It’s not the destination, it’s the journey. That is the philosophy of Troop 85 and is where the real lessons are learned. At face value, perhaps, the boys see an event as described on paper.  A trip to the top of Whiteface Mountain, for example, is not just a hike in the Adirondacks, it’s a chance to push them to do something remarkable through teamwork and determination.  Many of our events carry with them a sort of ulterior motive or “moral to the story” that allows them to really grow and mature over time. They learn by doing, by experiencing these tasks hands-on.  Everything has a lesson and, in the end, they are stronger from it.

Think about these things the next time Scouts go camping. Think about what they are learning and how it might impact them outside of Scouting.  We need to be sensitive to that and allow them their space to really develop the characteristics of teamwork, independence, creative problem solving, patrol unity, and citizenship. Remember, your boys are not only six or seven years away from kindergarten, they are also six or seven years away from college. The more experiences they have and the more freedom they are given to do so will prepare them for the next chapters of their lives and the adulthood that grows closer every day.

The journey continues….

~Steve Dubois