by Candice McBride

Created on: March 20, 2007   Last Updated: May 11, 2007

Scouting is not what I thought I would have made such a large difference in my life. When I joined, I was looking for something similar to the cadets, but without the military rigidness. Instead I found something that has defined my life over the last ten years.

Children today spend a good majority of time in the city. Even campgrounds are being incorporated into cities now. Scouting takes these "city kids" and exposes them to the wilderness. I have seen kids turn from the "cool" kid (full of attitude, and holier-than-thou behaviour) turn into just another kid. I have seen the "nerd" become the one that everyone is looking up to. The wilderness allows us all to be ourselves and to express that without the harm of being teased, or bullied because of it.

The kids are also taught to be morally upstanding citizens. They are taught how to behave in a group, individually, and also in formal and informal situations. They learn to respect themselves, each other and their elders. For some kids, this is the only place where they learn these crucial lessons. They are taught that by helping others, you will help yourself. The skills taught in scouting have helped many people, whether they were in scouting and these skills helped them through life, or they were saved by a person/kid who learned a skill in scouting. How many kids out there can do first aid, survive in the woods, and still be willing to go camping in a month. Also, with scouting's acceptance of those with "handicaps" has helped many children feel accepted where a lot of other groups will not accept them. This, of course, also teaches the "able-bodied" kids to accept the "handicaps" and to learn about them to adapt games, camps, and meetings in general so that everyone can participate.

The best part of all of this is that the kids learn all of this while having fun! I have taken kids, to Vermont, rock climbing, camping, to archery practice, winter camping, to laser tag, to midway, to museums, to national jamborees, to international camps, on hikes, and many other activities!

Please consider scouting for any children you know. It's a wonderful organization!

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