I love this Scouting Stuff
barry_c_runnels@MMACMAIL.JCCBI.GOV
Tue, 30 Mar 1999 13:28:43 -0600
Hi all
Scouting is amazing. About four years ago we restarted our Troop with 12 Webelos
and another six older Scouts who never experience a boy run Troop. During this
time my son Patrick liked Scouts but never to the point of not sleeping at night
like his dad. He enjoyed the campouts, and Troop meetings are OK but earning the
Eagle and becoming SPL was for the other guys. That was fine by me but I was a
little frustrated that he was more a follower than a leader. Many times he
showed good leadership potential but didn't seem to enjoy it. He had his friends
in his Patrol which was cool and life was good. He didn't want to stray or do
anything on his own without them. In Scouts anyway. As an athlete, he is very
talented and doesn't mind standing alone there. Right now he is on the High
School Golf team and can't get enough. Can you believe it, 15 years old and
plays in the mid 70's. He doesn't give dad a break.
Since we started, our Troop has grown leaps and bounds with an average of 25 new
Scouts a year. But the problems come in leaps and bound also and working with
first year Scouts was a big one. We adults had to learn as well but we lost many
Scouts along they way. One luxury we never had was older Scouts for Troop
Guides. We started a program of Big Brother Patrols where the older experience
Patrols work with their little brother (new Patrols) during most of the troop
activities. That program saved us and we still use it even with this years new
Troop guides.
This year we finally have Scouts experienced enough and old enough to be Troop
guides, so we were excited to start the program. We asked for volunteers and was
excited with the Scouts we got. But we had one surprise, my son Patrick. As the
Scoutmaster, I wanted the Troop Guide program to start off with a bang and was a
little concerned. He said he wanted to be a SPL and this was one way to earn
respect for leadership from the Troop. I asked him what he meant. He said that
he wanted to show the Troop he could lead a large group of Scouts. If you know
me, then you know there is more to Troop Leadership then learning and earning
respect. There is also giving of yourself for others. I asked him about that and
he said working with the new guys in his opinion was giving a lot of himself.
This was not an easy choice for Patrick. Usually during golf season he skips a
couple meetings a month to rest. He couldn't do that now. He would have to make
every meeting and campout. He also was very concerned about his Patrol doing
activities without him. Peer pressure was really kicking in. I didn't push at
all, infact I kept throwing in the disadvantages along with the advantages
because I wanted him to have all the facts.
Patrick chose to be a Troop Guide. About this same time, Jim Peterson sent me
information on his Troop Guide program. I gave it to Patrick to give him some
ideas. He use most of them. He ended up with ten of the silliest Webelos you
have ever seen. Great kids, normal eleven year olds but a new experience for
Patrick. First thing he had them do was pick a Patrol name (the Chihuahua's) and
a yell (YoQuiero Taco Bell). The new guys took to Patrick right off and we were
on our way. Last weekend was their first Troop Campout and it was a cold, wet,
raining one with a First-aid and lost-man theme. Patrick rode in the same car
with his Chihuahuas. When the Troop arrived, he guided them on setting up tents,
the Patrol Box and so on. You could hear, "hey Patrick, what now?" all night
long. During breakfast several of the Patrols found their stove didn't work for
one reason or another. Some of us saw it coming but this is one of those
learning by experience lessons for the Patrol Quartermasters. Anyway, the
Chihuahuas also found their stove was broke. No problem for Patrick because he
has always liked cooking on the fire. While the other Patrols were trying figure
out who to share stoves with, Patrick showed the Chihuahuas how to cook sausage,
bacon and eggs using the fire. At morning assembly, one of the ASMs reported
that the ranger was asking for our help to find a lost local hiker (a dummy
named Bob) who was lost the night before in the area. SPL took over and the
Troop was off with the Chihuahuas finding Bob. We hide the dummy again and
taught the Scouts a different method of searching and sent the Troop off again.
The Chihuahuas found Bob again. They were sitting pretty high by now, but as if
that wasn't enough, for the evening meal, Patrick cooked a turkey using Jim
Peterson's recipe that he gave us on Scouts_L and impressed everyone including
all the adults. Some of the Patrols had hamburgers and spaghetti, but the
Chihuahuas eat Turkey, corn, beans and potatoes.
I've been telling new Scoutmasters that 14 is the age when Scouting really
begins. It's the age where they really start to enjoy the opportunities of
leadership and giving. Maybe it's because he is ADD, I don't really know, but
Patrick kicked in at almost 16. But it came and when it came, he showed himself
what he could do. I don't know if he will run for SPL but as the SM, I won't
fear if he does. Oh he still procrastinates a little, gets that from me, and he
hates planning, right again that's me. But he loves to help others. He has no
fear of adversity and uses it to his advantage of getting ahead. That's from his
mother. He struggles a little with the Chihuahuas but they love him and their
parents love him as well. His Twelve year old brother has a role model that
makes his parents proud. I thank God that I get to watch my sons in action and
that I am a Scout leader. I thank Jim Peterson and many others for helping my
favorite oldest son grow up to be respected young man. Scouts_L is a gift for
all of us. It helped me as a Cubmaster and now as an adult advisor in the Troop.
I have many friends here and you all have made our good program great. All I can
say is thanks and that I love this Scouting Stuff.
OK Jim, I know it's long, but you should have seen the book I started with. Have
a great week all.
Barry Runnels
Troop 386
Edmond OK
