Scoutmaster Minute -- 29 August 2023

Some of you have seen Pixar's 2008 film WALL-E, which chronicles the existence of a solitary robot left to clean up a trashed Earth in the year 2805 while the remnants of humans are afloat in space on giant starliner ships. There are many lessons from the movie WALL-E, but the one I want to focus on is the poor state of humans in the film. With robots doing all labor, humans have become grossly obese. Not only do the humans not work, they move around on floating recliners rather than walk. In fact, the humans are even too lazy to chew their food, instead getting calories from smoothy drinks they consume from straws. Even though this movie is fiction, sometimes I wonder how far we are from this being reality. Rather than bikes and Big Wheels, many of the young kids I see drive motorized miniature cars, electric bicycles, and other powered scooters. With the current state of technology and the addiction to it, it seems like the only muscle groups that are getting worked out are the thumbs that work game controls or smart-phone keyboards. I often wonder if we are doomed to become the humans of WALL-E's 2805.

Years ago, I stopped to talk to my then-boss while we were both out running. Ten years my senior, he shared with me that the secret to good health is to sweat every day. I have thought about that short conversation many times. In today's day and age, most people do anything to avoid sweating -- parking air-conditioned cars as close as possible to air-conditioned store fronts to buy roll-on antiperspirants. We do not like to sweat, but the older I get, the more I tend to believe that it is hard to stay healthy without expending the calories to bring up a good sweat.

Technology is not bad -- in many instances it enhances and prolongs our lives. Yet, when we cease to exercise, our existence becomes poor at best. Sometimes it is painful to exercise, but if done right, the feeling afterwards is incredible. We know diamonds are formed due to heat and pressure. I encourage you to challenge yourself physically, so that you do more than live, but so that you live well.

I will keep myself physically strong.

Scoutmaster Minute for 22 August 2023

I have been hiking a lot lately.  In my long walks, I find that I sometimes move very quietly, depending on the surface.  The reward for this is that I have seen some amazing wildlife up close, many who have proven cooperative enough to stand still for some great photographs.  This makes me think of one of the more-forgotten types of pollution that we need to consider and avoid -- noise pollution.  Had I been making a lot of noise, I would have not had the benefit of seeing the wildlife.  A few days ago, I was on the trail taking pictures of a whitetail buck deer with spike antlers who was grazing less from ten meters away from me on the trail.  A family approached with and saw what I saw, then stopped, went silent and watched the deer with me, making sure not to make sudden moves to scare the animal.  This reminds me of one of the seven principles of the Leave No Trace program -- Be Considerate of Others.  From the Leave No Trace website, it defines this principle as "One of the most important components of outdoor ethics is to maintain courtesy toward others. It helps everyone enjoy their outdoor experience. Excessive noise, uncontrolled pets, and damaged surroundings detract from the natural appeal of the outdoors. Being considerate of others ensures everyone can enjoy nature no matter how they interact with it."  It goes on to define the basics as:  respect others and protect the quality of their experience; be courteous, yield to other users on the trail; greet riders and ask which side of the trail to move to when encountering pack stock; Take breaks and camp away from trails and others; and let nature's sounds prevail, avoid loud voices and noises.  I am grateful that this family allowed me to enjoy nature so I could "take only pictures, [and] leave nothing but footprints"  I ask you to consider your impact when you are hiking, biking or running on trails in the woods.

A Scout is Courteous.

 

Scoutmaster Minute for 8 August 2023

Often in the news we see articles about Global Warming and mankind's effects on the environment.  I am not a scientist and I cannot accurately discern how much of our weather patterns are due to man's actions or due to normal shifts in the Earth's surface and atmosphere temperatures.  Yet, I can tell you that mankind has proven to have a spotty record with regards to the care for our world.  For example, mismanagement of nuclear power in Chernobyl has created portions of the surrounding area that some say make the area inhabitable for up to 20 thousand years.  Strip mining has destroyed once-beautiful mountaintops.  In many of our rivers, lakes and streams, to include our local Occoquan River, human-produced pollution has created conditions where untreated water is not safe to drink and the fish are too contaminated to eat.  Garbage, chemicals and discarded pharmaceuticals leaching into the soil affect our water tables and transfer harmful particles into our food source and that of wildlife as well.  Wildfires, many caused by arson, discarded cigarettes, and poorly-monitored campfires, have caused the loss of 1.4 million acres.  To put this in perspective, the National Interagency Fire Center reports that this year lightning has caused around 2,935 wildfires, and people have caused another 27,900.

It goes without saying that we have but one Earth.  Be a leader in conservation.  Use your training as an example and educate others.  Clean up when you can.  Take care to only use what natural resources you need.  Before you use chemicals and poisons -- carefully consider the effects on the environment.  Do your best to recycle.  Be conservation minded.

A Scout is Thrifty.