Doctors didn’t expect Wayne Magee to live to see 2 years old. Not only was he in and out of the hospital because of a heart defect and respiratory issues, but he was also diagnosed with a rare genetic skeletal disorder called cleidocranial dysplasia. His skull wasn’t forming fully around his brain; he was missing…

This story appeared in the November-December 2018 issue of Scouting magazine. “Jack Frost nipping at your nose” might be a great song lyric, but it’s not how everyone would choose to spend a winter weekend. Fortunately, most Cub Scout leaders are willing to brave the cold — and the occasional complaining — to take their Cub Scouts…

How much do you really know about Scouting’s highest rank? Take this trivia quiz and find out!

COVID-19 has kept many packs from escaping to camp. But in October 2020, one Colorado pack actually escaped fromcamp — albeit online. During a virtual campout that month, the members of Pack 27 in Colorado Springs did a virtual escape room activity designed by Den Leader Carrie Kelly. The activity, which Kelly created using Google…

Embrace your creativity with soap carving, a fun and easy activity. Remember, Bear Scouts and Webelos Scouts learn about knife safety by earning the Whittling Chip. Scouts BSA members earn the privilege to use knives and other tools by earning the Totin’ Chip. Do you have a photo of your completed soap carving? Send us…

What’s going on in this picture? What is that turtle 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…

In October 2020, the BSA retired the William T. Hornaday awards for older Scouts and adults. Replacing them is the BSA Distinguished Conservation Service Awards program. The intent: to encourage more conservation advocacy and service through a modernized, streamlined program. Don’t confuse “streamlined” with “simple,” however; the new awards are just as challenging as the…

This story originally appeared in the January-February 2015 issue of Scouting magazine. When Stan Pope became a Cub Scout leader in 1985, he saw how the Pinewood Derby combined fun and family involvement, and included a healthy dose of sportsmanship. But he also saw how quickly fun could turn into disappointment. “Sadly, two of the racers…

Are you a tiger mom or a helicopter dad? If so, you might need a new parenting philosophy, according to Harold Koplewicz, M.D., president and medical director of the Child Mind Institute. In his new book, The Scaffold Effect: Raising Resilient, Self-Reliant and Secure Kids in an Age of Anxiety (Harmony Books, 2021), Koplewicz argues…

Check out these Pinewood Derby cars! Our photo gallery of creative Pinewood Derby cars sent to us by Scout Life readers is incredible. Take a look and then send us a photo of your 2021 Pinewood Derby car. Do you have a photo of your Pinewood Derby car? Send us a photo! 2021 Pinewood Derby…