Research shows college students lack life skills; Scouting can help with that

A: Pitching a tent can get tricky when you’re trying to set up in the dark, in the rain or if you feel rushed. Remember, this is your shelter for the night — take the time to set it up right. Check the instructions and/or recruit a friend to help.

Get familiar with the tent before you go camping. Do the tent’s poles slide through sleeves? Or does the tent have clips that attach to the poles, like the Paria Outdoors Zion backpacking tent ($150-$180, pariaoutdoorproducts.com)?

Practice setting up your tent with all its parts ahead of time. Ask if you can practice pitching and taking down tents at a troop meeting — it might make a great activity, so everyone is prepared. Even if you have a simple shelter — like the Sansbug screen tent ($50-$90, sansbug.com) that pops open in seconds and easily fits under the separate rain fly ($40-$60) — practicing is helpful, especially when bending it back into shape at takedown.

When setting up your tent, remember to clear the area of any debris and look up to ensure you aren’t under any broken or rotten tree branches that could fall.

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JUNE-JULY 2022 FEATURES

GO WITH THE FLOW

This troop faced lots of rapids while paddling in the rugged Montana wilderness.

• Scouts Learn To Go With the Flow During a 60-Mile Packrafting Trek

GEAR GUY UPDATE: DEFEND YOUR DOME

Protect your head with the right helmet for the activity.

• How to Buy a Safe and Comfortable Helmet

FICTION: CUPCAKE CAM

Cameron has a secret talent that he hopes the kids at school never find out.

• Read Cupcake Cam by Yona Zeldis McDonough

JUST FOR KICKS

Deep down, they play soccer because it’s fun. But these two young athletes have serious game.

GAMES

Here are some cool videogames to look for this summer.

ONLY IN OUR SCOUTS BSA EDITION

SCOUTING AROUND: GOOD VIBRATIONS

To create a sound, something must vibrate. On a guitar, it’s the strings. On a drum, it’s the drum’s surface, called the “batter head.” When you sing, it’s your vocal cords.

• Visit the Scouting Around blog

PREPARED FOR LIFE: BE CYBER SAFE (AND SMART)

Think twice — or maybe even three times — before you post that.

• How to Be Cyber Safe (and Smart) on Social Media

HIT THE THEME TRAIL

Whether you love wildlife, food, paddling or more, there’s a trail for you.

• Explore Interesting Theme Trails Throughout the U.S.

ONLY IN OUR CUB SCOUT EDITION

LET’S LOOK AT AMUSEMENT PARKS

Read it! Color it! Get it all in this special Cub Scout section.

BE SAFE — AND NICE — ONLINE

The internet can be lots of fun. Just be sure to use it right.

AND MORE!

Look for the regular score of comics, jokes, games, Scouts in Action and more! Only in the June-July 2022 issue of Scout Life!

• Wacky Adventures
• Pee Wee Harris
• Scouts in Action
• More S.I.A.

Here are a few to check out.

HISTORY/HERITAGE

The FLORIDA PANHANDLE SHIPWRECK TRAIL features sunken vessels (including an 872-foot aircraft carrier — the world’s largest artificial reef) at dive sites along the Gulf Coast.

On DELAWARE’S HISTORY TRAIL, tour museums, parks, monuments and the site where Delaware ratified the U.S. Constitution. Complete the trail to earn a book about our nation’s first state.

With 14 museums and parks showcasing massive dino fossils, the MONTANA DINOSAUR TRAIL is hard to beat.

Hop on the ARKANSAS HERITAGE TRAILS, which include a Civil War Trail representing eight military campaigns and the Trail of Tears interpreting the forced removal of five Native American tribes.

BIRDING/WILDLIFE

Almost ever state offers a regional or statewide birding/wildlife trail, each with as many as hundreds of parks and other sites to explore by foot, bike, horseback, car or boat. These are the best tourism trails to experience an entire state and its habitats, from city parks to wilderness areas. Most birding trails offer unique road signs, apps and guidebooks.

Jump on the GREAT TEXAS WILDLIFE TRAILS to spot roadrunners, egrets and green jays. Or watch millions of bats exiting their caves and pronghorn antelopes sprinting through mountain grasslands (they can reach 55 mph!).

Florida, Virginia, Colorado, Idaho and New Jersey — to name just a few — all have top-notch trails, with species like alligators, bald and golden eagles, roseate spoonbills and prairie dogs.

FOOD

Yum! Food trails allow you to sample a state or regional specialty, like Mississippi seafood or Louisiana Andouille sausage, at multiple eateries.

If you like your burger with a little kick, head to NEW MEXICO’S FAMOUS GREEN CHILE CHEESEBURGER TRAIL. It includes nearly 100 restaurants and was recently voted the nation’s best food trail.

In the mood for barbecue? North Carolina, South Carolina and Alabama each have a BBQ TRAIL — and, of course, Texas has two. One restaurant in Bastrop, Texas, has been serving it since 1882. (That’s a lot of napkins!)

Tip: The Alabama BBQ Trail’s app lets you earn badges of honor. Rise in rank from Piglet (novice) to Barbecue King (expert)!

For dessert, visit INDIANA’S HOOSIER PIE TRAIL for sugar cream pie — the official state pie — or CONNECTICUT’S CHOCOLATE TRAIL, where you can watch tasty confections being made.

FARM

To see firsthand where your food comes from, visit a real working farm or get your greens at roadside stands and farmers markets on these trails. There are U-pick orchards, festivals and fairs, farm-to-table restaurants and much more.

On VIRGINIA’S FIELDS OF GOLD FARM TRAIL, you can cut your own Christmas tree; take guided llama treks and nature walks; and go hiking, swimming and canoeing. The NORTH GEORGIA FARM TRAIL has “agri-adventures” that include apple picking, “tater” digging, horseback riding, rodeos, zip lines and hay rides. Learn about mountain handicrafts and keeping bees. Wander OREGON’S WILD RIVERS COAST FARM TRAIL to pick your own blueberries, grab some farm-fresh eggs and local seafood, or take home nursery plants to start your own veggie or herb garden.

FISHING

Find some “reel” adventures on the BLUE RIDGE HIGHLANDS FISHING TRAIL in southwestern Virginia. Test your angling skills against wily trout lurking in cool mountain streams. Or try your luck on the New River, where state-record whopper walleye, smallmouth bass and muskie were caught. If you’re new to fly fishing, try casting a popper or fly for panfish or pike on a scenic mountain lake.

Seasoned fly fishermen will find excellent trout fishing on the WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA FLY FISHING TRAIL in the Great Smoky Mountains. Try Raven Fork (aka Cherokee Trophy Water), where 20- to 30-inch trout are common, or go for the “slam” (and catch three trout species) on the Tuckasegee River.

If tasty catfish is what you crave, the SOUTHEAST MISSOURI FISHING TRAIL might be for you. It has stream-, river- and lake-fishing for bass, crappie and bream, too.

PADDLING/WATER

Every state offers canoeing and kayaking, but some have paddling trail networks with numerous creeks, rivers and lakes for adventurous paddlers.

MINNESOTA’S WATER TRAILS include camping options and fantastic paddles like the 40-mile Vermilion River State Water Trail, a 1700s-era French trade route. Keep your eyes peeled for wolves, moose and bears.

NEBRASKA’S WATER TRAILS are mostly easy Class I rivers, like the Platte River, which also offers superb wildlife viewing, including sandhill cranes. However, the Niobrara River, one of the nation’s top paddling destinations, has rapids that challenge even veteran canoeists.

MICHIGAN’S WATER TRAILS allow you to take virtual tours before you go. Kayak the Lake Superior State Water Trail’s four sections, a mentally and physically demanding journey, given the lake’s size and turbulent weather. This lake is so big that it holds 10 percent of all the fresh water on the planet.

“Hiring personnel and colleges are now taking a look at social networking sites,” his guidance counselor told him. “They want to see what kinds of things are posted about the person they might hire or might admit to their school.” In fact, estimates are that more than one-half of colleges look at potential students’ Facebook profiles.

When Josh did a search on himself by typing his own name into a search engine, he was shocked to see what he found. One of his Facebook friends had posted a picture of Josh on his own page — a picture Josh had never seen — that showed him acting silly at a party and making strange faces. Anyone looking at it could think that Josh had been drinking.

And on his own FB page, Josh had some bad language that he didn’t want college recruiters seeing. On TikTok, there was a video of Josh and some kids pulling a stupid prank on their town square that was illegal.

KEEPING CLEAN

Here are some pointers for keeping your online presence clean:

REMEMBER THAT NOTHING REALLY EVER GOES AWAY. Think twice (or three times) about what you post (and what you do that might get posted).

“Even 10 years later, it’s still floating around out there,” says Michael Ferjak, retired senior criminal investigator for the Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in Des Moines, Iowa. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter or anything else — it’s still a matter of keeping your head in the game when you’re online.”

THINK ABOUT HOW MANY “FRIENDS” YOU NEED. Every time you add a friend on a social network site, you’re giving him or her access to all your private info.

“Do you really need 750 friends?” Ferjak asks. “You may keep your page clean, but your friends could be posting things about you on their pages.”

REALIZE THAT IT’S NOT PRIVATE. A lot of people think that only their friends and family can see their page, but that isn’t true. Check your privacy settings, know that your friends can copy and repost what is on your page to other places, and don’t share your passwords or give friends access to your accounts.

STAYING SAFE

Ten-year-old David was having a great time playing videogames online. He liked that he could play with kids from other states. Sometimes his cousin, who lived 500 miles away, would play against him.

Once, David played against someone named Bruce. While they were playing, David got a message from Bruce. When David opened it, he saw that Bruce had sent him an inappropriate picture. This upset David, and he told his parents about it. They helped him block Bruce so he couldn’t bother David anymore.

It’s important to be smart online — and it’s also important to be safe. Here are a few tips to help you stay safe and comfortable online:

Remember that you can’t trust everyone online — just because you have played games with someone or friended them on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter, it does not mean they are really your friend. If they have access to what you post, it is very easy for them to use the sharing options on social media sites to send it to others.

Do not share your personal information. Avoid giving your last name, address, phone number, email address or your school information.

Even if you’re careful not to post photos that show too much about your personal life, stalkers, predators and identity thieves can still figure out some of that. By looking at your videos or social media, they can often find the name of your school (maybe you’re wearing a school sweatshirt?), where you live (a picture in front of a major landmark?), the names of your parents or siblings, the names of your pets and friends, and even the classes you’re taking at school, if you discuss these things online.

Once they know that, identity thieves can answer security questions that are required for many financial accounts. This means they can get into your accounts and withdraw funds or buy things on your account.

Be suspicious of strange questions and conversations. If someone you don’t know well asks for your personal information or asks questions that make you uncomfortable, stop the conversation and tell a parent.

Don’t be afraid to tell an adult what is going on. “The No. 1 fear of kids is that Mom and Dad will go ballistic and take away their computer,” Ferjak says. “You’re not doing anything wrong by being on these sites, and you need to let a trusted adult know if something weird is happening.”

Another way to be safe online is to not purchase things through social media. While there are some real companies advertising this way, there are also dozens that set up a site and take your money. Those headphones you ordered might never arrive or might be three sizes smaller than you thought they were going to be. And in the meantime, you’ll have to jump through a lot of hoops to get your money back — if you ever do. Always go to a company’s website off social media to order items and use a credit card.

BEING NICE

You’re being smart and safe online — also make sure that you’re being nice.

The internet can be a great tool to help with homework, keep in touch with friends and family, and play games. But it also is a place where you can be bullied or you can bully someone else. Not only is cyberbullying unkind, but it can also be illegal.

How do you deal with it? Here are some tips from connectsafely.org:

IF YOU’RE THE CYBERBULLY:

Get out of a group mentality. Sometimes people do things in a group that they wouldn’t do alone. Look at your group of friends. Are your friends bullying someone? Are you part of that? Can you help stop it?
Put yourself in the other person’s shoes. How would you feel if this were being said about you or done to you?
Realize there are consequences. Nothing is anonymous. Things can be tracked and traced back to you. Almost every state has civil laws for cyberbullying, which means you and your family can be sued if you’re the bully — sometimes for large amounts of money.

IF YOU’RE BEING CYBERBULLIED

Don’t respond. Usually the bully is trying to get a reaction from you. If you don’t respond, he or she will move on. Although it’s hard to do, experts say to leave your online world for a while. Don’t log onto websites or blogs that are talking about you. Turn off your cellphone. Check your privacy settings and block the bully.
Use the reporting tools. Sites often have a place to report abuse. If you forward to them what you’re receiving, they might shut down the bully’s posts.
Preserve the evidence. Don’t delete what you’ve received until an adult has decided what to do with it.
Don’t retaliate. It’s hard not to fight back, but it’s better not to make it worse and start a new cycle of bullying.
Talk to a trusted adult. Tell your parent, a Scout leader or a teacher at school. You haen’t done anything wrong, and you need help to stop it. Afraid to talk to someone about this because you’ll seem weak or you think your parents will take your computer away? Do it anyway. Sometimes just talking it out can help, and they’re more likely to trust you if you’re honest about your online life.
Ask your school to educate. They can find teaching resources for all ages at netsmartz.org. Also, many highway patrol or state cybercrime offices provide educational programs for students and their parents.
Be a friend. Often someone who is being bullied can’t think clearly enough to report it. Be a friend and report it for them.

“SEXTING” IS SENDING PICTURES OR MESSAGES THAT HAVE SEXUAL CONTENT IN THEM

Many teens who have sent or posted sexual content say they sent it to a girlfriend or boyfriend. But most don’t know about the consequences for this behavior.

Sexting can be classified as child pornography, even if both the sender and receiver are under 18.

“If it ends up being saved, that can be considered possession, and that’s a felony in almost every state,” Ferjak says.

And Snapchat isn’t foolproof. You might think that because a photo lasts only a few seconds it can’t cause problems. But someone might use a phone to take a picture of the photo, and then there’s a permanent record of it that can be forwarded to other people. Your image could be passed around without your permission, and you could be bullied or judged by friends and classmates.

If you can think of a funny caption for this photo, just post it in the comment form at the bottom of this page. After we approve it, your funny caption will be on this page for everyone to read.

Click here to write captions for more funny photos.

CERTIFICATION

Get a helmet designed specifically for your sport. Don’t be distracted by the helmet’s style. What’s more important is if the helmet meets the proper protection standards. Just check for the sticker inside the helmet with the certification on it before buying.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Multi-Directional Impact Protection System (MIPS) helmets come in different versions for different sports. The most common design uses a liner inside the helmet that offers more protection in a crash, potentially reducing brain trauma.

With a bicycling helmet, consider what and how you ride. Helmets for the road and cross-country mountain biking prioritize low weight and ventilation; trail and enduro models protect the back of your head; and downhill helmets add a chin bar.

When buying any helmet, take a look at the helmet’s design. The safest helmets are those that are rounded without any snag points sticking out that could hurt you during a fall.

Vents are good for keeping your head cool, but more vents equal less foam and, possibly, less protection. So pick a helmet with no more vents than you think you’ll need.

Finally, if you’ll be cycling or skating around traffic, choose a brightly colored helmet so you’ll be easier for drivers to see.

THE PROPER FIT

You should have a snug fit, but not so tight that it’s too uncomfortable.

Some helmets come with removable foam inserts to customize a snug fit. With the helmet level on your head, use your fingers to measure the space between your eyebrows and the helmet.

You shouldn’t have any more than two fingers of space above your eyebrows. You don’t want it flopping down over your eyes either.

STRAP IS KEY

Always buckle your helmet. It only takes a second to strap it on. And if you fall and it’s not strapped, the helmet isn’t going to stay on and won’t do any good. Plus, you’re not looking any cooler wearing it without the strap.

HOW MUCH IT’LL COST

These days, some high-end helmets can cost up to several hundred dollars, but don’t worry: you can get a safe cool-looking one for much less.

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY

Whether you go to a bike or skate shop or a big superstore, it’s important that you try on a bunch of different helmets to find the one that fits your head best. Salespeople in small specialty shops can help you find the optimum fit; in big stores you’re usually on your own.

Either way, don’t just pick one that looks cool. If you’re going to wear a helmet, you might as well have the safest one.

LEARN MORE

Visit the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute’s Web site at Helmets.org to find out everything there is to know about helmet safety.

Scouts with Troop 411 of Minot, North Dakota, learned that approaching rocks at a 45-degree angle in their inflatable rafts would lessen the chances of capsizing in the frigid water.

“You have to paddle to dodge the rocks,” Life Scout Nate Lewis, 16, says. “It wouldn’t be fun if you flip.”

For the most part, the Scouts stayed upright as they trekked and paddled 60 miles along Montana’s Flathead River during a weeklong packrafting trek last summer.

YOU’LL BE BACK

Two years before, Troop 411 backpacked at the Montana Council’s Montana Outdoor High Adventure Base, “MOHAB” for short. The Scouts had so much fun
that they planned another trip — this time, trying another activity: packrafting.

Each Scout would load his gear into his own raft, and the group would paddle downstream, encountering rapids of varying difficulties.

“It was the size of a small kayak, and we’d inflate it with an inflation bag,” Eagle Scout Hudsen Lemar, 16, says. “They were very durable.”

But before the Scouts launched their rafts, they had to prepare. Even if some had previously canoed at Northern Tier in Minnesota or Swamp Base in Louisiana, they needed to be physically ready for this aquatic adventure. They followed a workout regimen so they would all be in shape. They also reviewed what they packed.

“We weighed the gear and tried to split it up evenly,” Nate says.

Each pack came in around 40 pounds. To stay light, the menu featured granola and powdered milk, dried fruit, noodles and instant mashed potatoes.

After arriving at the high-adventure base, the troop planned the five-day trek with a staff advisor, learned how to use bear spray, and reviewed safety rules and on-water communication signals. They were ready for a week in the wilderness.

READY FOR THE RAPIDS

Each day on the water involved navigating some class of rapids. Rapids form when moving water is forced through narrow channels and over obstacles, creating waves and choppy conditions. The more powerful the rapids, the higher class they’re rated (see below).

Cub Scouts are not permitted to go on float trips with moving water. Older Scouts who are classified as swimmers and have taken the proper training may go on a self-guided unit trip up to Class III rapids. Scouts can tackle Class IV whitewater only in a raft with a professionally trained guide. Anything more powerful than that is off-limits in Scouting.

Most days paddling the Flathead River, Troop 411 saw Class I and Class II rapids. Relatively calm waters meant they could admire the surrounding evergreen forests and towering mountains. They also had the chance to explore them on dayhikes. On the trek’s second day, the Scouts climbed 3,000 feet up a mountain. On the third day, they trekked to an alpine lake.

“There was something about swimming around in a natural remote lake that was exhilarating and surreal at the same time,” Life Scout Ethan Sipos, 16, says.

The fourth day introduced the group to Class III rapids. First, everyone got out to assess the area and determine the best route to go. They studied the flow of the river and the possible hazards before they paddled through the rapids.

“We all made it without flipping,” Hudsen says. “Class III had high water and big rocks. It was really tricky sliding over the rocks.”

A ROSE IS A ROSE

Conquering the Class III rapids proved a highlight for many in the group. At the end of each day, the troop came together for a discussion, recapping how everything went. They called the sessions “Thorns, Roses and Buds.” A “thorn” was a challenge, a “rose” counted as a success and a “bud” stood for something positive — maybe what they were looking forward to the next day.

Sharing their ups and downs helped the Scouts not only take time to talk about how they were feeling, but also appreciate the journey.

“High adventure is not something everyone gets to do,” Nate says. “You only have five days to make the most of it. On the first day, I wished I could go home. On the last day, you get the feeling of accomplishment. You can’t just do this in your backyard.”

The sessions also helped Scouts understand how others were doing.

“We had to depend on one another, because someone may have been suffering a little more than the other, and it was up to all of us to look out for each other,” Ethan says.

While the “thorns” often came from battling insects, the sting wasn’t enough to ruin the sweet smell of the daily rose.

“It was the best high adventure we’ve done. It was awesome,” Life Scout Ryan Hubbard, 16, says.

The importance of putting points of the Scout Law into practice became clear on the trek, like having a cheerful outlook. The right attitude helps you focus on the roses instead of the thorns.

“There are two types of fun: Type one is in the moment and type two is looking back,” Nate says. “This one had a lot more of type one.”

Know the Flow

Whitewater rapids are classified to help paddlers understand what to expect from a river section.

Class I: Easy. Fairly smooth water with light waves.
Class II: Novice. Quicker water with medium waves.
Class III: Intermediate. Many high and irregular waves with obstacles.
Class IV: Advanced. Powerful rapids with strong waves, whirlpools and dangerous obstacles.
Class V: Expert. Long, violent rapids with big drops, constant obstacles and some waterfalls.
Class VI: Extreme. Paddlers face a constant threat of death.