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
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
So, the other day I wrote about some of the things you’d want to bring to camp as a first time leader. Now, here are some of the intangibles to make your life a little bit easier. In addition to getting yourself physically ready for camp, it helps to be mentally ready. In today’s economy, … Read more
So, right now most packs are thinking about Day Camp, or Resident Camp, or the Fourth of July Parade. They may be doing one of the things listed in our Summer Recruiting Guide. But most of them are thinking that fall recruiting is a long ways away. But the days until school’s get back in … Read more
Summer Camp Essentials So, you’re going to be going to camp for the first time with your scouts. Congratulations, you’re in for a week you’re never going to forget. But, as the Scout motto says, Be Prepared. So here are a few of the things that I’ve found to be summer camp essentials for a unit leader … Read more
Why You Feel Guilty Asking One of the biggest roadblocks to people recruiting volunteers, or raising money is guilt. People are naturally feel guilty asking for things. We’re trained that asking for thing makes us look weak. It also makes us feel vulnerable. We hate hearing the word no. Nobody really likes being told no. … Read more
About a week ago, I posted a piece about “the top 10 reasons to send your kid to camp.” It was read by people all over the world. The biggest concern people had was, “we can get kids to go to camp, but getting adults to go with them is the tough part.” So, … Read more
Father’s Day This Sunday is Father’s Day. We lost my dad about three years ago. So, as a way of remembering him, and paying tribute to him, I thought I’d write about him – and in particular, about one particular trip that taught me a lot about life. Mount Kinsman The year was 1990. I was a … Read more