October 2012 - On Scouting

Sea Scouts rewarded for STEM research, with more than just a payday

October 30, 2012 4

Today’s Scouts will go on to careers where they solve some of the world’s biggest problems. But apparently the boys and girls in Sea Scout Ship 41 aren’t waiting till they’re grownups to make a

There are no dull merit badges, only dull instructors

October 29, 2012 18

Scouts aren’t exactly stumbling over themselves to take Personal Management, Emergency Preparedness, or Citizenship in the Community/Nation/World. But with a little advance planning and creativity, you can bring seemingly dull merit badges to life. Start

Chill out! Philmont’s open in the winter, too

October 26, 2012 0

One night in a snow shelter, and you’ll be hooked. I’m speaking from experience. In 2000, I attended Kanik, Philmont’s winter offering, with Troop 1776. The crisp morning air, the snow-covered mountains, and good friends

Wood Badge Wednesdays, Vol. 5: Leading to Make a Difference

October 24, 2012 34

It’s amazing how quickly a whisper turns into a roar. Take Wood Badge tickets, for example. Each one leaves a lasting legacy, but 50, 500, or even 5,000? That kind of impact reverberates across the

Far out! Jamboree on the Air event crosses the final frontier

October 22, 2012 5

How do you expand the reach of an event that’s already global? Find something out of this world. This weekend, the National Scouting Museum became the only Jamboree on the Air location on earth to enable 10

Judgment call: Who should get access to your unit contact list?

October 22, 2012 28

In your unit, is a Scout’s contact info freely available or guarded like nuclear launch codes? Two forces are competing here: Effective, efficient communication between families — and privacy. How do you straddle the thin line

September-October ‘Where Am I?’ winner and location revealed

October 22, 2012 1

What a view! And it’s one that doesn’t come without a little effort, either. If you want to perch atop this rock wall, you’ve got to rope up and climb nearly 75 feet of vertical

Cooking, Sustainability merit badges to become Eagle-required

October 17, 2012 259

Updated Nov. 1: Answers to some Frequently Asked Questions about these changes. Updated Dec. 18: Here are the new requirements for Cooking MB. Moms and dads, prepare the needle and thread! Sustainability and Cooking merit badges will

BSA to use Scout Oath and Scout Law for all programs

October 17, 2012 335

The resolution to move to one Oath and Law for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity, Sea Scouts, and Venturing was approved.

Wood Badge Wednesdays, Vol. 4: Tools of the Trade

October 17, 2012 12

In Scouting, as in life, change is inevitable. You’ve got new merit badges, new locations for campouts, new roles in your unit, new health and safety regulations, and more. That makes change the only fact