Scouting: Step Up and Be a Leader!

Anyone who knows me knows that we are an active scouting family. Many of our weekends are spent camping or on scout outings, as are several days during any given week. That is to say that I am an active volunteer for both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and I love it! I truly do think that anyone can be a great leader, whether as a den leader, product sales parent, field trip driver or simply as an active, involved parent.

This months piece "Scouting: Step Up and Be a Leader!" will focus on leadership in scouting.

Who I Am

For my son, I have been a Tiger Cub leader, Cub Scout leader and Webelos leader. When he crossed over to Boy Scouts, I stepped up to be an Assistant Scoutmaster (which is really more of a mentor than actual leader, but the age of the scouts will really determine what I am doing). Since I enjoy the mentoring aspect, I have been acting as a Merit Badge Councelor for several subjects, as well as leading up a Roundtable program for adults for several years. In addition to that I have been my daughters Scout Leader since she was a Daisy! I have also volunteered for several great one-day programs and activities for scouts.

I suppose this is something that is in my blood; I do like to volunteer. My grandfather was a scout leader and Scoutmaster for many generations and my mother was a den mother and Girl Scout leader for many years as well.

Yes, I am "one of those" adult scouters. My scouting has let me help plan and participate in so many great programs, take several fantastic trips, and do some amazing service projects with all my boys and girls. While I enjoy it, I also firmly believe that scouting can help develop youth leadership in a way that is unlike other opportunities. It would be remiss of me though not to mention that I could not have done much of this without the many fantastic parents and other leaders that have been on this journey as well. Parents truly help make the program what it is!

You and Scouting

That is not to say that every parent needs to be as active as I am. I do this because scouting speaks to me. I receive fulfillment from seeing the growth and development of all the youth - I truly like helping to guide our future generations. What fulfills you? Would teaching a group of youth to cook a meal on an outdoor campfire be cool? Do you have a technical background you can share? Are your artistic? What skills do you have that you would love to share with others?

I really do encourage each parent to step into some part of scouting, whether that is through leading a group, sitting on a Troop Committee, being a merit badge councilor for skills that you have or as a field trip driver, event planner or product sales parent. Every person has skills that can be shared and every parent can do something to help.

I liked to always tell my parents that taking an active role kept things moving certainly, but it also shows their child what the parent can do. Often kids leave a meeting beaming after seeing their parent take on a project. Sometimes too the youth even get to help in the planning and implementing which they greatly benefit from as well.

Not a parent of a scout-aged youth, but still want to be involved? I really do strongly feel that having a non-parent leader would be a HUGE asset. Why is that? As a parent, I have my own child as well as the other youth to consider. The other kids all have the parent and only their parent, while my children have to split my time and interest. I have heard it said that the "leaders kid" does more, which is likely true since that kid goes to everything with he parent. I will disagree with the kid getting more since they have to share the experience unlike the other youth. That's where a non-parent leader would be an exceptional asset. Non-parent adults have just as much to offer as the parents of the youth. They should consider this leadership opportunity as much as parents should!

Whether it is one 2-hour project, a single meeting, or taking on a much more active role as leadership, the time you give creates memories like no other. For you AND for all of the youth involved. Step up and be a leader, you won't be disappointed!

To find a Scout Troop please visit the Be a Scout website
To find a Girl Scout Troop in your area or volunteer opportunities visit www.girlscouts.org.