Bryan on Scouting
(Source: blog.scoutingmagazine.org)
An inside look at the November 2021 issue of Scout Life magazine
Scout Life magazine helps your Scouting unit and your Scouts excel. Research shows that boys and girls who subscribe advance further, spend more time outdoors and stay in Scouting longer than those who don’t. Plus, Scout Life helps start your youth on the path to...
Scout Ranger program might be the National Park Service’s best-kept secret
From Acadia in Maine to Joshua Tree in California and beyond, our country’s national parks hosted 237 million people in 2020. But despite the continued popularity of these wide-open spaces, there’s one National Park Service offering that remains lesser known. It’s...
He and his uncle were featured in Scouts in Action … 51 years apart!
On July 18, 1968, a bulldozer working on a road construction project in Yonkers, N.Y., struck an underground gas line, resulting in a stream of gas shooting into the air. Nearby stood John Kane, the senior patrol leader for Troop 4 in Bronxville, N.Y. It didn’t take...
In an Eagle project, sometimes ‘I don’t know’ can be the bravest thing to say
When a Scout leads an Eagle Scout service project, people look to them for answers. But as his volunteers peppered him with questions, Adam Weaver found himself reciting the same refrain: “I don’t know.” “How do you install artificial grass? How do you mix...
From the Scouting magazine archives: Plan now for a great crossover ceremony
“It doesn’t need to be some big glitzy thing,“ says one Cub Scout leader, talking about their pack’s AOL-to-Scouts-BSA crossover ceremony. ”It could just be simple.” But it still requires proper preparation. We talked to two Cub Scout leaders who both start planning...
How a 3-week, 200-mile trek at Philmont helped her learn to ‘savor every moment’
After five days of nonstop rain, every piece of clothing in Sarah Curley’s backpack was soaked. Her legs and feet ached from day after day of 20-mile hikes. Her 40-pound pack was digging into her shoulders and hips — every stride sending a fresh jolt of pain. “I...
Gary Paulsen, acclaimed author and Scout favorite, dies at 82
Gary Paulsen, author of popular wilderness adventure novels such as Hatchet, The River and Brian’s Winter, and a longtime contributor to Boys’ Life (now Scout Life) magazine, has died. He was 82. Paulsen was a three-time winner of Newbery Honors, presented to the best...
Unsung Hero: Scout calls 911 after grandfather has a stroke
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...
The BSA has selected its 2023 National Jamboree Chair
The pieces continue to fall into place for the 2023 National Jamboree. Earlier today, the BSA’s National Executive Board announced that former BSA National Commissioner Tico Perez will serve as the 2023 National Jamboree Chair. Perez will immediately begin recruiting...
There are six (yes, six) sets of twins in this Cub Scout pack from Louisiana
When welcoming new families to your Cub Scout pack at the beginning of the school year, learning all the new names takes perseverance, practice and patience. Even with those traits, remembering which Cub Scout is Evan and which is Devin still might take a meeting or...
For Scouter who owns 25 flags, it’s about way more than cloth on a flagpole
Everything Michael Conner needed to know about flag etiquette he learned from his 1971 Boy Scout Handbook. “I still have that copy,” the former professional Scouter says. Fifty years later, Conner is now a husband and father. And he still treats the flag with the...
Troop goes green with trailer — and saves some green, too
The 12-volt battery in Troop 14’s trailer often drained, forcing adult leaders to jump it if the troop wanted to use the interior and exterior LED lights. For lighting in camp, the Metuchen, N.J., troop relied on propane lanterns. The Scouts also used propane for...
For Eagle Scout who owns 25 flags, it’s about way more than cloth on a flagpole
Everything Michael Conner needed to know about flag etiquette he learned from his 1971 Boy Scout Handbook. “I still have that copy,” the Eagle Scout says. Fifty years later, Conner is now a husband and father. And he still treats the flag with the same respect and...
From the Scouting magazine archives: Paddling in the Wake of Lewis and Clark
Comprising 377,346 acres of remote and unspoiled public land in central Montana, the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument contains a spectacular array of biological, geological and historical features. The area has remained largely unchanged in the nearly 215...
I Wanna Go Back: What this Scouter learned from 25 treks at Philmont Scout Ranch
It’s a sentiment so common that it’s been turned into a book, emblazoned on a bumper sticker and shared on social media. “I Wanna Go Back to Philmont.” For Robert Hostetter, the magnetism of Philmont Scout Ranch’s mountains and trails has been pulling him back for...
First Class Scout constructs impressive Lego World War II battleship
Eli Cox loves Legos. The 14-year-old First Class Scout of Troop 514 in La Grande, Ore., hopes to be a Lego designer one day. Every year, he comes up with an original project to work on, researches how to make his vision come to life and organizes his building blocks....
She shares six suggestions for anyone considering an Eagle Scout service project
It’s a good thing Cleis Newell has always loved puzzles, because that’s just what this was. Cleis (pronounced “Kleese”) was confidently leading a group of volunteers for her Eagle Scout service project at E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park in Louisville, Ky. The Scout from...
Registration opens for the 2022 National Order of the Arrow Conference
Thousands of Arrowmen from around the country will meet at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, next year for the 2022 National Order of the Arrow Conference. If you want to be one of those attendees, now is the time to sign up. Registration opened this week for...
Eagle Scout completes 2,600-mile hike on Pacific Crest Trail
It would be like earning the BSA’s 50-Miler Award 53 times — in just four and a half months. In August, Nolan Ridgeway, an Eagle Scout from the Long Beach Area Council, completed a thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. Over the course of 138 days, from April 11 to...
From the Scouting magazine archives: Cub Scout Adventures 101
Adventure is a hallmark of every level of the Scouting program. But in Cub Scouting, the word takes on a special meaning. For each badge of rank, Cub Scouts must complete a series of Adventures, which are collections of themed multidisciplinary activities on specific...
What you can learn from this Eagle Scout who has sold $275,000-plus in popcorn
When we first introduced you to Mason Schlafer, he was a 10-year-old Cub Scout who wanted to sell enough Scout popcorn to get better trophies for his Pack 4055’s Pinewood Derby. The plastic cups spray-painted gold were OK, but “Mason said he’d prefer real trophies,”...
Catch tonight’s webinar for tips on how to get more Scouts in your troop!
The marketing and membership webinar series is bringing you a much-requested topic with some of the most knowledgeable and energetic guest speakers in Scouting. Tonight (Sept. 30) at 8 p.m. Eastern, gain strategies for growing your troop using well-honed tips that...
An inside look at the October 2021 issue of Scout Life magazine
Scout Life magazine helps your Scouting unit and your Scouts excel. Research shows that boys and girls who subscribe advance further, spend more time outdoors and stay in Scouting longer than those who don’t. Plus, Scout Life helps start your youth on the path to...
Scouter stops man from driving toward youth football players, cheerleaders
Something didn’t look right to Willie Maquinalez. On Sept. 9, 2018, Willie was volunteering at a Pop Warner youth football game when he saw a man drive a vehicle onto an athletic field not far from an area where hundreds of football players and cheerleaders were...
TONIGHT: Be the first to hear a special, exciting announcement!
Scouting’s next big adventure is on the way! And you could be the first to hear about it. What is it you ask? You’ve got to tune in to find out. That’s right – there’s only one way to get this super huge news as it happens: Watch our live video tonight at 7 p.m....
On your period and headed on a camping trip? Here’s what you need to know
When it comes to backpacking, camping or hiking, myths about menstrual periods abound. But let’s get it straight. The smell of your period doesn’t attract bears (more on that later). And you don’t need to sit out a serious trek because you’re menstruating. We know...
Eagle Scout making waves in the battle against zebra mussels in Texas lakes
Declan Howell’s presentation to the council conservation committee was so impressive that its members had just one question left: “When do you head off to college?” The young man had presented in rich detail a summary of the project he completed for the BSA’s new...
From the Scouting magazine archives: Helping your Scouts become OA members
For more than 100 years, the Order of the Arrow has recognized Scouts and Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. Unit elections are permitted in Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scout units. For more information on helping your Scouts...
She created resiliency stones to uplift patients at Children’s Hospital Colorado
One kind act leads to another. And another. Eventually, you have a whole chain of Good Turns — steppingstones toward a better world. For Sophia Pierce, a 17-year-old Life Scout from Troop 114G of Littleton, Colo. (Denver Area Council), this string of kind acts started...
Scouting Show & Tell: Advancement during the pandemic
Many units were forced to shift their plans because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Scouts found ways to continue Scouting while staying safe. We asked Scouters to share photos of advancements and adventures from the past several months. Here are a few. Continue to follow...