Scouting Articles (most recent first)
Eagle Scout gold medalist David Blair prepares for his second Paralympic Games
David Blair throws at the U.S. Paralympic Trials in June in Minneapolis. (Mark Reis/U.S. Paralympics Track & Field) David Blair remembers a time before text messaging and TikTok — when communicating with someone miles away took a little bit of Scouting ingenuity. On a Scout adventure in the early 1990s, Blair learned to use sunlight…
Read MoreLife Scout on autism spectrum equips first responders with calming response tools
Holden Pardue, a Life Scout with Troop 600 in Greensboro, N.C., has been in Scouting for four years – he says that it’s his favorite thing that he does. He loves hanging out with his friends and helping his community. His Eagle Scout project focused on his biggest passion – helping young people remain calm…
Read MoreHe parlayed his Eagle Scout service project into a paid internship
John Foong during a visit to Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria, Va., for his internship. While there, Foong and his colleagues helped with water sampling and invasives surveying. (All photos courtesy of John Foong) The impact of an Eagle Scout service project lingers long after the supplies are returned to the shed and the last…
Read MoreHow to Buy Great Backpacking Gear on a Budget
You’re ready to go backpacking, but looking at the cost of all the needed gear has you wondering: Will you even make it to the trailhead? That’s understandable. Prices can be intimidating, but there’s good news. You don’t need to drop a small fortune to outfit yourself for backpacking — in fact, you can get…
Read MoreCelebrate freedom at the Summit Bechtel Reserve during the Adventure ON! Freedom Festival
For years, Scouts from around the country have enjoyed the many fun activities at the Summit Bechtel Reserve — ziplining, mountain biking, climbing and shooting, to name a few. Next month, the public will be invited to the property to experience the same fun, plus a whole lot more. For the first time in its…
Read More3 Quality Multitools That Are Made in America
Q: I am looking for a quality multitool made in America. I have $100 to spend on it. I want to be able to open it with one hand. — Sam, Bismarck, North Dakota A: With those requirements, my first choice would be the Leatherman Wave+ ($100, leatherman.com). At 4 inches long, it’s sleek, compact…
Read MoreScout’s Good Turn a reminder to ‘be kind to everyone, no matter who they are’
From left: Dave, Adam and A.J. during their climb. (Courtesy of Adam Blevins) Once you open your eyes to the power of the Scout Slogan, you’ll start seeing opportunities to “Do a Good Turn Daily” everywhere you look. For proof, look no further than A.J. Blevins, who showed remarkable kindness on a recent trip with…
Read MoreCassius Cash, superintendent at nation’s most-visited national park, believes in the healing power of the outdoors
Cassius Cash at his desk. (Photo by John Campbell) Cassius Cash believes in a magical place far from screens — where streams lead to waterfalls and where field sparrows and scarlet tanagers do the tweeting. As the superintendent of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cash is the man in charge of this magical place. With…
Read MoreMake sure new families in your pack have this info as soon as they join
The data is in! New Scout families want to feel welcome and a sense of belonging in their new unit. And when they do, these Scouts will stay in Scouting programs for a long time. So what does this mean for Cub Scout leaders? Of course, being welcoming and kind to newcomers is at Scouting’s…
Read MoreStep back in time to experience a BSA Historic Trail near you and earn an award
On certain special hiking routes across the country, Scouts can look back even as they move forward. That’s the promise of the BSA Historic Trails, a collection of nearly 300 hiking paths from 38 states, nine foreign countries and the District of Columbia designed to help young people connect with history in an immersive way.…
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