Not hackers breaking into computers but kids with adult mentors USING tools, woodworking, robot-building,...Badges but no uniforms. Inclusive. Membership 32,000 nationwide. Website https://diy.org/

 

Probably more hands-on than our survey STEM merit badges?

 

News Story from NPR

http://www.npr.org/2012/12/23/167285991/with-growth-of-hacker-scouting-more-kids-learn-to-tinker

 

Geek Scouts and Maker Scouts are similar but not nationwide,...yet.

 

http://www.geek-scouts.org/

 

http://makerscouts.org/

Maker Scouts is a burgeoning group looking to build a next generation scouting organization. Our main drive is bringing modern science, technology, engineering, art, and math to children outside of a school environment. Maker Scouts seeks to foster a well socialized, moral, and tech savvy generation of boys and girls.

 

This is getting interesting.

Another $0.02,

 

What's to say there can't be Venturing Scouts involved in exactly the same activities?

 

Stosh

Maybe, but Hacker scouts appears targeted at upper elementary, middle school kids.

Pretty cool program, but more of just another after school club. I couldn't find anything about how it fosters morality.

 

Barry

So why don't they resurrect the old belt-loop program in Cub Scouts? Those were designed to be MB like and could be used to foster some program with little effort on the part of National to set them up.

 

Stosh

Hi Stosh - I don't understand your point on "resurrect the old belt-loop program". My Pack and District have been actively teaching and awarding belt-loops and the associated pins ever since my son joined 4 years ago.

 

Was there a different program years ago?

 

Thanks,

FTB

Nope, I didn't think the program was still in effect. Been out of Cubbing for many years, don't see them on current boy's belts. Maybe it is just because kids don't wear belts anymore.

 

Stosh

Might be useful to ask families why they chose those scouting programs over ours. Open response not canned multiple choice.

Why do boys choose band, robotics or Sports over Boy Scouting.... might be their interests?

That is why I think we need to have BSA concentrate on the outdoors. We have that down pretty well. No need to branch into high tech and STEM.

"So why don't they resurrect the old belt-loop program in Cub Scouts? Those were designed to be MB like and could be used to foster some program with little effort on the part of National to set them up..."

 

 

It never went away. Belt loops are the most popular awards in our Pack. Our boys wear their belts and display their belt loops.

 

 

I wonder if those new scout like Organizations have a National Board who sets all the Policies based on some expert's advice.

 

I see several differences already..All Ages are CO-Ed..and they offer a wide variety of stuff based on interests and abilities not just "Age Appropriate" as deemed by some expert somewhere.

 

I bet they have little red wagons