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Picture a world where your father walks with you down a starlit road, pausing to point out Orion. He recites Robert Frost, knows how a battery works—and all the rules about girls. "The Dangerous Book for Boys," by brothers Conn and Hal Iggulden, is peaking on Amazon's best-seller list (No. 5 last week) by recalling just that world. The compendium of trivia, history and advice is geared toward preteen boys, but it's found a surprising audience in men in their 30s and 40s, too. The book's marbled endpapers, archival illustrations and dry, humorous tone ("excitable bouts of windbreaking will not...

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BOY SCOUT STORY http://www.philly.com/dailynews/opinion/8161352.html By MARK CHILUTTI Posted on Mon, Jun. 25, 2007 I'M WRITING THIS filled with disappointment due to the actions of the leadership of the city that I love. While in Atlanta several weeks ago on Boy Scout business, I was pulled aside and told we'd been blindsided, again with regard to the office that the Scouts have occupied and maintained in Philadelphia since 1928. I get frustrated when I read the side of the story that our city solicitor tells, as it seems to not fall in line with the first...

The Boy Scouts http://www.americanprofile.com/article/22342.html http://tinyurl.com/2bogc9 by Elizabeth Johnson As an American flag waves high in the morning sky at the Meridian Historical Village in Okemos, Mich. (pop. 22,805), more than 80 khaki-uniformed Boy Scouts raise their right hands in a three-fingered salute. “On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight,” the Scouts recite in unison. The recitation of the Boy Scout Oath marks the beginning of a weekend...

MSU to offer scholarships to Eagle Scouts, Gold Award winners http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070613/NEWS/70613002 http://tinyurl.com/2th5xt June 13, 2007 By Andy Kanengiser andy.kanengiser@clarionledger.com [see text of article at URL above]

Scouts Honor: One famous Logan Square building won’t go condo—at least for nowhttp://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/articles/14825 by Gwen Shaffer Should the local assembly of Boy Scouts be evicted from its headquarters in the Art Museum area, the grand Beaux Arts building will remain “institutional in nature,” Philadelphia City Councilman Darrell Clarke assured neighbors during a recent meeting. Logan Square residents called for the June 2 powwow amid fears the historic building could be transformed into upscale residential units or a restaurant. “We’re concerned about many potential unintended consequences of this eviction, one of which is the property being developed in ways that aren’t...

For almost 70 years, Scouts and Guides have savoured their place of peaceful worship under the trees. But no longer. The woodland chapel has been demolished - its wooden pews and rudimentary cross and altar removed. In its place is a campfire circle. The change has been imposed by the Scout Association, which believes the chapel excludes non-Christian Scouts. Locals are dismayed, but the association says it is simply "moving forward". The basic open-air structure in woodland surrounding Belchamps Scout Centre in Hockley, Essex, was built between the wars by volunteers. They used old telegraph poles for pews and built...

Time bomb in new city budget? [Philly votes to boot Scouts] http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/7780166.html Posted on Fri, Jun. 01, 2007 By MARK McDONALD mcdonam@phillynews.com 215-854-2646 In other business, Council cleared the way for the city to terminate a lease the city has had with the Cradle of Liberty Council of the Boy Scouts since 1928 for the half-acre of land at 22nd and Spring streets where the Boy Scouts built their regional headquarters building. At issue is the national Boy Scouts policy of discrimination against homosexuals and the Street administration's response that the city should not subsidize an entity that engages in...

Perot Jets to Erma to Bolster Scouts http://www.capemaycountyherald.com/article/articles/3630/1/Perot-Jets-to-Erma-to-Bolster-Scouts http://tinyurl.com/2orzz9 By Jack Fichter May 23, 2007 ERMA — Ross Perot, former presidential candidate, billionaire businessman, and Eagle Scout, thrilled a crowd of veterans, Boy Scouts, and politicians May 18 at Naval Air Station Wildwood at the county airport. He was on time for his speaking engagement, as his private jet arrived 20 minutes ahead of scheduled. Perot was dressed in a dark suit and was courteous to all he came in contact with, including a number of audience members who received handshakes and autographs. The event coincided with a scouting weekend...

Explorer hopes Scout experience fuels career as federal agent http://bgdailynews.com/articles/2007/05/16/features/features2.txt http://tinyurl.com/yst7ut Last modified: Wednesday, May 16, 2007 11:22 AM CDT By NATALIE JORDAN, The Daily News, njordan@bgdailynews.com/783-3243 Andria Vansickle is planning to make a name for herself in the world of law enforcement. Vansickle, 20, is one of 300 selected from more than 2,000 applicants to attend the FBI Leadership Academy, a program through the Boy Scouts of America Explorers. “I sent the application off in February after finishing it in January. I had to write an essay about what law enforcement meant to me and get letters of reference,”...

First, there was the question of the title: "The Dangerous Book for Boys." HarperCollins Publishers' Chief Executive Jane Friedman just didn't understand what it meant. Sure, the book had been a hit in England and Australia, but that didn't mean it would work in the U.S. But the sales staff urged her to stick with it, and in just two weeks, "Dangerous" has become the breakout hit of the season. The News Corp. unit initially ordered up 91,000 copies. There are now 405,000 copies in print. One senior HarperCollins executive, extrapolating from overseas sales and population data, projects that "Dangerous,"...

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals deserves the gratitude of every upright American for dismissing vindictive litigation that sought to force the Boy Scouts of America on religious grounds to find a new home for its quadrennial national jamboree. In 1999, the American Civil Liberties Union sued the Pentagon to prevent it from hosting the 10-day jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill, Va., and providing about $7 million in supplies and services. The 2005 event attracted more than 40,000 Scouts and 300,000 visitors from around the country and pumped $17 million into the Virginia economy. The ACLU claimed the Pentagon...

Minor League Baseball and Boy Scouts Step Up to the Plate to Encourage Families to Prepare for Emergencies http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1175712102184.shtm Release Date: April 4, 2007 For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary Contact: 202-282-8010 2007 Season Participating Minor League Baseball Teams and Schedule of Ready Games (PDF, 2 pages - 10 KB) Minor League Baseball and the Boy Scouts of America are teaming up with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Ready Campaign for the fourth consecutive year to educate and encourage Americans to prepare for emergencies. Forty-nine baseball teams are joining many local Boy Scout councils in stepping up...

Statement of Boy Scouts of America: Court Rules Boy Scout Jamboree to Go Forward http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/04-04-2007/0004559911&EDATE= http://tinyurl.com/396mft IRVING, Texas, April 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Boy Scouts of America is pleased that the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit dismissed the ACLU's lawsuit against the Department of Defense for supporting the National Scout Jamboree. For more than 25 years, Boy Scouts have held the National Scout Jamboree every four years at Fort A.P. Hill near Fredericksburg, Virginia. Scouts from all over the country camp together for ten days and participate in activities emphasizing physical fitness, appreciation of the outdoors, and...

NFL owners meeting: Leadership big on Boy Scoutshttp://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_5541252 Goodell eager to lift league image By Mike Klis , Denver Post Staff Writer Article Last Updated: 03/28/2007 10:57:22 PM MDT Phoenix - After the NFL owners meetings concluded, commissioner Roger Goodell joined Broncos owner Pat Bowlen on a flight to Denver, where they will speak at a Boy Scouts-sponsored breakfast this morning. The NFL sharing the same dais with the Boy Scouts of America? Let there be no doubt, Goodell will stop at nothing to enhance the NFL's image. "I'm looking forward to it," said Goodell, who will be introduced by...

Youth ministry finds God in the great outdoors http://www.yorkdispatch.com/local/ci_5487035 EYANA ADAH MCMILLAN The York Dispatch Article Last Updated: 03/21/2007 12:00:12 PM EDT Daniel Hatterer has learned more than how to handle a few bumps in the road during his mountain biking ventures with a local extreme sports ministry. "I've learned how God is in our lives, that he put you on Earth for a reason and everybody has a purpose in life," said the 14-year-old. "If you're having a hard time, just talk to God and ask him to help you out. It works for me." Last year, Daniel --...

Scouts have bumpy landing http://tinyurl.com/2ron93 Web Posted: 03/18/2007 01:39 AM CDT Chuck McCollough Express-News Three Boy Scouts and their pilot walked away from a hard landing at Hondo Municipal Airport on Saturday after part of the plane's landing gear failed to lock in place, witnesses said. "I'm glad to be down safe. I was really scared after I saw part of the wheel fall off," said 12-year-old Eric Riegel. He and fellow scouts Nathaniel Mayberry, 13, and Kirby Vandervort, 10, all of Houston, were flying with pilot Thomas Skiles to earn their aviation merit badges. Dozens of other Scouts were...

TRAPHILL, N.C. (AP) -- Search teams combed mountain terrain Sunday for a 12-year-old Boy Scout who disappeared during an outing. About 10 scouts and the adult leaders of Troop 230, from Greensboro, noticed that Michael Auberry was missing between 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday in Stone Mountain State Park, officials said. The troop had gone on a hike earlier Saturday, and the boy and an adult stayed behind, said David Bauer, a ranger with the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was not immediately clear why they stayed behind. After the troop returned and ate lunch with Michael and the adult,...

Our Passion for Scouting Video Contest! We need your help in promoting a new, exciting event for ScoutParents – a video competition called Our Passion for Scouting Video Contest! The video competition is designed to showcase stories from passionate Scouters from around the globe. Here’s how it works. Contestants must produce and submit a one-minute video showing how passionate they are about Scouting. All video submissions will be placed online at http://www.ScoutParents.org for all Web site visitors to view. Please note: All contest rules and entry forms are available online at http://www.ScoutParents.org The first 75 entrants will receive two special...

A new video featuring a puppet called Buttons, the radical Boy Scout, has been posted. This time he tries to learn the Cub Scout Promise from a 3rd grade Cub Scout. The Cub Scout breaks out giggling quite often. If you would like a chuckle then check this out.

Actually, the article is from the 95th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. But I just wanted to note that today is the 97th birthday of the Boy Scouts of America.