Isabella and Victor Vaccaro enjoy doing a lot of activities together, like basketball and horseback riding. The twin 15-year-olds of Olathe, Kan., can add another one to the list: leadership. In February, Victor, a Life Scout in Troop 201, was elected to serve as senior patrol leader for a one-year term, while Isabella, a Star […]

It was late in the evening on his first-ever night at summer camp when my son decided he’d had enough. I remember I was just about to doze off when I heard footsteps and the unmistakable sound of kids whispering because they knew they were breaking curfew. When I stuck my head out of my

When he first visited the Allaire Community Farm with his grandmother a few years ago, Zac Clifton fell in love with it. “The farm is a nonprofit that works with kids and adults that have disorders, kids who have gone through trauma and veterans who have PTSD,” Zac says. “It’s mostly run by volunteers.” The

While Scouts love to climb mountains and hike across rugged terrain, their path to joining Scouts BSA shouldn’t be met with similarly daunting obstacles. To that end, a change to the Scouts BSA joining requirements will make it easier for young people to join a troop alongside their friends and classmates. Effective April 18, 2022,

A Scout is resilient. So, too, are the summer camps where they love to spend their time. After the pandemic forced most summer camps to temporarily shut their gates in 2020, these beloved Scouting destinations returned in full force in 2021. For proof, just look to the annual merit badge rankings, where a number of

Scouts learn to Leave No Trace on the places they explore. But what about the metaphorical trace Scouts might leave behind? That was on Nuruddin Abdul-Rashid’s mind when he started planning his Eagle Scout service project. “At this point of my life, I was really grappling with the idea of legacy,” he says. “What will

There were thoughtful decorations, inspiring speeches and proud parents. The room was adorned with photos of the newly minted Eagle Scout’s journey from Cub Scouts to Scouting’s highest rank. And relatives and friends from near (New York) and far (Nevada) were in attendance. The only difference between Jacob Finch’s Eagle Scout court of honor and

Barry Walsh asks the Scout to imagine they have a magic wand and can change anything about the troop. Quynh-Thi Vidal’s preferred line of questioning starts with, “What was your biggest hurdle to get here? And how can I help you overcome it next time?” And Ray Lightner’s favorite question is simple but informative: “Are

Actually, today’s students do know much about history, biology and science books. These days, it’s the real-life skills that are missing from the classroom. Subjects like first aid, cooking and personal finance aren’t covered during the seven hours students spend at school each day. These are skills young people don’t just need but want. A new