That First Step Scoutmaster Minute

The Chinese have a saying, "The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step."

There's a lesson for us in that saying.

I'm thinking of advancement. If you come to troop meetings without ever looking in your Official Boy Scout Handbook all week long and if you never ask how to pass a test or who to see about a merit badge, you'll never advance very far in Scouting. In Scouting, and in life, the rewards don't come to those who sit back and wait for something to be handed to them on a silver platter.

I would like to see every one of you set the Eagle Scout badge as you goal in Scouting. As a step toward that goal, I hope that all of you will receive some award at our next Court of Honor.

Whatever the goal you set for yourself, remember that only you can take that first step toward it. No one can do it for you. Once you've taken that first step the next step becomes easier. And the ones after that will be easier still because you're on the way along the Scouting trail.

Every Camp out our Scouts will conduct a Scouts own service.

By doing so, we can continue to grow & learn to set the examples that need to be set.

Here is all that I ask:

When facing deceit and dishonesty, let us be Trustworthy.

If we see hypocrisy and faithlessness, let us be Loyal.

 Where disregard of others and mere materialism prevail, let us be Helpful.

 When we find people in despair, let us be Friendly.

 In an atmosphere of ill manner, let us be Courteous.

 Where some measure manliness in brutality and crudeness, let us be Kind.

 Though lawbreaking and rule-scoffing are common, let us be Obedient.

While others grumble and grouch, let us be Cheerful.

In an environment blighted by waste and extravagance, let us be Thrifty.

When confronted with danger and temptation, let us be Brave.

As we see filth and pollution everywhere, let us be Clean.

While witnessing impiety, let us remember to be Reverent.

In short, in a world that has for generation after generation lamented the lack of good examples, let us, as Scouts, stand out, grow up, and be real adults.

Hibernation

Does everybody know what the word "hibernation" means? That's right, it means to sleep through the winter. Woodchucks do it. So do some chipmunks, ground squirrels, bats, and some mice. Bears do a lot of sleeping in the winter, too, but they're not true hibernators because they sometimes get up and yawn and look around a little on a warmish winter day.
Did you know that some Scouts are hibernators, too? They're what we might call warm-weather Scouts. When the air gets cold and there is snow on the ground they'd rather stay home than go outdoors as Scouts do.

I hope we don't have any hibernators in this troop. Leave hibernation to the animals who really need to do it because it's part oftheir life cycle. The most important part ofthe word "Scouting" is "outing," and in this troop we like to get outdoors rather than try to find our adventures in front of a TV set. Part of the fun of Scouting is learning to live comfortably outdoors all year round. You will find that there is a lot of satisfaction in knowing that you can take care of yourself in any weather. That doesn't mean that were nuts, though; if we get caught in a blizzard with sub-zero temperatures, well come home. But we know how to take care of ourselves in ordinary winter weather.
So you newer Scouts can tell your folks that you11 get along just fine with the troop when we go out later this month. In this troop Scouting really is outing.

§   Advancement is but one of the methods of Scouting.  Just one, an important one… I mean being an Eagle Scout will open doors for you down the road and the advancement process is designed to work the Scout through a series of skills and challenges that prepare him for the “real world”.  Sitting on Boards of Review prepares him for interviews and social interactions with other adults.  Service projects prepare him to give back to his community and understand selflessness.

§   BUT-

§   If a Scout participates in full with his unit, and never advances, does he not get some of that?  Is his Scouting experience going to be a total loss?  Will he be considered a failure?

§   My point is that the advancements number one goal is to teach the Scout responsibility.  It is the Scouts responsibility to get it done.. not the Scoutmasters, not the Committee chair..not his parents… , Although the parents are welcome to step on the heels of the Scout to keep him moving forward, it is up to the Scout to become and Eagle Scout… he will get lots of help along the way.. but it is up to him to do the work, seek the help, and then present himself for advancement.

§   If they are going to wait for someone to hold their hand.. well.. then they can count of finishing their Scouting career a Tenderfoot.. (we get them that far).

§   Is this Harsh?

§   You see, in life there are winners and losers.  Young men that choose to be in Scouts are winners.  They are setting themselves up with skills, attitudes, and competencies that will help them get through life.  IF they take advantage of Scouting they can do wonderful things.  High Adventure opportunities, service, skills, and a whole lot of fun.  But they need to do it.. it can not be handed to them.. that’s not how it works in real life.  What today will bring… who knows.. it is sure to be another Great Scouting Day!  Let me just say that you have the support of all of us at Troop 223 and your parents to go as far as you wish to go with this.  It’s up to you!!

In the great North West where I grew up, I met a mountain man and he knew how to get many things done with very little resources. He had almost nothing to work with, but accomplished great things.
Whether the task was to build a fire underwater or stop a waterfall from falling, it seemed he could take care of it. I was so amazed to see the things he could do, I finally asked him how he did it.

He told me that a long time ago, he had found a magical solution to nearly all challenges that came along. He said it was all contained in a single, ancient word that had mystic powers. When you understand the meaning of the word, it unleashes immense strength and abilities; it makes your mind more clear; it makes your imagination run wild with ideas.

Well, of course, I could hardly contain myself and I just had to know what this powerful magic was. I pleaded with him to tell me and he finally agreed.

He said the word is, 'YAGODDAWANNA'.

In order to accomplish anything, whether it is small or big, easy or difficult, trivial or of utmost importance, in order to be successful, you've got to want to do it. To earn good grades, you gotta wanna earn them. To become an Eagle Scout, ya godda wanna be one. The main reason people don't succeed at something is because they don't really want it bad enough. By really wanting something, you come up with ideas, make plans, and then do it.

Remember, to do something YaGoddaWanna do it.

(Hold up a car key)

I have here in my hand a key - a small item as you can see. Yet it will open the door to my car, and when properly placed and turned it will start the engine. With this little key I can visit faraway places, see wonderful sights,

and do so many things that were impossible a generation ago. Is it any wonder that I always carry this key with me?

(Hold up a copy of The Official Boy Scout Handbook)

Your Boy Scout Handbook is a lot like my car key. It is a small item, yet it will open the door to Scouting and will speed you on your way to adventure. Sure, you probably could get by without using your handbook.

I could get by without my car key, too, but I'd have to walk and it would be slow.

I certainly wouldn't get to see all those places I can reach by car.

Let's not leave our key behind as we enjoy Scouting.

Use your handbook regularly. Take it with you to meetings and on hikes and camping trips. Let your handbook open the door for you.

When you look outside on these cool fall days, you will see geese heading South for the winter, flying along in V-formation, you might consider what science has discovered as to why they fly that way:
As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following.  By flying in V formation the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.
People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.
When a goose falls out of formation it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front.
If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed the same way we are.  When the head goose gets tired it rotates back in the wing and another goose flies the point.
It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs with people or with geese flying south.
Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.  What do we say when we honk from behind?
Finally--and this is important--when a goose gets sick or is wounded by gunshots, and falls out of formation, two other geese fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection.
They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly or until it dies, and only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation, to catch up with their group.
If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other like that.