Scouting magazine

Deadline is here for Scouting magazine photo contest

You say you haven’t yet put away all the gear from your troop’s weeklong backpacking, canoeing, or camping trip? No big deal. But there’s one item you simply must not wait to unpack: your camera.

Why? Tomorrow is the deadline to enter Scouting magazine’s Celebrate the Adventure photo contest. Dig out that camera now and send us your favorite photographs from any Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, or Venturing adventure.

First, check out this quick reminder about the rules:

-       You must be a registered BSA adult member to participate.

-       You’re allowed three total entries.

-       Send your photos as compressed JPEGs. Each file must be between 750KB and 1MB.

-       If we select your photo, we’ll need the uncompressed image of at least 9MB, so hang onto your original files.

-       Entries become the property of Scouting magazine and must be your own original work.

What’s in it for you? Well, you’ll get your photos published in our magazine, which is read by 1.2 million Scouters nationwide. Also, winners receive BSA Supply Group gift cards:

-       $400, grand prize

-       $300, first place

-       $200, second place

-       $100, third place

-       $25, honorable mention

It’s too late to mail us prints. But, hey, this is the 21^st century. There’s still time to submit your entries online by clicking here.

Good luck! Check out the winners in our March-April 2010 issue.

What a Weekend: Utah's 911 Emergency Cub Scout Day Camp

One Saturday last month, a Utah Highway Patrol helicopter began circling overhead and then descended into a large field. About 300 people had gathered, but they weren’t onlookers craning their necks to see an overturned SUV. They were Cub Scouts and leaders eagerly awaiting the start to 911 Emergency Cub Scout Day Camp in Tooele, Utah.

Organizers intended the event to enable boys to interact with emergency personnel, learn about what they do, and, most important, have fun. The local fire department, police department, sheriff’s department, search-and-rescue team, and AirMed helicopter showed up to teach and entertain the Cub Scouts.

Follow the jump for the rest of the story.

Name That Council: September 25, 2009 solution

We practically gave you the answer to Friday’s Name That Council challenge. The patch clued you in to the general geography of the place, but when we mentioned that it was a coastal council, our work was done.

Google “coastal council,” and the first result you see is the correct answer. Or, better yet, just follow the jump and learn the answer.

Name That Council: September 25, 2009

Last week’s patch didn’t have any geographical features on it. But this week we’re making things easier. Take one look at the patch and one fact becomes clear: It’s a coastal council.

We’ve taken off all text from the patch, so you’ll have to rely on the images to figure out the answer. If you know the council’s name, send us an e-mail with your answer. Be sure to include your name, council, unit number, and position in your unit. We’ll announce the winner and post the unaltered patch on Monday. Good luck!

Scouter Spotlight: Meet George Keene

Some of the best Scouters do their work out of sight. This week, though, all eyes are on Dr. George T. Keene, district commissioner for the San Tan District in the Grand Canyon Council. He’s also in charge of the National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) program for his council.

Dr. Keene has been involved in Scouting for the past 25 years, serving roles in Cub Scout and Boy Scout units. As a youth, he earned the rank of Life Scout and served as a junior assistant Scoutmaster.

Scouting family: Two sons, now 23 and 27, were in Scouting from Tiger Cubs to Life Scout. Dr. Keene’s wife also is involved in the program. In fact, she’s planning the Area Training Conference for future course directors in areas 4 and 6 of the Western Region.

What is your most memorable Scouting moment?

I was a Scoutmaster and had taken the troop to summer camp. When we returned, I was reviewing the feedback cards that were filled out by our youth when I came across one that fascinated me. The young man had stated that when he got older he wanted to be like his leader, me, because his leader knew how to act like a boy.

What legacy do you want to leave behind in Scouting?

I hope that when people talk about me they will say, “He was a great Scout.” Scouting, to me, means living the Scout Oath and the Scout Law 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. I try to set the example all the time—not just when someone is looking.

What’s the central message you want boys to get when they join the program?

I want them to know that they’re embarking on a great adventure, and along the way they will shape their character for the rest of their lives. Everything a boy does in Scouting will be for a purpose, but that purpose often won’t be revealed until much later in life.

What would you tell a new leader?

Take all possible training courses and try to do Wood Badge within the first two years.

What makes Scouting different from other youth programs?

Leadership. It’s hard to argue against that.

What would you say to a boy who is thinking of leaving Scouting?

Here’s what I would say: “As long as you know for sure that you will not regret your decision 20 years from now, and you are secure enough with your accomplishments and achievements to go forward in your career choice without all of the benefits of the leadership training that Scouting offers, then I would wholeheartedly support your decision. Until you can assure me of that, I will make every attempt to keep you involved in Scouting.”

Thanks to Dr. Keene for his time. Do you know a great Scouting volunteer? Be sure to e-mail us so that we can feature him or her in a future Scouter Spotlight.

What a Weekend: Troop 229's Texas adventure (Part 3 of 3)

Over the past two Wednesdays, we’ve taken you along as Troop 229 made an 11-day road trip from Winamac, Ind., to Texas. (If you missed it, read Part 1 and Part 2 before continuing.)

Well, the troop’s leaders have spent some time reflecting on this exciting excursion, and Cracker Barrel wanted to find out what they learned. That’s why we chatted with one of the journey’s organizers, Richard Conn—to see what lessons he and the other adult leaders took away from the trip. Follow the jump to find out how their successful experience can inspire your troop’s future plans.

Follow us on Twitter

We’re excited to announce that Cracker Barrel has officially joined the rest of the world. Yeah, we’ve created a Twitter account.

If you’re already on Twitter, just follow @cbblog. If not, click here to get to our page and for instructions about how to sign up.

For the uninitiated, Twitter is a great way to keep up with the latest news, information, or random musings from friends, family, celebrities, politicians, athletes, companies, news organizations, and, well, everything. These 140-character-or-less messages, known as Tweets, are organized chronologically in a handy list. That makes it easy to see the latest buzz about topics that interest you.

Cracker Barrel’s Twitter page will tell you when a new blog post arrives, but that’s not all. We’ll also dish out news about Scouting, tips for leaders, and links to Scouting-related news stories.

What are you waiting for? Follow @cbblog today!

Name That Council: September 18, 2009 solution

If you had a tough time figuring out Friday’s patch, we understand. It has a great design and looks slick on a Scout uniform, but it lacks any obvious clues about the council’s location.

If you looked closely, though, you might have seen the No. 1 inside the fleur-de-lis in the center of the patch. Did you know what it meant? Follow the jump and find out.

Name That Council: September 18, 2009

This week’s challenge features a patch that is more form than function. The strip is a true work of art that oozes Scout spirit, but it’s somewhat short on clues for Cracker Barrelites trying to Name That Council.

There is one clue that might help you out, however. Do you see it? If you know the name of the council that wears this patch, e-mail us the answer. Be sure to include your name, council, unit number, and position. We’ll announce the correct answer and winner on Monday.

Learn from the Handbook: Count on It

Let’s say you’re on the trail when you see a distant lightning strike. Or you’re at your son’s soccer game when thunder rumbles in the distance. Is it safe to continue?

Knowing how far away a lightning strike is and whether it is coming toward you or drifting away can be an important tool in keeping you, your family, and your unit safe. You don’t have to be a meteorologist to figure it out, either—you just need page 352 of the new Boy Scout Handbook. And knowing how to count helps, too.

When you see lightning, start counting: one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, one-thousand-three, and so on. Stop once you’ve heard thunder. Sound travels a mile every five seconds, approximately. So if you’ve gotten to one-thousand-five in your count, the lightning strike was a mile away.

Many scientists say that if lightning is closer than three miles away, the danger is imminent. In fact, any time you can hear thunder you could be in striking distance of lightning. Thirty-one people have died in 2009 because of lightning strikes, so don’t take this warning lightly. Seek shelter immediately in a permanent building if the storm is nearby.

For more information on lightning safety and awareness, check out this site from the National Weather Service.

Update: We've corrected some of the numbers and information in this story. Thanks to Rob and Marc for pointing out the previous inaccuracies.