SCOUT WEEK Adventure By William E. Lawrence Director of Boy Scouting

In Fun and Fellowship

It seems strange that FUN must be emphasized as a feature of Scouting. For that’s what Scouts expect when they join a Troop. That’s what they must get if we are going to keep them interested ... but it should be fun with a purpose, a dignified sort of fun that Scouts will always remember.

New games and inter-Patrol contests; better Patrol and Troop meetings; stunt nights; special features, such as Troop attendance at the big basketball game or a Troop swim at the school or “Y” pool; wide games on every hike and camp; these are only some ways to make Scouting fun.

And don’t overlook fellowship. One way to stimulate wholesome companionship is to see to it that every boy is in the Patrol where he fits—in a Patrol where he has friends, common interests with the other fellows, a leader he will gladly follow, activities he helps to plan and responsibilities he has to carry out for the welfare of his gang.

THERE IS adventure in fun and fellowship and it’s up to us to provide opportunities for it.

In the Out-of-Doors

Many times, when boys drop out of Scouting they tell us it is because “we didn’t go hiking or camping often enough” or “our program is always the same old stuff.” Scouts want to go OUT. We must take them out—out where they can master the skills of the pioneer, explorer, woodsman, or sportsman.

Scouting has the program for the out-of-doors—hiking and camping. But let’s make it hiking and camping with a purpose—to explore wilderness areas, catch bigger fish, track wild animals, tramp the trails of the old pioneers. Let’s help Scouts learn outdoor skills—but then, let’s give them a chance to use those skills in seeking adventure.

Every Scout has the right to a rugged outdoor experience, for Scouting means outdoor adventure.

⚜ “Adventure—that’s Scouting.” But what is adventure? Webster says that it’s “That which happens without design ... hazard ... a bold undertaking ... a remarkable occurrence ... a striking event ... a stirring incident.”

To adult minds such a definition conjures up visions ... leaving the commonplace, going into the unknown. And ... most of us find it only in reading about the great and hazardous adventures of others.

We go with Perry and Stefansson to the Arctic or with Shackleton, Amundsen, Scott and Byrd to the Antarctic.

We go up the Mississippi with DeSoto or down it with LaSalle.

Or we thrill to the determination, courage and excitement in the conquest of Mt. Everest, or in flying faster than sound.

Perhaps we as adults have few things happen to us now that we call adventures. But ... let’s not forget that adventure is a relative thing.

A boy may put up a front of being sophisticated but he hasn’t lived long enough to get around 25much. There are still plenty of bold undertakings, remarkable occurrences and stirring incidents ahead for him.

Can’t you recall some of your own early adventures? They’d seem pretty tame to you now ... but were they then?

Within the last few years I have hiked and camped in some of the places where I hiked and camped as a Scout. I’ve been surprised to find that the forests are now only small wooded areas ... the mountains I climbed just hills ... the wide lakes hardly more than ponds.

Adventure to a boy is something that is new and different ... a change of surroundings ... experiencing new things in new ways.

It is this promise of adventure ... of camping and of life in the outdoors that lures the boy into Scouting.

We must keep faith with him by giving him that adventure ... not just to satisfy him but because it is the best way we have of holding his interest. And ... only as we hold his interest can we influence his development.

But if we give a boy a good, old-fashioned, rugged brand of Scouting ... if we teach him to take care of himself ... if once a month we take him to a not-too-distant spot with a pack on his back ... have him sleep on the ground and cook his meals ... he will have adventure.

Here, with his Patrol and Troop he will establish a temporary settlement. He will meet the problems of shelter and food and learn to get along with his fellows. Every new experience will bring new problems to be solved.

As he grows in ability, his experiences can become longer and more difficult and thus more adventurous. Opportunities to live outdoors in rain and snow should be sought. In this way he may learn additional skills which come only from living with, and mastering difficulties.

When he can light a fire and keep warm with wet wood, pitch his tent, and make his bed in a rainstorm ... then he will have had adventures and through them learned a lot about self reliance.

Remember Webster’s definition ... “a bold undertaking ... a remarkable occurrence ... a striking event ... a stirring incident.”

They are all there. You can find them as you work and plan your Troop program.

If you do, you will help boys to know themselves. You will develop in them a feeling of responsibility toward others. You will go far toward enriching the life of a boy through his Scouting experience.

This can be your “bold undertaking” ... your “striking event” ... your “stirring incident.” This can be your adventure in Scouting!

Five adventure highlights for Boy Scout Week are spotlighted below. Start them in February, but keep going the rest of the year. These are the elements which will bring adventure to the boys in your Troop.

In Special Events

Everybody loves a BIG SHOW—almost every scout gets a kick out of performing for his family, friends and neighbors. The special events suggested for Boy Scout Week give Scouts a chance to be recognized.

Feb. 6th—Scout Sunday—attend religious services in uniform and take part in the service.

Feb. 8th—Anniversary Day—revive the custom of re-pledging oneself to the Scout Oath and Law at 8:15 p.m. Scouts all over the country will be doing the same thing at the same time.

Feb. 7-11—Troop Meeting night—Open House program. (Get the new “Open House” booklet from your Local Council.) Fun, demonstrations, recognition of advancement, Report to parents and parent institutions on Adventure in Citizenship.

Scouting in schools—assembly program and demonstration.

Feb. 12th—A day in the open—hike or camp activities appropriate for locality and individual Troop.

In Citizenship

Remember last year’s Report to the Nation when Troops reported on their service projects for the coming year—1948? This is the pay-off year, when we report on what we did instead of what we plan to do. This is the time to check up on your community Good Turns, service to your sponsor, and other service projects. Plan new and bigger activities for Scout Week—1949, and for the rest of the year. But don’t stop with plans—do something!

There is adventure in Citizenship when Scouts come to realize that they are citizens of the world too. There is no better time to revive an interest in the World Friendship Fund to help Scouts in other lands. Food packages are more important than ever.

Review now the results of our promises—and make even more challenging ones for 1949.

In Leadership

Every Scoutmaster knows how important his junior leaders are—Patrol Leaders, Senior Patrol Leader, Junior Assistant Scoutmaster, Scribe and others. This hard working staff comes in for little credit except on rare occasions. It will boost their morale, raise them a little higher in the esteem of their fellows if they are properly recognized for their leadership jobs. It will point up to parents and friends the way Scouting helps boys develop their latent leadership ability.

Den Chiefs, too, should be recognized for the important part they play—recognized in the Troop, before fellow Scouts, parents and friends.

A special investiture for Troop leaders at the Open House, or another special occasion would be the ideal way to recognize this leadership. Make it short, make it impressive. Make the Scouts feel that they are appreciated. Point up their work as adventure in living—as well as adventure in Scouting.

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