program. "Did you get a merit badge for that?" is sometimes asked when someone does an extraordinarily good deed ââ¬â a... [more]
Archaeological Discovery
Posted to U.S. Scouting Service Project on April 1st, 2016
April 2016 Archaeological Discovery Cafe Press Items Copyright - U.S. Scouting Service Project | Visit us at http://usscouts.org | News at http://usssp.blogspot.com... [more]
Issue 481 â" April 1, 2016
Posted to Ask Andy on April 1st, 2016
________________________________________ "Boy Scouts" have been featured in just a few movies in the past 60 or so years. Back in 1953 we had "Mister Scoutmaster," with Clifton Webb as his usual crusty self, but his role plays off a boy who's a Cub... [more]
A Scout Is FOS Thrifty
Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on March 31st, 2016
Several years ago the Central Minnesota Council added a new incentive to the annual Friends Of Scouting (FOS) campaign. If you met a certain donation level you would receive a specially designed council shoulder patch (CSP). Each year would feature... [more]
Want to see more Scouting blogs? Why not check out the main page with the recent Scouting blog posts? Or maybe check out some of the most popular recent blog posts? This page is getting pretty old, so if it's getting a bit dusty just let me know. ;)