Scouting Articles (most recent first)
Introducing Citizenship in Society, the BSA’s newest merit badge
The first new merit badge for youth in the Scouts BSA program since 2017 officially launches today. Called Citizenship in Society, it provides Scouts with opportunities to learn more about our world by encouraging them to explore information on diversity, equity, inclusion and ethical leadership — and to learn why these qualities are important in…
Read MoreEarl Old Person, former Scout and chief of the Blackfeet Nation, dies at 92
Blackfeet Chief Earl Old Person, a former Scout who was the longest-serving elected tribal official in the country, died on Oct. 13 after a long battle with cancer. He was 92. As chief of the Montana-based Blackfeet Nation, one of the 10 largest tribes in the U.S., Old Person advocated for the rights of the…
Read MoreFrom the Scouting magazine archives: A Halloween-themed recruiting event
When it comes to maintaining a healthy Scout unit, recruiting is king. The ability to consistently bring in new members is the lifeblood of every troop, crew or ship. Check out our story from the September-October 2020 issue of Scouting magazine about how a group of Oklahoma Scouters created their long-running, Halloween-themed Webelos Outdoor Weekend event…
Read MoreScout 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 the Resource Stewardship Scout Ranger program, which offers an oval-shaped patch to Cub Scouts…
Read MoreHe 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 long for the 15-year-old to realize the severity…
Read MoreFor Eagle Scout who owns 25 flags, it’s about way more than cloth on a flagpole
Eagle Scout Michael Conner proudly displays the American flag outside his home in Colorado. 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…
Read More11 Tasty S’mores Recipes
S’mores are awesome, and we know there really isn’t a reason to mess with this classic camping dessert. But if you are feeling adventurous and want something new, here are 11 tasty alternative S’mores recipes that you should try. Got another S’mores variation? Tell us about it in the comments. THE CLASSIC S’MORE Toasted marshmallow…
Read MoreMerit Badge History: Dentistry gets seal of approval from American Dental Association
When the Dentistry merit badge debuted in 1975, The New York Times covered the news with this clever headline: “A New Drill For Scouts: A Dentist’s.” “Time was when the tools of Scouting were a compass and an ax,” the Times article read. “In the new Boy Scouts, it could help to have a little…
Read MoreHow to broaden your kids’ perspective — and, in the process, your own
Photo by W. Garth Dowling There are a lot of things in common with being a parent and being a Scout leader. Among them: the importance of understanding the perspectives of the younger generation. Jennifer L.W. Fink, author of The First-Time Mom’s Guide to Raising Boys (Rockridge Press, 2021), shares a story that demonstrates how parents and…
Read More7 Crazy Animal Encounters in the World of Sports
Animals are cool. Sports are cool, too. But not at the same time! Dogs and cats often wander onto playing fields, but check out these uninvited critters. SQUIRRELLY BASEBALL A squirrel ran between the legs of baseball pro Max Kepler of the Minnesota Twins in a game against the Chicago White Sox in 2019. Kepler…
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