In today’s edition, of the Scout’s Scrapbook, we see a little bit about how Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, envisioned the experienced Scout or Scouter on a Camping trip:
There are a couple of things we can learn from this and put into practice on our own trips:
First, the experienced camper doesn’t avoid trips or camps where there is a chance of discomfort or hardship. It doesn’t matter if it’s snowing, raining, dry, or wet. An experienced Scout knows how to work around these things in comfort.
Secondly, a comfortable camper is one who knows his stuff; he doesn’t need a lot of fancy gear or equipment. Baden-Powell wrote this before there were ultralight backpacking stoves or synthetic-down sleeping bags. Baden-Powell had camped all over the world: in India, in South Africa, and in England. Yet he says that it isn’t fancy gear that makes a Scout a comfortable camper, it is what the Scout knows. It is his skills and experience that allows the Scout to be comfortable in camp.
Thirdly, an experienced Scout is proactive. Instead of whining or complaining about adverse weather or some such inconvenience, an experienced Scout immediately sets about to improve and remedy his situation.
If you think about it, all of these principles not only are great advice in camp; they are also excellent advice in making your way through life. Let me recap:
1. An experienced Scout doesn’t avoid tough or uncomfortable situations; he faces them and makes the best of them.
2. An experienced Scout realizes that it isn’t cool tools or gimmicks that turn uncomfortable situations around; it is knowledge, hard work, and experience.
3. An experienced Scout doesn’t sit back and wait for things to get better; he “seizes the day” and sets about working to improve himself and his situation.
I hope you enjoyed this edition of “Scout’s Scrapbook”! If you think I’m right on or off-base, please leave a comment and let me know!
Scouting Rediscovered 