Once upon a time, we used maps printed on paper to find our way. We studied laminated sky charts to identify constellations. We counted seconds after thunder strikes to locate storms.
What were we thinking?
Today, thanks to the ubiquitous smartphone, we can do all that and more with a few taps.
As Scout leaders, we can now carry a library, GPS, weather radio, compass, map, camera, and field guide in our pocket. But which apps are worth downloading or — in some cases — paying for?
I tapped our Facebook friends to find out.
Smartphones in Scouting
A post about smartphones isn’t complete without a discussion on whether these devices are appropriate in Scouting.
For Scout leaders, smartphones can be an important tool in tracking advancement, researching questions on the spot, and keeping Scouts safe from weather hazards. For Scouts, I think the best approach is “everything in moderation.”
While smartphones can be a distraction from the great outdoors, they can also be a modern-day Swiss Army knife — a multipurpose tool to enhance a young person’s Scouting experience. Facebook friend Michael Kunz agrees. He wrote: “Mobile will become an accepted practice in Scouting. Prepare now for it.”
In fact, next summer’s national Scout jamboree will again embrace the use of smartphones by Scouts. Boys and girls who bring their connected devices will have an enhanced jamboree experience that allows them to find their way around the site, learn more about jamboree activities, and connect with other participants.
Related: Should you allow your Scouts to bring their smartphones on camping trips?
Readers’ Favorite Scouting-Related Apps
Here’s the list with links to download them. Each was submitted by you, and I should point out that most of these aren’t “official” Boy Scouts of America apps. In other words, use at your own risk.
ACCUWEATHER
Devices: Android, iPhone/iPod Touch, iPad, Windows Phone
Cost: Free
Description: “Voted ‘Best iPhone App’ by the 2012 Mobie awards, AccuWeather for iPhone is free and users tell us it is their ‘Go-to weather app.’”
Download: Android. iPhone/iPod Touch. iPad. Windows Phone.
ANIMATED KNOTS BY GROG
Devices: Android, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Cost: $4.99
Description: “Teaching and reference tool for boaters, climbers, fishermen, Scouts and hobbyists. Watch as knots tie themselves in simple step-by-step photo animations.”
AUDUBON BIRDS
Devices: Android, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Cost: $4.99
Description: “The award winning, must-have bird guide. Now including 49 new species and field marks for over 650 birds.”
BACKCOUNTRY NAVIGATOR DEMO AND BACKCOUNTRY NAVIGATOR PRO
Devices: Android
Cost: Free for demo, $9.99 for pro
Description: “Use your phone or tablet as an offroad topo mapping GPS with the bestselling outdoor navigation app for Android! Explore beyond cell coverage for hiking, hunting and more.”
BACKPACKER GPS TRAILS LITE AND BACKPACKER GPS TRAILS PRO
Devices: Android, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Cost: Free for Lite, $4.99 for Pro (no ads, offline maps, video shooting)
Description: “Record hiking trails, backpacking trips, and camping adventures with Backpacker GPS Trails Pro. View maps, navigate with GPS and digital compass, take photos, and backtrack to the trailhead.”
Download: Free Android. Free Apple. $4.99 Android. $4.99 Apple.
BOY SCOUT HANDBOOK
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Cost: $9.99
Description: The official “first digital version of the Scout Handbook.”
Download: Here.
BSA ON-THE-GO
Device: Android
Cost: Free
Description: “The most complete collection of BSA requirements on the Android.” Includes Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Venturing, and Varsity awards and advancement.
Download: Here.
CAMERA+
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Cost: $0.99
Description: An upgrade to Apple’s built-in Camera application, featuring lots of handy tools.
Download: Here.
CAMERA ZOOM FX
Devices: Android.
Cost: $2.99
Description: “The award-winning camera app for Android devices! Camera ZOOM FX is now Editor’s Choice on Lifehacker, Gizmodo, Mashable and SlashGear. Replace all your camera / photo FX apps with just one.”
Download: Here.
CAMPFIRE SONGS
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Cost: Free (or remove ads for $1.99)
Description: “A collection of 175 classic campfire favorites. Great for use at Campfires, Campouts, Troop Meetings, Pack Meetings or whenever you have the desire to sing. Songs can be accessed by a type, such as Patriotic Songs, by an alphabetical index or by their tune.”
Download: Here.
CAMP RECIPES!
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Cost: $1.99
Description: “Whatever you can think of to cook on a campfire, this app has 10 ways to cook it. And they aren’t just made up either….these are campers’ favorite recipes from all over the country, tried and true, cooked and eaten. With over 700+ recipes conveniently listed by category, by time, and by keyword search, you can literally go on 100’s of campouts and hike’s without eating the same thing twice.”
Download: Here.
DUTCH OVEN CALCULATOR
Devices: Android
Cost: Free
Description: “Calculates the number of charcoal briquettes needed to cook a given recipe in a camping Dutch Oven.”
Download: Here.
ETRAILTOEAGLE
Devices: Android, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Cost: $1.99
Description: “Using your eTrailToEagle account, you can use this application to manage rank and merit badge information for all of your Scouts. You also have quick and easy access to your troop address book to quickly contact anyone in the troop.”
EVERYTRAIL AND EVERYTRAIL PRO
Devices: Android, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Cost: Free or $3.99 for paid version with no ads and offline maps
Description: “EveryTrail is the best way to share trips, connect with other travelers and find great new things to do. Plot your trip, photos and videos right on the map and upload it to EveryTrail.com, Facebook and Twitter.”
Download: Free Android. Free Apple. $3.99 Android. $3.99 Apple.
FIRST AID BY AMERICAN RED CROSS
Devices: Android, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Cost: Free
Description: “Accidents happen. The official American Red Cross First Aid app puts expert advice for everyday emergencies in your hand. Get the app and be prepared for what life brings. With videos, interactive quizzes and simple step-by-step advice it’s never been easier to know first aid.”
GEOCACHING
Devices: Android, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Windows Phone
Cost: $9.99
Description: “Groundspeak’s Geocaching Application provides real-time, direct access to Geocaching.com’s database of worldwide geocaches, as well as many other features designed to provide you with a lifetime of outdoor geocaching adventure anywhere in the world.”
Download: Android. Apple. Windows Phone.
KNOTS 3D
Devices: Android, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Cost: Free or $1.99 for paid version with “slow-motion and zoom control, favorites list and over 70 knots”
Description: “Choose from over 70 knots and see how they’re tied in incredible detail.”
Download: Free Android. Free Apple. $1.99 Android. $1.99 Apple.
LEAFSNAP
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Cost: Free
Description: “Developed by researchers from Columbia University, the University of Maryland, and the Smithsonian Institution. This free mobile app uses visual recognition software to help identify tree species from photographs of their leaves.”
Download: iPhone/iPod Touch. iPad.
MUNZEE
Devices: Android, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Cost: Free
Description: “Munzee is a real world scavenger hunt game where items are found in the real world and captured using your smartphone. You then level up and gain rank based on your score. Points are obtained by capturing other people’s munzees or when your deployed munzees are captured by someone else. Munzee is based off of the fundamentals of geocaching and adds another layer of fun to the hunt.”
NATIONAL PARKS BY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC AND NATIONAL PARK MAPS HD
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Cost: Free for National Parks, $3.99 for Maps HD
Description: “National Geographic presents an award winning, new, beautiful, and interactive guide to twenty of the most-visited U.S. national parks with a new app for iPhone and iPad.”
Download: National Parks. National Parks Maps HD.
THE NIGHT SKY
Devices: Android, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Cost: $0.99
Description: ”Enables you to identify the stars, planets, galaxies, constellations and even satellites you can see above. Just stand anywhere and hold your device up to the sky and The Night Sky will display the names of the stars, planets and other objects you are able to see.”
PACK BADGES
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Cost: $3.99
Description: “Helps you track the advancement of Cub Scouts, including requirements for Tiger, Bobcat, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos badges, and the various electives and activity badges for each year of the Cub Scout program.”
Download: Here.
SAS SURVIVAL GUIDE AND SAS SURVIVAL GUIDE LITE
Devices: Android, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Windows Phone
Cost: Free for Lite, $5.99 for the version with full text
Description: “For over twenty years, the SAS Survival Guide has been the definitive guide to surviving any situation, anywhere in the world. Now, for the first time ever, the million-copy bestselling book has been reinvented for the iPhone.”
Download: Free Android. Free iPhone/iPod Touch. $5.99 Android. $5.99 iPhone/iPod Touch. $5.99 iPad.
SCOUTTRAIL
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Cost: $0.99
Description: “Be Prepared with ScoutTrail, the app that every Scout and Scouter should have for up-to-date information for all BSA ranks, merit badges, and special awards.”
Download: Here.
SKY MAP
Devices: Android
Cost: Free
Description: “Turns your Android-powered device into a window on the night sky. Open sourced and donated by Google.”
Download: Here.
SPYGLASS
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Cost: $3.99
Description: “Spyglass is a powerful toolkit essential for every outdoorsman. Augmented reality navigator and a compass for the off-road. Packed with many useful tools: a hi-tech viewfinder, milspec compass, gyrocompass, maps, GPS tracker, speedometer, sextant, gyro horizon, inclinometer, angular calculator and 5x zoom camera. Tag, share, find and track your position, multiple locations, bearings, Sun, Moon and stars, all in real time.”
Download: Here.
STAR WALK
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Cost: $2.99 for iPhone/iPod Touch, $4.99 for iPad
Description: “Augmented reality app that labels all the stars, constellations, and satellites you point your iPhone at.”
Download: iPhone/iPod Touch. iPad.
THEODOLITE
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Cost: $3.99
Description: “Based on a centuries-old navigation instrument, Theodolite is a cool multi-function augmented reality app for the iPhone that serves as a compass, GPS, map, zoom camera (photo & movie), rangefinder, and two-axis inclinometer. Theodolite overlays real time information about position, altitude, bearing, and horizontal/vertical inclination on the iPhone’s live camera image, like an electronic viewfinder.”
Download: Here.
TRAIL TO EAGLE
Devices: Android, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Windows Phone
Cost: $0.99
Description: “A reference guide for Boy Scouts. Quickly look up the Scout Oath or Promise, Scout Law, Scout Motto, Scout Slogan, or Outdoor Code. Easily track a scout’s progress along their trail to Eagle. All ranks; Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, Eagle are available.”
Download: Android. Apple. Windows Phone.
US ARMY BUGLE CALLS
Devices: Android, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Cost: Free
Description: “This selection of United States Army bugle calls allows people to play from 18 classic bugle calls. Great for Soldiers, family members, ROTC Cadets, Boy Scouts, band members and anyone who wants a soundboard of Army bugle calls.”
THE WEATHER CHANNEL
Devices: Android, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Kindle Fire, Windows Phone, BlackBerry
Cost: Free
Description: “Accurate and relevant weather information whenever weather matters to you. With 200+ meteorologists and, our ultra-local TruPoint(sm) forecasting technology, we provide you with the weather tools you need to plan your day, week, or even the next hour.”
Download: Android. iPhone/iPod Touch. iPad. Windows Phone. BlackBerry.