Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2025 i Scout Life

I’ve enjoyed a wonderful experience in Scouting since my start in Scouts BSA and Sea Scouts. Many of my favorite memories are those spent with friends at camp in Connecticut. If you’d like to hear more about those special times, please let me know.  – Ray C., Raleigh, North Carolina I would, Ray! I really would! Tell us all about it at scoutlife.org/contact-us/readers-page and we might share your adventures in a coming issue of Scout Life. I’VE BEEN GETTING THIS AWESOME MAGAZINE since it was called Boys’ Life. My Scout Life official contributor patch has been my greatest Scouting achievement and a great conversation starter. Audrey S., Woodbury, Minnesota That’s great to hear, Audrey! And just so other readers know: If you want a contributor patch of your own, you can…

The book can be fiction or nonfiction, but the report must be in your own words — 500 words tops. Enter in one of these three age categories: • 8 years old and younger • 9 and 10 years old • 11 to 17 years old First-place winners in each age category will receive a $100 Scout Shop gift card. Second-place winners will receive a $75 gift card, and third-place winners will receive a $50 gift card. Everyone who enters will receive a free patch like the one shown below. The patch is a temporary insignia, so it can be worn on the right pocket of the Scout uniform shirt. Proudly display it there or on another item such as a vest, blanket or backpack! The contest is open to…

When you trek around the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan, you might spot some ships — that haven’t sailed in more than 100 years. Troop 141 of Robbinsdale, Minnesota, found the remnants of a vessel embedded in Lake Superior’s sandy shore during one of its hikes last July. It’s one of at least 550 known shipwrecks around the world’s largest freshwater lake. “There was just iron on the ground,” says Nolan Jacobsen, 13, a First Class Scout. The troop also discovered shipwrecks in the water during a half-week outing that also included admiring waterfalls, touring a lighthouse and biting into some delicious wood-fired pizza. PICTURE PERFECT Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore stretches 42 miles along part of Lake Superior’s southern side. The lakeshore is known for its majestic 200-foot cliffs…

go.scoutlife.org/scoutingaround HANDBOOK HELP Part of the Pack A Scouts BSA troop has several positions of responsibility. These roles give you the opportunity to lead and help make your troop a success. One role helps another Scouting America program. The role is called “den chief.” A den chief serves as an activities assistant for a Cub Scout den. If you are a Venturer or Sea Scout, you can also serve as a den chief. The den chief meets with the den leader to review meeting plans and helps however possible. The position is more than a helper, though — a den chief shouldn’t just sit around waiting for orders from the den leader or Cubmaster. As den chief, you’re a role model, not only for the den but also for the entire…

He Saved His Brother From Drowning! Gauge Mohr, 13, was swimming at his grandma’s house in Mesa, Arizona, when he noticed that his 3-year-old brother had entered the water and was struggling to stay afloat. Gauge told his other brother to get their mom, then swam to help the younger boy. By the time Gauge reached him, his brother was lying motionless on the bottom of the pool. Gauge dived under, pulled the boy up and brought him to the side. Gauge pushed firmly on his brother’s chest, and the boy soon began to cough up water. Gauge’s quick actions saved his brother’s life. Scout Gauge Mohr, a member of Troop 54 chartered to the Sertoma Club of Mesa, Ariz., received a Heroism Award for his actions. He Saved A…

For more information, contact your local council or visit go.scoutlife.org/religiousawards…

CALENDAR May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month. May is Get Caught Reading Month. See how to enter our reading contest on page 6. May 11 is Mother’s Day. Turn to page 38 for a refreshing gift idea. On This Date May 7, 1946: Sony, one of the leading manufacturers of electronic products, is founded. May 14, 1804: Lewis and Clark begin their expedition to chart the American West. May 30, 1922: The Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., is dedicated. FAST LANE Catch your favorite Indy drivers speeding around the racetrack at the 109th Indianapolis 500. Watch all the action live May 25 on FOX.…

One fall day, we were walking a trail in Florida’s panhandle when suddenly some nearby bushes shook wildly. To our surprise, out popped a young black bear! It immediately rocketed up a pine tree to the first large branch, where it hung out for a minute while we caught our breath. Then, using its sharp claws, the bear slid down the trunk, shredding bark as it went. As soon as it reached the ground, the bear took off, disappearing into the underbrush. While we had seen bears before at a distance, this was our first up-close encounter with one of North America’s most majestic creatures. AN AMERICAN ICON The American black bear (Ursus americanus) is an iconic animal. In many cultures, bears represent strength and courage, and while they are…

Some Ideas For Your Next Merit Badge Adventure SWIMMING Athletes training for a multisport competition practice swimming 20-30 minutes three times per week. Most athletes choose the freestyle swim stroke: While kicking with your feet, reach one arm forward and use it to pull yourself across the water, and then repeat with the other arm. Breathe by turning your head to the side. BIKING Whatever bike you already have will do, whether it’s a road bike, a mountain bike or a bike made specifically for multisport. Start your training by riding 20 minutes at a time, gradually working your way up to longer rides. RUNNING Pacing yourself on the run is one of the most important strategies in multisport. Practice by running with friends. It’s a good idea to mix in…

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • ½ cup citric acid• ½ cup cornstarch• ½ cup Epsom salt• 1 cup baking soda• 2 tablespoons olive oil (You can also use almond, coconut or jojoba oil.)• 1 tbsp essential oil (optional)• Bath bomb molds (You can buy these at a hobby store.)• Food coloring (optional)• Gloves• Large and small bowls• Small metal spoon• Water• Whisk SAFETY FIRST: Ask an adult to help with tools you haven’t used before. WHAT YOU’LL DO: STEP 1. COMBINE THE BAKING SODA, CITRIC ACID, EPSOM SALT AND CORNSTARCH in a large bowl. Whisk together until there are no clumps. STEP 2. COMBINE AND WHISK THE OLIVE OIL, essential oil and 3-4 drops of food coloring into the small bowl. Additional drops of food coloring will make the color darker. STEP 3.…

Unlike seals, sea lions have tiny ear flaps you can see on the sides of their heads. Baby sea lions are called “pups.” They stay close to their moms for about a year and learn how to swim and hunt. Sea lions bark loudly to talk to each other, just like dogs. They eat fish, squid and octopus. Sea lions love to play! They chase each other, ride waves and toss around seaweed. Sea lions’ short, thick fur keeps them warm in chilly water. They can hold their breath and dive deep into the ocean — sometimes for up to 20 minutes. They love hanging out together on the beach in big groups called “colonies” or “rafts.” They use their front flippers to help them walk on land and climb rocks.…

CATE, BEAU AND JOHN BUCHAN Ages: 19, 18 and 16 Hometown: Madrid, Spain Scout Rank: Eagle Scouts (Transatlantic Council Troop 10, Madrid) Made Headlines: For founding the nonprofit organization Let’s Bot! Sustainable Robotics. The Scoop: The Buchan siblings created Let’s Bot! to help teens discover their gifts and imagine careers in technology-related fields. They started the organization in 2018 to help underserved communities in Spain and have since expanded their programs to Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States. Know someone who’s making headlines? Let us know! go.scoutlife.org/headliners 1. Open the Camera app on your phone. 2. Hold your phone so that the QR code appears. 3. Tap the notification to visit scoutlife.org ARHAAN SHAIKH Age: 14 Hometown: Naperville, Illinois Scout Rank: Life Scout (Troop 889, Naperville) Made Headlines: For…

Mountain biking mixes exploring nature with high-speed fun. It’s a great way to conquer rugged trails, and it’s a lot quicker than going on foot.“On a mountain bike, you can cover a lot of ground,” says Lea Davison, a cross-country mountain biker and two-time Olympian. “You can challenge yourself or have fun with friends, and you can set and achieve goals and overcome obstacles.” To get into mountain biking, you’ll need a knobby-tire, flat-bar bike, new or used. Most mountain bikes have front suspension, though many have rear suspension too. Suspension lets the wheels move independently, smoothing out the trail and cushioning the landing when you hop off an obstacle. Typically, front suspension-only bikes, called “hard tails,” cost less than full-suspension bikes, but full-suspension bikes offer smoother riding, making hard…

Jackson Wethington, 15, was fishing with a friend on a river near Altavista, Virginia, when two girls swimming nearby were pulled downstream by the powerful current. Jackson and his friend jumped in to help. Jackson quickly brought one of the girls to the riverbank, but his friend was struggling to bring the second girl to safety. Jackson went back into the water, swam to the second girl and moved her to safety. When Jackson turned to make sure his friend was OK … … he realized his pal was underwater and wasn’t coming back up. Jackson dived under but couldn’t find his friend. On his second try, he found the boy and pulled him out of the water. The boy was unresponsive, so Jackson began CPR. A nurse was nearby…