HomeScouting program launched for kids

Boy Scouts of America is offering an opportunity for local youth to do Scouting activities from home.

HomeScouting, the new initiative, will encourage kids and their families to take part in a new Scouts program from their homes during the COVID-19 social isolation.

“Because of the current health-care crisis, the HomeScouting program was created as a way for Scouts to continue to participate in Scouting activities and to encourage families to engage and spend quality time together,” said Matt Specht, field director at Buckeye Council, Boy Scouts of America.

Buckeye Council serves about 8,000 youth from Stark, Columbiana, Carroll, Tuscarawas, Wayne, Holmes, Richland, Ashland, Morrow, Crawford, Marion and Wyandot counties and offers development and leadership programs for boys and girls from kindergarten to age 20.

"The free six-week program has a weekly curriculum that is emailed to participating families each Monday," Specht said.

The program currently has more than 4,000 participants across 48 states, as well as Guam, Europe and Japan, who have signed up to participate after seeing the social-media posts.

The weekly lessons focus on the principles of the Scouts and encourages families to spend time together. Each week has a theme and activities for youth to do, along with their parents and leaders. One of the more recent projects focused on the spirit of service with Scouts sending thank you notes locally and nationally to health-care workers, first responders and teachers.

Other activities include online safety and a toolbox theme in which kids complete projects around their home and get their bike ready for spring. Another upcoming activity is encouraging families to have a campout in their backyard.

A minimum requirement is sent weekly for the families to do, but additional resources, activities and advancement opportunities also will be sent out for enriching the week’s theme.

After completing the six-week program, participants can earn a Spring Breakout Award patch. Specht said it is available for $5 for anyone not currently registered in Scouting. Families will fill out a form showing their participation, along with a survey at the end. Patches will be mailed for free to already-registered Buckeye Council Scouts.

Specht said families who haven’t signed up yet can still participate in the program and can complete the activities and catch up at any time. In addition parents can log on to www.my.scouting.org/ to access online training if they desire.

“We hope that the program helps to make a positive impact in families’ lives as we’re all going through this uncertain time,” Specht said.

For more information and to sign up for the program, go to www.buckeyecouncil.org/HomeScouting.

In addition to these activities, Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA Youth are encouraged to use this time to catch up on rank requirements and work on activities and merit badges. The website says most advancement activities can be worked on at home or teleconferencing.