Innehållsförteckning för September 2024 från Scout Life

I like it whenever you do a gear review! My favorite was the one on bike campout gear, because I love cycling. Our troop also just got water filters, so it was cool to see the comparison of what we got with the latest waterfiltration gear review. We would also like to do a snow campout, which can be hard in Arizona since most people aren’t equipped for it. Your article on that was a good way to see what we need and how much we already have. Thank you! —Christopher K., from the internet I can tell you’re a regular reader, Christopher! Thanks for coming back and checking out all the good outdoor and gear tips we bring each month. This month, the Gear Guy has us outfitted…

FOR THE MOST PART, PLASTIC IS GOOD. IT’S THE HUMAN-MADE MATERIAL IN MANY USEFUL THINGS, SUCH AS WATER BOTTLES, SPORTS SAFETY GEAR AND FOOD PACKAGING. However, about 12 billion pounds of plastic are dumped into oceans each year. Millions more are dumped into rivers, lakes, streams, swamps and other waterways. This is not good. Some types of plastic take hundreds of years to break down. In the meantime, they pollute our water and harm wildlife. More than 1 million animals are killed each year due to plastic marine debris. Waterway and marine debris also pollute soil, and animals ingest the pollution. As a Scout, you can do something to help. Scouting for Clean Waterways is a nationwide effort that begins on Earth Day (April 22) 2025. It is designed to…

Q: Why use a hiking stick? —Nicola, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania A: A hiking stick is a great tool for the trail as it helps you keep your balance on rough and sloped terrain. Plus, it takes pressure off your knees and back — something you’ll value the longer you hike. One disadvantage? A hiking stick can’t grow with you, so you might consider trekking poles. Often made of lightweight aluminum or carbon fiber, they can slide to different lengths. For example, Kelty Range 2.0 poles ($60) can extend from 35 to 54 inches. To find the right length, adjust the poles so your arms make a 90-degree angle with your elbow bent when you grab the grips. Many trekking poles come with wrist straps, and Kelty’s are padded to add comfort. You…

Your backpack and boots are the two pieces of gear you’ll use the most on the trail. “A pack that fits poorly can make or break your trip,” says Ryan Wichelns, editor-in-chief of Trails Magazine, a lifelong backpacker and former Scout from Stillwater, New York. “Buy one that fits your body and your gear.” When shopping for a backpacking pack, the most important thing is to try some packs to see what works, he says. A pack might look cool online but be a bad fit. Everybody is shaped differently. To get the right size, measure your torso length and hip size. THE RIGHT FIT A backpack expert at your local outdoor shop can help. Some outdoor shops also sell used packs. If you can find one in good shape…

Swimming The Scouting America swim test represents the minimum level of ability for safe swimming in water that’s over your head. 1. JUMP FEET FIRST into water over your head, and begin swimming without any aids. The test must be given under the guidance of qualified supervision. 2. SWIM 75 YARDS in a strong manner using the sidestroke, breast stroke, trudgen or crawl. 3. SWIM 25 YARDS using the resting backstroke. 4. WHEN YOU’RE DONE, rest by floating, not treading water or swimming in place. The 100 yards must be swum continuously with at least one sharp turn and without assistance from the side or bottom. go.scoutlife.org/meritbadge Public Health The job of public health officials is to keep the public healthy. Many of the same principles of public health can be applied to…

Baptist Scouts can learn more about their Christian faith by earning the following: The Jesus and Me emblem is for Cub Scouts in kindergarten and first grade. This program introduces Jesus as the Son of God in familiar terms so that young children can see Jesus in their own day-to-day experiences as a storyteller, teacher, friend and healer. The God and Me emblem is for Cub Scouts in second and third grades. This program helps Baptist Cub Scouts become best friends with Jesus and tell their story of “God and Me” together. The God and Family emblem is for Scouts in fourth through sixth grades. This program helps youth understand the importance of family and God’s role in a healthy family. God and Family provides an opportunity for youth and their…

Pizza originated in Naples, Italy, in the 19th centry. Pizza Hut introduced the first online pizza ordering system in 1994. The Hawaiian pizza, with pineapple and ham, was invented in Canada. National Cheese Pizza Day is Sept. 5. National Pepperoni Pizza Day is Sept. 20. The world’s largest pizza ever made was 13,990 square feet, created in Los Angeles, California, in 2023. The first pizzeria in the U.S. was Lombardi’s, which opened in New York City in 1905. The most popular pizza topping is pepperoni.…

Tenderfoot Scout Wins at Nationals FINLEY MCKEAG Age: 12 Hometown: Dripping Springs, Texas Scout Rank: Tenderfoot Scout (Troop 280, Dripping Springs) Made Headlines: As a member of ATX Abilities, a National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) Junior Prep team, which had a 30-0 season and won the 2024 National Junior Wheelchair Basketball Championships. The Scoop: Finley was awarded the Dr. Timothy Nugent Academic Achievers Award, which is given in honor of the NWBA founder to recognize academic achievement, as well as service performed to the rehabilitation program and fellow students. The recipient is judged on personal integrity, human dignity, intellectual endeavor, pride in self and concern for others. First Class Scout Wins Science Awards LILIANA SIMMONS Age: 13 Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland Scout Rank: First Class Scout (Troop 2018, Edgewater, Md.) Made…

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: Frayed rope At least 10 inches of string, dental floss or thin twine Scissors A lighter, match or candle WHAT YOU’LL DO: FOR NATURAL FIBERS LIKE SISAL OR COTTON, WHIP THE ROPE. 1. CUT OFF THE PART OF THE ROPE THAT IS UNRAVELING. Cut a piece of strong string, dental floss or thin twine at least 8-10 inches long. Make a loop and place it on one end of the rope. 2. WRAP THE STRING TIGHTLY AROUND THE ROPE SEVERAL TIMES. 3. WHEN THE WHIPPING IS AS WIDE AS THE ROPE IS THICK, SLIP THE END THROUGH THE LOOP. 4. PULL THE STRING ENDS TIGHTLY AND CUT THEM OFF. FOR SYNTHETIC MATERIALS LIKE NYLON, FUSE THE ROPE. Rope and cord made from plastic or nylon will melt when exposed…