In my role as Scoutmaster (but even prior to it when I was an ASM or adult volunteer), I’ve often been asked about the Troop’s Scouts and their capabilities. When Scouts first join the Troop as is natural with anything new, they and their parents are filled with both excitement and questions around their upcoming participation, outing and adventures. The It’s always great to see them, often separately, ask the same questions of those of us who have been Scouting for awhile –
Will I (or Will my child) fit in?
Am I (or Is my child) at a disadvantage because we haven’t done this before?
Can I (or Can my child) learn to become a better citizen, a better leader, a more self-reliant, self-confident, or self-advocating youth as they experience tremendous personal growth in these years between childhood and young adulthood?
I can share with you all that without question our Scouts enter the Troop all on similar paths, asking such questions, with the vast majority finding they have far more fun, ability and growth through Scouting than they would have without it. Compared to other youth, Scouts seem far more alert, observant and capable than most of them (and we parents) understand and as Scoutmaster, it is my role along with the Assistant Scoutmasters (together the Scoutmaster Corps), to work diligently with the Scout leadership and Scouts themselves to provide safe, nurturing challenges helping them to gain or support the skills necessary to lead a wonderful life through growth, service and being part of something larger than oneself that can continue, if they wish, for a lifetime.
The Scoutmaster Corps, with the support of the Troop Committee, parents, our sponsor (Haygood UMC) and other adult leadership work to enable safe Scouting, working with the Scouts to set goals, plan how to achieve them and then execute upon them. We work using two-deep leadership for youth safety to support their advancement through standard and advanced scouting skills, to collaborate using the Patrol Method and to gain or teach skills using the EDGE (Explain, Demonstrate, Guide, Enable) method for learning. It was Ben Franklin who said “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” In Scouting we see the benefits of working together to solve challenges, transparently communicating to overcome barriers and of sharing these tried and true techniques each and every day.
Admittedly, many of us on the Scoutmaster Corps were Scouts ourselves, but not all. We all share the uncommon bond of helping support the young members of our communities to enjoy their time growing into young adults, by giving them positive tools, techniques and role modeling to not only have fun, but gain perspective and skills that will last a lifetime. Any adult is eligible to join the Scoutmaster Corps. All it takes is a desire to support, an enjoyment of the outdoors and a willingness to put our Scouts, their safety and growth ahead of other concerns in the world around them; creating a safe place for them to learn, to fail, to grow and succeed together.
The Scoutmaster Corps works with the Scouts to plan and operate the weekly Troop meetings and monthly outings throughout the school year. Outings typically involve outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, fishing, canoeing, caving, visiting historic sites, learning scout skills and making plenty of time to have fun all along the way. We work with the Scout leadership to identify tasks needed to make meetings and outings successful, support them in necessary activities they themselves may not yet be able to accomplish (putting a deposit down for a campsite, confirming supplies needed, etc.) on their own, help run the annual planning session at the end of each school year (where outings for the next year are determined to set the annual calendar) and in general provide guidance for the efficient and effective operations of a Scout-led Troop. WHAT? ‘Scout Led’? Yes – Troop 455 has been a ‘Scout Led’ troop for a number of years. The adults help establish safe boundaries and guide, but it is the Scouts themselves who, as able, lead. It is most definitely not ‘our’ Scouting experience, but it is theirs and we are here in service to support them, mentor them and enable them as they do so. Any questions, input or feedback, I’m always available with a little notice.