Methods, Rules and Joy

Scouting has long been a positive, constructive influence in the lives of young people. This vast potential for good lies in simple, direct methods that have been applied effectively across widely different cultures and systems of belief.

These methods need little adaptation, modification or complication – they only require application to create opportunities for Scouts to exercise the concepts of the Scout Oath and Law.

Scouting requires surprisingly few rules, regulations and limitations.

Scoutmasters sometimes find this simplicity confounding and even a little frightening. We wonder if the Scouts are getting the full benefit of the program, if it can be as effortless as it seems, if maybe we should be doing more.

Focused more with the quality of ‘outcomes’ rather than the quality of the experience we sometimes create tests and rules to satisfy our misplaced concerns. how can there be any serious benefit to something so, well, so much fun? The sheer joy of the experience attracts, energizes and retains Scouts. Our real role is to apply the methods, safeguard the experience and maintain what Baden-Powell called “… the fun and jollity of Scouting… “.