A Great Trip

[gwd-scouter]

Today our Scouts went on a hike to help the newer Scouts complete their 2nd class 5-mile map and compass hike. The best thing about this trip was that our older scouts paired off with the younger guys and worked with them one-on-one to complete the requirement.

 

When I say older Scouts, I'm talking about the 13-15 year old Scouts. The younger Scouts are 11-12. That's our troop now, leaders in the 13-14 year old range (we have one 18 year-old but he is not active at meetings or outings, and one 16 that just couldn't make it this weekend - but the best SPL we've ever had), and a handful of 11-12 nearly dispanded.

 

We have one young fellow that is very overweight and is always ready to back out of anything. He is also teased a lot at school and unfortunately one of the worst offenders is also in the Troop.

 

To his credit, he showed up this morning for the hike and one of our older Scouts stayed with him, always at the back, but kept encouraging him when he felt like he wanted to quit.

 

I'm posting this because I am so proud of the guys in our Troop. We are small - very small. But these guys are learning about Boy Scouting, the older guys are helping the younger guys, the younger guys are looking up to the older guys, and in the end, I imagine that we will have a great troop of wonderful Boy Scouts doing the Boy Scout Thing.

 

Love this Scouting stuff!

 

 

[local1400]

Excellent gwd!

[packsaddle]

That is great! These are the things that really make it all fun and worthwhile, I'm envious.

About the kid who gets teased, I am very sensitive to these things. Even if he appears to be good-natured about it, he could very well be feeling great pain down underneath. Is the teasing malicious or just thoughtless? I suffered this when I was that age and my son did too...for different reasons...we were both easy targets. But I'm curious...how do you address this situation? Not trying to hijack the thread but rather just interested.

[gwd-scouter]

Hey Pack. The kid who gets teased certainly does feel pain down deep. He had a particular rough go last Monday and his mother called the next night saying he was quitting Scouts. He is very overweight and that is the reason he gets picked on. Unfortunately, I did not get wind of the teasing until driving home from Scouts with my son. He said he put a stop to it and thought everything was OK.

 

Making things worse is the biggest offender in our Troop also picks on this kid at school. It does, however, go both ways and Mom is sympathetic to the fact that her son does many times initiate fighting and bickering. Both boys can certainly dish it out, but can't take it when it's returned. The other Scout (the biggest offender) is the know it all type, constantly interrupting meetings to let everyone know his knowledge of all things (I'm sure we all have these types in our Troops, too).

 

My son called the teased Scout the other night to talk to him. He told him stories about when he was a 6th grader, very overweight, and the target of some pretty severe ridicule and embarrassment. Conversation ended with the Scout saying he would give Scouts another try, but still wasn't going on the hike.

 

I then spoke to Mom on the phone and she decided she was going to call the other Scout's Mom and try to work things out face-to-face.

 

Just love it when grownups take responsibility and act like grownups. Moms and sons met that night and talked things out. Saturday morning before leaving for the trip, I spoke privately with both Moms. They admitted they were each only getting one side of the story and that the boys were going to work on getting along - at least quit the fighting.

 

The Scout that was going to quit showed up for the hike! I tell you that just about brought tears to my eyes. Much credit to his Mom, but enormous credit to the boy that wouldn't give up.