6 Reasons to Get Scouts Outdoors
A quintessential part of scouting is having fun outdoors, but why is it important? Why do we, the volunteering adults, work so hard to get our troops outside so often? Some of it may just be because we have found our own love in the outdoors and are trying to pass that on to a generation. A generation that spends more time inside behind a screen than we ever did. But it can also be much more than that! As an adult in my mid 40’s I get outdoors as much as my life allows me, which most months is not nearly as much as I would like it to be. But I don’t do it just to relax or to drink coffee, though that does happen a lot, I also do it to learn new skills and to increase the well being of mind, body and spirit. There are so many reasons why getting scouts outdoors is a good thing, but here are 6 for you to think about:
Building Skills and Confidence - I have learned so many skills over the decades while being outside with scouts. Things such as canoeing 50 miles, whitewater rafting, learning how to properly handle and shoot a gun, being able to get out of the forest by reading a compass, building a bridge out of rope and logs and hiking for more miles than you ever thought you could. All these things were challenges that at one point in my life I thought I could never do, but with every new skill I gained or with every new goal I accomplished, I gain more confidence in myself. Eventually you grow up learning that anything is possible.
Service To Other - Every time I turned around I was working on some service requirement. This could have been collecting food for a food drive, helping neighbors with their yards, cleaning up a community cemetery, volunteering to park cars at the town festivals, or even something as big as my Eagle Scout project where I built a fence around the entire child recreational area of the community church. Whether it was doing service to my community or just serving as a leader to other scouts in my troop, each one of these moments helped me see the importance of helping those around me.
Character Development - Each time I put myself out there to learn a new skill I was given many opportunities to learn from my mistakes. Realizing that everything wasn’t always going to go the way we planned, such as getting lost on a hiking trip, waking up to find an inch of water in your tent or having your first gateway flag stand fall after trying to standing it up. Facing and eventually overcoming these challenges help build good attributes in character that I have taken with me throughout my life. Things such as courage, self-management, diligence and respect have gone a long way to help me in the challenges life has presented over the years.
Physical Fitness - Being physical fit is not just about being in great shape. The Personal Fitness Merit Badge tells us that being physically fit has 3 parts: mind, body and spirit. Getting outdoors and doing things like hiking, camping or backpacking will not only help us get our bodies in good physical shape, but it can also build up our mental and spiritual health. When we think about how much time youth these days spend behind a screen and how much stress and anxiety that brings to their day, then finding ways to get them outside can help lessen those challenges. There is no better way to let your worldly problem melt away than by going for a hike, sitting by a lake, or even playing fetch with your dog at the park.
Leadership - When we get scouts out on outdoor trips it gives them opportunities to learn leadership while also having fun. Whether they choose to be the patrol leader on a camping trip or they are having to lead a trekking crew through the mountains on an extended backpacking trip, these are times they are gaining opportunities to practice leadership in a safe and friendly environment. They are placed in situations to learn how to communicate in team environments, delegate tasks, and how to consider the needs of everyone in the team. Even in the pre-planning of these events they are learning to create plans, rosters and program activities. There is no greater lesson than being on the trail and realizing that things don’t always go your way. Some days it may rain, other days it will be cold, but fun is an attitude and a mindset that first starts with those that lead.
Fun - Lastly, being outside is fun. How many of you remember growing up just waiting for the bell that let us go outside and play. Whether the scouts are adding outdoor activities to their meeting plans, such as hide and seek, kickball or maybe even some physical fitness exercises, or they are planning a 20 mile weekend backpacking trip, the most important part is that they are having fun. As an adult leader, there is no better time than canoeing down a river on a weekend float trip and watching your scouts zigzag from bank to bank chasing each and laughing the day away.
I’m not sure about you, but I don’t need any more reasons than this to continue to give hundreds of hours of my time to help the youth and future leaders of tomorrow to learn the outdoor lessons of scouting. Get Outdoor!
