Imagine years of FUN! It's easy to do with Scouting whether it be Boy, Girl or Venture Crew, you can be involved from the time you're in first grade through out your life.

As you grow with scouting, from Tiger Cub or Daisy, all the way up to Venture Crew, you learn new and unique ways of doing things. Some of your ideas may be the best and you're able to share them with your co-scouts. Other times, your ideas may not be the best and you'll have to look at all of the facts and say, "You have a great idea, let's use yours!"

As a Boy/Girl Scout, the world is yours. You are able to go on day trips, over-night camping trips and week-long, plus trips. While doing all of this you are able to learn more about others but, more importantly, more about yourself. You discover a world that has more to offer than what meets the eye. You learn how to be independent, with the help of older Scouts and Adult Leaders, by working on Merit Badges for Personal Finance, Cooking, and Citizenship in the Community/Nation/World, among many others.

When going on camp outs or day trips, you need to be able to plan for all types of situations. A Scout is Prepared! These skills help you be self-sufficient by packing your own gear and helping plan menus. It also helps you take charge of yourself. If you realize you've forgotten something, mom and dad aren't there to help you out, the next time, you don't forget the item(s).

A great way to have fun and learn to be a team, at the same time, is to find a ropes course and make the older Scouts be the leaders. Have them teach the younger boys about cooperation and what is needed to complete a task. The older Scouts should not be bossing but rather giving examples or talking the ideas out with the younger Scouts. Another way to work on playing as a team, give the older Scouts a job. Have them work with the younger Scouts on advancements. This will show both why the job as leader is important even when working as a team.

Being involved in Scouting is an awesome experience. Watching boys and girls grow from little kids with minds to fill with information on how to become an adult is an amazing experience. Then watching them use the knowledge they have been given to turn it into helping people is awe-inspiring.

As I have watched several young men, in our Boy Scout Troop, turn in Eagle Scout project plans all the way through to the finish of the project, they have grown into what we have hoped for and helped them work toward: Strong, confident young men who have the skills to go out and conquer the world.

Learn more about this author, Debbi Draeger.
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