What an evening! Tonight 7 boys became young men in a Bridging Court of Honor. I know I speak for all the leaders in both Pack and Troop 365 when I say how proud I am of:
Luke
Camden
Grayson
Stephen
Keith
Matthew
Hunter
I've watched you boys grow over the past four years. You're taller, stronger, smarter, more independent, and ready for Boy Scouts.
Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your lives.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Rain Man
So, I spent the day at a very informative workshop titled Trainers Development Conference (aka Train the Trainer) and, as a result, have had to miss our Webelos Overnighter.
Now, on the surface, this may not be a big deal. BUT, it's the first camping trip involving our unit that I've missed in my four year association with it. Add to that it's my oldest son's first Webelos Overnighter.
Blow number one: when I gently explained to my ten year old that I would have to miss it, and was he OK with that, he answered, "That's OK, Dad. We're supposed to be camping like Boy Scouts, so I'll have to get used to you not being there anyway. I'll be fine!"
Great.
I was able to drop in for supper (tasty Hobos) and desert (incredible cobbler). It was clear the boys were in fact doing just fine.
Blow number two: one of my leaders (supposed to be my friend :-) points out that the weather has been either freezing or rainy on every camping trip. We have speculated the last couple years who's to blame for the weather, and he mentions how great the weather has been today.
Then he points out my absence.
Nice.
What do I do now? Naturally I try to figure out who ELSE is missing this weekend, so I can blame THAT person!
Say, this is the first time my wife has missed, and it isn't rainy or freezing! Maybe it's HER fault!
Of course, I would NEVER consider pushing the blame on my wonderful wife...
No, wait, she missed another camping trip when it got down to 19.
Oh well.
--------UPDATE---------
I wish this wasn't the case, but it rained overnight. I guess it's NOT me, afterall.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Now, on the surface, this may not be a big deal. BUT, it's the first camping trip involving our unit that I've missed in my four year association with it. Add to that it's my oldest son's first Webelos Overnighter.
Blow number one: when I gently explained to my ten year old that I would have to miss it, and was he OK with that, he answered, "That's OK, Dad. We're supposed to be camping like Boy Scouts, so I'll have to get used to you not being there anyway. I'll be fine!"
Great.
I was able to drop in for supper (tasty Hobos) and desert (incredible cobbler). It was clear the boys were in fact doing just fine.
Blow number two: one of my leaders (supposed to be my friend :-) points out that the weather has been either freezing or rainy on every camping trip. We have speculated the last couple years who's to blame for the weather, and he mentions how great the weather has been today.
Then he points out my absence.
Nice.
What do I do now? Naturally I try to figure out who ELSE is missing this weekend, so I can blame THAT person!
Say, this is the first time my wife has missed, and it isn't rainy or freezing! Maybe it's HER fault!
Of course, I would NEVER consider pushing the blame on my wonderful wife...
No, wait, she missed another camping trip when it got down to 19.
Oh well.
--------UPDATE---------
I wish this wasn't the case, but it rained overnight. I guess it's NOT me, afterall.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Thursday, March 4, 2010
What Scout Leaders Do
(Adapted from Taylor Mali’s “What Teachers Make”)
The dinner guests were sitting around a table discussing life. One man, a CEO of a large corporation, while complaining about the quality of recent college graduates he'd hired, decided to explain the problem with young people today.
He argued, "Kids these days don't have respect for others, it's all about themselves. What are they learning today? Look at America's youth activities, like Scouting. I mean, really, what's a kid going to learn from someone who lives his childhood vicariously through our youth, while parading around in knee socks and shorts and spending what small money he makes on patches and t-shirts?"
He reminded the other dinner guests what they say, "Those who can, do. Those who can't, get left in the dust." Then he said, "I can and do."
To emphasize his point he said to another guest, “You're a Scout leader, Brad. Be honest. What good do you really do for our kids?”
Brad, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, “You want to know what I do?”
He paused for a second, then began...
“Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
I make a crooked bird house feel like the Biltmore Estate.
I make kids hike 5 miles when their parents can't make them walk to the mailbox.
You want to know what I do?” He paused again and looked at each and every person at the table.
''I make kids wonder.
I make them question.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them have respect for others and take responsibility for their actions.
I teach them to help strangers.
I teach them to remember a promise and a law that they will be able to recite when they are 40.
I help them to be Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.
I make them tie knots, and more knots, and more knots.
I make them plan meals and activities for camping out in the woods, and not in front of the TV.
I make scouts from other countries learn everything they need to know in English while preserving their unique cultural identity and sharing it with their Troop.
I make my camp a place where all my Scouts feel safe.
I make my Scouts stand, saluting, to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, One Nation Under God, because we live in the United States of America.
I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.
I make earning Tenderfoot feel like a home run, and Eagle like the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Brad paused one last time and then continued.
"Then, when people try to judge me by what I do or wear, with me knowing money and looks isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant...
You want to know what I do?
I MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
What do you do?”
The CEO had no response.
The dinner guests were sitting around a table discussing life. One man, a CEO of a large corporation, while complaining about the quality of recent college graduates he'd hired, decided to explain the problem with young people today.
He argued, "Kids these days don't have respect for others, it's all about themselves. What are they learning today? Look at America's youth activities, like Scouting. I mean, really, what's a kid going to learn from someone who lives his childhood vicariously through our youth, while parading around in knee socks and shorts and spending what small money he makes on patches and t-shirts?"
He reminded the other dinner guests what they say, "Those who can, do. Those who can't, get left in the dust." Then he said, "I can and do."
To emphasize his point he said to another guest, “You're a Scout leader, Brad. Be honest. What good do you really do for our kids?”
Brad, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, “You want to know what I do?”
He paused for a second, then began...
“Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
I make a crooked bird house feel like the Biltmore Estate.
I make kids hike 5 miles when their parents can't make them walk to the mailbox.
You want to know what I do?” He paused again and looked at each and every person at the table.
''I make kids wonder.
I make them question.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them have respect for others and take responsibility for their actions.
I teach them to help strangers.
I teach them to remember a promise and a law that they will be able to recite when they are 40.
I help them to be Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.
I make them tie knots, and more knots, and more knots.
I make them plan meals and activities for camping out in the woods, and not in front of the TV.
I make scouts from other countries learn everything they need to know in English while preserving their unique cultural identity and sharing it with their Troop.
I make my camp a place where all my Scouts feel safe.
I make my Scouts stand, saluting, to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, One Nation Under God, because we live in the United States of America.
I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.
I make earning Tenderfoot feel like a home run, and Eagle like the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Brad paused one last time and then continued.
"Then, when people try to judge me by what I do or wear, with me knowing money and looks isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant...
You want to know what I do?
I MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
What do you do?”
The CEO had no response.
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