Outdoors

Lessons learned in the outdoors teach youth skills that make them more self-reliant. They can explore canoe paths and hiking trails and complete challenges they first thought were beyond their ability. Attributes of good character become part of a youth as he or she learns to cooperate and meet outdoor challenges that may include extreme weather, difficult trails and portages, and dealing with nature’s unexpected circumstances.

Camping

Connecting Cub Scouts to their new pack

By Scouting magazine

Units like Pack 160 in Burton, Mich., know how to both recruit and retain members. The secret, says Cubmaster Julie Rencsak, is to get families to camp as quickly as possible.

Camping

How to help inexperienced Scouts with a fear of camping

By Scouting magazine

Longtime Scouters say you can’t take the outing out of Scouting, but some Scouts would be happy to try. While most kids take to camping like dogs take to car rides, others consider sleeping in a tent (at night! in the dark!) to be intimidating, the say the least.

Advancement & Awards

How your Venturers can earn the Ranger Award

By Scouting magazine

Nothing attracts young people to Venturing as much as the outdoors and high adventure, and nothing demonstrates a Venturer’s outdoor expertise as much as the Ranger Award.

From the President and CEO

How we plan to grow Scouting's legacy in West Virginia

By Scouting magazine

When we unveiled plans for The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve, we spoke of how this project would benefit the entire New River Gorge region. In July, we’ll again make good on that promise with the Order of the Arrow leading the way. That’s when we’ll launch SummitCorps—The New River Experience.