– Bryan On Scouting
When do you cancel an event because of weather?
You check the weather forecast a day before the troop’s campout this weekend: A 60 percent chance of thunderstorms with possible wind gusts of 30 mph. Should the campout be postponed until a weekend with more fair weather? It can be a tough call, and there are many factors to consider — what is the…
Read MoreAbout a quarter of this Texas high school’s male graduates are Eagle Scouts
Front row, from left: Christopher Talbot, Cooper Newsom, William Greening, Reece Breaux, Will Beck and Miles Cavitt. Back row, from left: Scott Neuhoff, Luke Logan, Trey Brooks, Luke Stanford, John Carrie and Jackson Mechem. The mascot for the Episcopal School of Dallas, a well-regarded private school in Texas, is the Eagles. So it’s only fitting…
Read MoreExtreme Makeovers, Round 26: Eagle Scout project before-and-after photos
Note: This is the 26th in an occasional series where I share Eagle Scout project before-and-after photos. See the complete collection here and submit your own here. To fully understand the impact Eagle Scout projects have on communities, you need to see to believe. That’s why I asked to see Eagle Scout project before-and-after photos — the same photos prospective Eagles are asked to include…
Read MorePhilmont prepares to give the Tooth of Time a good brushing
Wildfires forced Philmont Scout Ranch to cancel treks in 2018, but the BSA’s hiking paradise in New Mexico will be ready to welcome trekkers in 2019. To get ready for the busy summer season, Philmont staffers and volunteers are clearing debris, mitigating the risk of future fires — and preparing to give the Tooth of…
Read MoreEagle Scout glassblower credits Scouting skills to saving his life
Eagle Scout Eric Meek creates incredible glass artwork as part of his job at the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, N.Y. His time with Troop 77 in Defiance, Ohio, instilled the leadership and interpersonal skills he uses for work every day, but it also equipped him with the survival skills he needed to stay alive during…
Read MoreThis minor league baseball team will play in jerseys that look like Scout uniforms
Mid-Iowa Council Scout Executive Matt Hill shows off the uniform. Here’s my Scouting report on the Iowa Cubs: They’re looking pretty good this season. The Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs has unveiled the special Scouting-themed jersey the team will wear on Scout Day this season. All proceeds from jersey sales will benefit local Scouting. The…
Read MoreEagle Scout wins $80,000 in Regeneron Science Talent Search 2019
Where can Scouting take young people? The sky’s the limit. Samuel Ferguson, an Eagle Scout from West Windsor, N.J., received an $80,000 prize for finishing in sixth place in the Regeneron Science Talent Search. He says he’ll put every penny of the money toward paying for college; the 18-year-old plans to attend MIT. I first told…
Read MoreA report of the BSA’s 2018 accomplishments is now in the congressional record
Cheryl Johnson (in red), the Clerk of the House, and Julie Adams, Secretary of the Senate, receive the official report. They’re wearing limited-edition Scout Me In neckerchiefs presented by the delegates. If you camped, participated in a service project or earned a merit badge in 2018, your accomplishments are now part of the congressional record.…
Read MoreTake the Trashtag Challenge, the latest viral craze that’s perfectly suited for Scouting
Finally, a viral challenge Scouts can fully endorse. It’s called the Trashtag Challenge, and it’s inspiring people on social media to pick up trash and share that good deed on Twitter or Instagram. The concept of picking up trash, even if it’s not yours, should seem familiar. Scouts have been leaving outdoor spaces better than they…
Read MoreWhat do you do if a leader is too quick to sign off requirements?
Scoutmaster John notices three Tenderfoot Scouts Liam, Ethan and Aiden across the room huddled around Assistant Scoutmaster Mark at a recent troop meeting, each with a rope in hand. They’re working on Second Class requirement 2g., tying a bowline and describing when to use it. Liam and Ethan enthusiastically craft the knot while Aiden, head…
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