About the Boys [Semi Long]

Fellow Scouters:

I would like to start a discussion about an issue that I am seeing in my
local troop. The input received from this group has been good in the
past, and I hope that I can stimulate some responses to a problem that
others might have.

What is the main reason for scouting? This question sounds simple, but
let me raise some concerns. I have introduced the Summer camp activity
to the boy scout leaders (SPL,ASPL,PLS, ect.). The Summer camp is
providing quite a bit of activities, merit badges, service projects and more
for the scouts. The scouts are expected to be in Uniform, and have a
troop flag ceremony every morning, along with daily cooking, cleaning,
and normal camp stuff in a "Wilderness Camp". The leaders are
complaining that the camp is too "HARD", and that they won't have any
"FUN", if they "MUST" do the things outlined. Several of the leader boys
are already saying that they will not even go on the camp. "Why can't
we just go camping somewhere fun for a week?", were some of the
comments made. I feel that an aggressive program that challenges each
boy to do his best, turns out to also be the best and most remembered
camps. I also feel that uniforms are also important. So back to my
original question, what is the point of scouting? To just have fun, or to
help the boys grow? and how do you train the scout leaders about the
roll of scouting?

Just a note, I have a small LDS troop of 12 boys 12-14 years old.
Erik Ashby
Fellow Scoutmaster
Troop 871, Spanish Fork

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