Accidents are quite rare in Scouting. But when one does occur, it probably didn’t happen while camping. It likely didn’t involve backpacking, canoeing or climbing, either. The majority of Scouting accidents happen on the way to or from Scouting activities. They happen on the road. Read more on Bryan on Scouting…
Why buy separate gear items when things already in your backpack or trunk can pull double (or triple) duty? A Scout is thrifty, after all. So here, courtesy of our friends at Thermacell, you’ll find a list of 5 camping items that can serve purposes beyond the obvious. Read more on Bryan on Scouting…
Burn it, recycle it, donate it — Scouts and Scouters have a number of options for retiring worn-out American flags. And as the youth-serving organization most closely associated with patriotism, we have a duty to do so responsibly. Read more on Bryan on Scouting…
The Greater Tampa Bay Area Council’s annual Eagle Banquet was held May 11 at MacDill Air Force Base’s Surf Club. The event celebrated the achievement of 113 Eagle Scouts in attendance. Each Scout present was recognized by Tom Hochhausler, Council President. In 2016, 374 Council Scouts earned the Eagle rank. Other awards given at the…
In many packs, Cub Scouts finish their rank advancement just in time for the blue and gold banquet in February. This approach lets families gather to celebrate the Cub Scouts’ accomplishments well before the end of the school year. It also signals that it’s time for Webelos Scouts to begin their transition to Boy Scouting and troop involvement. Read more on…
In Troop 101, even the layout of the troop trailer follows the patrol method. Everything in the 6-foot-by-12-foot trailer is organized by patrol. That means each group of Scouts is responsible for its own stuff. Patrol gear goes on the right side. Every patrol box, tent and cooler bears its patrol’s name: Ninja, Cobra, Jaguar or Shark. Read more on…
A website focused on various aspects of sustainability has recognized the BSA’s commitment toward that goal. Aptly named TreeHugger.com, the article details the many ways Scouting includes sustainability issues throughout their program. From obvious areas such as the Sustainability merit badge and Leave No Trace to partnering with the Sustainable Forestry Initiative for land management…
Effective immediately, units do not need to turn in the unit’s section of a Scout’s Merit Badge Blue Card to document earned merit badges. Instead, troops should follow these steps: 1. Upon completion of the merit badge, the Scout turns in the Blue Card to the Scoutmaster for final signature. 2. The troop’s Advancement Chair…
You worked hard to earn that Scouting square knot and should wear it with pride. You also should wear it right-side up. (Unlike the Hornaday Award knot pictured above. It’s shown upside down to illustrate my point.) Read more on Bryan on Scouting…
Effective April 1, 2017, the Tour and Activity Plan process will be terminated. A team has reviewed the overall process and made the recommendation in order to reduce complexity, increase consistency with safety standards, change the conversation by involving everyone in risk-based planning, and streamline troop operations by eliminating processing time. Going forward, while units…