Posts Tagged ‘Brian On Scouting’

“It’s fun, hands-on and active.” “It’s simple and easy to implement.” “It’s age-appropriate, builds character and develops new skills.” That’s just a glimpse of what parents and youth across the country are saying about Lions, the BSA’s pilot program for kindergarten-age boys. Lions answers the call for fun, character-building after-school adventures for boys 5 or…

It started with the Wilderness Survival merit badge, earned at Maumee Scout Reservation in Indiana. Then there was the 2-inch ad in the back of Boys’ Life magazine promising “amazing hidden secrets about rugged wilderness survival” to anyone who sent $1 for postage and handling. Beginning Sunday, Eagle Scout Creek Stewart’s quest to become the ultimate…

The Girl Scouts are widely credited with inventing the concept of sandwiching a fire-roasted marshmallow between graham crackers and chocolate and calling it a s’more. So before we go any further, let me just say one thing on behalf of the millions of Boy Scouts and Venturers who have enjoyed these campfire treats over the…

On the list of unlikely global competitions for teenagers, this one sits on Row 1 of Column A: a Microsoft Excel world championship. But sure enough, it’s a thing. Each year, students from around the world compete to see who has the sweetest spreadsheet skills. This year, for the first time ever, an American won…

A big part of Cub Scouts involves introducing boys to the fun and adventure of spending time outdoors. And if you’re going to spend time outdoors, you’re going to want the right gear. The Cub Scout Six Essentials, learned as part of the Wolf Rank, is a list of a half-dozen items every Cub Scout…

Scouting’s programs and values are best delivered outdoors. It’s been that way since the worldwide youth movement was just a twinkle in Baden-Powell’s eye. But things have changed since Baden-Powell invented the program that became the Boy Scouts of America. Each year brings new outdoor programs, new outdoor gear and new ways of maximizing time spent…

It was the kind of once-in-a-lifetime trip you’ll only find in Scouting. Five Venturers from Crew 999 of Plano, Texas, spent a week in the U.S. Virgin Islands earlier this summer. The five young women, joined by three female adult leaders, sailed to beautiful beaches where they hiked, swam, snorkeled and toured historic sites. As…

For this October’s Jamboree, you don’t need to travel by plane, train or bus to join the fun. All you really need is a ham radio or a connection to the internet. This Oct. 20 to 22, Scouts from down the street, across the country and around the world will gather for the annual Jamboree-on-the-Air and Jamboree-on-the-Internet. The…

Maybe it was the culmination of 10 days spent having the time of their lives and forming lifelong friendships. Maybe it was the inspirational message from an Eagle Scout survivalist who told Scouts and Venturers to do what they love — not just what pays the most money. Or perhaps it was the rocking musical…

You might think little Chess merit badge would get lost amid action-packed Jamboree activities like mountain biking, shotgun shooting and zip lining. But then you climb the hill to the Chess merit badge tent and see the truth. The main tent — plus a second, larger tent beside it — is full. At each of…