Boy Scouts Can Now Earn Video Games Badge

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the Tom's Guide community: where nearly two million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
Status
Not open for further replies.
The only person I know who cant already use a console or pc is my mum, and there is no hope there...

22 years old and i would struggle to get this badge.
 
new badges how to ower clock your cpu to make a camp fire,
how to multi task eat and drink at the same time you game ps3,
how to use your ipad as a rain coat and as a shovel recycle all,
and most important.
singing the Portal ending song around the burning cpu camp fire.
when can i sign up?

 
Sound like they need to come up with a new group for computers etc. rather than teach kids how to play games. Besides, how many game consoles have math games? I think it degrades the whole boy scout/cub scout organization. Maybe they should just add how to build a video gaming system that can be used with the wilderness pin/badge. While destroy the environment because you need to run a fossil fuel engine to get the electricity needed or you need to clear cut some woods to setup wind mills and solar panels. I am so disappointed. 🙁
 
This sounded like a pretty stupid idea at first, but the requirements are a great thing I think. It teaches the kids resposibility. Hopefully this will help with the problem of 10yr olds playing games like GTA and COD.
 
[citation][nom]bad_code[/nom]Sound like they need to come up with a new group for computers etc. rather than teach kids how to play games. Besides, how many game consoles have math games? I think it degrades the whole boy scout/cub scout organization. Maybe they should just add how to build a video gaming system that can be used with the wilderness pin/badge. While destroy the environment because you need to run a fossil fuel engine to get the electricity needed or you need to clear cut some woods to setup wind mills and solar panels. I am so disappointed.[/citation]

How does it degrade the whole organization? Hint, it doesn't.

Here is the list of the current academics program for which they can earn recognition for:
Art, Astronomy, Chess, Citizenship, Collecting, Communicating, Computers, Disabilities Awareness, Family Travel, Geography, Geology, Good Manners, Heritages, Language and Culture, Map and Compass, Mathematics, Music, Nutrition, Pet Care, Photography, Reading and Writing, Science, Video Games, Weather, and Wildlife Conservation

How is Chess, Photography or Computers any better/worse than Video Games? You do know there is a pretty large field of employment opportunities for video games nowadays, getting kids interested in video games and how they work, or their impact on society isn't a bad thing.

They're doing more than just playing video games in cub scouts, how is this really degrading the organization? It's not. It does help to expand their education, and maybe understand why at an early age, games have certain ratings and why they get those ratings and so on and so forth. We're talking about kids under 12 here, not teenagers. Better to keep kids informed, rather than leave them in the dark.

It's akin to saying condomns in schools are bad, because they're degrading the abstinence sex education programs (barf).. When both can be taught side by side, to better prepare teens and young adults for the real world, while avoiding unwanted pregnancies.
 
[citation][nom]Eccentric909[/nom]How does it degrade the whole organization? Hint, it doesn't.Here is the list of the current academics program for which they can earn recognition for:Art, Astronomy, Chess, Citizenship, Collecting, Communicating, Computers, Disabilities Awareness, Family Travel, Geography, Geology, Good Manners, Heritages, Language and Culture, Map and Compass, Mathematics, Music, Nutrition, Pet Care, Photography, Reading and Writing, Science, Video Games, Weather, and Wildlife Conservation How is Chess, Photography or Computers any better/worse than Video Games? You do know there is a pretty large field of employment opportunities for video games nowadays, getting kids interested in video games and how they work, or their impact on society isn't a bad thing.They're doing more than just playing video games in cub scouts, how is this really degrading the organization? It's not. It does help to expand their education, and maybe understand why at an early age, games have certain ratings and why they get those ratings and so on and so forth. We're talking about kids under 12 here, not teenagers. Better to keep kids informed, rather than leave them in the dark.It's akin to saying condomns in schools are bad, because they're degrading the abstinence sex education programs (barf).. When both can be taught side by side, to better prepare teens and young adults for the real world, while avoiding unwanted pregnancies.[/citation]


Photography for taking pictures in nature ie bird watch and I disagree that chess or computers should be part of it either. most of the activities in scouts were to prmote being involved in the community and leaning about the environment and some of the other things other than video games and computers other than maybe building but I have no idea how computer games has anything to do with scouting! Hey did you bring you're SLI computer with you so we could play games all night while we camp at the hotel? Its supposed to prepare you for becoming a boy scout not a video game hermit. I was a cub scout, weblows, and boy scout. Not to mention a computer geek before being a geek was cool. Technology now a days promotes ignoring the world around you while you sit inside playing video games or talking on your cell phone ignoring the people who are around. I held the door open for someone talking on their cell phone and they completely ignored me. I would think that promting video games would go against everything that being a scout was supposed to be about. They don't learn about how video games work I am sure. Being a software engineer, it would be hard for even me to get all the details of how video games work. I know I could make one but I could not make anything close to something like UT3. The understanding of computer how they work and even building one and the impact on society is not a bad thing. But many people think the web bring us together but they fail to see now instead of calling your friends you just send a broadcast message on facebook or email. Setup an event on facebook and let people find it. Rather than a call or actually face to face. I know 2 people were chatting on the internet and they never asked where the other was. They were sitting in the same room and never met face to face. I remember building a doll house not really we actually were using 2x4s down to scale of a doll house so we could get an idea of the work involved to build a house. I just don't think playing video games has any need or importance in being a scout.
 
To me, boy scouts should be about the outdoors, not about teaching kids how to grow up. That is what parents are for. Scouts should teach Camping / Survival related skills (knots, fire, fishing, etc).
 
[citation][nom]victomofreality[/nom]where was this when I was in scouts[/citation]

Personally, I'd rather be outdoors hiking and camping than playing video games.
 
I agree that this process is not a bad thing. There are kids out there dying of malnutrician because they play for a week straight and their bodies give out... or kill their dad's with sledge hammers because he took the kids keyboard away (actual story reported here not too long ago). Let's face it, some parents just AREN'T GOOD PARENTS and there are kids out there that need this info and aren't going to get it at home.

That having been said, I don't think this program should be part of the scouts. This should be a class in school. Scouts should be about community, outdoors, being resourcefull... The only way technology (games, computers, cell phones) should even be mentioned in the scouts is someone saying "put down that game controller, it's time to catch a snipe for the elderly". No this belongs in the school system, but it should be an even broader topic like "Technological Resposibility" or something.
 
[citation][nom]bloody llama[/nom]So they are required to figure out how to plug in a yellow, red, and black plug? Does this take some particular skill?[/citation]
I talk to people every day that tell me to send someone out because they refuse to plug the yellow white and red cords in themselves because it's too hard to match yellow to yellow red to red and white to white on both sides of the camera and the TV.
 
[citation][nom]Prophet42[/nom]These arent BADGES. Badges are for Boy Scouts ages 11 to 18. This is for Cub Scouts under the age of 11. They have activity pins and belt loops for playing all sorts of games. And video games are an activity last time I checked. The requirements are ment to start discussions with a boys and his family. Laugh all you want but there is nothing wrong with that.[/citation]

Most of the American public is poorly educated about organizations with in their own town. There is a difference between Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, but most whom have never been involved don't know.

The Boy Scout version of this would include something like build a video game or at least a level and show the understanding of program and game design. There are over 121 Boy Scout merit badges and they are designed to premote learning in areas that schools generally fail like camping and outdoor skills. Scouting can offer an experience into a field that a child might have easily over looked.

My only wish for scouting is that some of the religous organizations that have gotten their hooks into Scouts would be forcably removed.
 
I didn't see that one coming. I don't really see how video games align with the virtues of Boy Scouts. One definitely would have a hard time earning this one while camping too. I have to say I am disapointed. Boy Scouts taught me how to survive outdoors among other useful skills.
 
"explain why gaming rating systems are important, create a schedule that includes chores (barf), homework and games, and learn to play games that are approved by parents, guardians, and teachers."

lmfao. Complete horsesh!te. When I was in boyscouts, it wasn't near that modern nor that gay.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.