Scouting Articles (most recent first)
BSA announces Campfire in a Box*, a campsite entertainment kit coming in 2023
Most of you are carrying out your Scouting adventures and fun Scouting activities at home — with help from the resources on the BSA Scouting at Home site. While we know it may be a little while before you’re able to go back to sitting around a campfire with your troop, pack, crew, or ship,…
Read MoreCaptain of USNS Mercy, the hospital ship docked in Los Angeles, is an Eagle Scout
Leadership, service and the ability to respond quickly to complex situations. Those traits, which young people sharpen in Scouting, stay with you for life. For the latest high-profile example, look to the USNS Mercy, the Navy hospital ship stationed in Los Angeles to help the COVID-19 fight. Capt. John Rotruck, who commands the ship’s 800 Navy…
Read MoreHow the Scouting community can donate medical gear to hospitals in COVID-19 fight
In the first World War, Scouts helped collect black walnut wood needed to make airplane propellers. In World War II, they scoured attics, basements and garages for “rubber, small iron and steel scrap, light metals and other materials needed for the war effort,” according to the July 1942 issue of Scouting magazine. And now, in…
Read MoreWhere to Find a Good Fishing Pole for Backpacking?
Q: My troop is going on a hike, and there will be several ponds where I’d like to fish along the way. What pole should I take that can handle being carried around and that will fit in my pack? — Caden, Mount Pleasant, Utah A: If you want to something to put in your…
Read MoreSix recruiting secrets from a Scouts BSA troop that doubled in size in the past year
Scouts BSA Troop 223 now has more than 50 members. Mike Lanning says the secret to recruiting Scouts boils down to three simple words: invite, invite, invite. What if every Scouting family invited one other family to join their Scouting adventure? Even if just a quarter of those invited families joined, we’d have half a…
Read MoreBy Odin’s beard! Thor-themed Pinewood Derby car appears in Thor comic
James Dus, a member of Cub Scout Pack 350 in Evansville, Indiana, has always been a fan of Thor, the Marvel Comics character who has shot into the public consciousness with his appearance in the most recent series of Marvel movies. (The actor who plays Thor in the MCU has an interesting connection to Scouting…
Read MoreGo on a Virtual Safari to See Wild Animals
Even if you can’t travel to Africa or visit a world-famous zoo, you can still watch wild animals in action. Many zoos, aquariums and nature parks provide live web cameras with 24-hour video feeds so you can do your animal watching at home on your computer, tablet or smartphone. There are dozens of live animal…
Read MoreAdvancement during COVID-19: Official details about Eagle extensions and more
The BSA has a message to young people concerned that the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak will prevent them from completing Eagle Scout rank requirements before their 18th birthday: Don’t worry; we’ve got your back. During this unprecedented interruption to Scouting nationwide, the BSA has released new guidance on advancement during COVID-19. This includes: Time extensions for…
Read MoreRemember to drink up — before and during a trek
When I think about survival, hydration is top of mind. It is fundamental to us as humans, as in over half of our bodies are made up of water. Being dehydrated can lead to serious complications and side effects, with fatigue, headache and crankiness being some of the first signs. Water allows our bodies to…
Read MoreScouts BSA Handbook for Boys, Scouts BSA Handbook for Girls now available on Kindle
Testing the Scouts BSA Handbook on my Kindle e-reader. (It works great!) Carry hundreds of pages of Scouting knowledge right in your pocket. The Scouts BSA Handbook for Boys and Scouts BSA Handbook for Girls are now available on Kindle, making it easier than ever for you or your Scouts to find essential information in…
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