A Scoutmaster's Blog

The Sauk Centre Herald is a weekly newspaper published in the city of Sauk Centre, which is the first town to the west of Melrose, the city I call home. The Herald is one of three local newspapers that does a good job of supporting the local Scout troops and packs.

A few years ago I recieved a phone call from one of the Herald staff asking for a picture of the troop. They were planning on doing a full page spread in the issue coming out during Scout week to recognize the area Scout units, and wanted to include pictures of the Scouts and leaders. I was quite impressed when I saw the issue a few weeks later.

Last December I was contacted by Robin who works for the Herald. The paper was planning on doing their yearly Scout tribute again for the first week of February and needed a new group photo. Luckily, she contacted me just before the troop’s December court of honor so I was able to get a current group photo.

When the issue arrived on the newsstand I was quick to pick up a copy. Once again, I was very impressed with the job done by the Sauk Centre Herald staff. It was two full pages featuring photographs of troops and packs from four local communities. And it was in full color. And it had other Scouting information included, like the Scout Law and the vision of Scouting.

I told Robin about this blog and asked if it would be alright to share the two page spread with my readers. She was happy to ablige and emailed the full size pdf files to me. After taking the names of the Scouts off the pages (online youth protection, you know) and resizing the pages a bit, I have up loaded them to the troop’s website. Click a link and take a look. See if you do not agree that the Sauk Centre Herald did a great job.

Page 1 (Boy Scouts)
Page 2 (Cub Scouts)

Wouldn’t it be great if all local communities did something like this for Scout Week?

The Boy Scouts of America celebrated its 99th anniversary on Sunday, February 8. That is a lot of advancement being earned, service projects being done, and boys learning about being physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. I still believe that Scouting is one of the best organizations that a boy and young man can belong to, and I dislike it when a political group decides to step on the principles of Scouting to further its own cause.

That is why when I discover an article about the positive aspects of the Scouting program I like to pass it along for you to read. One of the people I follow in Twitter, DavidTCopeland, recently posted a link to an article found in the Desert Valley Times. The article is written by David Bye, who was a Scout himself as a youth. He writes his article about the good in Scouting, and how things could be in society if more people had been a Scout as a youth. He writes:

“When Robert Baden-Powell founded the Boy Scouts movements in the early 1900s, it was his aim “is to develop among boys a power of sympathizing with others, and a spirit of self-sacrifice and patriotism.”

Baden-Powell envisioned a standard of exemplary conduct that included respect for all, without regard to class distinction. “Everything on two legs that calls itself a boy has God in him,” he wrote, “although he may — through the artificial environment of modern civilization — be the most errant little thief, liar, and filth-monger unhung. Our job is to give him a chance.”

He was a little ahead of his time. The Fourth Scout Law was a powerful challenge to the racism and British snobbery of the time: “A Scout is a friend to all, and a brother to every other Scout, no matter to what country, class or creed, the other may belong.” That such a clear standard of equality and tolerance has sometimes been followed imperfectly does not negate the ideal.”

I invite you to read the whole article at http://www.dvtnv.com/ (under dvt opinion) and leave a comment. I think that we who appreciate what the Scouting program has to offer need to do want we can to support articles like this one.

Update: Another Twitterer, LatterDay_Scout, has posted an about an article of a cross country tour celebrating 100 years of the BSA. This looks like something that would be worthwhile checking out. Check out the article at
http://www.freep.com/article/20090203/FEATURES01/902030306/Michiganders+to+celebrate+100+years+of+Boy+Scouting

Here is some big news for the Scouts in and around the Twin Cities in Minnesota. The Northern Star Council has plans to open an “urban base camp” near Fort Snelling. Here is a portion of the article found in the Star Tribune:

The regional Boy Scout council’s plan to create an “urban base camp” at Fort Snelling promises to bring life to an empty century-old building that has cost taxpayers at least $3 million. The current owner of Fort Snelling’s old Drill Hall, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, acquired it in 2000, but its plans for a skateboard park and other uses never materialized, and the cavalry building has sat vacant and unused.

Now the Boy Scouts of America Northern Star Council hopes to close on the building in November and to open its $7.25 million complex in October 2010, the centennial of the chapter’s founding.

The urban location of the “Northern Star Base Camp” is unprecedented nationally. The council aims to reach out to city kids who haven’t grown up going to the woods, said John Andrews, the council’s scout executive. What’s more, Scouts could take the Hiawatha light-rail line there.

I hope things work out well for this project. The full article can be found at http://tinyurl.com/3fsaop

Here are some news releases about Scouting that have been recently found online. It is great to see Scouts making a positive impact on their community, and the financial support from some major corporations.

Eagle Scout Paul Banwart from Shakopee, Minnesota, awarded American Legion Award:

And now, this Shakopee teen is being honored nationally this month as the top Eagle Scout by the American Legion, which also gave him a $10,000 college scholarship. “Paul Banwart represents the best in scouting, and the American Legion is proud to have selected him as its Eagle Scout of the year,” said Commander Marty Conatser, the national leader of the organization.

http://www.startribune.com/local/south/26223804.html

AT&T Donates $3 Million To BSA To Kick-Off 100th Anniversary

The Boy Scouts of America announced today that AT&T has donated $3 million to kick off nationwide support for the youth organization’s 100th Anniversary Celebration. The announcement came during the opening of the BSA’s Annual National Leadership Training Conference in Nashville.

AT&T is the first major donor to step forward with a multi-million dollar contribution and will serve as Scouting’s official communications partner during the 100th Anniversary celebration. Feb. 8, 2010 marks 100 years of Scouting in America for one of the country’s largest youth-serving organizations.

http://www.scoutingnews.org/2008/08/05/att-donates-3-million-to-bsas-100th-anniversary-celebration/

Top Ten Reasons Why Scouting Beats TV (from Lone Star Scouter)
No batteries required
Commercial-free
Strengthens families
Burns more calories
Grows character, not potatoes
Offers college scholarships
Violence-free
Develops leaders
Prepares kids for real life

#1: It’s the Ultimate Reality Show!
TV shows like Survivor, Fear Factor and the Human Race have nothing on Scouting. Just ask a Scout.

http://buffaloeagle.wordpress.com/2008/08/07/top-10-reasons-why-scouting-beats-tv-hands-down/

Have a great Scouting Day!

There was very bad news reported tonight in Iowa. Here is the AP report found on Yahoo…

DES MOINES, Iowa – The National Weather Service has received reports of injuries and possibly fatalities from an apparent tornado that struck a Boy Scout camp in western Iowa. Meteorologist Jim Meyer says law enforcement officials had called the weather service Wednesday evening and reported injuries and damage at the Little Sioux Scout Ranch. Meyer said: “We believe there were some fatalities and injuries.” A dispatcher with the Harrison County sheriff’s department in Iowa says first responders are at the camp and more are en route. She isn’t confirming reports of injuries.

Since this first article was reported online, news has come in that four people were killed at the camp by a “rain wrapped” tornado. Here is the latest update:

DES MOINES, Iowa – A spokeswoman for Iowa Homeland Security says at least four people were killed and 40 injured when a tornado struck a western Iowa Boy Scout camp. Iowa Homeland Security spokeswoman Julie Tack says a search and rescue team has been deployed to the camp near Little Sioux in Harrison County. She says the camp is covered with debris and downed trees after the tornado hit about 7 p.m. Wednesday. Tack says there were 93 campers and 25 staff members at the camp. The campers were between 13 and 18 years old and were attending a leadership training camp. “They were considered some of the best in the area,” Tack said. At least 40 people who were injured in the storm were being taken to area hospitals.

Please keep these victims and families in your prayers.

I was playing around the internet today, checking on some various Scouting related websites, and came across one that I thought would be a handy site for all Scouting leaders to check out. The page is called “Scouting Urban Legends” and discusses many of the falsehoods that are a part of Boy Scouting and sets them straight. There are very interesting Scouting legends to be found there. Check it out at:
http://www.scoutingthenet.com/UrbanLegends.htm