Your Recruiting Checklist This Tuesday is August 1st. Great recruiting campaigns are made and broken with what you do in early August. What you do right now will determine whether you’ve got a full room come at your joining night in September, or whether you’re going to be lonely, wondering what went wrong. To help … Read more
I’ve been to a lot of Eagle Ceremonies. Probably hundreds. It’s customary for dignitaries to write letters to Eagle Scouts. Eagles get letters of congratulations from current and former US Presidents. They get them from members of Congress, governors, mayors, and state legislators. Mike Rowe’s Eagle Scout Letter is quite popular. But for the most part, they’re pretty … Read more
June Foray passed away yesterday. She was 99. She would have been 100 this September. 99% of people have no idea who she was. Admit it. You didn’t – and there’s absolutely no shame in that. None. And why would you? She very rarely ever appeared on camera, and her main audience was comprised of children … Read more
It’s really tempting to be cynical. Especially when watching the news. There’s a lot of negativity out there. It’s easy to think the world is filled with wicked people. And to be frank, some of them are. But they’re a small minority. The encouraging thing is generous people are all around you. Generous People Two-thirds … Read more
One of my favorite Scout leaders passed away last month. He could be a little gruff – in a good way. If the troop hadn’t been backpacking in a while, he’d notice that the boy’s discipline on campouts would start to break down a little. They’d take a little longer to get going in the … Read more
Campfires are useful and fun. They keep us warm, cook our food, and give us light. But they can also be dangerous, and susceptible to the weather. That’s where the “Campfire Defender” comes in. It’s a campfire management tool – essentially a fireproof tarp you stake down over your fire. And it allows you to … Read more
Here’s a story that’s not going to make the front page of the paper. It’s not going to lead the evening news. But it says everything about what Scouting produces – character. The Treasure Valley Camp Staff went above and beyond the call of duty to help a young Scout. Troop 159 from Brookfield was attending … Read more
Over the years I’ve done hundreds of school recruiting talks or “Boy Talks.” They’re a great tool for bulking up your recruiting numbers. On average, it’s estimated that a good school recruiting talk can triple the number of families who will actually show up to your joining night. Let me start with a little story about … Read more
I’ve scoured the Amazon Prime Day Deals so you don’t have to. A scout is prepared, and part of being prepared is having the right camping gear. Of course, for new scouting families, getting camping supplies on a budget is crucial. You can spend hundreds of dollars equipping an 11-year-old. Having the right stuff on that … Read more
One of the highlights of scout camping is a great campfire. Kids look forward to it all day long, and as well they should. It’s fun, funny, and exciting. It’s one of the highlights of any camping experience, and a great way to wrap up a fun day in the woods. In these days cell … Read more