Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2025 i Scout Life

A merry hello for a month full of celebration! Write in to let me know how your family celebrates the season. My fam sings a carol called “O Talon-baum.” (Perhaps you know it better as “O Eagles’ Tree.”) I begged The Boss to let me record it for you, but he has absolutely forbidden it. So let’s move forward with a carol-less letter-answering sesh! I’m a Star Scout. I think the magazines are pretty helpful because they share the latest things in the world and in Scouting. My favorite thing about Scouting is the friends you make along the way. – Bentley A., Beatrice, Nebraska Bentley, you’re a Star — literally! I totally agree: The best part of Scouting is the friends you gather in your flock. It’s also awesome…

When you’re camping in the bitter cold with temperatures that refuse to rise into the double digits, it’s great to warm up with a delicious cup of hot chocolate. For campers participating in the Winter Trek program at Mount Norris Scout Reservation in Vermont, there was as much of the rich, tasty treat as they wanted before heading back into the snow. “There was a constant supply of hot chocolate, which was nice,” says Killian Allen, 14, a Star Scout with Troop 611 of South Burlington, Vt. For four weekends each January and February, the Green Mountain Council camp hosts Scouts from all over New England on winter adventures, where troops can build quinzees (snow shelters), fish on a frozen lake, and try snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. They can also…

The Stage 1 award is for Cub Scouts of the Wolf through Arrow of Light ranks. The Stage 2, Stage 3 and Stage 4 awards are for Scouts BSA members. For more information, contact your local council or visit go.scoutlife.org/religiousawards…

CALENDAR Dec. 1 is Rosa Parks Day. Dec. 7 is National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Dec. 21 is is the first day of winter. Bundle up! On This Date Dec. 14, 1911: Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and his team become the first people to reach the South Pole. Dec. 27, 1932: Radio City Music Hall opens in New York City. It hosts a wide range of performances and is home to the famous Rockettes holiday show. Dec. 28, 1973: The Endangered Species Act is signed into law. See the current list of endangered animals at go.scoutlife.org/endangered SEE IT Soak up the fun! Our favorite yellow sponge is plunging into a new adventure in The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants.When he dares to face legendary ghost pirate the Flying Dutchman, SpongeBob must…

When I cook on campouts, it always tastes bad. What are simple ways to spice up a dish when cooking outdoors? Steve: This is an expert-worthy question. “Because cooking supplies are limited at campouts, food often tastes bland, so pack versatile seasonings,” advises Chris Lilly, world champion pitmaster and executive chef. “Instead of salt, combine a mixture of salt, brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, black pepper and cayenne pepper. This combination or ‘seasoned salt’ will spice everything from fish to fritters! A barbecue sauce such as KC Masterpiece can be a sauce or glaze but also a tasty ingredient in beans and chili.” And when grilling, let the wood burn down to hot coals first for even, perfectly smoked flavor. Jenny: OK, now my mouth is watering! I’m partial to veggies…

Skating is a great way to enjoy the ice, whether it’s around a rink or across a frozen pond, lake or river. With the right gear and preparation, you can glide safely and smartly. Always skate within your ability. Ask someone to teach you if you’ve never skated before. If you haven’t skated in a while, take it slow and easy. You can wear protective gear — a helmet, knee and elbow pads, and wrist protectors — to help prevent injuries. Indoor skating centers are great places to start because the ice is well maintained and smooth. Natural ice could have small cracks or rough textures that can make you fall. When you skate outdoors, check the ice’s surface and thickness. It should be at least 4 inches thick uniformly.…

Insect Study The best way to study insects is to observe them in nature. If you must handle an insect, be gentle. Those little guys are fragile. Don’t touch an insect’s nest. They tend to be protective. Once you meet a requirement that involves collecting an insect, return it to the location you found it. Electronics Soldering unites metals so they act electrically as one piece. (Do not try this without supervision from an expert adult!) 1. ATTACH THE WIRE. 2. HEAT THE WIRE WITH A SOLDERING IRON. 3. APPLY SOLDER — AN ALLOY USED FOR JOINING METALS. THE SOLDER WILL MELT ONTO THE CONNECTION, FUSING IT TOGETHER. 4. LET THE CONNECTION HARDEN. Painting Paint is made up of four ingredients. PIGMENT is composed of finely ground particles that give…

In Iceland, Jólasveinar, or Yule lads, are mischievous characters. They bring gifts to good children and potatoes to naughty ones. They also play pranks. According to folklore, Jólasveinar are the children of mountain-dwelling ogres. EASTERN EUROPEAN HOLIDAY visitor Ded Moroz evolved from a combination of cruel Slavic gods into a kind gift-giver. He resembles Santa in appearance and attire and is usually accompanied by his granddaughter, Snegurochka, also known as the Snow Maiden. In Greece, St. Basil delivers presents on New Year’s Eve, the night before his feast day. Also, according to folklore, holiday visitors might include troublesome elves known as kallikantzaroi. Families protect themselves from these mischief-makers by keeping their fireplaces burning between Dec. 25 and Jan. 6. La Befana, who is beloved in Italy, is a mystical old woman…

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • Access to a freezer• Freezable pouch (A large pencil case works well.)• Black poster board or foam sheeting sized to fit inside pouch• 5 to 10 glass microscope slides• 5 to 10 glass or plastic slide covers• Gloves• Liquid (not gel) superglue or similar product• One finely bristled paintbrush (more if needed)• A wide rectangular or square plastic or glass container with a tight-fitting lid• Snowfall WHAT YOU’LL DO: STEP 1. SO IT WILL BE READY FOR THE NEXT SNOWFALL, place your snowflake-capturing equipment — paintbrush, poster board or foam sheet, microscope slides, superglue and slide covers — inside the freezable pouch and store it inside the freezer. The separate plastic or glass container doesn’t have to be in the pouch, but it should be in…