– Bryan On Scouting
2021 National Jamboree staff registration opens, with bonus for first 2,021 to apply
Don’t just experience the National Jamboree. Bring it to life. Applications are now being accepted to serve on staff at the 2021 National Jamboree, coming July 2021 to the BSA’s adventure-packed Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia. The first 2,021 people who sign up and pay their deposit to serve on staff, now known as…
Read MoreIn its effort to welcome a vegetarian Scout, troop embarks on a culinary adventure
To call the adults in Troop 96 carnivores is a bit of an understatement. As in any youth-led troop, the Scouts in Troop 96 of the Northeast Illinois Council are on their own at mealtime. Scouts in each patrol plan the menu, shop for ingredients and prepare the meals. That leaves the adults to fend…
Read MoreCan a den chief work with a Cub Scout den of the opposite gender?
Let’s give a giant Scout salute to the den chief. When entrusted with enough responsibility, this young person can be a Cub Scout leader’s best friend. A den chief is a Scout, Venturer or Sea Scout who: Helps plan and conduct den meetings. Suggests games and activities the Cub Scouts might enjoy. Serves as a…
Read More8-year-old Cub Scout raises money for Scouts BSA troop that had its trailer stolen
In September, Ashley Panko looked up from her computer in shock. On TV, a reporter was telling the heartbreaking story of Troop 193 of Duncanville, Texas. The reporter said a thief had stolen Troop 193’s trailer and all the camping gear inside. Ashley, an 8-year-old Cub Scout from Dallas, loves camping with her friends in…
Read MoreEvery year, this pack gathers to assemble Christmas care packages for the troops
The theme of Pack 164’s annual Christmas party hasn’t changed in four years: service before self. Every year, members of the pack from Madison, Miss., gather to assemble care packages for military personnel deployed overseas. The Cub Scouts fill boxes with things like dental floss, gum, foot powder, candy bars, shaving cream, beef jerky and…
Read MoreAssistant Scoutmasters help Scouts get trained to be amateur radio operators
Assistant Scoutmaster Scott deMasi’s subdivision was underwater — as were many parts of Kingwood, Texas, in the wake of the devastating Category 4 Hurricane Harvey in 2017. With roads flooded, bridges washed away, cellphone towers and power out, it was soon realized that Troop 839’s emergency preparedness plan wasn’t designed for a storm of this…
Read MoreFive reasons why VenturingFest 2020 is a can’t-miss event
Photo by W. Garth Dowling Ryan Davis, VenturingFest 2020 Youth Chairman Ryan Davis is ready to fly right past his comfort zone. Next summer, on the winding and bumpy mountain bike trails at the Summit Bechtel Reserve, you’ll find Ryan zooming downhill at top speed. Maybe he’ll be screaming; maybe he’ll be laughing. But he’ll…
Read MoreTop 5 merit badges that prove Scouts are basically modern-day Jedi
Smart, talented and brave. A friend to those in need. Someone who relishes learning new skills. While one group carries hiking sticks and the other lightsabers, I’d argue that Scouts and Jedi have more in common than you might think. The heroes of the Star Wars saga lived “a long time ago in a galaxy…
Read MoreScouts invent handy way to remember first aid steps
Scouts in girls Troop 606 of Chicago recently reviewed the eight steps of handling an emergency as outlined in the First Aid merit badge pamphlet. As they went over the steps, the girls decided to create a mnemonic device, similar to the one they learned for Leave No Trace principles. Take a look below at…
Read MoreExtreme Makeovers, Round 30: Eagle Scout project before-and-after photos
Note: This is the 30th 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…
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