That’s hard to say, Stefan. What do you like better, apples or peaches?

We’re working on an app, Mark. Stay tuned for announcements.

More questions from Ian! Bruce the Moose was a cartoon in “Think & Grin” from 1969 until the early 1970s. You can check out the yuks on the Wayback Machine on this site. I’ve had a few birthdays, Ian (but I don’t know that I can count that high).

Congratulations, Ian. Around the water cooler, we say The Boss most definitely was a “bear.” Hee-haw!

Legos are fine, Augustine, but I’m hopeless at building things. I can hold an alfalfa milkshake or a tumbleweed taco just fine, thank you, and that’s what I really like to do.

Sorry about the wrist, Mark. You could get all your copies of Boys’ Life and read about great Scout outings. Not the same as hitting the trail, but you always can live vicariously through the adventures other Scouts enjoy.

I go camping every night, David—out in my cozy corral.

Have you ever seen a burro on skis, Josh? I didn’t think so (and you won’t catch me on them either). All the folks around the Boys’ Life office are like my family (even though the head of the family— ol’ you-know-who—can be a bit cranky).

The order of Eagle palms is a Scouting convention that dates from when they were first introduced in 1927, Thomas. Venturing awards also are Bronze, Gold and Silver (the highest). My burroshoes look almost silver. Maybe I’ll point that out to The Boss, he probably needs a good yuk about now.

It depends on how busy The Boss is keeping me hauling the mailbag, Chris. And then it depends on how long the email is.

A quick trot out to my corral where there are piles of warm and tasty hay is my idea of camping heaven, Ian.

I’m not talking, Ethan. What happened at Philmont is going to stay at Philmont.

Because of my unique proportions, my sweater and burroshoes are custom made, Matthew.  And The Boss is, quite simply, The Boss (and he’ll let you know it, too).

I’m friends with everyone, Conor. They don’t make a flight mask to fit my distinctive schnozzola, so I enjoy B-17s (and the R.A.F) from a distance.

Well, thanks for the vote of confidence, Jaume. I just have different priorities than The Boss. Burros are sensitive creatures, and we need lots of rest and nourishment. And The Boss isn’t mean…he just gets aggravated (very aggravated at times).

To get caught in a rip current I would have to go swimming in the ocean, Nate. I guess I’m not that wacky. Salt water might crack my hooves.

You might be surprised by the answer, Amelia (so might The Boss).

Actually, Nico, when The Boss takes his vacation it’s pretty sweet around here. (I hope he doesn’t read this—he might cancel his trip.)

I like airplanes about as much as I like canoes, Andrew. And I think I look good in purple.

Go to the jokes section of this site, Colin, and under “Send Us Your Funny Jokes”  just click on the link. Fill out the form and hit send. Or you can drop us a postcard.

Hummmm, thanks, James.

Show your fellow Scouts the articles, Talon. Outings certainly are more fun when you’re eating the right foods to have the energy to do the activities. I can pack away the groceries, but at least the stuff is good for me (and that mailbag is heavy).

As a matter of fact, I do, Matthew: Get in shape, and if you have burro on your trek, be extra nice to him.

I’m supposed to be hauling the mailbag all day, Kirk, but I fill my day with mini-vacations to the cantina and the snoozing spot (wherever The Boss won’t find me). The Boss says I don’t really need a vacation, since that’s all I seem to do anyway. He just doesn’t understand my special need for rest and nourishment. So the absence of a promotion isn’t entirely shocking.

Right after I get my own series, Philip (so don’t hold your breath).

There’s not a TV in my corral, Noctowl. The recipe for deliciousness is a closely guarded secret (and rightly so, according to you-know-who). And you don’t want to see The Boss….you really don’t.

The Boss keeps telling me I should shed a few pounds, Thomas, but at least I don’t have antlers.

The first Handbook for Boys listed requirements for more than 50 merit badges, Evan. Most of them are still around — such as Camping, First Aid and Swimming — but with updated requirements. A few have changed names — Angling (Fishing) and Ornithology (Bird Study). Others have disappeared over time — such as Blacksmithing, Dairying, Poultry Farming, Taxidermy. The newest merit badge is Search and Rescue.

That sounds like a terrific experience, Patrick. As long as no one is tempted to slap a heavy pack on my back, I might show up.

I hauled heavy gear at Philmont when I was young, Sean, so my experience in the great outdoors was probably a bit different than yours. I’m happy to hear you had a great time, though.

I’ve never seen scuba apparatus that would fit my particular physique, Jack. Burros can swim, but there’s not a pool in my corral. (And I won’t be holding my breath that The Boss will have one installed.)

Nice chow, comfy corral, but a bit more heavy toting than I like, Anthony. As for canoeing—I don’t think that those of us with four legs were built to keep a canoe steady in the water.

You should receive the version for Boy Scouts as soon as your troop recharters, Jedidiah.

My workplace is just fine, thank you, William (unless I’m irritating you know who). I’ve been  at BL for a pretty good stretch. And I’d describe The Boss, except that he’s poking around now and always wants to look over my shoulder to see what I’m writing. Let’s just say he’s one of a kind (like me).

Whoever saw a burro with a fishing pole? Check out the Way Back Machine on this site, Anderson, and search  for some great fishing tips.

Most of the time I move at my own relaxed pace, Justin. The Boss likes to me to move at a more, um, energetic rate, if you know what I mean. I get to the cantina as often as I can, and that’s when I can show some sprinter’s speed.

Glad to hear we got you fired up for your pedaling trip, Tanner.

And I’m sure your fellow Scouts will greatly appreciate the information, Alex.

I always have fun, Connor. That seems to be a source of friction at times between me and the Guy in the Corner Office.

The Boss is incomparable, Daniel (if you know what I mean). And you don’t want to do that to your friend.

Oh, The Boss is a one on the meanness scale, Alex. On the demanding scale, he goes much higher. And let’s not talk about his fashion sense.

Alfalfa, hay, tumbleweed tacos—whatever the cantina’s serving is my preferred form of payment, Eric. I guess it’s cheaper than paying a human mail hauler (even though The Boss does grumble a  lot about it). What would I do with money?

Awards are given based on the level of risk and Scout skill shown in the deeds.  Xander. The stories are from all over the country, and Cub Scouts earn the awards (as do Boy Scouts, Venturers and adult volunteers).

The Boss is a pretty serious guy, Drew, and he runs a tight ship. The only pranks that get played around here are usually by accident, and I always get the blame for some reason.

Troops let us know about their outing plans, D.K., and we pick the ones we think you’ll enjoy reading about. Sounds as if we’re doing OK by you.

My least favorite stroke is sunstroke, so I spend my summers in the shade, Andrew. And I say water is for drinking.

I don’t know, Spencer—building a roller coaster seems fairly ambitious…and expensive.

Doc will make another appearance this fall, Robinson. My recipes are going to be valuable someday (or so I tell The Boss), so they’re closely guarded secrets (even though nobody seems to care).

The Boss doesn’t want a friend, Kyle, he wants a mail hauler. Well, at least he gets one some of the time.

No golf, no cards, no paddling in the pool and no getting into a lather with my hard-working compadres, Michael. You might add dodging The Boss to this list of things I do—sounds like a game.

I’d wish for a bale of hay to float by, Austin…and then a rescue boat. I don’t do well at sea. Burros weren’t made to bob around on the water.

I don’t use a sleeping bag, Keith—they just don’t make them for my body type. But to keep yours in mint (or at least serviceable) condition, open it up when you return from camping trips and make sure the bag is brushed out and dry before re-rolling it.

Sounds as if we have a couple of things in common, Quintin. Although, my vegetarian diet isn’t quite the same as yours, I’ll bet.

You and your buddies are doing all the right things, Stephen. Just pack your sunscreen, and you’ll be in for a terrific aquatic experience.

The only original copies that I know of, Sean, are the bound volumes in our office and at the National Scouting Museum, and the old ones are very fragile.

Umm, it was more or less chosen for me, Samuel. The Philmont Rangers said something about me being “balky” and shipped me off to the Boys’ Life editors. Naturally, my special talents landed me the job of mailbag toter.

The only fossil I’ve found is You-Know-Who pacing in his corner office. Hee-haw!

Why would I want to hold my breath, James? I’d turn purple—but that’s my favorite color! And, of course, I’m trilingual—English, Spanish and burro.

I’m certainly not the official mascot for the BSA, K. F.—maybe for Boys’ Life, though.

I was a hard-working burro once, Ross, but that was at Philmont Scout Ranch. I’d say I’m a hard-working burro now, but The Boss would roll his eyes if he read this.

That outing just sounded good to me, James, because today it’s 100 degrees Fahrenheit in my corral.

Boys’ Life  is useful to learn about skills, Zack. Practice is how you learn them. That’s how I got to be such an adept mail hauler.

I’m hopeless on a bicycle, Erick, but I can’t imagine trying to balance on one wheel. Good luck with “unicamping.”

You will find a burro to be a noble companion, Chyeena. And you really don’t want to see The Boss. And I really hope he doesn’t read this.

I couldn’t agree more, Max. Some of my sassy E-bag comments have gotten me in hot water with you-know-who.

I’ve never noticed a  bunch of guys with cameras hanging around my corral, Timothy.

Thanks for the pep talk, Dean. I’ll have to unite with myself—I’ve never seen another burro clip-clopping around Irving. But I do manage to squeeze in just enough sleep and nourishment (The Boss isn’t always looking).

Check out the Outdoors section on  this site, Harold. There’s a sample list of ultralight backpacking gear to give you some ideas.

That’s what The Boss tells me about my work, Garland, but I always manage to get it all done—somehow.

Scouting certainly can prepare you for outdoor adventures, Noah. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Nothing on the drawing boards, Hunter.

I found the article interesting too, Roland—I’ve noticed that some sand sticks in my hooves worse than others.

All the stories we print come to us from the National Court of Honor, Daniel. That group awards the BSA’s lifesaving and meritorious action awards.

Just copy my handsome face from the picture at the beginning of my E-bag, Christopher. I think I look great. (And thanks for the honor.)

And twice the feed bill, Kenny. The Boss would never go for it. And besides, I am, ahem, unique.

Have a great trip, Colin. My adventure in a canoe was less than epic—four legs aren’t made for voyageur-ing.

If your stomach has the rumblies, I don’t think an alfalfa shake is really what you need, Daniel. But if I get going on my mail chores, The Boss won’t need any kind of pill. If I’m doing the hauling, he’s not bawling.

You have it right, Zachary—because I am awesome like that (or that’s what I tell The Boss).

We will keep giving you information you need, Niall. Thanks for the good word.

I tell the jokes, too, Joshua (but it’s tough to get a snicker out of The Boss).

Thanks, Alex. We’re glad you enjoyed the fictional account of that tragic night.

The Boss would take issue with you about my “hard” work, but thanks anyway, Reuben. I’ll pass it along to the hard-working staff.

Thanks, Pierre. We do it all for our readers.

Head to the Summit Bechtel Reserve July 15-24, 2013, Zach. This is the new permanent home of the jamboree in West Virginia. Whitewater, climbing, zip lines, mountain biking—wild adventures are waiting. Go to summit.scouting.org to find out more (and to register).

I am truly honored, Alex. I hope your patrol call is a loud hee-haw.

I’m a proud successor to the days of the Pony Express, Anthony. But instead of galloping halfway across the country, I trot down the hall. I don’t know what they did without me, but I’m certainly not a centenarian.

Just remember yours truly and my vast contributions to the magazine when you prepare your write-up, Josh. Alfalfa comes in varieties, but only one flavor—you know, alfalfa.

My recipe is a closely guarded secret, Paul (even though The Boss says he doesn’t know why—no one gets near the stuff). Let’s just say I keep it simple and “earthy.”

Read the jokes in “Think & Grin” at your meetings, Joshua. They keep my hee-hawing. Or discuss the latest “A True Story of Scouts in Action” or an outing featured in the magazine. Boys’ Life can brighten a meeting (and my cartoon will no doubt light up the room).

If it’s not green or brown, it’s probably not going to make it onto my menu, Sterling. But knock yourself out with the alfalfa—it’s full of fiber and protein. Let me know what you think. Nobody around here touches my tasty treats.

I manage to get it hauled every day, Baylee, but it can be exhausting work. I need periodic alfalfa milkshakes and tumbleweed tacos to keep my strength up (or at least that’s what I tell The Boss).

Well, Joey, you made it into my e-bag. I think that’s completely awesome (hope your school does too).

Thanks, Daniel. Being a video game star does add to my aura of awesomeness. (However, hauling the mailbag, which keeps me fed, keeps me humble.)

The Boss says it’s my uncanny ability to relax and keep my mind empty, Nolan. For some reason that doesn’t sound like a compliment, does it?

They’re all worth earning, Haydn, if you have an interest in the subject. I submitted an idea for a Cactus Raising merit badge (the blossoms are very tasty). Haven’t heard back on that one yet.

My stint at Philmont hauling gear-laden panniers was like one long camping trip, Todd. The Philmont staff eventually discovered my true mission in life, and sent me to, ahem, assist the editors here at Boys’ Life.

The Boss is more of a behind-the-scenes kind of guy, Caleb. That’s the most delicate way I can put it. (I don’t want him reading anything derogatory I might write about his appearance—he’s always lurking around and peeking over my shoulder.)

Of course, it’s my real name, Jordan (short for Don Juan Pedro Ladino de Philmonte, which I only use on formal occasions).

There’s nothing like a little music when you’re outdoors, Nick. I even serenade the stars occasionally when I’m out in my corral. The Boss heard me once and threw his shoe at me. I don’t think he’s a music lover.

Many burros have carried heavy loads up and down the Grand Canyon, Devin, but not this burro. Enjoy your outing, though. I’ll think about you when I’m happily munching hay out in my corral.