Scouting with the Mouse was originally envisioned as a resource to help Scouts of all ages and genders and nationalities use experiences at Disney (and at home using Disney materials) to fulfill the requirements of their different ranks, levels, badges, etc.  However, the more data data I entered about the different badges and activities involved in Scouting that could be done with the Disney Difference the more I realized that a resourceful parent could do much more with it.

If you have a Scout, the first thing I would do is review the activities that will help your child fulfill requirements.  You can do this as a Guest by clicking on the "Review Activities / By Rank" link in the menu bar to the left.  That action will take you to a page on which you choose your child's organization and rank.  Once you do, the page will reload and you will be shown all the activities that can be done at and with Disney that help fulfill different rank requirements, badge activities, etc.  If you decide to become a MouseScouteer (paid membership - only $20USD a year) you can track which activities your child has done and have automated emails sent to you and much more (see here for the benefits of membership). 

But then after you've reviewed the activities particular to your childs organization and level, I'd take some time to look at the activities listed for other Scouts.  You an do this on the "By Rank" page by selecting a different rank or organization.  Or you can use the "Review Activities / By Location" page to help you find all of the activities that can be done at a specific place (Epcot, Magic Kingdom, At Home, On the Trip, etc.) that fulfill requirements for different organizations or levels.  Who says Brownie Girl Scouts should be the only ones to learn about different eating customs from around the world or that Webelos Cub Scouts are the only ones that need to learn different methods of commuincation or how to grow something.

Further, as a homeschooling parent, I began to realize just how useful this information could be in terms of making learning fun for my children.  For instance, reading is an important activity in the education of any child.  But I can make it fun for my child by asking him to read a biography of Walt Disney and then talk to me about what he learned.  Or I can ask him to search the internet to find out what EPCOT was originally envisioned to be and have him write a report about how it's different from it's original vision.  Or I can ask him to study different cultures through their food, greetings, traditional clothing, etc.  Or we can work on math skills by making a budget for the trip.  There's just a ton of different ways to use these activities in the general education of my children and I think you'll enjoy the Disney Difference in educating your children too.

I hope you take the time to fully explore the site.  If you find new ways to use the information please email me with your idea or post it in the forums.  Thanks for taking the time to visit and if there's anything we can do to make your stay more enjoyable please let me know.

Hypermommy
Founder, Scouting with the Mouse