The Boy Scouts of America Scrapbook from K&Company is a sturdy, fabric-covered album that would be a welcome part of any Scout or proud parent's collection. The 3.75" die-cut highlight window on the front cover is accented nicely by a metal emblem.

The Scrapbook comes with 10 top-loading 12x12 inserts that would work equally well for displaying photos or scrapbooking materials. The scrapbook seems capable of holding twice the number of acid-free pages that come with it, and I almost wish it did come with more. Extra inserts can be purchased from the K&Company website.

Overall, this fabric scrapbook in the colors of the Boy Scout Uniform is well-made and designed with the Scouting® lifestyle in mind. 

P.S. Facebook user Christi M. offered this great advice for caring for your scrapbook "a hint: cover the metal emblem with paint tape and use fabric protector spray to keep it clean. :)" 

Thanks for the tip Christi!  

Since the early '80's, the Northwest Territorial Mint has been known for quality die-struck collectibles. This Eagle Scout Hiking Stick Medallion 

is no exception. I like the idea of an Eagle Scout placing their medallion on something practical, like a hiking stick, since time

outdoors in nature is so integral to the lifestyle of a Scout. Plus, it becomes a sign of achievement an Eagle can take anywhere without having to worry about the keepsake falling out of a pocket or day pack. Since it is meant to be taken on hikes, this medallion is naturally lightweight, without sacrificing strength or rigidity. The face of the medallion is curved inward slightly to allow it to hug a hiking stick for a flush fit. The colors of the emblem are rich and the detail in the lettering and on the eagle are very good for a medallion this size (1.25" round). I didn't try attaching this medallion to a stick, but it does come with three small brass nails for that purpose. If nails are not the preferred method of fastening, the holes drilled into the edges of the medallion are large enough that any number of things, cord, wire, or screws could also be easily used to attach the medallion to a fiberglass or carbon fiber hiking stick. Overall, the Eagle Scout Hiking Stick Medallion is an affordable, durable reminder of an Eagle's journey to the top of Scouting's achievements.

You can keep your Scouting life organized with this offering from official licensee, It Takes Two®. The Boy Scouts Pocket Planner is a convenient two-year calendar and appointment book that is the size of a standard cheque book. It's perfect for keeping track of important meetings and events on the go. The outer cover is made of durable, stain-resistant vinyl, guaranteeing that the planner will stay looking new. Upon flipping through the planner, I was pleased to discover that the pages are made of high-quality, recycled paper that is not too thin. Each page contains the days of one month, an inspiring quote, the birthstone and flower of that particular month, and important holidays. The flower/birthstone references were an unexpected extra. For the planner's size, the squares for each day contain enough white space to write a phone number, address, or quick reminder, but for longer entries you'd probably want to use the lined "Notes" section in the back. This section is only one page long, but there is also additional pages for recording important names and numbers. This planner also contained one of my favorite features, blank pages in the very back that can be used for note-taking, or torn out and given to people in places where paper isn't readily available. It Takes Two® is known for their quality paper products and this Boy Scout Planner is no exception. The simple Blue and Gold cover design with fleur de lis border isn't flashy, but for what you want a planner to be--functional, this product more than fits the bill.

First, if at all possible, attend the ceremony in person. This is the best act of gratitude you can extend to the Scout. Bringing a congratulations card to hand to the Eagle post-ceremony is also always a welcome idea. Your card may or may not contain a small monetary gift depending on how well you know the Scout, but getting a BSA-themed card and writing a heart-felt note inside, will be something the Scout will surely appreciate.

If the Eagle Scout is a member of your immediate family or a close friend, you might want to consider including an additional gift with your card. Your gift should in some way acknowledge this Scout's new rank and may even be something they can use in their Scouting adventures. For example, an Eagle Scout Hiking Stick Medallion serves both a practical and symbolic purpose.

Another gift idea is an Eagle Scout Coin Knife. Besides being an attractive and functional gift, the knives can be engraved with the Scout's name and date or with an inspiring message. This particular model comes with the phrase, "Once an Eagle, always an Eagle" around the rim of the Eagle rank insignia design.

If you decide to give something small, like a coin, present it in a leatherette box, which can be purchased for a few dollars. This gives the Scout a way of preserving and displaying your gift forever.

Finally, giving the Scout a scrapbook, either blank or already filled with some pictures of their life in Scouting, is a great gift that the Scout will cherish for years to come. Whatever gift you decide to give, do not forget to tell the Scout how proud you are of them. They have earned a lifetime title by becoming an Eagle Scout. A material object could never replace the feeling a Scout has of seeing the people they care about the most celebrating their success at earning rank.

For more gift ideas visit: TrailStop, Scoutstuff.

Yesterday, our friends over at ClassB launched a new Facebook page just for Scouts. But the coolest thing about it is that they are going to be giving away their amazing T-shirts and other Scouting products to random fans.

All you have to do to be eligible for one of these prizes is to add them as a friend on Facebook. It couldn't get easier than that.

Their first giveaway is for a BSA® Christmas Tree ornament. At the time of this writing, they already had 37 fans, and they're giving away the ornament when they reach 50 - so you have to hurry for this one!

If you miss the ornament giveaway, don't worry - they'll be giving away plenty more over the coming months. ClassB tells us that they will be giving away different prizes to their Facebook fans on a regular basis - and those prizes will include their top-quality, custom designed T-shirts. Awesome!

If you're not familiar with ClassB, click this link to check out some of their Custom BSA® T-shirts.

Who knows? The next big winner could be you. Click on the Facebook link above and "friend" them today!

You can see some of their popular stock designs right here on Trailstop too - Boy Scout and Cub Scout T-shirts.

There is no plot, no storyline and no rhyme or reason to the scores of quirky factoids, jokes, mind-twisters, tips and tricks for boys that pack this handbook from cover to cover. This is a truly random and outlandish book of facts, figures and information that is going to be gracing the rooms of boys, armchairs and coffee tables for a long time! From the very first page, this book grabs your attention and doesn't let it go until you reach the back cover.

Pick up this book and you're going to discover a very wide variety of factoids - like how long of a line you can draw with a single pencil, what chickens have in common with dinosaurs, whether or not frogs have ears, what to do if you come face to face with an alligator, and everybody's favorite, how to track animals by their scat. Yuk! Every time you turn a page in this handbook, you're struck with something you simply never knew.

This handbook also has a ton of activities that kids can try (not just boys), like how to make a bug trap, how to open a successful lemonade stand, tricks to do with a jump rope, how to make a worm farm, how to make and use your own sidewalk chalk, and possibly the most useful of the bunch, how to be nice to your sister!

This book isn't just for boys either. It is great for girls to read - and parents too. And as usual, DK filled every nook and cranny of the book with amazingly detailed and stunning photographs.

Retailing for $20 USD, Trailstop is currently offering The Unofficial Official Handbook For Boys for a whopping 40% off! Hurry and pick yours up today. Makes a great gift for anyone.

These patches are perfect to give to your Scouts as awards for doing well in the activities, or for simply participating in them. And you can give them to your Scout Leaders too!

Best yet, if you order now, you can get any one of them for 20% off!

Derby patches, Wood Badge patches, Awareness patches and more. Browse our collection of top-quality, durable and unique patches here - Scouting Activity Patches.

Hurry on over to our patches page and see how much you can save. Your Scouts will love them and they'll love YOU for presenting them.

If you've purchased any of these awesome patches before, we'd sure like to hear what you have to say. Leave us a comment below!

The first thing we noticed when we opened the book for the first time is that it is absolutely jam-packed with information. And not only does it give you all the information you need, it does so with amazing pictures and detailed illustrations. Of course, nothing beats getting out there on the water and learning things first-hand, but this guide will give any angler the information they need to do it the right way.

As we mentioned above, the book begins with the basics by teaching you about things such as tackle shops, fishing licenses and baits & lures. It doesn't get into great detail about these things, but it definitely presents the information in such a way that anyone can quickly grasp the concepts.

It continues by discussing even more angling information such as the fundamentals of rods and reels, knots, tackle and even how to carry your equipment and what you should wear. The author then explains the different ways of casting with detailed images of exactly how each is done. Continuing on, it walks you through the actual art of hooking, landing and unhooking/releasing the fish. By the time I was reading this chapter, I was ready to drop everything I was doing and get out on the water!

At this point, the book switches gears a bit and begins discussing the different types of fishing available in the United States, such as lake fishing, pier fishing, small boat inshore fishing, bank fishing, trolling, jigging and more. And we have to say it again - the photographs and illustrations presented with each section are detailed and quite stunning.

After discussing all the different types of fishing and getting you to the point of craving a fishing trip, the book presents 30+ pages of fish species! From bass and carp to wahoo and yellowfin tuna, each species is described in detail along with a picture of what each looks like and how to fish for them.

All in all, this book was a great read, and as mentioned above, it really makes you want to get out there and do some fishing!

So if you're in the market for a great overall fishing guide at an even better price, pick up a copy of Be Prepared Fishing and arm yourself with some of the best general fishing knowledge you'll find in print.

You can find it at Trailstop's already discounted price right here - Boy Scouts of America Be Prepared Fishing.

"Let's Go Geocaching" describes the details of beginning geocaching, while explaining them in a manner that children can easily understand. With full color pictures and engaging stories, this book not only introduces children to geocaching, it helps develop their reading skills and love of reading.

The book begins with a basic introduction to geocaching by telling a story of a geocacher seeking out and finding a geocache. The story grabs your attention immediately and doesn't let go until the end of the book. It continues by describing the GPS handheld device, its controls, how it works and how to use it. It even goes into detail about the satellites used in GPS technology and the latitude/longitude system used in geolocation. Again, all explained in a manner in which children can easily understand.

Then it moves on to describing the containers, or "caches", which are the ultimate target. It explains what you should and shouldn't place into a cache and tells you about the different sizes and types of caches available to try and find. Once cache etiquette is explained, they begin to discuss the actual act and art of the hunt. Most of the information about caches and where to find them is found on the Internet. The book gives several resources for anyone to find a sufficient amount of caches all over the world.

It then walks you through a caching expedition, telling you what you should bring with you and how to do all of this as safely as possible. Safety is very important when geocaching and is made evident throughout the book.

The book then pieces everything together with a story of three Scouts going on a geocaching expedition with their Scoutmaster. Cleverly written to keep the close attention of a young reader, the story includes many of the safety practices and how to be prepared for some possible issues that may arise. The book closes with a chapter on how you can create and hide your own cache for others to find.

If you are looking for a way to introduce a child to geocaching, or trying to find a gift to give along with a GPS device, then this is definitely what you're looking for. Geocaching is already a huge hobby of Scouts and outdoor lovers worldwide, and is growing every day. It's inexpensive and tons of fun!

Do you have experience geocaching? Have you ever thought about picking up the hobby? Tell us what you think in the comments section below!