Adventures with Troop 38 and 638; Why Scouting?

By Scoutmaster Patrick —

I recently had a few moments to reflect on the Scouting program now known as Scouting America. Recent “Adventures with Troop 38 and 638” articles highlighted trips and events our local youth have participated in. These events, while fun, only scratch the surface of the benefits that a scouting program can provide for our future leaders. 

Most people are aware of the Eagle Scout Rank, only a few scouts (about six percent) earn such an honor. However, not all scouts who enter the program earn Eagle, but all scouts who participate in the program achieve growth. As I ponder these benefits, I share them below.

Youth Led Fun and Adventure: Scouting is a youth-led organization. The adults are there for support and safety. In late August, the youth leadership gathers together and plans the year. They will choose monthly themes (such as animals, winter sports, wilderness survival, computer programming, community service, water activities, etc.). 

For each theme, they will brainstorm goals and activities to do at meetings and locations to visit on camping trips. Each year we repeat some activities such as summer camp, alpine skiing/ snowboarding and community service, while exploring new locations and opportunities as well. As a leader, the safety of everyone is paramount; so, as a troop, we always follow the requirements in the Guide to Safe Scouting, limiting activities that have a known track record for success. 

Teamwork: Baden Powell, the father of Scouting America, said, “The only method in Scouting is the Patrol Method.” Youth in both Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA are divided up into smaller groups. In Cub Scouts, those are called Dens. In Scouts BSA, they are called patrols. 

Being in a patrol requires youth to work together to accomplish tasks. These tasks are sometimes simple, such as setting up a tent or purifying water to drink, or complex activities including lashing a three-rope bridge or cooking a dinner that is edible. All these activities require teamwork to achieve the goals of the patrol and troop. This includes trust, communication, problem-solving, and, most importantly, having fun.

Cooking: Last year, we had a wilderness survival campout where we were sensitive to the diets of individual scouts. For this camping trip, the scouts decided to challenge themselves by cooking all their meals in patrols over an open fire. No pots, pans, or foil were allowed, just knives and what they found. 

If that was not difficult enough, they also decided that the main course for the meal would be chicken. Not the pre-cooked chicken in the freezer section, but a whole, uncooked chicken you would buy at a store. Building fires, each patrol cooked their meals that evening with very good results. Though adult leaders were around to make sure no food was consumed raw, the cooking was done 100% by the youth.  

Each campout and event our scouts go on, the youth are responsible for their own meals.  At times we cook over open fires, other times on camp stoves, Dutch ovens, and other creative cooking methods. It is in their best interest to make sure meals are edible, and they must include a variety of food groups for proper nutrition. 

Sometimes meals are great, and other times they flop (we often joke about meals that flop, including “hash blacks” as opposed to “hash browns” and food that contains extra “trail spice” from falling on the ground).  

I am reminded of a story about an Eagle Scout who went on to college. During his time there, the power went out in the dorms, and the dining hall was shut down, leaving students with few available options for dinner. This scout, being familiar with living without electricity, took out his single-burner camp stove and started cooking dinner for himself and a few friends. Cooking in adverse conditions is a skill that will be useful throughout life!

Being connected by being disconnected: Most, but not all, of the Scouts BSA program in Troop 38 and 638 requires scouts to be “disconnected” from screens and other digital devices. Though we used said devices to communicate and plan events and meetings, once we gather for campouts or in patrols, scouts disconnect. They communicate face to face, share stories with each other, and problem-solve as a group, all while having fun and learning from one another. 

“Nothing is clickable in Nature,” a common expression we use when on camping trips. Scouts must learn from each other by experiencing and through trial and error. By being “disconnected” they find other ways of being connected to themselves and nature. 

Positive contact with adults: One of the main tenets of Scouting is being connected to positive adult role models. In our very own troops here in Owego (38 and 638), scouts interact with engineers, electricians, military personnel, store managers, professors, medical doctors, firefighters, EMTs, legal professionals, program managers, professional drivers, computer programmers, auto mechanics, veterinarians, teachers, and more. When working on merit badges specifically, each badge must be taught or guided by an approved “expert” in that field. Adults are there to support youth and help them reach their scouting goals. 

During rank advancement, scouts meet with both scoutmasters and a small committee of adults to verify their advancement. Each and every adult in Scouting America must pass a background check, complete yearly training in protecting youth, and agree to abide by and follow safe scouting practices.  

Documented goal achievement: Many readers of this are familiar with the rank “Eagle Scout.” What makes this rank so prestigious is that every step toward earning that rank is documented and reviewed. A scout is not “given” ranks or “requirements”; they are earned. Each requirement for every badge must be verified as completed by an adult, and even after the requirements for a rank are completed, they are verified by a committee that grants the scout a rank. These advancements are documented and recorded before a scout is awarded a rank or badge. All must be completed, with some exceptions, before the age of 18.  

When you hear a scout has completed their “XYZ” rank or that they are an “Eagle Scout” you know that they earned that rank through hard work and verification. Finally, just as there is documented achievement as a youth, this is only one part of Scouting. I don’t know of a single Eagle Scout who only completed the minimum requirements. All have done much more in their scouting careers, achieving the benefits outlined here. 

Choose your own adventure: As mentioned above, not all scouts who participate in the program earn the rank of Eagle. There are scouts in the troop who are there to advance up the ranks, complete the badges, and have the goal of earning Eagle. We have other youth who are there just for the fun and the adventure. Some scouts are less interested in the camping trips and more interested in learning about topics they are not familiar with. Whatever route a scout chooses, the Scouting program aims to help that scout achieve their goals, including life goals as well. 

Citizenship: An important aspect of Scouting is learning what it means to be a citizen of one’s community, nation, the world, and society. They participate in community service while learning what it means to be a respectful community member. Most scouts continue serving their communities in the future by joining and eventually leading organizations that strive to make our society a better place to live.

Life Long Friends: Scouts BSA and Cub Scouts are for youth aged 18 years and younger. As scouts “age out” of the program, I have noticed time and time again that they choose to remain connected with each other. Even though many are working, serving in the military, or in college, whatever chance they get, they connect with each other through road trips, visits, and camping adventures of their own.  

Join them to learn more. There are two troops and a Cub Scout Pack in Owego that would welcome all youth. The programs that Troops 38 (for boys) and Troop 638 (for girls) offer in Owego are for youth ages 11-17. Meetings are every Monday at 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Owego. Cub Scout Pack 37’s programming is designed for youth (boys and girls) under the age of 11. 

Contact scouttroop38@gmail.com for more information about any of the above programs.