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richard.shaw

richard.shaw
Member since : Oct-28-2008 (Verified)
2 Ideas, 1 Comments, 11 Votes

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Ideas Posted

I've noticed that there is a distinct lack of mention of Varsity program. Just here in the Ideas site alone there isn't a category for it. To my knowledge there hasn't been any recent literature or training to support it. Maybe revamp it to make it more appealing to the youth:

- Triathlons
- Cross Country Races
- Mountain Man competitions
- BMX and/or skateboarding
Since there is a big video gaming culture in the youth today, why not capitalize on that by implementing some of the following:

- Instead of merit badge training books, why not video game simulations which are akin to what the DoD does when they train service personel.

- A gaming merit badge perhaps. This may also include minature games like Warcraft as well as video games.

- A Nintendo Scouting Wii game. We can even call it WiiBELOS or Wii Scouting. We can have water sports like water skiing which utilze the Wii balance board. We can even have a Scouting gaming/recruiting night.

Young people may have a hard time remembering things, but they will remember gaming cheats.
Moderator Comments
8/26/09

From: Merril Davis, Innovation Coordinator

Initial investigation of this topic will be conducted by the Innovation Team in consultation with volunteers and staff to identify how gaming may potentially integrate with and support the values and aims of the Scouting Program.
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Comments Posted

richard.shaw 7 months ago
I appreciate how Janet articulated the point. The original idea was not to replace the existing outdoors program but rather to get our message across in a different format--to diversify our toolkit.

On top of the merit badge books, we can present the materials in an online format as part of a game and then test their knowledge on the merit badge skill with the game. The suggestion was never made to introduce close quarters combat skills. The suggestion was made though to follow the model put out by the DoD... and yes even Burger King and some other public and private groups who have successfully capitalized on technology.

Some inner-city kids don't have ready access to the outdoors, but an intro to the outdoors could be presented in video game format to prime them (i.e. give them the knowledge) and get them excited to go out there.

Like mgriffin says, "Like anything else, responsibility, supervision, and moderation are the key." Let's not throw the baby out with the bath water. We have proven that we area a highly adaptable organization with Futball and Scouting. Could you imagine if we didn't implement it because of the hooliganism that exists in Soccer?