Here’s what you’ll find inside the June-July 2024 issue of Scout Life magazine. Remember, many articles are only available to subscribers and are not available online. Please visit scoutlife.org/subscribe to subscribe to the print or digital editions of Scout Life magazine. JUNE-JULY 2024 FEATURES SHE RULES THE POOL The greatest female swimmer of all time is headed to the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. WRITE YOUR ADVENTURE Follow these troops as they go on an epic trip before summer camp. • Scouts Journal About Their Wyoming Adventure GEAR GUY: DIVE RIGHT IN Explore beneath the water’s surface ..read more

The underwater world is magical. With snorkel or scuba gear, you can observe fish, coral and other aquatic life in this wondrous environment. Snorkeling offers the most affordable and accessible way to explore, and with some basic gear, anyone can do it. California-based scuba instructor Darrick Cusick has dived in almost every state. He says you can get started in snorkeling for less than $150. “Save your allowance, and make sure you enjoy the activity before you invest,” says Cusick, a master scuba diver trainer. Scuba diving requires certification and costly specialized gear, most of which ..read more

Wyatt Harris checks out the Grand Prismatic Spring, the largest hot spring in Yellowstone National Park. Every three years, boys Troop 746 of Baltimore, Maryland, travels far from home for an awesome adventure. It has been a troop tradition since the 1980s. This past year, they and girls Troop 647, also of Baltimore, visited Wyoming before heading to summer camp at Island Park Scout Camp in Idaho. Follow these troops as they journal about their epic trip before summer camp. DAY 1 Flew to Salt Lake City. All the meals were planned out, so we just walked into Walmart, filled up the carts and ..read more

Which national park is this? Arches National Park Badlands National Park Canyonlands National Park Saguaro National Park Which national park is this? Congaree National Park Cuyahoga Valley National Park Glacier National Park Virgin Islands National Park Which national park is this? Gateway Arch National Park Arches National Park Voyageurs National Park New River Gorge National Park Which national park is this? Grand Canyon National Park Zion National Park Pinnacles National Park Capitol Reef National Park Which national park is this? Grand Teton National Park Theodore Roosevelt Nation ..read more

What’s going on in this picture? What is that astronaut 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 to write captions for more funny photos ..read more

Q: I’m nervous about my first overnight campout. I’m scared I’ll get homesick, but I really want to go. How should I handle it? A: Reminds me of the first time I went scuba diving: I was absolutely terrified. But the wise guide said, “Once you get underwater and see all the pretty fish, you’ll forget all about being scared.” He was so right, and the same thing applies here. Being away from home overnight is scary. But once you get out there and start hiking and swimming and trading jokes and cooking s’mores, you’ll forget all about it. Focus on the fun rather than the fear, and you’ll always ..read more

Here’s what you’ll find inside the May 2024 issue of Scout Life magazine. Remember, many articles are only available to subscribers and are not available online. Please visit scoutlife.org/subscribe to subscribe to the print or digital editions of Scout Life magazine. MAY 2024 FEATURES LIKE DUCKS TAKE TO WATER Scouts take on a river in inflatable kayaks. • Alabama Scouts Tackle Whitewater in Inflatable Kayaks GEAR GUY: DRINK UP! Treat your water to stay healthy in the backcountry. • How to Treat Your Water to Stay Healthy in the Backcountry THE NATURE CREW: BOBCATS Can you find the camo ca ..read more

Lurking in the vegetation, a brown feline with dark spots and stripes sits, camouflaged from approaching hikers. It’s early morning, and the bobcat would like to get in another round of hunting before going back to her den for a nap. The loud group passes the unseen cat, never suspecting that such a magnificent mammal is so close, just watching and waiting for them to go by. COMMON BUT SECRETIVE Found from southern Canada to Mexico, including all 48 contiguous states except one (sorry, Delaware!), bobcats (Lynx rufus) are the most common and abundant wild cats in North America. However, many ..read more

Sickness-causing microorganisms in the water, called “pathogens,” are top reasons hikers bail on a big trip, says Chris Casserly with Outdoor Gear Exchange, an outdoor sports store in Burlington, Vermont. Casserly has conquered New Hampshire’s 4,000-foot peaks in both summer and winter, and has been camping and backpacking in the Northeast for the last 15 years. “Take water treatment seriously,” Casserly says. “Getting sick on the trails is no fun.” Getting diarrhea on the trail is one thing, but some illnesses can linger for months. Most nasty pathogens come from animal poop in the water. In ..read more

Sickness-causing microorganisms in the water, called “pathogens,” are top reasons hikers bail on a big trip, says Chris Casserly with Outdoor Gear Exchange, an outdoor sports store in Burlington, Vermont. Casserly has conquered New Hampshire’s 4,000-foot peaks in both summer and winter, and has been camping and backpacking in the Northeast for the last 15 years. “Take water treatment seriously,” Casserly says. “Getting sick on the trails is no fun.” Getting diarrhea on the trail is one thing, but some illnesses can linger for months. Most nasty pathogens come from animal poop in the water. In ..read more