On one of my earliest backpacking trips, two friends and I — all complete novices — hung our food very poorly from a tree branch a short walk from our tents. A few hours later, we awoke to the sound of a bear clawing up the tree after our food. We somehow managed to retrieve…

Here’s what you’ll find inside the November 2020 issue of Boys’ Life magazine. Remember, many articles are only available to subscribers and are not available online. Please visit boyslife.org/subscribe to subscribe to the print or digital editions of Boys’ Life magazine. NOVEMBER 2020 FEATURES EXCITEMENT ON PEACE RIVER Don’t let the river’s name fool you.…

What’s going on in this picture? What are those marshmallows 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…

Q: When choosing a sleeping bag, does the degree level really matter or is it just a recommendation for comfort? — Ethan, Springfield Township, New Jersey A: If you were dressed in a base layer of clothing and zipped up in your bag on a winter sleeping pad in a climate-controlled room then, yes, the…

Whether fearless or funny, animals throughout history have inspired statues and memorials. Here are some animal monuments still standing today. Hachikō Hachikō, famous for his loyalty, is memorialized in bronze in Tokyo, Japan. After Hachikō’s owner died in 1925, the dog returned to a train station for years to wait for him. Winnie Winnipeg, Manitoba,…

Madison Findley was worried when it came time to untie the Siberian and Alaskan huskies pulling her dogsled. “They wanted to chase the dog team in front of them,” says Madison, 14, a Life Scout with girls Troop 216 of La Grange Highlands, Illinois. “You could tell they were ready to go really fast. I…

Serious mountaineers, polar explorers and other adventurers who routinely face extreme cold follow a hard-and-fast rule: Always bring extra gloves, because losing the use of your hands creates a life-threatening situation. You might never encounter such danger, but whatever your outdoor activities, the choice of handwear matters a lot. GLOVES OR MITTENS BUYING TIPS Gloves…

It’s drizzling, and you want to start a fire. Any tinder you gather will likely be too wet, right? Wrong. You can create an effective fire starter, even with a wet piece of wood. Just grab your knife so you can make a “fuzz stick.” The best piece of wood to use is one without…

Thousands of years ago, ancient astronomers observed the night sky and saw stars bunched together in what they called constellations. In one part of the sky, there was a group of stars that looked like a connect-the-dots lion, and they named it Leo. In another part, they saw stars that looked like a hunter with…

Brighten up your home this winter by making your own wreath. Here’s how. WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE A WREATH 20-inch metal wreath frame 1 pack of pipe cleaners 3 rolls of 5 ½” poly mesh (also called deco mesh) Ruler or tape measure Scissors Hot-glue gun Decorations WHAT YOU’LL DO TO MAKE A WREATH…