– Bryan On Scouting
What is the sport of cyclocross, and why is this Eagle Scout so excellent at it?
A challenging journey peppered with obstacles. A road you ultimately travel alone, even though others will be there to cheer you on. Adrenaline-packed adventures in unpredictable weather. Take a look at cyclocross, and you’ll see this fascinating sport has a whole lot in common with the journey to becoming an Eagle Scout. And as proven…
Read MoreHelp your Scout discover their future by checking out these scholarships, offers
Benjamin Alva, left, and Cody Clements In the unsullied areas of the Yellowstone National Park wilderness, away from the tourist spots, Eagle Scouts Benjamin Alva and Cody Clements looked for clues that could lead to other-worldly discoveries. They collected samples from 200-plus-degree hot springs, preparing them for analysis of their nitrogen compounds, which are critical…
Read MoreRemind your Scouts to combat bullying by showing kindness to their classmates
A Scout is Kind and prepared to help others in need. We know that, but perhaps your Scouts’ classmates don’t. According to new BSA data, the biggest issue facing Generation Z (those born in the late 1990s to 2000s) is bullying. In a recent survey, 86% of youth polled ranked not being bullied as a…
Read MoreWhich merit badges are the toughest? We asked two brothers who earned them all
Richard (left) and Joseph Mercado of Troop 1439, Pathway to Adventure Council. Ask 12 Scouts to select the toughest merit badge they’ve earned, and you might get a dozen different answers. But ask two brothers, each of whom earned all 137 of the BSA’s available merit badges? You’ll get two sets of answers that underline…
Read MoreIn this Texas troop’s trip to Wyoming for summer camp, there’s a lesson for us all
As the Scouts in Troop 1776 of Plano, Texas, get older, their interest in traditional summer camp activities starts to wane. They want to challenge themselves further, to venture deeper into nature’s mysteries. They want high adventure. A year ago, with that in mind, Scoutmaster David Wille approached the patrol leaders’ council with a suggestion. He…
Read MoreIt’s time to gear up to go camping with your family
You might need a new tent for an upcoming family campout. Or perhaps your son or daughter wants a new backpack — and needs to fill it with some upgraded camping gear. Maybe you know a family new to Scouting and they need some direction on how to prepare for outdoor adventures. What should you…
Read MoreHere’s a tip to help your Scouts remember how to tie a clove hitch
Did you know a clove hitch is essentially two simple knots? When your Scout is tying lashings, all they need to know to create a clove hitch is how to tie a half-hitch. For the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing some camp hacks that the BSA’s national camping subcommittee has shared with us. This…
Read MoreScouting Show and Tell: Merit Badges with a Twist
Sure, your Scout can complete many merit badge requirements in a classroom setting. But where’s the fun in that? It’s time for Show and Tell, where Scouters show their favorite photos and tell the story behind them. This time, we want you to share how you or another counselor taught merit badge curriculum in a fun, unique way. Or…
Read MoreAssistant Scoutmaster honored for saving 20 people during 2017 Las Vegas shooting
On Oct. 1, 2017, Marty Heffernan and his wife, Jeannie, had plans to celebrate Marty’s 56th birthday with a concert in Las Vegas. But when gunshots erupted during the Route 91 Harvest festival, celebration turned to chaos. In the panic that followed, Heffernan showed disregard for his own safety, running into the line of fire…
Read MoreScouts show incredible kindness to fellow hiker in need; ‘It’s what we do,’ they say
Jamie Bone calls it her “escape from Guadalupe Peak.” While her life wasn’t in danger, Bone’s wind-whipped, rain-soaked experience in this West Texas national park was plenty harrowing. In March, Bone had planned to climb to the highest point in Texas and spend the night about a mile from the summit. But when bad turned…
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