Troop 12 Framingham: Scoutmasters Update 4/4/2012

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Scoutmasters Update 4/4/2012

Hello Troop 12,

It was great to see all of those new Scouts crossing over into Troop 12 last Monday night. The night was memorable because we are now starting to see the results of all of the hard work done by many people to help Pack 12 prosper. The growth of Pack 12 is beyond my wildest dreams. I still remember that first meeting night with the newly reformed Pack 12.

Pack 12 had disbanded a year or two earlier and had no members. That first meeting we had about seven boys. Five years later we have 75 boys. That is quite some growth. The pack grew because we offered excitement, fun and lots of opportunities to go camping. Success breeds success. Other packs in town complain about the growth of Pack 12, but who can deny that boys want to go where they can have fun?

Troop 12 has the same philosophy. We want all scouts to have fun, have adventures, go camping and learn useful skills. We have some good trips lined up for the upcoming months and don't forget that we have summer camp scheduled for July 1st to 7th.

New parents will probably notice that Troop 12 has some older scouts, some of whom are approaching 18, a bit too soon in some notable cases. We are proud that we can hold onto these young men. Two of these young men will earn their Eagle rank at the June 11th Court of Honor. This is the pinnacle of Scouting. Troop 12 is proud that we have nurtured over 110 Eagle Scouts over the last 88 years.

Troop 12 is a lot of things, but perfect is not one of them. We try to let the scout run the meetings as much as possible, so things do not always go according to plan. We learn from our mistakes and move on.

Thanks,

Dick Clarke

Scoutmaster, Troop 12

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Scoutmaster Message!

Eagle Scouts – we have a number of older Scouts that are pursuing the Rank of Eagle Scout. This is the pinnacle of Scouting and it requires a lot of work and perseverance. Please be prepared to help out when they need assistance.

That was a lot of information to put into one newsletter. The intent was to show that Troop 12 is a very active troop. Adventure, however, requires adult supervision, so I am urging parents to play an active role in the troop. We always need adults to help out on trips and activities. Who knows, you might even have fun? My philosophy is that Scouting teaches your sons valuable skills and ideals that will be used long after they graduate from Scouting. I also believe that learning outdoor skills at a young age encourages them to appreciate our natural surroundings and resources and to participate in family outings and camping trips. I have many fond boyhood memories of my time in Scouting. Times might have changed and technology has affected the way that our modern youth amuse themselves. However, we must never let physical activity, respect for country and others, and a love of the outdoors go out of fashion. We can make a difference in the lives of our young people. We can also have fun doing it.

God Bless America – Please remember the victims of the September 11^th attacks on our country and their surviving families and friends. This was an attack on the values of all civilized nations. People from many countries lost their lives as a result of those attacks. Scouting is a true worldwide organization that pledges respect for all others, no matter your country or religion. Scouting organizations in every country share a common mission. Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting over 100 years ago, once said that he thought that Scouting would end the need for wars. Speaking as a man who spent most of his adult life in the military and fought in many battles, this might appear to be somewhat naïve and inconsistent with his military experience. He put a high emphasis on self-respect, self-reliance and respect for others, which are timeless values that should never be allowed to go out of favor. He tried to do his best daily. We should do the same. Perhaps the world would be a lot better place if more people followed his example and the ideals of Scouting.