Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2023 i Scout Life

Hey, everyone! Last month, I promised you some pics of the pumpkins I carved. Here’s what I came up with. There was one more pumpkin, but I ate it before I was finished carving. Let me tell you: That was a mistake. Eagles are not meant to eat winter squash. Enough said. Now, let’s talk! I recently got the Crazy Creek camp chair you recommended. It is very comfortable and lightweight. My sister has even been stealing it to use around the house. Thanks for the recommendation! —Liam G., Solana Beach, California That’s the problem with good gear: Everyone wants to use it. I know because my own sister used my fish finder until she dropped it in the Pacific Ocean! Good thing these eagle eyes find fish just…

Q: How do I keep my pocketknife sharp? —Andrew, Minneapolis, Minnesota A: OVER TIME, A KNIFE WILL START TO GET DULL. THAT CAN BE DANGEROUS. When a blade is not sharp, you can lose control while cutting and your knife could slip. Use a sharpening tool to maintain your knife’s edge. The most popular tool is a whetstone, like the Smith’s Knife Sharpening Stone ($8), available at the Scout Shop. First, clean your knife and apply a thin layer of oil or water (depending on the type of whetstone) to the stone. Place your blade at an angle — about 25 degrees — against the stone and run the blade along it several times. Do the same to the other side. You can also use a sharpener. The Work Sharp Guided…

Some Ideas For Your Next Merit Badge Adventure…

He Saved His Friends After A Cave-In! Trent Royar, 14, was playing with friends on the shores of the Lampasas River in Kempner, Texas, when a section of the riverbank collapsed, trapping two of the boys under rocks and heavy sand. One of the boys was covered from his chest down. The other was completely buried. Trent and his friends began to dig them out. As Trent talked to the victims to keep them calm, one of the friends used his cellphone to call for help. Emergency responders and the boys’ parents soon arrived. Trent borrowed a kayak from a nearby homeowner to help move one of the injured boys across the river and transfer medical equipment to the other boy. The boys suffered from hypothermia, broken bones and other…

SHREDDING THE SLOPES Star Scout Wins at Nationals MAIA METZGER Age: 16 Hometown: Riverside, California Scout Rank: Star Scout (Troop 1887G, Riverside) Made Headlines: For winning the Snowboard Youth (15-16) Women’s All Around category at the 2023 USA Snowboard and Freeski Association National Championships. The Scoop: Snowboarding since age 9, Maia has qualified for three national competitions. She participates in all five snowboard events: halfpipe, slopestyle, slalom, giant slalom and boardercross. Know someone who’s making headlines? Let us know! go.scoutlife.org/headliners WINNING PENTATHLETE Life Scout Places Nationally JOSIAH (JOE) HENSON Age: 15 Hometown: Falls Church, Virginia Scout Rank: Life Scout (Troop 150, Annandale, Va.) Made Headlines: For placing fourth in the Boys U15 category at the 2022 USA Pentathlon Multisport National Championships, held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado…

OPINEL’S NO.07 MY FIRST OPINEL FOLDING KNIFE is sharp but without a point. The 3.5-inch blade is made from Sandvik stainless steel, and it holds an edge. The outdoors version ($26) also has a built-in whistle to call for help in an emergency. $17 With proper training, many Scouts can use a knife — a valuable tool for camping or working on a whittling project. A multitool provides multiple blades and other tools. Examples are saws, drivers and even forks and spoons. A knife is not a toy. If you’re a Bear, Webelos or Arrow of Light Cub Scout, earn your Whittling Chip. If you’re in Scouts BSA, earn your Totin’ Chip. Then you will know how to safely carry and use one of these tools. Knives and multitools can…

go.scoutlife.org/meritbadge…

Only male turkeys exhibit the fan-like tail and ruffled feathers. 37 pounds The weight of the largest wild turkey ever discovered. Turkeys have tremendous hearing but lack external ears. Seeds, nuts, insects, fruit and salamanders are the typical diet of a wild turkey. 1 mile: The distance a turkey’s gobble can be heard. Benjamin Franklin thought the turkey was a more respectable bird than the bald eagle. Native Americans domesticated turkeys for 1,500 years before Christopher Columbus came to America. Hen The term for an adult female turkey. Tom The term for an adult male turkey. Wattle The flap of skin hanging from a turkey’s neck. It turns bright red when the turkey gets upset. Female turkeys lay up to 18 eggs at a time. Poult: The term for a…

ROBO ReX Build, code and rampage with Code+Control Dinosaur Robot: REX. Move the dino in all directions, make its eyes light up and trigger all kinds of sounds — including it chowing down. Our 12-, 10- and 8-year-old testers can’t get enough of it. The 12-year-old says, “It’s challenging to do the wiring when putting it together, but it does everything it’s supposed to and is really cool.” $69.95 PuLLING STunTS Take off with the Sky Viper Vector Performance Stunt Jet. Our 10-year-old pilot says it’s the most fun he’s had in a while! Launch it by throwing it in the air or taxiing along a smooth surface, like a sidewalk. It’s easy to fly, and you can do loops and barrel rolls with the controller’s stunt button. Our tester…

HANDBOOK HELP Be a Good Sport Whether you’re on the baseball diamond, tennis court or at a checkerboard, you should show good sportsmanship. But what does that look like? Have you ever seen an athlete yell at the referees or their coaches? Do they fight with opponents? Do they talk down to their teammates? Do they give up when they’re losing? If they do any of these things, they aren’t being good sports. Sportsmanship means playing by the rules and with proper techniques and strategy. That means no cheating or dirty plays. Treat your teammates, coaches, opponents and officials with respect. It can be hard, especially in the middle of a competitive moment or if a call doesn’t go your way. A good way to remind yourself is with the…

Ricky Meyers, 14, was swimming with friends in a pond in Valley Head, Alabama, when a boy used a rope to swing into the water. After splashing down, the boy didn’t come back up. Ricky went to the spot where the boy had gone under, reached down and pulled him to the surface. The boy, a poor swimmer, began to panic. He climbed on top of Ricky and pushed him under the water. When other kids tried to help, the boy pushed them under, too. Ricky surfaced and quickly realized no one else knew what to do. Using a commanding voice, Ricky told the boy to relax and trust him. The boy calmed, allowing Ricky to safely approach him. Ricky towed the boy to shore. Everyone helped him get out…

The Saint George award is for Cub Scouts in first through third grades. The Scout must be a communicant member of an Orthodox Church recognized by the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America (ACOB). The Chi-Rho award is for Webelos in fourth and fifth grades. The Scout must attend church school or another formal religious instruction program. The Alpha Omega award is for Scouts BSA members and Venturers in sixth through 12th grades. The Scout must be a communicant member of an Orthodox Christian Church recognized by ACOB. For more information, contact your local council or visit: go.scoutlife.org/religiousawards…