Indholdsfortegnelse for May 2023 i Scout Life

For 25 years, this troop has pedaled to summer camp, creating memories and a legacy. Try something new? That was fun. Do it again? Hey, we really like this. Go for a third time? This is the start of a tradition. By the 25th anniversary, it’s part of your troop’s identity. A legacy. That’s the way the Scouts of Troop 76 in Frazer, Pennsylvania, view their annual cycling trip to Horseshoe Scout Reservation. “It’s a really special thing our troop does,” says Life Scout Auden Davis, 15. “It connects us with our past Scouts.” The guys pedal their bikes from their Scout hut for 50 miles along suburban streets and country roads to summer camp. It’s a tradition that began before the troop’s current members were even born. The First…

go.scoutlife.org/scoutingaround HANDBOOK HELP The Right Bait To catch fish, you need to tempt them with something they want to eat. You can use live bait or artificial lures. Natural foods are easy to use and often work well. Use bait that is native to the area, and check with local fishing regulations on using such bait. Types of freshwater live bait include worms, minnows, crawfish, leeches and fly larvae. For saltwater fishing, try eels, crabs, shrimp and sandworms. Proper hook placement helps maintain the bait’s natural movements. If the bait is moving strangely, fish might not want to eat it. Artificial lures can be used again and again. They can be designed to look or move like real food or can be shiny and colorful to catch attention. Types…

Jessica Forinash, 14, and Simone Nash, 13, were on a Scout rafting trip near Buena Vista, Colorado, when a raft ahead of them hit a rock and capsized, dumping its passengers into the swirling rapids. Two of the men in the water were struggling to stay above the surface. The Scouts kept the raft steady as an adult leader quickly grabbed one of the victims by his life vest and pulled him into the raft. Simone and Jessica grabbed the other victim by his life vest and pulled him on board. The other Scouts stayed on the opposite side of the raft to keep it from flipping in the turbulent water. The Scouts treated the men for shock, hypothermia and abrasions as they continued down the river. They eventually reached…

1. Start in a standing position. 2. Lower into a squat position with your hands on the ground. 3. Kick your feet back while keeping your arms extended (pushup position). 4. Quickly return your feet to the squat position. 5. Jump up from the squat position, landing safely in an athletic stance. 6. Repeat. Begin with five to 10 repetitions, or perform them for 20 to 30 seconds. To challenge yourself, add a few more burpees to each set.…

CALENDAR May is Get Caught Reading Month. See SL’s reading contest on page 6. May 14 is Mother’s Day. Flip to page 38 for DIY gift ideas. May 29 is Memorial Day. Take a moment to honor our American heroes. On This Date May 16, 1866: The first U.S. nickel is minted. May 22, 1960: The 20th century’s strongest earthquake (9.5 on the Richter scale) strikes the South American country of Chile. May 27, 1937: The Golden Gate Bridge opens. FAST LANE Catch your favorite Indy drivers speeding around the racetrack at the 107th Indianapolis 500. Watch all the high-speed action live May 28 on NBC. TRY IT The knot of the month is the two half-hitches, which can be used to tie a rope to a tree. Visit go.scoutlife.org/knots…

Bikepacking is a camping trip you take on your bike. It’s a fun way to see the sights from a saddle, cruising roads and trails. Here’s what you need to get started. THE PREPARATION CHOOSE A DESTINATION: ADVENTURE CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE, even when you set out from your back door. Ultra-endurance racer and avid bikepacker Lael Wilcox says to go where you want to be, where you can see what you want to see. Get ideas for routes by checking out topographic maps (which will likely include backroads) or asking local bicycling shops and clubs. You can find an extensive archive of bikepacking information, with detailed route notes, including where to restock and sleep, at bikepacking.com If you have a bike computer or GPS watch, download your route before you…

He Saved His Mom From Choking! Gavin Sleigh, 17, and his mom were at their home in Palm City, Florida, when Gavin’s mom began coughing uncontrollably. Mrs. Sleigh motioned to her throat, indicating that she was choking and couldn’t breathe. Gavin acted quickly and performed several abdominal thrusts, as he learned in Scouting. Gavin’s mom soon coughed up a piece of food, and Gavin checked her to make sure she was OK. Mrs. Sleigh was not injured during the incident. Eagle Scout Gavin Sleigh, a member of Troop 840, chartered to Friends of Troop 840 in Stuart, Fla., received a Medal of Merit for his actions. He Saved A Boy From Drowning! Jake Edwards, 10, was attending a pool party at a neighbor’s house when he saw a 4-year-old boy…

The Light of Christ program helps younger Cub Scouts (first and second grades) develop a personal relationship with Jesus and learn more about their family, their baptism and the importance of daily prayers. The Parvuli Dei (Children of God) program for older Cub Scouts (third through fifth grades) helps boys and girls discover God’s presence in their daily lives and make contributions to their communities. Roman Catholic Scouts (seventh through 12th grades) in the Ad Altare Dei (To the Altar of God) program study the seven Catholic sacraments to grow spiritually. Venturers and older Scouts (ninth grade to college) in the Pope Pius XII program examine how Christianity affects their daily lives, learn how to become more active in the Catholic community and share their faith. For more information, contact…

The oldest in the world is the Great Basin bristlecone pine in California. It’s 4,855 years old. Some trees can produce fruit, chocolate, coffee or nuts. A tree’s leaves, twigs and branches help reduce noise by absorbing and blocking sound. With a height of 380 feet, the tallest tree in the world is a coast redwood tree named Hyperion. Located in Redwood National Park in California, it’s the same length as 608 regular pencils laid end to end. There are about 60,000 tree species on Earth. Olive trees are resistant to droughts, diseases and fire. Trees are everywhere in the world except Antarctica. Tree parts grow at different times throughout the year.…

SHREDDING THE COURSE First Class Scout Wins With BMX THOMAS GIRALDO Age: 13 Hometown: Indian Trail, North Carolina Scout Rank: First Class Scout (Troop 276, Indian Trail) Made Headlines: For placing first at the 2022 USA BMX (bicycle motocross) Tar Heel Nationals and achieving Expert class. The Scoop: Thomas has been racing BMX for about two years. Also in 2022, he placed third and fourth at the 2022 Chesapeake BMX national races in the Intermediate class. He also won the regional USA BMX Gold Cup Championship Series and the Standard Triple in his class. He currently ranks fourth in the state championship series. YOUNG INVENTOR OF THE YEAR Eagle Scout Is Finalist DYLON NOTTINGHAM Age: 20 Hometown: Allen, Texas Scout Rank: Eagle Scout (Troop 131, Allen) Made Headlines: As a…

FLOATING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GULF OF MEXICO aboard a charter boat with your friends, you don’t have the luxury of finding a secluded spot to fish. “You can’t really cast; there’s too many people to cast,” says Life Scout Zachary Bartling, 15. “You can drop your bait right in. You let the line out until you hit the bottom — that’s normally 40 or 50 feet.” Then you wait. Who knows what will strike your piece of squid at the end of your line: A giant grouper? A red snapper? A shark? “It’s pretty much wait-and-see if you get a bite,” says Life Scout Lauryn Cotton, 14. Whatever did bite, the Scouts in boys and girls Troops 610 of Riverview, Florida, would get to reel in, clean, cook and…

KEY TO MOM’S HEART THIS HANDY LEATHER TASSEL KEY CHAIN IS SURE TO MAKE MOM HAPPY. WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • One piece of soft, thin leather at least 3½" x 12"• Sharp scissors• Ruler• Pencil• Key ring• Any glue made for leather• Rubber band WHAT YOU’LL DO: 1. Measure, mark and cut the leather into one piece 3½" by 11" and another piece 1 ½" by ¼". 2. Make a pencil line 1" away from an edge all along the biggest piece. 3. Make even cuts along this strip up to the pencil line. (3/16"-wide cuts should work fine.) 4. Fold the small piece of leather over the key ring and glue it to one end of the uncut edge of the strip. 5. Squeeze a small line of glue…