When I was in church yesterday, one of my good friends came up to me and told me about this article that is in the Ensign, produced by the LDS church.
https://www.lds.org/ensign/2014/07/scout-training-was-the-answer?lang=eng
When I was a troop guide on my first wood badge course staff, this thought came into my mind as I listened to a training given by another staffer. When I was a Unit Commissioner, I emphasized this thought: "How can we expect the boys to do their best if we as leaders don't give our best?" When we lift our arm to the square with the scout sign, we say "On my honor, I will do my best..." does the scout oath only apply to the boys? You can only answer this personally, but I hope it's no.
Scouting, especially in the LDS church has certain tenancies. Cub Scout Programs are very strong, Boy Scout programs are strong, but when a young man enters Varsity or Venturing, the programs are almost non existent? Is there a reason for this? Yes. When someone gets called into Varsity or Venturing, the leaders feel like they know everything and won't get trained. The thought is scouting is scouting when Varsity & Venturing are totally different.
Usually about the time a young man enters Varsity & Venturing, they are getting interested in what I call the four "P's": perfume, petro & paycheck. It's hard to compete with these things when a program is not existent. Leaders get frustrated trying to do everything themselves and eventually give up.
If a leader commits to get trained and receive all the training that is available to them, miracles will happen. These young men need to know that you can be trusted and will be there for them. The young men are at a vulnerable time in their lives at this age and we as leaders could make the distance. If there are Varsity and Venturing programs running when a young man turns 14 & 16, they will not have anything to replace their mutual nights. If they know that their leaders are men of faith and live it, they will look to you as an example of how man of God lives and will strive the same for their lives.
The blessings are there for the taking. Are we willing to do everything we can to make a difference in these young men's lives? Is a couple hours on a weekend a sacrifice enough to make the difference in a young man? I'm pretty sure we all have a leader, a teacher or someone that has influenced us because they were interested in who we were and could see our potential. Can we be that same person?
Monday, June 30, 2014
A New Journey...
Well, I felt the need to make a new blog. I don't know who will be reading this and if it will be any use to some people, but this will be a way for me to share my experiences as a Scout Leader in my new unit.
But first, I must say a little about me. My family is really into Scouting. My father has been a leader since he and my mother got married. Naturally when I turned 8, I became a Cub Scout and started getting scout fever. I joined my first troop when I was 11 and was active till I was 18. I received my Eagle rank when I was 15 and consider it one of my greatest achievements.
My wife and I were married in 2006 and in our new ward, I was called to be a Cub Master. Little did I know that this would become my addiction back into Scouting. I immediately when took all the online training, took leader specific training and then at the Scout-O-Rama, I signed up for Wood Badge due to the persistence of my father. My father was anti- Wood Badge for the longest time but until I saw him change, I decided to make the change also and had a life changing experience.
My wife and I moved to Ogden and I was called as the first counselor in the Young Men's presidency. That means Varsity Scouting. I knew nothing about this program, but slowly got hooked. Then, a couple years later I was called as the Coach (even though I was already doing the job). Two years later, I was released and then called to serve in the Stake Young Men's presidency which included being a Unit Commissioner. During this span, I served on two Wood Badge Staffs
Last October, my wife and moved to West Valley City in the ward I grew up in. Last week I sustained and set apart as the Varsity Team Coach and will be starting a program from scratch. From what I've seen, it has been overwhelming because of records which haven't been kept or are non-existent. I have three boys right now that I need to help motivate and get excited about Varsity Scouting.
As I post about my experiences and challenges, please feel free to comment and give suggestions. Like in Wood Badge, "Feedback is a Gift".
But first, I must say a little about me. My family is really into Scouting. My father has been a leader since he and my mother got married. Naturally when I turned 8, I became a Cub Scout and started getting scout fever. I joined my first troop when I was 11 and was active till I was 18. I received my Eagle rank when I was 15 and consider it one of my greatest achievements.
My wife and I were married in 2006 and in our new ward, I was called to be a Cub Master. Little did I know that this would become my addiction back into Scouting. I immediately when took all the online training, took leader specific training and then at the Scout-O-Rama, I signed up for Wood Badge due to the persistence of my father. My father was anti- Wood Badge for the longest time but until I saw him change, I decided to make the change also and had a life changing experience.
My wife and I moved to Ogden and I was called as the first counselor in the Young Men's presidency. That means Varsity Scouting. I knew nothing about this program, but slowly got hooked. Then, a couple years later I was called as the Coach (even though I was already doing the job). Two years later, I was released and then called to serve in the Stake Young Men's presidency which included being a Unit Commissioner. During this span, I served on two Wood Badge Staffs
Last October, my wife and moved to West Valley City in the ward I grew up in. Last week I sustained and set apart as the Varsity Team Coach and will be starting a program from scratch. From what I've seen, it has been overwhelming because of records which haven't been kept or are non-existent. I have three boys right now that I need to help motivate and get excited about Varsity Scouting.
As I post about my experiences and challenges, please feel free to comment and give suggestions. Like in Wood Badge, "Feedback is a Gift".
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