About Scouts - Scout Life magazine

Scout Helps Navy Families Be Prepared

Josh Hawken is sharing his emergency preparedness knowledge with families at a nearby Naval Air Station.

Start Earning Your Robotics MB Today

The Robotics merit badge is now live. Here's what you need to know.

Robotics

Learn more about Robotics merit badge! Click here to visit our interactive merit badge website where you’ll find resources, tips, expert advice, games and

Overview of the engineering design process

When developing a robot design, it is wise to follow an engineering design process. Essentially, the engineering design process consists of the following steps.

Robotics resources

ROBOTICS COMPETITIONS One of the best places to find the latest on various robotics competitions is http://robotevents.com, the website of the Robotics Education and

Fun Stuff

Take a break from all the programming and engineering to play fun robot-themed jokes, learn interesting robot trivia and discover fun facts.

BSA Scouts in Japan Aid Tsunami Victims

BSA Troop 77 in Japan has done a good deed in assisting victims of last month's earthquake/tsunami disaster.

Robotics isn't all serious. It can also be the source of some pretty funny jokes. Laugh at some of these robot jokes, and then send us some of your own. If we use your joke, we'll send you a free Robotics merit badge launch patch.

What do you like best about robots?

I really like the fact that we are able to use robots to improve all of our lives by having them perform tasks that are either dangerous, dreary or difficult. Having said

How do I start a robot team in my troop?

Start by speaking to your merit badge counselor. He or she should be able to give you some idea about the types of robot competitions available in your area and what it takes

What should I study in high school to allow me to work with robots?

To prepare yourself for a college degree that will allow you to work with robots, you should study as much math as possible in high school. The best place for you to end up

Robotics merit badge launch events

The Boy Scouts of America will participate in many robotics events during the month of April to help celebrate the launch of the Robotics merit badge. Here are some of them.

Apply Now for Patrol Z

The deadline to apply for Patrol Z is fast approaching.

Plan Your 2012 Adventure at Northern Tier

Northern Tier is now accepting reservations for 2012 wilderness canoe trips.

BSA Announces American Spirit Award Winner

Jack Pape will be honored by the BSA with the American Spirit Award.

This Summer, Get a Job Outdoors

There are few better ways to be helpful than getting a summer job in the great outdoors.

Iowa Scouts Forge Their Own Dutch ovens

It's easy to cook up a killer cobbler in a Dutch oven. But watch as these guys actually make their own Dutch oven, too.

Troop 175’s Unique Challenge

Boy Scout Troop 175 in Simsbury, Conn., participates each year in an 18-hour exercise that tests the Scouts both mentally and physically.

Volunteers of the Year

The Scouts of Troop 131 love their hometown of Wrentham, Mass. Turns out their hometown loves them right back.

Three Peaks, One Week

Four Scouts from Georgia climbed three different peaks higher than 14,000 feet over a period of seven days last summer.

Take a Survey, Win a Trip

The BSA's newest high-adventure base has a new Web site, and there's tons of cool stuff to see.

Get Your Philmont Field Guide

Whether your headed to Philmont anytime soon or not, you'll enjoy the new Field Guide.

Christmas For Soldiers Year Round

Bryce Thornton, a Boy Scout from Troop 48 in Eagle Point, Ore., is serious about supporting U.S. soldiers who are stationed overseas.

Earn Your National Outdoor Badges

If you can demonstrate your knowledge and skill in the outdoors, you can earn five new BSA badges, and maybe even a new medal as well.

Vote For The American Spirit Award

The Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation and Boys' Life need your help.

New Boy Scout Requirements Arrive

Along with the new year, there are new Boy Scout requirements.

1 Scout Feeds 30 Families

Now that's what we call a food drive!

Winter Reminder: Wear a Helmet!

Nothing beats skiing and snowboarding in the winter. Just remember to wear a helmet.

Philmont: The Movie

Four words: Philmont ... in ... high ... definition

Check Out the New BSA TV Commercials

Forward these videos to your friends who aren't in Scouting and see if you can get them to sign up.

Geocaching

The word geocache is a combination of “geo,” which means “earth,” and “cache,” which means “a hiding place.” Geocaching describes a hiding place on planet Earth—a hiding place you can find using a GPS unit.

Get Ready to Geocache

Grab your GPS, your map and your Geocaching merit badge pamphlet and get ready to earn the newest and coolest badge.

Write A Slogan; Learn About Robots

National Robotics Week is significant to the BSA for many reasons the biggest of which is this: It's when we're going to officially announce the availability of the Robotics Merit Badge and the requirements that go with it.

To Campfire, Or Not to Campfire?

Many campers these days are moving away from traditional outdoor campfires and opting instead for chemical-fueled equipment, not only for cooking, but also for heating and lighting.

Consider Recycling, not Burning, a Retired Flag

The most common way for a Boy Scout to properly dispose of an unusable U.S. flag is by burning. But if the flag is made of nylon, burning is not necessarily a good idea.

A Year of Celebration

Tell us how you celebrated BSA's 100th birthday.

Scout’s Movie Tells Story of First-Ever Scout Camp

Blake Cortright, a Boy Scout from Latham, N.Y., has written, directed and produced a fascinating documentary film about what is believed to be the first-ever Boy Scout camp in America.

Record-Breaking Rocket Launch

Several thousand Texas Scouts gathered this fall to launch more than 3,000 rockets into the sky. They also launched themselves into the Guinness Book of World Records.

The Best of Boys’ Life

In 2011, Boys' Life will celebrate its 100th birthday. Between now and then, you can find some of the best writing in our history in one book.

Popular Artist Earns Distinguished Eagle

The Southeast Louisiana Council will be presenting a Distinguished Eagle Scout Award to one of their local favorites: artist George Rodrigue.

Eureka! Scouts Find New Inventions in Oregon

Oregon Boy Scouts will be among the first in the country to earn the Inventions merit badge when they gather at EurekaFest at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry this weekend.

The Screamin’ Eagle is One Long Pinewood Derby Track

Imagine a Pinewood Derby track nearly as long as football field. That's the Screamin' Eagle, a 263-foot, 2 1/4-inch track that was featured at a Cub Scout event in Illinois last summer.

NY/NJ Scouts: Get Ready for Adventure Base 100

Adventure Base 100, a traveling interactive BSA camp, is on its way to the Northeast, where it will be open for business next month.

Boy Scouts Interview TV Star Mike Rowe

At the 2010 National Scout Jamboree last summer, a couple of star-struck Boy Scouts got to interview Mike Rowe, an Eagle Scout and host of the hit TV show Dirty Jobs.

Cub Scouts Use Bike-A-Thon to Collect Food for the Hungry

Watch as Texas Cub Scouts put a new twist on the old Scouting for Food tradition.

Scouting Heritage

Inventing

Inventing involves finding technological solutions to real-world problems. Inventors understand the importance of inventing to society because they creatively think of ways to improve the lives of others. Explore the world of inventing through this new merit badge, and discover your inner inventiveness.