How to engage the boys in the program to teach and inspire the younger boys.
Show Notes:
- There is a large emphasis in boys (or soon girls) making Eagle. It’s important to remember that the program is not designed to churn out Eagle Scouts, the program is successful as youngsters to gain skills to use throughout their lifetime.
- BSA Famous Eagle Scouts (usScouts.org)
- How to help youth leaders build a Scout-led troop (Scouting Magazine)
- 10 Tips for being a better patrol leader (Scouting Magazine)
- Artisan Owl Replica 1900s Boy Scout Pocket Token Coin (Amazon)
Transcript:
When I do scoutmaster conferences with boys one of the analogies I like to use is that when you first join the troop you’re like a dry sponge, and as you complete scout, tenderfoot, second class and first class requirements you spend your time sucking in the knowledge to fill up that sponge.
I open their books and I pick our random requirements in those ranks and we discuss how they get the knowledge to complete them. Most often it’s working with other scouts, and leaders and then having scouts be satisfied with the results and sign off on requirements.
So when that sponge is good and fat its time for the scouts that were learning all that great information to start to squeeze the sponge and fill the sponges of the newer scouts.
Not only does this perpetuate the program, as a boy run program, but it gives these scouts the opportunity to brush up on these skills by teaching them to others.
I like this analogy as it shows the scouts how they take from the program and eventually are expected to give back to the next set of boys. While they still learn and grow, they go into the Star and Life ranks with a basis of knowledge that is not only useful to the scout but to the new scouts coming into the program.
This giving back continues as a boy travels the path to Eagle. This is one of the reasons I prefer to have boys complete their Eagle at about 16-17 years of age. I see it as they are old enough to have the experience and maturity to train and lead but still have enough time left in the program to be a role model for the boys looking to achieve Eagle.
Now, there as some boys who get it in their heads that once the become Eagle, whether it’s 14, 15, 16 or 17 that they are “done” with the program.
I try to dissuade them of this, as they are looking at the program all wrong.
You get this especially with the younger Eagle scouts who may be more concerned with the goal instead of the journey. Another analogy I like to instill is that the journey to Eagle is like eating ice cream. Sure, you can wolf it all down and be done with it, but isn’t it more satisfying to taste and savor it?
While there is a tremendous effort to get to Eagle, once you are there, there is a responsibility to give back, to live the virtues of an Eagle to walk the walk and talk the talk.
Once and Eagle, always an Eagle. There are no former Eagle scouts. But this is what works for us.
Take what you like and leave the rest, and as we say in Woodbadge, feedback is a gift, leave yours below in the comments, with the hope we can all learn together.
I’m Scoutmaster Dave, and this was giving back to the program.
