Assistant Scoutmaster David van Alphen was looking for ideas to keep older Scouts in his troop engaged. “I wanted to do fun projects with them to keep them excited about Scouts,” he says. Scouting has plenty to accomplish this, and it helps when you put your passions into action. Van Alphen enjoys learning about nuclear

The Francis family moved to Okinawa Island a few years ago when Mark Francis took the helm as the Scout executive for the Far East Council. The kids joined units there, including Avonlea with Troop 109. When Avonlea earned the Life Scout rank, she began brainstorming ideas for her Eagle Scout project. “I wanted to

Scuba diving is a serious adventure. It’s the kind of thing that gives you a thrill just hearing about it, even if you’ve never done it before. And for a lot of Scouts, that’s the case. Many haven’t had the chance to try scuba yet. Why not? Two big reasons usually come up: cost and

Nestled in the woodlands of southeastern New Hampshire sits nearly 1,000 acres devoted to Scouting adventure and fun. Part of it is also devoted to what Camp Ranger Robb Ellis calls “the ultimate conservation project.” For the past three years, T.L. Storer Scout Reservation, a Spirit of Adventure Council camp, has invited more than Scouts

Whether someone has been helping for a couple of Cub Scout outings or serving for decades on camp staff, volunteers’ time and energy fuel Scouting. The movement doesn’t happen without adult leaders. Week after week, they plan meetings, prep activities and think through every detail that allows Scouts to Scout. As Cub Scout committee member

Scouting America’s merit badge program continues to expand, this time with the launch of two badges aimed at giving Scouts some of the skills needed to be successful in our constantly evolving digital world. The Cybersecurity merit badge is designed to provide a comprehensive look at the world of digital security, equipping young people with

When he was in the fifth grade, Dennis Wagner’s father bought him an official Scouting bugle – a shiny nickel silver-plated instrument perfect for playing at Scouting events. Dennis had been practicing the trumpet that year in school. “The trumpet was not for me,” he says. Hence, neither was the bugle. That’s OK; Wagner still

Since the 1950s, Camp Silver Fir served as a gateway into California’s Sierra National Forest. It was a scenic mountain camp for Scouts to enjoy hiking, fishing, swimming and boating. The camp’s all-volunteer staff helped units craft fun high-adventure experiences at an elevation of 7,200 feet. However, five years ago, the Creek Fire swept through

As promised, the Scouts BSA Test Lab is growing! Two exciting new concepts are now available for Scouts to explore and provide feedback on. A Sewing and Needlework merit badge and a Physics merit badge have been added to the Test Lab lineup as heavily requested topics from Scouts and Scouters alike. What is the

For Eagle Scout Max Plessinger, learning skilled trades within Scouting opened doors to a fulfilling, profitable career. His merit badge sash displays the Automotive Maintenance, Farm Mechanics, Plumbing and Welding badges. The 21-year-old now works as a diesel mechanic, doesn’t have any school debt and is saving to buy a house next year. It’s a