Scouting, Volume 69, Number 3, May-June 1981 Page: 37
50, W1-W24, E1-E24, [40] p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Staff members Sunil
Ahuja, left, and Rich
Fagg, right, teach the
skills of leadership to a
group of Scouts.
half hour, the staff patrol counselor
gathers the gang and discusses the event's
values as a learning experience.
Halfway through the week at least one
Scout starts to worry, "Boy, I'm in trouble.
I can see now that we have to replace our
Scoutmaster back home. Either that or get
him to change his methods. He does all the
directing and most of the work. He's not
using all his resources, like us guys. Our
guys are also kinda blaahed out 'cause he
doesn't tell us what's going on until the last
minute. We don't hold patrol leaders'
council meetings or any of that jazz. Man,
what am I gonna do when I get back
home?"
His.complaints seem to put him in the
minority, however, since most of the
Scouts feel that their new talents will be
used back in their home troops.
Small buzz sessions get people down to
business in a hurry. Everybody gets a shot
at topics as they arise. Common problems
abound. "The leadership corps and elect-
ed leaders act too bossy," says one Scout.
"Our Scoutmasters transfer or move every
year or so; we need a permanent guy,"
says another. "Some patrol leaders goof
off; how do we get rid of them?" "Our
troop is too small." "We have too many
big mouths in our troop; we need tougher
discipline," and the concerned comments
roll on.
As the Scouts busily take notes and chat
between themselves about the sessions,
one leadership skill quickly moves to the
top in popularity, counseling. This is al-
most unanimous, even among the staff.
David Clem of Troop 15, chartered to
the San Anselmo Lions Club, speaks for
the Blank Patrol as he gives his reason.
"Counseling is the best part because most
of us already know the Scout skills pretty
well. We need to know how to help the
young kids when they need us. You know,
for passing tests and getting along with
buddies and that sort of stuff."
"Oh, yeah," he adds. "The food is THE
best part of the whole week—because we
cooked it!"
He gets arguments on the quality of the
food, but the chow vanishes quickly any-
way. "Pass the bug juice." "Those hash
browns are hash blacks on the back." "I
Scouting May/June 1981
I
Not only are routine
Scouting activities like
pioneering and cooking
taught, but TLT members
learn the life-long adult
skills of counseling,
planning, and
communicating.
wish they were hash blondes!" "Who ate
all the cookies?"
The few visitors to camp are usually
grilled about world news. "How did the
Giants (San Francisco) do? Did Willie
McCovey really retire? How's Vida Blue
doin'?"
Reversing the procedure, one visitor
asks, "What do you miss most this week?
Home cooking, TV, girls?"
Before anybody else can answer, Erik
Gartzke of Troop 142, Novato United
Methodist Church, pipes up, "All of the
above!"
At midweek, both troops get a welcome
break. Everybody except the staff heads
for a backpack overnight camp-out on the
Yuba River. "Great trips," exclaims one
Scout. "We're doing (continued on page 47)
37
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 69, Number 3, May-June 1981, periodical, May 1981; Irving, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth353633/m1/85/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.