Pedro answers reader e-mail

Dear Pedro, I think that mosquitoes are extremely annoying, and I bet you do too. No matter what kind of mosquito spray I use at camps — even lemon eucalyptus oil — I still get bitten to some degree. Do you have any suggestions? Also, do mosquitoes fly near peoples’ ears just to annoy them or is there some other reason?
—Ryan M., North Tonawanda, N.Y.

I use my tail to keep the mosquitoes away, Ryan, but I guess that doesn’t help you much. I think The Boss uses cinnamon oil with some success. I can only hear mosquitoes when they’re flying near my ears — they’re just so tiny (and annoying).

Hey, You Hay-Eatin’, Alfalfa Milkshake—Drinkin’, Tumbleweed Taco—Munchin’, Pencil-Leanin’, Purple Sweater—Wearin’ Big-Eared Donkey Dude, I really love the magazine — all the wacky stories, informative tips and gut-bustin’ comics have entertained me every month for years. I recommend more stories about unusual trips that different troops have taken. Also, I love sharing the jokes with my family and fellow Scouts. One more thing — have you ever tried a green sweater? It’s YOUR color, man.
– Connor N., Charlotte, N.C.

Green is my color, but it reminds me of clover and alfalfa, Connor, and I don’t need anything to make me hungrier.

Hey, Pedro, How’s the summer treating you? I’m loving the “On the Trail to… Eagle Scout!” because I’m a Life Scout having trouble thinking of a good Eagle Scout project. Keep up the good work!
– Kyle R., Portola Valley, Calif.

It’s the usual summertime drill, Kyle. It’s hot, and that makes me sleepy, but The Boss wants me to work, so he barks at me. Yelling makes me hungry, so I sneak off to the cantina, and if he finds me he barks some more. So it’s a steamy, drowsy, tummy-grumbling, noisy time. Thanks for asking! And good luck on your project.

Dear Pedro, I’m going to the 2010 National Scout Jamboree. It’s my first. Do you have any advice?
– John S., Greensboro, N.C.

Yeah, have a blast and wear good walking shoes, John — you’ll cover a lot miles.

Dear Pedro, I really enjoy your jokes and magic tricks. The jokes are funny and the magic tricks puzzle my friends. Keep ‘em coming and I’ll be happy.
– Mac W., Winter Park, Fla.

Thanks, Mac. The Boss says my best magic trick is my disappearing act when the cantina opens.

Dear Pedro, In June I went canoeing with the troop on the Jack’s Forks section of the Currant River in Missouri. We canoed in a large cave, swam in the river, camped on the banks at night and cooked on the beaches. Every Scout should get to go on at least one high-adventure trip. It teaches you to rely on yourself and your fellow Scouts.
– Jason J., Germantown Hills, Ill.

Reading about your trip sounds like fun, Jason. The one time I tried to get into a canoe turned into a real aquatic experience. I didn’t think I’d ever get the algae out of my nose.

Dear Pedro, Have you ever been trapped in an icy wasteland before? If so, how would you find shelter with barely any trees or any methods of survival? This summer, I was working on my Wilderness Survival merit badge, and I found many ways for finding shelter for frigid weather — too bad it was 90 degrees outside. I guess it will be a long time before I can make a shelter for frigid weather.
– Matthew S., Wylie, Tex.

Once an ice storm shut down the cantina here, Matthew — no tumbleweed tacos, no alfalfa milkshakes; only cold hay and really cold water. It was terrible. Oh … The Boss says that’s not what you’re asking about. So, ummm, gee, I guess not.

Hi, Pedro, What are the BSA regulations on sheath knives? I am going to the Boundary Waters this year and I’m thinking about buying one for the trip.
– Matt A., Bellevue, Neb.

If you’re going to the Northern Tier High Adventure Base, Matt, only a small pocket knife is allowed, and a fillet knife if you’re going fishing.

Dear Pedro, I really enjoyed “The Pterodactyl Flies Again” in the June issue. I found it informative and interesting. I would like to see more articles like this in the magazine.
– M-Man, McDonald, Pa.

Science and technology are part of our mix, M-Man. You’ll will definitely see more.

Dear Pedro, I liked the “Superior Wilderness” article in the June issue. I thought it was cool being so far away from civilization. It is a good thing no one got hurt. I guess it does pay to “be prepared,” since they knew which berries to eat and which to leave along.
– Jonathan K., Roanoke, Tex.

I munched on some unripe berries up the Sangre de Cristos years ago, Jonathan, and the memory of that bellyache is still with me. It always pays to be prepared.

Dear Pedro, I enjoyed reading your article on archery, “Bows and Arrows” (way back in September ‘07). I liked how you gave hints and how to set up an archery course. I also would like to see an article on basketball.
– Zach C., Boise, Idaho.

The Boss loves it when you read old issues, Zach — it gives him a sense of permanence. You’ll see articles on basketball during basketball season.

Dear Pedro, I liked the article “The Best Backpack for Your Buck” in the May issue. It helped me pick the backpack I’m going to get.
– Ethan A., Nacogdoches, Tex.

That article and other “Gear Guy” articles are posted on this site, Ethan. Readers also can comment on the stuff, so you get even more opinions.

Dear Pedro, I have a question for you: How many letters do you get every day, week, month and year?
– Bryce E., Louisville, Ky.

I can’t count that high, Bryce, but The Boss says we get thousands. If you guys write to my e-bag, which weighs nothing, the mailbag isn’t as heavy.

Dear Pedro, I was skimming the June issue when I came across the “Wildlife Wardens” article. It surprised me to know that fishing wire could be so dangerous to aquatic wildlife. I think that it is a great idea to have the recycling program, and I think it will save a lot of animals. I don’t go fishing much, but now when I do I will make sure to watch my fishing line.
– Ethan S., Gibsonia, Pa.

I’m please to hear your looking after our gilled friends, Ethan. Those Minnesota Cub Scouts are doing a good job spreading the word.

Dear Pedro, I really enjoyed the “Gliding High” article in the June issue. I’ve always been interested in flying, and I thought it was awesome those Scouts got to fully take control and fly a glider.
– Steven K., Montgomery, Tex.

Glad you enjoyed it, Steven. My hooves, though, are going to stay planted on terra firma.

Dear Pedro, I think that the magazine is inspirational and good for the Boys Scouts of America. One thing that I think should be changed is you should have more real rescue stories instead of having so many cartoons and comics.
– Spencer P., Hardy, Ark.

Well, Spencer, “A True Story of Scouts in Action” and “More SIA” are probably the best read pages in the magazine, ranking right up there with — can you guess? — humor, jokes and comics. The Boss says the funny stuff stays (even though I don’t think it improves his mood).

Dear Pedro, I have something you should try to add to this magazine, even though you are the mail carrier. There are a lot of cool places boy go and things they do that Boys’ Life covers, but all boys can’t do these things. It is very nice to know that some Venturers went to some camp and got to fire cannons and rifles and work in a blacksmith shop, but how is a Scout who isn’t from Texas going to do these things without spending a lot of money? I think the magazine should put an article in every issue that focuses on small areas of the country where Scouts can have fund on the land and water.
– Neil W., Greenville, S.C.

We try to hit all sections of the country over time, Neil (The Boss
insists). Remember, this is a magazine about possibilities. Use your
imagination on how to adapt cool ideas you see in our articles to your local
community.

Dear Pedro, I really liked the article “Here Comes the Sun” in the June issue, but I thought it was missing something. I live in Florida and know how important it is to protect yourself from the sun, but that also includes staying hydrated. The sun makes your body lose a lot of water, which can lead to dehydration and serious consequences.
– Stefan W., Shalimar, Fla.

If you get thirsty, you’re not drinking enough water, Stefan. And when it gets hot (like it is in my corral these days), nothing beats water, not even alfalfa milkshakes.

Dear Pedro, I think you should add a section that lists the requirements of a random merit badge. That way, Boy Scouts would be more likely to work on merit badges in their spare time than something else like playing video games. Also, some boys don’t have the Internet to look up requirements, so this can help them even more. Please talk to The Boss about it, OK?
– Cody A., Belzoni, Miss.

The Boss says our “Scout Program” section touches on one or more merit badges every month, Cody. All merit badge requirements are listed on this site (just click on “About Scouts”). The BSA also publishes “Boy Scout Requirements,” which has all rank and merit badge requirements as well as special awards and recognitions.

Dear Pedro, When you write about bicycle safety you should emphasize the importance of having your tires with the right amount of pressure. For example, if you are going mountain biking, you may not want to pump up your tires completely because of you go over a large root your tire may pop. If you are riding long distances, you most certainly want to pump your tires up to full capacity. The maximum pressure can be found on the wall of your tire.
– Daniel H., St. Augustine, Fla.

Thanks for adding to our information bank, Daniel. This e-bag is good for all sorts of things.

Hey, Pedro, I have read Boys’ Life since I was a Cub Scout. It is by far my favorite magazine. I collect both covers and “Pee Wee Harris.” (Sorry if you feel insulted — I still read your comics).
– Cameron S., Acworth, Ga.

That’s OK, Cameron…sniff…at least you read about my adventures.

Dear Pedro, I read the article “Surf’s Up” in the May issue, and I thought the Scouts’ ideas about and reactions to surfing were interesting. I’ve never been surfing, but now I have an idea what it is like. At the beginning of the article they are just learning to stand on the board, and by the end of the article they are surfing like experts.
– Tristan T., Lancaster, Pa.

Hang ten, Tristan! (In my case, hang two!)

Dear Pedro, I’ve been wondering about different summer camps, but instead of learning things from a bunch of reporters I would like to hear from my fellow Scouts — things like food and activities.
– William S., Hardy, Ark.

OK, fellow Scouts, help William out. Send in stuff on your camps to me and we’ll talk about them in the e-bag.

Dear Pedro, I really enjoy reading your jokes. They’re a bit cheesy, but they are the good kind of cheese. If too many jokes come in, how do you choose which ones to use?
– Zach S-P., Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Actually, they’re your jokes, Zach. Our readers send them in. We always get more than we can print, so we pick the best ones. (I just get to pick one each month — “Pedro’s Pick” — I think they’re all pretty good.)

Dear Pedro, This past winter my troop went on an amazing trip to Big Bear, Snow Valley. We all went snowboarding for the day and had a blast. It was a thrill ride when I was coming down the mountain riding off grind pads. Unfortunately, I took a couple of falls, but I managed to recover and kept on boarding. Hoo-hah!
– Roberto S., Whittier, Calif.

Thanks for sharing, Roberto. The only thing worse than being hot, which I am right now, is being wet and covered in snow. They don’t make ski gear for burros.

Hey Pedro, How do you find all this time for adventuring in your comics, writing back to our questions and lugging around that sack of mail all day? Could you give me some management tips, please?
– Andrew N., Richardson, Tex.

Since I spend most of my time eating and sleeping, that is remarkable, isn’t it, Andrew?  The Boss is in charge of management tips, and he doesn’t have an e-bag. Hee-haw!

Dear Pedro, The comics are the best part of Boys’ Life. I look forward to them every month. Why can’t you create more comics like “Pee Wee Harris”? Would you create more comics if you were in charge?
– Christopher H., Horseheads, N.Y.

If I were in charge, Christopher, it would be all Pedro, all the time…. Oh, right, Boss. He says that’s why I’m not in charge.

Dear Pedro, I really enjoy the “Science” columns in Boys’ Life. It’s good to know all the current inventions, especially the ones that help the environment. But are they all real?
– Sean H., Horseheads, N.Y.

The comics and the fiction aren’t real, Sean. The rest of the stuff is based on fact. The Boss insists.

Dear Pedro, Who on earth is The Boss? Is he fake or real? (Anyway, I hate him.)
– James P., Purceville, Va.

Don’t hate The Boss, James — he’s just trying to see that all the work gets done around here. He certainly is real to me because, you know, he’s The Boss.

Dear Pedro, I am extremely grateful for the Rifle Shooting and Fishing merit badges offered by the Boys Scouts. I work at a gun club and am on my school’s rifle team. The Shooting merit badge taught me safety rules so that I can keep myself and others safe when shooting, and it taught me basic rifle operations so that I can help a shooter with a problem. Before I earned the Fishing merit badge, I always had to get my dad to get my rod ready and to tie the knots. Now I can get my rod ready and can tie my own knots. I even taught my dad a few things. Now I’m looking forward to earning the Shotgun Shooting merit badge.
– Kyle S., Elizabethtown, Pa.

Those skills will last a lifetime, Kyle. We appreciate your story.