– Bryan On Scouting

Six years ago, the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District in Wisconsin bought a 1967 Ford Mustang. It didn’t run; the windshield was smashed; the undercarriage was covered in rust — it was a major restoration project. But it would be a perfect project for high school students, teaching them mechanical and automotive skills. It…

This is the 33rd in an occasional series where I share Eagle Scout project before-and-after photos. See the complete collection here and submit your own here. COVID-19 note: Most of these Eagle projects were completed before the pandemic, meaning the photos may not necessarily depict coronavirus-related health and safety protocols. To fully understand the impact Eagle Scout…

Wendy Ingham knows how much her son loves Jeopardy! The only time Patrick misses an episode is on nights when Troop 18 of West Grove, Pa. (Chester County Council), has a meeting. Patrick is a Geography Bee champion, history buff and, in fourth grade, was voted by his classmates as “Most Likely to Compete on…

fizkes/Getty Images Whenever a Cub Scout meeting reaches what we like to call “maximum fidget,” seasoned leaders know it’s time for a game, song or cheer. As we enter day 15,000 of the pandemic, you’re no doubt looking for new games that might enliven your next virtual Cub Scout den or pack meeting. Here are…

Welcome to Scouts Then and Now, a Bryan on Scouting blog series. The premise is simple. We share two photos of the same Scout or Venturer: once in his or her early Scouting years (Cub Scout, younger Scout, younger Venturer) and again in his or her later Scouting years (Life Scout, Eagle Scout, older Venturer). Find Chapter…

It started in a grocery store. In 2018, Gabrielle Thorsen and her family were walking through the aisles when Gabrielle spotted a girl wearing a blue Cub Scout shirt. “We stopped her family and asked them about her uniform,” Gabrielle says. “It turned out there was a Cub Scout meeting that night.” A few minutes…

Last year, after the Illinois state president of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary issued a call for toiletries and other items for active troops overseas, Cub Scouts with Pack 3930 of Bloomington, Ill., stepped up. “The items that we take for granted were not in available supply to our brave men and women thousands…

Decorating Christmas trees can do more than raise spirits. It can raise money, too. For the Wonderland of Trees event last month, the Summit Bechtel Reserve decked its halls, showed off its breathtaking views and helped the United Way of Southern West Virginia rebound during a difficult year. Here’s how it worked: Walmart donated bare…