Busted
Busted They thought that most of Scouting was lame. Something to keep them off the streets and away from the "negative influences" around town. Neither were good campers. They did not see the need to get outdoors, pop up the tent, roll out the sleeping bags and sleep outdoors. They would rather be inside, playing "Global Combat Seven", a popular multiplayer video game, with some friends playing from Germany and Holland who were not much... [More]
By: Mike Walton (blackeagle) On: 2019-01-28
The New Website is Live
We’re excited to announce that our new and refreshed website is live. The updated site includes changes to navigation, improved search, cleaner home page, improved scouting news sections, and it works from mobile as well as your computer. There’s a whole host of smaller but impactful changes, all to make your experience of using InsaneScouter that much better. Please do help support the growth and improvement of InsaneScouter. The new design and all... [More]
By: InsaneScouter On: 2019-01-24
Coined
In my first book "Patches and Pins", I talk about the day that my boss realized that there was more to life than just "working in the Army". Here's that story told again with more detail, now that I am retired and the "statute of limitations" has expired on this aspect of my life - more than 30 years ago now. As a new officer, I was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division... [More]
By: Mike Walton (blackeagle) On: 2019-01-21
DIY Firestarters
Winter is almost here, and with it comes the need for lighting fireplaces! In the summertime, getting a fire started is useful for lighting a campfire or a bonfire in your firepit. Getting a fire started with or without fire starters is a skill that most Scouts grew up learning. However, starting a fire isn’t always as easy as it sounds. Sometimes it can become a real challenge. If your firewood is wet or... [More]
By: InsaneScouter On: 2019-01-17
The End?
Shutterstock image purchased by Mike Walton The End? I have seen this episode several dozen times in my life. Each time, those promoting the episode attempted to convince people -- including me -- that "This is the end. There's no more after this." In my first novel, "Patches and Pins", I talk about the morning in which the world -- everything in it, including its population -- would be sucked into the Sun, and... [More]
By: Mike Walton (blackeagle) On: 2019-01-14
A Scout is Kind
Amelia Erhart said, “No kind action ever stops with itself. One kind action leads to another. Good example is followed. A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves”. I remember when I was in Cub Scouts and it was around Thanksgiving. The Scoutmaster told us that we... [More]
By: InsaneScouter On: 2019-01-07
Ahem Girls!
Ahem! Girls!I like what's happening in the BSA. It should have happened years ago, as in Canadá, México, and most of the Free World served by WOSM. However, I wonder if some of us are overdoing it with emphasis on the possibility of all members attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. Scouting offers much more than just the Eagle, and there are lots of folks out there to prove it. Was JFK a "bad... [More]
By: Dean Whinery On: 2018-12-31
Snow Camping Tips
Just because winter is almost in full swing doesn’t mean you can’t go camping outdoors anymore. Whether you’re in search of great cross-country skiing, or a perfect winter sunrise from the top of a snowy peak, snow camping is often the perfect way to get you there. Though camping in the snow can be a little frightening, with a little preparation and a few pro tips, a winter’s night, or two outside may... [More]
By: InsaneScouter On: 2018-12-28
Daydreaming
Admit it: you, like me and several million other Americans, are daydreaming about winning the MegaMillions(TM) lottery game of chance, with its first-place winnings of.... 1 BILLION DOLLARS! (you have to say...or think... ONE (pause) BILLION (pause) DOLLARS! ) That's an awfully large amount of money. So let's put this into context. No, I am not going to tell you that your or my chances of winning this large amount of cash are... [More]
By: Mike Walton (blackeagle) On: 2018-12-24
Behind the Unit numbers
Who determines the unit numbers for Cub Scout Packs, Scout Troops, Venturing Crews and Sea Scout Ships? Are the numbers significant? Why is there so much “loyalty” to a set of numbers – after all, it’s not a mascot, or a city or state name, or even a part of town. It’s just a set of numbers, right? Four years ago, Jim Kangas, a Unit Commissioner and volunteer in one of the local Councils... [More]
By: Mike Walton (blackeagle) On: 2018-12-21