Scouting Articles (most recent first)

From left to right: Tyler, Ryan and Preston 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 ventilators, they knew…

Andrew Buchanan (left) and Andrew Nelson aren’t related, but they have a whole lot in common. 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…

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 on your Class A uniform or a Scout shirt and neckerchief. Then,…

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 Excellence, often shortened to JTE, is a self-evaluation tool that lets unit…

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 a partnership with Polaris Industries and the ATV Safety Institute, Scouts can learn to ride at select…

Francis Lawrence (top left) met with seven Scouts to teach the Moviemaking merit badge beginning in April. 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 in…

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 fun during these stressful times. Why not invite…

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 Council), led an effort to collect neckerchiefs…

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 Scouts and their families brought back the…