About Scouts - Scout Life magazine

Game Design launch event photos

The Boy Scouts of America celebrated the launch of the new Game Design merit badge with a booth at SXSW 2013 in Austin, Tex. Here are photos from the event.

Watch “Are You Tougher Than A Boy Scout?” Again Tonight!

The third episode of the BSA's new hit TV show airs tonight at 7 p.m. Central on the National Geographic Channel.

Driving Like The Flintstones

Troop 122 uses pioneering skills to build cars similar to those used by the fictional stone-age family the Flintstones.

Texas Scouts Head To The Alps

Troop 410 spent six days last summer trekking through the Swiss Alps, one of the most famous mountain ranges in the world.

We Want You To Watch TV Tonight (Seriously!)

The second episode of the BSA's new TV show, "Are You Tougher Than A Boy Scout?", airs tonight, March 11, at 7 p.m. on the National Geographic Channel.

The Game Design Merit Badge Is Live!

The brand-new Game Design Merit Badge will test every ounce of your gaming skills and knowledge.

Games come in almost every shape, size, format, and flavor imaginable. Games can be fast-paced, slow, or anything in between. Some are competitive. Some are cooperative. They may be for individuals, small groups, or thousands of players at a time. They might take seconds to complete or last for years. However you slice it, everyone has played games, and games help make us who we are.

Game design resources

Information and links to help you succeed in earning the Game Design merit badge.

Gamer jokes

Gaming isn't just fun. It can also be the source of some pretty funny jokes. Laugh at some of the gamer jokes below, and then send us some of your own.

Can my testers be my family, scout troop or friends?

Yes! Your testers can be whomever you like. However, be sure to pick people who you think will follow your instructions for testing the game and then give you honest feedback

How can I learn to program my game?

Programming can be very challenging to learn, and so programming knowledge is not necessary to earn the Game Design merit badge. However, some people do have a knack for

Can I work with a buddy?

Many games are made by teams of designers or game makers, and so it’s okay to have one or more friends help with such things as building game pieces or assist with

Can I use games I already have and modify them?

Yes, you can build your own version of a board game like Clue or Monopoly, program a game similar to Breakout or Angry Birds, or create a campaign for an existing

How do I get started?

Just as there are many types of games, there are many ways to approach the Game Design merit badge. To help you get started, think about what you like to do. Do you like

How can I start a game group?

You have lots of tools at your disposal to do this, including eVite, Facebook, BoardGameGeek, Google Calendar (and groups), and Meetup to generate interest, create and

In requirement 4a, can you give me an example of how to change the rules of a game?

Sure – let’s take chess as an example. One of the standard ways to change the rules is to limit the amount of time a player may take for their moves – this is commonly

If I take a Game Design class in High School or attend a specialized summer program, can I use the what I’ve done in class for the Merit Badge?

While your counselor has the final OK, it is most likely that you will be able to use a game created in class or for a camp as your project, so long as you’ve kept a good

In requirement 1b, what does “play value” mean?

For the purposes of this merit badge, play value is the reason that someone plays a game. Most people play games “for fun”, but what does that mean? In checkers, for

I want to make an electronic game, but I do not have access to a computer. What should I do?

You might be surprised to learn that most game rules can be prototyped in paper/with physical parts. Paper prototypes are cheap, quick to work with, and very easy to change.

I want to make an electronic game, but I do not have programming experience. What should I do?

There are many game development tools that are free or inexpensive. Some are the exact same tools that professionals use to make games, but others require little or no prior

Photos from Game Design merit badge test events

During development of the Game Design merit badge, test events and classes were held in Massachusetts and California. Here are photos from some of those events.

Eagle Scout Project Raises Awareness of PTSD

An Illinois Eagle Scout has done his best to educate members of his community about the dangers of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Good Video Viewing From Messengers Of Peace

Check out these videos of Scouts all over the world doing their job to spread peace.

Are You Tougher Than A Boy Scout?

"Are You Tougher Than A Boy Scout?" TV show debuts next month on the National Geographic Channel.

More than 55,000 Scouts Earned Their Eagle In 2012

2012 was a record year for the number of Scouts to achieve the rank of Eagle.

A Scout Is Reverent Toward God

The Jain Community of North America has joined the long list of organizations to participate in the BSA-approved religious emblems program.

The Scout Law, As It Applies To The Internet

How to apply the Scout Law to your everyday activities on the Internet.

Recognizing The Heroes All Around Us

Nominate someone you know for the Citizen Before Self Honors, which recognizes regular U.S. citizens for selfless behavior.

JOTA Participation Soars; Be Prepared For Next Year

More than 18,000 Scouts from 41 different states participated in the 2012 Jamboree-on-the-Air event.

Flying with the Blue Angels

Watch video of the Blue Angels in action, as well as footage from Boys' Life's flight.

New BSA Site Answers All Uniform Questions

New website shows almost every aspect of every Boy Scout uniform you'll ever need.

Ohio Boy Scout Collecting Stories From Veterans

Kyle Miller is collecting war stories by interviewing and digitally archiving the memories of 1,000 veterans.

Crazy About Choppers

At Camp Sikorsky, there are merit badges to be earned and facilities to tour. But mostly, there are awesome, state-of-the-art helicopters.

One Oath (And Law) To Rule Them All

On Oct. 17, 2012, the BSA's Executive Board approved a resolution to use the Scout Oath and Law in the Cub Scout and Venturing programs.

Colorado Scout Earns Eagle With Help From His Friends

A legion of supporters and a troop for special needs boys allowed 15-year-old Ricky Newell to beat the odds and earn the rank of Eagle Scout.

Should my son join a FTC or VRC after Lego?

My son has been participating in a LEGO Club (no official competitions), but is “aging out” of the club. He really wanted to join an FTC, but all teams are

Talk To Your Parents About The BSA Prepaid Card

A Scout is thrifty. That's why he should talk to his parents about the new BSA prepaid Discover Card.

Finalists Announced For $1 Million Innovation Challenge

Ian Wesley, from Westerville, Ohio, and Zach Huebner, from Napervile, Ill., have been named the finalists in the BSA Innovation Challenge.

Scouting Stamps From Around the World

See a photo gallery of Scouting stamps issued by countries around the world.

NASA Offers Special Certificate For Eagle Scouts

NASA is now recognizing Boy Scouts who earn the prestigious Eagle Rank.

Oregon Boy Scout Making A Habit Of Supporting Soldiers

An Oregon Boy Scout has sent more than 2,000 packages to soldiers overseas.

Scouts Against Bullying

An Iowa Boy Scout has started a Facebook group to help fight bullying.

Search and Rescue

The BSA releases the official requirements for the Search and Rescue merit badge.

Search and Rescue

A search is an emergency situation requiring a team of trained searchers to locate a missing person. A rescue is an emergency situation where a person's location is known -- perhaps having just been found by searchers -- and he or she must be removed from danger and returned to safety. By working on the Search and Rescue merit badge, you will learn and practice many skills that may someday save a life.

Serving With Honor

Get your Honor Cards here!

Kayaking

Kayaking has become one of the fastest-growing paddlesports in the United States. An estimated nine million Americans enjoy this sport. The most popular style of kayaking is recreational kayaking, followed by touring/sea kayaking, and whitewater kayaking. This merit badge will introduce you to recreational kayaking and help prepare you for advanced paddlesports such as tour/sea and whitewater kayaking.