Scouting magazine

Racing on their terms, Atlanta-area Cub Scouts take on Jeff Gordon

In a grueling 500-mile race, who would win: a NASCAR champion or a Cub Scout? No contest. Besides, the BSA’s Health and Safety team would surely frown on hearing about an unlicensed 11-year-old driving a racecar.

But who would win if you brought the NASCAR champion onto the Cub Scouts’ turf? Today, a handful of lucky boys got to find out. 11-year-old Jared Oenick (above) and seven other Cub Scouts from Atlanta’s Flint River Council raced their pinewood derby cars against NASCAR superstar Jeff Gordon. And cameras from Fox Sports were there to capture the fun.

Gordon’s race against the Cub Scouts is scheduled to air this Sunday before his other race—the Kobalt Tools 500. Coverage begins at noon (ET) on your local Fox affiliate, but because this is live TV, we aren’t sure when the piece will air during the prerace broadcast. Stay tuned. Also keep an eye out for Boy Scouts leading the flag ceremony before the Saturday and Sunday races.

Today’s pinewood derby race was hardly Gordon’s first brush with the BSA. Last year, he received the prestigious Silver Buffalo Award in recognition of his contributions to a national Scout recruitment program and his personal humanitarian efforts. And this wasn’t the first time the BSA and NASCAR have come together, said Ed Clark, president and general manager of Atlanta Motor Speedway.

“Scouting and NASCAR, at their very heart, are about bringing families together and having fun. Many of our fans first attended a race as Scouts, and now they bring their children to the races,” Clark said. “I was a Scout and am currently a Scouting volunteer. This organization has had a profound influence on my life.”

This weekend also marks the nationwide start of the BSA’s “Race to 2010,” part of the BSA’s 100th Anniversary geocaching program. Pinewood derby cars representing every BSA council in the country will race all across America thanks to the high-tech treasure-hunting game.

As the cars move from cache to cache, Scouts and Scouters can track their vehicles’ progress online as they head toward the finish line: the 2010 National Scout Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia. The cars that travel the farthest and pass through the most hands will receive prizes, including memorabilia signed by Gordon.

Find out more about “Race to 2010” here (link opens PDF).

For two more photos from the event, follow the jump below.

Centennial rank advancement badges now available for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts

Have you ever thought to yourself, “Oh, to be young again?” The time-honored phrase must ring true now for you former Scouts with the release of special 2010 rank-advancement insignia.

If you were still of Scouting age, you could proudly sew one of these once-in-a-lifetime patches onto your uniform. But, according to another time-honored phrase: Timing is everything.

Instead, proudly award the badges to the boys in your pack or troop. Sure, it would be great to earn one of these yourself. But presenting the patches to a pumped-up Cub Scout or Boy Scout will make you feel great. Promise.

Each patch bears the appropriate embroidered logo that matches the boy’s rank. What’s different is the inclusion of the year “2010” to commemorate this special time in Scouting history.

Like all rank-advancement patches, these are restricted items and can’t be ordered online. So bring the proper paperwork when you visit your local Scout Shop to pick them up.

Oh, and you’d better move fast. Like most of the special centennial items, these badges won’t be available after the end of the year.

What might make you feel young again is something wearable in your size that commemorates this special year. Go for it, at scoutstuff.org.

[Thanks to Brent Clark for the tip on these new patches.]

Having a BSA birthday party this weekend? Send us your photos!

Have you heard? Monday is the 100th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. On Feb. 8, 1910, the BSA was founded. That makes Feb. 8, 2010, the perfect time for a party.

We’re sure that many of you will have 100th Anniversary activities with your pack, troop, or crew in the next few days. And we want in on the fun!

Send us your favorite photo from your unit’s festivities. We’ll publish the best ones on Cracker Barrel next week.

Click here to e-mail us your photo. Include your name, position, unit number, and council. Also, make sure the photo is less than 5MB in size.

No plans but still want to celebrate? Click here for inspiration.

We can’t wait to see how units across the country are celebrating this once-in-a-lifetime occasion.

Check out the expanded Cub Scout Academics and Sports Program Web site

Whatever your Cub Scout-age boys love to do, there’s probably a belt loop for it. Whether it’s Geology or Golf, Music or Marbles, Science or Soccer—there’s plenty for everyone in the 25 Academics and 26 Sports subjects available.

We know that as a leader, sorting through requirements for 51 different awards is a daunting task. But don’t worry—help has arrived. Last month, the BSA’s Innovation Team updated the Cub Scout Academics and Sports Program Web site to include requirements for each award.

The process is simple. Just click on the name of the subject your boys are interested in, and you’ll go to the list of requirements for earning the corresponding belt loop and pin for that topic.

Planning the activities for your next pack or den meeting just got easier. So why not print out the requirements for a belt loop or pin and create a meeting agenda based around that fun advancement opportunity?

The Web site is convenient and easy to use, but you’ll still need the Academics and Sports Program Guide. The book expands on the lists of requirements, providing additional information about each subject area.

Share your Scouting-related Thanksgiving plans

With Thanksgiving just a few days away, we at Cracker Barrel want to know: What are you doing with your Scout unit this Thanksgiving weekend?

Share your plans in the comments section below.

The BSA is coming up on its 100th Anniversary, and throughout those 100 years, the organization has established a strong foundation of selfless service to others.

These Good Turns happen throughout the year, not just during the holidays. But from Thanksgiving until the end of the year, extra help is often needed. That's where Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venturers can lend a hand.

How is your pack, troop, or crew stepping up this year?

From all of us at Cracker Barrel, thanks for what you do, and have a happy Thanksgiving.

The 10 elements of a great Cub Scout camp

Want to make Cub Scout camps a great experience for boys? Then just make sure the camp has these 10 simple elements, courtesy of Dennis Kampa of the Rocky Mountain Council:

1. Top-notch camp leadership and quality, trained camp staff
2. Safe environment
3. "Customer" service
4. Emphasis on transitioning into Boy Scouts
5. Ethical education
6. Parental involvement
7. Outdoor adventures
8. Age-appropriate venue
9. Great program
10. Fun and around a theme

Can you think of any to add? Let us know in the comments.

UACANSV (Using Acronyms Can Alienate New Scout Volunteers)

Here's a quick test of acronyms and initialisms for you. How many of these 10 can you name?

1. BALOO
2. TLC
3. NAYLE
4. ASPL
5. COPE
6. NYLT
7. JOTA
8. FOS
9. NESA
10. YIS

You can check your work after the jump.