Winning Wit

Illustrations By Bill Basso

It's obvious from the more than 2,000 entries in the magazine's cartoon caption contest, that when it comes to a sense of humor, Scouting's readers are a barrel of laughs.

For our 2006 cartoon caption contest, longtime Scouting contributor Bill Basso illustrated four comic situations featuring Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venturers. Readers flexed their funny bones to provide the cartoons with words of wit.

The magazine's editors judged the entries and picked the top three captions for each cartoon. The winners will receive BSA Supply gift certificates in the following amounts—1st place, $100; 2nd place, $75; and 3rd place, $50.

See details about Scouting magazine's next reader contest, our biennial photography competition, in the May-June 2007 issue.

To see the winning entries to all the magazine's annual reader competitions—essays, cartoon captions, recipes, and photographs—back to 1998, go to www.scoutingmagazine.org/resources/contests.


FIRST

"Yep, Joe, these newfangled tents are foolproof. They practically set up all by themselves."
Keith Roman
Troop 82
Anthony Wayne Area Council
Columbia City, Ind.

SECOND

"A cup of coffee—$2. New tent—$100. New Scouts' first camping trip—priceless."
William O'Neill
Troop 7
Theodore Roosevelt Council
Plandome Manor, N.Y.

THIRD

"Yessir, it's moments like these that the boys will cherish forever!"
Patrick Secrist
Pack 74
Buckeye Council
Wooster, Ohio


FIRST

"...and that's how you treat poison oak."
Lawrence Heilbronn
Troop 127
Mount Diablo Silverado Council
El Sobrante, Calif.

SECOND

"Mr. Jones, is this when we should call 911?"
The Rev. Michael Mendl
Troop 40
Westchester-Putnam Council
New Rochelle, N.Y.

THIRD

"I didn't realize he was just trying to ask a question."
Gary Johnson
Troop 445
Bay Area Council
Friendswood, Tex.


FIRST

"O.K., now who wants to see two half hitches?"
Richard Horan Jr.
Troop 185
Knox Trail Council
Wellesley, Mass.

SECOND

"This is nothing....I also made a pinewood derby car out of my garlic bread."
James K. Flynn
Troop 118
Mecklenburg County Council
Charlotte, N.C.

THIRD

"This is so cool! I'm going to put it in my pocket to show my Mom when I get home."
Paul Wengert
Troop 111
National Capital Area Council
Arlington, Va.


FIRST

"Maybe now would be a good time to explain the concept of 'portage.'"
James K. Flynn
Troop 118
Mecklenburg County Council
Charlotte, N.C.

SECOND

"Does anyone know where reverse is?"
Harry Joe Schuster
Pack 180
Gulf Ridge Council
Tampa, Fla.

THIRD

"O.K., gang, you have your choice...is it gonna be the jagged rocks, the grizzly bear, or the treacherous falls?"
Thomas Caputi
Troop 99
Bucks County Council
New Hope, Pa.

Top of Page


March - April 2007 Table of Contents


Copyright © 2007 by the Boy Scouts of America. All rights thereunder reserved; anything appearing in Scouting magazine or on its Web site may not be reprinted either wholly or in part without written permission. Because of freedom given authors, opinions may not reflect official concurrence.