Just back from a big camping weekend with Joseph and his troop in the mountains of western New Jersey.
It. Was. A. Riot.
Fifteen new boys were with us who crossed over from Cub Scouts last month. The boys were made aware that there are plenty of black bear in the neighborhood just coming out of hibernation, and they are grumpy and hungry. So we pitched tents 100 yards from where each patrol set up their kitchen area, and the boys were told to keep ALL food there. No snacks in the tents, unless one would like a visit.
Fifteen new boys barely {bearly?? 😉 } slept a wink all weekend. There were bears lurking behind every rock and tree, waiting to devour them.
I continue to be impressed by this generation of boys, how they make the allowances for Joseph and the few other boys in the troop on the autism spectrum. For those not aware of how scouting works, it was set up by Lord Robert Baden Powell of England over 100 years ago using what is known as the “patrol method”. In this model, the boys are broken into self-sufficient units called patrols, usually with 7-8 members per patrol. The entire troop is run by the boys, for the boys, at every level.
Adults are there to guide, supervise, and ensure that the scouting program is being properly implemented by the boys. The actual running of the program is all done by the boys.
That’s what makes things so much more remarkable. Nobody tells the boys how they must treat this or that member. They have their twelve point scout law that they live by, and the adults remind them periodically of how they can better exemplify that law. For those who don’t know, the Scout Law is as follows:
A Scout is:
Trustworthy,
Loyal,
Helpful,
Friendly,
Courteous,
Kind,
Obedient,
Cheerful,
Thrifty,
Brave,
Clean,
and Reverent.
They don’t always get it right, but they organize all they do around this law.
As we try to hang on to civilization and stop the slide into the culture of death, we should encourage our parishes, our family and friends to do all they can to start, or support, or participate in scouting. These young boys and young men have it all together in ways my generation never did. They exemplify their Scout Law in how they deal with the weakest and most vulnerable among them, making the allowances for limitations, but helping them achieve and advance in rank.
I’m humbled by their goodness.
I’m also smiling at the thought of fifteen new boys who are getting the best night’s sleep of their young lives as I write this.
Coming Home 
Glad to hear it went well – and no one ended up being some bear’s dinner!
My brother-in-law was very involved in my nephews’ Cub and Boy Scout troops. You have lots more good times coming!
Hi!
Just want to tell you how much I enjoyed this post. I read most everything you send out, and while I understand and embrace your ProLife position 1000%, very little of your writing – with good reason – brings a smile.
I had the good fortune to be both a Cub Scout and a Boy Scout, and not only am I extremely grateful, but your story brought back many warm and wonderful memories.
I moved up through the ranks, earned my Merit badges, even became the Senior Patrol Leader (top doggie!!!), but it was the fun that I had and the things that I learned that mattered the most.
I’m a much better human being because of my years as a Scout. As well, to this day I still know how to tie more good knots and build a better fire than most of my contemporaries… LOL 🙂
I’m happy for you and your son, and if you weren’t blessed with being a Scout yourself, even you probably have no idea just how great a gift you’re giving Joseph. And my, what a wonderful bunch of kids, to treat him so well.
Our Lord has truly blessed you both with this Troop, and I can only add my own prayers and best wishes for the continuance of His abundant lovingkindnesses…
Sincerely, in Christ our Lord ~ Stephen
Thanks Yank and Stephen.
Yes, Stephen, I too was a Boy Scout. It helped mold my character as I grew into manhood. The difference it made was that it helped me grow into honorable manhood.
It also provided me with a trunk filled with memories of antics that I’ll never tell my children about until they are adults 😉 {One of me is enough!}
Welcome home! Prayed for both of you while you were away! Hope the girls had fun at home! Can’t wait to see JP in scouts!
Sounds like you had a riot and they did too! Joseph is so special and blessed! We love him! Send our best! Oh, BTW – it’s true – one of you is enough (wink, wink)! And we’re glad God made one of YOU!
sounds like a wonderful weekend. I’m looking at that list of virtues….goodness. Does it stick?
It does, Ari. They recite it twice per meeting and on campouts. I forms them as they grow. It’s the recipe for honorable manhood.
I’m all those things… except brave and clean.
sounds like it was refreshing for both you and your son!
Joseph is blessed to have such caring people around him 🙂
“Fifteen new boys barely {bearly?? 😉 } slept a wink all weekend. There were bears lurking behind every rock and tree, waiting to devour them.” – sounds like the same sort of ingraining of fear that religion finds such a useful tool.
Umm… Rebecca,
The purpose of camping is to help boys master their fears, which we aided in.
Next, posts about my son and the Boy Scouts are off limits to polemics. You can take your cheap shots on other threads. I would think that common decency should have dictated that to you, but then, common decency is about as uncommon these days as common sense.
Goodbye, Rebecca. Your last comment has been taken down and you are banished from the blog. Have a good life.