Boy Scouts adds robotics badge to achievement list

It's been a long time since Sleuth strapped on a woggle and went out into the woods with the Boy Scouts, but the organisation founded by Lord Baden-Powell is now making a play for the technologically minded.

The Boy Scouts, which Tom Lehrer described as "those noble little ... bastions of democracy, and the American Legion of tomorrow", is appealing to the scientific with a new series of achievement badges aimed at students of the digital era.

Among the new merit badges is one for robotics, part of the Boy Scouts' science, technology, engineering, and maths programme.

"The Robotics merit badge is an example of how Scouting remains true to its roots to help young people be prepared," said Bob Mazzuca, chief scout executive of the Boy Scouts of America.

"While the guiding principles of Scouting - service to others, leadership, personal achievement, and respect for the outdoors - will never change, we continue to adapt programmes to prepare young people for success in all areas of life."

The organisation said that as many as 10,000 Scouts could apply for the badge, which requires them to design, build and test a robot safely and attend or research a robotics conference.