Re: A Scoutmaster's Paycheck
AspenDr01@AOL.COM
Sat, 10 Jul 1999 15:55:06 EDT
I too, have a "den leader's paycheck" that I'll always remember.
This Spring I organized our pack's fishing derby. The weather was great, and
we had a good turnout.
When nearly everyone had registered, I had a boy from my den and his stepdad
approach me. The stepdad sheepishly admitted that he'd never fished before,
and didn't have any idea how to "rig this thing up", or how to fish. They had
borrowed fishing rods, and really wanted to learn. I helped David & his
stepdad put hook, weight, and bobbers on their lines. I then explained how to
thread the worm on the hook, and told them basically to cast out & wait for
the bobber to be pulled under. I told them they'd figure out the rest.
Everyone else got registered & our fishing derby started. David caught the
first fish of the fishing derby (a scrapping bluegill), and his stepdad
wasn't far behind with his first fish. Both caught a number of fish, and had
a great time! The stepdad told me several times how much he was enjoying
himself. I told him that I enjoyed fishing with my son, and that it was a
good thing for boys to learn....something they can do their whole life. Both
David & his stepdad thanked me for my help when the fishing derby ended.
Later that day, after returning from my son's ball game....I got a phone call
from the stepdad. David & he had gone out & bought their own fishing rods,
and tackle. He wanted to know if I could reccomend a good place to fish. I
pointed him the direction of a lake that my son & I fish at often.
About a month later, I was suprised when I saw that David's stepdad had
volunteered to help with our Cub Scout day camp. This was a shock because
he'd never had any interest in scouting before. While at day camp, he told me
again how much he appreciated my help at the fishing derby. He said that he &
David had been fishing often. He also shared with me that he had been having
trouble relating to David, but having the new mutual interest in fishing had
really made a difference. I told him I was glad that David & he were enjoying
fishing so much.
Sometimes you really wonder if you're making a differance in scouting or not.
I was very pleased, when I not only made a differance for David....but made a
differance with his stepdad.....and recruited the stepdad as an active parent
in our pack. I was so proud!
YIS,
AspenDr01@aol.com
