One of the key aspects of Scouting is the concept of youth led troops and units. In many units youth led is something central to the culture of the group. While there are many learning theories that support older Scouts teaching younger Scouts, I won’t go into that detail. Underlying the premise, however, is the notion of Scouts helping Scouts.
When I was a boy, our troop was organized into patrols based on the tenure of the youth members; first year, second year, third year, etc. This was a model that left some patrols to figure it out for themselves when there weren’t troop meetings where we all gathered to learn together. In my mind, this was an unsuccessful model. Fortunately for me, our Scoutmaster, Mr. Myers, saw that this hindered the youngest boys and compromised their ability to perform well on camping trips etc. Instead the troop re-organized the patrols with a mix of tenure. This gave each patrol the ability to learn, teach, and help each other grow in Scouting and skill.
The premise of Helpful is helping one another. While typically associated with the folklore of helping little old ladies across the street, and more commonly thought of in the community, helpful also applies to the troop. Older Scouts helping younger Scouts learn the needed skills to be in Scouts is critical. It is more than teaching, it really is helping. One thing that stands out in my mind is the helpfulness in preparing for a Winter camping trip. Here in the Northeast, Winter camping is Cold-weather camping not cool-weather camping. In a helpful-oriented patrol with a mix of experience, Scouts can aid each other in preparing, leading newer members to success, and be on the look out for one another more closely than a unit organized into patrols based on tenure.
Helpful, in Scouting, begins with the unit. A Scout needs to see how this works first hand before understanding how it applies outside the unit. This is probably true of each point of the Scout Law, but with this one we learn from helping it ourselves and then extend that into helping others.
The danger probably lies with units and programs that are adult led. Where the adult leaders cannot relinquish control long enough to let the Scouts be Scouts and learn together without interference. This is a sad and anti-programmatic behavior and one that hinders our Scouts from really learning according to the Scouting model.
How are your Scouts helping one another and demonstrating A Scout is Helpful? Leave a comment and tell us.
Image Source: Henning’s Scouting Pages, thanks.
Drive around most any town in America and you’ll probably see an Eagle Scout or Boy Scout Service Project. These service projects aid in attaining rank but the purpose isn’t to check something off a list; it is, instead, to help the community. Being helpful means more than lending a hand when it is needed. It often means being a good steward to your friends, family, Scouting, and the Community.
March brings us to the 3rd point in the Scout Law; A Scout is Helpful. According to the 
This month has provided me insight into loyalty. Where I once felt loyalty was almost a blind dedication to someone or something I now see it differently. As the time the Scout Law was chartered for Scouts, Loyalty was a value that linked to a dedication and respect for authority and causes. While some of that is the same, the difference comes in how loyalty is applied in one’s life.
Another week of Scouting and quite a bit is happening. Here is a capturing of the stories that piqued my interest this week.
I am loyal. I am loyal to many things.
I was just in Philadelphia not too long ago and had a chance to visit Independence Hall. It was remarkable to see the seat of power for our emerging nation and hear the walls tell the stories of independence. The founding fathers sat in those chambers and committed treason.
Ever been accused of being loyal to a fault? Ever thought of someone he/she was loyal to a fault? I’ve been in both places in my life. In both cases it seemed obvious to either the other party or myself. I guess, too, in hindsight I realized what it meant when I was being loyal to a fault. But over the course of the month, I’ve begun to question what this really means. We tend to think of loyalty as a good thing, a noble thing, a thing to strive for in earning or demonstrating but when does it become bad?
