This past weekend we made a trek down to my parent's place to camp with some of the boys from Joseph's boy scout troop. We had 5 boys including Joseph and 3 adults which is a great ratio. There were times when we also had my husband Brian but we call him a trainee since this was his first overnight scout camp :)
We arrived on Thursday and stayed through Sunday, with lots of swimming, fishing, a trip to Dausett Trails Nature Center, Indian Springs State Park. We worked on our Fishing and Cooking merit badges and spent a lot of time just hanging out and building memories. Some would say that we didn't really camp, because we were close to a house, bathrooms, and showers. The boys didn't seem to mind, and each night they spent under the stars they fell asleep talking into the night.
I wasn't sure how the whole event would come off, but as we got ready to leave the boys had marked their territory with a new fire area and claimed their camping spots. I think they would like to go again sometime, and any time they request a return trip, means it has been a successful trip!
Last night our Troop committee met and discussed the upcoming year. Looks like we will have a busy calendar this year, and that is great for the boys, hope there will be some things Joseph can do. He loves scouts!
Showing posts with label LCG BoyScouts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LCG BoyScouts. Show all posts
6.16.2010
Scout Moms vs Scout Dads
One thing that absolutely drives me crazy is the conversation, that as scout parents, we have all the time. It starts with this sentence " We need more Dad's to volunteer".....and as soon as it is out my hackles are up and I am ready to fight.
Not because I don't believe that boys need male influences, I DO! I can't teach my son to be a man, he needs a man for that.
I can teach him, and other boys, how to be good people and how to live the scout law. I can also be there to make sure they don't hurt themselves and others when they try their many antics. I can drive the van, organize the trip, referee the arguments, supervise the younger ones, reign them in when the silliness threatens to go to far, and call them down when they step out of line. All those things, and a hundred others can be done by a Scout MOM!
I can also, coordinate a simple camp out, plan a field trip, teach a merit badge, manage money, review their books, discuss their rank advancements, give them direction and suggestions and be a sounding board.
One person recently said, "we need more Dads so that our kids can have a quality program." I tried really hard not to be offended, because I know for a fact that it wasn't a malicious statement.
Do I think we need more Dads? Yep!!!!! Sure!!!! I think we need more parents~ parents who are not just willing to show up, but parents who want to be there, who enjoy leading the boys. I don't really care if you are man, woman, Mom, Dad, Grandma, Granddad, Uncle, Aunt......whatever!
Yet I think we need to realize that there are many men who do not feel comfortable being responsible for other peoples children; there are Moms who don't either.
Let us be thankful for those who volunteer, who lead or give of their time in whatever way they can, and stop focusing on male or female.
Not because I don't believe that boys need male influences, I DO! I can't teach my son to be a man, he needs a man for that.
I can teach him, and other boys, how to be good people and how to live the scout law. I can also be there to make sure they don't hurt themselves and others when they try their many antics. I can drive the van, organize the trip, referee the arguments, supervise the younger ones, reign them in when the silliness threatens to go to far, and call them down when they step out of line. All those things, and a hundred others can be done by a Scout MOM!
I can also, coordinate a simple camp out, plan a field trip, teach a merit badge, manage money, review their books, discuss their rank advancements, give them direction and suggestions and be a sounding board.
One person recently said, "we need more Dads so that our kids can have a quality program." I tried really hard not to be offended, because I know for a fact that it wasn't a malicious statement.
Do I think we need more Dads? Yep!!!!! Sure!!!! I think we need more parents~ parents who are not just willing to show up, but parents who want to be there, who enjoy leading the boys. I don't really care if you are man, woman, Mom, Dad, Grandma, Granddad, Uncle, Aunt......whatever!
Yet I think we need to realize that there are many men who do not feel comfortable being responsible for other peoples children; there are Moms who don't either.
Let us be thankful for those who volunteer, who lead or give of their time in whatever way they can, and stop focusing on male or female.
6.10.2010
Scouts and Accomplishments
So several months ago I wrote that I would be updating this blog and letting you know how we were managing to accomplish the Boy Scout journey without compromising my son's Sabbath observances. At the time it felt like a dismal and daunting task, some days it still does! Yet today I am happy to say that just a little over 1 years since he transitioned to Boy Scouts he has earned his First Class Scout Rank.
For those of you who don't know much about the ranks, you earn them in this order:
Scout
Tenderfoot
Second Class
First Class
Star
Life
Eagle
The first 4 ranks are about learning the scout skills, hiking, camping, first aid, orienteering, cooking, swimming, etc.
The last 3 ranks become learning your leadership skills, serving in a leadership role in the troop, earning merit badges, learning about and planning their Eagle projects. These ranks are timed, so to speak, you must remain in these ranks for a certain time period. This keeps boys from rushing ahead and getting to the end of the journey as clueless as when they started. This is where the true Eagle Scouts come from. Those boys who hang in there, earn the badges, serve the troop and stay active.
We have camped, hiked, oriented ourselves, cooked, etc.....all with respect to his Sabbath and we have managed to get this far! YAY!!!!! Joseph is so proud of himself and is so motivated to continue that it is hard not to be caught up in his enthusiasm.
Monday night we will have our Court of Honor and watch him receive his Rank and Merit Badges. I will try not to cry, just because I am that kind of Mama :)
Now off to plan more events for these Scouts!
For those of you who don't know much about the ranks, you earn them in this order:
Scout
Tenderfoot
Second Class
First Class
Star
Life
Eagle
The first 4 ranks are about learning the scout skills, hiking, camping, first aid, orienteering, cooking, swimming, etc.
The last 3 ranks become learning your leadership skills, serving in a leadership role in the troop, earning merit badges, learning about and planning their Eagle projects. These ranks are timed, so to speak, you must remain in these ranks for a certain time period. This keeps boys from rushing ahead and getting to the end of the journey as clueless as when they started. This is where the true Eagle Scouts come from. Those boys who hang in there, earn the badges, serve the troop and stay active.
We have camped, hiked, oriented ourselves, cooked, etc.....all with respect to his Sabbath and we have managed to get this far! YAY!!!!! Joseph is so proud of himself and is so motivated to continue that it is hard not to be caught up in his enthusiasm.
Monday night we will have our Court of Honor and watch him receive his Rank and Merit Badges. I will try not to cry, just because I am that kind of Mama :)
Now off to plan more events for these Scouts!
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