By Melanie Linn Gutowski

While national scouting programs are popular with kids, not all may be able to participate in organizations such as Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. Auntie, why not create your own Savvy Scouts with your nieces and nephews instead?

Your Savvy Scouting group can focus on activities that most interest your nieces and nephews, and you can work at your own pace. Summer vacation is the perfect time to start since there's usually more free time for kids, but there's no reason to stop once school starts again!

Brainstorm activities. What subjects most interest your nieces and nephews? Activities could be ongoing, like book reading, or one-time outings, such as a trip to your local musem or botanical garden.

Be sure to plan activities that match the age and activity level of your nieces and nephews, and be aware of any safety concerns ahead of time.

Create a "reward" system, similar to the badges that Girl and Boy Scouts receive for doing certain activites. You could have a "one reward per activity" style system, or a reward for doing a group of activities. Or, you could build the rewards into the activities themselves - for example, a "dairy" activity could include a trip to the petting zoo to see some cattle or goats, and then conclude with a trip to the ice cream parlor.

And if you're a Long-Distance Auntie (LDA), there's no reason you can't start your own Savvy Scouts! Come up with a list of activites and issue points upon completion - mom and dad can help with this part. Then, when you make it to town to see your niece or nephew, have a party to celebrate, and maybe even make a scrapbook of all the activities he or she has completed!

Melanie Linn Gutowski, Savvy Auntie's Associate Editor, is a proud Godmother and ABC.