Scouting Alumni

10/14/2026

Jewish Scouting Alumni to Table at JOTA 2026 🕎⚜️

Jewish Scouting Alumni (JSA) has been invited to table at JOTA 2026 on Saturday, October 17, at Tanah Keeta Scout Reservation, hosted by the Gulf Stream Council.

This will be JSA’s first opportunity to represent its community at a large council event. Members will be on hand to connect with Scouts and Scouters, promote Jewish religious emblems, and introduce the growing JSA alumni community.

Is your alumni group participating in JOTA-JOTI? Share in the comments section.

10/13/2026

Thank you, Roger Krone, for your service.

Search committee to identify successor to CEO Roger Krone, who will remain engaged through the transition...

10/13/2026

At 16, David Garrett designed a neighborhood park in North Kansas City, Missouri, for his Eagle Scout service project. The city loved it and even declared a “David Garrett Day” in his honor. Then budgets and other priorities got in the way, and the plans sat on a shelf. For over 45 years.

David kept checking in, first through high school, then about once a year, until he finally gave up. Then the city’s Parks and Recreation director called. They had found his original 1981 design.

River Forest Park opened on June 18, 2026, built from those plans. It includes a playground, nature trails, a native pollinator meadow, and access to a natural waterfall. David was honored all over again at the ribbon-cutting.

David is now known around town as “the park guy.”

Read more using the link in the comments.

10/12/2026

Did you know the food planning process for Philmont’s 2027 season is already underway?

Everyone at Philmont shares one thing in common that few stop to think about - they all need to eat, especially when they're expending so much energy on the trail. At Philmont, food isn't easily accessible, and it wouldn't be possible without the Commissary.

This year, the Commissary produced more than 207,000 two-person meal bags for programs across the Ranch. Commissary camps help lighten crews’ loads by reducing how much food they must carry at a time, supporting participants throughout their trek.

So how does it all work? What goes into planning and preparing meals for the thousands of Scouts on the trail each summer? A new article by Heidi Wakefield and Derek Shiney looks behind the scenes at the team that keeps Philmont fueled.

👉 Read the full story on Philmont’s Commissary to see how it all comes together using the link in the comments.

10/09/2026

Once a Scout, always a Scout. Come back for JOTA-JOTI, Oct. 16-18.

Many of us learned some of our biggest lessons through Scouting - confidence, communication, and how to connect with people who aren’t like us. This October, you can help pass that along.

Jamboree-on-the-Air and Jamboree-on-the-Internet (JOTA-JOTI) is the largest Scouting event in the world. Scouts from more than 160 countries connect by ham radio and online, and about 2 million took part last year. It’s like a global jamboree you can join from home.

Here’s how alumni can get involved:

📻 Licensed ham radio operator? JOTA relies on licensed operators to supervise youth on the air. Your skills are needed.

🤝 Reach out to a local pack, troop, or crew. Offer to help them get set up, answer questions, or just cheer them on.

💻 Log on and connect. Say hello to Scouts around the world, or explore the Minecraft hub, where players build their own Scout camps and visit a virtual Kandersteg International Scout Centre.

🚀 Tune in to JOTA-JOTI Live. On Oct. 17 from 5 to 6 p.m. CT, NASA astronaut and Distinguished Eagle Scout Mike Fossum will talk about the International Space Station.

📣 Spread the word. Share this post and tag a fellow Scouting alum.

Learn more using the link in the comment section.

10/08/2026

Wayland High School sophomore Griffin McNeilly, 15, was honored for putting out a small fire in his jewelry and metalwork class.

The fire started while a soldering tool was in use, and Griffin credited his Scout training for knowing to grab the nearest fire extinguisher and aim it at the flames.

By the time the Wayland Fire Department arrived, within minutes, he had already put the fire out. One student was taken to the hospital with burns to her hands, but Fire Chief Neil McPherson said the incident could have been much worse without Griffin's quick thinking.

Wayland Public Safety and his fellow Scouts recognized him at his Scout meeting, where he said he didn't act for credit and that if you know how to help, you should. The fire remains under investigation.

Find the full story using the link in the comment section.

10/04/2026

Three members of the Scouting America Susquehanna Council Executive Board in Pennsylvania received the James E. West Fellowship for their significant contributions to the council’s endowment fund.

Dale Martz, Pamela Startzel, and Michael A. Stender Sr. were honored. Each holds an active leadership role on the council, serving as treasurer, vice president for membership, or camping committee chair.

The Susquehanna Council serves more than 1,100 young people across five counties in Central Pennsylvania. Council executive boards are a great way for alums to serve. Contact your local council to learn more.

https://www.standard-journal.com/news/local/scouting-executive-board-members-honored/article_24586b49-2dd2-4cfb-81c7-d31081ae4314.html

SUNBURY — Three members of the Scouting America Susquehanna Council Executive Board were honored with the James E. West Fellowship at a recent board meeting.

10/03/2026

Josh Hogue recently completed his multi-year Eagle Scout service project, providing permanent headstones at Seven Star Cemetery in Temple, Texas, a historic African American cemetery dating to the early 1900s.

The cemetery contains the graves of hundreds of individuals, including a Buffalo Soldier, many of whom were previously marked only by deteriorating concrete slabs. Hogue raised $16,000 and worked alongside nearly 40 volunteers to purchase and install 236 engraved granite markers, creating a lasting tribute to those buried there.

Through his dedication and hard work, Hogue has helped preserve this important piece of African American history and ensure that the lives and stories of those buried at Seven Star Cemetery will be remembered for generations.

TEMPLE, Texas (FOX 44) — Boy Scout Josh Hogue completed his multi-year project to provide new permanent headstones at the Seven Star Cemetery in Temple. Back in 2024, Hogue began looking for someth…

10/02/2026

Camp Eastman near Nauvoo, Illinois, recently celebrated 100 years of Scouting and camping with a community-wide event. Established in 1926 as Camp Burro, the camp was renamed Camp Eastman in 1930 after the Eastman family became involved and supported its growth.

The centennial celebration included historical displays, activities, a memorabilia market, a campfire, fireworks, and the opening of a 2001 time capsule containing photos, patches, and other memorabilia.

The celebration brought together generations of Scouts and community members, adding another chapter to Camp Eastman’s century-long history.

Camp Eastman has been a place to learn, make friends, build confidence and create memories that last long after the summer ends.

10/01/2026

Scouting America’s Catalina Council hosted its 27th Annual Good Scout Awards Luncheon on September 30 in Tucson, Arizona, honoring individuals who exemplify character, citizenship, and service.

Emmy Award-winning actor Bob Odenkirk, known for his roles in Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad, received the Lifetime Achievement Award. A former Life Scout and camp counselor, Odenkirk was recognized for his contributions and commitment to community values.

Tucson attorney and civic leader Tim Medcoff received the Distinguished Citizen Award for his service on community boards and support for local nonprofits, including Ronald McDonald House. News 13 evening anchor Dan Marries received the Good Scout Award after serving as the luncheon’s emcee for 15 years. With his two youngest sons actively involved in Scouting, Marries emphasized his appreciation for Scouting’s lasting impact on young people across Southern Arizona.

Learn more using the link in the comments section.