Cub Scouts Earn the Marks in Video Games

There are more than 50 different topics a scout can learn, from academics to sports to many life lessons, but now they're learning their lessons from playing video games.

Saturday, September 4th 2010, 4:55 pm

By: News 9


By Jacqueline Sit, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- There are more than 50 different topics a scout can learn, from academics to sports to many life lessons, but now they're learning their lessons from playing video games.

Some metro parents were a little uncertain about the program when it first started, play video games and earn a belt loop, but there's much more to it, and it's turning out to be a very successful program with some life long lessons.

Being a Cub Scout means learning special skills, and for each one, the scout earns a loop. Cub Scout Christian Pierce wears them proudly.

And in this fast moving world of high tech toys, there's a loop for gaming.

"This is my belt. I don't have my video game loop right now because my belt is really tight," Pierce said.

Two thirds of all American households play video games, so it only made sense for the Boy Scouts of America to add the popular entertainment to their pack.

"It's the same question as to how do you keep scouting relevant a hundreds years after it was formed. This is just one of the ways. Video games are a part of kids' lives now and adults too, and this is one of the ways to teach them perspective," said Jeff Caputo, Cub Master for Pack 430.

And in between the banter and the races against the Super Mario Brothers, there is perspective these scouts are gaining to earn a video game loop.

"We had to make a chart for when to stop, and we had to play with friends," Pierce said.

"We also have to look up good prices for games from good places," said Cub Scout Christian Caputo.

"Or we had to play with grownups and had fun with the family," Pierce said.

"We also have to teach someone else to play video games," Caputo said.

In between the fun and games, the scouts learn the responsibility of setting time limits and doing chores in between.

"I hope the most important thing kids come away with is that video games are another aspect of entertainment and too much of it is a bad thing, but in small amounts it can be a lot of fun," Jeff Caputo said.

It's giving the kids a perspective in life long lessons from the virtual world.

"I've learned that you shouldn't let video games be your whole entire life basically," Pierce said.

"Video games are replaceable and family isn't," Christian Caputo said.

Practically all 60 kids in Okahoma City's Troop 430 have earned that loop and the feedback has been very positive from parents overall.

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