CUB SCOUTS Have a Video Game Merit Badge

[The Mike]

By Seth Robison
posted: 29 April 2010 04:03 pm ET

This week the Boy Scouts of America announced a new award for their “Cub” level troopers, for an activity that is seemingly the antithesis of scouting itself, Video Gaming. However, earning this particular achievement is not a matter of killstreaks or sticking with Final Fantasy 13 until it ‘gets good,’ this award requires some real, positive steps towards such things as budgeting your gaming time and money, sharing the experience with your family and learning how video games work.

While this specific award is a belt loop, and an optional academic pin, and not one of the classic Boy Scout Merit Badges, it can’t hurt to speculate as to where this trend toward modernization will take Scouting next and what the young troopers will have to do to earn it.

 

[ProgMatinee]

you spend time looking for these articles?

 

[Eli26]

you spend time looking for these articles?

Atleast his articles are interesting and make us think unlike Waller's stupid Double Down sandwich thread. Stupid Waller! Nah, he's alright...


*pssstwallerisstupid*

 

[devilof76]

Darth Waller is a great man. His Double Down thread is the envy of millions.

I don't think this will change anything for the Scouts. If anything, it's bringing that philosophy into an area that you'd expect to be hostile to it. They're just broadening their range.

 

[Mesa]

I remember when getting merit badges was a challenge. You used to have to work and practice for them, and they weren't guaranteed on first attempt.

"video games," seriously? No wonder our youth is too fat. Try swimming, canoeing, or fire making, or even shooting a real bow/arrow or a real friggin' gun. Get the ____ outside and experience nature. video games are what you do later when you quit scouts, not during, big difference.

 

[devilof76]

It sounds to me more like they're trying to pull young gamers back toward all of that. The badge can't be earned just by playing video games.

Maybe I'm just being optimistic.

 

[BadMoon]

I remember when getting merit badges was a challenge. You used to have to work and practice for them, and they weren't guaranteed on first attempt.

"video games," seriously? No wonder our youth is too fat. Try swimming, canoeing, or fire making, or even shooting a real bow/arrow or a real friggin' gun. Get the ____ outside and experience nature. video games are what you do later when you quit scouts, not during, big difference.

Or just sitting outside with a ____ing a stick.

 

[daikkenaurora]

Candy Eating Badge is next.

 

[galactiboy]

It sounds to me more like they're trying to pull young gamers back toward all of that. The badge can't be earned just by playing video games.

Maybe I'm just being optimistic.

That would be my take on it as well... video games are a part of most kids lives, makes sense to have an award based on being smart about it. Is it related to scouts, probably not, but if it helps kids be more responsible than what's the harm?

 

[ProgMatinee]

what are the cub scouts about anyway? certainly there objective isn't solely to teach kids how to use a swiss army knife and start a fire with a couple of sticks or to widdle a block of wood into a race car.

 

[Darth Waller]

Atleast his articles are interesting and make us think unlike Waller's stupid Double Down sandwich thread. Stupid Waller! Nah, he's alright...


*pssstwallerisstupid*

Darth Waller is a great man. His Double Down thread is the envy of millions.