Posts Tagged ‘Brian On Scouting’

When a young man turns 18 and heads off to college out of town or out of state, one of two things usually happens. You might lose track of him as he begins this new chapter of life — Scouting just a happy, though formative, part of his past. Or he might register as an assistant Scoutmaster, knowing he won’t…

Fletcher W. has some sensory issues around buttons and snaps. He strongly dislikes them. For this new Cub Scout from Virginia, the blue, button-up uniform shirt was a barrier to his enjoyment of Cub Scouting. So Pack 680 Cubmaster Scott Klempner stepped in. He contacted officials at the Boy Scouts of America’s Supply Group, which runs Scout shops and scoutstuff.org. When…

In 2007, six Wolf Scouts from Indiana sat at a cafeteria table and took a photo together. In 2017, those same six Scouts — now all Eagles — gathered at the same table to remake that photo — silly poses and expressions included. The group formed as a Tiger den in 2006. They have remained together, advancing through Cub Scouting and then through…

Scout units and religious-based chartered organizations share a special bond that lasts all year. But on certain days each year — namely Scout Sunday and Scout Sabbath — we set aside time to celebrate a partnership that benefits all parties involved: the religious institution, Scouts, Scouters and the communities they serve. On these important days, which are timed…

There are two types of vacancies in adult leader positions in Scouting: expected and unexpected. But even the latter type of departure — perhaps a result of injury, illness or a Scouter moving away — can be taken in stride. That is, if you’ve established a succession plan. Those who follow the Scout Motto simply move the…

Improve your council’s safety readiness and spend a few days in the Florida Keys? Now that’s a win-win. A pair of separate sessions this winter in Florida will help councils improve how they handle Wilderness First Aid instruction and Enterprise Risk Management. Wilderness First Aid Instructor Development Course What: Build your council’s Wilderness First Aid instructor…

Quick heads up for anyone still using pre-2016 Boy Scout rank requirements. As of Jan. 1, 2017, all Boy Scouts — regardless of rank — must begin using the new Boy Scout requirements I blogged about last year. You got a first look at the Boy Scout requirement changes way back in January 2014; the requirements themselves were…

The readers of Boys’ Life magazine have spoken in a big way. BL joined The New Yorker, Bon Appétit and Esquire magazines as reader picks for tops in their respective categories. The recognition for Boys’ Life came in the Hottest Kids/Teen Magazine category of the 2016 Adweek’s Readers’ Choice awards. Adweek, a well-known advertising trade publication, selected BL as one of six finalists. The others…

Mason Schlafer, a 10-year-old Cub Scout in Pack 4055 of the Michigan Crossroads Council, sold a lot of popcorn this year. So much, the council and its popcorn supplier say, that Mason broke a Central Region record. To date, the Cub Scout has sold more than $20,800 worth of the stuff, and the motivation for his record-breaking haul is rooted firmly…

Tom Eaton, whose whimsical and wacky illustrations over three decades enlivened iconic Boys’ Life characters like Pedro the Mailburro and Dink and Duff, died Dec. 11, 2016, in Kansas City, Mo. He was 76. Anyone who has picked up a copy of Boys’ Life magazine from 1984 through 2015 has seen Eaton’s work. Each month, the young (and the young at heart) rushed…