When it hits, will you be prepared?

Today, Tuesday the 31st of July, the power grids in India failed, leaving 670 million, half of the country’s population, without power. This includes transportation and hospitals. (source: Reuters) Now, India isn’t known for being the most technologically sophisticated country in the world, but it’s been no secret that for some time now the United States’ infrastructure is showing a few gray hairs. It may not take out half the country, but I don’t think it is a stretch to say that sometime in the future there is a good chance that you will be caught in a bad blackout.

It could last hours, or days. If this were to happen, we would be deprived of so many things that have become part of our life: running water, refrigerators, ovens, microwaves, TV’s, electric lights, computers, Internet. Even if you can make that battery on your cell phone last as long as possible, it won’t do you much good if the cell towers are rendered nonoperational.

I hope that the extent of what you are able to do isn’t just to hunker down and wait for someone to rescue you. Rescue might come, but then again…

Wait a minutes! Who is used to going days in the wilderness without modern conveniences? Who has gone through drills and training and is ready to administer first aid at a moment’s notice? Who has grown accustomed to lending a helping hand to the community? Who has gone the extra mile and taken risks to make sure he is prepared to tackle any emergency?

If you are a Scout, then your answer should be yes to these questions. The very motto of Scouting is to “Be Prepared!” That is why we go through the drills and the lessons. That is why we make it hard to earn ranks and to be a Boy Scout! It is only by training hard that we are prepared to face disaster. Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, said this:

I deplore the modern tendency to place “Safety first,” before all else. A certain amount of risk is necessary to life, a certain amount of practice in taking risks is necessary to the prolongation of life. Scouts have to be prepared to encounter difficulties and dangers in
life. We do not, therefore, want to make their training too soft.

It is certain that Scouts are not fool-hearty, but we must take some risks in order to Be Prepared. Who ever said hiking out in the wilderness or climbing a mountain was ‘safe’? It isn’t, but as Scouts we are armed and prepared with the knowledge and skill to handle any situation that arises. Let me leave you with this thought from Baden-Powell:

Remember your motto, BE PREPARED. Be prepared for accidents by learning beforehand what you ought to do in the different kinds that are likely to occur. Be prepared to do that thing the moment the accident does occur. I will explain to you what ought to be done in the different kinds of accidents, and you must practice them as far as possible. But the great thing for you Scouts to bear in mind is that wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, you should think to yourself, “What accident might occur here?” and, “What is my duty if it occurs?”
You are then prepared to act.
And when an accident does occur remember always that as a Scout it is your business to be the first man to go to the rescue. Don’t let an outsider be ahead of you.

How to Tie the Taut-line Hitch: Video Tutorial

The Taut-line Hitch is a requirement for the Boy Scout Rank of ‘Tenderfoot’, and is a very useful knot to know. It is used to add tension to a line. It is often employed to tie down loads on vehicles or set up tents. Enjoy this tutorial! If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment!

 

Mentally Awake? – Free online learning resources

There might be a tough topic or type of problem that you deal with in school which you are stuck on, and don’t seem to be able to master. If there isn’t one you are struggling with right now, there will be sooner or later. We all learn a little differently, and will struggle with some topics more than others. I know I have. Learning doesn’t have to be frustrating, however, and I can assure you that there is no struggle in learning, that you cannot overcome if you are determined and willing to stick to it. I have put together a list of free, online resources that I have found very helpful in my own learning, especially if it was something I was have difficulty with. I hope you will find them useful.

Science:

http://www.khanacademy.org/ – On this site there are a ton of videos on various school subjects, starting with very basic concepts and working up toward more complicated ones. I cannot recommend this site enough for clear explanation. Just scroll down on the home page to whatever section you need. I highly recommend this site. It also comes with an unlimited amount of math practice problems, which I have found particularly helpful. (middle school-12)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_science – Wikipedia can be a great resource. If you are stuck on a particular term, just look up the wikipedia page. (middle school-12)

Mathematics:

http://www.khanacademy.org/ – This site excels best at explaining math related topics. There are clear explanations on everything from basic addition to complex functions, including practice problems on most of those subjects. (K-12)

http://www.wtamu.edu/academic/anns/mps/math/mathlab/beg_algebra/ – Some great tutorials on Algebra can be found here. (9-12)

http://www.mathwords.com/ – This is a great site for definitions of confusing terms found in Algebra through Calculus. (9-12)

English Language and Grammar:

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/ – This a a great textbook worthy site with tons of useful information on the different parts of speech, writing, and all composition related topics. (middle school-12)

http://www.bartelby.com/141/ – This is an online copy of the composition classic “The Elements of Style” by William Strunk, Jr. This is good for more advanced composition and paper-writing. (9-12)

History:

http://www.ushistory.org/us/index.asp – This is basically an online textbook of American History from the colonial period to the current day. Good resource. (9-12)

http://www.historyteacher.net/USQuizMainPage.htm – This is a great resource for free quizzes on a lot of history topics. Good for finding out your weak areas in history. (9-12)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History – Again, wikipedia is a great resource to go to if there is a particular topic you would like more information on.

Well, I hope the above list will be helpful to you. No matter where you are in your grades now, if you are willing to work hard you can get to the top of your class. Most importantly, learn to love learning about new things. No matter where you go or what you do in life, if you have a love of learning, that will stick with you and help you through many difficulties.

Military-like Discipline in Scouting?

The selection below comes from my book-in-progress, “Scouting Rediscovered”, in which I attempt to explore the numerous lessons I have learned about Scouting, the principles upon which it is built, and the great concepts behind it. Enjoy! And leave any questions or comments in the comment section.

You can follow me as I progress through the writing of this book on Twitter and Facebook!

______________________________________________

This difference, or individuality, was also very important to Baden-Powell. As a big supporter of the British military, he incorporated many of its useful aspects into Scouting. However, one aspect of the military that he spoke constantly against in Scouting, is that of military order and rigidity which stifled individuality. Some of the other Scouting organizations of the time followed this military way of discipline. Tents were pitched like barracks and schedules were rigidly predetermined. While he was very fond of discipline, Baden-Powell made it clear that this kind of military discipline had no place in Scouting. Here is a quote that I posted earlier in the book, but which I think would be valuable to bring up again:

“As the camping season is now upon us, I may say that one or two of the camps which I have already seen have been unfortunately on wrong lines, though others were very satisfactory. I strongly advise small camps of about half a dozen Patrols; each Patrol in a separate tent and on separate ground (as suggested in Scouting for Boys), so that the Scouts do not feel themselves to be part of a big herd, but members of independent responsible units.

Large camps prevent scout-work and necessitate military training; and one which I visited the other day, though exceedingly well carried out as a bit of Army organization, appealed to me very little, because not only was it entirely on military lines, but the Patrols — the essence of our system — were broken up to fit the members into the tents. Patrols should be kept intact under all circumstances. ”¹

Previously, I emphasized the importance of keeping the Patrols intact, but now I’d like to point out the emphasis in this quote on individuality and reducing herd mentality. You could, perhaps, trace this thinking back to the Renaissance and Enlightenment authors such as John Locke who wrote on individuality and humanism. Whatever its philosophical roots might be, however, Baden-Powell emphasized this individualism because he saw the negative aspects of herd mentality, and strongly believed that it stifled individual character.

1The Scouter Magazine (June 1910) – Baden-Powell

How to Tie Two Half Hitches

Two half hitches is a simple and secure knot that is used to fix the end of a rope to an object. It is one of the required knots for the Tenderfoot Rank in Boy Scouts. Enjoy this tutorial! If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment!

How to Tie a Square Knot

Reef knot, also known as square knot (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The square knot is the first knot a boy must know to become a Boy Scout. It is an amazingly versatile and useful knot, yet many people don’t know how to tie it. Enjoy this tutorial!

This will be the first in a series of posts on this Blog on how to tie useful knots. If your interested in catching the rest of this series, you can subscribe to this blog or follow me on twitter: @DiscoverScouts

or Facebook: http://on.fb.me/LSXbaq

 

What’s the Patrol System Anyway? – Baden-Powell

Robert Baden-Powell (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“The Patrol System is the one essential feature in which Scout training differs from that of all other organizations, and where the System is properly applied, it is absolutely bound to bring success. It cannot help itself! The formation of the boys into Patrols of from six to eight and training them as separate units each under its own responsible leader is the key to a good Troop. The Patrol is the unit of Scouting always, whether for work or for play, for discipline or for duty. An invaluable step in character training is to put responsibility on to the individual. This is immediately gained in appointing a Patrol Leader to responsible command of his Patrol. It is up to him to take hold of and to develop the qualities of each boy in his Patrol. It sounds a big order, but in practice it works. Then, through emulation and competition between Patrols, you produce a Patrol spirit which is eminently satisfactory, since it raises the tone among the boys and develops a higher standard of efficiency all round. Each boy in the Patrol realizes that he is in himself a responsible unit and that the honor of his group depends in some degree on his own ability in playing the game.”

-Baden-Powell in ‘Aids to Scoutmastership’

Living the Scout Oath! – William Hillcourt

 

William Hillcourt
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

     ”What kind of person do you want to be? There is a simple way to find the answer. You do it by first answering another question: ‘What kind of person do I most admire?’
Sit down quietly and alone with a piece of paper. Then ask yourself, “Which Americans -past and present- do I look up to?” Put their names down. “Why do I admire them? What do I like about them?” Write down the whys and the whats.
High on your list may be your mother and father. And perhaps the names of relatives, your Scoutmaster, your religious leader, your best friends.
Your list may include Washington because of his loyalty to his country … Lincoln for his simplicity and steadfastness … Theodore Roosevelt for his enthusiasm and fighting spirit … Edison for his energy and perseverance … heroes from our wars for their daring and self-sacrifice … athletes for their endurance and sportsmanship … men of science and arts for their accomplishments.
You have made your list. There before you in black and white are the qualities you admire most in others.Study those qualities closely. Then notice how they add up until they cover each part of the Scout Oath.
      The Scout Oath Your Guide. They are bound to come out that way, because in the Scout Oath you have the qualities that make men fine and great.
     On My Honor … Heroes have died rather than betray their honor. As a Scout, you count your honor one of your most valuable possession.
     … I Will Do My Best … No person who has accomplished anything worthwhile did this by doing his second best – or his third or fourth best. He gave the very best that was in him – his best thoughts, his best work.
     … To Do My Duty to God and My Country … The kind of man you will be depends on your ability to know your duty and to do your utmost to live up to your obligations.
     … And To Obey the Scout Law; … That law fits you as a boy. It will fit you just as well when you become a man – for a real man is everything the Scout Law stands for.
     … To Help Other People at All Times; … It is not enough to have the willingness to help other people – you need to have the ability as well. You develop this ability as you advance in Scouting and learn how to act in an emergency.
     … To Keep Myself Physically Strong, Mentally Awake, and Morally Straight. You owe it to yourself, your country, and your God to develop your body, to train your mind, to strive to be a boy and man of high character.
In all these things Scouting helps you. By taking part enthusiastically in all activities of patrol and troop, by learning the skills that Scouting has to offer, by living up to the ideals of Scouting, you will become the man you want to be.”

– William Hillcourt, Boy Scout Handbook, 9th edition.

A Scout is Clean!

“A Scout is Clean. A Scout keep his body and mind fit and clean. He goes around with those who believe in living by these same ideals. He helps keep his home and community clean.
The simplest way to be clean is not to get dirty in the first place. That goes not just for your clothes and your body. It also goes for your thoughts and words and deeds.
You never need to be ashamed of the dirt that will wash off. If you play hard and work hard you can’t help getting dirty. But when the game is over or the work done, that kind of dirt gives way to soap and water.
But there’s another kind of dirt that won’t come off by washing. It is the kind that enters your mind. An important part of your battle against that kind of dirt is selecting the right friends. Keep away from fellows who seem to get a kick out of swearing and telling dirty stories. Get in with a clean crowd where you will hear clean speech, and find clean sportsmanship, and get a clean outlook on life.”

-William Hillcourt, Boy Scout Handbook, 9th edition

The Art of Concentration

William Hillcourt (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Art of Concentration.

Does your mind jump from one thing to another like a flea? Or does it stick to the job at hand? You have to keep your mind constantly alert if you expect to keep it from drifting. Are you able to do it?

Some fellows seem to accomplish as much in one hour as others do in two. They can finish their studies more quickly. They have ample time for all sorts of other interests – hobbies, athletics, reading. Often this is not so much because of superior ability. It’s because they have learned to keep their minds on what they are doing. They know how to concentrate.

Concentration is made up of will power and self-control.

During an exciting baseball game you often become so absorbed in the play that you are unaware of anything around you except the ball and players. No difficulty about concentration here. Bring that same intense quality to your work and see how much more you can get done.

Give yourself a definite lengthy of time to accomplish a certain amount of work – say, tomorrow’s algebra or the next day’s English composition. Force yourself to keep your attention on the job you are doing. Then finish on time.

Don’t put off a job that has to be done until you feel like doing it. Do it and get it over with!

Do things often enough in this determined way for it to become a habit. After that you’ll be sitting pretty while someone who hasn’t learned to concentrate struggles along, never quite making the grade.

– William Hillcourt, Boy Scout Handbook 9th edition.