Registration for summer high-adventure crews at Philmont Scout Ranch starts in late October — a full 18 months before the trek actually occurs. And even then, when it comes to the 12- or seven-day treks, demand often outweighs supply, which is why crews register for the lottery, which happens in November. However, there are occasionally…

One of the most fun parts of organizing a patrol is picking a name. After picking a name, Scouts can unleash their creativity with yells, flags and patches. But that fun isn’t designated to just the youth. Many Scouters form an adult patrol within the troop. It’s not an official part of BSA programming, but…

Fresh peach cobbler is a terrific way to end a campsite dinner and a great start to mastering Dutch oven cooking. Practice a few basics and you can turn out biscuits, stews, soups and pies as you tap into a cooking tradition as old as Scouting itself. The Dutch oven was born four centuries ago…

This story originally appeared in the January-February 2020 issue of Scouting magazine. This is Philmont Scout Ranch. On any given summer day, there are around 3,500 Scouts BSA members and Venturers somewhere in the 220 square miles of pristine New Mexico backcountry exploring the wilderness, testing themselves both physically and mentally, and in the process making…

Q: I’m having trouble finding a healthy energy bar that doesn’t have too much sugar and is filling. Do you have any suggestions? — Carson, Austin, Texas A: You’re right; many popular energy bars are sugary or unsatisfying. Find some better options by shopping keto. Bars catered to a ketogenic diet (very low carbs, high…

Camp Loud Thunder Illowa Council Illinois City, Ill. Scouts can find a nice blend of fun activities and relaxation at Camp Loud Thunder. They can experience the new Climbing Tower and COPE Course, challenge each other to a game of chess using giant pieces, or jump in the gaga pit for an exciting match. They…

At Star Wars Celebration gatherings, you can’t avoid bumping into characters like Rey and Kylo Ren. But one year, Dark Horse Comics Editor-in-Chief Dave Marshall ran into someone he didn’t expect to see: Kerra Holt, a Jedi knight he had helped bring to life in a comic a few years earlier. The fan “had put…

The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve located near Beckley, W.Va., is a BSA property known for being a multipurpose year-round destination for Scouting activities and adventures. That’s just a fancy way of saying, “It’s really cool.” The Summit became the permanent home for the National Jamboree in 2013 and features a high-adventure base, a…

Here’s what you’ll find inside the April 2021 issue of Scout Life magazine. Remember, many articles are only available to subscribers and are not available online. Please visit scoutlife.org/subscribe to subscribe to the print or digital editions of Scout Life magazine. APRIL 2021 FEATURES CROSSING THE DIVIDE At 10,000 feet above sea level, Scouts adjust…

How hard can it be to pick a daypack? Spend a few minutes in an outdoor gear shop; with the wide variety of sizes, shapes, designs, weights and prices available, it might seem more complicated than you thought. We’ll help you decide what type of daypack you need and then recommend some top-performing models. Whatever…