Re: WoodBadge
(no name) ((no email))
Sat, 13 Mar 1999 10:13:22 -0600
Marcia Trudeau <MarciaTX@AOL.COM> wrote and asked:
>Well...tomorrow starts Woodbadge. It should be lots of fun and
>very informational. There is one thing, however, I am not too
>thrilled about. We were given a supply list of things to bring.
>This included two uniform shirts, two pants, books, etc. etc.
>
>This is a very expensive training program.
Ah, Marcia, you've now experienced what every parent feels when you
hand them that same "laundry list" when they agree to place their
son into Scouting. In the Wood Badge "lingo" this is called a
"guided discovery" and you'll have several of them while
participating in the course, which is the ENTIRE INTENT of the Wood
Badge experience.
It will make you a better Scouter while participating and
completing your tasks which compromises your "ticket" for
completion.
It's funny that we defend each other and the program here when some
of us say "you need to wear the uniform" but when it comes time for
us to do so, the story changes and "wearing the uniform" becomes
secondary to other elements....
YES, I will be the FIRST to admit that the BSA's uniform is VERY
EXPENSIVE compared to other combinations of clothing. Scouts get
very little wear out of the uniform because of a series of factors:
*Many Scouters say, as you've stated, Marcia, that the "uniform is
worn during the formal times" and other times the unit wears
whatever's confortable for them (and sometimes less "revealing" to
the public and their peers) for everything else.
This is like telling Mark McGyier to "suit up in a sweatsuit"
during the games but "make sure that you're wearing the team
uniform for the National Anthem and the press conferences after the
game!"
Does a baseball uniform get dirty during a game? You betcha it
does...(the parental response is "if I had money like he does this
wouldn't be an issue....but we don't and this uniform's gotta last
him for the entire Boy Scouting thing!!)
*Units don't "circulate their uniforms" around like they used to
anymore. When a kid gets too large for his shirt, instead of
giving the shirt to the unit in exchange for a larger one, and
allowing some new kid to wear the younger shirt, the shirt goes
into the closet somewhere only to be sold at yard sales or given to
Goodwill or Sal Army later onward.
"That's a $20 shirt!!" you'll say...."I can get at least $10 or so
from it, and we can use that money!"
That' true, and that's the way that we in our household look at our
older clothing. But the fact remains that there's PLENTY of shirts
and pants out there, still sitting because "someday Junior's gonna
remember that year he spent in Scouts and maybe his son could wear
this junk."
*Then there's the "image effect" of the uniform, which we've
already discussed here ad infinitum. The ONLY way this changes is
when we as ADULTS change our attitude and concept about wearing the
uniform. To many of us, it's like the Clark Kent-Superman or Diana
Prince-Wonder Woman transformation. Mild-mannered Kent and sly,
demure Prince didn't want anyone to know their true identities and
created very elaborate ways to keep people from knowing. They
would excuse themselves, go around a corner, do the change thing
and volla!! They fly away to "save the universe" again!!
We adults have grown up with those images...and feel that "our
peers would never accept the fact that we're Scouters...so let's
keep this as our little secret and nobody will be wiser!!" Only
thing, Marcia, there's anywhere from five to eighty sets of eyes
that see this too, and in their patterning after us, think "Hey.
Ms. Trudeau changes before we open here...I guess that's the way WE
should do it too!!"
....and they try to do it too. But because they're kids, some of
them forget to do the change, or don't want to do the change (it
would be really wild to see Clark or Diana flying in the air
wearing "street clothing!" *smiling*) or worse, want to do the
change but don't want to do it until they get to the "Scout place."
The image change begins with US, the adults of the movement,
setting the positive example by wearing as complete a uniform as we
can, and by encourging OUR PEERS to do so. When we do these
things, our youth will also do the same thing because part of the
Scouting experience is this "adult assocation" and "things rub off"
from adult to youth....
>Sometimes I feel that we are making Scouts too expensive for a lot
>of people to participate.
When talking with parents about the uniform and the costs, I've
explained it like this and works for the majority of parents:
"First, we're talking about an investment here, not a costume. The
uniform is made by the Scouts to last for years. I've got several
uniforms at home that have lasted for decades and still hold up to
machine washings and dry cleanings. It's a very durable uniform.
Second, we're talking a uniform, similar to those worn by
policemen, firemen, and sports players. The uniform isn't required
but it is a neccessity because it tells everyone and reminds your
son of what he belongs to...a worldwide association of people that
are there to help other people. Its totally acceptable wear
anytime you as a family go out anywhere special. The costs of the
uniform can be reduced by not purchasing everything at one time,
and by using places like Goodwill and Salvation Army or second-hand
stores to find shirts and pants, the two largest cost items. In our
Troop, we also have an uniform exchange so that we can reduce the
overall costs of Scouting among all of us; as Scouts leave the
Troop or graduate to Exploring (Venturing), we purchase their
uniforms and then provide them to our members whom want or need
them. Finally, I know firsthand how expensive this all must sound
to you...but when compared to the outlay costs associated with
playing youth sports, the costs are about the same."
Have a GREAT time at Wood Badge, Marcia...keep your eyes and ears
open, as you'll encounter a LOT of "guided discoveries" as you
experience Scouting from the standpoint of our youth in the
program. I guarantee that you'll get a lot from the experience,
both in the content of the course itself as well as from your
fellow Patrol and Troop members and the Troop's staff!!
Settummanque!
(c) 1999 Mike Walton ("no such thing as strong coffee,...") blkeagle@mninter.net
http://www.mninter.net/~blkeagle Burnsville, MN 55306-7130 (612) 435-3068
privately at kyblkeagle@aol.com or waltonmi@usarc-emh2.army.mil
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