79 thoughts on “The Ultimate List of Scouting Apps”

1. For the record, we used Munzee at the 2012 NOAC. Huge fun!

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2. Reblogged this on Algonquin District and commented:
   Check it out!! Lots of new apps here -

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3. I prefer to use iBird Pro for birding.

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4. Sad that you can’t get the Official BS Handbook on Android

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   • You can get the PDF! The BSA published the 12th Edition in PDF format, as well, and while it is hard to find, it is not impossible. If you can’t find it, let me know…

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     • Could you post a link to the PDF? Thanks!

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     • I took would like to know where I can find this. Heck, I would pay more for this than the dead tree version!

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     • Please let me know where this document is, thank you.

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       • Simply right-click the link, and choose “Save Link As…” http://tinyurl.com/a9x2eq6
         Be careful, it’s huge.

       • As a matter of fact, you may find many interesting and helpful resources in the library: http://tinyurl.com/av4wpaj.

       • Here’s another link:

         http://tinyurl.com/a6fok6z

       • Thank you for the links.

       • No problem. Hope they work for you, and that they help.

5. Just remember, these apps SUPPLEMENT other things. Do not rely solely upon them for whatever you may be doing. A Scout uses ALL his resources; not just one!

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6. Part of getting the Scouting Story out is the visuals we provide. To do that we need to make the visuals “Pop”. I reccomend a bunch of fun and easy photography apps for the iphone:

   Photogene2 – it’s a mini photoshop for your iphone. Take a photo, crop, and adjust it then tell your story on facebook – all without leaving your phone.

   Big Lens – This allows you to isolate a part of your photo while “slightly blurring” the rest. This makes your subject really pop out.

   Plus there’s iTimeLapse – Make a time lapse movie with your iphone, add music from your library and publish the result right to you tube or facebook. Here’s my first attempt done at summer camp and added to facebook in minutes: http://youtu.be/AYwh-MvZI-s

   Any one of these can help you make great visuals and help share Scouting’s story.

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7. Missing one

   https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.onlineadam.bsasquareknots

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   • ^– The linked Android application identifies the meaning of different square knot uniform patches.

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8. i liked this post on facebook but then it occured to me… isnt scout to get away from the big world full of electronics and other such things. My troop has a rule, no electronics at meetings and camping trips. I have heard several other troops say they have this rule. So this confuses me and makes me question what boyscouts is turning into. And no i dont think you can make the argument that they are adapting to new times becuase theyve tried so hard to keep the scouts looking in the past and keeping the scouts acting as in the old times with all the merite badges aimed at the past. I would love to hear everybodys thoughts on this and feel free to message me on facebook

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   • Sam,

     Great point. I shared a few thoughts on that in the blog post, but I do agree that it’s a topic worth discussing at the unit level.

     Though I’ll bet some Scouts will see this list, the apps (and my blog) are targeted primarily at Scout leaders.

     - Bryan

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   • i would say look to the Scout Motto – “Be Prepared”. what are you preparing your scouts for? life? then electronics needs to be a part of it. the merit badges reflect this thinking – electronics, computers, etc. (i’m not up with the current list, i’ve been away from scouting for a while) but i remember technology oriented merit badges back when i was a scout in the 80s. i can understand a rule about it during meetings – it could get disruptive and cause problems. but do electronics have a place in scouting? of course! Be Prepared! life is not only lived in the woods. (unfortunately)

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   • How does this technology conflict with that?

     Let’s say there is a Scout who has become quite interested in knots. They’ve already mastered the few knots that are in the Handbook and are interested in learning about additional knots that may be more useful. To learn more, they go to the library and check out a knot-tying book / find a knot tying website / download a knot-tying application / ask someone that is knowledgeable about knots. This is simply a way to access information. Generally restricting the same information content because of a different delivery mechanism makes no sense. Limits make sense during meetings and campouts – you don’t necessarily want Scouts running off to the library in the middle of meetings or a Scout calling his uncle about geology in the middle of a campout or downloading an application about veterinary medicine during the flag ceremony.

     A key point in Scouting is education, and telling scouts they should never use technology to learn about Scouting skills just makes no sense.

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   • To me it is simple. A lot of “No Electronics” was set in place was when electronic devices were only music and game based. That has now changed. Now we have electronic learning tools and if scouting can benefit from the learning/teaching experiance, they should be concidered.

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   • Our troop has the same rule about electronics. The only difference is that we allow them to bring them on long trips and can only be used in the vehicles. once we hit our destination all electronics stay in the car except for adult leaders cell phones and those are used only if needed.

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   • Our troop has come to the same realization as Ronald. The electronics, specifically smart phones, have gone way beyond transistor radios and Mattel electronic football. There are guidelines out there for troops that want to allow the use of electronics. Generally our policy is that smart phones are allowed to be used because of apps like this. However there is no Facebook, angry birds, etc.. allowed. In other words the devices are to be used for education or as tools. This does not mean we allow the tools to supplement traditional skills. They are only meant to augment existing skills like using a compass, reading a map, etc..

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   • Sam,

     The BSA has modernized during the past 100 years, as has the Scouts Association (GB), and Scouts Canada, as well as most other Scouting organizations, I would presume. However, in 1970, a group of people resisted the modernization of the Scouts Association in Great Britain, and formed the Baden-Powell Scouting Association, targeted as Traditional Scouting. There are counterparts in Canada, the US, and elsewhere. Here, in the US, this group is call the Baden-Powell Service Association (they were served with a Cease and Desist order by the BSA, as the BSA’s Congressional Charter allows the BSA the exclusive right to use the term “Scout” and “Scouting”). The BPSA is a member of the World Federation of Independent Scouting Associations, and has seen considerable growth in the past few months. They bill themselves as Traditional Scouting, utilizing the original “Scouting for Boys,” as their primary handbook, as well as the original advancement system established by Baden-Powell, with differences accounting for location (George Washington Cord, as opposed to the Queen’s Cord, etc.). They also bill themselves as Scouting for All, and are coed, and fully inclusive in membership (to include orientation and religion – or lack thereof).

     While the BPSA would frown on the use of technology in Scouting activities (forget flint-and steel – they require all fires to be started strictly by friction, alone!), the BSA has always tended to embrace advances in technology. Take a look at the merit badges that have followed the nation’s top industries, as well as changes in requirements, over the years. Look at the Scout geocaching award/ program, and let’s not forget the “Video Games” Cub Scout belt loop (is that academic or sports?)…

     While I think it is great to understand our roots, and to be able to use those skills, I do believe that it is ok to use technology to supplement, _not_ supplant, our Scouting Skills, traditions, and roots, just as we use technology to aid us in our daily lives…

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9. BSA Square Knots is a good app too.

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10. I would also add GPS Status for Android. It is very good and quick at finding your location. And Overland for travel and mapping.

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11. I always thought the rule for charcoal for Dutch ovens was 1 briquette for every 10 deg. F. The app shows about 10 fewer than that.

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12. All thes apps and smart phones are great. And for the most part are great tools to have. But it is still a good idea to teach the up coming scouts to use a compass, protractor, scout book ect. Food for thought. What do you do when you smart phone dies?

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    • The article written here never said APPs will replace use of the compass, protractor, scout book ect.

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13. Wow totally leave out the Blackberry. I know it is sub par compared to the devices above but some of us are at the mercy of our companies.

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14. GPS Status is a fantastic compass for Android. Lat Long Calc Pro works well for setting up or checking an orienteering course. Since many (most?) Scouts don’t have smart phones anyway, teaching manual methods only makes sense. Battery die? Goal Zero Nomad 7 solar recharger!

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15. Myradar is a great free app to show real time weather radar o nyour iPhone or iPad. Very helpful in the fieldnfornseinf if a storm is going to,hit your campsite.

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16. Columbia Sportswear has a great free app called What Knot To Do. You can search knots by name or category (hitches, loops, etc.) You then can get info on what the knot is used for as well as a step by step graphic with instructions on how to tie the knot. It also gives you category info- for example, explaining what a hitch is for along with it’s subcategories are and how to tell them apart. I am a female leader with no knowledge of knots so this is really helpful for me- it has taught me a lot! I used it to teach my wolf cub scouts how to tie a square knot (which I learned is called a reef knot!) last year.

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17. Kevin wrote: “Sad that you can’t get the Official BS Handbook on Android”

    The PDF version of the Boy Scout Handbook can be read by many apps on smartphones, laptops and desktops, and it has searchable text (the iPhone app doesn’t do search). BSA also has PDF versions of the Scoutmaster Handbook, PL Handbook, Fieldbook, the Cub Scout handbooks, (at least 37 of the) merit badge handbooks, and more. I have purchased most of these in paper as well; they are dog-eared from use, but when I need to find something (“what Bear achievements have to do with hiking?”) I go straight to the PDF.

    Unfortunately, only a few of these are easily accessible on scouting.org (Troop Program Features, Cub Scout Leader Book, and Cub Scout How-To Book). Why not the rest?

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    • Never thought of that, thanks for the tip!

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    • “Why not the rest?”

      Why give them away for free when you can charge money for it?

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      • I would buy a bunch of other BSA publications in PDF format, if they were available. I have had the Cub Scout handbooks in PDF for several years, and they are incredibly useful. But I won’t be buying any more poor, platform-limited apps with no search capability, like the Boy Scout Handbook app.

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      • “Why give them away for free when you can charge money for it?”

        Well, how about, because we’re volunteers and already spend quite a bit?

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    • @ Doug –

      I have been looking for the PDF versions of the merit badge pamphlets, SPL and PL Handbooks… Can you tell me where you found them? They are not on Scoutsource.

      Thanks!
      Craig (schufford (a) g(oogle)mail-dot-com)

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18. We have a no electronics policy on outings as well, but there is a time that these apps and others like it can be integrated into the larger program. For example, we’ve used the Geocaching app to introduce Geocaching to our Cub Scouts. Our leaders often use Trimble and other similar apps to track and record hikes. I use Leafsnap to help identify trees and other plants since I frankly have had a block since I was a Tenderfoot on plant identification and I prefer to not give the boys an incorrect answer. The key is to use technology as an enhancement to the program and not as the program.

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19. Scouting Radio (www.ScoutingRadio.com) will have an app available on iTunes shortly. We have submitted the app to Apple, just waiting for it to be approved.

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20. I’m trying to figure out if the Guide to Safe Scouting application was forgotten from the list or simply left off it because it’s not that good. It’s essentially a .pdf file that you can only view with an active internet connection.

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21. Brian wrote: “I’m trying to figure out if the Guide to Safe Scouting application was forgotten from the list or simply left off it because it’s not that good.”

    I didn’t know there was an app for that. I downloaded the GSS PDF from scouting.org and saved it on my phone, thus meeting the Tour Plan requirement to be “in possession of a current copy of Guide to Safe Scouting”. No Internet connection required and, of course, it’s searchable.

    ob-app-recommendation: I have used some of the above GPS and mapping apps, but many of them draw their own contours then overlay points of interest, which don’t always convey the details. I like having real USGS 7.5′ quads, downloaded for off-line use in the backcountry. The two iPhone/iPad apps that I use are “Topo Maps” ($7.99), which has full-resolution quads (with collars and stitching) as well as GPS features; and “Trail Maps by National Geographic” ($2.99), which has both quads and aerial views.

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    • https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.guidetosafescouting&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5ndWlkZXRvc2FmZXNjb3V0aW5nIl0.

      Free to download, but more of a pain then just getting the .pdf file.

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22. What’s the point then in being a scout???
    A real scout will know what to do when your battery dies, the phone takes a swim, gets left in the sun, the app bugs-out, etc, etc…

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23. What’s the point then in being a scout?
    A real scout will know what to do when their Handbook is missing, pages are ripped out, it catches on fire, etc, etc…

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24. Great post! Here’s a few I found in the Google Play store that look pretty promising, but I have no experience with:
    Audubon Trees – Android – $4.99
    North American Trees – Android – $0.99
    Audubon Wildflowers – Android – $4.99
    Trees Free/Trees Pro – Android – Free/$9.99

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25. Pingback: Cell Phones at Camp: Not Very One-Sided Anymore « Ben Luedloff

26. Pingback: New York OA Trader | Today’s Links August 10, 2012

27. C: Geo
    free for Android

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28. U.S. Army Survival Guide, Droid, FREE

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    • Ronald, is that the one where the cover says “U.S. Army Survival Guide” and when you open it up, it says “Call the Marines.”?

      U.S. Navy (Retired)

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    • Be careful. Some of the images (particularly those of trees) are misidentified.

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29. Bryan, I realize that in this day and age that electronics are our future. And devices like our phones are common place and are a “good” replacement for the old “manual” devices we don’t seem to use much of anymore (compass, map, the stars…). However, our troop also has a “no electronics” policy. The problem with letting boys bring electronics on campouts and to meetings is that all they end up doing is sneaking off to find ways to play with them when adults aren’t looking. I believe that “arming” your troop with a few “smart” devices and GPS units is smart to teach them the ways of the future, but teach them the past first. But don’t let your boys bring their phones and iPod’s to meeting and campouts or you’ll lose their attention.

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30. Pingback: Night Sky iPad App | kevindevin.com

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