The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Scouting Around

By Dessa Rodeffer
Quill Editor/Publisher

13 September 2000

I have been highly impressed with the scouting programs that are offered in our community and with the people who are involved, fathers and mothers included.

This summer, I had the opportunity to attend a family night at Camp Eastman for my first time and actually could see what happens with scouts and their leaders.

I was impressed with the fact that it is not all about a free lunch, but there was a lot of skills and lessons being taught to those young men, and they were being taught in the best way... by example.

Tents were erected, clothes and food were properly stored, money was earned for such things as marbles, toy water guns, necklaces. Adults worked with children in every aspect which is very important in developing a child.

Too many times parents are about rules and as Dr. Dobson pointed out last week on WDLM, "Rules without relationship lead to rebellion." A girl left home because of the strict rules of step-dad number 5 or 6 and a caller wondered why she wouldn't obey the authority in the house.

At Camp Eastman, fathers were picking up brooms and helping boy scouts sweep under their tables after each meal.

Each boy and father carried their trays of dirty plates and silverware back to be washed.

Around this time the flag was saluted and taken down in solemn ceremony by fathers and sons working together.

And I noticed again this weekend, that older scouts so patiently walked with Oak Lane residents, an arm around an arm, to help each one to each station.

No one was made to feel they were too slow or too old. This is the kind of respect that we all want. It's a respect that is learned through good relationships and good examples.

Hopefully much of this can come through parent and child but the re-enforcement of scouting, as a group, underlines the importance of all of these things.

Do some scouting around and see what you think.

If you have a youngster, a grandchild, even a neighbor, encourage them to sign up for scouting, and then, see what you can do to volunteer to help.

Maybe it is just to offer a ride to the meetings, or a plate of cookies for their refreshments, but all is important and part of the process that can made this world, our communities, and our homes better.

Just maybe, someday you and I will be needing someone with a little patience and that will take time for us, to make our lives seem important.

In scouting around, I've found that it is the time we give that builds relationships with others.