What are some of your favorite outdoor activities? Swimming, fishing or sliding, perhaps? Those are some favorite pastimes for otters, too. Though otters have to spend time looking for food and avoiding predators, they always seem to have lots of time for playing. PLAYFUL AND OUTGOING Otters are aquatic or semi-aquatic carnivorous mammals whose closest…

Put that extra time you’ll have this summer to good use. No matter your age, working a summer job can help you build your savings or pay for that special something. Whatever your reasons, working will give you practical experience that you can apply to your future career. And get ahead of the competition. Now…

It’s 3 a.m. when Austin Reeves wakes up to a rustling noise. Whatever is making the noise sounds big. Really big. And it’s getting closer. “It sounded like it was right outside my tent,” the 12-year-old Second Class Scout says. “I was pretty sure it was a bear. I woke up my tent buddy. We…

If you wear glasses, you’ve probably gotten annoyed by foggy lenses from wearing a face covering during the pandemic. KeySmart’s FogBlock anti-fog spray ($15, getkeysmart.com) can help you see clearly. The concoction of water, isopropyl alcohol and sodium bicarbonate provides 24-hour relief from condensation. Clean your lenses, spray it on and let it fully dry.…

Q: Every time it rains, the inside of my tent gets wet. And, yes, I have a rain fly and a ground cover. The water still seeps through and gets my pillow and my sleeping bag wet. Any tips? — William, Edwards, California A: First, check for any leaks. If you find one along a…

Carbon monoxide (CO) is found in fumes produced by burning fuel. When breathed in significant concentrations, it’s very dangerous because it deprives the heart and brain of oxygen. The scary part is that carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless and tasteless. That means you could easily breathe it in without ever knowing it. The way to…

Barb Perez first got involved in Scouting when her now-26-year-old son, Stephen, joined Cub Scouting. Her husband, Lee, volunteered to lead the Tiger den — then quickly got deployed overseas. So Perez took over, beginning a two-decade journey that has changed her life. She became a day camp director and a part-time registrar at Pacific…

Getty Images/Istockphoto This story originally appeared in the September-October 2017 issue of Scouting magazine. Spending 10 minutes every day hunting for your keys or cellphone can convince you that you’re in the early stages of a neurodegenerative disease. Stop the worry. Your brain isn’t — to quote Igor in Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein— “Abby Normal.”…

The Dilemma Tameka Scroggins loves being student council president at Torrance High School. As the youngest of four kids, she has always struggled to make her voice heard, but in this position, people actually stop talking long enough to listen to what she has to say. That newfound power has prompted her to become outspoken…

What’s going on in this picture? What are those ants doing or thinking? 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…