Why Do Scouts Go Camping

Why Do Scouts Go Camping

Camping requires living deliberately, examining the essential facts of life.

Camping requires establishing an outpost of civilization, managing resources, setting routines, cooperating, and learning the practicalities of interdependence.

Camping requires recreating the mechanisms of survival, applying specialized skills, depending on what we can do with our hands.

Camping takes us to the frontier where nature and civilization meet; we can learn a lot about both if we keep our eyes open.

Camping separates from everyday life because camping is at odds with everyday life.

Camping means leaving distractions behind; it is just us, the forest, and our fellow Scouts.

Camping means pushing ourselves physically and mentally beyond our normal sphere of comfort.

Camping asks us to take ourselves as we are, it’s hard to be someone you aren’t in the wild.

Camping inspires humility, to confront our frailty in the face of the natural world.


Camping inspires reverence for nature and teaches us where we fit in the grand scheme of things.


Source: Why do Scouts go Camping? - Scoutmastercg.com

New Webelos Adventures Conversion

New Webelos Adventures Conversion

As of June 1st, 2015, the Webelos have new Adventure pins to be earned.  Many of the old activity pins have been converted, and some have been retired.  Here is a rough list of what I believe is the closest conversion from the old Webelos activity pins.

Webelos Required Adventures

New Adventure	Old Activity	Topic
Cast Iron Chef	new	cooking
Duty to God and You	aka part of past Webelos requirements	religion
First Responder	aka Readyman	first aid
Stronger, Faster, Higher	aka Athlete	exercise
Webelos Walkabout	new	hiking

Arrow of Light Required Adventures

New Adventure	Old Activity	Topic
Building a Better World	aka Citizen	citizenship
Camper	aka Outdoorsman	camping
Duty to God in Action	aka part of past Webelos requirements	religion
Scouting Adventure	aka part of past Arrow of Light requirements	boy scouts

Webelos and Arrow of Light Elective Adventures

New Adventure	Old Activity	Topic
Adventures in Science	aka Scientist	science
Aquanaut	aka Aquanaut	swimming
Art Explosion	aka Artist	art
Aware and Care	new	disabilities
Build It	aka Craftsman	building
Build My Own Hero	new	heros
Castaway	new	survivalist
Earth Rocks!	aka Geologist	geology
Engineer	aka Engineer	civil engineering
Fix It	aka Handyman	repairs/maintenance
Game Design	new	games
Into the Wild	aka Naturalist	bugs
Into the Woods	aka Forester	trees
Looking Back, Looking Forward	new	scouting history
Maestro!	new	music
Moviemaking	new	movie making
Project Family	aka Family Member	family
Sportsman	aka Sportsman	sports

Retired Past Activity Pins

Old Activity	Topics
Communicator	news, codes, language, computers
Fitness	health, alcohol, drugs
Scholar	school, math, language, chess
Showman	puppets, music, drama
Traveler	travel, maps

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List Format

Webelos Required Adventures

• Cast Iron Chef - new  (cooking)
• Duty to God and You - aka part of past Webelos requirements  (religion)
• First Responder - aka Readyman  (first aid)
• Stronger, Faster, Higher - aka Athlete  (exercise)
• Webelos Walkabout - new  (hiking)

Arrow of Light Required Adventures

• Building a Better World - aka Citizen  (citizenship)
• Camper - aka Outdoorsman  (camping)
• Duty to God in Action - aka part of past Webelos requirements  (religion)
• Scouting Adventure - aka part of past Arrow of Light requirements  (boy scouts)

Webelos and Arrow of Light Elective Adventures

• Adventures in Science - aka Scientist  (science)
• Aquanaut -  aka Aquanaut  (swimming)
• Art Explosion -  aka Artist  (art)
• Aware and Care - new  (disabilities)
• Build It - aka Craftsman  (building)
• Build My Own Hero - new  (heros)
• Castaway - new  (survivalist)
• Earth Rocks! - aka Geologist  (geology)
• Engineer - aka Engineer  (civil engineering)
• Fix It - aka Handyman  (repairs/maintenance)
• Game Design -  new  (games)
• Into the Wild -  aka Naturalist  (bugs)
• Into the Woods - aka Forester  (trees)
• Looking Back, Looking Forward - new  (scouting history)
• Maestro! - new  (music)
• Moviemaking - new  (movie making)
• Project Family - aka Family Member  (family)
• Sportsman - aka Sportsman  (sports)

Retired Past Activity Pins

• Communicator - news, codes, language, computers
• Fitness - health, alcohol, drugs
• Scholar - school, math, language, chess
• Showman - puppets, music, drama
• Traveler - travel, maps

Scoutbook Is Joining Forces With the BSA National Council

Scoutbook Is Joining Forces With the BSA National Council

Shawn Jackson, the creator and founder of Scoutbook announced April 8th:

"The Boy Scouts of America today announced it has acquired Scoutbook and will work to make it available to the broader Scouting family.

The Scoutbook team is honored that the BSA recognizes the value of the unit-experience and unit-management tools that we created to enhance your Scouting experience. Rest assured that we are working closely with the National Council on transitioning Scoutbook to become a BSA wholly owned and operated resource in a way that continues to ensure a positive experience for you, our existing users.

Visit Scouting Wire today for additional information, including an FAQ. In the weeks and months ahead, we will communicate more about the transition of Scoutbook to the BSA, sharing details as they become available. In addition to watching for communications like this one from the Scoutbook team, please stay tuned to Scouting Wire for updates on our progress and what this change will mean for you in the long term."

"Scoutbook was created in 2013 by Shawn Jackson, a parent and active member of the Scouting community, and its membership has quickly grown to nearly 200,000 users"

How much does Scoutbook cost?  It roughly costs about $1 per scout per year.  The initial cost is $10 for the first 5 boys, with the option of addition additional blocks of 5 scouts for $5.

Tau of Scouting

Tau of Scouting

Action is better than inactivity.

Participation is better than watching.

Outdoors is more fun than indoors.

The unusual is more exciting than the usual.

The surprising is more interesting than the expected.

The mysterious is more appealing than the obvious.

The real thing is more appealing than a substitute.

Preparation is better than winging it.

-- author unknown