About the Boys [Semi Long] -Reply

John:

Good comments!

=======================
Erik Ashby
Novell E-Mail Admin
EASHBY@NOVELL.COM
=======================

>>> John Edwards <edwardsj@ANNAP1.JSC.MIL> 05/22/95 08:12am
>>>
Erik Ashby asked...

"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?"

Time for the standard vague answer, Erik. It's both.
The challenge is to design an itinerary that will serve both purposes.
As a kid I went on a biking/canoeing trip that was a pile of fun and led to
several merit badges, once you included the traffic safety review
sessions before the trip, and some shakedown sessions on the road
and on the water. Most people like to experience new things, and adding
some new angles to your summer activities may bring back the older
boys, and generate some interest in more obscure merit badges as well.
When that happens, a lot of fun usually follows, and the group gels from
the shared experience.
My personal opinion is that the merit badge reqs need to follow the
adventure itinerary, not the other way around. This isn't terribly difficult
to do. Keep in mind that if you miss a few reqs, it's easy to say to the
scouts, "Hey, you've got seven of the nine requirements for bungee
jumping merit badge already complete, anyone want to get together to
knock out those last two?" and throw a final couple of sessions to finish
up.
This lets the program run freely, teaching what you really want to put
forth, but the young folks still get a shot at getting some badges under
their belt.
It sounds as if your older and younger scouts are splitting. Bad
thing. Try to find an event that will let them share in an accomplishment.
It can be fun. A fifty miler, a sail boat run, something that will let them
share an unusual, difficult experience. Don't let the troop polarize -- it'll
hurt your program more than any easy week of camp.

John L. Edwards
Annapolis, MD, USA edwardsj@jsc.mil
410.573.7592 Voice
410.573.7634 Fax

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