– Bryan On Scouting
Kentucky running back prepared for gridiron challenges thanks to Scouting
Photo courtesy of UK Athletics When Kentucky’s starting quarterback went down with a knee injury last week, the Wildcat offense suddenly faced an unexpected challenge: tackling a formidable conference schedule without one of its captains. Going into this Saturday’s match-up with Florida, the No. 9 team in the country, every player on UK’s offense will…
Read MoreThe lesser-known Scouting connections of philanthropist and oilman T. Boone Pickens
T. Boone Pickens at a 2012 TED Talk. (Photo by James Duncan Davidson, used under Creative Commons license.) T. Boone Pickens, the former Boy Scout, oil tycoon and philanthropist who once donated $250,000 to support local Scouting, died on Wednesday at age 91. As one might expect, most of this week’s news stories have documented…
Read MoreHow you can help Sea Base, Bahamas after devastating Hurricane Dorian
Hurricane Dorian has slipped off the North American coastline after leaving a wake of death and destruction, primarily in the Bahamas. Prior to landfall, Florida Sea Base staff stationed in St. Thomas and St. Croix were evacuated to safety and crews to those areas were called off, says Tim Stanfill, Sea Base Director of Program Operations.…
Read MoreThere’s a ‘soft-skills gap’ in today’s youth, but Scouting is helping to close it
Today’s employers are looking to hire someone with problem-solving skills, a strong work ethic and the ability to work in a team. “Sounds an awful lot like the traits we develop in Scouting,” says Peter Boll. When he’s not working as communications coordinator for the American Camp Association’s New England chapter, Boll is an assistant Scoutmaster.…
Read MoreUnsung Hero: Venturer driving to World Jamboree rescues family that crashed car
Jean Perea shakes hands with Scott Sorrels after Sorrels presented Jean with the National Medal of Merit. This is Unsung Heroes, a Bryan on Scouting blog series celebrating under-reported acts of Scouting heroism. These are stories that don’t make national headlines — but should. That’s doubly true in this world that can always use more good…
Read More10 facts about the first Wood Badge course to celebrate its 100th anniversary
A century ago, in a forest not far from London, a group of Scouting volunteers made history. Over a span of nearly two weeks, they experienced a course, devised by Scouting founder Robert Baden-Powell, that offered “practical instruction as to how a camp should be run.” Quite a bit has changed since the world’s first…
Read MoreThis new Scouts BSA troop tripled in size, and its leaders are eager to tell us how
Even the best-designed recruiting flyer is just part of the equation. These days, recruiting more families to your pack, troop or crew means getting out there into your community. It means sharing the story of Scouting directly. It means word of mouth. That strategy — and three other simple but ingenious ideas — has helped a new…
Read MoreScouting Show and Tell: Summer adventures
Pictured are Life Scout Noah Dietrich, Eagle Scout Joshua Dietrich, Eagle Scout and Assistant Scoutmaster David Dietrich, Assistant Scoutmaster and Eagle Scout Craig Dietrich, Assistant Scoutmaster and Eagle Scout Matt Dietrich and First Class Scout Aidan Dietrich Although it might still feel like summer in some places, most units are looking forward to traditional fall…
Read MoreIt’s Scouts BSA month at Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s stores
Outdoor retailers Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s are an outdoorsman’s paradise. Most retail stores feature at least 80,000 square feet (many are a lot bigger) full of equipment for camping, hunting, fishing, boating and off-roading. This month, they’ll also have merit badge counselors. Each of the more than 150 retail stores in the U.S. plans to…
Read MoreVery good support dog recognized at Eagle court of honor for Scout with Asperger’s
So what if dogs can’t say the Scout slogan? That hasn’t stopped Ranger from doing his Good Turn daily. For the past few years, Ranger has been helping his best friend, Ethan Warren, cope with the sometimes-violent “triggers” Ethan experiences as part of his Asperger’s syndrome. The pup’s presence has been especially helpful at Ethan’s…
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