As the leading organization in the knife industry, the American Knife and Tool Institute (AKTI) interacts with dozens of household-name knife brands and industry businesses to solve issues and provide valuable information. But AKTI is also working toward its goal of “educating, promoting, and informing” the next generation of knife users and, most recently, Cub Scouts.
AKTI Executive Director Jan Billeb worked with Anthony Berger, the National Director of Cub Scouting at Boy Scouts of America, on the Cub Scout program regarding knives. One improvement is an update on the knife safety update guidelines for Cub Scouts in grades 3-5.
The result is that the four revised “Cub Scout Knife Safety Rules” are derived directly from AKTI guidance. Improvements to the Cub Scout handbooks include focusing on knife safety with three new elective Adventures. To use a knife in Cub Scouting, the Cub Scout must first complete the knife safety Adventure for their rank, even if they earned the knife safety Adventure in a previous rank.
“Collaborative efforts like this are vital to the future of our organization and membership,” said Billeb. “It goes directly to the heart of AKTI, educating the next generation of responsible knife owners about how to handle the tools safely.”
The four “Cub Scout Knife Safety Rules” are clear and worth sharing:
- Stop – make sure no one else is within arm’s reach
- Away – always cut away from your finger or other body parts
- Sharp – a sharp, clean knife is a safe knife
- Store – knives closed, in a sheath or knife block
The Cub Scouts implemented the change partly to instill knife safety lessons multiple times and increase knowledge retention.
Berger said his organization appreciates the partnership with AKTI.
“We also appreciate working with the Cub Scouts,” said Billeb. “We, of course, encourage youths to get involved with scouting, but it is also essential for others to share the knife rules, printable brochures, and a knife safety video available on our website that anyone is welcome to use.
Click here for more information on teaching knife safety to children.