RememberSchiff

Pelham Boy Scout Troop 1 invited Cub Scout Packs 1 and 4 to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on November 8. Over 60 scouts and 49 adults from all three groups participated in a tour, hike, and massive tailgate for the Army-Temple game “The best part of the day, even beyond the great hike and tailgate, was seeing all three units together,” said Chris Baldassano, Cubmaster for Pack 4. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for our Cub Scouts to see what’s next. When they get to hang out with the Troop 1 scouts, they see firsthand the leadership and skills they’re working toward. It really connects the packs to the troop and makes our whole scouting community stronger.” More at Source including photos: https://pelhamexaminer.com/80379/showcase/pelhams-boy-scout-troop-and-cub-scout-packs-unite-for-tour-of-historic-west-point-followed-by-army-v-temple-football-game/

Update 12/9/2025: "The Palisades fire roared down the canyon 11 months ago, destroying the historic lodge, a smattering of cabins and the trading post where Scouts would buy candies and memorabilia. Weeks later, heavy rains sent mud and debris careening into the canyon, burying sections of the camp in feet of dirt.." Now, Scout rebuild a more resilient camp... Much more at source including photos: https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2025-12-09/scouting-troops-work-to-restore-their-fire-stricken-camp

Scouts from Troops 448 (Boys)/4448 (Girls), in Salisbury, recently returned from a backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail near Burkes Garden, Virginia, where seven Scouts and five adults challenged themselves hiking along Garden Mountain. The weekend-long adventure combined outdoor skills, conservation service and personal growth in one of the most remote valleys in the eastern United States. ... Scoutmaster Dr. Prachee Jain indicated that the hike adds another section to Troop 448’s long-term goal of hiking the entire Appalachian Trail. “The troop began this journey back in the 2003 and over the years, our Scouts have completed roughly 140 continuous miles from Springer Mountain Georgia into North Carolina and numerous additional sections in N.C. and Virginia,” Jain said. “Each trip brings us closer to that goal while building memories.” More at sources: https://www.facebook.com/p/BSA-TroopCrew-448-Salisbury-NC-100068853911904/ https://www.salisburypost.com/2025/12/07/local-scout-troops-take-on-appalachian-trail-adventure/

"The Port of Los Angeles is terminating Scouting’s lease at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro so that the site can be repurposed as a training center for national and international sailing teams in the 2028 Olympics, the Port said.... In 1982, the Scouts entered into a 30-year lease with the Port to construct and manage a youth camp facility, said Robert Scoular, a member of the board of directors and vice president of Greater LA Scouting. Scoular said the Scouts raised more than $3.6 million, including from filmmaker Steven Spielberg, to construct the Cabrillo Beach Youth Center, which spans over 12 acres and includes waterfront access, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, campgrounds, an archery range, a crafts center, an amphitheater and a kitchen. Once the lease expired, the Scouts remained on a month-to-month agreement for more than a decade, Phillip Sanfield, a spokesperson for the Port, said. The terms of the lease said that if occupancy ended, the Scouts forfeited ownership to the Port, Scoular said. " More at Source: https://lbpost.com/news/cabrillo-beach-scout-camp-evicted-boy-scouts-olympics-sailing/

Welcome to scouter.com*. Please tell us about the development of this book's story. Did you both having previous experience in Scouting? Thanks for bringing back a mainstream Scout adventure story. * We are an unofficial scouting forum of scouters and scouts.

In a CBS segment "A Note to Self", John Driskell "Hop" Hopkins reflects on Scouting, his music career, and living with ALS. https://www.cbsnews.com/video/note-to-self-john-driskell-hopkins-reflects-on-music-career-and-living-with-als/

In a new book for pre-teens, George and his patrol? go on an adventure to find treasure in forbidden West Virginian coal mines to help his father. This is book 1 in a series written by Candace Lee and Eric Newman. Foreword by Bear Grylls. https://www.amazon.com/George-Goodwin-Dragon-Slayer-Scouting/dp/0593602757 https://people.com/george-goodwin-dragon-slayer-cover-reveal-exclusive-11860247

@brennan52 welcome to scouter.com. I cannot wait to hear our scouter advice to you on surveys.

or maybe a testimonial marketing campaign on Scouting impact, an example:

IMHO, Scouting America should ask well-spoken Robert Gates, former president of the Boy Scouts of America and Secretary of Defense for Presidents Bush and Obama to respond.

According to source below, this proposal calls for the Pentagon do to the following: pull medical and logistical aid to the National Jamboree. (unclear how much this would apply to WV Guard units) prohibit Scouting troops from meeting at military installations in the U.S. and abroad. Eagle Scouts who decide to enlist also enjoy advanced (E-2 or less frequently these days E-3) military rank with better pay NPR reported Navy Secretary John Phelan comments: “Passive support to Scouting America through access to military installations and educational opportunities ... serve as a crucial recruiting and community engagement tool for the [Navy].” The Navy Secretary also noted that almost a third of the Navy’s officers in training have some scouting background. Source: https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5621952-scouting-america-us-military/

Beginning to sound like a Seinfeld episode.

So as Scoutbook uses a B troop for boys and G troop for girls, will F troop designate a family troop?

Yes, we have seen the need to balance the sponsor's desire for accountability (Who am I sponsoring? Where is my money going?) and a scout's privacy (I would rather no one knows.).

In the past, I have seen Giving Tree ornaments with various Scout items requested for a child. Now I see some units are seeking sponsors for individual scouts ahead of donations for the unit ....or maybe at the end of the day the money all goes in one pot. Saw this today about dual troops in Brookings, Oregon units .... Fundraising events are critical for sustaining the program. Funds raised, such as those from their current wreath selling effort, are directed toward maintaining their meeting hall, covering essential costs like building maintenance, new gutters, a new drain and the ever-increasing insurance fees as well as helping children join who cannot afford the fees. A core philosophy of the leadership is ensuring that financial hardship never bars a prospective Scout from joining. “We try and cover the cost, if we have any low-income scouts. We try to help them out,” Wilson emphasized. “We don't want any scout to be turned away just because they can't afford a uniform or anything.” To help potential sponsors understand the financial need, (Rachel) Wilson (Committee Chair) broke down the costs for a new Scout: • Uniform Shirt: Approximately $60.00 • Neckerchief: About $15.00 • Patches (starting numbers/badges): Between $15 and $20 • Annual Registration Fee: About $90 • Monthly Dues: $10 for the first Scout per family and $5 for each additional sibling. While the group is currently discussing implementing a formal program for sponsoring individual children, general donations are vital for their maintenance, operational costs and to help fund Scouts who may not otherwise have an opportunity to join. " Source: https://www.currypilot.com/news/dual-troops-single-mission-local-scouts-serve-community/article_df0fc6e0-ecf0-422b-8e90-6ec383732881.html