Ages
and Stages
Cub Scouting - A Parents Call to Action
"There is a battle of significant consequence taking place
in the lives of boys in America today. In simple terms, it is the
battle between doing what is right or wrong. A recent study
conducted by Louis Harris & Associates indicates that the
proportion of boys choosing to do what is wrong is alarming high.
Even basic values such as not cheating on schoolwork and not
stealing seem to be unstable.
Clearly, the results of this study indicate that out nations
youth are struggling with ethical and moral decisions, and that
these difficulties can only increase with age. Therefore, the
need for reinforcing and rewarding strong moral standards and
providing positive role models at a young age is more important
than ever before.
Cub Scouting creates a climate of cooperative and collaborative
relationships between adults and children - a laboratory for
adults and children to get to know one another. It provides
opportunities for children to acquire the capacity for
accomplishment. The program affirms to the child that the world
really is an interesting place.
Cub Scouting is fun! But it is fun with a purpose. Woven through
all the fun is an inspired program that really works. Tried and
proven methods are used that transfer traditional values, build
character, and develop leaderships skills - all in the context of
fun and family togetherness."
(BSA: Operation Tiger Mania 1996)
WHY
BOYS JOIN SCOUTS
The editor of the UK Scouting magazine (David Easton) has a
column called "Chips With Everything...!" In the April
95 issue he posed this question (somewhat rhetorically,
since he provided the answer too)...
"Why do they join...?"
"A youngster joins us because he wants to sleep in a tent...because
thats what Scouts do!"
"He doesnt care how he puts it up and, should it fall
down in the night, or he gets wet, hell find out what and
do it differently next time - thats the education - a
result of the fun! Thats the magic of Scouting!"
"Scouting is not part of the formal education system and
never should be. It is part of a non-formal educational process.
In effect, its a learning from life, from new experiences,
from challenges, from adventures, from friendship, from
disappointments, from triumphs, and, above all, from that all
important desire to learn for oneself...because we WANT to...not
because we have to!"
"Thats the fun which is, I believe, the essence and
magic of Scouting!"
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