Eagle Book

Chances are that you have heard of The Eagle Court of Honor Book, especially if you are a Troop leader for if you have an Eagle in the family. It is an invaluable resource for planning every aspect of an Eagle Court of Honor. I highly recommend it.

You may not realize that Mark Ray also wrote The Scoutmaster's Other Handbook. It is a critically acclaimed book that put together in one place many ideas for building a better troop that in his words, goes beyond the basics covered at training and in BSA publications. Here is the highlight list from his web site:

You’ll learn:
How to recruit and retain Scouts and leaders
Techniques for nearly painless fundraising
Suggested board-of-review questions for every rank
Tips for developing troop newsletters and Web sites
Ideas for strengthening patrol operations
Where to find dozens of print and online resources

Visit his web site at http://www.eaglebook.com/ . He has a wonderful web site resource list that alone is worth the trip to his site. His Eagle book is available in the Scout Shop, both locally and nationally. The Scoutmaster's Other Handbook is available at his web site as well as Amazon.com, The Honor Bookstore, and other booksellers.

National Jamboree 2010

As of last week, there is now a wait list for the National Jamboree. Only 180 lucky Scouts will make that trip. An even smaller number (only 20) of adult leaders will be traveling with the contingent. For Scouts on the wait list, be aware that things change in two years. Many on the wait list will be moved up onto the trip. For adults, the possibility for a position on the trip is much slimmer. It does happen but not as often.

There are, however, many other opportunities for adults in staff positions at the Jamboree. On July 1, 2008 the adult staff registration will begin. Be aware that with the staff positions, the time commitment may be increased to as much as 21 days for some positions. Still, is is a great opportunity to be a part of the 100th Anniversary Celebration Jamboree.

Are You Weather Smart?

The recent tragic events in Iowa are a telling reminder that we all need to be weather conscious. A new training module is now available on new E-Learning page on the National Site. As we discussed in a previous posting, the BSA National site is brand new. One new portal is called "My Scouting". It will allow you to apply for Tour Permits, participate in online training, log into Internet Rechartering and Advancement. A new prerequisite to filling out an online tour permit will be completing the module called "Are You Weather Smart? Planning and Preparing for Hazardous Weather." This module is also available at the Online Learning Center at http://olc.scouting.org/ . It is not clear at the point in time if the Online Learning Center will be maintained or if it will be rolled into the E-Learning site on the National site.

Tragedy in Iowa

All of Scouting mourns the loss of four Boy Scouts killed as a tornado hits their camp, Little Sioux Scout Ranch, in Iowa. Over 48 persons were injured in the storm. The camp was destroyed. A memorial service was held last night at Camp Buck Toms. I am sure that these services are being held throughout the country. Please keep the families in your hearts and prayers.

BSA Seeks Home for 2013 Jamboree & Beyond

The Boy Scouts of America announced June 3, 2008, it is expanding its search to find a permanent home for one of America's great traditions-the Boy Scouts National Scout Jamboree.
Securing a permanent home for the National Scout Jamboree, beginning with the 2013 event, is one of several initiatives launched in celebration of the BSA's 100th Anniversary.

The project is a significant economic development opportunity. The initial capital investment for the project is expected to be more than $100 million. Through the years, national jamborees-which typically take place every four years-have attracted more than 200,000 visitors per event.

The permanent site will offer high adventure experiences and leadership development training year-round, as well as potentially host future World Scout Jamborees.

"This is an amazing opportunity to create an anchor for our next 100 years," BSA Chief Scout Executive Bob Mazzuca said. "We are looking for ideas that could potentially include creating leadership and training centers, innovation labs, and leadership development programs. There are no limits to the creative ways this new home can be used-we are confident that a number of superior ideas will be generated through this process."

Initial proposals are due July 11, and site visits and other planning will commence immediately thereafter. The BSA plans to make a selection by the end of 2008. Among other requirements, potential sites must:

* Have spectacular natural beauty
* Have water for recreational activities
* Be at least 5,000 acres and available for donation, long-term lease (100+ years), or sale
* Be located within 25 miles of an interstate or a four-lane divided highway
* Be located within 150 miles of a commercial service airport with medium or large hub status
* Be located in an area with adequate medical services
* Be accessible year-round via standard modes of transportation

June 3, 2008 - [http://www.scouting.org/Media/PressReleases/2008/20080602.aspx]

New Boy Scout Uniform

The BSA Centennial Uniform is on its way!The word is out! Design for the new boy scout uniform comes out in August, 2008. The colors are pretty much the same so new uniform pieces can be transitioned as old ones are outgrown. A big difference is red shoulder loops and unit numbers are now forest green. The uniform is being promoted as more versatile and wearable in the field instead of just for meetings.I do think the new boy scout baseball-style cap is a big improvement. The switchbacks pants are staying around. See BSAUniforms.org for details or this PDF file.

From www.boyscouttrail.com