BSA Announces Family Scouting

Today the BSA announced Family Scouting starting next fall with girls in Cub Scouting, and “a program for older girls, which will be announced in 2018 and projected to be available in 2019, that will enable them to earn the Eagle Scout rank.” There are certainly a number of things to discuss but today I just wanted to post links to key resources about the announcement: BSA Press Release Family Scouting Factsheet Family Scouting Website Bryan On Scouting Post Family Scouting FAQ Also check out my two recent posts on the subject:...

October 11, 2017 · 1 min

Happy Thanksgiving Day

When we found the spear point and the potsherd under a sheltering wall of rock the dig began. An archaeologist’s expert hand uncovered the story. A fire-blackened circle of stones, charcoal, fragments of bones. A dozen centuries ago our unmet friends sat around these stones sharing food, warming themselves against the cold. Our hands have built the same circles. Our bodies warmed by the same heat. Our minds and hearts share the same joys and sorrows....

November 26, 2015 · 1 min

BSA ends the ban on gay leaders

“For far too long, this issue has divided and distracted us. Now it’s time to unite behind our shared belief in the extraordinary power of Scouting to be a force for good.” Robert Gates, BSA president. In a vote of the executive committee yesterday the BSA ends the ban on gay leaders. From a BSA press release– “On Monday, July 27, the National Executive Board ratified a resolution that removes the national restriction on openly gay adult leaders and employees....

July 28, 2015 · 6 min

Taking the Miraculous for Granted.

The Fords – Herb, top left – Shirley, bottom right. This is a personal note that hasn’t much to do with Scouting but I think it’s important, so bear with me for a moment. Let me introduce you to a couple of people I was thinking about this week. This is Herbert Anson Ford. Although I never met him I am told Herb was a pretty great guy, he was a postmaster, a Mason, a husband, the father of four daughters, and a grandfather,...

June 25, 2015 · 3 min

Great Scout Fundraiser Idea (Really!)

I’ve been contacted by a number of companies who offer Scout fundraiser opportunities and I’ve turned them all down until today. When Paul Geatches from Country Meats contacted me I had my guard up. Most of the opportunities I hear about don’t meet two very basic personal criteria; value for money, and pricing that corresponds to a normal retail price. Selling a product at an artificially inflated “fundraiser price” has always bothered me....

April 7, 2015 · 2 min

Scoutmastercg Index

I am happy to be able to announce the (at least partial) completion of a lengthy project; creating an index of Scoutmastercg.com. Going back over the 1700 posts I’ve created in the past nine years has been a daunting task, kind of like emptying a bathtub a teaspoon at a time! While I haven’t completely finished culling out repetitive or inconsequential posts, editing others, and indexing them by subject I think I’m at a point where the index is finally ready for prime time....

October 8, 2014 · 1 min

Jeff's Scouting Blog

I recently learned of a new Scouting blog authored by Jeff Freeman: So I’ve thought about a blog for a long time. Either as a representative of my pack, or now of the troop I’m in. Or even for my daughters Daisies. I’ve dabbled with twitter, but never kept at it posting. But with a blog I can share more things I think. So let’s mix them all together. Just about every day, a little bit of Scouting in one fashion or another goes on....

September 18, 2014 · 3 min

The Secret Laws of Adolescence

It’s been some years since most of us lived under the regime of the secret laws of adolescence. Our Scouts know them pretty well and obey them most of the time. Here’s one section Scouters should review: SECTION I TALKING TO ADULTS 1. ATTENTION SPAN a. Maximum attention span of three minutes, no minimum attention span required. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ASKED BY ADULTS a. Reaction and “answers” (in order of precedence)...

September 16, 2014 · 1 min

Kandersteg Dispatches - Day Eight

DAY 1 | DAY 2 | DAY 3 | DAY 4 | DAY 5 & 6 | DAY 7 | DAY 8 We’re Home From Kandersteg! Here’s Day Eight in Bern, our final installment!

August 20, 2014 · 1 min

Kandersteg Dispatches - Day Seven

DAY 1 | DAY 2 | DAY 3 | DAY 4 | DAY 5 & 6 | DAY 7 | DAY 8 Here’s our 2014 trip to Kandersteg (there are seven videos in all)

August 19, 2014 · 1 min

Kandersteg Dispatches - Day Five & Six

DAY 1 | DAY 2 | DAY 3 | DAY 4 | DAY 5 & 6 | DAY 7 | DAY 8 Here’s our 2014 trip (there are seven videos in all) Kandersteg International Scout Center (KISC) is an international Scout center in Kandersteg, Switzerland. The center provides lodges, chalets and campsites covering 17 hectares of land. It is open to Scouts year round, as well as to non-Scouts for most of the year....

August 16, 2014 · 1 min

Kandersteg Dispatches - Day Four

DAY 1 | DAY 2 | DAY 3 | DAY 4 | DAY 5 & 6 | DAY 7 | DAY 8 Here’s our 2014 trip to Kandersteg, Switzerland (there are seven videos in all).

August 12, 2014 · 1 min

Kandersteg Dispatches - Day Three

DAY 1 | DAY 2 | DAY 3 | DAY 4 | DAY 5 & 6 | DAY 7 | DAY 8 Here’s our 2014 trip to Kandersteg, Switzerland (there are seven videos in all).

August 12, 2014 · 1 min

Kandersteg Dispatches - Day Two

DAY 1 | DAY 2 | DAY 3 | DAY 4 | DAY 5 & 6 | DAY 7 | DAY 8 Here’s our 2014 trip to Kandersteg, Switzerland (there are seven videos in all).

August 11, 2014 · 1 min

Kandersteg Dispatches - Day One

DAY 1 | DAY 2 | DAY 3 | DAY 4 | DAY 5 & 6 | DAY 7 | DAY 8 Here’s our 2014 Kandersteg trip (there are seven videos in all).

August 9, 2014 · 1 min

Letters From Camp - Day Seven

Letters from camp day seven is a montage of the weekend at Camp Horseshoe – Paul Bunyan Field Day, OA call-out at Saturday retreat, and Sunday lunch.

July 31, 2014 · 1 min

Letters From Camp - Day Five

Hello from Camp Horseshoe! You can check out the live webcam too. Here’s more information about Camp Horseshoe

July 25, 2014 · 1 min

Letters From Camp - Day Four

Hello from Camp Horseshoe! You can check out the live webcam too. Here’s more information about Camp Horseshoe

July 24, 2014 · 1 min

Letters From Camp - Day Three

Hello from Camp Horseshoe! You can check out the live webcam too. Here’s more information about Camp Horseshoe

July 23, 2014 · 1 min

Letters From Camp - Day Two

Hello from Camp Horseshoe! Send me an email me via Troop 24 Kennett Square and I’ll reply via one of the video Letters from Summer Camp this week. You can check out the live webcam too. Here’s more information about Camp Horseshoe

July 22, 2014 · 1 min