Scouts can become yo-yo masters with this cool Duncan program

We’ve told you before about the Cub Scout Yo-Yo Preview Adventure. But did you know that Duncan Toys also offers a fun yo-yo program for older Scouts, featuring an awesome set of badges?

Scouts advance through the skill levels from Level 1 to Master in the Teen Program, earning badges along the way. The process is straightforward: Scouts study the free tutorial videos available at Duncan’s program page. They learn how to do the yo-yo trick in each video. Then they film themselves completing the tricks and upload their video to YouTube or Vimeo. They fill out the form on this page to submit their videos. Finally, they’ve earned the badge and move on to the next level.

For more than 90 years, Duncan Toys has been showing youth the joy of yo-yoing. It’s a fun sport that requires concentration and determination, yet some tricks can be picked up very easily.

The Yo-Yo Preview Adventure, which is available for Wolves, Bears, Webelos and Arrow of Light Cub Scouts, shows Cub Scouts how to use the timeless toy while teaching them concepts of physics.

The Teen Program leads older Scouts through simple tricks, like the “gravity pull” and “walk the dog,” to advanced moves like “split the atom” and “Eli hops.” After your Scout masters these top tricks, they’ll be able to make a yo-yo seemingly float in the air or spin flawlessly around their fingers.

The right stuff

Duncan Toys sells the Duncan BSA Hornet yo-yo, retailing for $14.99, which is made just for Scouts. It’s balanced perfectly for looping tricks, and its ball-bearing axle helps the yo-yo spin for a long time. More yo-yos are available on Duncan’s site or at the Scout Shop online.

These high-performance models allow for longer “sleep” times than models you may find at your local superstore. The longer a yo-yo “sleeps” (spins at the bottom of the string), the more time you have for tricks.

You can also teach your Scouts by getting Scout Leader Case Packs, priced well below retail, each featuring assorted yo-yos in multiples of 12. These case packs are perfect for group activities and recruiting events.

If you’re planning a big event, consider Duncan’s customizable packs, where you can add logos, graphics or even your unit’s number on the yo-yos. Choose from among three quality yo-yos, add your image and pick your color, and you’ve got a really cool custom toy for your next meeting or recruitment event.


About Michael Freeman 432 Articles
Michael Freeman, an Eagle Scout, is an associate editor of Scout Life and Scouting magazines.