I was a Girl Scout for two years back in the 1960’s, but I never got scouting in my blood. Happily, many young people then and now, do develop a passion for scouting and the principles and responsibilities it teaches. I have had the honor over the last few weeks of speaking with a number volunteers who devote their time to the young people in their communities by serving as scout leaders for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. I hope you will be equally impressed with scouting as you read on.

“In scouting, we learn what we need to do as individuals to make our community and our country better,” said Mary Nicholas, who is a cub master in Clinton.

The first word each adult volunteer says when asked about scouting’s purpose is “leadership.” The main aim of every scouting organization is to teach young people how to lead, to develop the skills to lead well, but also to gain confidence in themselves to be successful leaders. 

Bill Connolly, a leader for Troop 10 in Clinton, says it this way: “Scouting creates kids who know how to be leaders and we need that in today’s world more than ever before. They learn that things don’t just happen. Something or someone has to make them happen.” 

Whether it’s planning a camping trip or organizing a pancake breakfast, the scouts themselves do all the work. Even the Girl Scout cookie program requires the girls in each troop to plan, order, organize and keep track of the finances themselves. In every case, leaders explain that the kids run scouts themselves and the grown-ups are there as supporters of the kids’ efforts.

“The girls gain confidence in their abilities because they run the troop themselves. Adults are there as advisors, but we don’t run things, ” says Ginger Gordon, local scout leader and service unit director of the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts.

There is no formal organizational tie between Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of the USA, but the shared goal is to create young people, and ultimately adults, who are devoted to their communities and who believe in working to make our country and the world a better place. As boys advance in scouts, they are required to create and execute projects that will provide a service to the greater community. Troops of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts often take part in projects which help other organizations and interests in their own community.

 “Our scouts have fun and feel a sense of connection with one another and the community. They make friendships that last a lifetime,” Gordon says.

 Sir Robert Baden Powell founded Boy Scouts and Girl Guides in Britain in 1908. It didn’t take long for scouting to become part of the youth movement that was growing around the world. Juliette Gordon Low met Powell in 1911 and became inspired by his work and the positive affect it was having on the children involved. Believing that girls should be given the same opportunity to develop physically, mentally, and spiritually, Low started the Girl scouts in Savannah, Georgia in 1912. According to the girl scout’s Web site, Low “brought girls of all backgrounds into the out-of-doors, giving them the opportunity to develop self-reliance and resourcefulness. She encouraged girls to prepare not only for traditional homemaking, but also for possible future roles as professional women — in the arts, sciences and business — and for active citizenship outside the home. Girl Scouting welcomed disabled girls at a time when they were excluded from many other activities.”

Today, we have Cub Scouts, which is for boys in first through fifth grade. Cub scouts focuses largely on family and home. At age 10, they become Webelos (WE’ll BE LOyal Scouts) and work on increasingly difficult projects in preparation for becoming Boy Scouts.

Boy Scouts include boys ages 11 to 17 who participate in outdoor programs and are taught peer leadership. Scouting for girls includes kindergarteners called Daisies; Brownies (grades 1 through 3); Juniors (grades 4 through 6); Cadets (grades 7 through 9) and the Senior Troop which includes girls in their last years of high school.

Jim Gareffi, leader of Boy Scout Troop 4 in Clinton, describes scouting as a “learning process” for its members. The scouts begin learning about the outdoors and go on campouts and hikes, but the longer they are involved the more their learning grows and broadens to include citizenship, service and leadership.

“In scouting, the boys learn to think for themselves and to think imaginatively about what is possible.” says Gareffi.

The leaders said what Scouting needs most now is adult volunteers. To become involved, contact the Girls Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts at www.gscwm.org or the Boy Scouts at www.scouting.org.