When we are camping, we do a superb job with "Leave No Trace" and leaving our area better than we found it. Not only do we pick up our waste, but we pick up the trash that others leave or that is blown in by the wind or floats downstream. I encourage you to take the same approach at home. If you see something out of place, help your family by picking it up – you do not need to wait until you are told. If there are dishes in the sink, do not wash yours only, but take care of the rest. Being helpful and selfless leads to harmony and happiness. This shows love for others and is a life habit that will serve you well.
A Scout is Clean.
Sunday, January 28, 2024
Monday, January 22, 2024
Scoutmaster Minute -- 23 January 2024
During a recent Scoutmaster Conference, a Scout brought up a great point, that it is not possible to be brave unless one is facing fear. We face fear in our daily lives. It is part of our growth as humans. We learn to balance and walk, ride a bike, swim, speak and sing in front of others, and other things that push us away from our comfort zones, face our fears and achieve. From the mastery of fire to walking on the moon, these displays of bravery have allowed us to propel our civilization forward.
Behind the guts to do brave things is often training to build confidence and incremental skill. Think of the example of learning how to ride a bike. We might start on a tricycle before we get on a bicycle with training wheels. Then we progress to riding without training wheels, but with mom or dad holding on to us. As we show balance and ability, the parent lets go and we ride for the first time. Albeit this is building up skill to complete the task, it is still bravery in conquering a fear.
Likewise, this weekend members of the Troop displayed bravery in tackling the extreme cold and camping in the outdoors in tents. Whereas we may have been fearful, we found that our preparations and training made what was difficult doable. Now we are better off for the experience, being better prepared and more confident knowing that we have successfully taken what the weather had to throw at us, and we came out on the other side victorious.
A Scout is Brave.
Behind the guts to do brave things is often training to build confidence and incremental skill. Think of the example of learning how to ride a bike. We might start on a tricycle before we get on a bicycle with training wheels. Then we progress to riding without training wheels, but with mom or dad holding on to us. As we show balance and ability, the parent lets go and we ride for the first time. Albeit this is building up skill to complete the task, it is still bravery in conquering a fear.
Likewise, this weekend members of the Troop displayed bravery in tackling the extreme cold and camping in the outdoors in tents. Whereas we may have been fearful, we found that our preparations and training made what was difficult doable. Now we are better off for the experience, being better prepared and more confident knowing that we have successfully taken what the weather had to throw at us, and we came out on the other side victorious.
A Scout is Brave.
Monday, January 8, 2024
Scoutmaster Minute, 9 January 2024
If you have watched a Disney-Pixar movie, chances are you have heard the works of composer Randy Newman. Of the nine films, I would guess you are familiar with his songs in the Toy Story series, two of the Cars movies, A Bug's Life and both of Monsters, Inc. For me, I guess the first time I heard Randy Newman was his 1977 song, "Short People." This song, meant as satire, contained the chorus of "short people got no reason to live." This was funny to six-year-old me, not because I understood it to be a joke, but because it became an immature playground taunt. As I grew older, and not as tall as my classmates, the taunts became less humorous. I have grown to find that there are some advantages to being short, and one's place in this world is not wholly defined by height.
We have always been a welcoming Troop. As we go into a weekend where we host Webelos and Arrow of Light Scouts to our Troop's recruiting event, we are reminded to be kind. Many of these younger Scouts will become members of our Troop. Just like them, we used to be younger and shorter and just as hyperactive. Given my tenure as Scoutmaster, I think I can remember all of you at that age and believe it or not I was the tall one (yet look at you know). So too will these Scouts grow and thrive with the positive example you provide. To that end, let's remember a different Randy Newman song that we all know, "You've Got a Friend in Me" and cement that first impression so these Scouts know they are welcome in a Troop that values them at every height and age.
A Scout is Friendly.
We have always been a welcoming Troop. As we go into a weekend where we host Webelos and Arrow of Light Scouts to our Troop's recruiting event, we are reminded to be kind. Many of these younger Scouts will become members of our Troop. Just like them, we used to be younger and shorter and just as hyperactive. Given my tenure as Scoutmaster, I think I can remember all of you at that age and believe it or not I was the tall one (yet look at you know). So too will these Scouts grow and thrive with the positive example you provide. To that end, let's remember a different Randy Newman song that we all know, "You've Got a Friend in Me" and cement that first impression so these Scouts know they are welcome in a Troop that values them at every height and age.
A Scout is Friendly.
Tuesday, January 2, 2024
Scoutmaster Minute, 2 January 2024
I read an article this week that told a story of how country singer Dolly Parton made a recent phone call to one of her super fans in Utah who is approaching end-of-life due to terminal cancer. If you are unfamiliar with who Dolly Parton is, not only is she a celebrated singer/songwriter, but she is also a highly successful businesswoman with a net worth of around $650 Million. Dolly gives back to the community and is well known for her charitable work, but taking the time out of her busy day to call a single fan and fulfilling his dying wish exceeds anyone's expectations. To top it off, during the call she sang to him the song she wrote, "I Will Always Love You." Dolly's act of kindness brought joy into the heart of a suffering man.
To me, this is even more poignant given the strength it takes to comfort someone who is dying or someone who has suffered great loss. I say this because I personally find this very difficult. I never quite know what to say and as I run the words through my head, nothing seems worthy of the situation. Yet it is in times of turmoil that one needs comfort most and the most compassionate thing we can do is to be present and try to lessen or share the grief.
I leave you with two quotes. The first is from Scouting's founder, Baden-Powell who said, "The most worth-while thing is to try and put happiness into the lives of others." The second is from Dolly Parton herself, "If you see someone without a smile, give 'em yours." Know that often being compassionate is difficult and sometimes just being present is enough to lessen the pain of loss.
A Scout is Kind.
To me, this is even more poignant given the strength it takes to comfort someone who is dying or someone who has suffered great loss. I say this because I personally find this very difficult. I never quite know what to say and as I run the words through my head, nothing seems worthy of the situation. Yet it is in times of turmoil that one needs comfort most and the most compassionate thing we can do is to be present and try to lessen or share the grief.
I leave you with two quotes. The first is from Scouting's founder, Baden-Powell who said, "The most worth-while thing is to try and put happiness into the lives of others." The second is from Dolly Parton herself, "If you see someone without a smile, give 'em yours." Know that often being compassionate is difficult and sometimes just being present is enough to lessen the pain of loss.
A Scout is Kind.
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