Category Archives: Scouting in the News

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What’s the longest pinewood derby in the world? Guess again

16 October 2012

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The track stretched 335 feet, 6 inches. That’s 111 yards, for you football fans out there.

If most pinewood derbies are sprints, consider this one the Boston Marathon.

Earlier this month, the Boston Minuteman Council broke the Guinness World Record with a pinewood derby track stretching 335 feet, 6 inches. That beat the previous record by more than 70 feet.

Just how long was the track? Imagine you’re standing on the goal line of a football field. The track would stretch just past the back of the end zone on the other side.

Or consider this comparison: Most tracks, including the one I raced on as a Cub Scout, are 30 to 40 feet long, making this one roughly 10 times longer.

The design was inspired by the Zakim Bridge in Boston.

And they did it in style. The track, which started at a height of 15 feet, was modeled after Boston’s Zakim Bridge (seen at right), the world’s widest cable-stayed bridge.

The record-breaking attempt was part of the council’s SOAR (Scouting’s Outdoor Adventure on the River) event. Just from browsing the event’s Web site, it looked like a blast.

Congrats to all involved in this exciting accomplishment!

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Eagle Scout’s triathlon finish defined the heart of a champion

21 March 2012

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Spencer Zimmerman so badly wanted his friend with cerebral palsy to finish a triathlon that in 2010, the Arizona Eagle Scout pushed, pulled, and carried his buddy through a 500-meter swim, 3.2-mile run, and 12-mile bike ride.

Spencer, then 13 years old, and his friend Dayton Hayward trained relentlessly — Spencer pulled Dayton in a raft, pushed him in a jogger while running, and towed him on a bike — to prepare for the three-hour race that challenged the physical and mental stamina of both young men.

And yesterday, two years after the pair crossed the finish line, the Boy Scouts of America and the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation recognized the strength of Spencer’s heart in a big way. The organizations honored him with the American Spirit Award, one of the nation’s highest civilian honors for youth.

The award has thrust Spencer into the national spotlight, but the 15-year-old is quick to deflect its aim.

Continue reading »

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UPDATE: ‘Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout?’ casting expands to seven states; deadline April 16

7 March 2012

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(UPDATED April 10, 2012)  The Are You Tougher? casting call is growing! See the expanded casting region and new deadline in the “How to Apply” section at the bottom.

Scouts and adults, practice your knots, sharpen your pocketknives — oh, and comb your hair.

Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout?, the new National Geographic Channel show I told you about in January, is looking for a few outstanding cast members for its first season.

If you live in California one of seven Western states (see below), read on to learn how you can get in on the fun. If you live elsewhere, I’ve got some exciting details about what kind of people you can expect to see on the show when it premieres this fall.

I spoke with senior casting director Sarah Furlong today, and she’s pumped about the new reality competition show that will pit current Scouts against adults who were Scouts as youth. And it’s all done with the blessing and support of the Boy Scouts of America.

“We’re kind of excited because this is the first time the Boy Scouts have lent their name and given permission to a show like this,” she said.

Furlong, who recently finished casting for upcoming seasons of America’s Got Talent and Storage Wars, said that ideal candidates for Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout? are heartfelt people with integrity, a love for the outdoors, and an interesting story.

Continue reading »

Pip-as-Scout

Next on ‘The Voice’: An Eagle Scout prepares for battle

5 March 2012

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UPDATE (March 14, 2012):  — I have just confirmed that Pip’s battle episode will air 8/7 Central on Monday, March 19!

Good thing a Scout is Brave. Phillip Arnold will need all the courage he can get.

The Eagle Scout singer, who goes by the stage name “Pip,” is entering the battle round on NBC’s hit reality singing show, The Voice.

Three weeks have passed since the blind audition episode where Pip blew away the judges — and me — with his rendition of “House of the Rising Sun.” (If you missed it, click here and watch it immediately!)

Of the 75 singers from last round, only six got all four judges to press their “I Want You” button. Pip was one of the six, a clear sign he’s an early favorite.

But he can’t rest on his laurels. It’s time for Pip to go head-to-head with a competitor: Two singers enter, and just one moves on.

Continue reading »

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I interview the Eagle Scout on ‘The Voice,’ and he hits all the right notes

17 February 2012

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Phillip Arnold had just returned from the first round of The Voice in Los Angeles, where, by all accounts, he stole the show. He was adored by the celebrity judges and praised by entertainment bloggers. TV ratings showed that his audience was 16 million strong.

So when Phillip collapsed onto his parents’ couch back home in Georgia, he had just one thought.

He turned to Mom and Dad and said, “I’ve really had a good life.”

It’s hard to disagree. The 19-year-old singer is well-spoken, he’s an Eagle Scout, and, oh yeah, he sings like you wouldn’t believe. Continue reading »

Photo by Lewis Jacobs/NBC

WATCH: How did our favorite Eagle Scout singer do on ‘The Voice’?

14 February 2012

11 Comments

Pip didn’t just sing last night.

He “absolutely blew the roof off the place,” said host Carson Daly.

Phillip Arnold, known on the show as Pip, gave a powerful rendition of The Animals’ “House of the Rising Sun” during last night’s episode. Continue reading »

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BSA’s 2011 Report to the Nation recaps a great year of Scouting

10 February 2012

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What have Scouts been up to for the past year?

Tons. But instead of merely telling you, why don’t I show you?

The Boy Scouts of America released its 2011 Report to the Nation today, showing the outside world what Scouts accomplished last year.

A delegation of nine young people from across the country will visit Washington, D.C., beginning tomorrow to embark on a whirlwind tour. They’ll take part in visits with top government officials, a service project benefitting the National Cathedral, and exclusive tours of the Pentagon, White House, CIA building, and Supreme Court.

Continue reading »

slacklining

From Scouting to the Super Bowl: Eagle Scout slackliner shares his story

9 February 2012

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UPDATE (March 13, 2012): The BSA’s Health and Safety Team has officially approved slacklining — with certain safety qualifications. Click here for details. 

Who was that slacklining at the Super Bowl?

It’s Andy Lewis, who got worldwide attention (and a kiss from Madonna) during halftime with his show-stealing performance on a two-inch tightrope. (See the jaw-dropping video below.)

“This was not just a show,” he says. “This was the most-viewed single airing of a show in history.”

But Lewis, the curly haired acrobat who is credited with bringing slacklining into the mainstream, reached greatness long before that famed moment.

Before slacklining in front of millions, before becoming a six-time world champion in the extreme sport, before amassing three Guinness World Records, and before having a line of shoes named after him, Lewis did what some might consider his biggest accomplishment: He earned the Eagle Scout Award. As a member of California Troop 59, Lewis didn’t stop there. He finished with an impressive 51 merit badges — good enough for two Silver Palms.  Continue reading »

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U.K.’s newest Scouter: Kate Middleton

27 January 2012

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No shock that Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, is making headlines again.

But what may surprise you is why: She just joined the global Scouting movement as a volunteer with the U.K. Scout Association.

The “other” Scouting magazine, which serves 400,000 boys and girls involved with Scouting in the U.K., features Kate in a cover story for its February-March issue, due out next week. Check out the cover at left. Sure beats People or Vogue, if you ask me.

Kate will join 40,000 female Scouters in the U.K. Her plans include volunteering with Scout units near the royal couple’s home in north Wales, recruiting additional Scouters, and traveling the country to lead activities relevant to her skills and interests.

Continue reading »