The Competitive Gaming Merit Badge is a Trojan Horse

At first, the Competitive Gaming Merit Badge sounded like a gimmick. But after actually reading the requirements, I realized it may be one of the smartest modern merit badge ideas Scouting America has put together. In this video, I break down why the Competitive Gaming Merit Badge test lab is about way more than just playing video games. Beneath the surface, it teaches Scouts important life skills like mental resilience, online safety, digital citizenship, healthy balance, and personal responsibility. I walk through several of the requirements and explain the three hidden lessons I think this badge is really designed to teach: • Mental health and resilience in online spaces • Healthy balance between gaming, sleep, exercise, and real life • Online safety and awareness of risks in multiplayer games I also talk directly to skeptical parents and adult leaders who may be wondering whether this badge is serious, worthwhile, or just an attempt to attract kids through gaming culture. If you’re a Scout leader, parent, merit badge counselor, or just curious about the future of Scouting America’s test lab merit badges, this video is for you. #CompetitiveGamingMeritBadge #ScoutingAmerica #MeritBadge #ScoutsBSA #GamingAndLifeSkills #OnlineSafety #MentalResilience #ScoutLeadership #TheRoamingScouter #TestLabMeritBadge 🎒 Additional resources & gear I recommend (affiliate links): Goodr Sunglasses: https://amzn.to/3Hyp3sE Cub Scout T-Shirt: https://amzn.to/3ERmkJB A Scout is Trustworthy: AMAZON DISCLOSURE: The Roaming Scouter and The Roaming Californian participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Plainly, if you purchase anything from Amazon after clicking the links below, The Roaming Scouter will receive a small commission. This helps grow our channel to better inspire and inform new parents and scouting adults. What we talked about: 🔥 CHECK OUT THE Campfire Chat Crew!!!!: Scouter Stan:    / @scouterstan   Scoutmaster Bucky: https://scoutmasterbucky.com/ March’s Fireside Chat: https://www.youtube.com/live/EyGAwcVd... 00:00 Intro 00:26 Scouting America’s Competitive Gaming Merit Badge 01:07 Mental Health Resilience in Online Gaming 02:45 Gamer Health and Balance for Kids 04:06 Online Gaming Safety for Kids 06:05 Why this is Important