Known for having produced more Black Eagle Scouts than any troop in the country, Houston’s Troop 242 began a year after the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Founded by the Rev. William A. Lawson of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, the troop’s goal has always been to instill Scouting values to boys in the city’s Third

Scouting America asked ChatGPT to create a packing list for a family of four traveling by car to a state park in North Texas in March. Russ and Rose Hunsaker, co-chairs of Scouting America’s Camping and Trekking Committee, offer comments. The AI-generated packing list is below. Click here to download and print for your next

This article is part of a monthly series highlighting successful annual events held by Scouting America councils. More than a month before the Kansas City Royals open their season on March 27, Scouting’s takeover of Kauffman Stadium (aka The K) is well into the planning stages. Scouts in uniform — about 2,500 of them —

There’s a tuneup, which includes new spark plugs, maybe a fuel filter. Then there’s an overhaul, which replaces the camshaft, lifters, piston rings and more. Scouting America sent 80 merit badges to the shop in time for 2026, and a few stayed there awhile. Arden Dougan, chair of the merit badge committee, says the goal

February is a time for Scouts to reflect on their faith through celebrations known as Scout Sunday, Scout Shabbat (Sabbath) and Scout Jumuah. Any weekend in February is appropriate for reminding your Scouts to focus on reverence; however, many units choose to reflect on the 12th point of the Scout Law on the nationally suggested

You visit a really cool place and think, “Our troop would love coming here! How do I get this on our schedule?” Planning campouts and day outings works well when adult leaders and Scouts collaborate. And planning isn’t a one-time occurrence – successfully scheduling your unit’s activities throughout the year calls for an annual planning

A new year marks new opportunities to create an ultra-strong unit. And it happens with intention, not luck. So here’s a simple five-step plan to make this year your best yet in Scouting. (If you’re a Scout, check out our post on how to make this your best Scouting year too.) 1. Focus on the meeting Your

When Don Richard and Chuck Rose set out to write a book on Scouting America’s Northern Tier program in Bissett, Manitoba, Canada, they weren’t sure how long it would take, how long the book would be or what the finished product would look like. “At first, I thought it might be a pamphlet,” Rose says.

By Jeffrey L. Johnson  Jeffrey L. Johnson is Scout Executive/CEO of the Cornhusker Council in Walton, Nebraska. He is a retired U.S. Navy officer and volunteered as Scoutmaster while stationed at U.S. Naval Forces Central Command in Bahrain. Scouting at overseas military installations provides an extraordinary experience for youth and families. It offers a sense

Somewhere in the journey from little kid to young adult, Scouting becomes less “Do Your Best” and more be “Prepared for Life.” And a Scout leader’s job in preparing Cub Scouts for the jump to Scouts BSA is proof of that. In a perfect world, every Cub Scout’s journey leads them toward becoming a member