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Scouting Blogs and News | Archived blog posts from August 2016.

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The 9 Most Epic Cub Scout Inspired Halloween Costumes

Posted to Cub Scout Ideas on September 29th, 2016

Halloween is just around the corner! Have your Cub Scouts decided what Halloween costumes they want this year? Some years, pop culture gives them fun choices. In 2015, I'll bet the summer release of the Star Wars movie inspired a lot of Kylo... [more]

How to plan a troop or camp reunion to celebrate 25, 50 or 100 years

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on September 29th, 2016

Troop 1 of Sacramento, Calif., celebrated its 100th anniversary with a powerful, well-made video and a special neckerchief . Troop 1 of Wichita Falls, Texas, reminisced about a century of existence at a reunion banquet attended by Glenn Adams,... [more]

Why hire a Scouting alumnus? Here are just nine of the countless reasons

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on September 28th, 2016

They're natural leaders with empathy for others and a resourceful approach to problems. Those are just a few of the reasons why employers have eagerly hired former Scouts for as long as there have been Scouts. For more, check out this fascinating... [more]

YAEP

Posted to Scoutmaster Musings on September 28th, 2016

Y et A nother E agle P roject was completed this past weekend in our community. This one was interesting, useful, and fun to help with. Our elementary school just invested in an outdoor classroom this summer, spending tens of thousands of dollars... [more]

At Philmont, Baltimore Scouts meet the man who founded their troop

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on September 27th, 2016

Sometimes your past comes back to haunt you. Other times it greets you with open arms. It was the latter for Kevin Dowling this summer at Philmont Scout Ranch, where he serves as general manager. In 1971, Dowling started Troop 918 in the Baltimore... [more]

Lion pilot program brings Scouting to kindergartners in nearly 200 councils

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on September 27th, 2016

The BSA's Lion pilot program for kindergarten-age boys has reached a new level: full roar. Families have been telling the BSA they crave a Scouting program for younger boys, and the organization has responded with an expansion of its Lion pilot to... [more]

Extreme Makeovers, Round 18: Eagle Scout project before-and-after photos

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on September 26th, 2016

Note: This is the 18th in an occasional series where I share Eagle Scout project before-and-after photos. See the complete collection here . To fully understand the impact Eagle Scout projects have on communities, you need to see to believe. That's... [more]

Looking For a Lightweight, Packable Electric Lantern

Posted to Inside Boys' Life on September 26th, 2016

Looking For a Lightweight, Packable Electric Lantern Q. I am looking for a lightweight, packable and budget-friendly electric lantern. Suggestions? - Jasper Inthedark, Los Angeles, California A. I think this is exactly what you're looking for: the... [more]

Why dancer Derek Hough and his dad, Bruce, are big believers in Scouting

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on September 26th, 2016

Derek Hough sent his dad a text a few weeks back. "Dad, check out my Instagram." Bruce Hough opened Derek's Instagram page , where the Dancing With the Stars star shares photos with nearly 2 million followers. And there was Derek, wearing his Cub... [more]

The whaty-what of what?

Posted to Bobwhite's Blather on September 26th, 2016

Drop in on any conversation between commissioners and you're likely to hear something like this: So I was at Pack 123's JSN. The CM was hoping for twenty new members but the CC said they only got fifteen. That's good, considering the TAY at that... [more]

I'm Back

Posted to The Scoutmaster Minute on September 26th, 2016

After about a year off.. The Blog is back!.. Now I don't expect you all to jump up and down and praise the Scouting gods. And.. I'm not going to give a long explanation as to why I took some much needed time away.. lets just say.. The blog was not... [more]

Surprising School Night Numbers

Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on September 23rd, 2016

As the annual School Night To Join Scouting approached I told the current Cub Scouts that we should try to double the size of our pack, which is currently at 17 members. I explained that they are our best recruiters and that they should talk to... [more]

This troop ditched the trailer and became an all-backpacking troop

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on September 23rd, 2016

The troop trailer Jim Rosensweet inherited when he became Scoutmaster had seen better days. The year was 1987, but this trailer must have been from the 1950s or 60s. Inside the rickety old thing, Rosensweet found heavily used gear that needed... [more]

In new interview, Dr. Robert M. Gates shares thoughts on leadership, Scouting

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on September 23rd, 2016

In a new interview with Eagles' Call magazine, Distinguished Eagle Scout and former defense secretary Dr. Robert M. Gates shares his thoughts on leadership and the value of Scouting. Read the full interview in the Fall 2016 issue of Eagles' Call... [more]

Two-tent raft in Malta

Posted to Ropes and Poles on September 23rd, 2016

Sean from Mosta Scout Group in Malta shared these photographs with me- of a raft sitting in this stunning location against the cliffs in the Mediterranean. Sean says: "With 100 lashings, 40 staves, 30 barrels and 10 Marine Ply, a massive Double... [more]

Inside the October 2016 issue

Posted to Inside Boys' Life on September 22nd, 2016

Inside the October 2016 issue Here's what you'll find inside the October 2016 issue of Boys' Life magazine. Remember, many articles are only available to subscribers and are not available online. To subscribe to the print or digital editions of... [more]

Scouts, win big prizes and share your MacGyver-inspired projects

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on September 22nd, 2016

Trapped on a roof, MacGyver bent the steel shaft of a TV antenna and held on as he zip-lined down a rope to the ground. When he needed a plane, MacGyver built his own using bamboo poles, a tent, a lawnmower engine and - naturally - duct tape. And... [more]

New Smokey Bear PSAs add fuel to fire-prevention message

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on September 22nd, 2016

Scouts and Smokey Bear have been allies in the cause of wildfire prevention ever since the mascot's 1944 debut. Scouts have made Smokey conservation posters, sold Smokey Bear litter baskets for fundraisers and posed for photos with Smokey at... [more]

Charlie Green 1925-2016

Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on September 22nd, 2016

We hadn't gone more than a hundred yards or so when an enemy rose up in front of us and started spraying us with a Schmeizer machine gun or ‘burp gun' as we called them. We hit the ground and I, for one, just tried to get closer to the earth... [more]

Scout family halfway to goal of visiting all 413 National Park Service sites

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on September 22nd, 2016

There are more than 400 National Park Service sites across America, including national parks, national seashores and national battlefields. The Rice family of Atlanta - a proud Scouting bunch - is on a mission to visit every single one. In... [more]

Ducttape and Paperclips

Posted to Scoutmaster Musings on September 21st, 2016

Making things from old junk stretches the imagination of a boy and gives him freedom to invent, explore, and learn. I had access to lots of old equipment, building supplies, and junk while growing up on USFS ranger stations. I made some awesome... [more]

Printable Cub Scout Cards: Fun Resource

Posted to Cub Scout Ideas on September 21st, 2016

I discovered this awesome printable Cub Scout cards on Etsy! It is so cute, but in a rugged, Cub Scout way. When I saw them, I knew they would be perfect to give to our Cub Scouts as we started the new year–especially the new Cub Scouts. On... [more]

Summer months count toward Scout advancement, whether a troop meets or not

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on September 21st, 2016

Some troops take a break between summer camp and the resumption of school. That's fine, but what about those Scouts who are serving in a position of responsibility when this summer break occurs? Does their time still count even if their troop isn't... [more]

How to hold one-on-one Scouting conversations while following Youth Protection guidelines

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on September 21st, 2016

You'll often find Mike Walton at his nearby Wendy's restaurant - but not because the Tennessee Scouting volunteer is a fan of the Baconator. It's because Walton sees Wendy's as a safe, public place to meet with Scouts about their Eagle Scout... [more]

Life Scout to fellow Scouts: Do not rush your journey to Eagle

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on September 20th, 2016

The true reward of becoming an Eagle Scout isn't the fanfare at the finish but the experiences along the way. That's why Cameron, a Life Scout in Troop 424 of Katy, Texas, wrote a letter encouraging his fellow Scouts to slow down and enjoy the... [more]

Eagle Scout Scoutmaster soars to Paralympic gold, breaking his own world record

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on September 20th, 2016

Eagle Scout David Blair won a gold medal and extended his own world record in the men's discus F44 on Friday at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Blair, whom I profiled last week , hurled the discus 64.11 meters - breaking his previous world... [more]

Extreme Makeovers, Round 17: Eagle Scout project before-and-after photos

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on September 19th, 2016

Note: This is the 17th in an occasional series where I share Eagle Scout project before-and-after photos. See the complete collection here . To fully understand the impact Eagle Scout projects have on communities, you need to see to believe. That's... [more]

92-year-old has his Eagle Scout court of honor 75 years late

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on September 19th, 2016

Eagle Scouts, Scouting professionals and volunteers celebrated 92-year-old John Prince with an Eagle Scout court of honor 75 years after he earned Scouting's highest honor. Price achieved the rank in 1941, just as the world was erupting in war. His... [more]

We sustain the wings

Posted to Bobwhite's Blather on September 19th, 2016

It's not likely that many, if any, readers of this column were around during World War II, but perhaps your parents or grandparents were. If so, then they most likely remember a show on the NBC Radio Network called I Sustain the Wings. The show's... [more]

A Man of Many Jackets

Posted to Jabbering All Day Long on September 17th, 2016

I am a man of many Jackets; I have hard shells, soft shells, fleeces. all taking up space in my cloakroom. Could I have just one The post A Man of Many Jackets appeared first on Jabbering All Day Long ... [more]

Technical Review

Posted to Jabbering All Day Long on September 16th, 2016

Back in 2014 I was contacted and asked if I would carry out some technical reviews of products to be included in a website The post Technical Review appeared first on Jabbering All Day Long ... [more]

Are you a Scouter and a teacher? Your feedback is needed for BSA pilot programs

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on September 16th, 2016

In a way, all Scouters are teachers. All Scouters shape the lives of America's youth and introduce them to new ways of seeing the world. But some Scouters are paid (though not nearly enough) to teach for a living. If that's you, the Boy Scouts of... [more]

Here are the Eagle Scouts playing in the NFL in 2016

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on September 16th, 2016

Eagle Scouts become CEOs, scientists and soldiers. They also become Broncos, Ravens, Dolphins, Redskins, Chiefs, Texans and Chargers. A search of the NFL's 2016 active rosters - nearly 1,700 players in all - turns up a number of Eagle Scouts. These... [more]

Ropes and Pole badges - selected design

Posted to Ropes and Poles on September 16th, 2016

Thanks to everyone who voted in my earlier poll to help me choose a badge design for the blog. As you can see below, the Hy-par pavilion was by far the most popular design. I have sent the badge off for quotes and will have news soon about where... [more]

Boys' Life short story by Henry Winkler becoming next Here's Hank novel

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on September 15th, 2016

Perfectamundo! A short story by Henry Winkler, originally published in the August 2016 edition of Boys' Life magazine, is becoming the basis for the next Here's Hank novel. The Happy Days star announced last week on Twitter that he and... [more]

David Blair, Eagle Scout and world record-holder, prepares for first Paralympics

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on September 14th, 2016

Everywhere David Blair goes, he sees people staring at his club foot, which he calls his "skinny, atrophied leg." "It's humorous for me because they don't know I can see their eyes, because they are busy looking at my leg," he says. "But, it... [more]

Jamboree Gateway Signatures

Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on September 14th, 2016

2001 National Jamboree Gateway In 2001, I served as the scoutmaster for Troop 1417 of the Central Minnesota Council for the National Jamboree, which was held at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia. I had a great time. I also had great assistant... [more]

The Super Zoomed-In Car Photo Quiz

Posted to Inside Boys' Life on September 13th, 2016

The Super Zoomed-In Car Photo Quiz... [more]

Help find the mystery Eagle Scout who saved a life in California

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on September 13th, 2016

Joshua Allen and his family were on vacation in the Stanislaus National Forest near Yosemite National Park when Josh fell over a waterfall and needed to be rescued. He later learned he had broken nine ribs and punctured his lung. A mystery man - an... [more]

Fresh Start

Posted to Jabbering All Day Long on September 13th, 2016

Ok….. Umm…. Yea….. Well….. These are maybe not the best way to start anything really. However over recent months theses seem to be the... The post Fresh Start appeared first on Jabbering All Day Long ... [more]

Getting your EYO program off the ground

Posted to My Scout Stuff - A Scoutmaster's Blog on September 12th, 2016

Here's an email I got from a couple who were just called to be Eleven Year Old (EYO) Leaders of an LDS unit in Sacramento, California. Sheri wrote: My husband and I have been called to teach 11 year old scouts in the LDS church. I am looking for... [more]

Quiet not Jabbering

Posted to Jabbering All Day Long on September 12th, 2016

Quiet is not the Word Ok so July saw a daily post from me in the form of a photo and a bit... The post Quiet not Jabbering appeared first on Jabbering All Day Long ... [more]

Philmont Photo Archive spans 50 years: 1966 to 2016

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on September 12th, 2016

The Philmont Photo Archive now stretches back to 1966, the year U.S. troops in Vietnam numbered 250,000, the American Football League and National Football League agreed to merge and the Beatles performed for the final time in the U.S. If you... [more]

Ask more questions!

Posted to Bobwhite's Blather on September 12th, 2016

Teaching and developing others, particularly young people, can be a challenge. We try to organize a set of facts in a logical manner and deliver it to the receiving parties coherently, so the transfer of information is correct and goes smoothly. But... [more]

Dutch Oven Results

Posted to Scoutmaster Musings on September 12th, 2016

Hey, thanks to the folks that took a chance at guessing which state has ordered the most copies of my signed dutch oven cookbook . A winner has been chosen! I know I said that figuring out the books per capita would be too much work, but I was... [more]

After 9/11, Jay Leno channeled his Scouting past to know it was OK to be funny again

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on September 9th, 2016

A few days after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, a producer at The Tonight Show With Jay Leno received a call from the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Joe Allbaugh had a message from President Bush for Jay Leno and his staff:... [more]

Bamboo arches in Ghana- Haduwa Arts + Culture Institute

Posted to Ropes and Poles on September 9th, 2016

Photograph copyright Baerbel Mueller This bamboo stage pavilion was built for The Haduwa Arts and Culture Institute in Ghana by [applied] Foreign Affairs , an architecture lab at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna . A group of students built... [more]

Casper the Friendly Ghost was a Boo Scout and Cub Scout recruiter

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on September 8th, 2016

Turns out Casper, that friendliest of friendly ghosts, was pretty friendly to the Boy Scouts of America, too. He joined the Cub Scouts, marched alongside Boy Scouts in a New York City parade and even starred in his very own Scouting-themed cartoon... [more]

Jr. KNOTS Scouts - The Adventure Begins!

Posted to U.S. Scouting Service Project on September 7th, 2016

Jr. KNOTS Scouts - The Adventure Begins! September 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]

John Lithgow caught the acting bug at Boy Scout summer camp

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on September 7th, 2016

If not for Camp Birch near Springfield, Ohio, John Lithgow might not be the award-winning actor he is today. Lithgow is a star of the big screen ( The World According to Garp , Terms of Endearment ); small screen ( 3rd Rock from the Sun , Dexter );... [more]

Write a Funny Caption For This Photo

Posted to Inside Boys' Life on September 6th, 2016

Write a Funny Caption For This Photo What's going on in this picture? What is that dog doing and what is it 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... [more]

Issue 500 â€" September 6, 2016

Posted to Ask Andy on September 6th, 2016

________________________________________ Today my 500th issue coincides with my very first, published 15 years ago this month. That first issue was published in the monthly newsletter of a single council. Today, these columns are regularly read in... [more]

Scouting is parents working together to help raise a group of kids

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on September 6th, 2016

Chuck Eaton grew up in a single-parent home. His mom enrolled him in Cub Scouting because "she wanted neighborhood dads to teach me things she didn't know about," he says. "How to change the oil, simple home repairs, how to camp, how to fish,... [more]

Barriers to entry

Posted to Bobwhite's Blather on September 6th, 2016

Have you ever joined something – a club, team or organization – and had to cross a hurdle in order to be a member? Clubs have membership requirements. Most sports teams have tryouts. You have to meet the job requirements as a step in... [more]

Dutch Oven Guess

Posted to Scoutmaster Musings on September 5th, 2016

Do you cook with dutch ovens? Which state has the highest dutch oven usage for cooking? Do scouts in Alabama use dutch ovens more than scouts in Wyoming? I've sent out 200 orders of my signed dutch oven cookbook this year, so I thought it would be... [more]

Enjoy Labor Day!

Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on September 5th, 2016

I hope you are enjoying Labor Day! Podcast 327 will be published next week. The post Enjoy Labor Day! appeared first on Scoutmastercg.com ... [more]

Eagle Scout rower Rob Munn looks back on Rio Olympics, Scouting

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on September 5th, 2016

In one memorable passage from The Boys in the Boat , Daniel James Brown compares the 1936 U.S. Olympic rowing team to an orchestra. "If one fellow in an orchestra was playing out of tune, or playing at a different tempo, the whole piece would... [more]

Ten Years of the Beagle Scout

Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on September 4th, 2016

I happen to be doing some cleaning today in the basement family room. When I opened the cabinet to put away the latest Hallmark Snoopy Scout ornament I decided instead to take them all out for a picture. I now have ten years of the Beagle Scout... [more]

Boys' Life Magazine App and Exclusive Discount

Posted to Cub Scout Ideas on September 2nd, 2016

Boys' Life magazine now has a cool smartphone app! Download it now and check it out. Your Cub Scouts will be glad you did. :) The post Boys' Life Magazine App and Exclusive Discount appeared first on Cub Scout Ideas ... [more]

Volunteer creates handy list of requirement page numbers for 13th Boy Scout Handbook

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on September 2nd, 2016

There's a lot to love about the 13th edition of the Boy Scout Handbook. There are the 13 things I listed here , and there are many more that didn't make my list. But one bit of feedback the BSA has heard about the Handbook is that the rank... [more]

Vote for a Ropes and Poles badge design

Posted to Ropes and Poles on September 2nd, 2016

I've been contemplating having badges made, which would be available for sale here on the blog. Some designs are shown above, featuring various projects from the blog archives , and I'd like your help choosing the first one to have embroidered... [more]

Issue 499.5 â€" September 1, 2016

Posted to Ask Andy on September 1st, 2016

_______________________________________ This issue is an extension of my earlier column this week (No. 499-8/30/16), thanks to four dedicated Scouters who have information expanding on or fine-tuning answers to three issues in that column: Bob... [more]

How to Make Dutch-Oven Baked Apples

Posted to Inside Boys' Life on September 1st, 2016

How to Make Dutch-Oven Baked Apples Servings: 9-12 Total time: 1 hour What you'll need: ½ cup rolled oats ¾ cup brown sugar (divided into ½ cup and ¼ cup) 4 tablespoons butter (room temperature) 1 tablespoon ground... [more]

His route to the top of Mount Everest went through Scouting

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on September 1st, 2016

One Connecticut Scoutmaster's journey to the top of the world started much closer to sea level. Mark Milewski, Eagle Scout and Scoutmaster of Troop 25 in Manchester, Conn., reached the summit of Mount Everest in May, and he says Scouting gave him... [more]

R U A Winner?

Posted to Scoutmaster Musings on August 31st, 2016

You won't be if you don't enter before midnight! Check out my contest page and take a shot to win one of three different prizes. It's free and spam-free, too. Here are a few more contests you might want to enter... Scouting magazine gives away... [more]

North Carolina running back Elijah Hood is an Eagle Scout

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on August 31st, 2016

Elijah Hood's life is full of compelling contrasts. There's the Elijah Hood who runs through (not around) defenders, ruthlessly punishing anyone who gets in his way on the football field. The 6-foot, 220-pounder amassed 1,463 yards - 16th most in... [more]

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