I have recently had the opportunity to serve as a Scoutmaster in a local troop. Once again, I am so impressed and encouraged by the SKILLS that youth learn through Scouting. As I interact with the Scouts in my troop, I am constantly observing SKILLS that they are required to use in their Scouting activities. […]
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The value of Scouting is OUTING. There is no way around this simple truth. When a boy gets out into the world—on an adventure—he experiences GROWTH, real growth that doesn’t necessarily happen sitting in a classroom. The most successful units go on outings every month. This doesn’t mean that all leaders and all boys go […]
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On Saturday, June 2, 2018, eleven members of BSA Troop 533 were awarded Scouting’s highest rank—the Eagle Scout Award—at a special Court of Honor celebrating their years of hard work and effort. Scouting parent Betsy Henry said, “We are so proud of all of these young men for putting in the hard work required to […]
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A few months ago I opened an email from the Church carrying the subject line “New Initiative for Children and Youth Development.” I quickly discovered that the Church will discontinue sponsoring all Scouting units on December 31, 2019 in favor of a new global youth program. The email included a link to this Church web […]
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On February 26, 2018, when President Russell M. Nelson was introduced to the world as the seventeenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he encouraged the members of the Church to “Begin with the end in mind.” This counsel is especially relevant for adult Aaronic Priesthood leaders. So, what is the […]
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The 100+ Year “Inspired” Partnership Before addressing the changes, let’s look at what this partnership is. The Church recognizes the good that has come from its 100+ year partnership with the BSA and Scouting. “The Scouting program has benefited hundreds of thousands of Latter-day Saint boys and young men, . . .” “A Joint Statement […]
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Webelos and eleven-year-old (EYO) Scout programs comprise the activity programs for the oldest boys in the Primary, ten- and eleven-year-old boys. For these two programs to work well, both the EYO Scout leader and the Webelos leader should be working together to plan and coordinate their programs at the touchpoints between the two programs. Regular […]
Read more “All thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children” (3 Nephi 22:13). The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently announced a new initiative to replace all existing activity programs for girls and boys, young women and young men in 2020. This is exciting news […]
Read more On the evening of March 31, 2018, I was seated in the chapel of our stake center watching general priesthood meeting. Toward the end of his closing address (Ministering with the Power and Authority of God), President Russell M. Nelson invited priesthood holders “literally to rise up with [him] in our great eternal brotherhood” and […]
Read more “As I have loved you, love one another” begins hymn 308. This is just the remedy that many a Primary boy seeks in life. Boys today are beset on many sides by those whose own self-interest pushes others into isolation and a friendless world through bullying and other forms of social rejection. Boys seek solace […]
Read more Although our 12-13-year-old Scouts are not directly affected by the recent changes in “ministering” in the Church, they are definitely affected by the principles underlying these changes. When a historic change in church policy or practice is announced, it is tempting to focus on the mechanical aspects of the change to make sure we are […]
Read more I was once a 13-year-old Scout hoping that my troop members would elect me to become a nominee for membership in the Order of the Arrow. Not being particularly popular among my peers, I remember waiting nervously while an OA election team counted votes after conducting an election in my troop. The announcement that I […]
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