All posts by Rochelle Randles

About Rochelle Randles

Rochelle Randles is a communications specialist at the Boy Scouts of America. She enjoys sharing incredible adventure stories within the Scouting community and beyond. If you have story ideas or questions, reach out to us at communications@scouting.org. View all posts by Rochelle Randles →

Offensive Lineman to Tackle Eagle Project Before Heading to FSU

April 14, 2016

Scout Landon D. shares plans to finish his Eagle project. (Photo Credit: ESPN) — Scout Landon D. shares plans to finish his Eagle project before college. (Photo Credit: ESPN)

Landon D. is a talented young man. He’s one of the top-rated offensive tackles in the country, he graduated from high school early, and he could even get a head-start in his classes at Florida State University. However, his collegiate conquests will have to wait.

Before heading off to join one of the top-ranked college football programs in the country—FSU, this dedicated Scout from the Piedmont Council plans to finish his Eagle project first.

Last week, a blog post from Bryan on Scouting explained how this four-star offensive lineman is working to make a difference in his North Carolina hometown before moving to Florida for college.

In a recent interview with ESPN, Landon was asked why he didn’t plan to enroll early. He explained, “right now I’m working on my Eagle Scout project,” which consists of putting park benches at a local recreation center in his community.

If things fall into place, Landon could even start playing as a freshman! It would be an honor for any offensive lineman to take the field this year, let alone a newcomer. With senior Sean Maguire poised to take over as FSU’s starting quarterback and star running back Dalvin Cook rushing his way into Heisman Trophy buzz, Florida State is bursting with potential for the 2016-17 season. With this much skill on the table, FSU is looking to take extra care of its quarterbacks and leading rushers and Landon just might be the Scout for the job!

In fact, Landon could potentially be joining 11 returning starters on Florida State’s offensive line. Although this would be a huge first-year achievement, the Scout maintains a humble attitude. When asked if he expected to make his gameday debut in the upcoming season, Landon told ESPN, “I expect to have an opportunity to compete to play early.”

Regardless of his skill level, the Scout explained he doesn’t feel entitled to early playing time. Instead, he plans to earn his time on the field by working hard and demonstrating his abilities to the FSU coaches.

To learn more about this incredible Scout, check out the blog post from Bryan on Scouting and watch the full National Signing Day interview on ESPN.

Landon is living proof that Scouting and sports can coexist —in fact, youths who participate in both Scouting and sports show an increase in character-development, according to a recent study by Tufts University .

Video Credit: ESPN

Scouts “Don’t Mess With Texas.” They Help Keep It Clean.

April 7, 2016

This Wednesday, Scouts and Scouters gathered in front of the Circle Ten Council in Dallas to announce their state-wide participation in the “Don’t mess with Texas” Trash-Off event on April 9, 2016. The Scouts made this pledge as a formidable 12-foot ball of garbage loomed behind them.

Fortunately for these Scouts, the mass of trash isn’t a part of the litter they will collect for the occasion—it’s art! The sculpture made of cans, wrappers, boxes, and other rubbish was created to illustrate the impact of even the smallest trash.

Sustainability In Scouting

Wednesday marked the thirtieth anniversary of the “Don’t mess with Texas” anti-litter campaign, a partnership between the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the group Keep Texas Beautiful. Now, the campaign is joining forces with a group that knows a thing or two about taking care of the environment—Scouts!

“Working with the Scouts, we’re already ahead of the game because they know what to do,” said Bob Kaufman, TXDOT’s chief communications and marketing officer.

And Kaufman is right— in fact, environmental stewardship goes hand in hand with Scouting. According to the Sustainability Merit Badge pamphlet, “It’s a big word with many aspects. But when you break it down, it goes hand in hand with being a good Scout. Sustainability means the ability to endure. Conserving the land, forests, air, water, wildlife, and limited resources we all share is everyone’s responsibility.”

BSA'a Michael Ramsey and troop leader Justin L. lead the Scout Oath. — BSA’s Michael Ramsey and troop leader Justin L. lead the Scout Oath.

BSA marketing and experience manager Michael Ramsey also shared his thoughts at the anniversary event, explaining why the Boy Scouts have chosen to contribute to the clean-up effort.

“Being helpful and keeping our communities clean are two of the core values that Scouting imparts to boys. That’s why hundreds of our Scouts will be participating in the Texas Trash-Off this weekend as a way to put both values into practice.”

After leading both the troop and audience in the Scout Oath and Scout Law, Eagle Scout and troop leader Justin L. shared why his troop will join Trash-Off on Saturday—because it’s the right thing to do.

The behemoth ball of garbage may just be artwork, but that doesn’t mean the work ahead of Scouts across Texas will be easy. Saturday’s Trash-Off is the largest one-day roadway cleanup effort in Texas. During the 2015 Trash-Off, 1,500 litter pick-up events took place across the state, welcoming more than 85,000 volunteers who gathered more than 10 million pounds of waste and recyclables.

A “Don’t Mess with Texas” patch can be earned by Scouts who participate in Saturday’s litter pick-up event, as well as other events throughout the year. You can find out how to get the patch on the “Don’t mess with Texas” website, and stay tuned to Scouting Wire for additional details, coming soon.

Scouting’s “Green” Roots

Environmental stewardship has been a part of BSA’s mission for over a century. Naturally, the Boy Scouts were ready to team up with “Don’t mess with Texas” in celebration of the campaign’s thirty-year milestone.

How often have you viewed a scenic roadside landscape, only to find it dotted with articles of waste? From local units to the national office, Scouting aims to inspire individuals and communities to be friends to the environment and keep the great outdoors great!

As an advocate for America’s youth, Scouting helps to champion environmental responsibility through its members. The BSA is committed to integrating sustainability at every level of the organization while developing the next generation of sustainability leaders in the process.

To learn more about BSA’s sustainability efforts, check out the “Green to Deep Green” website. For more information about the “Don’t mess with Texas” campaign, head to DontMessWithTexas.org.

Eagle Project Uses 3D Printer to Create Prosthetic Hands

March 31, 2016

Scout Zach M. builds a prosthetic hand for his Eagle Scout service project. (Photo credit: Diane McCleery)

When the time came for Zach M. of the Mobile Area Council to choose his Eagle project, it didn’t take long to decide on a cause to champion: he wanted to use his talents in technology to help others.

With a 3D printer and the help from dozens of volunteers, Zach set out on a mission to produce prosthetic hands for children in need. He was able to donate the hands through the eNABLE organization, who helped him with design and distribution.

“I just like helping people and I like the mechanics behind it,” Zach shared with WKRG News. “I’m sort of like an engineer by heart and I love helping people and it just fits both parts of my personality.”

The Scout’s inspiration for this project actually began years earlier at Vanderbilt University. Zach, then 12, was visiting his brother at the university when he was introduced to a friend. Zach was captivated by the friend’s job– designing prosthetic hands at Vanderbilt’s Center for Mechatronic Intelligence.

“I was fascinated with how different they actually were from what you see in the movies,” Zach explained. “From that day I have been fascinated with prosthetics.”

Zach’s interest in prosthetic hands continued through his involvement with the robotics team at his school. He even worked on the robots’ “claws,” trying to make them function like human hands.

For about a year, Zach diligently planned the project, printed and assembled test hands, organized assembly volunteers, and even produced an instructional video and training manual for the hands. During this time, it became apparent that he wasn’t only impacting those in need of hands—he was also inspiring his community to help others.

The Scout's inspiration for the project came from an encounter with prostheses design at Vanderbilt University. (Photo Credit: Diane McCleery) — The Scout’s inspiration for the project came from an encounter with prostheses design at Vanderbilt University. (Photo Credit: Diane McCleery)

More than 100 volunteers, including students from Zach’s school, robotics team members, fellow Scouts, and others from the Mobile community attended the project’s assembly day and together, built 24 prosthetic hands.

The volunteers had some incredible encouragement from a ten-year-old recipient of one of the prosthetic hands. The young boy and his family shared how transformative the prosthetics are for children who are born without a functioning hand. Zach said the boy even showed everyone some of the new things he could do, thanks to his new custom prosthesis.

“He demonstrated how he used it to throw a ball, pick up a glass and open a door. All things he was unable to do with that arm prior to getting his 3D hand.”

The material cost for these life-changing prostheses was a mere $50.00 per hand. The Scout simply used an open-sourced code to print the parts from a durable plastic filament and assembled the hands using fishing line, elastic cord, and screws.

“3D printing has opened the doors for me and others to create functioning prosthetics very inexpensively…. So while they are not as sophisticated as the $20,000 – $40,000 alternative prostheses, these hands can be easily replaced as children outgrow them,” Zach explained.

The Impact of Zach’s project isn’t confined to his community, but actually reaches across continents. The remainder of the prostheses were scaled to standard sizes and donated to children in need around the world.

The first eight prosthetic hands assembled by project volunteers. (Photo Credit: Diane McCleery)

“I am honored to have had the opportunity to lead a project that has impacted so many children in truly life-changing way,” Zach said.

By combining an advanced skill set with his desire to help others, Zach created an incredible Eagle project like only a Scout could.

To learn more about Zach’s Eagle Scout project, check out the article by WKRG News.

To learn more about the positive impact that Scouting can have on young people like Jake, be sure to check out this article on the recent Tufts study, and watch this video:

(Video Credit: WKRG News)

60 Minutes Features Scouting-Inspired Preparatory School

March 24, 2016

Student Devionne J. and journalist Scott Pelley discuss student-based leadership at St. Benedict’s Preparatory School. (Photo credit: CBS News)

The leadership structure at St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark, N.J., is unique. Students make school decisions, lead their peers, and learn from their mistakes in a positive way. If this approach sounds familiar, it’s likely because the idea for the prep school’s structure came right out of the Boy Scout Handbook.

In a recent episode of 60 Minutes, journalist Scott Pelley tells the story of St. Benedict’s and how its student-based leadership system came to be established. Headmaster Edwin Leahy has created an environment at St. Benedict’s based on values found in Scouting.

Scouting Magazine Senior Editor Bryan Wendell outlined the 60 Minutes episode in a recent Bryan on Scouting blog post, explaining how the Boy Scout Handbook inspired the headmaster to create a learning environment. Wendell’s story details how values from the Scouting program actually play a significant role in the school’s methods.

At the base of St. Benedict’s leadership structure are organized groups of students, similar to the Scouting model. Students elect a peer leader from their group and the lessons in responsibility begin and school activities are even planned by youth leaders. In fact, the students are in charge of most day-to-day decisions.

“This is a large part of what makes St. Benedict’s rare and successful. Students are required to run much of the school,” Pelley reports.

The goal is for students to learn how to lead themselves by acting as the school’s governing body and as the episode shows, this technique is working. But leadership development isn’t the only thing at St. Benedict’s inspired by Scouting. In the spring, the school’s incoming students are given the opportunity to get to know upperclassmen as they lead them on a 55-mile Appalachian hike.

Pelley shows us how the Scout-modeled school has proven to be successful over time. The dropout rate at St. Benedict’s is significantly lower than schools in the surrounding city of Newark and 85% of St. Benedict’s graduates go on to earn a college degree.

Check out the full story from 60 Minutes on CBSNews.com to see what the students have to say about St. Benedict’s Preparatory School.

Scouts Meet with President Obama for 2015 Report to the Nation

March 9, 2016

Scouts meet President Obama in Washington, D.C. (Photo credit: Official White House Photos by Pete Souza)

BSA delegates met with President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C. last week to deliver the annual Report to the Nation.

The report is a nearly century-old Scouting tradition, carried on each year by a delegation of BSA youth members. These selected delegates gather at the United States capitol to share Scouting’s 2015 achievements with key government officials.

Scouting expert Bryan Wendell was with the delegates during this incredible introduction, and shares their encounter with President Obama in a recent Bryan on Scouting blog post.

The delegates reported BSA’s accomplishments in the past year, such as the 15.3 million service hours completed by the organization’s 2.3 million youth members and volunteers. The delegates also shared innovations in Scouting such as the STEM Scouts program, which encourages youth to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.

The annual report wasn’t the only topic of conversation in this meeting, however. The president also chatted with the group about their own achievements in Scouting, camping, and even merit badges.

BSA delegates deliver the Report to the Nation to the president at the White House. (Photo credit: Official White House Photos by Pete Souza)

National Venturing President Edward Abraham was among the delegates who met with President Obama and described the Commander in Chief as very personable. “There he was. Standing there, shaking our hands.”

Bryan reports youth delegate and Explorer Cynthia Garcia even got an executive fist bump from President Obama when he discovered they shared the hometown of Chicago.

“I never thought in my life that I would get such opportunities as I have in Exploring,” Cynthia shared with Bryan.

This event marks the seventh time in the last eight years President Obama has met with Scouts, and he’s surely given them an experience they will never forget.

Learn more about the annual Report to the Nation and the youth delegates on Scouting Newsroom, and be sure to read the full story by Bryan on Scouting to find out more about the Scouts’ meeting with the Commander in Chief.

Boys’ Life Magazine and Scouting Magazine Apps Now Available

March 3, 2016

Both apps contain all of the original content found in the print publications, plus new digital content features. — Both apps contain all the original content found in the print publications, plus new digital content features. (Photo credit: Boys’ Life magazine)

Boys’ Life and Scouting magazines have announced the debut of their official mobile apps. Both apps can now be downloaded directly to your mobile device to make the world of Scouting available at your fingertips. The release of these apps comes at the perfect time because Tuesday, March 1, 2016, marked the 105^th anniversary of Boys’ Life.

Boys’ Life has been delivering fascinating and fun content to readers on ink and paper for decades, but new technology brings a new level of content. Readers will still get all the content they love — Scouts in Action, jokes, cartoons and super Scouting outings — plus access to new multimedia content such as videos, slideshows and easy social media sharing.

Downloading the app is as easy as typing “Boys’ Life magazine” into the search box of any app store, including Apple, Google Play and Amazon Kindle. Readers can also sport the new version of the classic publication on their wrist — Boys’ Life is available for Apple Watch too.

Both apps are free to download and once you open either app, you can elect to purchase an annual subscription for either magazine.

Current subscribers to the print version of Boys’ Life will receive the digital subscription for free. To access the app, all you’ll need to do is input your account number, which can be located on your magazine’s address label. Those who are not subscribed can buy a digital subscription though the app, or they can subscribe at the half-price “Scout rate” using special promo code FBTW0216 on the Boys’ Life website.

Find the Scouting magazine app on any app store simply by searching “Scouting magazine USA” or try “BSA” (the UK Scout Association has already published its Scouting magazine). Subscriptions to the digital Scouting — which includes the entire 103-year Scouting archive — are available via in-app purchase for just $4.99 a year.

Boys' Life Magazine and Scouting Magazine apps offer access to more than a century of content. (Photo credit: Scouting Magazine) — Boys’ Life and Scouting magazine apps offer access to more than a century of content. (Photo credit: Scouting magazine)

Decades of Scouting Literature at Your Fingertips

Digital subscribers of Boys’ Life can buy almost any single copy dating to the very first issue, published March 1, 1911. Scouting magazine subscribers will have direct access to all of that publication’s content from 1913 to today. This means with the apps, you’ve got every issue of each magazine ever produced, right in your pocket.

Boys’ Life and Scouting magazines publish quality information and entertainment for a wide variety of audiences, and you don’t have to be a registered Scouter to subscribe.

The release of the apps makes anywhere, anytime, any place an opportunity to read your favorite Scouting publications.

Scouts Lead by Example on Scout Sunday

February 19, 2016

Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts celebrate Scout Sunday at the Presbyterian Church of St. Albans. (Photo Credit: NY1 News)

Scouts across the country gathered at their charter organizations earlier this month to commemorate BSA’s historic traditions, Scout Sunday and Scout Sabbath.

The Scouting holidays have been carried on for decades by enthusiastic Scouters like those at the Presbyterian Church of St. Albans in Queens, New York.

These Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts from the Queens Council of the Greater New York Councils truly demonstrated what it means to lead by example during the church’s Scout Sunday celebration. They spoke to the St. Albans congregation about the impact Scouting has had on their lives and the skills and values they’ve gained along the way.

Eagle Scout Rashaad B. shared struggles the youth in his community face. “Southern Queens, we have people, like, having fights or not in school, dropping out of school,” he told NY1 News.

Scouting builds character and enables youth to improve their communities. These Scouts want to inspire the citizens of Queens to continue their mission of good will and their council leaders hope that by witnessing the Scout Oath in action, other young people will be encouraged to join the ranks.

Cubs share what they learned through Scouting at a special Scout Sunday service. (Photo Credit: NY1 News)

During the festivities, Cub Scouts proved that no matter your age, you can still make a difference. Taking care of the planet is one way Cub Scout Brycen J. serves his community.

“If there’s garbage on the floor, I’ll pick it up so the earth will be clean,” he told NY1 News.

More Cubs shared valuable lessons with their elders such as the importance of sticking up for what’s right, helping others, and being honest.

Black History Month was a great time to share Scouting values with others, according to Queens City Councilman Daneek Miller.

“Today, by their service to their community, and all the merits that the Scouts bring out, that they are contributing to black history as well,” Miller told NY1 News.

You can find out more more about these exceptional Scouts by reading the full article by NY1 News and check out the Scouting Newsroom story to learn about the meaning behind Scout Sunday and Scout Sabbath.

Scouting for Bigfoot

February 12, 2016

Scout leader Joe Bilyeu and the troop present plasters of tracks discovered during their research. (Photo credit: The Tennessean via Cheri Reeves/Robertson County Times)

Producers of the Animal Planet television series Finding Bigfoot might be Sasquatch-searching experts, but even they were impressed with the tracking skills possessed by a Boy Scout troop from the Middle Tennessee Council.

For years, this adventurous troop has been going on expeditions to see if legends about a “Tennessee Bigfoot” are true. The boys took an interest in this local yeti theory about four years ago, according to their Scout leader Joe Bilyeu, and they have been using their keen Scouting abilities for the fact-finding mission ever since.

The age-old monster folklore has taken the Scouts on several wilderness adventures. They have camped, canoed, ridden on horseback, and even spelunked through caves for the sake of their Sasquatch research.

Bilyeu says the troop has complied an exceptional collection of evidence related to the theory and Animal Planet producers agree, according to the Tennesseean.

Producer Colin Peeples was surveying for the show when word of the Scouts’ work piqued his interest. He and his team went to investigate just how much the troop had discovered and before long, they were planning a new episode.

“The producers came here and looked at the evidence books we have…we toured some farms and the location where the Cub Scouts meet. They’re scouting where they could film for a future episode,” Bilyeu told the Tennesseean.

Confident in their research, the Scouts eagerly presented their findings to the producers. Much to their gratification, their years of diligent data collection was commended.

“We were interested in their casts of footprints in their Scout den and tons of evidence. It was neat to get up there and see the group that was really into finding Bigfoot,” Peeples shared with the Tennesseean.

Peeples’ curiosity was particularly sparked by a mysterious photograph that included a tall, unknown animal in the background. The seasoned “Squaching” veteran admitted, “they had some compelling stuff.”

The Scouts’ work was highly complimented by Peeples, who told the Tennesseean, “it was really nice to see all of the expeditions these Scouts were going on. It was neat seeing the kids getting involved like that.”

You can learn more about the troop’s Sasquatch escapades by reading the full article by the Tennesseean.

Scouts Canoe to the Rescue on Manatee River

February 5, 2016

Scout Caleb S. explains he was simply doing as he was trained by helping the boaters. (Photo credit: WFLA)

These Florida Scouts are ready to help others at all times, even when they’re kicking back on a camping trip.

Recently, a father and son were enjoying a day on the water at the Manatee River near Tampa, Fla., when their aquatic adventure took a frightening turn. They were almost a mile into their excursion when the boat hit an underwater object, causing it to overturn.

Fortunately for the father and son, a Boy Scout troop from the Southwest Florida Council had set up camp within earshot of the accident.

When Caleb S. and another Scout heard the commotion, they fervently set off to help. The boys headed to the scene by canoe, prepared with a medical kit and were even ready to perform CPR if needed.

The river-savvy Scouts were able to help the boaters and emergency services arrived shortly after to take the father and son to the hospital.

Equipped with a medical kit, the Scouts canoed to the boaters' rescue. (Photo credit: WFLA) — Equipped with a medical kit, the Scouts canoed to the boaters’ rescue. (Photo credit: WFLA)

“All that first aid training I have taken as a Boy Scout growing up in the troop helped. It came in handy, very handy because otherwise I wouldn’t have known what to do…. It’s just doing what I have been trained to do to be totally honest,” Caleb told WFLA News.

Lieutenant Baryl Martin of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission commended the Boy Scouts for their heroic assistance.

“Anytime anyone has any training regarding first aid or any additional that the general public doesn’t receive, it is always nice to see people use that in a good way when bad things happen in the water or in the woods,” he explained to WFLA News.

Thanks to the Scouts’ proper training and quick thinking, they were able to lend a hand at a moments notice.

Watch the video below and be sure to read the full story on WFLA to learn more about the Scouts’ impressive rescue.

Scouts Team Up With Man’s Best Friend for Search-and-Rescue Training

February 4, 2016

Scouts helped search-and-rescue teams prepare for emergencies in Mobile, Ala. (Photo credit: Fox10 News)

Boy Scouts weren’t the only ones learning lessons in helpfulness at the Brookley Complex in Mobile, Ala. this January.

Scouts from a Mobile Area Council troop joined airport authorities to assist in a special training session for search-and-rescue (SAR) teams. These unique teams weren’t limited to humans, though—they were joined by their canine counterparts!

Because of their sharp senses, dogs are ideal candidates to help search-and-rescue teams in a variety of situations. This particular training scenario was based on a weather event the area could potentially experience.

Training volunteers hid in designated areas around the airport complex so the dogs could practice locating potential disaster victims. Team Commander Carlos Redmon set the scene for the rescue roll play to make training as realistic as possible.

The fictional training scenario was, “Scouts were out here doing some clean-up stuff, and a bad storm came through, leveled some of the buildings. We had people that sheltered in place, and we’ve been called in by the airport authority to locate and bring all these people back to safety,” Redmon explained to to Fox10 News.

The SAR teams were tasked with finding 14 Scouts and four adults within the complex. To make the training more authentic, variables like hypothetical injuries were added to the challenge.

Both groups were able to take something from the session. The SAR team leaders were able to learn from field observation, and the Scout volunteers got to experience a new side of volunteer work. But this out-of-the-norm service opportunity wasn’t just educational; the Scouts also had fun participating.

Scout Jessie B. didn’t have to wait long for the four-legged rescuers to sniff him out. “It took about 10 to 15 minutes. This is something new, and it’s really cool, because we’ve never done this before, and it’s kind of fun to work with the dogs,” he shared with Fox10.

By participating in this training session, the boys not only got to serve the community, they also got to share some Scouting wisdom with their new furry friends by helping them prepare for emergencies.

Disaster preparedness is a life-saving skill and the Boy Scouts of America even awards a search-and-rescue merit badge to Scouts who demonstrate thorough SAR knowledge.

To learn more about the Scouts’ animal adventure in SAR training, read the full article by Fox10 News.