I’m glad this article came up because I’ve had the conversation about electronics in Scouts a couple times since the Yellowknife Scouts snowmobile camp this past March. And I say electronics, not technology because technology can be any number of devices. Technically rope is a technology.
You might be surprised to know that I actually don’t like the idea of many electronics on Scouting trips. I don’t support the use electronics to fill time that could otherwise be used for activities that can be skill building and more practical.
However, this is not to say I don’t support the advancement of technology within Scouting. There are many digital technologies that can be deemed useful and align with the Scouting mission. Astronomy charts, GPS, Messaging systems, First Air, etc.
And at a certain point Scouts should be introduced to coding and development. As society moves forward into a digitally connected age, Scouts should understand how it works.
I’ve always considered a scout to be a jack-of-all-trades and a resource. They don’t just consume, they understand how things work so they can help when needed. They can sew, cook, work with wood, weld, perform basic automotive care, survive, adapt, work together and, eventually, code. They embrace learning new things for the betterment of society.
So yes, mindless digital games and endless pointless communication don’t have a place in Scouts, in my eyes, but new technology and how it contributes to society and those around us does. And as the author of the article points out, it is how Scouts approaches these new technologies and educates scouts about them that will make the difference.
Photo from BSA Flickr