– Bryan On Scouting
Polaris ATV trails at the Summit Bechtel Reserve are full of thrilling twists and turns
Dan Moore, a volunteer in the BSA’s Montana Council, has seen his share of first-rate trails for all-terrain vehicles. He even helped build five miles of ATV trails at a Scout camp in Montana. All this experience means that if you want to get Moore’s heart racing these days, your ATV trail better be world class. Well, ladies and gentlemen, start your…
Read MoreTraveling out of state? Know the laws about cellphone use behind the wheel
Texting while driving is more than simply unsafe. In 46 states and the District of Columbia, it’s against the law. That includes all four states that are home to BSA high-adventure bases: Florida, Minnesota, New Mexico and West Virginia. Talking on a handheld cellphone while driving is banned in 14 states and the District of…
Read MoreWhat to expect at the 2017 National Jamboree stadium shows
Jamboree shows are a big reason these quadrennial events are so epic. Tens of thousands of Scouts and Scouters gather to laugh, get inspired and rock out to some great music. Shows are a visual reminder that, as Scouts, we’re part of something bigger than our own troops and councils. The stadium shows at the 2017 National Jamboree will be some…
Read MoreEagle Scout praised for bravery, service after London terror attack
Tobias Ellwood, the politician gaining praise for his heroism after a fatal stabbing outside the U.K. Parliament in London, is an Eagle Scout. Ellwood, born in New York City to British parents, was a member of the Boy Scouts of America’s Transatlantic Council, which serves American Scouts living overseas. He earned Scouting’s highest honor on May 25,…
Read MoreEverywhere you look, enthusiasm for the Welding merit badge is heating up
Troop 387, like all the best Boy Scout troops, is youth-led. The adults are there for support and safety. So when the Scouts from Kingsport, Tenn., decided they wanted to earn the Welding merit badge, the adults simply said, “sounds good, how can we help?” Help came from the good folks at Lincoln Electric. The Cleveland-based manufacturer of…
Read MoreBSA’s Tour and Activity Plan eliminated
Be prepared to spend less time filling out forms and more time having fun. The Boy Scouts of America has eliminated its Tour and Activity Plan, shifting the focus away from paperwork and toward creating a safe space for Scouts to enjoy the program as designed. The Tour and Activity Plan was a two-page document submitted to your…
Read More2016 Merit Badge Rankings unveiled: These were the most and least popular
Scouts and Scouters, meet your repeat champion: the First Aid merit badge. After losing its top spot to the Cooking merit badge in 2014, First Aid retook the crown in 2015 and defended its title in 2016. That means more Scouts earned the First Aid merit badge in 2016 than any other badge. It was something…
Read MoreSea Base crew reunites 36 years after trek to re-create photo
The Scouts of Troop 251 — now full-grown adults with Scouts of their own — wanted to host a reunion of their 1981 Sea Base crew. They read the Bryan on Scouting post about the Philmont crew from Tennessee that re-created a photo taken 34 years earlier, and they wanted to do the same. But there was…
Read MoreHere’s a complete list of 2017 Boy Scout requirement changes
The BSA’s 2017 Boy Scout Requirements book, detailing major and minor changes to Boy Scout ranks and merit badges, is now available. Inside you’ll find: Modifications to the Second Class and First Class ranks The new Exploration merit badge Major changes to four merit badges Minor changes to 32 merit badges The changes are the work of volunteers…
Read MoreEagle Scout Class of 2016, by the numbers
There were 55,186 Eagle Scouts in 2016. That’s the fourth-largest Eagle Scout class ever — surpassed only by 2012, 2010 and 2013 — and represents a 1.5 percent increase over 2015. Just think about that for a sec: 55,186 Eagle Scouts. Each one has his own story of the challenging but rewarding journey to Scouting’s highest honor. These young men have…
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