The Boy Scouts of America are now offering a new belt loop and pin. The subject? No, not fire making or knot making or compass using or whatever else comes to mind when you think of Boy Scouts. Joining their 53 other areas where boys can earn distinction is video games!
Receiving the Video Games Belt Loop requires 3 tasks:
1. Explain why it is important to have a rating system for video games. Check your video games to be sure they are right for your age.
The Academics Pin requires earning the belt loop, then completing 5 of the 9 below:
1. With your parents, create a plan to buy a video game that is right for your age group.
2. With an adult, create a schedule for you to do things that includes your chores, homework, and video gaming. Do your best to follow this schedule.
3. Learn to play a new video game that is approved by your parent, guardian, or teacher.
2. Compare two game systems (for example, Microsoft Xbox, Sony PlayStation, Nintendo Wii, and so on). Explain some of the differences between the two. List good reasons to purchase or use a game system.
3. Play a video game with family members in a family tournament.
4. Teach an adult or a friend how to play a video game.
5. List at least five tips that would help someone who was learning how to play your favorite video game.
6. Play an appropriate video game with a friend for one hour.
7. Play a video game that will help you practice your math, spelling, or another skill that helps you in your schoolwork.
8. Choose a game you might like to purchase. Compare the price for this game at three different stores. Decide which store has the best deal. In your decision, be sure to consider things like the store return policy and manufacturer’s warranty.
9. With an adult’s supervision, install a gaming system.
As a past girl scout, I'm curious when the girls are following suit and whether we'll see a video game girl scout badge!
Hehe, I saw that article last week and wondered the same thing.
ReplyDeleteI saw that article, too - and shook my head.
ReplyDeleteOne of the girls at work mentioned it to me the other day, and I thought it was interesting!
ReplyDeleteActually there are a lot of pretty cool games in the "Imagine" series that I could see being very beneficial.
Girl Scouts badges, what are they? Cooking? Cleaning? Fetching? Crushing Men's Wills, and Devouring their souls...oh is that two badges. My bad. :P
ReplyDeleteDon't forget sammich-making, River...
ReplyDeleteI heard about this on NPR the other day and just shook my head sadly. I was always under the impression the idea behind the Boy Scouts was to get young boys out of the house and into the woods with minimal adult supervision so they could go all Lord of the Flies for the weekend.
You know, that or get molested by the paedophile troop master...
I'm sorry, I'm distracted from the main point of this post by this:
ReplyDeleteYou were a girlscout?! Awwww!
@Kae: Funny we thought the same thing!
ReplyDelete@Beru: The Imagine series? I don't know what that is. I'll have to look it up!
@River: Oh Riv, my dear Riv... we don't need badges for crushing men's wills and devouring their souls. That is a female racial passive.
@Forreststump and Khol Drake: Hmmm... well the first thing when I saw this info was wondering about the girl scout angle.
I didn't think so much about whether I agreed with the concept of the boy scouts now offering a video games distinction. I think I did say to myself "Ah, a sign of the times"! I think video games are becoming much more a part of our culture, so its kinda neat to see that.
Now is this change bad? Well maybe. I do agree that kids should still do a lot of activities outside the house. So is this encouraging kids to just sit on their ass and play games all day? Well, maybe. Can there be a balance where there is acknowledgment of kids wanting to play video games alongside their other activities?
@Tam: Haha Tam. You should have seen me. I was a competitive cookie selling machine. MACHINE!
I'm just glad I was able to refrain from commenting about the role-playing possibilities presented by Girl Scout unis.
ReplyDeleteI kid, of course...
...or do I? XD
There absolutely is a balance between video games and other activities and it should be maintained by a child's parents. That said, my primary disagreement with the introduction of this badge is that it is so incongruous with the stated purpose and perception of the BSA. It seems to lead toward the tendency of organizations to try to be everything to everyone, rather than to choose one thing to do and do well.
ReplyDeleteThat's just my opinion, I could be wrong.
Also, I suspect you first considered the GSA angle because you are: 1) female and 2) a former girl-scout.
Hmmm...I don't suppose you still have that little skirt and knee socks anymore do you? >.> /badbadmanthoughts
@Forreststump: Your self control amazes me!
ReplyDelete@Khol Drake: You naughty naughty rogue...
You have no idea, dear tree. ;)
ReplyDelete