The Boy Scouts of America's talk of reversing its ban on openly gay scouts and leaders has divided the 100-year-old organization's biggest participants: churches. Of the more than 100,000 scouting units in the U.S., nearly 70 percent are chartered by faith-based groups, according to BSA statistics. Conservative denominations and movements that denounce homosexual behavior control some big numbers. Leadership at the conservative ministry Focus on the Family worries lifting the ban means diluting the Scout Oath to "keep morally straight" to "morally neutral." But progressive church leaders point to the inclusive concepts of the Scout Law, "kind," "friendly" and "brave."

Boy Scouts' talk of ending gay ban divides faith-based chapters

Update, 8:45am - Boy Scouts to continue review of membership policy, take action at May meeting

As early as next week, the Boy Scouts of America may announce it will allow gay Scouts and troop leaders, a spokesman for the group has told USA TODAY. If this policy shift is approved by the national board meeting next week, it will be a sharp reversal of the Scouts' decades' old national policy banning homosexuals.

Boy Scouts may soon welcome gay youths, leaders

 
Troop 130 Blast Car racing highlights. Film Production by Ben

One hundred years ago on Aug. 1, Arthur Eldred, a 17-year-old Boy Scout from Long Island, became the first person to earn the Eagle Scout rank. Eldred, tall, quiet and with a shock of dark hair, had joined scouting largely at the behest of his widowed mother, who hoped it would give some structure to his life. Yet as Eagle Scouts would continue to do throughout the next century, Eldred caught the scouting world by surprise. He was the first of an extraordinary new cohort of young men who were to prove very different from the classic 13-year-old Boy Scout in short pants.

The Wall Street Journal/Michael Malone: A Century of Eagle Scouts

This weekend Troop 130 is heading down to Bent's Old Fort for their Traditional Holiday Celebration. We're looking at snow, wind, and cold this year - a perfect way to kick off December! Fortunately, we'll be staying indoors on this trip.

Outtakes from filming the 2013 Jamboree Promo Video

This weekend Ben and I join 32 scouts from Troop 130 for the Gateway District Camporee at Horestooth Reservoir in Fort Collins. This event is for all scouts in Gateway, so there will be 25+ troops in attendance. Last weekend was great weather, but this weekend - rain and wind. Still, it should be a good time!

NPR Reports on The Summit, the new BSA High Adventure Base and Jamboree facility.

From Ben: "Just for perspective of how bad the storm [last Tuesday] was, this is from the Dietler side [of camp], looking at the dining hall [upper right]. On the left is where the new shooting ranges are located. [in between] that there is a new 'Lake'"

Well, I was gone for a week with Troop 130 for Summer Camp at Camp Buffalo Bill near Cody, Wy. We had a great time and totally dominated the camp. I'll link to photos later, but for now I'm trying to get back into the swing of my "noraml" routine.

It's the birthday of Juliette Gordon Low, born 150 years ago today in Savannah, Georgia (1860), who in 1912 founded the Girl Scouts of America.

This weekend Ben and I will be heading down to Peaceful Valley for the Gateway District Fall Camporee. We're going with 18 scouts from Troop 130 plus a good dozen or so Webelos scouts from area Packs. The weather looks to be good the whole weekend, and I know we'll all have a great time.

Ben, at the Jamboree Arena Show, from the Boy Scouts of America Flickr stream

Here's a time-lapse video of our subcamp being set up. While it focuses on the Central Wyoming site, you can see the Denver Area Council sites in the background (including our Graebel Van Line Semi Trucks)

I'm out on "tour" with Troop 907 heading to BSA Jamboree. Check out some photos on flickr!

Tonight in our troop meeting we'll begin the Pathfinding Historical Merit Badge. Its roots are in the story of the Unknown Scout:

One day in 1909 in London, England, An American Visitor, William D. Boyce, lost his way in a dense fog. He stopped under a street lamp and tried to figure out where he was. A boy approached him and asked if he could be of help.

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The Boy Scouts have added a new Merit Badge, for Video Games.

Houston, Texas, March 31, 2010 -- Union Pacific Railroad today unveiled the UP No. 2010 Boy Scouts of America Locomotive, created as a tribute to the organization’s centennial celebration. The UP No. 2010 honors Scouting’s 100-year impact on the nation and the many Scouting enthusiasts in Union Pacific’s work force and communities.

Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low assembled 18 girls from Savannah, Georgia, on March 12, 1912, for a local Girl Scout meeting. She believed that all girls should be given the opportunity to develop physically, mentally, and spiritually. With the goal of bringing girls out of isolated home environments and into community service and the open air, Girl Scouts hiked, played basketball, went on camping trips, learned how to tell time by the stars, and studied first aid.

Happy Birthday Girl Scouts! On this day in 1912, the first Girl Scout troop was registered in Savannah, GA

The history of Girl Scout cookies.

On this date in 1910, the Boy Scouts of America was incorporated by publisher W. D. Boyce. Boyce first learned about Scouting when a Scout refused payment for helping him through a fog. He was simply doing a Good Turn. For 100 years, Scouts across America have kept to that example, doing Good Turns daily. Today, we celebrate the 100th Anniversary of this great movement and begin our next 100 years of service.

Koby and Magavin Carroll staked out spots beside adjacent urinals Saturday in men's bathroom No. 18 on Level 3 of the Intrust Bank Arena. Their mission: To join with 300 other scouts and simultaneously flush every public toilet in the soon-to-be opened building.

Intrust Bank Arena plumbing flush with success: Over 300 Scouts Gather to Flush Toilets

When David Bouchein won his Eagle Scout medal in the 1970s he had no idea of the prominence that award would play later in his life. "Who would have thought I'd be running the company that made my Eagle medal?" said Bouchein, president of Stange Company.

Awards manufacturer produces prestigious Eagle Scout medals

Boy Scouts reach out to Latinos

After a bit of work, six months of leadership, and a last-minute merit badge, Ben earned his Life Rank this evening. He's one away from Eagle now.

Lots going on with Scouts lately. Yesterday:

• Sarah and her Girl Scout Troop volunteered at the Second Wind Fund race
• Ben helped with a flag ceremony at FUMC's cornerstone dedication
• We had a Jamboree troop meeting

Troop 130 is featured on boyslife.com as the photo of the day!

The dedication of the new Frederic C. Hamilton Scout Headquarters in the Denver Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, took place on Monday, June 22, 2009 at 10 a.m. located at 10455 W. 6th Avenue. As the Boy Scouts of America approaches their 100 year celebration in 2010, they take great pride in past accomplishments and rich history, and look forward to a bright future of continuing scouting’s contributions to its members, families and the community. This new scouting facility is not only a more efficient place to conduct scouting’s business today, but well into the future.

Sarah in new Class A PV Staff Uniform

Ben and I were at Camp Tahosa this weekend where Ben completed the Ordeal portion of the Order of the Arrow. He worked hard clearing trees for his service project. Congratulations!

Yesterday Ben and I helped out at the Christian Action Guild (a Golden, Colo. food bank) by unloading, sorting, and storing food collected by the post office. The food collected will last through the summer.

Trucks of food come in...

Food gets sorted by date and type.

Shelves get stocked.

Congratulations, Ben, on earning your Star Scout rank last night!

Ben and I have been selected to attend the 2010 Boy Scout Jamboree. I'm going as an assistant Scoutmaster and Ben is a regular participant. We'll be part of the gateway district contingent, along with 34 other scouts. It seems like a long way off, but there's lots of planning and fund raising to do. This is a great opportunity and experience and should be a lot of fun.

The Boy Scouts need to wise up, or they'll lose out

A 15 year old Girl Scout from Michigan sold 17,328 boxes of cookies this year. She sold them every day on a street corner and says about the cookies: "I love them".

This weekend Ben and I joined Troop 130 at the Gateway Klondike Derby held in Golden Gate Canyon State Park. It was cold and windy Friday night: we set up in the dark after digging out our campsite (there was 6-12 inches of snow), and the wind howled all night. Saturday was sunny but still cold. The kids had fun at the different stations. Today, for camp-strike time, the sun shown and we were able to work without coats. Ben had a good time, though I know he and I will sleep well tonight!

Ben and I went camping with his troop, staying at a cabin near Kremmling. We came home Sunday, and it looks like we left at the right time since storms closed I-70 at the Eisenhower Tunnels. We probably drove through the storm but the winds and snow wasn't as bad as it got later.

Yesterday Ben and I joined his troop for a trip down to the Air Force Academy to watch the Falcons play the Wyoming Cowboys. The Falcons won 20-12 (too bad as I was cheering for Wyoming). Afterwards we drove over to a campsite in the Pike National Forest for a camp-out. The evening activities went well, but in the morning we woke up to 4" of snow, with more coming down. Everyone handled the weather well, and we were able to pack up and head out on schedule. The drive home was very slow, with lots of accidents along the way. Fortunately we made it home safe and sound.

From 9News:

Once every four years, boy scouts from all over the state flock for the Council Camporee. On Friday night, 3,500 boy scouts camped out Fulenwider Farm for the 2008 Council Camporee.

Ben and I joined his troop at the camporee. We had a lot of fun, even with a constant wind of 50 MPH, dust, and rain Saturday night. Many troops bailed out early, but we stuck it through to the end.

Roy Williams, Chief Scout Executive since 2000, has retired and will be succeeded by Robert (Bob) Mazzuca.

This commentary from the Scoutmaster blog discusses the change in leadership and calls for Mr. Mazzuca to re-examine BSA's exclusionary membership policies.

When we most needed an open, frank dialog about our collective future. Our national leadership, with Williams at the helm, saw any discussion of its decisions as an attack. Their response was cold and mechanical - they simply dismissed or threatened dissenting individuals, units and Councils. Perhaps our new leadership will find a better way to deal with dissent. Perhaps they will recognize the corrosive, immoral effect of discrimination and lead by bringing it to an end.

This week Cameo, Ben, Sarah, and I will be down at Philmont scout Ranch. I'm attending a cub scout leader training, and everyone else will have a week to "play" around camp. The weather s

Scouts celebrate the 100th birthday of their organization.

88 year old man finally receives his Eagle Scout award.

Ben made it back from summer camp at Camp Dietler. He had a great time, even with hail and rain a couple nights. Ben was able to complete his archery merit badge, and has partial completions on metal work and camping. Ben also was voted "King of the Ca

This weekend Sarah and I joined her troop on a campout at Pickle Gulch above Blackhawk. I did most of the cooking and brought the bulk of the "group" gear - stoves, covers for tables, cook gear - and firewood. We had a good time although it rained for

On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Ben worked as staff at Webelos Weekend held at Magness Adventure Camp on Peaceful Valley Scout Ranch. Ben's troop ran the knots station, and was voted the favorite station by t

Ben earned his Tendefoot rank tonight!

Click for larger picture

Saturday was Denver Area Council's Scout Show, held at the Hall of Education at the National Western Complex. Pack 111 ran a booth this year, hosting Box Hocke

Today the boy scouts volunteered to help with the Easter Egg hunt at the Colorado Railroad Museum. It was cold and snowy, but the scouts had a good time hiding and helping the little kids collect eggs. When we were do

Now that Ben is in Boy Scouts, he's going to need some camping gear. While we own a bunch of stuff, we figured he'd need a pack of his own, and we needed a new tent as well. We were able to pick up some good deals while shopping today, so Ben has a new

Last night was Ben's first Court of Honor with Troop 130. He received his Scout Badge and the Aviation Mer

Ben completed the Metta Religious Award for Buddhist Cub Scouts and received the medal yesterday. Here's the photo of him

Last night was Ben's last den meeting and Monday will be his last pack meeting. He is crossing over into Boy Scouts, and will be joining Troop 130, based in near by Golden, Colorado.

Ben ha

The Denver Post ran an article on the "more than 200 Statue of Liberty replicas" erected throughout the area in the late 1940's and early 1950's. Boy Scout Troop 101 in Cheyenne Posted by Jason to Scouts 

I spent this weekend completing my Woodbadge Course that I started two weekends ago. (we had a break between the two weekends). I had a lot of fun, learned new skills, and made some good friends. Now I'

Tomorrow Ben and I head off once again to Magness Adventure Camp. This will be Ben's last year to attend the camp - next year he'll be old enough to go across the street to the Boy Scout camp. We'll be back Saturday, and I hope to post pictures Ben tak

Over the weekend Sarah, Ben, and I joined Pack 111 on a campout to Camp Tahosa, up above Ward, Colorado. I had been to Tahosa as a boy, but the camp was closed for several decades due to overuse. The Boy Scouts wanted the land to regenerate and recover

This weekend was the 30th Webelos Weekend, held at Camp Tahosa above Ward, Colorado. Ben and I drove up Friday and returned this afternoon.

I have attended Webelos Weekend as a cub scout and served on staff as a Boy Scout, and now I've attende

Girl Scout's Mile Hi Council is promoting 2006 summer camps. They recently ran an article in the Denver Post's YourHub.com site (a web based local news source that also comes in print form once a week). Yo

Today is Pack 111's pinewood derby. Ben is putting the wheels on his car this morning. We had a late start getting his car complete, but the design he created was easy to cut out and sand so he'll be ready for racing this afternoon.

From Scoutmaster: An Axe to Grind

Yesterday Ben and I joined his cub scout den in attending the Gateway District Klondike Derby.

(A Klondike Derby is when the boy scouts go camping in the cold and snow. They build sleds, have races, practice skills, and if the weather drops be

Scoutmaster: An evolved Mess Kit

Ropes and Poles - a blog about scouting, pioneering, and the fun things you can make with some rope and some wood.