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1 week ago | 
blog.scoutingmagazine.org | Michael Freeman |Scouts BSA |Scouting magazines
In 2010, a catastrophic earthquake rocked Haiti, causing billions of dollars in damage and leaving more than 220,000 people dead – with some estimates soaring to more than 300,000 dead. It was one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history. Among those pulled from the rubble was 2-year-old Jamesly Jesse. He survived, but his family did not. For the next year, a makeshift hospital was his home. Jamesly was later adopted and now lives in Moweaqua, Ill., where he’s been a part of Troop 85.
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1 month ago | 
blog.scoutingmagazine.org | Aaron Derr |Merit Badges |Scouts BSA
The Scouts BSA Test Lab is live!A product of the Scouts BSA National Committee, the Scouts BSA Test Lab is a way for Scouts and adults to try out new potential merit badges, report back on their experiences and, in the process, help shape the future of Scouting. “We want to give our youth as much of a say as possible,” says Test Lab Chairman Scott Berger.
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1 month ago | 
blog.scoutingmagazine.org | Aaron Derr |Scouts BSA
The city of New Orleans is known for a lot of cool and interesting things. Snow is not one of them. But earlier this winter, the city of New Orleans got 10 inches of snow in one fell swoop, eclipsing at the time the entire amount of snow Salt Lake City had gotten all winter long. For the Amadeo family, which consists of three Scouts BSA youth and two Scouting adult volunteers, it meant one thing: an opportunity to earn the Snow Sports merit badge.
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1 month ago | 
blog.scoutingmagazine.org | Aaron Derr |Scouts BSA
Multisport, an athletic competition that features a combination of two or more sports, is now a Scouting America merit badge. Scouts BSA members, along with Sea Scouts and Venturers who have earned the rank of First Class in a troop, may begin work on the merit badge beginning in March 2025, when the pamphlet becomes available at local Scout Shops and at ScoutShop.org. The Multisport merit badge allows Scouts to combine two or more activities from the sports of swimming, biking and running.
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Dec 2, 2024 | 
blog.scoutingmagazine.org | Aaron Derr |Scouts BSA
There’s a new way to earn the Skating merit badge — and it comes with the backing of the national governing body for skateboarding in the United States. The merit badge already featured options that allowed Scouts to explore the exciting world of ice skating, roller skating and in-line skating. Now add skateboarding to that list.
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Sep 10, 2024 | 
blog.scoutingmagazine.org | Aaron Derr |Scouts BSA
The Scouting America Brand Center has long been No. 1 on our list of tools for marketing your unit. You can use it to prepare authorized logos, photos and videos for sharing online. There is still, however, tremendous value in real-life, in-person, face-to-face recruiting events, and in those situations, you can’t go wrong with a good flyer. That’s where the Brand Center’s new #AdventureOn! DIY templates could come in handy.
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Sep 4, 2024 | 
blog.scoutingmagazine.org | Aaron Derr |Scouts BSA
We’ve long known that summer camp has the potential to be one of the best experiences of the Scouting year. Beyond the merit badges and outdoor skills, kids learn to be responsible and self-sufficient while dealing with adversity like heat, bugs and the occasional rain shower. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t keep trying to think of ways to make it better. That was the philosophy behind two programs run by Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands Council this summer.
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Jun 25, 2024 | 
blog.scoutingmagazine.org | Gina Circelli |Scouts BSA
Know any Scouts BSA youth eager to have their voices heard at all levels in Scouting America? This is the opportunity for them!The Scouts BSA Youth Council, aimed at putting youth perspectives central in program decision making, provides an incredible opportunity for qualified youth to give input and shape strategy on some of the most important topics in the organization. Now in its fourth year, the council is ready to fill its ranks with a new lineup of Scouts for the 2024-25 term.
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Jun 18, 2024 | 
blog.scoutingmagazine.org | Aaron Derr |Scouts BSA
It’s common for a young person who’s earned the rank of Eagle Scout to drift away from Scouting, maybe until they develop the itch to serve again, or maybe even until they enroll their own children into the program. Channing M. Zucker, retired naval officer and Distinguished Eagle Scout, says service shouldn’t end when you earn the rank of Eagle or age out of Scouting as a youth.
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May 2, 2024 | 
blog.scoutingmagazine.org | Gina Circelli |Scouts BSA
Eliminating barriers to joining Scouting and welcoming all the kinds of families who make up our communities should be a priority for every Scouter. Luckily, that’s what the Opening Doors course at Philmont Training Center is all about. In its fourth year, the course runs June 16–22, 2024, and is set against a backdrop iconic in the storied legacy of Scouting.
