The Way of The Scout.

[Sarge47]

I've made it no secret how I feel about the role Boy Scouts have played in learning so much about the outdoors. That's the key to Outdoors Survival; not to "Survive" in the outdoors, but to "THRIVE" in the outdoors. Yes, crap can still happen, but a good outdoors-person is ready for just about anything that comes their way. I want to share something here from the 1943 Handbook For Boys that was put out for the Boy Scouts of that day. I don't believe it just pertains to boys, but to the Wolves, and others like us. Read it and tell me what you think.

What is a Boy Scout?

A Scout, what fun he finds hiking in the woods! He tells North from South by the stars or East from West by the shadows.

He can talk to a brother Scout across a river by signaling. He knows the principle trees and birds and animals that he meets. He knows which are poisonous weeds or reptiles. He can find his way as did the Indians and pioneers before him.

If matches are forgotten, he laughs and proceeds to kindle a fire by rubbing sticks together or by striking steel on flint. The fire once started, what good things he can cook out there in the open!

He keeps himself physically fit. He avoids poisons of alcohol or tobacco. He guards his tongue against from loose speech or boasting or sacrilege. When he speaks of anyone he tries to speak well of them.

His Scout "Good Turns" to someone each day make him many friends- for the way to have friends is to 1st BE one. His motto is "Be Prepared" and he thinks through in advance what he would do in fire or storm.

When someone is injured he is ready to help them with his 1st aid knowledge.
He always tries to be a useful citizen. He helps his community.

Another big thing a Scout enjoys is camping- there he finds fun in game or swim- finds new friends in woods and other fellows- and there among the trees, or under God's silent stars, or by the camp fires ruddy embers, he dreams out his great TOMORROW.

See anything familiar? And remember, this stuff was taught to boys age 11 and up.

[Rick]

Sure do. I was an Explorer Scout and our leader had done a solo down the Mississippi by canoe. It was a lot later than '43 but he still taught along those lines. We spent a lot of time outdoors and community service was a must in his book.

[Sarge47]

Sure do. I was an Explorer Scout and our leader had done a solo down the Mississippi by canoe. It was a lot later than '43 but he still taught along those lines. We spent a lot of time outdoors and community service was a must in his book.

I was at a Job Corps center in McCoy Wisconsin and a Vista Worker came there and started up an "Explorer" group. We had some great times camping out by a lake where there was nobody else around. Loved it! Miss it!

[Nativedude]

All the Scouting programs are excellent and should be mandatory in school for all kids. . .IMHO!!

From Tiger to Eagle all are character builders for kids, and for their future.

[Proud American]

The Current Scout Book does not sound like that. Even though they teach you all those things. I dont know of any page or intro like that in my currnent scout book.

Im with Nativedude but Scouting sadly isnt importamt to alot of people anymore, the only reason im in Scouts is that my church is a big time supporter and emphasises Scouts. Who knows maybe where you live theres alot of Scouts, but in my area at High School age there just not alot of them.

[Sarge47]

The Current Scout Book does not sound like that. Even though they teach you all those things. I dont know of any page or intro like that in my currnent scout book.

Im with Nativedude but Scouting sadly isnt importamt to alot of people anymore, the only reason im in Scouts is that my church is a big time supporter and emphasises Scouts. Who knows maybe where you live theres alot of Scouts, but in my area at High School age there just not alot of them.

The pages aren't in your Scout Handbook because they've been deleted. That was my point, Scouting has lost it's initial focus on the woods and the outdoors. No, there are not a lot of scouts around here. One troop I used to belong to as an Asst S/M has vanished and no one remembers it. But here's my points:

A.) Look for "like-minded people" in your troop, if you can find any, and start your own "Survival Group" within the troop.

B.) Find other "like-minded" people OUTSIDE of your troop if the above fails and start your own club.

Hope this helps. If nothing else, start your own book on Survival.
C.) Hang out here no matter what and learn as best you can. However there is no substitute for "hands-on" training.

[Sarge47]

The pages aren't in your Scout Handbook because they've been deleted. That was my point, Scouting has lost it's initial focus on the woods and the outdoors. No, there are not a lot of scouts around here. One troop I used to belong to as an Asst S/M has vanished and no one remembers it. But here's my points:

A.) Look for "like-minded people" in your troop, if you can find any, and start your own "Survival Group" within the troop.

B.) Find other "like-minded" people OUTSIDE of your troop if the above fails and start your own club.

C.) Hang out here no matter what and learn as best you can. However there is no substitute for "hands-on" training.

Hope this helps, but no matter what, never quit learning.

[Beo]

We used to pick on and intimadate boy scouts when I was young and stupid, took their little brass wolf thingy that held the neck bandana around their neck, it shames me now to think of the ones we picked on and if knew where they were now I'd apologize for that. Being older and more mature (for the most part) I think it was more a jealousy thing because they were apart of something bigger than the group of punks I hung with. That group only lasted a year or so and then we went our ways, the Scouts have endured many many years always showing pride, learning, and teaching what needs to be taught to kids all over.

[Sarge47]

Probably a good thing you weren't in Wareagle's or Trax's neck of the woods, that would have been baaad! Those scouts were tough!

[trax]

Ever see the movie Spy Game? Scouts grow up to be army snipers and CIA assassins dude, I've spent the best part of my years lookin' over my shoulder for the one I punched in the nose.

[Beo]

Bring'em on bro I can still snatch a knot in their azz a boy scout couldn't untie, pardon the pun Does that mean I'm not really sorry? Besides I may be old but I can still take this cane and make a scoutsicle outta them. lol... ohhhh I kill myself>

[trax]

Scoutsickle??? Awww man, just when I start thinking there's hope for you...yeah ok, I'm laffin'. I don't worry about the ones that I can reach with my walking stick bro, it's the one that can sit a thousand yards out and pop the top on my lid in a high wind. (Sneaky ba##ard boy scouts!) You best be nice, Scouts America may just have a merit badge with your name and face on it...("OK troop, here's a special badge for the scout that ..takes..this ...guy..out!) LMAOOO

[Beo]

Ever see the movie where the guy says: "Don't work like that son this ain't the movies." and I'd pit my skills against a military sniper any day, not that I'm better or thnk i'm better but think of the great test of skills.

[trax]

I just mentioned the movie because Brad Pitt tells Robert Redford he learned to shoot in the boy scouts and sure enough..he's a sniper. As far as trying my skills against a sniper....hey, you only get to be wrong once right?

[Rick]

You guys keep that crap up and the President Elect of the BSA will be on here reaming us next. Then, of course, he'll be off to Aspen for the fresh powder......

[Beo]

Oh noooo the BSA's head hunting me!!! Help I'm fleeing to Canada. The BSC is om my side Wouldn't that cause an internal civil war, The North & South Part II Battle of the Scouts.

[Rick]

Part II? Like the first one is over? Shoot, the South did give up. They're just taking a breather to regroup.

[trax]

Now you guys have me picturing these little cub scouts making those boats out of two by fours with a nail in the middle for the sail as fast as they can crank them out so they'll have naval forces...floating them up and down rivers at each other...Oh the humanity!

[Rick]

To paraphrase Robert Duvall, "You smell that? Do you smell that? Hot cocoa, son. Nothing else in the world smells like that. I love the smell of hot cocoa in the morning."

[Beo]

Dude the South got whipped, and we won. And those from Kentucky I don't wanna hear a thing cause you guys sceded to the union first. But that was over more than two hundred years ago, I'm moving on now since I wasn't here for the battles. I'm talking bout.... oh never mind I'm going back to Beowulfistan.