SSScout

All the world’s a trail, And all the boys and girls merely hikers; They have their exits and their entrances, And one Scout in their time plays many parts, Their acts being seven ages. At first, the Tenderfoot, Huffing and aching in the Patrol Leader’s gaze. Then the willing Second Class, with his backpack And shining new boots, creeping like snail Willingly to camp. And then the First Class, Working like journeyman, with a woeful ballad Made to his buddy’s ’ cookset. Then a Star Scout, Full of fun tales and dirty like the worker, Jealous in honor, sudden and quick to help, Seeking the bubble reputation Even in the campfire’s smoke. And then the Life Scout, In fair proud and downlooking to the Tenderfoot, With eyes severe and mien of formal cut, Full of wise saws and modern instances; And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts Into the sage and sought after , With spectacles on nose and pouch on side; His youthful face, well shaved, a world too wide For his Eagle earned, and his big manly voice, Turning again toward childish treble, pipes And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all, That ends this strange eventful history, Is Scout Leader, signed and devoted he, Sans time, sans money, sans gear, sans everything but Scouts to inspire.

Interesting. Haven't seen it in my inbox yet.

Worthwhile. I have forwarded this to Scouter folks.... And others !

Exactly why we had the talk with the OA chief.....And the chapter Scouts....

District camporee. We have a fair sized, suburban District. Maybe 20 Troops in attendance. OA is in charge of arrangements, In my walking around, I come to the "CAMPFIRE ARENA", a nice natural hillside, flat area at the bottom, and... two (2!) 9 or 10 feet tall piles of cargo pallets! Ummm,,, what is that familiar smell.... kerosene ! I go and get the Camporee Scoutmaster and bring him over to the Campfire area. AND... Where are the water buckets? The shovels ? He nods.... The OA has given in to their teen ager pyromaniacal tendency. He brings over the OA Chief, and they agree, the arrangements are a bit much. We do not want the front row to suffer second degree burns. It is not necessary for the ISS to see our campfire. They take down and haul away all of one of the two piles . The remaining pile is taken down to about four feet tall. AND.... They arrange for EACH participating Troop to bring one of their five gallon water coolers, which are lined up behind the fire pile.... After, everyone agreed , the skits were corny and fun, the serious stuff was thought provoking.... The fire was worthy. .

The Five Things Needed For A Camp Fire In school , one is taught three things are needed for a fire: Oxygen, Fuel, and Heat. For a Scout, there are FIVE things needed. How do they compare with the three from your science class? Play the “What If” game. Number one, before anything else: 1) The Means To Extinguish The Fire. Before anything else, how will you put it out? Water, shovel, rake, sand/dirt. Have sufficient means and tools collected. Is it out? Test firebed with the BACK of your hand… Douse, stir and douse again. AND Remember: NEVER leave a fire unattended ! 2) A Safe Atmosphere: No overhanging branches to catch a spark ? Land owners’ permission? Park Ranger’s permission? Is there a Drought? No Fire Ban? Make it as SMALL as necessary, not as BIG as you can! 3) A Safe Area. Remember that 10’ diameter cleared area. Use an established fire pit. If a “new” fire, remember your Leave No Trace guidelines: Fold back the sod, save the sod to cover the burned on bare soil area. Use an above ground fire holder: old wheelbarrow, oil drum, charcoal grill bed, etc. 4) Collect Fuel Before Lighting : Tinder, kindling, fire wood. It is hard to stop cooking to collect more wood if you run low. Set things up carefully before attempting to light. 5) The Means To Ignite The Fire: Be Prepared! Practice in your back yard before you are on the trail. Ceremonial fire? Practice it first before the big night! “No, I thought YOU had the flint and steel!”.

Roadside America dot com has some listings of various Statues of Liberty. Some are part of this , but not all by any means. "put up by the Boy Scouts" says one entry. https://www.roadsideamerica.com/search/tip?offset=5&tip_AttractionName=Statues+of+Liberty

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=25971825532407506&set=pcb.3908654722759939

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...