Boys' Life facts for kids
The cover of Boys' Life, December 1924 issue
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| Editorial Director | Michael Goldman |
|---|---|
| Staff writers | Aaron Derr, Paula Murphey, Michael Freeman |
| Categories | Boy Scouts of America |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| Publisher | Boy Scouts of America |
| Total circulation (2013) |
1,097,968 |
| First issue | March 1911 (regular edition) |
| Country | United States |
| Based in | Irving, Texas |
| Language | English |
| Website | http://www.boyslife.org |
| ISSN | 0006-8608 |
Scout Life (formerly Boys' Life) is a monthly magazine from the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). It's made for young people aged 6 to 18. The magazine's main office is in Irving, Texas.
Scout Life comes in two different versions. Both often have the same cover. But they have special content for different age groups. This means 16 to 20 pages are unique to each edition.
One version is for younger kids. This includes Cub Scouts (ages 6-10) and first-year Webelos Scouts. The second version is for older kids. This includes 11-to-18-year-olds. It's for second-year Webelos, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, and Venturers. If you get the magazine through a Scouting program, the publisher picks the right version for your age.
In 2007, Boys' Life won four awards. These were from the Association of Educational Publishers. One big award was Periodical of the Year.
The magazine has a fun mascot named Pedro the Mailburro. Pedro answers letters from readers. He also stars in his own comic strip. In 2018, the BSA announced a name change. This was to include girls in the Scouts BSA program. The magazine officially became Scout Life starting with the January 2021 issue.
Contents
What's Inside Scout Life?
Scout Life is packed with interesting articles and fun features. It often includes helpful buying guides. These guides cover things like cars, MP3 players, and digital cameras.
The magazine also has a "Get Fit Guide" feature. Each month, it focuses on a different part of being healthy. This includes topics like good food and exercise. Every month, the magazine shares stories about exciting Boy Scout trips. These are adventures that most Scouts don't usually do. They can be anything from a trip to Philmont Scout Ranch to a white water rafting adventure.
Both versions of Scout Life have a video game section. This section reviews new games. It also gives cheats for a different video game each month. You can also find updates on new technology. Plus, there are reviews of interesting books.
Other content includes Special Features and Adventure Stories. You can read about Environmental Issues and History. There are also sections on Sports and Codemaster.
Fun Comics in Scout Life
The magazine has featured many popular comics over the years. Some of these include Bible Stories and Pedro. You might also know Pee Wee Harris. Other comics are Scouts in Action and Rupert the Invincible. There's also The Tracy Twins, created by Dik Browne. Dink & Duff, Tiger Cubs, and Webelos Woody are also popular. You might also find comics like Norby and The Tripods trilogy.
Regular Columns You'll Enjoy
Scout Life has many regular columns. These include Electronics and Entertainment. You can find Fast Facts and History. There's also "Hitchin' Rack With Pedro the Mailburro." The "Think and Grin" page is full of jokes. Other columns cover Science, Scouting Around, and Sports.
Two special columns were Hobby Hows and Collecting. These shared tips and collections from Scouts themselves. Scouts could send in their stories. If their story was chosen, they received $10!
Meet Pedro the Mailburro
Pedro is a friendly burro who is the magazine's mascot. He first appeared in 1947. Pedro's job is the "mailburro." For many years, he was at the start of the letters to the editor section. A short story about Pedro's latest adventure was often included. It came with a cartoon drawing of Pedro by Reamer Keller.
Since 1989, Boys' Life has had a column "written" by Pedro. This later became known as "Hitchin' Rack." Scouts could write letters to Pedro. They would mail them to Irving, Texas, where the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and Scout Life magazine are located. Pedro's answers would then be printed in the next magazine. Through his column, Pedro gives advice on camping gear and skills. He also helps solve problems with camping, fishing, backpacking, and cooking.
Another comic was "The Pedro Patrol." In this comic, Pedro and a group of Boy Scouts taught readers scouting skills. This comic was later replaced with "The Wacky Adventures of Pedro." This is a comic section drawn by artists like Tom Eagan and Stephen Gilpin. Pedro also appears in videos and games on the magazine's website.
In 1970, Boys' Life Merchandise made a scarf with the Pedro logo. In the 1990s, Pedro started appearing on T-shirts, hats, and other items. Pedro also became part of the Merit Badge Series. He showed tips on how to earn different badges. This led to "Merit Badge Minute" in 2010. This new column gives tips for three badges each month.
Famous Writers and Artists
Many famous writers have contributed to the magazine over the years. These include Isaac Asimov, a well-known science fiction writer. Others are Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, and Robert A. Heinlein. Even Zane Grey, famous for Western novels, contributed. Isaac Bashevis Singer, a Nobel Prize winner, also wrote for the magazine.
Artists and photographers have also shared their work. One notable artist was Harrison Cady.
Donald Keith's exciting "Time Machine" stories appeared from 1959 to 1989. The famous chess player Bobby Fischer wrote a chess column called "Checkmate" from 1966 to 1969.
Images for kids
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Norman Rockwell's first Boys' Life cover, 1913
