ESCANABA — A new website is providing Scouts in the area — and K-12 students not involved with Boy Scouts of America — an opportunity to enjoy “Scouting @ Home.”

“That site actually came out of our Bay-Lakes Council,” Hiawathaland District Commissioner Mark Rose said.

The site, which was created last week, was established in response to the coronavirus pandemic. It is meant to give Scouts something to do while they are stuck inside.

“It’s a good home activity for Scouts of all ages,” Rose said.

On the site, resources available for Scouts are organized by grade level. Guided activities have been uploaded for Cub Scouts in grades K-5, while other activities and resources are available for Scouts in grades 6-12.

“It’s definitely more self-directed,” Hiawathaland District Director Patrick O’Brien said regarding the latter set of resources.

The site includes a certificate of achievement that can be used to recognize students for the tasks and programs they complete at home and merit badge workbooks older Scouts can fill out.

“(It’s) the ones that are easier to complete at home,” O’Brien said of the merit badges featured on the site.

Workbooks for the animation, electricity, genealogy, nature, painting, personal fitness and wood carving merit badges — among many others — are available.

Scouts BSA members must get unit approval to get credit for their work on merit badges. Scouts can do most merit badge work on their own, but must connect with a merit badge counselor to officially complete their work on a badge. They can contact merit badge counselors via phone, email or video chat; for the latter option, they should have a parent or guardian present.

Rose said the site is free to access and is not limited to students participating in Scouting.

“We would encourage everybody to take a look at it,” he said.

To reach the page directly, visit https://tinyurl.com/thhw7pv.