Bryan on Scouting

Perfecting the “breakaway” or “elevator” yo-yo tricks is really cool. It’s even cooler when you complete the tricks with your yo-yo emblazoned with the Boy Scouts of America logo or your favorite camp’s logo or your pack number. You...

Youth-led isn’t just for Venturing crews. It applies to the entire Venturing program, as well. Tyler Grey, an Eagle Scout and Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow, has been named the 2020-2021 National Venturing Officers’ Association President. His...

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,”...

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...

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...

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. This month, while video...

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...

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...

Some people watch their favorite characters on screen. Others become them. A former Venturer from Southern California is giving back to the program by starting a cosplay Venturing crew, blending her self-proclaimed “nerdery” with her professional...

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. Fortunately, you don’t need to be a master of...

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...

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. But other than that, Phillip...

A text feels impersonal. An email can get lost in spam. But a handmade card with a personal message? That bit of extra effort makes the recipient feel special. With that thought in mind, a Scoutmaster in the North Florida Council mailed handcrafted letters to each...

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...

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. Chickasaw Council partnered with...

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...

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,...

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. Last month, Scouts BSA Troop 1345G of Burke, Va....

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...

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...

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%. So yes, becoming an Eagle Scout is extremely rare. (When you look at the...

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...

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 a...

Navigating trails is fun — navigating them on an all-terrain vehicle is even more fun, especially when you do it right. Being prepared for an ATV ride includes knowing how to operate the machine safely and wearing the appropriate gear. Through...

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. Journey to...

You’re missing going on campouts since the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the shutdowns of many places. What can you do instead? How about “camping in”? The Boy Scouts of America invites families with children of all ages for a National Camp-In,...

Like other merit badge counselors, Francis Lawrence brings passion, expertise and professional experience to this important volunteer role. It just so happens that Lawrence’s experience is as an accomplished Hollywood director. The Scouting dad and board member...

After a few weeks of using video teleconference technology from home, the novelty of seeing your coworkers in their pajamas or one of their pets jump in their lap while they’re talking has probably worn off. You might be looking for other ways to inject a little...

What if a powerful tool to stop the spread of COVID-19 has been hanging from our necks this whole time? That was the simple-yet-brilliant thought that sparked Jacob Finch to act in service to others. Jacob, a Life Scout from Troop 1 of Ballston Spa, N.Y. (Twin Rivers...

How do you conduct a Scouting for Food drive in the middle of a global pandemic? With a little bit of Scouting ingenuity and a lot of Good Turns. After the coronavirus forced a pack and troop in Wisconsin to cancel last month’s Scouting for Food drive, the...