Forty years ago, Scouts eager to stay warm in the winter were encouraged to dress in foam. The 1984 BSA Fieldbook included patterns for making hats, clothing and a sleeping bag from inch-thick polyfoam more often found in mattresses and sofas than the backcountry. The fellow behind the fixation on foam was Gil Phillips, a…

At first glance, the Cycling merit badge seems like one of those merit badges that just about any Scouter could teach (assuming he or she is registered as a merit badge counselor). After all, you really never forget how to ride a bike. But a counselor who’s an avid cyclist can make the badge more…

Scouts today know there are plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors without kindling a campfire. Modern sleeping bags and layered clothing can eliminate the need of fire for warmth. Lightweight stoves bring instant heat for cooking meals. And one can discover appreciation for nature at night without a dominating firelight. Still, there’s nothing quite…

Camp Gorsuch Great Alaska Council Chugiak, Alaska Set on 24 acres at the base of Bear Mountain, Camp Gorsuch gives Scouts a true Alaskan experience. They can study gold and jade harvested in the state while they work on the Mining in Society merit badge. They can fish for rainbow trout while watching eagles soar…

What’s going on in this picture? What is that cat doing or thinking? If you can think of a funny caption for this photo, just post it in the comment form at the bottom of this page. After we approve it, your funny caption will be on this page for everyone to read. Click here…

Doing Good Turns is an essential part of Scouting. But those Good Turns can take a turn for the worse if Scouts and leaders aren’t properly prepared and supervised. A great way to avoid problems is to use the SAFE Service Project Planning Checklist. What is SAFE? SAFE is Scouting’s model for ensuring all activities…

This story originally appeared in the November-December 2015 issue of Scouting magazine. Does your sleeping bag smell like a dirty sock? Get rid of the stink and dirt with a good washing. However, frequent (and unnecessary) washings — whether by hand or in a washing machine — could cause your sleeping bag to lose loft and warmth.…

The dilemma Everybody at Clara Barton High School knows that senior Zayna Zdrojowski has a future in Hollywood. She has done some modeling in town and even appeared in a TV commercial for the state tourism board. When Sheri Sanders, the school’s theater advisor, announces that Beauty and the Beast will be the fall musical, everyone…

Long before dinosaurs appeared on Earth, huge one-pound bugs with wings nearly 2.5 feet wide dominated the skies. A swarm of those dragonflies might have carried off your tent. Dragonflies still look much the same today, but they got quite a bit smaller over the course of 250 to 300 million years. Today, the largest…

The Race Is On Scouts grab their life jackets, paddles and Viking shields for the annual Great Hiwassee River Raft Race. In the August issue, see how troops build rafts out of inner tubes, bamboo and more, and paddle down a Tennessee waterway. Click here to watch the racers in action.  Photo by Michael Roytek…