– Bryan On Scouting

The Boy Scouts of America today announced a voluntary recall of Cub Scout Outdoor Activity pins that depict a gold animal paw painted on a blue background sold between April 2016 and January 2020. The pins were sold at local Scout Shops, authorized BSA distributors and online at scoutshop.org. About 78,000 pins are affected although…

In Congress, it’s the rare subject about which there’s unanimous agreement. It’s the Congressional Award, the highest recognition Congress bestows on young people. To qualify, a young person must meet certain goals in four key areas: voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness and expedition/exploration. Are you thinking what I’m thinking? Yes, many of the…

Books can transport readers on exciting journeys to fantastic places and experiences. Not only does National Geographic’s Explorer Academy book series accomplish this, but it incorporates scientific and cultural elements, exploration of important ideas and values, critical skill-building and examples of upstanding characters. The series follows 12-year-old Cruz Coronado as he leaves his home in…

If you don’t know an octave from a treble clef, you might be a little intimidated by sheet music. Wouldn’t it be helpful if you could hear how a song goes? Now you can listen to your favorite tunes featured in the revised Cub Scout Songbook. The book features a link to SoundCloud so you can hear each song. Songs…

For something so small, tiny houses are tough to ignore. There are more than a dozen tiny-house TV shows on cable and streaming, and entire tiny-house communities are popping up in California, Texas, Florida and beyond. It’s kind of a big deal. Two years ago, Tim Maron heard a story on NPR about tiny-house communities…

Explore the sandy streets of Tatooine, outrun a Tyrannosaurus rex on Isla Nublar and snag an ancient artifact from a booby-trapped temple — all without leaving the comfort and safety of your car. This summer, the William H. Pouch Scout Camp on Staten Island, N.Y., is becoming a drive-in movie theater, giving families a safe…

Scouting can be a family tradition. We often hear of Scouts following in the footsteps of their parents and grandparents, going to the same camps, learning the same skills and achieving the same ranks. We hear of siblings enjoying Scouting adventures together, too. It isn’t often, though, that we hear of Sea Scout Quartermasters from…

“A Scout is…” Those three words of the Scout Law are just as important as the 12 points that follow. They mean that all Scouts and Scouters strive to exemplify those 12 traits at all times —both tranquil and turbulent. The Boy Scouts of America’s National Executive Committee released this statement last week on the BSA’s plans…

Scouts and Scouters serve their communities, nation and world. The BSA offers special awards for certain accomplishments and extraordinary service — one such award is the Woods Services Award. This award is presented through a cooperation with the BSA and the Woods Services Foundation. Through this partnership, one deserving adult volunteer is nominated and selected…