Salamanders and Limitations

Do you know why the Smoky Mountains have so many species of salamanders?

I didn’t.

After watching this video I do. I ‘m sharing this with you because there’s more to it than salamanders. Part of our work as Scouters is encouraging the joy of learning and discovery.

Every time I see a group of Scouts sitting down listening to someone tell them something I wonder how we could do better. We know scouts learn when they are on their feet and active, not in a seat and passive; but how do we actually make this work? The students in this video are having fun; there is no indication that they are simply slogging through a school assignment. I’ll bet twenty years from now they will still remember what they learned about salamanders.

Making a video means you impose a set of limitations on yourself, but more about that in a moment.

I am not necessarily suggesting that Scouts go out and make videos like this (although it’s a pretty interesting idea!). What I am interested in how a creative approach enlivens complex concepts and makes them compelling. If you don’t consider yourself particularly creative let me suggest that limitations inspire creativity. A watercolorist limits themselves to their paints and paper but within those limits they find endless creative possibilities. The students who made the video were ‘limited’ to making a video, but that limitation created a fantastic result. What limitations could you place on yourself to inspire that sort of creativity? Can you teach knots without using rope or string? It turns out that extra long Twizzlers make excellent knot tying material, and you can eat your knots! Can Scouts learn how to pitch a tent without actually seeing what they are doing?

Safety goggles covered with duct tape make good blindfolds. Can you show how to safely use woods tools without touching the tools yourself? Be careful!, but it’s possible to talk a Scout safely through this. Will he learn more from doing than watching? Can you develop leadership skills without having classes or using PowerPoint presentations? It takes longer but there are great results. Can you say what you need to say in a minute or less?

Scoutmasters know this limitation sharpens their communication skills. Can you build a bridge with a pile of Scout staves and no rope? Yes, you really can .

Limitations aren’t really limiting, they become a key to unlocking limitless potential. Try creating some limitations and let me know what you and your Scouts come up with.