Marked Men
Walton family archiveDo you want to be "known"? Do you want a lover? You want people to see you on the street and know who you are??You don't need to shoot, maim, nor kill anyone. You don't need to go onto Facebook or Snapchat, Twitter, or any other social medium and belittle someone or call someone out. You don't need to wreck your or your parent's vehicle, van, or truck. You don't need to steal... [More]
By: Mike Walton (blackeagle) On: 2020-04-16What Do Scouts Do?
(This was originally written as part of my unpublished book "Eagle Feathers" in 2004.) A question posed to me -- surprising because of who asked the question -- made me think a lot about what the public thinks that Scouting is about and what little we've told them recently about what we do.I was standing on a platform at the Crystal City, Virginia stop along the METRO, Washington D.C.'s series of underground trains which... [More]
By: Mike Walton (blackeagle) On: 2020-04-13Clean Inside Out
(From "Patches and Pins..." by Mike Walton (c) 1994. )When I was growing up in Rose Terrace, just about everyone did car washes to raise money for some organization or another. A car wash was cheap to run....get some detergent, some sponges and old shirts, towels and some dishwashing liquid. And lots of water. Go out someplace hopefully on a sunny, clear day, set up the signage, and you're in business!Not a lot of... [More]
By: Mike Walton (blackeagle) On: 2020-04-06Did I Tell You About My Glass Eye?
(From the chapter "A Scout is Courteous" within "Patches and Pins..." by Mike Walton (c) 1989. All 13 Scout Law points are posted as part of the U.S. Scouting Service Project's MacScouter web I chose this particular Scout Law point because, well, my eyesight in my left eye is challenging me. Eventually, over time, I was told I would lose much if not all, of the sight from that eye. In the meantime, they are... [More]
By: Mike Walton (blackeagle) On: 2020-03-30Camp Onteora BSA
This BSA camp was one that was recommended to us by our readers. Some of the pictures shown on this web page were also sent in from one of our viewers. This camp is a part of the Theodore Roosevelt council...Located in the heart of the Catskill Mountains, Onteora Scout Reservation is affectionately referred to by those who have experienced the camp as "Land in the Sky." When you arrive at OSR, your... [More]
By: InsaneScouter On: 2020-03-23Who you gonna call? Not THEM but...
Screenshot from my copy of Ray Parker Jr.'s "Ghostbusters" video A lot of what's posted on Facebook(TM) comes and goes several times a year. Those who use and follow others over there know that for the last, um, several weeks or more, various "friends of yours" have asked aloud:"You're kidnapped, and before they hide you somewhere, you have the opportunity to call ONE (television show, action-adventure actor or team, or other celebrity) to rescue you.... [More]
By: Mike Walton (blackeagle) On: 2020-03-16Little Miami Scenic Trail
I have fond memories of biking parts of this trail on more than one occasion. The Little Miami Scenic Trail is a lot of fun to use. The trail stretches from the suburbs of Cincinnati to Springfield, Ohio, over bridges and through peaceful state parks and several small towns. According to https://www.traillink.com/trail/little-miami-scenic-trail/, the path is part of an extensive sequence of greater than 340 miles of off-road trails that pass through throughout Ohio’s Miami... [More]
By: InsaneScouter On: 2020-03-09JUST DO IT!
Nike image used under Fair Usage guidelines (The NIKE company owns the copyright to the phrase "Just DO IT!" and is being used here with no infringement made. This article was originally in one of the last issues of American Scouting Digest magazine, where I served as a senior editor and writer. The Jamboree referred to was the 2010 National Scout Jamboree, the last one held at Fort AP Hill, Virginia.)A famous sports apparel and... [More]
By: Mike Walton (blackeagle) On: 2020-03-02Best Pinewood Derby Ideas and designs
Some of the fondest memories that I have of the Cub Scout and Webelos program are about getting ready for the Pinewood Derby race and, of course, about the race itself. I remember getting the Pinewood Derby car kit and taking it home and sharing it with my mom. Mom told me that she couldn’t help me, that I would have to wait for my father to get home and that he would help me.... [More]
By: InsaneScouter On: 2020-02-27Bankruptcy and the BSA
Open for Business image from the World Wide Web under Fair Usage guidelines (The national organization of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Tuesday 18 February 2020 to achieve two key objectives: equitably compensate victims who were harmed during their time in Scouting and to continue to carry out Scouting’s mission for years to come.Important to note, BSA local councils have not filed for bankruptcy. Their programs and that... [More]
By: Mike Walton (blackeagle) On: 2020-02-24