Eagle Scout service project brings “tactile reading” to children Watertown’s Perkins School…

They say, what goes around comes around.

And for Life Scout Jack B. of Troop 12, Plymouth Congregational Church, Framingham, coming back around led him to Watertown. 

As a toddler, Jack participated in an infant-toddler program at Perkins School for the Blind.

Perkins, founded in 1829, was the first school for the blind in the US. Today the school “is the worldwide leader in education services for children and young adults who have multiple disabilities and visual impairments.”

But, according to Dara, Jack’s mom, “Perkins was kind of like a lifeline.”

According to The Boston Globe’s Grace Gilson, who profiled Jack on February 18, the Scout was “​​trying to think of things that were important for me, and my mom remembered the story box, and I did some research, and we realized how important they were for literacy development.”

What’s a “story box,” you ask? Well, it was one way that young Jack engaged with reading.

Gilson explained:

[A] “story box,” [is] an interactive literary tool for children with visual impairments that includes physical objects as part of the storytelling experience.

And for Jack, diagnosed with a visual impairment as an infant, initiatives like the story box were critical. Thankfully, the Scout’s vision improved in time; however, the family never let Perkins drop from sight.

So as part of Jack’s Eagle service project, he and his troop fundraised for and produced 40 story boxes. Each box includes objects important to stories like “Goodnight Moon,” “Brown Bear, Brown Bear,” and “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.” A QR code points to audio of one of Troop 12’s Scouts reading the story aloud.

As a result, Perkins has new resources, and Jack owns a sense of accomplishment.

“I was really happy to finally give back to the full circle idea,” Jack told The Boston Globe.

If you want to read the full article, click here. To learn more about Troop 12, click here.

The first installment of BP’s important series hit newsstands 114 years ago…

Scouts in the United States celebrate the 1910 incorporation of the BSA on February 8. 

However, the genesis of the World Scouting Movement finds historians noting several essentialdates. One of the most important is *January 24, 2008.

On that date, Lord Baden Powell first published “Scouting for Boys.”

History.com explained:

The name Baden-Powell was already well known to many English boys, and thousands of them eagerly bought up the handbook. By the end of April, the serialization of Scouting for Boys was completed, and scores of impromptu Boy Scout troops had sprung up across Britain.

The language, as read in 2022, might seem ancient. 

But remember, this simple series of booklets, priced so boys could afford to buy and read them, created the World Scouting Movement. And, in BP’s words, we can see clear connections to our own Scouts BSA.

In 1908, Baden Powell wrote:

To become a Boy Scout you join a patrol belonging to your Cadet Corps, or Boys’ Brigade or club.

If you are not a member of one of these, or if it does not as yet possess a patrol of scouts, you can raise a patrol yourself by getting five other boys to join. They should, if possible, be all about the same age. One boy is then chosen as Patrol Leader to command the patrol, and he selects another boy to be the Corporal or second in command. Several patrols together can form a “Troop” under an officer called a “Scoutmaster.”

You all take the scout’s oath, that is you promise, on your honour, three things, namely:

1. To be loyal to God and the King.
2. To help other people at all times.
3. To obey the scout law.

One wonders what BP would think about the Internet. After all, you can read all six collected booklets via Project Gutenberg. From those initial serialized Scout manuals, Scouting spread across the UK and, well, everywhere.

History.com added:

With the success of Scouting for Boys, Baden-Powell set up a central Boy Scouts office, which registered new Scouts and designed a uniform. By the end of 1908, there were 60,000 Boy Scouts, and troops began springing up in British Commonwealth countries across the globe.

The rest, of course, is history.

*Ed. Note: I have also seen the date January 15. But, we’ll stick with History.com’s assessment.

Cub Scouts can #AdventureOn during the winter months…

Yes, it’s cold. Yep, it’s snowy. However, just like Scouts BSA, Cub Scouts can still find outdoor fun, too.

That was the theme of a recent repost of a 2010 article entitled, “Hot tips for cold-weather fun with Cub Scouts.”

For Scouting, Mark Ray wrote:

Tim Tocket, a Scouter in Pen Argyl, Pa., always thought the BSA had a rule forbidding Cub Scouts from camping when temperatures dipped below 32 degrees. Not so. The “Age-Appropriate Guidelines for Scouting Activities” states that only Scouts BSA members and Venturers may participate in winter camping. But the addition of heated cabins (when you follow appropriate Youth Protection guidelines) can make winter activities with overnight stays suitable for Cub Scouts. With cabins available, a Scout who gets too wet, too cold, or too tired can head inside.

Of course, The BSA Guide to Safe Scouting is the definitive list of rules and guidelines for winter camping and sports. However, Ray pointed out a few general thoughts about Cub Scouts in the cold.

Tips included:

• Give plenty of packing guidelines to parents and adult leaders and stress layering for warmth…

• Pack extra items of everything warm. Domino suggests bringing a stash of extra hats and mittens for Cub Scouts whose gear gets wet, lost, or forgotten…

• Remember hydration. Campers need plenty of fluids, even in the cold.

• Offer plenty of hearty food, and keep meal preparation simple.

• Cancel or postpone if the forecast calls for heavy snow or extremely low temperatures

Even better, in yet another article, “Making Winter Fun for Your Cub Scouts,” Ray said, keep the C-O-L-D in mind. 

Clean: Keep your insulating layers clean and fluffy. Dirt, grime and sweat can reduce the warmth of a garment.

Overheating: Adjust your layers of clothing to match the temperature, and stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.

Loose Layers: Wear several loosely fitting layers of clothing and footgear to get maximum insulation without impeding your circulation.

Dry: Sweaty, damp clothing can cause your body to cool quickly. Avoid clothes that absorb moisture, and keep clothing around your neck loose to let body heat and moisture escape.

Looking at the weather forecast for tomorrow at Camp Resolute: 34-degrees and cloudy.

Sounds like it’s time to #AdventureOn.

Sometimes, volunteers feel overwhelmed, but some simple steps can help…

You’ve seen it. I’ve seen it. We all would like to have it. 

In many ways, the “Trained” patch symbolizes adult advancement and achievement. Mostly, it simply means you have “a clue.” 

However, it might be the first step to feeling like your work outside of Scout or Cub meetings is paying off.

But even before getting into the training that delivers the patch, volunteers need to take the first step. 

Or maybe, once they put on “the shirt,” it is the “next” step.

Back in 2013, Scouting Magazine’s Mark Ray spoke to two Cub Scout leaders and asked how they encouraged training among the volunteers in their units:

To fill their packs’ training gaps, [Andy] Albin and [Todd] Birkhoff took on the role of pack trainer… In the years since, they’ve more than achieved their goal of getting pack leaders through the basic training sequence of Youth Protection Training and position-specific training.

Their tips, in short:

• Set a good example.

• Establish expectations.

• Eliminate obstacles.

• Keep good records.

And why is training so important?

“As long as you have a trained leader, the [Scouts]  are going to have a better experience,” Birkhoff told Scouting Magazine.

The full article is much more comprehensive, and might just be the introduction to your own unit’s training manual.

Sure, you might know how a Pinewood Derby car gets made, but how about the actual kit?

“Who knows how a Pinewood Derby kit gets made?”

Shhh. Put your hands down. Signs up!

Okay now. Yes, you know how to build a kit, but do you know how that kit gets made?

Well, true to form, Scout Life magazine (yes, it’s the same publication you read as Boys’ Life) has the answer.

From Forest to Finish Line

SL’s Bryan Wendell wrote:

Even before you open the box, your Pinewood Derby car has traveled thousands of miles. The journey begins in a forest in Idaho. The wood blocks travel to Indiana, where they are packaged and shipped. Finally, they arrive at your local Scout shop. The rest is up to you and your parents or guardians. Cutting, sanding, painting and racing is the best part.

I must recommend the whole article, because the photos are pretty cool.

But they included a video, which is pretty cool, too – all 73 second of it:

Making a Pinewood Derby Kit in Just 73 Seconds

However, for those of you who are still reading along and could use some real tips on assembling the kit, we can help there, too.

In this vintage video, “A former NASA engineer explains 7 steps that are scientifically proven to help you build a fast Pinewood Derby car for your next race.”

Scout Life magazine presented the below video in 2014.

The Science of Making the Fastest Pinewood Derby

Meanwhile, if you weren’t quick enough, check out the 7 steps, below:

What do you do when your Girl Scout Troop stops meeting? Well, if you are Molly J, you join a Boy Scout troop, then found a Scouts BSA Girls’ Troop, earn Eagle Scout, and finally garner the title of “VFW Scout of the Year” in Massachusetts.

NBD. The Order of the Arrow is in there, too, BTW.

Yep, that’s how Molly rolls. She sets up the challenges and just knocks them down. Over and over and over.

Rick Harbert of Wicked Local reported:

Plymouth’s first female Eagle Scout is now also the state Veterans of Foreign War’s Scout of the Year… Molly Joyce won the state VFW’s 2021 title after winning similar honors on the local and district levels. [The junior] at Plymouth South High School received a $1,000 scholarship during ceremonies at Camp Squanto [in August].

A member of the first-ever girls’ class of Mayflower Council BSA Eagle Scouts, Joyce joined Plymouth Troop 1620 after reaching the Girl Scout rank of Cadette. Then, she founded Crew 1920 (a fitting moniker, as the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified in 1920, giving women full citizenship in the United States).

She then worked her way up the ranks of the BSA.

Molly, a Senior Patrol Leader, whose Eagle Scout Service Project restored the Stations of the Cross of St. Kateri Tekakwitha Church in West Plymouth, became an Eagle Scout on the same day as her younger brother Liam (whose Eagle project created shooting benches and targets for the gun club in Middleborough).

“To have a student reach that level is an incredible accomplishment because it takes a great deal of effort to get to that point,” Denis Russell, commander of VFW Post 1822, told WickedLocal.com. “It’s quite an achievement, and the VFW was proud to have her represent the state.”

Do you know a Mayflower Council Scout who deserves some recognition? Email john@mayflowerbsa.org and send along the details.

Most folks know the name “Norman Rockwell.” But did you know that the illustrator documented Scouting from 1913 to 1976? Rockwell’s portfolio is evocative of the Scouting spirit and portrays the ideals of the movement during its infancy through the United States Bicentennial.

A Scout is Helpful (1941) – Hillcourt’s “Norman Rockwell’s World of Scouting” explained this work was inspired by a 1938 hurricane. Rockwell thought to show the rescue in “the hurricane’s fury.” The powers that be preferred that the good turn be pictured in perfect uniform.

An Army of Friendship (1933) – As the Scouting movement made its way around the globe, Baden Powell hoped it would make future generations less susceptible to war. Here, Scouts from the US, UK, Thailand, Poland, Sudan, and Hungary represent those attending the 4th World Jamboree.

High Adventure (1957) – This time Rockwell illustrated a group of Explorers at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. Modern Explorers are more vocationally oriented; however, the spirit of adventure continues with Venture Scouting. Philmont remains a treasured destination.

Mighty Proud (1958) – Now a scene played out by boys and girls across the country, here Rockwell’s young Scout leaves Cub Scouts behind as he dons the antique olive green uniform and garrison hat, while mom pins a Troop 2 patch on his sleeve and brother helps with the neckerchief.

A Scout is Kind – Today’s illustrations, named Good Friends (1927) and A Good Scout (1935) portray Norman Rockwell’s oft-used interpretation of “A Scout is Kind” as focused on an appreciation for animals (especially dogs). This motif is seen many times in NR’s work.

Come and Get It! (1970) – Cooking is a big part of camping. However, this illustration — used on BSA publications — represents the many different ways that a Scout outing plays out. But the Scout in the foreground is feeling pretty good about whatever he’s made for the troop.

Scouts in the UK have some ideas for in-the-moment relaxation…

Getting back into the routine of things after the Holidays is supposed to put folks on even footing. It’s supposed to be comforting to be back in “the swing of things.” But for many of us, especially during these confusing, frustrating COVID times, that old routine might seem far from mind.

Nearly everyone feels this way, sometimes. And our youngest scouts are no less susceptible to a bad day than the most experienced Scouter.

What’s to do? Nothing.

I mean, do something. But not the thing that is stressing you out? Um. IDK. 

What do I know about relaxation? I’m blogging at 11:30 PM.

But the folks at Scouts.org.uk, compiled a pretty spectacular last of cooling, calming techniques that can be done just about anywhere.

• Breathing

• Go for a walk

• Write it down

• Talk about it

• Eat something tasty

• Laugh

• Have a hot drink

• Get some rest
• Light a candle (safely)

And my favorite, since I have three new kitties…

• Pet an animal

Size doesn’t matter here – a hamster or gerbil can be just as calming as a Great Dane or a pony. If you don’t have a pet at home, you could visit a city farm or petting zoo, ask an animal-loving friend if you can visit, or just go on a walk around your neighbourhood in hope of encountering a furry friend.

The full list and explanation is here. 

However, I do know one thing that can help nearly everyone relax.

A campfire.

And just in case you don’t have any tinder in the vicinity, Pedro the Mailburo can help.

Crackling Campfire at Scout Camp – 1 hour of Relaxing Nature Sounds and Pedro the Mailburro

Image: Scouts.org.uk

Eagle Scout project garnered 300 new LEGO sets for Boston Children’s Hospital

Recently, children at Boston Children’s Hospital received almost 300 new LEGO sets from a former patient turned Mayflower Council Eagle Scout – Thomas R.

Thomas, a sophomore at Willow Hill School and a Scout in Troop 101 Northborough, learned those little blocks’ true value while fighting through illness several years ago.

“During my stay, there was not much I could do because of all the wires attached to me,” he told the Community Advocate last August of his stay at Boston Children’s. “I remember the Child Life Specialist bringing me a new Lego set to build, and that was a lot of fun.”

The Eagle Scout service project, “The LEGO Drive,” was announced in April 2021 via YouTube.

BTW: Shout out to whoever played the LEGO Minifig in the video.

In the video, Thomas explained that he was a patient at Boston Children’s Hospital in 2015; he talked about the cords and equipment and how the distraction of LEGOs was integral to his morale.

“I built [that] set and many more throughout my stay at Boston Children’s Hospital,” explained Thomas. “To bring that excitement to Children’s Hospital, I am hosting a LEGO drive.”

The Advocate elaborated on Thomas’ plan:

Lego sets were collected using an Amazon Wishlist, which shipped directly to Thomas. He also had donation bins set up at his school and house. In addition, a drive-up collection was held at Assabet Park on April 11.

Of course, like many things during 2021, COVID-19 made things difficult for Thomas and his fellow LEGO drivers.

“I delivered 60 sets and will deliver the rest as soon as BCH has lifted their donation restrictions due to COVID,” said Thomas last summer

Although tenacity is not an official part of the Scout Law, it is implied. Despite obstacles, Thomas was definitely HELPFUL to each of the kids at Boston Children’s Hospital who received the LEGOs.

“I am grateful to everyone who contributed to help make this project a success,” he said to the Community Advocate. “I hope the Legos will put a smile on the faces of the patients at Boston Children’s Hospital like it did for me.”

BTW: If you know of a Mayflower Scout who deserves some recognition, email John@MayflowerBSA.com.

Photo submitted to Community Advocate

The Mayflower Council looks to help leaders open Scoutbook on January 31…

Scouts BSA may have been born in 1910, but the current program is a little more contemporary vintage. And since a Scout is brave, Scouting continues to march into the digital landscape.

For example, did you know that Scoutbook is the BSA’s online tracking service?

Scouting.org explains:

From the first knot tied to the final hours of service performed, the Scouting experience is a journey like none other. And Scoutbook is your go-to tool to ensure not a moment is missed – tracking advancement, milestone achievements, and all the fun along the way.

Okay, okay. You’re familiar with Scoutbook. But maybe you are just a bit unsure of how to use the online module. Or perhaps you are just a bit technologically averse.

The Mayflower Council has a solution.

Mayflower Council Scoutbook Training: January 31, 7:00 to 8:30 PM

Does your unit use Scoutbook, or are you wondering how to get going with it?  This session will cover a basic overview and ways to begin using it.  

Topics like how to log in and how leaders sign off on requirements will be covered.  Please join us with your questions and come away with an understanding of how this tool can benefit the scouts and leaders in your unit.

So, Zoom in on Scoutbook!

Register in advance:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.