Posted on 04/28/2010 5:02:40 PM PDT by Rebelbase
Boy Scouts have traditionally earned belt loops and merit badges for outdoor pursuits like swimming, archery, canoeing and fishing. Today’s boys are spending a lot of time inside and on-line, whether it’s with MMORPGs like Runescape and World of Warcraft or interacting with a gaming system like X-Box 360 and Sony Play Station. The Boy Scouts of America have heeded the call and created a Video Games Belt Loop and Academics Pin for Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts and Webelos: the ranks prior to officially becoming a Boy Scout
The new badge requirements teach the boys how to be responsible with the amount of time they are spending on the games; encourages them to get parent approval and has them invite parents to play along with them. See the full badge requirements here. Great lessons to learn at a young age about choosing appropriate content.
Thousands of boys have passed through the ranks of the local Dan Beard Council which has 8 separate districts across the region. Over 300 Cincinnati area boys achieved the Eagle Scout rank in 2009; perhaps the Video Games Badge will help retain a younger boy who just might have checked out of scouting after becoming frustrated with achieving the Fishing belt loop….
Kudos to the Boy Scouts of America for meeting youth on the digital highway and teaching them responsibility with personal time!
Yep, our boys are all working towards their “Arrow of Light” without mindless video games...
Daylight ceremonies are now the norm.
Boy Scouts in general has degraded in to a babysitting service for middle school boys and eagle mills so it look good on college applications.
After 3 years as district commissioner, which followed 6 as scout master and 4 as ADC, I have given up on the whole enterprise.
Sorry to hear that.
No system is perfect and those in the inner most workings of systems see the imperfections on a daily basis.
I know that for me and my boys, Boy Scouts has been very good. It helped me and them share in doing things togather (like Philmont, canoeing, camping, etc.), and it helped me to step back and let them learn the “hard way”. I tend to just do things myself, but being involved with Scouting helped teach me to step back and allow them to learn by doing, even when that meant doing it wrong at times.
Hopefully after you have spent some time away, you will be able to look back at Boy Scouts overall and not just see the flaws. Sounds like you’ve earned your break though.
This is a bigger waste of time than looking for a left-handed smoke shifter. Once a Tenderfoot, now an Eagle.
You know your not supposed to talk about the Ordeal, right?
That’s right. Super secret stuff. shhhhh!
I completed Ordeal in ‘74. I guess it’s not the same today. My son was just ‘tapped out’ (today, it’s ‘called out’) at Camporee. After he completes Ordeal, we will compare notes.
Mine was in 82. My Father had gone through the year before as an adult. He made sure I had some “special” tasks. Inito Lodge, Flint River Council!
I only just renewed my dues and sewed on a new pocket flap patch. I still have my old one from ‘74. And an OA sash that’s WAY too small.
Orange County Council, Wiatava #13 Lodge, Koshare Chapter
Well, given they’re Cub Scouts...I guess that’s not so bad.
I’m still ticked that Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts don’t have to be in full uniforms like we had to be! ha!
Sheesh! With all the easy computer languages out these days, they could be *designing* videogames!
Pretty much...what happened to being outside and staying fit (mentally and physically)? The BSA could fill a big demand for helping boys become men but I suppose that might wind them up in court again.
Totally disagree, and here’s why.
This is for Cub Scouts (Not Boy Scouts). How do you get the attention of kids? Hey, kids .... come spend hours with a knife whittleing a chunk of wood into a car shape, and make a Pinewood Derby car? Or, do you know that the Cub Scouts lets you earn a badge by playing a video game?
Isn’t the whole purpose of the Cub Scouts to get young boys together, to learn to do something (ANYTHING!) with adults to teach them responsiblity? Once they get hooked on accomplishing things, getting recognition for earning various skills - this becomes the motive (have fun, learn, earn the respect of my peers and the admiration of both parents and other adults alike).
Now, if this were a Boy Scout pin ... I’d be inclined to agree with you.
The OA must be run differently in different regions. I attend a weekend every year with my two boys ( Both Eagles) and it is still the same. Lots of work during the day and young scouts nervously sleeping alone in the woods at night.
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