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Scouting America is taking STEM learning to the fast lane through a new 2026 season-long partnership with AB Motorsports. Working alongside four-time Top Fuel world champion Antron Brown, this collaboration will give Scouts hands-on access to the science, technology, engineering, and teamwork behind NHRA drag racing at select national events across the season.
The new Competitive Gaming badge opens the door for Scouts to explore one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, esports and modern gaming. This badge goes beyond just playing games. It teaches Scouts how to apply the values of the Scout Oath and Law in digital spaces while building skills like teamwork, communication, and responsible online behavior. It’s also part of Scouting America’s Test Lab program, meaning it’s being piloted to gather feedback, refine the experience, and ensure it delivers real value if it is launched as a merit badge.
I earned the First Aid Merit Badge in 1980 when I was a sixth-grader with Troop 13 in Brooklyn, New York. My instructor was a New York City paramedic, Ivan Quevedo, who taught far beyond the badge requirements—while still emphasizing what we would now call “scope of practice” (what we were and were not trained to do in an emergency). That balance of inspiration and responsibility sparked something in me and pushed me to go further.
Scouting America has announced a new collaboration with NASA to support the Artemis program, creating hands-on STEM learning opportunities for Scouts nationwide. This initiative connects youth with real-world space exploration through curriculum resources, experiential activities, and mission-based challenges focused on teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership.
Scouting America and Random House Children’s Books have officially released the book trailer for George Goodwin, Dragon Slayer: A Scouting Legend. The story follows a young Scout on a journey that blends fantasy, adventure, and the values that have shaped the Scouting movement for more than a century. The trailer features early endorsements from Bear Grylls, Max Lucado, and Mike Rowe, along with early media attention from People and the New York Sun.
Jay S. Bottorff, hailing from Dearborn Heights, Michigan, is the 2026 National Alumnus of the Year. Since earning his Eagle Scout rank in 1988, Jay’s nearly-40-year journey of Scouting service has been transformative. Just within the past decade, Jay has revolutionized the way alumni throughout the nation and beyond are engaged.
Since 1925, the Silver Buffalo Award has represented the highest honor for adults in Scouting. Presented by Scouting America, the Silver Buffalo recognizes individuals who have provided truly distinguished service to youth on a national level. Over the years, recipients have included founders of the Scouting movement, U.S. presidents, astronauts, corporate executives, and civic leaders who have made a lasting impact through service and leadership.
In 1942, the Silver Antelope Award was created to recognize outstanding service within one of Scouting America’s geographic territories. This honor celebrates Scouters whose leadership and dedication have strengthened the movement at a regional level.
Scouting America is doubling down on volunteer support to drive membership growth. Sean Magennis, EVP of Membership Engagement at Scouting America, is leading a strategy aimed at reaching 2 million members in the next decade by focusing on both retention and recruitment. The approach centers on the EDGE method, which stands for explain, demonstrate, guide, enable. The goal is to help volunteers learn, lead, and mentor with confidence.
On January 21, 2026, 21 Scouting alumni gathered in Flagstaff to reconnect, share stories, and welcome one another back to the campfire. The group reflected the full spectrum of Scouting’s impact. Three Eagle Scouts from Illinois met for the first time and bonded over Midwest memories.
As Camp Horseshoe approaches its 100th anniversary, a race against time is underway to preserve nearly a century of Scouting history. Sixty-seven down, 30 to go. Scouting America historians Andrew Coe and Steve Miller are working to collect every staff list from the 97 seasons of Camp Horseshoe in Rising Sun, Maryland, ahead of its centennial in 2027. So far, they have recovered 67.
