About Scouts - Scout Life magazine %

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.

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.

Adopting A Wilderness

An Alaska Boy Scout Troop helped remove invasive plants from the Stikine-LeConte Wilderness Area.

Collect Coins, Win A Prize

Writing an essay about coin collecting could pay off big time.

Helping The Chimps

A Boy Scout from Washington state is in the middle of an interesting Eagle project.

Experience the Summit Shakedown

Experience the Summit Shakedown online by clicking on these essential links.

Messengers of Peace

Join the Messengers of Peace initiative.

Scouts Are Thrifty

A prepaid card is a good way to stay within your budget.

Greg Heffley’s Guide to Outdoor Survival

Greg Heffley might be the "Wimpy Kid" of book and big-screen fame, but he's no wimp when it comes to camping. (Or is he?) Here's his video guide to the great outdoors.

Crime Prevention

Atlanta Scouts created these crime prevention posters for local businesses.

Whitewater rafting on TV

Scouting For Adventure's TV cameras were on the New River filming some whitewater rafting.

TV filming in the rain

A steady downpour forced the cancellation of our climbing activities, but the TV show must go on.

Filming a TV show in the trees

Videographers for the Boys' Life TV show Scouting For Adventure get high in the trees to capture the action.

Whitewater kayaking and paddleboarding

Day Two of the Scouting For Adventure TV show featured more adventure on the New River.

Shooting for BL’s TV show

The "Scouting For Adventure" TV show is filming right now at the New River Gorge National River.

132 Merit Badges

A Boy Scout from Kansas City, Kan., has achieved the rare feat of earning 132 merit badges.

Climbing to the summit of Mount Whitney

For one member of Troop 89, getting to the summit of Mount Whitney was the end of a four-year journey. For others, it was just the beginning.

Some Cool Summit Videos

The good folks at the Summit, the BSA's new national high-adventure base in West Virginia, have posted some great videos from the site of the 2013 National Jamboree.

Search and Rescue Merit Badge

The BSA announced its Search and Rescue merit badge at the 2012 National Search and Rescue Conference.

A Mountain Biking Option

The BSA has approved a mountain biking option when earning the Cycling merit badge.

Saturday Is National Get Outdoors Day!

The U.S. Forest Service is waiving recreation fees and hosting outdoor events across the country to celebrate the 5th annual National Get Outdoors Day on Saturday, June 9.

Be Safe Online, Earn Your Cyber Chip

Scouts of all ages can earn the BSA's brand-new Cyber Chip by learning all about Internet safety.

Talking Robot Scout

When Scouts from Troop 2 in Billings, Mont., decided to earn their Robotics merit badge, they went all out. See video of their robot in action.

Useful Info For Planning a Service Project

Service projects are great. Just be smart when you plan yours.

Scout Buglers Headed to Arlington National Cemetery

The Scout musicians will perform at Arlington Taps 150, the 150th anniversary of Taps.

It’s National Park Week!

Now is a great time to visit a national park ... for free!

Hot-Air Ballooning and Slacklining

A review of two newly approved BSA activities.

The American Spirit Award Goes To …

Spencer Zimmerman, an Arizona Eagle Scout, earns top youth civilian honor.

Twin Scouts Save Dad’s Life

Bryce and Bryant Nuevert knew what to do when their dad had a heart attack.

Welding Badge Earners Get Extra Bonus

Scouts who earn their Welding merit badge in April 2012 are eligible for a special prize.

Giving the Gift of Reading

The Boys' Life editors find good homes for books — lots of books.

Eagles: From Start to Finish

Six Florida kids who started together as Tiger Cubs have finished as Eagle Scouts.

Your Opinion Is Wanted

The BSA wants to know what you're thinking.

Scouts Take To Welding

The Welding merit badge is brand new but it's already catching on.

Service Project Idea: Fix A Leak

Fix-A-Leak Week is a good opportunity to do a good turn.

Report to the Nation: The Wrap-Up

The Report to the Nation is complete.

Report to the Nation: ScoutStrong

The BSA's Report to the Nation continues with a presentation on the ScoutStrong program.

Report to the Nation: STEM

2011 saw the launch of the STEM program with a focus on science-related activities.

Report to the Nation: A Gathering of Eagles

The BSA's Report to the Nation continues with a presentation about Eagle Scouts.

Report to the Nation

The Report to the Nation is happening right now in Washington, D.C.

Making of the Welding Merit Badge

Why welding? It's a great skill, and a BSA survey showed tremendous interest.

Be a Better Leader; Try NAYLE

The National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience will be held at Philmont Scout Ranch this summer.

Welding Merit Badge Requirements Released

The BSA's newest merit badge is almost here.

Welding

Welding is the process of joining with a weld -- joining or combining similar pieces of metal by heating them with a flame torch or an electric current, then hammering or pressing them together while they are soft. Welding plays a major role in our modern world, and mastery of the skill can lead to exciting career opportunities. Someday, you may have an opportunity to experience exciting new career paths in welding.