Re: Help for my son
NorMac4101@AOL.COM
Mon, 30 May 1994 08:08:25 EDT
Tom -
What kind of help are you thinking of? I replied to a request from a relative
concerning where you folks could go for access to Scouting assistance, and I
see you have found Scouts-L!
I have been in Scouting for 34 years now, in several different countries. I
can offer you a bit of advice, but am also at your disposal to help him with
badge-work, if this is what he will be needing over the next few years.
The BSA has a programme called "Lone Scout" for Scouts who are isolated from
the ability to belong to a BSA Troop, and it should be possible to set him up
for this through the National office in Irving, TX.
You should also talk to his present Scout Leader about the possiblility of
your son doing a two-track advancement process. In other words, if he earns
an Israeli badge, he couls also be earning the equivalent BSA badge.
I strongly encourage his participation in the Israeli Scout Group he is now
with. Even though modern Hebrew is still a foreign language to him, he will
catch on quickly. I was the SL of an international Troop (part of a British
Scout Group) while living in The Netherlands, and we had several children who
began as Scouts with us without being able to speak any English at all. I
found that two to three months was the usual space of time before a boy or
girl would be able to be communicating effectively in English with the other
Scouts. There was some frustration before they were able to get a long in
English, but the other Scouts were generally able to get the point across as
needed through a combination of sign language, demonstration, and English
descriptions.
You might also want to check around to see if there is an international Scout
Group located in Jerusalem. The Briitish Groups tend to spring up in a lot of
unexpected places, and there may be one fairly close to you.
I would be happy to help in any way possible, so let me know what I can do
for you.
Norman
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
