Originally posted on October 30, 2015 by
Tossing around a flying disc isn’t just for picnics or lazy days at the beach anymore.
That activity gets a shot of adrenaline in ultimate, a sport that combines the nonstop movement of soccer with the aerial passing skills of football.
Unlike some other sports, ultimate is non-contact, so it’s safe. Participants call their own fouls, so it helps build character and honesty. And the only equipment you need is probably already in your garage, so it’s inexpensive.
Safe, values-based, inexpensive and (most importantly) a ton of fun? Sounds like the perfect activity for your next pack meeting or troop or crew campout.
Yesterday, the Boy Scouts of America announced a new alliance with USA Ultimate, the national governing body for the sport of ultimate in the United States. (Read more on Scouting Newsroom.)
This alliance makes sense for both sides. USA Ultimate gets its fast-growing sport in front of millions of potential participants. The BSA gets access to resources for a sport that aligns perfectly with its SCOUTStrong Healthy Living Initiative.
There’s also this: USA Ultimate is offering a limited number of free Learn to Play kits to Scout units. Each kit consists of 10 discs, a clinic guide, cones, posters and stickers.
Because these kits are in limited supply, there’s an application process to ensure that, for example, two units that live a mile apart don’t each receive kits. They would be asked to share one kit instead so there are more to go around.
Apply for a USA Ultimate Learn to Play kit at this link. If you don’t get a kit, you’ll still want to explore the resources at the USA Ultimate website to introduce this sport to your Scouts or Venturers.
Why ultimate?
Ultimate isn’t your typical sport, and Tom Crawford isn’t your typical executive.
The CEO of USA Ultimate uses phrases like “wicked fun” to describe the sport he says is perfect for Scouts and Venturers.
Sure, ultimate will help Scouts keep themselves physically fit in a way that makes them forget they’re getting exercise.
But it also helps Scouts keep themselves mentally awake and morally straight.
Any contact in ultimate is a foul, but there aren’t any zebra-striped officials patrolling the sidelines. Players in this sport call their own fouls, something Crawford says builds character.
“With built-in conflict resolution and values-building, the character-building elements of ultimate are incredibly powerful,” he says.
Yeah, sure. But the Scouts and Venturers I’ve seen playing ultimate — on the lush lawn of the Villa Philmonte, at national jamborees, at summer camp — are having too much fun to realize they’re getting their characters improved while playing.
That’s the real beauty of ultimate.
Going up
Lots of sports, including football, are losing participants. Ultimate is gaining them.
It’s easy to see why with a glance at the USA Ultimate YouTube channel. This sport is seriously awesome.
Today’s teens are seeing ultimate tournaments on ESPN and highlights from them on SportsCenter’s Top 10. You can understand why they’d want to give it a try themselves.
Ultimate has a “really good ‘cool factor,’” Crawford says. “It’s a nontraditional sport, which a lot of kids are looking for these days.”
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IF YOU LIKE TO BE on your own, go camping in winter. However, the winter woods won’t tolerate sloppy skills. You can get into trouble fast if you don’t know what you’re doing. Take this quiz to see how much you know about winter camping.
Note: Some questions may have more than one correct answer, but you must choose the best answer available.
Are You Prepared for Cold-Weather Camping?
Test your knowledge of winter camping by answering these challenging questions.
Temperatures may dip to zero at night. Which sleeping system is best?
D – Two nested sleeping bags work as well as one cold-weather bag. An air mattress provides no insulation.
False – Eating cold snow will drop your body temperature and cause you to burn more calories.
D – Down absorbs moisture, so it’s not the best choice for winter.
B – Several thin layers are better than one. You can overheat quickly in a snowmobile suit. Cotton-shell parkas (outer wind layer) are more breathable than nylon.
B – Wet blue jeans wick away heat from your body.
A – Discourages blowing snow from sealing the entry. If you face the door into the wind, the snow will blow over the hut and pile up in back. But if you face the door away from the wind, the snow will blow over the hut and possibly seal the entry to the hut (in a big blizzard). Always face your hut into the wind and utilize a partial snow-block door or low wall at the entry to keep out the blowing wind and snow.
D – If the entrance is buried by blowing snow, you’ll have to dig out.
A – The buried end won’t freeze.
B – Under the tent to keep the floor from freezing to the ground. In summer, place it inside the tent to contain flowing ground water.
B – The thermal efficiency of butane decreases as the temperature drops.
B – Wear warm gloves inside rubber gloves when you wash dishes. The plastic scraper may freeze and break.
B – Bring rain gear if temperatures could reach freezing.
B – This will keep boots from freezing.
B – The wood square will keep the hot stove from sinking into the snow.
D is correct, but C is also good — It’s best to air out your sleeping bag. On a sunny day, moisture will evaporate by sublimation.
C – Orange smoke is visible for miles. Flares can only be seen at night. An air horn is useful only if rescuers are nearby.
B – Water freezes faster in metal than in plastic. Metal bottles can cause “ice burns” when touched to skin.
D – Warming the extremities too rapidly (big fire) can send cold blood to the heart and brain.
B – A fire built on the snow will soon sink out-of-sight; foam could melt with direct exposure to flame.
C – Batteries should be kept warm for maximum light. Lithium batteries are best in winter.
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Originally posted on September 24, 2015 by
Merit badges cover topics like American Business, Woodwork and everything between. As of this writing, there are 136 different merit badges a Boy Scout can earn.
A young man who dreams of becoming an Eagle Scout, the highest honor in Boy Scouting, must earn at least 21 merit badges.
But how? Today’s Scouting 101 topic: How to earn a merit badge. The info is lifted straight from the Guide to Advancement, page 49 (section 7.0.3.0).
But first, an important reminder from the Guide:
Earning merit badges should be Scout initiated, Scout researched, and Scout learned. It should be hands-on and interactive, and should not be modeled after a typical school classroom setting. Instead, it is meant to be an active program so enticing to young men that they will want to take responsibility for their own full participation.
The recommended process for earning merit badges
- The Scout develops an interest in a merit badge and may begin working on the requirements.
- The Scout discusses his interest in the merit badge with his unit leader.
- The unit leader signs a blue card and provides the Scout with at least one counselor contact.
- The Scout contacts the counselor.
- The counselor considers any work toward requirements completed prior to the initial discussion with the unit leader.
- The Scout, his buddy and the counselor meet (often several times).
- The Scout finishes the requirements.
- The counselor approves completion.
- The Scout returns the signed blue card to his unit leader, who signs the applicant record section of the blue card.
- The unit leader gives the Scout the applicant record.
- The unit reports the merit badge to the council.
- The Scout receives his merit badge.
For more explanation, consult the Guide
These 12 steps offer a great overview, but they don’t tell the whole story. For that you’ll want to review Section 7 of the Guide to Advancement.
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Originally posted on November 4, 2015 by
First there were four. Then eight. Now the list of interactive digital merit badge pamphlets has ballooned to 13.
And the best part is the BSA isn’t stopping any time soon.
The Boy Scouts of America recently released five more interactive digital merit badge pamphlets. The newest batch includes exclusively Eagle-required merit badges: Camping, Hiking, Cycling, Swimming and Citizenship in the Nation.
Some Scouters have asked why their Scouts should opt for the interactive digital pamphlets over the ink-and-paper variety. These advantages are what sold me:
- Exclusive videos, including how-to clips, career bios, virtual tours and multimedia experiences
- Search, so you can find what you need quickly
- Simulations, animations, photo slideshows and graphics
- Interactive Q&A’s
Like all things digital, these don’t take up any extra space in your backpack. And you get it all for the same cost as the print pamphlets: $4.99.
You’re getting the best value by going with the interactive digital edition. But don’t take my word for it; check one out for yourself.
Which merit badges are digital?
Click each merit badge title to be taken to the appropriate ScoutStuff.org page. (Or see the full set here.)
- Animation
- Camping
- Citizenship in the Nation
- Communication
- Cooking
- Cycling
- Digital Technology
- Family Life
- First Aid
- Hiking
- Personal Fitness
- Robotics
- Swimming
What’s inside?
Take a look:
Is this the same as what’s on Amazon?
No. These interactive digital merit badge pamphlets aren’t the same as the digital merit badge pamphlets sold on Amazon.com.
The big difference? Interactivity.
The ones on Amazon are searchable and available on any device with a Kindle app, but they don’t include the BSA’s custom-designed interactive elements.
The interactive digital merit badge pamphlets, on the other hand, are available on iPad, iPhone, Android and Web browsers and include all of the BSA’s resources for that merit badge.
No matter which version you choose — print, Amazon Kindle edition, interactive digital edition — you’ll spend $4.99 apiece.
Where can I learn more?
You can consider Boys’ Life to be your hub for all things related to these interactive digital merit badges pamphlets. Bookmark this page to find FAQs, links to buy the interactive digital merit badge pamphlets, sample videos and more.
How do I buy these awesome things?
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Originally posted on By
Imagine, for a moment, there is nothing called “Scouting”, no program, no troops, no councils, no districts, no uniforms, no badges.
Someone comes up with an idea for helping young people develop character by getting outdoors and going camping.
The idea is built on a set of shared ideals that encourages everyone to treat each other decently and helps them work together.
They share this idea with young people who get pretty excited about it. They get their buddies together, and decide they really like the whole idea, and organize a camping trip.
To go camping comfortably there are any number of skills to develop, and proficiency in these skills is recognized.
There’s a structured set of responsibilities aimed at coordinating and completing the chores of planning and carrying out a camping trip.
There aren’t any forms, no paperwork aside from keeping track of a few simple things. The young people come up against many challenges but they resolve them by applying the ideals. Things aren’t always organized, there’s plenty of room for improvement, but they love what they are doing – because they are doing what Scouts do.
If we focus on doing what Scouts do we’ll always be doing the right thing!
—A campfire is worth a thousand words.—
If we get ourselves caught in the thicket of polices, procedures, and logistics we are coming at the whole thing from the wrong direction, all of these things make sense when we do what Scouts do.
When Scouts do things Scouts do they develop character as an after-effect. If we try to develop character in object lessons and sermons we may miss the powerful experiential opportunities. A campfire is worth a thousand words.
When Scouts do things Scouts do they advance as an after-effect. When Scouts ‘do requirements’ they check things off in a book. A true breakthrough, really understanding the concepts and skills are worth a thousand badges.
The secret to Scouting is simply “do what Scouts do”, everything else follows that simple idea, everything else is window dressing.
—What do Scouts do?—
Scouts go camping and while they are camping they-
- Cook the food that they selected, purchased and packed.
- Light campfires.
- Set up tents and tarps.
- Build things with sticks and string.
- Learn how to experience the natural world without leaving a trace.
- Use edge tools safely.
Scouts go swimming and boating and while they are swimming and boating they-
- Learn how to swim better.
- Learn how to paddle a canoe or a rowboat.
- Learn about safety in and on the water.
- Learn how to aid people in distress on or in the water.
Scouts are participating citizens, and as participating citizens they-
- Learn about their community and the way it is governed.
- Serve others in various ways.
- Learn how to responsibly use resources and technology.
- Act and react to others with decency and character.
- Learn about their nation it’s history and traditions.
Scouts go on hikes and when they go on hikes they-
- Read and follow maps.
- Use compasses and GPS units to guide themselves.
- Learn and practice safe hiking skills.
Scouts help other people and when they help other people they-
- Render first aid.
- Respond to emergencies.
- Support the needy.
I could go on but you get it by now, right?
Do what Scouts do.
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Lesley’s son, Logan is 15 years old and has been a Scout for the past seven years. Logan has ADHD and is also lacking a growth hormone in his body that means he is very small for his 15 years. Continue reading to hear Lesley’s perspective on what Scouting has done for her son.
Originally posted on August 5, 2015 by
Grandfathers and dads have long shared the memories and experiences of their Scouting days, in hopes of continuing the tradition with their sons and grandsons. So when Priscilla Hedline of The Wheelchair Mommy heard of her husband’s memories and lifelong friendships from Scouting, she knew it would be the perfect program to introduce to her sons. Read on to find out how Scouting made a difference to this family and why parents new to Scouting should consider building the tradition in their family too.
Originally posted on October 12, 2015 by i
But the statistics aren’t on your side.
Originally posted on October 13, 2015 by in Cub Scouting
Brand awareness, that mountainous obstacle facing new companies and organizations who feel lucky if a quarter of Americans have heard of them, isn’t a problem in Scouting.
It seems everyone knows about Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts and sees the value our organization offers to youth.
Call me silly, but if I can enrich my son’s life, I will jump through fire to do so! And at this point in our lives, I see a bright future for my son, Gavin in the Boy Scouts! And I know this has to be a safer alternative for him and for me. All kidding aside, when a parent looks for programs and activities to enroll their children in, Boy Scouts should be their number one choice.