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Scouts, did you know that you can choose to work on a Merit Badge whenever you want? All you need to do is find a buddy who wants to work on it with you! There's some paperwork to fill out, and then we'll find you a Merit Badge Counselor to work with!

There are lots and lots of Merit Badges you can earn, from cooking to wood-working; from astronomy to outdoor skills; and all sorts of activities in between. Merit Badges are a wonderful way for you to find out about all sorts of possible careers! You may find your vocation in life, or just a really neat hobby! You can check the Boy Scouts of America website to see a full list of the Merit Badges offered.

Take a hike with your own walking stick
By Steven MaxwellFrom the August 2000 Boys' Life magazine
Walking sticks make hiking more fun. They let your arms get into the act, so you cover ground more easily. Even better, they help you keep your balance, which means that heavy pack will stay on your back instead of tumbling down some deep ravine-and maybe taking you with it! Here's how to create your own walking stick.
YOU'LL NEED:

A straight tree or tree branch that's 1-1⁄2 to 2 inches thick at its big end,and 55 to 65 inches long (DO NOT CUT ANY TREE; see Step 1.)
A 1-inch-long piece of 3⁄4-inch diameter copper water pipe
Five-minute epoxy glue
A small saw to trim the stick to its final length
A sharp pocketknife
A spokeshave and a wood-burning tool (both optional)
Adult help and/or supervision

Step 1: Cut your wood to length, making sure both ends are free of splits.
You can use dead, dry wood, but it's hard to carve and makes a weak walking stick. If possible, use fresh wood; hardwood from deciduous (leafy) trees is better than evergreen softwood because it is less gummy. Note: Scouts never cut just any live tree! Take wood only from approved sources, such as a conservation project that thins out a timber stand or trail-building and trail-improvement projects.
Step 2: Using your pocketknife, whittle the bark from your stick, revealing the bright wood beneath. This job takes patience, especially when you are working around knots. Keep at it. You make discover your stick has an inner layer of bark, as well. Carve it away too, or your stick will darken as it dries.
Step 3: Now is the time to carve a head for your stick, if you want one. Using a pencil, draw on the nose, eyes and mouth, then slowly and carefully use the tip of your knife to bring out the details. If you rush this part of your work, you risk slipping and cutting yourself.
Step 4: To protect the bottom end of your walking stick from splintering, whittle it down until the piece of copper pipe slips snugly onto it. Secure the pipe permanently with five-minute epoxy.
Step 5: Your walking stick is now ready for immediate use. However, if you'd like to carve it to a smoother finish and apply a protective coat, you'll need to let it dry indoors for about a month. Use sandpaper or a spokeshave (if you have one) to make its surface even smoother.
Step 6: Optional: Add your personal mark to the walking stick using a wood-burning tool. When you have the stick carved to your satisfaction, apply a stain or other such finish and a protective coat of polyurethane. Take your walking stick with you on all your hikes. Whenever you pick it up, the stick will remind you of your past outdoor adventures and make you wonder what excitement lies ahead.

John Wayne : What The Scout Law Means To Me

A great American, John Wayne, passed away many years ago. One of his last public appearances was at a dinner. He was riddled with cancer and knew he was close to death. The purpose of the dinner was to benefit a land purchase for a Scout Reservation called John Wayne Outpost Camp. At this dinner, Wayne recited the Scout Law. Then he did something unusual, he said the twelve points of the Scout Law are "nice words". "Trouble is" he continued. "We learn them so young we sometimes don't get all the understanding that goes with them. I take care of that in my family. As each boy reaches Scout age, I make sure he learns the Scout Law. Then I break it down for him, with a few things I have picked up in more than half a century since I learned it."
Then Wayne proceeded to explain the importance of the Scout Law, breaking it down for the guests at the dinner; much like he would have for his grandson.

TRUSTWORTHY The badge of honesty. Having it lets you look at any man in the eye. Lacking it he won't look back. Keep this one at the top of your list.LOYAL The Very word is life itself, for without loyalty we have no love of person or countryHELPFUL Part sharing, part caring. By helping each other, we help ourselves, not to mention mankind. Be always full of help -- the dying man's last words.FRIENDLY Brotherhood is part of that word. You can take it in a lot of directions - and do - but make sure and start with brotherhood.COURTEOUS Allow each person his human dignity which means a lot more than saying, "yes ma'am" and "thank you sir". It reflects an attitude that later in life you wish you had honored more... earlier in life. Save yourself that problem. Do it now.KIND This one word would stop wars and erase hatreds. But its like your bicycle, its just no good unless you get out and use it.OBEDIENT Starts at home. Practice it in your family. Enlarge it in your friends. Share it with humanity.CHEERFUL Anyone can put on a happy face when the going is good. The secret is to wear it as a mask for your problems. It might surprise you how many others do the same thing.THRIFTY Means a lot more than putting pennies away, and it is the opposite of cheap. Common sense covers it just about as well as anything.BRAVE You don't have to fight to be brave. Millions of good, fine, decent folks show more bravery than heavyweight champs just by getting out of bed every morning, going out to do a good day's work and living the best life they know how against the law of odds.CLEAN Soap and waters help a lot on the outside. But it is the inside that counts and don't ever forget it.REVERENT Believe in anything that you want to believe in, but keep God at the top of it. With Him, life can be a beautiful experience. Without Him, you are just biding time.