9 tips for taking better smartphone photos
Use these handy smartphone photography tips to take awesome pictures with your camera phone.
Hobbies & Projects
Hobbies, projects, art and crafts. Get science project ideas, fun kids projects and great activities to do with children.
12 tips for taking better digital photos
Want to take better digital photos? Here are 12 tips that will help your pictures really stand out.
Build a solar food dehydrator
Use this solar food dehydrator to make dried healthy snacks for your next camping or hiking trip.
Make a Paracord Watchband or Bracelet
A paracord watchband makes a great gift or can be used as a survival tool. Unraveled, it provides about 10 feet of handy paracord for fixing tent lines or tying together broken gear.
How to stencil custom shirts
Create T-shirts or flags for your pack or troop with this easy and fun stencil project.
100 Spectacular Pinewood Derby Cars of 2013
Looking for some amazing pinewood derby car design ideas? Take a look at some of our favorites.
How to Draw an Elephant
Grab a pencil (NOT a pen!) and let's draw an elephant! Here's how.
50 Incredible Pinewood Derby Cars of 2012
Looking for some new Pinewood Derby car design ideas? Take a look at some of the great cars sent to us in 2012.
Three fun electronics projects
Make a doorknob touch detector, a quick-draw game and a super-sensitive current detector with parts you can get a local stores.
How to Make a Ventriloquist’s Puppet
Build this goofy-looking ventriloquist's figure, then put on a show using ventriloquism (making it talk without moving your mouth).
100 Amazing Pinewood Derby Car Design Photos of 2011
Looking for Pinewood Derby design ideas? Browse photos of more than 100 amazing Pinewood Derby cars.
A peek at BL Workshop projects from decades past
To close out our 100th birthday year, here's a glimpse of some BL projects from decades past.
Primitive Rope with a Twist
American Indians made rope and twine (cordage) using natural fibers from trees, plants and animals. You can make cordage using common materials found around the house or at the hobby store. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Build a Custom Desk
Build your own desk with a tray for your computer keyboard, shelves and even a secret drawer.
Build your own skate longboard
Todd Davis, author of "Handy Dad," offers step-by-step instructions for creating your own skate longboard. With a little work, you can be carving back and forth across the blacktop in no time.
Sure-fire hits to get you reading
Not sure what to read? Start with this teacher/librarian-tested list of titles for boys of all ages.
Pro Angler Demonstrates 5 Ways to Cast Your Fishing Line
Improve your fishing with these casting tips from a professional fisherman.
Make the ultimate raingutter regatta racer
A winning raingutter racer stays on an even keel, moves in a straight line, keeps the bow above water and does not drag. If your boat does all this, it finishes ahead of any boat that can't. Here's how to build your winner.
How to build a bug board
They might annoy us or amaze us, but there's no question about it: Bugs are an essential part of the natural order of things. Here's how to make your own nature museum to display them.
How to build a rain barrel for collecting rainwater
Conserve water by collecting rainwater and using it for your garden or lawn.
100 Cool Pinewood Derby Car Photos of 2010
Looking for Pinewood Derby design ideas? Browse our photos of more than 100 amazing Pinewood Derby cars.
Video of a Super-Fast Pinewood Derby Track
Watch video of Indiana Cub Scouts experiencing a whole new speed of pinewood derby at this giant track.
Make a 3D camera
Make a stereograph, using two cameras to create cool 3D snapshots.
Make a “10,000-Year-Old” Lamp Shade
Cave paintings have been around for thousands of years. Light up your own bedroom "cave" with this torn-paper lamp shade.
Make a classic Soma puzzle
Looking for a homemade gift or just a fun game. Try making this classic Soma puzzle.
How to start a hydroponic garden
Plants don't need soil as long as they have five things: food, water, light, air and support. You can provide all five in a hydroponic garden. Here's how to create your own.
Make your own banjo
Make a simple banjo and start making your own music.
Twist Wire to Make a Great Present
With a few tools, you can twist and turn metal into something that is functional and easy on the eyes. Here's how to wire up some new things around the house.
Make your own mailbox stove
Looking for a unique and fun way to cook for your troop? Do what this North Carolina troop does: Cook in a mailbox.
How to start a collection of magazines
Read it and keep it! Here's how to start a great collection of magazines.
Build a flagpole, table or chair for your camp
With the right pioneering skills, you can create all kinds of contraptions that come in handy at a campsite.
Make a Civil War pinhole camera
Make your own pinhole camera, much like the ones photographers used in the Civil War.
How to start a fish aquarium
Having an aquarium is cool -- and easy! Here’s how to start yours.
Make a Native-American Drum
This authentic Native-American drum will challenge your skill, but the results are well worth it.
Send Us a Photo of Your Project!
Have you built one of the projects features in the pages of Scout Life magazine or on Scoutlife.org? If so, we'd love to see a photo of the completed work.
How to Build a Homemade Radio That Really Works
Radios might seem super high-tech. But with about $10 and one afternoon, you can make one at home.
Build a working robot
Build GISMO 4, a quick, remote-controlled robot that can do battle with other robots or roll around the house.
10 Steps to Help You Get Straight A’s
Ten tips to help you get straight A's in school and have fun at the same time!
Realistic grass for your models
Use felt to make the grass in your models look good enough to mow.
Make a suit of chain-mail armor
Here’s how you can become a knight in shining chain-mail armor.
Turn Your Old Action Figure Into a Toy Acrobat
You can turn an old action figure toy into a neat new acrobat that can do flips and somersaults.
Sneaky uses for everyday things
Try these amazing feats using things you may already have in your home.
Make Your Own Dino Swamp
Create a cool prehistoric scene for your dinosaur toys using items you may already have at home.
Reuse a 2-Liter Plastic Bottle to Grow Plants Indoors
You don’t have to wait for the right season to plant your flower and vegetable seeds. Grow plants indoors any time of year with this easy project.
How to Build a Camp Table Between Trees
Keep your stuff out of the dirt by building a table for your camp. It's easy if you have the pioneering skills.
How to Build a Flagpole For Your Camp
Show your colors by building a flagpole for your camp. It's easy if you have the pioneering skills.