Scoutmaster's Blog Survey - Cost of Scouting 10/14/2022 Are you curious what a typical year of Scouting really costs? With annual fee increases, it is a common discussion topic online. Here's your chance to help quantify the actual current costs to see how they've changed over the past couple years. Fill out this anonymous survey about costs for your scout. No email or other personal info is needed, just your honest best estimates. I'll share the results here next month - data such as the average council fee, average unit fee, average cost of high adventure treks. Scout Read More ... 04/01/2022 Cityscape Adventure Base 09/29/2021 R U Going? 09/13/2021 EPA 50th Award

It takes youth from 10 to 13 years to progress from Lion to Webelos to Eagle Scout and, along that scouting trail, they are guided by many adults - den leaders, cubmasters, merit badge counselors, scoutmasters, and many other volunteers. Every rank of scouting has a thoroughly designed program that helps to grow a member from one level to the next. It is very important that the adult leaders follow these programs so the scouts receive the most they can from their scouting experience from Cub Scouts to Scouts, and maybe to Venturing.

The program is really an outline with rules and guidelines but also plenty of room for personalization of the game of scouting by troops and packs. The basic foundation is found in the Scout Motto, Scout Slogan, and Scout Aims and Methods. The program leaders (youth and adults) need resources, ideas, and information to make their program fly. We hope you find useful aids here and we would love to hear any new ideas you have successfully used so we can help other groups of scouts succeed.

I was asked by National in Irving, Texas to let you know about ScoutCast - a series of podcasts for Scouts BSA, Cub Scouts, and Commissioners. Choose the one that interests you and be sure to notice the 'Archives' link on the far right to hear past podcasts.

View this set of Scout videos explaining the advancement requirements for Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, and 1st Class. They are helpful in explaining the requirements, even though somewhat dated.

This site began as a way to chronicle the experiences of one small group of cub scouts in Minnesota on their trail from tiger to eagle scouts. We documented our program schedules, advancements achieved, most all of our activities, games played, and skits performed. But, as things tend to evolve, we added more ideas that we thought would be fun to try some day. Soon, it turned into a resource of ideas for scouts everywhere to use. Hopefully, you'll use this site to improve your scouting program.

Boy Scout Trail has scouting information for all scouting programs. Everyone using the content here to help youth succeed is welcome.
This site is not officially associated with the Boy Scouts of America.
 
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Comments:
 

Jan 07, 2013 - Paula Hansen

This site was very helpful.  Used most recently for details regarding Dentistry Merit Badge.  Thank you! P.S. (LOVE Robin Rau's idea... giving the prize to Troop 104's Advancement Chair -- If I win, I'd like to do that for Troop 888. Thanks for the inspiration, Robin!)

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Oct 18, 2013 - Susan Layman, I

Will give to my local Boy Scout troop

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Apr 02, 2014 - Barry S

The bonus card was used to update our Troops Merit Badge Books in time for our Hornaday program

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Apr 03, 2014 - Nancy P

The Gift Card was used to partially fund a new indoor flagpole

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Jun 01, 2014 - Erik

will get new patrol gear

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Jun 01, 2014 - Kimberly Rowles

I just wanted to tell you what I did with my gift card that I received.  I purchased each of our leaders a service year pin and gave them to them last night at our crossover ceremony.  I think all the leaders should be rewarded because without us this program does not run.  Thanks for your site, its always helpful when I have questions.  Keep up the good work. GO LEADERS!!

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Jun 01, 2014 - Scouter Paul

@Kimberly - Well Spent!

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Jul 20, 2014 - Daniel Inerfield

I will use the gift card to buy supplies for my Eagle project.

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Aug 23, 2014 - jimmer

I'll give it to my so who's a cub scout. He's so cute. He'll use it wisely.

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Oct 01, 2014 - Mike B.

The Country Meats snacks won last month are heading to the Grand Canyon with the boys today! Thank you for a very useful site.

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Oct 01, 2014 - Scouter Paul

@Mike - Super!  Hey, if you have the guys send a photo of them with their snack sticks, that would be very cool.

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Oct 01, 2014 - Carol Salsbury

Dear Scouter Paul, Thanks so much for this super website! It's been very useful for my patrol because we needed alot of information for our patrol project. We are doing a visual & oral presentation, hands on activity, and a take away about the World Scout Emblem. The website is also a great resource for me to use as a reference in my new position as Unit Commissioner. It's really interesting and fun to read, so I can pass it on to other Scout leaders, youth, and boys.

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Oct 20, 2014 - Elizabeth

Thank you for the useful scout site.

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Dec 01, 2014 - C. Duke Bright - Pack 607 & Venture Crew 607

I really like your website and the added touch of being able to win something useful for Scouting is awesome.  I've already tried some of your suggestions. Very nice. Duke Bright World Scouter

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Dec 05, 2014 - Jon Brigance

Thanks for this great website. As a previous cub scout committee chair and cub master, I appreciate how easy it is to find what I need. Currently I am helping my 13 yr old son work toward his eagle scout. I never was able to finish scouts and I really wish I could have. Thankfully I have a son to live vicariously through.

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Feb 09, 2015 - Melissa

Love the site- as a den mom and active committee member I find this to be a great resource.

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Jun 02, 2015 - Ryan Hauck

I won a $25 Scoutstuff gift card in November 2014 off of a facebook promo you ran...finally used it yesterday to buy some new switchback pants.  My old ones were getting pretty worn out. :)

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Aug 21, 2015 - Dmpscouter

I recently completed some leg work for our pack to complete the unit hornaday award.  our project was approved by the council's hornaday chair.  Who do I need to present this to? Is it the pack committee or the leadership team?  Does it require a vote?

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Sep 02, 2015 - Scouter John

I have a scout who has completed Tiger to Bear and was not active as a Webelo last year. He would like to finish and cross over with the current Webelo II scouts in our Pack. If he completes his requirements for his Webelo badge, then his requirements for his Compus points, and finally his requirements for his Arrow of Light, can he crossover with the current Webelo II Den?

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Sep 08, 2015 - Scouter Paul

@Scouter John - There is no requirement of completing ANY Cub Scout rank in order to join a Boy Scout troop.  Any member of a Webelos den should be allowed to participate in a crossing over ceremony to signify that he is moving on from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts.
If there is a separate ceremony recognizing achievement of AoL, he can use the new adventures program to earn just AoL without having earned Webelos rank, but it sounds like that may not fit well with the rest of the den's advancement.  It is too late for him to earn Webelos through the old program at this point, since the cut off was June 1.

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Jan 03, 2016 - Dan

Thanks for accomplishing this web site.  I've received assistance from it when helping with a local Cub Scout Pack as well as with the local Boy Scout troops.

We wrote one another concerning your Florida Trail hike.  Wishing you the best.  My long hikes are over for a few years as we've just completed the adoption  process on a boy.  

If you wish, please update me on your observations of the FT as this is one I will do in the future.  


Regards,
Dan

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Jan 10, 2016 - Thomas J Peel

In September 2015 I won Country Meat Snakes, which I donated to the food box at Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, Florida so they could help feed the hungry in our community.

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Jan 20, 2016 - Ray

Thanks for the effort taken on creating and posting this site.  Just getting back into scouting (with my grandson) after several years.  Unfortunately, I did not expect to become involved as a leader and donated all of my references a couple of years ago.  Our pack has great support from the parents.  But, they need some help with organizing their meetings and finding suitable activities.  You have everything we need in one well organized site.  This site is much easier to use than the references I gave away (since I am a grandparent, you should not be surprised that my references were pretty old school, aka books).

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Feb 07, 2016 - Brad

Service Stars-
I have read all of the literature I can find on service stars and couldn't find a reference to it on your site (which is unusual).  My question is:  what is the timeline for the service stars?  In particular, if a boy joins Scouting in September, does he earn his 1-year service star on the next September?  Or is it based on the Scouting year of June-May?

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Feb 08, 2016 - Scouter Paul

@Brad - It is based on the individual's tenure.  If he joined in September, he'd get the star at the next September.  A couple sites - here and here.  

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Nov 01, 2016 - David Cass

Great.  keep up the good work.

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Nov 19, 2016 - GREG P. VILLANUEVA

I am looking forward for the ideas I will learn from this site to improve our scout unit and to influence children obey scout oath and laws.

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Apr 21, 2017 - ryan

Love the site.I am looking forward for the ideas I will learn.Scouting is awesome.Thanks so much for this super website.Thank you for a very useful site.My long hikes are over for a few years as we've just completed the adoption process on a boy. will get new patrol gear.

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Jun 28, 2017 - RYAN CAVANAUGH

I JUST COMPLETED MY FIRST YEAR AS THE LION COORDINATOR FOR OUR PACK AND WITH DOING SO HAVE SUCCESSFUL FULFILLED ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEN LEADER SQUARE KNOT. HOWEVER BECAUSE LION RANK IS SO NEW IT IS NOT AN OPTION ON THE APPLICATION. WILL I STILL BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THE KNOT?

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Jun 29, 2017 - Scouter Paul

@Ryan - The Den Leader award is not available for Lion Leaders yet since it is still a pilot program.

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Sep 25, 2017 - rick neckar

First, thank you for maintaining this site - I use it all the time.  I do have a question though that I cannot find any related info online.  I do not have the BSA handbook app for the iphone, so was curious to know if you or anyone else knows how they handle signing off on rank requirements with those electronic versions?  We use Scoutbook for our troop and record that info after the paper book is signed off.  

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Oct 07, 2017 - Tim Boyer

@rick neckar - If you are using Scoutbook AND you are connected to the Scout AND you have the permission to update (granted by your Unit Scoutbook Admin) - THEN you can track partial requirements of any rank, merit badge or award. I used Scoutbook during Klondike Derby to give the attending Scouts Camping Merit Badge credit for their snow camping.

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Nov 01, 2017 - Michelle Crooker

I have been using your site for information for many years now. Thank you for keeping this updated and for the time and effort you put in. This is a great site! Your time is appreciated.
Michelle

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Aug 08, 2018 - Sally Deckard

you have a fantastic site. found the info i was looking for here faster, easier than working the National site.  Lions is new program for us this year and wanted to get headstart on making sure we are organized for in-coming parents.  thank you so much for making my "job" easier.
Cubmaster Sally

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Sep 13, 2018 - Krystal Parker

Hi my name is Krystal and I was wondering my son wants to be in boy scouts he's in 7th grade. My cell phone number is 515-318-2035.

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Sep 13, 2018 - Jane

@Krystal, if you go to:

beascout.org

select the Boy Scouts program, and put in your zip code, you will get a list of Boy Scout troops in or near the zip code.

Good luck!

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Apr 02, 2019 - Jim Lenox

I have a coffee cup from Troop 126 Reunion, dated Aug 1, 1992. The only other marking is S.S.S. Wolfe. I would like to return it to the Troop to put in their archives. Any assistants in locating this troop would be greatly appreciated.

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Apr 26, 2020 - Yukon Jack

@  Jim Lenox.
Unless "S.S.S. Wolfe" is a person's name (which is very unlikely) here is my impressions on your inquiry.  In the world of the BSA, "S.S.S." stands for "Sea Scout Ship" and is followed by a name.  This is the only facet of BSA that includes a name with the Unit #.  If the reunion was in 1992, and SSS Wolfe still exists, it should be easy to find.  If not, contact Sea Scouts BSA and ask them if there was ever a SSS Wolfe.  Does the mug specifically state TROOP 126, or is that an assumption?   Because if it was SHIP 126, you have both name and number of the unit, and given how tiny sea scouting is in the BSA, that should be enough for Sea Scouts BSA at National HQ to at least point you in the right direction.

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May 01, 2022 - Matt

This is a great site that I have used to get ideas for skits, jokes, adventures, etc.

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Oct 02, 2022 - CoolGuy5

i really like the boy scouts and i just went camping. i have entered the contest  3 times but i have not won yet. i hope i win this time. also, there are very few comments out here- i wonder why.

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Dec 01, 2022 - Michael Black

I just used the gift card you sent me to purchase donate a new uniform shirt to our Council's Scoutreach program. Thank you for holding this contest and for promoting Scouting!

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Dec 01, 2022 - Scouter Paul

@Michael - That's super!

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Dec 20, 2022 - Trish Rhodes

Thanks! We're going to purchase some Patrol Patches for the troop and a plaque for our previous charter.

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This site is not officially associated with the Boy Scouts of America