Are you having a hard time prying those electronic devices—cell phones, GameBoys and iPods—out the hands of your scouts? Try replacing their tech-toys with the latest generation of land navigation tools, a GPS receiver. GPS units will enhance the map and compass skills you want your scouts to master and may become that killer device that will get your scouts hiking, exploring and navingating the outdoors rather than texting each other in their tents.Considering cell phone users may easily drop hundreds of dollars for a phone and service, or an iPod, a GPS unit is relatively inexpensive. They start at $90. They're even user friendly. I'll bet you if you place one in a scout's hand in the morning, he'll be teaching you how to use it that afternoon.
Now ratchet it up to the next level. Introduce you scouts to Geocaching and you have involved internet and social networking. Geocaching may sound hokey until you have your scouts go treasure hunting for one. It's exciting to see your scouts practice scout skills, teamwork and leadership to locate a cache. Then they get to open it and exchange trinkets and leave a message in the log book.
Have I sparked your interest? Check out Geoscouting and the recent articles in Scouting Magazine and Boys' Life about Geocaching.
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