2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 81

Orienteering Merit Badge

Today begins the 111th Virginia State Convention for the Knights of Columbus.  I'm pulling duty here for our council.  I tell the Scouts that the Knights are like the Boy Scouts, but for the old guys and no camping.

They are also the charter organization for our pack and troop.

Scouting got a good plug tonight from the State Deputy during the opening reports.  He thinks the councils and all of the Knights who volunteer to help form these young men are performing a valuable service.

Nice when other people get it, too!

Today I:

• Read some great materials on the patrol method.
• Made a deposit for the Scout accounts.
• Got my Life off to the Order of the Arrow Conclave at Camp Brady Saunders in Heart of Virginia Council.

Supporting your Charter Organization can be a good thing.  A lot of them are fairly behind-the-scenes and uninvolved--which only hurts the unit and keeps them from finding out how much fun Scouting is!  Keep your Scouts in front of their eyes.

100 Days of Scouting: Day 81

Today I:

Broadcasted the new Scouting Heritage merit badge information on Twitter, Facebook, via email to the troop, and other Scouters.  Oh, asked the Scout store when we can expect the manuals.

Reminded the crew about the new age and grade requirements for Venturing, effective Saturday.

Began to prep the troop's Scout-o-Rama registration form, due Friday.  I have all the details, I just need to get them all down.

Anyone else glad to see a new merit badge?  I think this is a great idea, and will encourage new Scouts to get connected to the origins.  I asked for a show of hands last night about who Baden-Powell was.  Not impressive.  How about you? Could you earn this merit badge?  Share your thoughts on it in the Comments.