Boy Scouts Offer New Merit Pin -- for Video Gaming

**justin_baker** · 04-29-2010, 06:42 PM

Always be prepared!
As in, always carry lots of extra rockets and health packs and make sure to save after every fight!

**BENESSE** · 04-29-2010, 06:53 PM

Originally Posted by sjj

Would folks interested in Wilderness Survival, or their family members, benefit from learning any of these skills

Wilderness Survival
Emergency Preparedness
First Aid
Orienteering
Backpacking
Camping
Leatherwork
Lifesaving
Mammal Study
Medicine
Hiking
Fishing
Gardening
Metalwork
Nature
Rifle Shooting
Shotgun Shooting
Wood Carving
Woodwork

- and these -

Animal Science
Archaeology
Archery
Auto Mechanics
Basketry
Bird Study
Canoeing
Chemistry
Climbing
Communications
Cooking
Cycling
Dentistry
Electricity
Electronics
Farm Mechanics
Fire Safety
Fly-Fishing
Forestry
Genealogy
Geology
Home Repairs
Horsemanship
Indian Lore
Insect Study
Oceanography
Personal Fitness
Pioneering
Plant Science
Plumbing
Pottery
Public Health
Radio
Reptile and Amphibian Study
Rowing
Safety
Small-Boat Sailing
Snow Sports
Soil and Water Conservation
Surveying
Swimming
Veterinary Medicine
Weather
Whitewater

I absolutely would be interested in ALL of it!!!
If they only had Grown-Up Scouts I'd join right now. Kinda missed the boat on Girls Scouts when I was younger. Felt really cheated.

**Justin Case** · 04-29-2010, 07:02 PM

Originally Posted by BENESSE

I absolutely would be interested in ALL of it!!!
If they only had Grown-Up Scouts I'd join right now. Kinda missed the boat on Girls Scouts when I was younger. Felt really cheated.

Military

**BENESSE** · 04-29-2010, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by Justin Case

Military

Too late now.

**Justin Case** · 04-29-2010, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by BENESSE

Too late now.

I wonder if they have any groups for adults ? like the scouts ? Nature groups or something ? (Not to be confused with Nudists,, lol ) hmmm,, could be fun though

**BENESSE** · 04-29-2010, 07:20 PM

Originally Posted by Justin Case

I wonder if they have any groups for adults ? like the scouts ? Nature groups or something ? (Not to be confused with Nudists,, lol ) hmmm,, could be fun though

Bird watching is the closest.
Maybe in another 50 yrs...

**Justin Case** · 04-29-2010, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by BENESSE

Bird watching is the closest.
Maybe in another 50 yrs...

But do they have "Naked Bird watching:? hmmm,, That could catch on

**Rick** · 04-29-2010, 07:47 PM

Oh, man. You two are cold.

**your_comforting_company** · 04-29-2010, 11:00 PM

I practice primitive skills and I grew up playing video games. There are many games that teach my kids things they seem to fail to teach at school. In fact it was a big discussion with the teachers this year and I'm sure it will be next year about "Creative Problem Solving" skills. Solving puzzles while having a little adventure in their mind isn't so bad. I almost made a post about this the other day. Finding creative solutions to real world problems in daily life is a much needed skill in any situation.
On the other hand, I know some of my kids friends can't talk about a single thing other than some video game. Almost like every word that comes from their mouth is either a quote or some detail about a video game. For something that already consumes so much of our future resource (our children's time and minds) I simply cannot endorse bringing video games into scouting. It's hard enough to get them away from video games as it is. It incorporates the sort of thinking that we, as a people, need to move away from.. the instant gratification factor.

sure there are badges for coin collecting, genealogy, photography, theater and reading, but if you think about how each of those affects a person at their core.. Keeping orderly and well polished coins, understanding ones family history and roots, appreciation of scenery and artistic expression, self enlightenment through education...
Compare that to the 90% of video games full of demoralizing acts of brutality, crass language, gratuitous violence, I could go on and on.. like I said, I grew up with video games around too. The truth about it is, the educational games are LAME and most of the rest are just too much for kids, or require too much time.
We do our best to keep games like that away from our kids, but when they spend the night at a friends house and then come home telling us about blowing the face off some thug in "The Punisher" game... well.. the whole idea that they can do any good for my kids goes right out the window.
Yeah.. lets bring that into scouting. Good plan.

Inner city kids can have projects like community gardens, park trips, neighborhood projects, study time, food drives.. There are lots of skills they can be taught under any shade tree with preparation (like gathering materials). There are lots of ways to maintain the essence of scouting, even in the inner city. It just takes a little of that old stuff they used to call "creative problem solving".

I do not think it's a good idea. Perhaps "electronics" but not "buy, install and play a video game" for a badge..

**Rick** · 04-30-2010, 12:10 AM

Fair enough. My grandkids are the same when it comes to video games. We have them here as well. However, you won't find any that are full of demoralizing acts of brutality, crass language or gratuitous violence. My wife wanted a Wii last year. I was against it. I put my foot down and said absolutely not. As it turns out, Wii isn't so bad. It allows you to chart a whole host of things like weight and balance. You can set up weight loss goals etc. As a family, you can play a whole host of games that help teach hand/eye coordination, sharpen your thinking skills, etc. and are fun. They don't have to all be about killing cops and stealing cars, which is desensitizing, I think and the subject of a whole other couch session.

I just don't think the problem is the media. It could just as easily be checkers or chess. The problem, really, in my opinion, are adults that don't monitor both the subject matter of the game, the time that is spent playing, and don't introduce some BALANCE to other healthy, outdoor activities. Around here, anyway, they don't sit in front of some tube on nice sunny days.

@Trax - All joking aside, cudos to you for getting involved and bringing some sanity and stability into the lives of kids. Our future depends on how we mold our kids.

**your_comforting_company** · 04-30-2010, 07:56 AM

beautifully said Rick.

The Wii is a wonderful device in and of itself. most of the games I've seen for it actually require you to get your butt up off the couch to play. Being aimed more towards kids and family entertainment, I have to say it is one of the best things to happen to video games since their conception. I played one of the fishing games at a friends house for about 10 minutes some months ago and I thought it was actually pretty good and even a little fun. (granted not as fun as actually fishing) and I could see how simulation programs like that could benefit those who do not have the opportunity to engage in such activities.
I really think that over the years, with video games pushing the envelope clean off the table, we (I) have become biased on the negative side. "God of war", "Grand Theft Auto", and "The Punisher" are the ones that get the most publicity and I think all the hype is the reason.
I do believe it has a lot to do with parents who either just give their kids what they want regardless of content, or have little to no input on what games their kids buy and play. As always, the responsibility must lie on the shoulders of the adults who undoubtedly pay for violent games and don't read anything about it.
Our future does depend on how we mold and teach our kids, and a lot of what they learn comes from the things they are exposed to in daily life. Feed your kids ill-will and desensitize them to mortality and violence and all consequences get swept under the rug. Violence begets violence, no doubt about that.

**BENESSE** · 04-30-2010, 08:51 AM

Raising kids today is an awesome responsibility and if you manage to have yours turn out right...why I can't imagine a more important accomplishment no matter what else you do.

**finallyME** · 04-30-2010, 11:29 AM

Lots of opinion here... that is good. Let me offer some facts to help clarify things.

Here is a link that has not been provided yet.

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/...deo_games.aspx

So, the award is for only Cub Scouts. When it says Tigers (7 yr old), Cub (8-9) and Weblos (10 yr old) they are only talking about cub scouting. This is not boy scouts (11-18). It is an award, but it is a belt loop or activity pen. That means that it is an extra award you get after you did all the required stuff. The Arrow of Light is the highest award in cub scouts. Belt loops and activity pens aren't required to get that award. There are also a whole lot of other belt loops that they get. And, of course, like I said before, this isn't a boy scout merit badge.

As a scoutmaster I have one major rule (I have many rules, this is one of them): No electronic devices except gps, flashlight, and cell phone. The cell phone can ONLY be used to call their moms. I will also allow 2 way radios. Everything else is automatically confiscated. The phone is confiscated if used against the rules. If they carry a gps, then they get picked on by telling me our present grid quardinant at any given time.

By the way Bennesse, they do have things for adults in the BSA program. It is called being a leader. The cubmaster of our pack is female, so you have lots you can do.

**BENESSE** · 04-30-2010, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by finallyME

By the way Bennesse, they do have things for adults in the BSA program. It is called being a leader. The cubmaster of our pack is female, so you have lots you can do.

I'd love to, but someone has to teach me first.
Where do I go for that?