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Scouting America Launches Military Family Fee Waiver to Support Service Members and Their Families

Sunday, June 14th, 2026

IRVING, TX (June 8, 2026) – Scouting America announced its Military Family Fee Waiver, a new initiative designed to reduce financial barriers and expand access to Scouting programs for all new and renewing youth members whose parents or guardians are currently serving as active-duty military (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Space Force and Coast Guard), Reserves and National Guard. The program underscores Scouting America’s longstanding commitment to supporting military families and ensuring youth have access to character-building, leadership development, and outdoor experiences.

Through the Military Family Fee Waiver, eligible families may receive a waiver of national registration fees, helping make participation in Cub Scouting, Scouts BSA, Venturing, and Sea Scouting more accessible during times of service-related transition. Frequent relocations, deployments, and changes in family circumstances can present unique challenges for military families, and this initiative helps ensure continuity in youth development opportunities.

“Military families make tremendous sacrifices in service to our country,” said Roger Krone, president and CEO of Scouting America. “The Military Family Fee Waiver is one way we can give back by making it easier for young people in these families to build confidence, develop leadership skills, and experience the adventure and camaraderie that Scouting offers.”

Scouting America has a long history of serving military-connected youth, including units based on military installations around the world. The new fee waiver strengthens that connection by removing a common barrier to participation and inviting more families to take advantage of Scouting’s programs.

Scouting provides youth with opportunities to learn practical skills, serve their communities, and develop resilience, benefits that can be especially meaningful for those navigating the unique demands of military life. Programs emphasize teamwork, responsibility, and personal growth, equipping young people with tools that last a lifetime.

Eligible families are encouraged to contact their local Scouting America council for details about the Military Family Fee Waiver and application process.

For more information about Scouting America and its programs, visit www.scouting.org.

Posted in Press Release, Scouting | Comments Off on Scouting America Launches Military Family Fee Waiver to Support Service Members and Their Families

Scouting America Takes to the Skies with Launch of New Aviation Merit Badge

Saturday, May 24th, 2025

IRVING, TX (May 15, 2025) – Scouting America is thrilled to announce the launch of its updated Aviation Merit Badge. The revised program aims to inspire young people to explore the fascinating world of flight, from the principles of aerodynamics to the diverse careers within the aviation industry.

The Aviation Merit Badge will provide Scouts with a comprehensive introduction to aviation history, navigation, meteorology, air traffic control, and the importance of safety. Through hands-on activities, research, and potential visits to aviation facilities, Scouts will gain valuable knowledge and develop an appreciation for this dynamic field.

“We are incredibly excited to introduce additional resources in this format for the Aviation Merit Badge,” said Roger Krone, president and CEO of Scouting America. “This badge offers a unique opportunity for Scouts to learn about a vital and constantly evolving industry. We hope it will spark curiosity, encourage an interest in STEM fields, and perhaps even inspire future pilots, engineers, and aviation professionals.”

The requirements for the Aviation Merit Badge will challenge Scouts to:

Learn about the history of aviation and significant milestones.
Understand the four forces of flight: lift, weight, thrust, and drag.
Identify different types of aircraft and their uses.
Explore the basics of navigation and flight planning.
Gain an understanding of weather’s impact on aviation.
Learn about air traffic control systems and procedures.
Investigate career opportunities within the aviation industry.
Discuss aviation safety and regulations.

Scouting America collaborated with aviation experts and educators to develop the curriculum for the Aviation Merit Badge, ensuring its relevance and educational value. The new badge aligns with Scouting America’s commitment to providing engaging and educational experiences that prepare young people for future success.

The new Aviation Merit Badge is now available, and Scouts can begin working on its requirements immediately with a qualified counselor. Resources for counselors and Scouts, including the merit badge pamphlet, are available on the Scouting America website at scouting.org.

Posted in Aviation, Scouting | Comments Off on Scouting America Takes to the Skies with Launch of New Aviation Merit Badge

Boy Scouts Once Dressed Like Doughboys

Sunday, April 2nd, 2023

Founded by Lord Baden-Powell, the Scouting movement finds its roots in the military. Lord Baden-Powell was himself a General in the British Army who led his forces successfully during the Second Boer War.

His military training manual, Aids to Scouting, was wildly popular amongst boys in England and a movement was born. Naturally, the Scouts adopted militaristic uniforms.

Here in the States, a similar thing happened. This is a page from a 1925 pamphlet. Aside from insignia, you’d think this young man was in the Army.

Posted in History, Scouting | 11 Comments »

Blast From The Past – The Master-at-Arms Discontinued BSA Merit Badge

Sunday, March 21st, 2021

This photo is said to be of Boy Scouts participating in the short-lived Master-at-Arms badge. It was one of the original 14 merit badges which debuted in the 1910 version of the Boy Scout Handbook and unfortunately, this one lasted just a year. The badge was missing from the 1911 version of the manual when it was released.

To earn the badge, a Scout had to master three of the following combat skills (the surviving manual says two):
-Single Stick
-Boxing
-Ju Jitsu
-Wrestling
-Gymnastics
-Quarterstaff Fencing

Kirk Lawson has introduced a reproduction of the original merit badge pamphlet. The drawings come from this manual and you can buy a print version here and download an ebook here.

Interestingly, the pamphlet is dated 1925 but it would not be unheard of for a merit badge pamphlet to continue to be published even after it was no longer a merit badge because they were printed by private publishers at the time, and not by BSA.

Can you imagine such a merit badge today?

Posted in Combatives, Scouting | 6 Comments »

Meanwhile, On The International Space Station

Monday, July 29th, 2019

“As an assistant scoutmaster and a father of scouts, it was a pleasure to join the World Scout Jamboree from the International Space Station. The #ScoutJamboree, much like Station, brings out the best of international cooperation and service for something bigger than ourselves!”

COL Andrew Morgan

MC, USA

NASA Astronaut

Posted in Aviation, Scouting | Comments Off on Meanwhile, On The International Space Station

SCOUTbox

Saturday, December 8th, 2018

There are loads of monthly subscription services out there, and we’ve tried a few. Most have been long ago cancelled, but so far, our favorite has been SCOUTbox. We’ve continued to subscribe for years.

Let’s face it, Scouting is hardly a cheap endeavor but many with young families don’t have gear lying around unless they are Outdoor oriented or this isn’t their first encounter with Scouting. SCOUTbox helps out with those small items like a new headlamp or some biodegradable soap for camp or a snack for the next hike.

For example, here’s the box from September 2017. It’s very demonstrative of what you’ll receive on a monthly basis.

At our house we share SCOUTbox across three boys and dad and each month everyone got something new for our outdoor pursuits. Usually, once we opened the box, everyone knew what he wanted but a couple of times we had to devise contests in order to dole out the prizes.

scoutbox.us

Posted in Scouting | 2 Comments »

Eagle Scout Knives by Camillus

Tuesday, November 20th, 2018

Offered in 3″ folding blade or 4″ fixed blade versions, Camillus has introduced Eagle Scout commemorative knives.

Camillus has a long history of making Scout knives. These new models were created at the request of Boy Scouts of America’s Mike Gerard (Eagle Scout and former Army Ranger). Unfortunately, although BSA intended these knives to be used every day, they have not released any specs on the materials used, leaving me as an Eagle Scout, to view these as collectibles, kept on a shelf to celebrate an accomplishment.

www.scoutshop.org/camillus

Posted in Knives, Scouting | 4 Comments »

Korean War Veteran Receives Eagle Scout Rank

Tuesday, October 23rd, 2018

After nearly 70 years of waiting, Ed Soria finally received his Eagle Scout Award.

According to the Boy Scouts of America, Ed served in the US Army during the Korean War. Shortly before leaving for duty, Ed submitted his paperwork to earn the rank of Eagle Scout but never received his award, until last week.

During the war, Ed and 700 others were captured and taken as prisoners of war. Only 296 of those POWs survived (known as the Tiger Survivors for the Tiger Death March) and Ed was fortunate enough to be one of them. To this day, Ed feels strongly that his experience as a Boy Scout directly contributed to his survival.

“My Eagle Scout training helped me tremendously to survive in a very harsh environment,” Soria said.

While he believes that the award may have been given to his mother while he was gone, it never surfaced when he returned home from the war. He then went on to serve again in Vietnam years later.

68 years after submitting his final paperwork, Ed finally received his Eagle Scout award at his home in Lake Shastina, California. “Only in America, such a free country, a beautiful country that we have, can a man accomplish his dreams – as far as you can go – and it’s all up to you,” Soria says.

Soria says he still keeps in contact with the remaining Tiger Survivors. He plans to hang his Eagle Scout medals with his other military medal accomplishments in his home.

Posted in History, Scouting, Veterans | 7 Comments »