Scout Law & Oath

It is healthy to test and question even the most elemental forces, ideals and influences in our lives: Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear.

In 1785, just a year before his death at age 37, Robert Burns enshrined ’the pith of sense and pride of work’ above wealth or aristocratic birth in his poem A Man’s a Man for all That .

A Scout cares about other people.

I don’t think of myself as particularly a persnickety or doctrinaire so what follows is probably out of character.

I often hear from Scouters and parents who ask me to help them resolve Scouting problems involving a personality conflict, a disappointment, or other difficulty.

Ideals are like stars: you will not succeed in touching them with your hands, but like the seafaring man on the ocean desert of waters, you choose them as your guides, and following them, you reach your destiny.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 – 1832) is an important writer in the German language and Western culture.

Remember being young when the ground was constantly shifting under our feet? Remember wanting to be an adult but not wanting to be like the adults you knew? Remember how you wanted to change things? What an energizing, exciting, challenging, and sometimes confusing world we lived in! Our growing brains and bodies were in a constant state of change, every day was full of new ideas, new experiences, new people, new challenges.

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

From Rules of Thumb , a collection of hitherto unwritten wisdom that keeps the world from crashing to a halt: The more rules you have in the classroom, the more time you’ll spend enforcing them.

Sitting down, a sigh of relief, a cup of coffee, close your eyes, and think about a nap.

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

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

One of my favorite writers and noted American naturalist Aldo Leopold is, perhaps, the first to describe what is now known as a “trophic cascade”.

“Vesperas” is a Latin word that means “evening” and is a root of the English word “west” where the sun sets.

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

The way I see it there are two ways to react to the consequences of mistakes we’ve made: Deny, blame others, cover up, and hope nobody finds out.

Keep before your mind in all your teaching that the whole ulterior motive of this scheme is to form character … Baden-Powell Scouting’s ulterior motive, our goal as Scouters, is forming character.

A reader asks: I would like to get your thoughts on how you evaluate Scout Spirit.

A Scout tells the truth.

In the early years of our national history President John Adams signed a set of laws were enacted to prevent people from writing or speaking against the government.

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

The heart of the Scout Law is Helpful, Friendly, Courteous and Kind.

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

A Scout works to pay his way and to help others.

A Scout is reverent toward God.

A Scout is clean.

A Scout is brave.

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

These are divisive times.

I am the heat of your hearth on the cold winter nights, the friendly shade screening you from the summer sun, and my fruits are refreshing draughts quenching your thirst as you journey on.

Called neckerchiefs, scarves, neckers they have been with us since Baden Powell published Scouting for Boys : The Scout Uniform is very like the uniform worn by my men when I commanded the South African Constabulary.

A Scout follows the rules of his family, school, and troop.

A Scout is kind.

A Scout is courteous.

A Scout is friendly.

Here’s a Scoutmaster minute idea – See Preaching the Scoutmaster Minute and Seizing the Scoutmaster Minute and other Scoutmaster Minute ideas In 1984 62 year old Cliff Young took 7th place in one of the world’s most grueling ultra-marathons; Australia’s 543 mile endurance race from Sydney to Melbourne.

Being prepared is usually thought of as having the knowledge, skill and gear to meet any challenge.

When the BSA was challenged to expand its universality, to open the tent wider and give more people the benefits of membership we refused.

Some years ago we started having ‘vespers’ every Saturday evening when the troop is camping.

I have known a troop who has a sign posted in their meeting place that reads “make good or make way”.

Scouting can change without abandoning the central intention of its existence.