Jack Pape of Omaha, Nebraska had to use his Boy Scout CPR training skills in 2009 when a tornado slammed the Little Sioux Boy Scout Retreat. Sadly, several Scouts lost their lives that day. But Jack helped to save many lives that day using the CPR skills he learned in his years as a Boy Scout. Fast forward one year and Jack again found himself in an emergency situation. A small boy fell into a pool and was drowning. Jack performed CPR on the boy and kept him alive long enough for his family to spend a short amount of time with him. Although the young boy passed away, Jack did everything he was trained to do in order to save the boy’s life. For his efforts, he received the Red Cross Certificate of Merit – the highest award given by the American Red Cross. “I just think that it’s important that everyone learns because you never know when you’re going to need it to save the life of a friend or another person,” Pape said at the awards ceremony. Jack’s parents are obviously proud of his accomplishment. “We’re very proud, and we were a little worried about him because there are bad memories involved, but very proud, brings tears to your eyes.” According to Jack, when the situation presents itself, there is no thinking about it. “I didn’t think when I did it, it was just get up, look around what needs to be done, at that point it was just training that kicked in second nature,it wasn’t until after that I was like wow what just happened.” Our congratulations and respect go out to you, Jack. Your efforts truly represent the idea of Being Prepared and helping others in need. Awesome Job!

Troop 48 of Eagle Point, Oregon made the news this week when they rallied their community and collected enough donations to make hundreds of holiday care packages for our troops in Afghanistan. As the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is upon us, it is easy to forget about our troops overseas who will not have the opportunity to spend the holidays with their family, friends and loved-ones. But Bryce Thorton of Troop 48 didn’t forget. When he saw the conditions that soldiers in Afghanistan were living in, he was motivated to do anything he could to make a difference. So twice a year, in July and in December, Bryce sends care packages to our troops overseas. “It just shows them that we still care for them and that they’re still respected and needed…”, Bryce told reporters. Thanks to the help of donations made by individuals and businesses throughout Southwest Oregon, and despite the lagging economy, the goal for December was met and the soldiers should receive their packages by Christmas morning. The final donation came at the last minute from Harry & David, a gourmet food and fruit gift purveyor based in Medford, Oregon. It was going to be close, in fact, Bryce’s father was beginning to wonder if they would reach their goal. But once Harry & David stepped in, the Thortons were able to meet their target, and hundred of troops overseas will have a better holiday and know that we are thinking about them. What a great mission you’re on Bryce. Your unselfish actions, along with the help of your family and your Boy Scout Troop, are touching the lives of thousands of people. Your efforts are commendable and do not go unnoticed! To learn more about the holiday package drive, and see a video from the local news station, click this link – Eagle Point Boy Scouts send holiday care packages to soldiers in Afghanistan. You can also check out the website that was set up by Troop 48 and donate here, great job guys! – Supporting Freedom.

Hello Scouts! For those of you who don’t know yet, we started a brand new Facebook page just for Scouts this week. Hurry and “friend” us because we are randomly giving away all sorts of Scouting goodies to our fans. You could be a winner, and all you have to do is like our page!

This week we’re aiming the national spotlight on some very special Scouts. These young men have done some amazing things and have demonstrated tremendous bravery and determination. Congratulations to them and if you know of a story we missed, please feel free to tell us all about it in the comments field below.

On to the week in review…

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• Twin Cub Scouts Receive National Awards For Heroism

  Who says you have to be a grown-up to do what’s necessary in an emergency? The Wesson brothers of Sandwich, Illinois know first hand that 7 year olds can do it too. And this week the twin boys were both awarded a National Certificate of Merit by the B.S.A.! The honor is awarded to a youth member or adult leader who has performed a significant act of service deserving of national recognition.

  In October of 2009, the two young men rushed into action when their mother became very sick. They had recently received training for this very situation during their Cub Scout Pack 345 activities. They called 9-1-1 and looked after their mother until Paramedics arrived. They remained calm throughout the ordeal and even had the foresight to open the door for emergency responders and show them the way to their mother.

  This is a great story and being awarded for their efforts makes it even better. Way to go guys! Local Twins Take Care of their Mom.




• Arizona Boy Scout Receives Award For Saving His Mother’s Life

  Isaac Johnson, a 13 year-old Boy Scout from Queen Creek, had received training for choking victims just weeks before. So when his mother began choking at a fast-food restaurant, Isaac knew just what to do. He jumped out of his seat in the car and performed the Heimlich Maneuver and saved his mom’s life.

  Isaac received the Boy Scouts of America National Heroism Award last week and was honored at the 2010 Superstition District annual award dinner.

  It is heroic to save a person’s life, but truly incredible when it is the life of your own mother. Here’s the whole story – Arizona Boy Scout Awarded For Saving His Mother.




• Arizona Scout Earns Eagle Scout of the Year For Conservation Efforts

  16-year-old McKay Bagley, also from Queen Creek, Arizona (see story above), received the Eagle Scout of the Year award from Grand Canyon Council this week.

  In 2002, a wildfire damaged a large portion of the ecosystem in their area. McKay realized that the plant life was unable to reestablish itself because the wild animals were trampling or eating it before it had a chance to flourish. So he and other volunteers spent a weekend putting in closures to stop the animals from entering the areas around the creeks. This should allow the plant life the time it needs to reestablish itself.

  Great job, McKay. What an awesome way to help the environment and provide a great example for Scouts all over the country – Two Queen Creek Boy Scouts win major awards.




• Two Michigan Scouts Earn Rare Award

  As Dale Raar and Brian Fee walked down the street one afternoon, they suddenly found themselves in an unenviable position. Just in front of them, a 14 year old boy was exiting his school bus when he was struck and critically injured by another vehicle.

  While adults stood by watching, not knowing what to do, the two young men immediately ran to the injured boy’s side, which was in the middle of a busy roadway, comforting him, keeping him immobile and maintaining his airway until emergency responders could arrive. Had it not been for their efforts and quick thinking, officers say that the accident could have easily resulted in a fatality.

  Take a look at the video on this page and you’ll see that these young men deserve every bit of credit they receive. Awesome job! – Holland Teen To Receive ‘Rarest Award’ from Boy Scouts of America.




• California Scouts Earns 128th Merit Badge

  How many young men do you know who have earned all 128 merit badges? Do you know anyone who has even come close? We’d venture to say that most of you don’t. That’s why we wanted to bring you this story of awesome Scout spirit and sheer determination.

  Rob Nelsen, a 15 year old Eagle Scout from Irvine, California has done what many simply dream about. On December 4th, he earned his 128th Boy Scout Merit Badge…that’s every single one of them! The time and energy that Rob has put into this achievement is amazing. A commendable job indeed!

  Click on this link to find out the toughest, the weirdest and the most fun merit badges to earn according to Rob – What Kind of Scout Gets Every Merit Badge?.

Well, that’s it for this week, Scouts. As usual, we encourage everyone to leave a comment below with your thoughts. Or, if there is a story we missed, you can let us know too. Don’t be shy!

Tell all your Scouting buddies about us and we’ll see you next week.

Now it’s your turn
Leave a comment below with your Scouting news and stories…

Hello Scouts! It’s time to get back to our weekly BSA news posts. Every week we choose a few interesting news stories from around the country and feature them below for all of our blog readers to see.

A lot of times some great news stories will fall through the cracks and not be seen by anyone other than those in the local community. We want to take those stories and place them on a national stage so more people can see what’s going on outside their communities and learn together in the spirit of Scouting.

If you know of a story that you think would be interesting for everyone, leave a comment below and let us all know about it!

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• Community Giving Back To Their Boy Scouts

  Last week, a devastating fire leveled the 10,000-square-foot Boy Scout Training Center at Camp Belzer in Lawrence, Indiana. Not much was left in the charred remains and many historical items were lost, including vintage uniforms, plaques and other items. Fortunately, there were a lot of valuable items and historic documents stored in the basement which were locked inside fireproof containers, so it was not a total loss.

  But here’s the silver lining: The outpouring of community support and donations has been incredible. You’ll have to read the story for all the details, but if everything goes according to plan, thanks to the support of the community, they should have everything rebuilt and ready for camp season in 2011.

  Sounds like a great community to be a part of! Offers of help pour in after fire at Boy Scout camp.




• Boy Scout Buddies Achieve Eagle Scout Ranking Together

  They’ve been friends for years, experiencing the Scouting opportunity together as a team. And now they’re all Eagle Scouts.

  This week in Bryan/College Station, Texas, 8 young men (yes…EIGHT) from Troop 802 received the coveted Eagle Scout ranking in a single, emotion-filled night. What makes it even more special is that all of these young men have been working on the achievement together in the same Troop for years.

  The incredible, must-read article is written with quotes from the boys and their families! Here’s the whole story – Eight achieve rank of Eagle Scout.




• Man Uses Boy Scout Training To Save 2 Year Old From Drowning

  In Phoenix, a General Contractor was awarded the Phoenix Police Medal of Lifesaving this week. And he attributes it to his intensive training with the Air Force and the Boy Scouts of America.

  If you ever wonder whether or not you’ll ever use your Boy Scout skills, all you have to do is ask Phillip Murphy. “You never expect the day is going to come when you’re going to use it,” Murphy said. But in June of this year, for Mr. Murphy, it did. And it saved the life of a 2 year old boy.

  Great job, Phillip. What a great example you’ve set for thousands of Scouts all over your area and throughout the United States! – Phoenix man honored for saving 2-year-old from drowning.




• Don’t Forget Those Serving Our Nation This Holiday Season

  As the holiday season is upon us, it is easy to forget about those who aren’t able to be with their families this year because they are serving in the military. But the Boy Scouts from Peterson Elementary in Huntington Beach, along with the YMCA, have made it their goal to remember our heroes who will be away from their families this holiday season.

  They gathered donations and stockings from their local community and spent hours stuffing the stockings with goodies for the troops. They will be delivered through “Words of Comfort, Hope and Promise,”
  a military outreach program dedicated to supporting troops and their families.

  This is a great example of Scouts thinking about, and caring for others. – Youngsters collect Christmas cheer for troops.




• In Remembrance: Ira Reynolds

  This week marked the passing of one of the greatest Boy Scouts in the history of the organization. Ira Reynolds, who joined the Boy Scouts all the way back in 1914 was laid to rest Thursday. He was 108 years old.

  Mr. Reynolds served the boy scouts for 95 years and dedicated himself to his local community, Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, for 83 years. He founded Camp Tuscarora in Windsor, and was our nations oldest Boy Scout.

  Ira Reynolds was known as an humble man and a hero to many. – Nation’s oldest Scout laid to rest in Susquehanna.

Well, that’s it for this week, everybody. As usual, we encourage everyone to leave a comment below with your thoughts. Or, if there is a story we missed, you can let us know too.

Tell all your Scouting buddies about us and we’ll see you next week!

Now it’s your turn
Leave a comment below with your Scouting news and stories…

Hey Scouts! We wanted to take this opportunity to wish you all a very safe and happy Thanksgiving.

As you gather with your family and feast on that delicious turkey and stuffing, you should also remember what Thanksgiving Day is all about.

It is meant to be a day of giving thanks to all the people who help make your life better and easier. People like your parents and family, your Scout buddies and Scout Leaders, your church group and your teachers. Take a minute for each of them on Thursday and simply tell them, “Thank You.”

You should also be thankful for all of the things that you have. It’s easy to forget that not everyone can have a big turkey dinner, or a bicycle or a computer to browse the Internet on.

So have a great day and enjoy being with your family, but remember what Thanksgiving is for and really give thanks for all the things you have.

We won’t be publishing a news post this week, but we’ll be back next week with more awesome stories in the world of Scouting!

Happy Thanksgiving! ClassB

Howdy Scouts! This week I found a tremendous amount of stories out there about Scouts who were lending a helping hand and giving back to their communities.

So this edition of “Scouting Week In Review” is going to feature a few stories of how Scouts across the country are doing things to help – some customary, some pretty ingenious. As always, I wanted to add so many more stories than I have room for.

Hopefully these heartwarming stories will give you and your Troop additional ideas to help those around you this holiday season and beyond!

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• Young California Man Reaches Eagle Scout Rank By Helping Hundreds

  Sam Haws, a member of Boy Scout Troop 331 in California, completed his Eagle Scout project by collecting, assembling and donating over 1,000 dental hygiene kits to his local volunteer Dental Center who provide free and reduced-cost dental services to those in need.

  With a history of dental workers in his family, it didn’t take much for Sam to figure out what he was going to do for his project. Treating around 150 patients per month, Sam’s donation will last several months and should help over 1,000 people.

  What a great idea and what a great job! Read the whole story here – Eagle Scout Project Helps Dental Center.




• Boy Scouts In California Go Above And Beyond With Food Drive

  Most of you probably participated in the annual food drive last week. Did you try something new that increased collections? We want to know how things went for you this year. Let us know in the comments below!

  In California, things are no different, but Long Beach’s Troop 224 doesn’t stop there. Every year, they visit the local Salvation army and lend their helping hands to sort, stack and store several tons of food collected during the drive.

  Way to go guys! Here’s the full story – Long Beach-Area Scouts Help Salvation Army with Good Deeds.




• New Jersey Troop Host Local Spaghetti Dinner

  Boy Scout Troop 150 of Sparta, New Jersey, recently sponsored a free spaghetti lunch for Sparta Seniors, for the 4th year in a row.

  Sometimes we forget that when it comes to our senior population, a simple get-together like this one can go a really long way! Troop 150 sure knows it!

  Great job, guys – Scouts Serve Spaghetti at Knoll Heights.




• Oregon Troop Collecting Old Medications

  OK, here’s a project that you don’t hear about every day. In Hermiston, Oregon, the local Boy Scout troop is coordinating a drug take-back day, when people can drop off unwanted, unused or outdated medications.

  Medications should NEVER be flushed down the toilet or thrown in the trash. Medications of all types can be harmful or even fatal when not prescribed to you by a doctor. This medication “take back” eliminates the chance of the meds getting into the wrong hands and could definitely save a life!

  Great example of Scouts helping their community. Read the whole story here – Drug take-back day – East Oregonian: News. Another great job!




• Scouts Help Renovate Local Library

  Also part of an Eagle Scout project, Jonathan Ruebke of Harvey County, Kansas, along with his troop are renovating a local library. They have already gathered donations from local suppliers to build new shelves for all the new book that will be coming in during the book drive that they are also planning!

  “Usually teenagers get a bad rap but I want to show people what teenagers can do,” says Ruebke.

  You tell ’em, Jonathan. Read the whole story here and find out more about the project – Boy Scouts renovate Harvey County Library.

Well, that’s it for this week, guys. As usual, we encourage everyone to leave a comment below with your thoughts and comments. Or, if there is a story we missed, you can let us know too.

Tell all your Scouting buddies about us and we’ll see you next week!

Now it’s your turn
Leave a comment below with your Scouting news and stories…

Every week as I scan the newswires for stories, I am amazed at the things Scouts are out there doing on a daily basis. From rescuing drowning victims and helping feed the hungry to something as small as helping an elderly person go grocery shopping, or teaching younger kids how to go fishing – you never cease to prove your dedication and commitment to Scouting. Keep up the amazing work!

This week we honored our nation’s veterans, we collected tons of food for the needy and we recognized and celebrated the efforts of amazing volunteers across the country.

Here are a few stories that stood out to us as we scoured this week’s Scouting news. If you know of a great news story that we missed, please feel free to tell us about it in the comments section below.

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• Food Drives Across The Country Receive Tons Of Donations – Literally!

  This month marked a nationally collective effort to gather food for the homeless and hungry. Food banks and pantries all over the country look forward to the annual Boy Scouts Food Drives because, for most of them, they provide the biggest donation of food for the entire year.

  Even in a tough economy, Scouts still managed to gather tons and tons of non-perishable food for those who are in need this holiday season. Once again, your persistence paid off and your efforts will be realized by thousands of homeless and hungry people in your area.

  Did your Troop participate in a food drive this year? If so, tell us about it in the comment section below. Here’s a great story about how several Troops in Virginia rallied together and made their drive a total success – Scouts Collect Food For Needy.  Awesome job guys!




• Boy Scouts Honor Our Nation’s Veterans

  As we mentioned above, this week brought us Veterans Day, which is a day to honor and remember our nation’s military veterans.

  All around the United States, Scouts gathered and participated in parades, parties and solemn celebrations to pay their respects to our fallen heroes and those who fought and served so bravely for our freedom.

  Did your Troop or Patrol do something together to honor our Vets? If so, let us know below. Here’s one of dozens of stories we found about Scouts participating in these events. A local Boy Scout Troop in Rochester, New York participated in a flag retirement ceremony to honor our Veterans – Boy Scouts Help Retire American Flags in Veterans Day Ceremony.




• Looking For An Eagle Scout Project? Maybe This Will Help!

  For some Eagle Scouts, figuring out what they were going to do for their project was a difficult task, but for this young man in Livonia, MI., the answer was just a merit badge and a school assignment away.

  After touring his local Humane Society shelter for his dog care merit badge, he received an assignment at school to write a letter to an organization. So this bright young mind put it all together and wrote to the Humane Society asking if he could build for them and donate dog houses for his Eagle Scout project!

  After receiving donations from local hardware and paint suppliers, he completed his project and made life a little better (and warmer) for some local dogs waiting on their new owners.

  You can read the whole story here. Great job, Matt – Boy Scout Gives Dogs a Warm Home.




• Boy Scout Saves Brother’s Life – Earns Heroism Award

  Back in April, James (12) and Austin (7) Fackrell were enjoying a vacation at Six Flags in Vallejo, California with their parents.

  James had previously learned swimming safety, emergency response and first aid in his Troop – Troop 855 in Grass Valley. So James couldn’t have been more prepared when he suddenly found his little brother beginning to drown in the deep end of the hotel swimming pool.

  James rushed to the pool, dove in and saved his brother’s life. This week, he received the Heroism Award by the National Council of Boy Scouts of America, only one of about 3,000 awarded in the last 90 years! Read the whole story here – Penn Valley Boy Scout Earns Rare Medal. Way to go James!




• New Eagle Scout Is Town’s First In Over 25 Years

  The small town of Greenfield, Illinois used to be home to lots of Boy Scouts. But when their Scoutmaster passed away back in the 1980s, the program fizzled and went into hibernation. In 2005, it was revived and Troop 22 was back and ready for action.

  This week, Daniel Harpole is being recognized as the town’s first Eagle Scout in over 25 years. Congratulations Daniel!

  Daniel plans on becoming an assistant Scoutmaster when he turns 18 and plans to keep the Scouts active and thriving in his area. Read all about it here – Eagle Scout is Town’s First in Years.

Well, that’s it for this week, guys. As usual, we encourage everyone to leave a comment below with your thoughts and comments. Or, if there is a story we missed, you can let us know too.

Tell all your Scouting buddies about us and have a great week!

Now it’s your turn
Leave a comment below with your Scouting news and stories…

Thanksgiving Day is still three weeks away, but now is the time to start planning on how you can help those in your community who are in need at this time of year.

Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks – and what better way to do it than to give back to your community. There are several things that you or your Troop can do to help the people in your community for Thanksgiving. Below, we discuss a few of them and give you some great examples of Scouts who made the news by getting it all planned, set up and ready to go.

If you haven’t decided on a Thanksgiving project for your Troop, then make sure to think about all the ideas below. If you have an idea that’s not mentioned, then please leave a comment and let us know! The more caring and support that we can spread around, the better the entire holiday season will be for everyone.

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5 Great Examples Of Thanksgiving Projects for Scouts

• Food Drive

  As we near the holiday season, it is easy to forget that some folks out there cannot afford a turkey dinner, some not even a special meal. The fact is that there are a lot of families right now that are having trouble simply putting food on their table.

  Holiday food drives are certainly nothing new, but they are just as important now as they ever have been. Whether you hand out collection bags, collect food in front of a local store, or collect from your local churches and organizations, food drives can make a huge difference in the lives of hundreds of people.

  Here’s how the Troop in Frederick County, Maryland are getting ready for their annual food drive – Frederick County Scouts gear up for food drive.  Great job guys!




• Blanket, Coat and Clothing Drive

  As usual, it’s starting to get pretty chilly in some parts of the U.S., and before long it will be downright cold all over the country. Just like some people cannot afford to put food on their tables, others cannot afford coats and blankets to keep them warm during the cold months.

  Having a coat and blanket drive is another great way to help those in need. You could even open it up to all types of clothing and shoes as well. Here is a great resource to help you get started – Five Easy Steps to a Successful Coat Drive.

  Some even make this a yearly event, like the St. Micheal’s Cub Scout Pack in New Jersey. Keep it up, gentlemen!




• Don’t Forget The Kids!

  It is heartbreaking to think that some children will have to spend the holidays in the hospital. There are also children in orphanages who will not get a turkey dinner, much less a simple hug from a caring person like you. Someone has to remember these children and give them the love and support that most of us take for granted.

  Volunteer your time and create a holiday pack for these children who won’t be able to spend time with family members. Visit them, talk to them, listen to them – and you will be giving much more than you could imagine.

  Get together with your fellow Troop members and come up with a way to make the holiday season for children in need bigger, better and brighter than ever before.

  Check out what these Scouts did for their local children’s hospital in Chicago – Boy Scouts Make Activity Kits, Visit Local Children’s Hospital.




• Help Serve A Thanksgiving Meal

  Every year, thousands of food banks, churches and other organizations prepare and serve Thanksgiving dinner for those who cannot make it on their own. And there is a LOT of work involved.

  Because of the work involved, volunteers are in high demand. And that could be you and your entire Troop! Your best bet is to call your local Salvation Army, but if that is not an option then you can usually find something by calling local churches in your area.

  Here’s an awesome story we found this week about several Troops in San Bernardino, CA getting together to help feed the hungry. These guys really mean business! – Boy Scouts Helping Salvation Army.




• Remember Our Soldiers

  Another group of people that have it tough during the holidays are the soldiers who are away from their homes, their family and their loved ones.

  It is important for us all to remember that our soldiers are away from their families right now because they are risking their lives, fighting for the very freedom that we enjoy on days like Thanksgiving Day. And that is definitely something to be thankful for.

  If you have a military facility nearby, you might want to contact them and see if there is anything your Troop can do to help our soldiers have a better holiday season. And here’s a short list of other things some companies are doing for our soldiers – This Thanksgiving Day Remember America’s Soldiers.

Well, that’s it for this week. As usual, we encourage everyone to leave a comment below with your thoughts and comments. Or, if there is a story we missed, you can let us know too.

Tell your friends about us and have a great week!

Now it’s your turn
Leave a comment below with your Scouting news and stories…

Hello Scouts! It’s finally here – Halloween weekend!

Before you head out for the fun, trick-or-treating or visiting your friendly neighborhood haunted house, check out this Halloween Safety Guide and make sure to get a good dose of these Halloween Safety Tips. We want you to have a great time, but we want you to be safe while you’re at it.

And while you’re out there, remember to look for opportunities to help improve your community or help others in need.

On to the news for the week!

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• Groundbreaking for the brand new The Summit: Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve commenced this week in West Virginia. The Summit will be host to the next Boy Scouts of America National Jamboree. The official dates of the Jamboree were also announced this week, which are July 15-24, 2013.

  Over $100 million has been donated so far this year for construction of the new facilities. It has also given jobs to over 150 people in the local area.

  Here’s a great story about all the happenings and how excited West Virginians are to host the event – New Major Donors and Jamboree Dates Announced




• Do you know who the first Eagle Scout on a U.S. postage stamp was? How about what the first, the millionth and the two millionth Eagle scouts had in common? Know what the cub scout sign (the index and middle fingers extended in a V shape) symbolizes?

  Now you can learn these facts along with 97 more by visiting the website below. See if you can stump your Scouting buddies at your next meeting.

  This is definitely an article you can’t stop reading until the end – 100 Things You Didn’t Know About Scouting (Compiled by the Boy Scouts of America)




• Our “hero story” of the week comes out of the great state of Hawaii. Eagle Scout Avery Horton of Troop 135 was hiking at the Manoa Falls trail helping his brother’s Cub Scout Pack, when suddenly one of the older hikers stumbled and began slipping down the side of a steep cliff.

  Quick thinking led Avery straight to a tree limb. He hung over the side of the cliff and used the limb to help rescue the fallen hiker. The rescuee, by the way, was on his honeymoon!

  Super job Avery. Way to save the day! Avery was awarded the Honor Medal from the BSA.




• Could this be the best muzzle loading shooting sports team in the country? Well, if you think your team is better, you’ll need to leave us a comment below because these guys sure couldn’t be topped in Colorado last week.

  They placed first in state in the open class competition, and grabbed second in traditional class. The rest of their team placed in sporter, hunt and even archery!

  Awesome job guys. Read about it here – Delta County Shooters Excel at State Fair




• In last week’s Week In Review, we brought you the story of a Wisconsin farmer who created a B.S.A. 100th Anniversary corn maze. Well, we found another one, and it’s just as impressive.

  Designed to reflect the rich heritage of the B.S.A., the maze is located in Lehi, Utah. They’re also hosting a geocaching challenge, scouting movies and more. Discounts are available for Scouts too!

  Get all the details here – Cornbelly’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Fest

That’s it for this week. As usual, we encourage everyone to leave a comment below with your thoughts and comments. Or, if there is a story we missed, you can let us know too.

Tell your friends about us and have an awesome Halloween!

Now it’s your turn
Leave a comment below with your Scouting news and stories…

Hey there Scouts! Another October weekend is upon us, bringing us one week closer to Halloween!

If you’re looking for a way to raise funds for your troop, a haunted house or haunted trail is a great idea. You could also offer free admission to guests bringing a donation of food, candy or a costume – and then donate it all to families in need so that they can enjoy the holiday fun as well.

You may also want to think about the children in your local hospitals. They are often forgotten during the holidays! Although they probably cannot accept candy, you could easily volunteer to visit the hospital and decorate it for Halloween, and maybe even donate some masks or costumes to the kids.

OK, on to the weekly review!

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• Ever wonder when all that first aid you learn in the Boy Scouts will pay off? Well for Taylor Reed, a brave young Scout in Northwest Montana, it happened this week. He had just read about dog bites in his Manual when the unthinkable happened. His mother was attacked by a Pit Bull. But Taylor didn’t panic. Instead, he jumped into action.

  Awesome job, Taylor! Keep up the great work.

  Read the amazing story here – Boy Scout Training Paid Off in Local Pit Bull Attack




• Here’s an interesting story out of Naples, Florida. It seems that on October 1st, a pirate went missing. That is, a life-size, 170-pound pirate statue. A week later, the boys in Troop 165 were enjoying a day of tubing and water skiing off the coast of Florida when they spotted the lifelike statue. After turning it in, they received part of a $1000 reward!

  “We didn’t return it because of the reward,” Sandy Ahlquist said. “We returned it because it was the right thing.”

  Way to go guys! Read the whole story here – Boy Scouts Rewarded
  with Treasure for Finding Stolen Pirate Statue




• If you’re a Scout in Texas, you probably know all about the Sam Houston Area Council Jam. For those who don’t, this is the largest event ever held by the Boy Scouts in the state of Texas, and second only to the National Jamboree which was held earlier this year in North Carolina.

  And what was the coolest part of the Jam this year? By far it was the world record setting model rocket launch. On Saturday, 3,130 model rockets were simultaneously launched, beating the old record by over 2,000!

  There was a LOT more to do there as well. Read all about it here – Jammin’ Big Time with Boy Scouts




• A local corn field owner in Dunn County, Wisconsin is commemorating Halloween and the B.S.A. all at once this weekend. They’ve created a very cool haunted maze! The most impressive feature is the design of the maze itself. Click on the picture to the right for a larger view.

  A large portion of the maze will remain un-haunted, while the level of fear in the haunted section increases every couple of hours. Show up at 3:30pm for a family-friendly maze, 5pm for a “faint-of-heart” maze and 7-10pm for particularly petrifying panic!

  Get all the details here – Govin’s Haunted Corn Maze Celebrates Boy Scouts, Helps MTG

Well, that’s it for this week. As usual, we encourage everyone to leave a comment below with your thoughts and comments. Or, if there is a story we missed, you can let us know too.

Tell your friends about us. Have an awesome week!

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