Outdoor activities

Freezing Cold, Burning Calories

The council Scout executive in northern Wisconsin provides a worthy incentive for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venturers to maintain a monthly schedule of active, outdoor events.

Leaders

Let Your Scouts Lead

Want to achieve a youth-led unit? Find the balancing point between helping them succeed and letting them flounder. Here’s how.

Camping

Night Moves

When your budding young astronomers ask questions about that shining orb in a black-velvet sky, be prepared to explain the mysteries of the moon.

Leader Advice and Inspiration

This is Not a Test

A board of review should gauge the quality of a Scout’s troop experience and encourage future advancement, not ask him to pass rank requirements — again.

Indoor activities

The Law Makers

You can recite the Scout Law in less than 10 seconds. But this Boy Scout film crew spent an entire summer documenting true-life stories that give unexpected meaning to the 12 points.

Life Skills

Controlling Misuse of Cell Phones

Parents in Scouter A.M.-O.’s troop want their sons to have use of cell phones during Scout activities. She asked for ideas that will prevent misuse of these devices but make parents feel secure.

Leader Advice and Inspiration

Getting parents excited about Scouting

Scouter N.L. has noticed that inactive Scouts tend to have uninvolved parents. She asked how other Scouters get parents excited about the program.

Camporees

Here's to Your Health

A weekend’s variation on the traditional camporee educates New York Scouts about challenges faced by people dealing with disabilities and disease.

Cooking

Easy Eats: Chili Tonight!

Spice up your family’s dinnertime with a delicious Southwestern delight. Stir it up firehouse hot or kid-friendly mild with meat, chicken, or turkey.

Backpacking & Hiking

Don't Get Sick on the Trail

Four factors loom large in illnesses when you’re hiking — poor judgment, inclement weather, inadequate clothing, and faulty gear.