Category Archives: Scouting

Happy Arbor Day!

The official date for Arbor Day can vary from country to country, and even state to state. So for a website of international scope, we must decide on a date, and we’ve decided to go with Nebraska, which proudly proclaims that it is the home of Arbor Day, and where Arbor Day is a civic holiday. So today, the last Friday of April, we wish you a Happy Arbor Day!

The illustration above is from Boys’ Life, April 1926, and is in the column of Dan Beard. Beard first discusses the possibility of every patrol in the country planting a walnut tree with a walnut from the grave of Theodore Roosevelt, and Beard had distributed thousands of such walnuts, ready for planting. The BSA was also working with the proper authorities to procure walnuts from the grave of George Washington, so that those could be planted as well. There are trees around the United States from walnuts from Mount Vernon, so with some inquiries, this project would probably be quite possible today. For those desiring faster satisfaction, you can purchase a number of heirloom flower seeds directly from the estate.

The other idea shown in Beard’s article is shown above. It’s rather self-explanatory, and involves weaving the trunks of small trees together. Beard recommends species with smooth bark, such as beech, willow, or soft maple. He had some success with chestnuts, but he noted that was the boundary, as species with a rougher bark would not cooperate. For students with a long timeframe, it might make a good science fair project, but “it only takes a few years to get results.” (Emphasis added.) The process is known scientifically as insoculation.



1946 British Homemade Canoe

Eighty years ago this month, the April 1946 issue of Practical Mechanics showed how to build this 8-foot canoe, described as a “serviceable craft for young people.” Canvas-covered boats were apparently more common in this size, but the magazine noted that the framework required sound knowledge and woodwork experience, and not everyone was up to the job. This craft, on the other hand, was made of all wood, and was recommended for boys 12-14.

It was built with watertight compartments fore and aft, so there was no likelihood of it sinking should it capsize. But just to be safe, we recommend wearing an approved life vest.

The boat had a flat bottom, making it suitable for shallow waters. Most of the lumber was 7/8 inch thickness, and was described as shelving. A coat of creosote, and then paint, rendered the vessel waterproof. The magazine noted that the completed boat might be somewhat awkward to move around on land. It suggested temporarily affixing tram wheels and axle to the stern.

In most states in the U.S., a vessel thus constructed does not require registration. For example, in Minnesota, no registration is required if the craft is less than ten feet. You are required to have aboard the aforementioned life vest, and we recommend that you wear it. Interestingly, in Minnesota (and probably most other states), you are required to have aboard a whistle or other noisemaker, as well as a flashlight.  The article explains how you can make your own paddles, but at Amazon, you can find these nifty telescoping paddles.



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1926 Boys’ Life Crystal Set

One hundred years ago this month, the March 1926 issue of Boys’ Life showed how to build a crystal set for only 80 cents. And the radio editor, Zeh Bouck, even suggested some ideas for shaving that cost to a little less. (He also pointed out that the headphones could be had for $3.) Tuning was accomplished by a slider on the coil, and the author points out the importance of making sure the slider makes contact with only a single wire. One tip was to wind thread between individual windings.



Radio Scouting 1976

We were unaware that Pedro, the longtime mascot of Boys’ Life magazine until his retirement in 2022, apparently had his ham ticket, although he had become somewhat inactive in the 1970s. But when he read in Boys’ Life that there was going to be a Scout radio net, he decided to get back on the air, as documented here, in the February 1976 issue of Boys’ Life.

Elsewhere in the magazine, it was noted that the suggested time was 8:00 – 10:00 PM local time on Wednesdays, and 10:00 AM to noon Saturdays on 3940, 7290, and 14290 kHz. Scouts were encouraged to call CQ SCOUT RADIO NET.



Putting Up An Antenna: 1951

Seventy-five years ago, it was kind of a given that a scout might have a crystal set or a one or two-tube radio. So it was only logical that the January 1956 issue of Boys’ Life would contain pointers on putting up an outdoor antenna.



1965 General Electric Radios

Sixty years ago, as today, a Scout is Thrifty, and General Electric provided some advice for Scouts looking to buy a new radio, in the December 1965 issue of Boys’ Life.

The ad pointed out that getting a new radio wasn’t easy, and entailed a lot of saving and waiting. So when you spent all of the money, you wouldn’t want to wind up with one that sounded tinny or burned through batteries. Fortunately, GE made radios that weren’t expensive, and they are shown here.

The Model P1800 Personal Size portable could be had for less than $11 and featured big sound. For those who liked classical music or jazz, the P1820 gave both AM and FM for less than $28.

The C-545 clock radio would put you to sleep and wake you to music. Finally, if you had less than $8 to spend, the P1710 pocket portable had big clear GE sound.



1955 Arvin Radios

Seventy years ago this month, the December 1955 issue of Boys’ Life carried this ad encouraging boys to drop hints for an Arvin radio for Christmas.  The ad featured the model 952P four-tube portable, the 848T four-tube clock radio, and the “unbreakable”  and economical 840T, available in six sharp colors with, you guessed it, four tubes.



It’s The Ham In Them, 1955

Seventy years ago this month, the November 1955 issue of Boys’ Life carried this feature, “It’s The Ham in Them,” giving an overview of Amateur Radio. It noted that there were 120,000 hams in the U.S., with another 50,000 around the world, and that Uncle Sam had gone out of his way to make the hobby enticing to youth.

Among other topics, the article detailed the potential for hams in an emergency, some of which are depicted here. For example, when Hurricane Diane hit the Northeast, three hundred trembling youngsters were stranded in ankle-deep water on an island of the Delaware River. Little attention was given to a car stopped on the far bank. Even had it been noticed, it wouldn’t have been capable of rescue, or so it appeared. But a squadron of helicopters soon appeared. The driver of the car had been a ham, and had put in the call to Civil Defense officials. (The incident appears to be detailed at this link.

In another case, a truck had plunged off a mountain in Arizona, a a rancher brought them to Camp Geronimo, a scout camp. The camp director was a ham (Ed Burkhart, W7SUI) who put in an emergency call to Phoenix, resulting in the dispatch of an ambulance plane.

As in 1955, Amateur Radio is primarily a hobby.  But it can be a source of information and connection with the outside world in case of an emergency.  An excellent example is when Hurricane Helene hit North Carolina in 2024.  Hams, and their neighbors, were in a position to provide vital information, because an ad-hoc network quickly formed, mostly using a repeater just outside the disaster area.  There might have been a few people “rescued” as a result of this communication.  But more importantly, residents had access to current information, such as whether certain roads were open, where stores and gas stations were operating, etc.  Radio also provided the ability to notify friends and family members that someone was safe.  An excellent recounting of these events can be found at this article by K4SWL, who provided this vital communication for his neighbors.



Adding a Bulb to a Crystal Set: 1925

One hundred years ago, in the November 1925 issue of Boys’ Life, radio editor Zeh Bouck apparently realized that many scouts already owned a crystal set, and were thinking of upgrading by adding a “bulb”. His column details two methods of doing exactly that. First, he discusses how to replace the crystal detector with a tube, and notes that this option is somewhat less expensive. However, his preference is the second method, namely, keeping the crystal detector as-is and adding one tube as an audio amplifier.  Parts lists are included, and the first method, replacing the detector, would set the scout back $5.80. Adding an audio amplifier would require a transformer, which could cost an additional $1.50 to $5.

He assures that both methods are just about as easy as the A, B, C’s, and he gives detailed instructions.



Electronics Merit Badge, 1965

As shown in this announcement in the October 1965 issue of Boys’ Life magazine, the Electronics Merit Badge (along with Space Exploration) is sixty years old. Metallurgy was also new that year, but was renamed Metals Engineering in 1972 and then discontinued in 1995.

Radio Merit Badge (originally named Wireless) was one of the original merit badges.  It continues (we happen to be a counselor for that merit badge), but Electronics covers some distinct material.  The design of the badge (a PNP transistor) remains the same today.

For an interesting story about the Space Exploration Merit Badge, read this account of an Ohio scout who earned it,