How Scouting Builds Character

A reader recently told me they were feeling frustrated with evaluating advancement requirements and lamented “I sometimes wish the people who write these requirements would actually watch them in a troop environment.

Earnest Thompson-Seton first published ‘The Birch Bark Roll’ in His work in establishing the pre-BSA organization, The Woodcraft Indians, was ultimately woven together with the ideas of Baden Powell and Daniel Carter Beard to form the program of the BSA.

“Be Prepared” is the Scout Motto.

How do we maintain discipline, require accountability and promote responsibility without resorting to shame or allowing our anger to take over.

During his lifetime Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the worldwide Scouting movement, wrote many books and articles directed to Scouters.

I was dumbfounded when the parent of a Webelos visiting our troop asked; “What about a Scout who doesn’t really like camping?” How would you answer that question? The best I could come up with was; “I don’t really know what Scouting is if we aren’t camping, I don’t think it’s an option.

One should guard against preaching to young people success in the customary form as the main aim in life.

During his lifetime Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the worldwide Scouting movement, wrote many books and articles directed to Scouters.

During his lifetime Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the worldwide Scouting movement, wrote many books and articles directed to Scouters.

Scouters encourage and assess Scout Spirit in Scouts, but how often do we apply that same scrutiny to examine our own attitudes and actions? Speaking for myself; I don’t always live up to what I’d consider an ideal expression of Scout spirit; but I doubt anyone does either.

From an emotion development article at Edutopia: Social and emotional learning can help students successfully resolve conflict, communicate clearly, solve problems, and much more.

During his lifetime Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the worldwide Scouting movement, wrote many books and articles directed to Scouters.

Scout service projects are a basic element of any solid program, and participation in them is a requirement for advancement in rank.

I post this because I run into a fair number of Fellow Scouters who rail about the current state of the world.

Here’s a Scoutmaster minute idea for your notebook: If you visit the archery range at camp this summer (and you should!) you’ll get the opportunity to shoot an arrow at a target.

Your son comes home from Scout summer camp more capable and mature than the boy you waved goodbye to a short week ago.

A bit of planning, a lot of work, and the result! From Seth Godin You don’t get to just do the good parts.

There’s a danger inherent in going too far with the whole ‘kids these days’ thing.

This is post number one in this four part series on the patrol method The Adult Role , Objections , Making it happen The patrol system is not one method in which Scouting for boys can be carried on.

The 11th edition of he Scout Handbook begins with these promises: Scouting promises you the great outdoors.

Things that stand the test of time.

A recently published study from the University of Rochester asserts that Nature Makes Us More Caring “Stopping to experience our natural surroundings can have social as well as personal benefits,” says Richard Ryan, coauthor and professor of psychology, psychiatry and education at the University of Rochester.

No organization cares about you.

The long history of the “buddy system” in Scouting has shown that it is always best to have at least one other person with you and aware at all times of your circumstances and what you are doing in any outdoor or strenuous activity – Guide to Safe Scouting “Where’s your buddy?” is a pretty common question when we are out camping.

Here’s a Scoutmaster’s Minute on the subject of experience: You don’t lack intelligence, fortitude, motivation or common sense; you lack experience.

Sometimes we need to slow down and concentrate on what we are doing.

I learned how to not be afraid.

A Scouter’s Golden Opportunity I took a piece of plastic clay And idly fashioned it one day.

“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards.

Anne-Marie Slaughter is the mother of two adolescent kids and a Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University.

Some bemoan the lack of competition in Scouting and the tendency to make everyone a winner.