More About “Those Stories…” (20 Dec 14)

 
I belong, with several thousand others, as a part of an electronic daily Roundtable meeting which NEVER ends — called “Scouts-L”.
One of the topics we are discussing through this “lull period” in December is the relative benefit from participating in those campouts and other outings. Do our Scouts REALLY like them, and will things like that tend to drive people AWAY from our programs?
Yes to the first part; no to the second part.
As those who wax onward about the effects or non-effects of those types of “challenging” outdoor experiences, a Scouter pretty well nailed it. I’m posting a part of Bob Geier’s comment, and then my own:
Bob stated in part:
“One of our Eagle alums at his ECOH (Eagle Court of Honor) commented on how one of the best parts of Scouting was that unlike most of his in-town friends, he and his Scouting friends all “have stories.”  Those “stories” of which he spoke fondly were universally of the times when they faced challenges of the really-bad-campout variety.”
Funny…as a former Scoutmaster, I STILL get letters from my former Scouts, all grown up and some of them with Scouts in the program today. They talk about how bad our campouts were — but how they remain the “best part” of being a part of “my Troop” because we learned how to “improvise, compromise and get over it”
As a former Explorer Advisor, I STILL get letters, and still sit around and talk with my former Explorers from four distinctive different Explorer Posts, sharing with me (and retelling to new friends just meeting me; or retelling just to “get the story straight”) what happened during their participation in those Superactivities (extended outdoor adventures).  Three of them still ask me if I “set up the whole “let’s make them part of the Jamboree staff” thing” in 1989; and one guy still says “you’re the man!” when he was able to shake hands with BP’s grandson and make a presentation during a visit at a Council-level camporee in Pennsylvania.
And as a former Varsity Team Coach, I STILL get letters from families who relate and still ask “what were our secrets” to change them from being that introverted, shy and uninvolved in things around their community — and if I can do the same things for the OTHER kids in their families?
I agree with Bob, though I have never seen his unit in action nor participated in one of their outings. Maybe some day…
When we give our youth the opportunity to move outside of their “comfort level”, they will rise the occasion.  Whether it is finding a beach where everyone could enjoy themselves; putting together their own “evening show” when the electricity was out all around in that part of Chicago; trekking through the German countryside in what seemed to be a never-ending downpour; experiencing all four seasons in a single 24 hour period; or just sitting at a truckstop, playing cards while waiting for the clothes to be cleaned from the washers and dryers — when you allow your YOUTH to make good, supportive decisions which “make sense” and “are safe and relatively harmless” — you ensure that the program will continue when they all get home and back with their non-Scouting/non-Exploring friends.
It is no secret. When you do things whereby people can SEE and OBSERVE you doing things, it not only forces the participants to “do their best” and “do what they are supposed to be doing”; but it also encourages those viewing from the outside to “see what this Scouting (Exploring) thing is really all about” and in most cases “want to be a part of (or have their kids be a part of)”.
It is also no secret that when you have parents who have confidence in the adults “leading” (supervising, advising, coaching) their youth and their friends’ youth, you increase the ability that the program will survive yet another six to twelve months.
Those of us who have let their youth “fly or fall”, sometimes several times, understand the importance of letting their do their “controlled leadership”. We’re there when they need to be encouraged to try again, to try another way, to work through the difficulties of being with people they really don’t want to deal with.  As one of my former Explorers, now a business manager for a small firm in Kentucky explained it to me, “you gave me the ability to have confidence that I can really lead people.”
And that, Scouters, is what Scouting should be about; and why the “exam” isn’t during the unit meetings, but during the various outings and activities they plan (or not) and execute (or not).
(to all of my fellow Venturing leaders: wherever you see the word “Exploring” substitute “Venturing” instead. I have not had the honor yet of serving as an Advisor to Venturers….just Explorers and Sea Explorers (Sea Scouts). )
 
avatar

About Settummanque

Take your standard Oliver North. Add strong parts of Bill Cosby and Sir Robert Baden-Powell (the founder of Scouting). Throw in Johny Bravo without the "hurhhs!" and his pecks. Add a strong dose of parenting, the sexuality of a latin lover, and Mona Lisa's smile. And a 40 year old's body frame. That's me basically *grinning*

One Response to More About “Those Stories…” (20 Dec 14)

  1. avatar