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Doing Hard Things
Posted to Adventures and Accidents on August 30th, 2016
It has been a long time since I posted anything. So much has changed for me that I'm not even going to bother to give an update for those who may still be following this. I've been thinking today about something I have often heard about Scouting:... [more]
Issue 499 â" August 30, 2016
Posted to Ask Andy on August 30th, 2016
________________________________________ In my previous column (Issue 498-August 16th) a parent had written about her son, a Life Scout, who was told that work on his project for Eagle "must have Scouts as helpers" and "a troop leader must be... [more]
Test-Taking Tips and Strategies to Help You Test Best
Posted to Inside Boys' Life on August 30th, 2016
Test-Taking Tips and Strategies to Help You Test Best It's back to school, which means it's back to tests. Which also might mean it's back to being majorly stressed out. It doesn't have to be this way. Here are some simple ways to prepare... [more]
At the 2016 National Youth Protection Symposium, join the fight against abuse
Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on August 30th, 2016
In 2015, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's CyberTipline received 4.4 million reports of child sexual abuse. That's a fact not meant to scare you but to clarify what we - the Boy Scouts of America and other youth-serving... [more]
Podcast 326 â" Advice for the Senior Patrol Leader
Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on August 29th, 2016
My son was frustrated, decided to change troops, and was elected senior patrol leader in his new troop. The Scoutmaster is a man of good intentions but with a commanding presence. Over time he has taken to leading himself because it's easier and... [more]
Explore Your Future with Exploring
Posted to Inside Boys' Life on August 29th, 2016
Explore Your Future with Exploring Some people know the answer when they're little. Some people don't figure it out until later. (Sometimes much later.) It's a question all of us are asked at some point: "What do you want to be when you grow up?"... [more]
Be Prepared: Active Shooter Resources
Posted to BSA Health and Safety Alerts on August 29th, 2016
... [more]
Prepared for life: Not just a motto
Posted to Bobwhite's Blather on August 29th, 2016
The Scout motto ââ¬â Be Prepared ââ¬â has been with us since the beginning, when Baden-Powell encouraged his young charges to be ready for whatever life might throw their way. It came from his days as a military leader, training his soldiers... [more]
First Class Rank Requirement 1a
Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on August 26th, 2016
Some requirements, like First Class Rank Requirement 1a, can be confusing; Since joining, participate in 10 separate troop/patrol activities, six of which include overnight camping. These 10 activities do not include troop or patrol meetings. On at... [more]
2017 National Jamboree subcamps will be named after national parks (with patches to match)
Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on August 26th, 2016
It's the National Park Service's 100th birthday, but you get the gift. 2017 National Jamboree leaders this week announced the creation of 22 special subcamp patches, each celebrating a different national park. As first reported on the Summit... [more]
Suspension Bridge from Feb 1937 Scouter magazine
Posted to Ropes and Poles on August 26th, 2016
I found this suspension bridge article written by L.C. Sands in the February 1937 Scouter magazine: No special credit is claimed for having succeeded in building the bridge described here, as it involves a principle in common use, but as the writer... [more]
U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO to companies: Use Exploring to build a talent pipeline
Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on August 25th, 2016
Thomas Donohue, a Distinguished Eagle Scout who is president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, has a message for the 3 million businesses - companies large and small - who are members of the Chamber. He says Exploring , the BSA's hands-on... [more]
Start SHT Hike
Posted to Scoutmaster Musings on August 25th, 2016
Starting south bound on the Superior Hiking Trail at Cascade River wayside at 1:30pm... [more]
With the Scouting magazine app, get every issue ever printed for $4.99 a year
Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on August 25th, 2016
Carry a century of Scouting stories, knowledge and history everywhere you go by downloading the new Scouting magazine app. With the app, available for iOS, Android and Kindle devices, you can browse every issue of Scouting magazine ever printed -... [more]
STEM Scouts pilot adds seven councils, bringing total to 20
Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on August 24th, 2016
For every two open STEM jobs right now, there's only one qualified candidate. And while lots of people are talking about the dearth of hands-on STEM experience for young people, the Boy Scouts of America is doing something about it. Last week, the... [more]
Jamboree subcamps renamed in honor of the National Park Service centennial
Posted to Summit Blog on August 23rd, 2016
August 25, 2016 is the one hundredth anniversary of America's National Park Service. Just two months after he signed the congressional charter for the Boy Scouts of America, President Woodrow Wilson signed the National Park Service Organic Act,... [more]
Future Camping Gear Reviews
Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on August 23rd, 2016
As a happy gear nerd I enjoy writing camping gear reviews once in awhile, especially when that gear stands the test of time. When I write about gear it's usually stuff I have used for at least a year or two, and often a decade or more. I turn down... [more]
Maximize Your Opportunity to Serve on IST staff at the 24th World Scout Jamboree
Posted to Summit Blog on August 23rd, 2016
Members of the International Service Team (IST) who will staff the 24 th World Scout Jamboree (WSJ) at the Summit Bechtel Reserve (SBR) in 2019 will come from more than 160 National Scouting Organizations. The geographic diversity of the IST means... [more]
Have Scouts who take medications? Read these instructions, too
Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on August 23rd, 2016
Plan ahead. Talk to the Scout's parents. Be smart about storage and labeling. Taking these steps and others when dealing with a youth member's medication is a vital part of keeping our Scouts and Venturers safe and healthy. Here's the latest: The... [more]
Snoopy's Beagle Scouts Play Set
Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on August 22nd, 2016
I am always keeping an eye out for Beagle Scout Snoopy items. I just like the combination of Scouting and Peanuts, I guess. After writing the last article I decided to have a quick look on eBay to see what other Beagle Scout Snoopy items were being... [more]
pinewood derby treat
Posted to Boys' Life Magazine Pinterest on August 22nd, 2016
pinewood derby treats - Google Search... [more]
Pinewood Derby Times
Posted to Boys' Life Magazine Pinterest on August 22nd, 2016
Pinewood Derby Times Newsletter Volume 11 Issue 7... [more]
Pinewood Derby Times
Posted to Boys' Life Magazine Pinterest on August 22nd, 2016
Pinewood Derby Times Newsletter Volume 11 Issue 7... [more]
Pinewood Derby Times
Posted to Boys' Life Magazine Pinterest on August 22nd, 2016
Pinewood Derby Times Newsletter Volume 11 Issue 7... [more]
Pinewood Derby Times
Posted to Boys' Life Magazine Pinterest on August 22nd, 2016
Pinewood Derby Times Newsletter Volume 11 Issue 7... [more]
Pinewood Derby Times
Posted to Boys' Life Magazine Pinterest on August 22nd, 2016
Pinewood Derby Times Newsletter Volume 11 Issue 7... [more]
Google Image Result
Posted to Boys' Life Magazine Pinterest on August 22nd, 2016
Google Image Result for http://richkurz.com/design/car/IMG_0216.jpg... [more]
We couldn't compete
Posted to Boys' Life Magazine Pinterest on August 22nd, 2016
We couldn't compete with the swell of creative force fueling the Stumptown 40 adult Pinewood Derby, so WW turned our little block of wood into Portland's flagship car, a Subaru Outback wagon... [more]
Photos of Steve Lode
Posted to Boys' Life Magazine Pinterest on August 22nd, 2016
Photos of Steve Lodefink's cool Pinewood Derby Racer... [more]
Hallmark Snoopy: White Water Rafting
Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on August 22nd, 2016
It is that time of year again. Hallmark stores have started selling the 2016 Christmas ornaments. And yes, once again, there is a Snoopy the Beagle Scout ornament for us involved in Scouting to enjoy. This month's ornament features Scout Leader... [more]
Challenge yourself with Scouting magazine's 'Where Am I?' contest
Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on August 22nd, 2016
Time for a new uniform? Or how about a new pair of boots? If a visit to your local Scout shop is imminent, take this chance to put some extra cash in your pocket. Test your knowledge of U.S. geography in the Scouting magazine Where Am I? contest ... [more]
Podcast 325 â" Email Answers
Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on August 22nd, 2016
I hope you had a great summerââ¬Â¦ The picture for this week's podcast is one of my favorite campsites on Proulx lake in Ontario Canada's Algonquin Provincial Park. We took twenty people in three crews this year and had a great time. I am glad to... [more]
Protect your popcorn sales â" and your customers
Posted to Bobwhite's Blather on August 22nd, 2016
It's that time of year again ââ¬â popcorn season! And soon, our Scouts will be knocking on doors, standing on street corners and in front of grocery stores offering the tasty treats of popcorn and other goodies as a thank-you gift to our friends... [more]
School Open House
Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on August 20th, 2016
School Night To Join Scouting will be held throughout Minnesota on Thursday, September 22nd. This year's theme is "Heroes Start Here", which nicely fits in with the current wave of superhero movies and television shows. I have to say, I like this... [more]
10 Lightweight Tips
Posted to Scoutmaster Musings on August 19th, 2016
Here are 10 simple, safe, comfortable ways to cut 15 pounds or more from what you take on your next backpacking trip: Lose Nalgenes - (save 1lb) The Nalgene bottle is ubiquitous to backpacking and Scouting. There are at least 5 different styles... [more]
How councils use Polaris ATVs to rev up excitement for Scouting
Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on August 19th, 2016
It wasn't adrenaline or horsepower that first got Pat Currie interested in all-terrain vehicles. It was the potential these four-wheeled machines have to recruit new Scouts and to retain older Scouts and Venturers. Currie, Scout Executive of the... [more]
Jared Ward, Eagle Scout and Olympic marathoner: Scouting taught me to do hard things
Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on August 19th, 2016
Jared Ward is an elite-level marathon racer, a statistics professor at BYU, a father of two and a member of Team USA's 2016 Olympic team. So, yeah. The 27-year-old has experienced some incredible things in his life. That makes it all the more... [more]
Cardboard box rafts- Akela 2016
Posted to Ropes and Poles on August 19th, 2016
At the recent Akela 2016 camp, I was involved in running outdoor activities for the Pack Scouters, alongside the community service and crafts bases that were run. Alongside a tensegrity cube , I ran this challenge- to build a raft using staves,... [more]
Louisiana flooding hits Scout families; here's how to help
Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on August 18th, 2016
Deadly flooding in Louisiana has affected at least 40,000 homes - many belonging to Scout families. Scouts and Scouters in the Evangeline Area Council in Lafayette and the Istrouma Area Council in Baton Rouge have been displaced. "I can't begin to... [more]
Philmont Advisor Skills School, coming to a city near you, gets you trek-ready
Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on August 18th, 2016
Hiking around your neighborhood wearing a brick-filled backpack is a good way to get your body in shape for Philmont. But what about your mind? That's where the Philmont Advisor Skills School and Philmont Advisor Workshop really shine. These... [more]
By Aaron Derr Photographs by W. Garth Dowling Sailing is tricky. For first-timers, there's lots of...
Posted to Inside Boys' Life on August 17th, 2016
By Aaron Derr Photographs by W. Garth Dowling Sailing is tricky. For first-timers, there's lots of stuff to learn. Even the language - words such as bow, starboard and port - is confusing at first. But once you get the hang of it, there are few... [more]
By Aaron Derr Photographs by W. Garth Dowling When you are a Boy Scout, you will get to do all kinds...
Posted to Inside Boys' Life on August 17th, 2016
By Aaron Derr Photographs by W. Garth Dowling When you are a Boy Scout, you will get to do all kinds of amazing things on the water. Things like sailing, kayaking and rafting on fast-moving water, as well as sailboarding and scuba diving. But every... [more]
John Nunn, Eagle Scout, competes in the longest track event in the Olympics
Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on August 17th, 2016
Finishing the longest track and field race in the Olympics takes perseverance. Same with finishing the journey toward becoming an Eagle Scout. Just ask John Nunn - one of the few to have done both. Nunn, 38, is an Eagle Scout who will compete in... [more]
The New Troop Tee Shirts
Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on August 17th, 2016
The new troop tee shirts have arrived! After a few months of discussing logo designs, and type and color of shirt, the order of the new shirts has arrived. The troop ordered 80 shirts, all adults sizes from medium to extra large, in case a few... [more]
Parents of Eagle Scout and Olympic gold medalist Ryan Held tell their story
Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on August 17th, 2016
We've heard from Ryan Held, the Eagle Scout who won a gold medal at the Rio Olympics and says Scouting gave him a welcome respite from the stress of competitive swimming. Now we get to hear from his parents, who say both of their Eagle Scout sons... [more]
Issue 498 â" August 16, 2016
Posted to Ask Andy on August 16th, 2016
________________________________________ In my previous column (No. 497 â August 3rd), Jim Byers asked, "In Venturing and Sea Scouts, if you have a coed group on an overnight outing, you need both a male and a female adult leader. Okay so far, but... [more]
Greg Billington, Olympic triathlete and Eagle Scout, found a way to do it all
Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on August 16th, 2016
Swim, bike, run ââ¬Â¦ and earn the highest award in Scouting. All in a life's work for Greg Billington, an Eagle Scout who will compete in Thursday's Olympic triathlon. Billington, 27, says you don't have to be Superman (or, in his case, Aquaman)... [more]
Outdoor Ethics Awards Discontinued for Cub Scouts
Posted to Cub Scout Ideas on August 15th, 2016
When I was at the Philmont Training Center a few weeks ago, one of our instructors told us that the Outdoor Ethics Awareness Award and the Outdoor Ethics Action Award had been retired. This wasn't a secret, but I didn't want to share with you until... [more]
7 Ways Pokémon Go Changed the World
Posted to Inside Boys' Life on August 15th, 2016
7 Ways Pokémon Go Changed the World Pokémon Go became so popular so quickly, even Nintendo was surprised at its success. Here's how Pokémon Go is changing things beyond games. 1. Pokémon Go is being used for tourism. The Swiss city of Basel made a... [more]
There IS a better tool
Posted to Bobwhite's Blather on August 15th, 2016
As fall recruiting season nears, we're putting together our plans to make sure every boy has an opportunity to join Scouting ââ¬â scheduling Join Scouting nights, polishing our presentations and getting ready with another year of fun, adventure... [more]
Free Printable Cub Scout Information Cards
Posted to Cub Scout Ideas on August 14th, 2016
The handy printable Cub Scout information cards are great to give the boys and their parents to help them remember important information. And they're FREE! The post Free Printable Cub Scout Information Cards appeared first on Cub Scout Ideas ... [more]
July Cub Scout Fun
Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on August 14th, 2016
This is my second summer as the cubmaster of Pack 68. I have had a good time and have agreed to a third year in the position. The pack does not have meetings during the summer months but we do have a pack activity each month. I had the Cub Scouts... [more]
Kayaking Fun
Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on August 12th, 2016
I have heard from several people how fun kayaking can be, but I never really tried it. Well, not until earlier this month. My sister and her son invited me along on a kayak trip down the Sauk River, which runs through Melrose, Minnesota. They... [more]
What makes summer camp great? This Scout gives the best possible answer
Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on August 12th, 2016
There are countless reasons why Scouts love attending summer camp: meeting new friends, conquering challenges and earning merit badges, to name three. But when Chief Seattle Council's Camp Parsons polled its campers this summer, one Scout gave a... [more]
Rob Munn, Eagle Scout, hopes to power eight-man rowing team to gold
Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on August 12th, 2016
Eight-man rowing, more than any other Olympic sport, rewards flawless teamwork. So it's exciting, though not shocking, to learn that one of the members of Team USA's eight-man rowing team is an Eagle Scout. Rob Munn, one of seven Eagle Scout... [more]
Akela 2016 "Wolf" Hypar Gateway
Posted to Ropes and Poles on August 12th, 2016
I recently had the privilege to spend some time at the international Akela 2016 camp outside Pretoria, and this is the main gateway to the campsite - built by Harmellia Gardens Air Scouts . The camp was held to celebrate the centenary of the... [more]
Kodiak Challenge offers hands-on leadership training for Scouts and Venturers
Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on August 11th, 2016
Looking to add a dose of leadership training to your next big Scouting adventure? Integrate Kodiak Challenge into the plan, and you'll double the impact the trip has on Scouts and Venturers. Kodiak Challenge invites young people to step outside... [more]
A Million Miracles
Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on August 10th, 2016
Seven Boy Scouts of Melrose Troop 68 recently participated in a trek at Philmont Scout Ranch. I was there to see them off when they left and wished them a good trip. After I returned home I was in a Philmont mood and noticed I had an email from the... [more]
How to deliver on the promises made at join-Scouting night
Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on August 10th, 2016
John Erickson had the feeling he was being watched. The then-Scout Executive was buying milk inside a convenience store in Baton Rouge, La., when he turned to see a boy staring at him. "Are you a Scoutmaster?" the boy asked. He had noticed... [more]
Beagle Scout Patrol
Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on August 9th, 2016
I partook in Wood Badge training way back in 1990. From what I hear, the current Wood Badge course is a little different than the one I attended. I did not plan to go to a course that year until another Scout leader decided to give me a kick by... [more]
1896 Olympic discus champion brought Scouting to Baltimore in 1910
Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on August 9th, 2016
I've told you about 2016 Olympians with Scouting ties , but today we step back 120 years to uncover Scouting connections at the very first Olympics of the modern era. In 1896 in Athens, Robert Garrett of Baltimore became the first modern Olympic... [more]
Eagle Scout Olympian Ryan Held wins gold in 4Ã-100 freestyle relay
Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on August 8th, 2016
Eagle Scout. Arrowman. Olympic gold medalist. Personable Today show guest. Is there anything Ryan Held can't do? The 21-year-old, who is one of seven Eagle Scouts on the 2016 U.S. Olympic roster , won a gold medal Sunday night as a member of Team... [more]
Why do we enjoy being Scouters?
Posted to Bobwhite's Blather on August 8th, 2016
Chances are, if you're a Scouter, you enjoy what you're doing. You're helping your son and his friends have fun while they learn things like survival skills, leadership, citizenship and being helpful to others. You're enjoying some of that yourself... [more]
Time to learn the name of Ryan Held, Eagle Scout and Olympic swimmer
Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on August 6th, 2016
At the U.S Olympic Swimming Trials in June in Omaha, Neb., nobody was talking about Ryan Held. Even NBC's colorful analyst Rowdy Gaines, usually prone to hyperbole, called Held a "no-name." But there he was, on the blocks in the 100-meter... [more]
On our radar: Great gear sighted at the 2016 Summer Outdoor Retailer
Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on August 5th, 2016
Every year, outdoor gear manufacturers from around the globe show off their latest and greatest at the Outdoor Retailer summer market in Salt Lake City, Utah. Our gear experts spent the last few days combing the floor to find the coolest gear to... [more]
Casey Patterson: Beach volleyball Olympian, hairstyle icon, Eagle Scout
Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on August 5th, 2016
As the Eagle Scout on Team USA's beach volleyball team, Casey Patterson has built up quite a reputation. "I am the guy who has everything when we travel. I fix the net, court and anything else needed to travel the world," he says. "I love being... [more]
2018 VenturingFest will celebrate the program's 20th anniversary
Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on August 5th, 2016
Venturing turns 20 in 2018, and you and your crew are invited to the party. The BSA's high-adventure program for young men and young women has announced that the next VenturingFest, celebrating the program's 20th anniversary, will take place July 1... [more]
Window for 2017 Eagle Scout scholarships open till Oct. 31, 2016
Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on August 4th, 2016
The National Eagle Scout Association wants to make college more affordable for more than 100 worthy Eagle Scouts across the country. The window for 2017 Eagle Scout scholarships opened Aug. 1, 2016, and will slam shut on Oct. 31, 2016. In the... [more]
Vote for your favorite car at Outdoor Retailer's Pinewood Derby
Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on August 4th, 2016
The creative minds behind some of your favorite outdoor gear brands came together tonight to race at the Outdoor Retailer Pinewood Derby , hosted by the Boy Scouts of America's Scouting Works team. Fifteen cars competed in two categories,... [more]
Issue 497 â" August 3, 2016
Posted to Ask Andy on August 3rd, 2016
________________________________________ Hi Andy, Can to explain to me the rationale behind this anomaly in the BSA's GUIDE TO SAFE SCOUTING? Here it is: In Venturing and Sea Scouts, if you have a coed group on an overnight outing, you need both a... [more]
2016 U.S. Olympic Team boasts at least five Eagle Scouts
Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on August 3rd, 2016
At least five members of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team competing in Rio de Janeiro this month are Eagle Scouts, the National Eagle Scout Association has confirmed. Before they wore red, white and blue uniforms for Team USA, these men - two swimmers, a... [more]
Now hear this: 2016 Jamboree-on-the-Air, Jamboree-on-the-Internet dates set
Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on August 2nd, 2016
On the third weekend in October, 1 million Scouts from 150 different countries will unite to celebrate the global power of Scouting. And they'll do it without leaving the neighborhood. Join the fun by involving your pack, troop, team, post, ship or... [more]
August 2016 KNOTS Cartoon - Outdoor Skills Tower to the Moon
Posted to U.S. Scouting Service Project on August 1st, 2016
Outdoor Skills Tower to the Moon August 2016 Cafe Press Items KNOTS Cartoons Books, e-Books and CDs and Merchandise Copyright - U.S. Scouting Service Project | Visit us at http://usscouts.org | News at http://usssp.blogspot.com... [more]
At last, relief from this embarrassing problem affecting Scouts and Scouters
Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on August 1st, 2016
We need to have a talk about chafing. I know, I know. Just thinking about this irritating side effect of outdoor adventure is enough to give you panicked flashbacks to the last episode. The burning ! But a Scout is brave. Plus, I promise to keep... [more]
Learning to lead
Posted to Bobwhite's Blather on August 1st, 2016
While some people seem to be natural leaders, it's generally held that leadership is something that can be learned. The esteemed football coach Vince Lombardi believed that Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is... [more]
Family 30days
Posted to Jabbering All Day Long on July 31st, 2016
My Family -Day 30 Family is such an important thing and my family is my rock. So on the last day of my... The post Family 30days appeared first on Jabbering All Day Long ... [more]
Day 6 - Out of the Mountains
Posted to Scoutmaster Musings on July 31st, 2016
A short, brisk hike down the mountain and we were back in civilization, taking showers in Buffalo, WY. We had the afternoon to explore the small town that just happened to be holding its "Crazy Days" event - basically a sidewalk saddle. My... [more]
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