SSScout

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Questions: 1) Assuming you , as an adult Scouter, joined BSA way back when as a Yoooth, WHY DID YOU JOIN? 2) Again, assuming you are now an adult Scouter, WHY DO YOU WANT TODAY'S YOOOTH TO JOIN? 3) Assuming today's yoooth do want to join join , HOW DO YOU PROPOSE GETTING THEIR PARENTS TO HELP? 4) What cultural/religious/ ethnic objections have you come across making it difficult for yoooth to join, if they want to? 5) What complications, if any, do you see between YOUR desire for today's yoooth to join Scouting and the "PROFESSIONAL" Scouter's desire for today's yoooth to join? Are there any differences? That's a start....

When I do my Bugling MB , I often ask the Scout :"Do you think that met the requirement?" I have not done this, but I have often thought that I understand the idea of a BoR NOT being a testing time, but it COULD be a reminding time. " Hello Bill, good to see you up for Second Class. I know the ropes and knots will come in mighty handy, not only in camping, but in other places too. What knot is the toughest for you? Do YOU think you know them? "

"It is a puzzlement"... "The king in The King And I" We all have to find our own way in this world. If , as a youth, you join Scouts and are asked to make that Scout Promise (it is not , after all, an "OATH:), and you decide your "Duty to God" is not to believe in it/her/him, so be it. There is something out there that will draw you, whether it is the Three Laws of Newtonian physics or some spiritual awakening ("aHA !"). My dad was a good man. I feel blessed to have had him , or did he have me? No matter. He often told me he was uncomfortable with "Organized Religion". I came to find this rather curious, because he was a 33rd degree Mason, which is a very spiritual and very organized organization, when you think about it. AwakeEnergyScouter, no one is asking/requiring you to be a monotheistic believer. If someone is, then they need to be reminded that the Scouting movement , at least in the US of A is "non-sectarian". It professes no particular faith. True, some Troops/Packs and around the world other Scout orgs do require some religious connection, that is their right, and you and your family can choose accordingly. As a Scout Chaplain, I have had some good conversations with Scouts who come and say "I'm not sure about this God stuff." Yeah, me too.... You can look up B-P's quotes about religion and faith. Remember, he came from a Church of England start, but became very "universal", shall we say. Did you hear about the agnostic, dyslexic insomniac? Poor fellow lay awake all night wondering if there is a dog.......

Hammers? Totin' Chip traditionally asks the Scout to MAKE a really good tent peg. Hatchet(s) part of a Scout's kit, yes? Our Troop used to (I should check on this) make poles out of saplings and the tent pegs were kept for use and as examples for the next Scouts.... As for the tarp/ shelter, the Troop of my yoooth made them out of 4 mill plastic and heavy duty duck tape and grommet sets. Ten by ten, made shelter tents and dining flies and such. Older Scouts took 'em to Philmont and Jamborees, said others ooo'ed and awww'ed at them...

Interesting turn of discussion, this... ""parent wants son to go from Scout to Eagle by Christmas."" Has the Scout been asked what HE wants from Scouting? Mom wants an Eagle badge....

On a bike ride, Scout uses CPR to help save a Scout dad's life....

I do not think that Baháʼu'lláh, or Gibran would agree with your comment. A Scout is Reverent...

Two things occur to me: First, "the work is done by whoever shows up". Very often the job is given/assigned to whoever raises their hand, regardless of anything else. Second, I suggest as required reading, Kahlil Gibran's book "The Prophet", in this case the chapter on Children, a portion of which I quote here: "Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, and though they are with you yet they belong not to you.... You may give them your love but not your thoughts, for they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams....." See you on the trail......

If the Scouts and parents and (?)Leaders are properly registered, the Council at least should have everyone's email and USPS addresses. Send the info directly to them.

Oh there are some go getters.... Back in my days of yoooth, my Troop was very active, merit badges were not that important. We went camping and hiking and other stuff, New kid joins, his dad is a navy doctor who would attend meetings in full whites. The kid soon announced that he had done the math, so many months required for each rank, and he would be Eagle by such and such a date. Us senior Scouts looked at each other and realized he might well become the first Eagle in our Troop ! we decided we could NOT let that happen. Merit Badges became more important. We started looking for MBCounselors, shared earning them. The "new" kid was an okay guy. He became the third Eagle, about a year and a half late from his original schedule, but that's okay. Armymutt, talk to the Scout. Unless he has some other issues (ASD? Autism spectrum?), He needs to take charge of his Scout career. Remind the mom that SHE is not the Scout.... sounds like she wants to live the Scout life she missed out on as a yoooth. Make her a ASM WITH TRAINING, then a Commissioner to get her out of your Troop's hair,...

Patrols? Neighborhood "gangs", in the good connotation. Family hierarchy: Big Brothers/Sisters exampling/teaching/modeling to younger bro's, sis's. Committee(s) of the whole to accomplish SOMETHING.... a trip to see a museum/hike a trail/go see a movie/earn a Merit Badge together/attend a CAMPOREE/serve for your CO, just the Patrol.... Patrol Dad, Mom, Waaay back when, our phone tree, (remember them? ) often garnered a bunch of "friends" meeting to see that movie, visit that museum... just because we were friends, not ONLY Scouts. But the Scout imprimatur was there. Our folks knew where we went, what we did, saw. Somewhere along the way, when Scouting became less cool, and the parents decided they (THEY ) couldn't trust us, didn't trust the rest of society (let a 12 year old walk to the store by themselves??), and because the BSA fell down HARD on protecting the Scouts from the unacknowledged predators out there, in here,,, We needed two deep Registered Scout Trained Adults on any Scout activity. Protecting not only the younguns' but the adultuns' too,,,, Can a bunch of friends go for a hike, go to a ball game (if they have the bucks!😉), without calling it a "SCOUT ACTIVITY" ? If they tell their parents, and the parents say "have fun, be home by 8 !" , well ... ? What is a "PATROL" today?

Ats what 'm talkin' 'bout...

Oui, ze leetle grey cells, zey try to be the challenge, n'est ce pas? You precede me, friend, I claim 77....😉

Yes. Oh, if only our political leaders (if not all) could lead and live their lives by the standards of the Scout Promise and Law....