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Scouts Support Food Bank

ScoutingNewsStaff — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 21:51:41 +0000

After the holidays food banks around the country see a shortage of food as the holiday cheer and helping spirit seems to take back burner to springtime activities. Not for Scouts around Flint, Michigan. They’ve collected over 40,000 pounds of food in their 26th annual Scouting for Food drive. Scouts in Utah have collected over 1 million pounds of food to help their neighbors. How many pounds have your area Scouts collected?

Call your local food bank and see if there is a way to integrate Scouting for Food into your program to help re-stock their shelves.

Source: mLive, Fox 13

2012 Marks 100 years of Boy Scouts’ Highest Rank, Eagle Scout

Press Release — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 06:00:06 +0000

IRVING, Texas (April 10, 2012)-One hundred years after Arthur Eldred of New York earned this nation’s first Eagle Scout Award, new, independent research demonstrates the significant, positive impact Eagle Scouts have on society every day. Since it was first awarded in 1912, more than 2 million young men have achieved the Boy Scouts of America’s highest rank. The study conducted by Baylor University, Merit Beyond the Badge, found that Eagle Scouts are more likely than men who have never been in Scouting to:

Have higher levels of planning and preparation skills, be goal-oriented, and network with others
Be in a leadership position at their place of employment or local community
Report having closer relationships with family and friends
Volunteer for religious and nonreligious organizations
Donate money to charitable groups
Work with others to improve their neighborhoods

“Eagle Scouts have made their marks throughout history—from walking on the moon and working behind the desk in the Oval Office to running the bases in the major leagues. And while we’re proud to claim some truly great men in American history among our ranks, we’re even more proud that everyday Eagle Scouts become wonderful husbands, fathers, and citizens,” said Bob Mazzuca, Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America. “This research validates for the world something we’ve known about Eagle Scouts for years. They lead. They vote. They donate. They volunteer. They work hard and achieve their goals. In short, Eagle Scouts are exceptional men.”

Baylor University’s Program for Prosocial Behavior received a grant from the John Templeton Foundation to measure the lifelong effects of being in the Scouting program, and more specifically, of attaining the rank of Eagle Scout.

“Our study measured if achieving the rank of Eagle provides an advantage and benefits throughout a Scout’s life,” said Dr. Byron Johnson, lead researcher, Baylor University. “We found that the effort and commitment required to earn this rank produces positive attributes that benefit not only these men in their personal and professional lives, but also benefits their communities and the country through the service and leadership they provide.”

The Eagle Scout badge has become widely recognized as a mark of distinction both within and outside of Scouting. Once earned, it is worn for life. About 4 percent of Boy Scouts earn the Eagle Scout rank. To do so, Scouts must demonstrate their understanding of leadership, service, character, personal fitness, and outdoor skills at multiple levels.

In addition to the 21 life skills merit badges required to earn the Eagle Scout rank, each Scout must complete an extensive self-directed service project. The Scout must plan, organize, lead, and manage the entire service effort prior to his 18th birthday. The average number of hours spent on Eagle Scout projects is 130. In 2011, more than 51,000 young men earned the Eagle Scout Award, which means Eagle Scout service projects alone represented almost 6.7 million hours of community service.

Among the 21 required merit badges to earn the Eagle Scout rank are First Aid, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communication, Environmental Science, Personal Fitness, Personal Management, Camping, and Family Life.

Some of the more notable Eagle Scouts are President Gerald Ford; Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton; explorer Steve Fossett; Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation co-chair Bill Gates Sr.; MLB all-star Shane Victorino; and actor Jon Heder, who starred in the independent film Napoleon Dynamite.

While not a household name, a clear example of what Baylor University found in its research is 15-year-old Eagle Scout Spencer Zimmerman. Zimmerman learned that Dayton Hayward, a friend with cerebral palsy, liked to feel the wind in his face. So, he invited Hayward to join him in completing a triathlon. To help Hayward achieve the impossible, Zimmerman pulled, pushed, and carried his friend through a 500-meter swim, 3.2-mile run, and 12-mile bike ride. Both boys faced intense physical tests in completing the race. For his commitment to serving others, Zimmerman was recently awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation’s American Spirit Award.

“I was honored to receive the American Spirit Award, but the credit goes to Dayton,” Zimmerman said. “Despite the challenges he faces, he has great spirit. Throughout the training and race, I was just his legs. I believe there’s no reason why Dayton shouldn’t have the opportunity to do what everyone else does.”

About the Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America provides the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training, which helps young people be “Prepared. For Life.™” The Scouting organization is composed of 2.7 million youth members between the ages of 7 and 21 and more than a million volunteers in local councils throughout the United States and its territories. For more information on the Boy Scouts of America, please visit www.scouting.org.

About Baylor University
Baylor University is a private Christian university and a nationally ranked research institution, characterized as having “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The university provides a vibrant campus community for approximately 15,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating university in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 11 nationally recognized academic divisions. Baylor sponsors 19 varsity athletic teams and is a founding member of the Big 12 Conference.

For more information about the Baylor University Institute for Studies of Religion, Program on Prosocial Behavior, please visithttp://www.baylorisr.org . To review the Eagle Scout research, please visit: http://www.scouting.org/About/Research/EagleScouts.aspx.

New Research Affirms Lifetime Benefits of Girls’ Participation in Girl Scouting

Press Release — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 06:00:59 +0000

New York, N.Y. — According to a new Girl Scout Research Institute report, Girl Scouting Works: The Alumnae Impact Study, women who were Girl Scouts as children display significantly more positive life outcomes than non-Girl Scout alumnae.

Approximately one in every two adult women (49%) in the U.S. has at some point been a member of Girl Scouts; the average length of time a girl spends in Girl Scouting is four years. There are currently an estimated 59 million Girl Scout alumnae living in the U.S.

The study, which was not identified to participants as a Girl Scout project, surveyed a sample of 3,550 women aged 18 and older, roughly half of whom were Girl Scout alumnae and half drawn from the general population. The sample was chosen to be representative of the US population in terms of race/ethnicity, household income, education, marital status, and type of residence.

Compared to non-alumnae, Girl Scout alumnae display significantly more positive life outcomes on several indicators of success. These success indicators include:

Perceptions of self. Of Girl Scout alumnae, 63% consider themselves competent and capable, compared to 55% of non-alumnae.
Volunteerism and community work. Of Girl Scout alumnae who are mothers, 66% have been a mentor/volunteer in their child’s youth organization, compared to 48% of non-alumnae mothers.
Civic engagement. Of Girl Scout alumnae, 77% vote regularly, compared to 63% of non-alumnae.
Education. Of Girl Scout alumnae, 38% have attained college degrees, compared to 28% of non-alumnae.
Income/socioeconomic status. Girl Scout alumnae report a significantly higher household income ($51,700) than non-alumnae ($42,200).

In addition to collecting quantitative data, the researchers conducted a series of live interviews with Girl Scout alumnae. Overall, alumnae say Girl Scouting was positive and rewarding for them. Former Girl Scouts:

Rate their Girl Scouting experiences very highly. The average rating among all alumnae on a 1–10 scale is 8.04.
Fondly recall their experiences in Girl Scouting. Fun, friendships, and crafts are the most frequently cited positive aspects of Girl Scouting.
Say they’ve received concrete benefits from Girl Scouts, such as being exposed to nature and having a safe place to try new things.
Actively recognize the influence of Girl Scouting on their lives. Three quarters of alumnae report that the Girl Scout experience has had a positive impact on their lives in general.

The positive effects of Girl Scouting seem particularly pronounced for women who were Girl Scouts longer, as well as for African American and Hispanic women.

“Girl Scouts turns 100 this year, and we couldn’t ask for a better birthday present than this kind of validation,” saysAnna Maria Chávez, chief executive officer, Girl Scouts of the USA. “We declared 2012 as the Year of the Girl to help bring attention to girls and the value of encouraging and supporting them. To strengthen that support beyond the boundaries of Girl Scouting, we’ve launched ToGetHerThere, with the goal of reaching gender-balanced leadership in one generation.

“One kind of support we know girls need is role models—successful older women they can learn from and emulate. There is no group of women better suited to do that than our Girl Scout alumnae. We’re asking them to join ouralumnae association and let us know if they’d be willing to visit schools and talk to girls who want to be leaders and may not be sure how to go about it. So Girl Scout, phone home. We need you.”

Learn more about Girl Scouting Works: The Alumnae Impact study, or to obtain a copy, visithttp://www.girlscouts.org/research. To join the Girl Scout Alumnae Association (where you may also obtain a copy ofGirl Scouting Works), visit http://alumnae.girlscouts.org. To learn more about ToGetHerThere—and to take the pledge to support girls and girls’ leadership—visit http://togetherthere.org.

About Girl Scouts of the USA
Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls, with 3.2 million girl and adult members worldwide. Girl Scouts is the leading authority on girls’ healthy development, and builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. The organization serves girls from every corner of the United States and its territories. Girl Scouts of the USA also serves American girls and their classmates attending American or international schools overseas in 90 countries. For more information on how to join, volunteer or reconnect with, or donate to Girl Scouts, call 800-GSUSA-4-U (212-852-8000) or visitwww.girlscouts.org.

Two Councils Merge

ScoutingNewsStaff — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:22:53 +0000

Two councils in Michigan and Wisconsin have voted to merge together. The Hiawathaland Council in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and the Bay-Lakes Council in Wisconsin. There will not be a new council created, instead they will keep the Bay-Lakes Council moniker. In November of 2011, nine councils in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan merged into a single Greater Michigan Council. Merging councils increase the resources available to youth, but may have an unforeseen consequences.

What do you think? Have you been through a council merger or split? Comment below.

Update 3/16/2012: Thanks Dan for the comment below. Visit the BSA Area Project to find more information on how Michigan is innovating a new model on the idea of a Council.

Sources: postcrescent.com Bay-Lakes Council News

Scout App Helleniechsin Now on Android

ScoutingNewsStaff — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 06:30:35 +0000

Scouts and Order of the Arrow members who want to speak the language of the Lenni Lenape (Delaware Indian) language but don’t have an iPhone can now enjoy Helleniechsin on an Android based device. Dan with ScoutApps.net has spent countless hours creating and updating a easily searchable database of over 4,000 Lenape words and their English definitions.

Dan originally created the app for iPhones and iPads. ”I did the Android version

as there are a lot of Scouters in my area with them, and some of those scouters had been bugging me for almost a year about when was I going to release my programs for the Android,” says Dan. Good things sometimes are worth the wait. Helleniechsin is no exception. The database is easily searchable in both Lenape and English. Looking for that perfect Vigil name? Wondering why your friend won’t give the definitions of his? This app will give you the answers.

Dan started creating Scouting based iOS apps for his council. He has two apps to aid staff and campers through summer camp programs and around the camp. ScoutApps.net also produces the highly popular Campfire Songs. Campfire Songs has over 150 popular popular song lyrics. The next version of this will play the tunes as well.

Dan is always thinking of new apps to help Scouts. We’re looking forward to more things to come from ScoutApps.net!

Download Helleniechsin for Android

Download Helleniechsin for iPhone

Download Helleniechsin for iPad

West Virginia National Guard Creates Task Force for The Summit

ScoutingNewsStaff — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 07:00:13 +0000

One big thing the BSA lost when moving away from Fort A.P. Hill as their jamboree site is the support from the Army. This week the West Virginia National Guard stepped up to fill these shoes. They announced a multi-agency task for to support the Boy Scouts of America during the 2013 National Jamboree.

The task force will be headed by West Virginia’s Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, member departments are the National Guard, Department of Transportation, Department of Health and Human Services and other government agencies.

During the gathering of over 50,000 participants and 200,000 visitors, the BSA relies on services and support from various government organizations. The task force centralizes and organizes the various roles supporting the event.

Source: The Register-Herald

New Girl Scout Research Affirms Girls’ Interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math

Press Release — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:00:55 +0000

New York, N.Y. — According to the Girl Scout Research Institute study Generation STEM: What Girls Say about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, though a majority of today’s girls have a clear interest in STEM, they don’t prioritize STEM fields when thinking about their future careers.

This latest offering from the Girl Scout Research Institute shows that 74 percent of teen girls are interested in STEM subjects and the general field of study. Further, a high 82 percent of girls see themselves as “smart enough to have a career in STEM.” And yet, few girls consider it their number-one career option: 81 percent of girls interested in STEM are interested in pursuing STEM careers, but only 13 percent say it’s their first choice. Additionally, girls express that they don’t know a lot about STEM careers and the opportunities afforded by these fields, with 60 percent of STEM-interested girls acknowledging that they know more about other careers than they do about STEM careers.

Girls are also aware that gender barriers persist in today’s society: 57 percent of those studied concur that if they were to pursue a STEM career, they would “have to work harder than a man to be taken seriously.”

As to what girls are drawn to with regard to these subjects, Generation STEM notes that the creative and hands-on aspects of STEM hold the most appeal. STEM-interested girls take an active, inquisitive approach to engaging in science, technology, engineering, and math: a high percentage like to solve problems (85%), build things and put things together (67%), do hands-on science projects (83%), and ask questions about how things work and find ways to answer these questions (80%). Girls enjoy the hands-on aspect of exploration and discovery and recognize the benefits of a challenge: 89 percent of all girls agree that “obstacles make me stronger.”

“While we know that the majority of girls prefer a hands-on approach in STEM fields, we also know that girls are motivated to make the world a better place and to help people,” says Kamla Modi, PhD, research and outreach analyst, Girl Scout Research Institute. “Girls may not understand how STEM careers help people, or how their STEM interests can further their goals of helping people. Girl Scouts of the USA is committed to engaging girls in STEM activities and encouraging them to pursue STEM interests both in and outside the classroom, [in part] through program partnerships.”

Girl Scouts’ relationship with AT&T constitutes one such partnership. Girl Scouts of the USA and AT&T have joined together to advance underserved high-school girls in science and engineering. As minority students and women are gravitating away from science and engineering toward other professions, and employment in STEM fields is increasing at a faster pace than in non-STEM fields, educational experts say the U.S. must increase proficiency and interest in these areas to compete in the global economy. Girl Scouts of the USA and AT&T are tackling this issue with a $1 million AT&T Aspire contribution, designed to spark STEM interest in underserved high-school girls across the country.

Addressing another critical Generation STEM finding—just 46 percent of girls know a woman in a STEM career—Girl Scouts of the USA and the New York Academy of Sciences have announced a partnership to design and implement a STEM mentoring program for Girl Scouts, modeled after the academy’s current afterschool STEM mentoring program. The new curriculum will be adapted and scaled to Girl Scouts’ network of more than 100 councils across the country. The goal is to identify and train young women scientists to serve as role models and mentors for girls, and to work in collaboration with Girl Scout volunteers to bring high-quality, hands-on, informal science education opportunities to middle-school Girl Scouts.

“America has a huge opportunity for economic growth with girls’ interest in science, technology, engineering, and math,” says Anna Maria Chávez, CEO, Girl Scouts of the USA. “When girls succeed, so does society. We all have a role to play in making girls feel supported and capable when it comes to involvement in STEM fields—and anything else they set their minds to and have traditionally been steered away from.”

About the Girl Scout Research Institute
The Girl Scout Research Institute, formed in 2000, is a vital extension of Girl Scouts of the USA’s commitment to addressing the complex and ever-changing needs of girls. Comprised of a dedicated staff and advisors who are experts in child development, academia, government, business, and the not-for-profit sector, the institute conducts groundbreaking studies, releases critical facts and findings, and provides resources essential for the advancement of the well-being and safety of girls living in today’s world. The institute also informs public policy and advocacy for Girl Scouting with its research and outreach.

Scouts Seek to Expand Camp with Land Patent

ScoutingNewsStaff — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:00:59 +0000

Most people would think all the land in Maryland would be accounted for. Leave it up to the Boy Scouts to find something that seems to not exist. 19 acres in Harford County is not on the tax rolls. Surrounding the 19 acres is Broad Creek Memorial Scout Reservation, a 1,700-acre campground in operation for more than 60 years.

Obtaining land by a Land Patent is not done very often. In fact, the last time it was done in Maryland was in 2002. The Boy Scouts’ land is one the largest unclaimed tract in modern history. When original land patents were issued, surveying equipment was not as accurate as it is today. Over the years people have identified small parcels which fell through the cracks many years ago. In order to obtain the land, the Scouts must prove that no one else has ever owned it. They must search back through records and make sure that it was not granted to anyone since the Lord Baltimore in the 1630s.

Once the Scouts prove no one else has ever owned the land, what will they do with it? The same thing they’ve done for the past 60 years. Since they own all the land around it they assumed it too was theirs and have been taking care of it as their own ever since.

Source: Baltimore Sun

Boy Scouts Hit Black Gold

ScoutingNewsStaff — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 07:00:31 +0000

Every camp and council throughout the country could use an extra $10,000 a month. Camp Teetonkah in Jackson County, Michigan is providing just that. The 220-acre camp was found to have oil and the Great Sauk Trail Council will begin to extract it in an environmentally sustainable way. It is a great opportunity to teach Scouts environmental science, caring for and preserving nature while utilizing its benefits.

Source: WILX

Nation’s Leaders Gather to Celebrate A Century of Eagle Scouts’ Positive Impact on America

Press Release — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 03:14:48 +0000

New Research Finds that Eagle Scouts More Likely to Be Leaders at Work, Goal-oriented

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 15, 2012)—Since the first Eagle Scout Award was earned in 1912, more than 2 million young men have gone on to achieve the Boy Scouts of America’s highest rank. Today, a Gathering of Eagles on Capitol Hill will bring together some of the nation’s most influential leaders to honor the centennial of the hard-earned achievement.

“Scouting prepares young men to become leaders through real-life experiences that foster a sense of duty. The accomplishments of Eagle Scouts over the past century underscore the importance of Scouting to the prosperity of our nation,” said U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions, host of the gathering. “Through the leadership skills learned in Scouting, Eagles have gone on to become pioneers of space travel, founders of our nation’s largest enterprises, and, of course, civil servants. It is remarkable to have so many outstanding Eagle Scouts gathered here this evening.”

About 4 percent of Boy Scouts earn the Eagle rank. To do so, Scouts must demonstrate their understanding of leadership, service, character, personal fitness, and outdoor skills at multiple levels. In addition to the 21 merit badges required to earn the Eagle rank, each Scout must complete an extensive service project that he plans, organizes, leads, and manages before his 18th birthday. In 2011, 51,473 young men earned the Eagle Scout Award through the completion of 21 life skills merit badges and an extensive self-directed service project. The average number of hours spent on Eagle Scout projects is 130, which means that in 2011, Eagle Scout service projects alone represented almost 6.7 million hours of community service.

Outstanding Eagle Scout and Report to the Nation delegate Nicholas Kulick led an effort to design and install a small computer network at the Enkijape Primary School in Maasailand, Kenya. The 16-year-old Scout worked with fellow students and teachers from Highland School in Warrenton, Va. and members of the Maasailand Preservation Trust in Africa to install equipment and train students and teachers on iPads and laptops. Because the impoverished east African village didn’t have electricity, everything was connected wirelessly to a cellular Internet router that was powered by solar panels. Kulick worked with corporate and government organizations in the U.S. and Kenya to ensure the equipment would bring the school desperately needed reading material, and a new window to the world.

“Completing my Eagle Scout service project had to be one of the most challenging and most rewarding experiences of my life,” Kulick said. “I designed the project myself, so I was able to choose something that I believe is really important. And I built it myself, so I had to work the Boy Scouts of America through all of the issues that came up. Of course, that also means I got to be there to see what an incredible difference it made on the lives of others.”

Soon, findings will be released from an independent research study on the impact of Scouting, conducted by Baylor University and funded by the John Templeton Foundation. The study found that Eagle Scouts are more likely than men who have never been in Scouting to:

Have higher levels of planning and preparation skills, be goal-oriented, and network with others
Be in a leadership position at their place of employment or local community
Report having closer relationships with family and friends
Volunteer for religious and nonreligious organizations
Donate money to charitable groups
Work with others to improve their neighborhoods

“This research gives us external validation of something that we have known for years. Eagle Scouts are exceptional men,” said Bob Mazzuca, Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America. “And while we’re proud to claim some truly great men in American history among our ranks, we’re even more proud that everyday Eagle Scouts become wonderful husbands, fathers, and citizens.”

Becoming an Eagle Scout requires years of dedication and hard work. The Eagle rank has become widely recognized as a mark of distinction both within and outside of Scouting. Once earned, it is worn for life.

“Being an Eagle Scout is more than setting a long-term goal as a youth, and persevering until it is achieved. It is an internalization of the values and principles young men need for life,” said Rex W. Tillerson, chairman and CEO of Exxon Mobil Corporation, current BSA national president, and Eagle Scout. “I find that I can test almost any decision I make against the oath I took as a Scout and the Scout Law, and I will always make a good decision.”

Among the 21 required merit badges to earn the Eagle rank are First Aid, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communication, Environmental Science, Personal Fitness, Personal Management, Camping, and Family Life.

In 2011, more than 51,000 young men earned the Eagle rank. For the past six years, the BSA has averaged more than 50,000 new Eagle Scouts each year.

About the Boy Scouts of America

The Boy Scouts of America prepares young people for life by providing the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. The Scouting organization is composed of 2.7 million youth members between the ages of 7 and 21, and more than a million volunteers, in local councils throughout the United States and its territories. For more information on the Boy Scouts of America, please visit www.scouting.org.