Thank you for sharing this view John. What I love about this forum is that
there's no right answer, no one way to do things. We each arrive at our
separate destinations via the choices we make. While lightweight
backpacking and no-mess cooking look like smart choices, the values of
scouting as a character-building experience are also smart choices for much
different reasons. It's our challenge as crew advisors and scout leaders to
find the best balance for our circumstances.
>Ched Hudson
ASM Troop 994, Fairfax Station, VA
Philmont 1967 & 2004
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-philmont@troop47.com [mailto:owner-philmont@troop47.com]On
Behalf Of John LeBlanc
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2004 11:01 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list philmont
Subject: [Philmont]: Cooking Pots---a contrarian view
Special pots, turkey bags, etc. etc. etc.
An alternative view on this and one which used to be the ONLY view a few
years ago is to simply go to Philmont and to use what Philmont issues to a
crew. The Philissue gear is quite adequate.
We have become a nation of spoiled gadget hounds. We want our food
instantly fixed and have lost sight of the value learned in cooking a meal
from scratch in a regular pot.
We are teaching our Scouts that they MUST have the BEST equipment
available.
In short we are failing our children.
Failing them by teaching them or rather not teaching them that there is
value in being able to take on a pile of equipment, some of which they have
never seen or used and to use that equipment to get the job done.
I could go on and on for hours on this value, but I'll do what I do best
and cut to the chase.
One of our Venture crew members is in Bagdad with the U S Army as I type
this. Two years ago he was on the trail at Philmont. He is a mechanic.
His job is to keep the Humvees humming and the Bradleys bradleying. When he
was here on leave for Christmas, I asked him what skill he took with him
that he used most often. His reply was "to make do with what you got or
rather don't have". He went on to explain that many times they don't have
what they need, so they either make it or convert it. Asked if Scouting
skills helped him, he told me that especially the times when they improvised
various things while camping.
We talked about Philmont. When he went, the crew just took what Philmont
issued and made it do even though they had not used this particular piece of
equipment but had use similar stuff.
So.............when thinking turkey bags, the perfect boots and the best
raingear, consider letting your crew arrive at Philmont and take on a task
and get the job done with what they are given.
There is value in that and you are not a bad leader by not getting them
the best stuff. In fact, you are a much better leader for helping boys
become adaptable men.
At least just think about it.
John LeBlanc
Philmont 1959 & 2002
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail SpamGuard - Read only the mail you want. ------------------------------------------------------- Scouting E-mail Discussion Lists @ usscouts.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe at http://usscouts.org/lists/ Listserv Commands at http://usscouts.org/lists/lc.asp ------------------------------------------------------- Send listserv commands to: listserv@troop47.com Send postings to: philmont@troop47.com List FAQ found at: http://usscouts.org/lists/faq.asp List Administrator: philmont_owner@troop47.com ------------------------------------------------------- As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. -------------------------------------------------------Received on Fri Feb 20 06:38:42 2004
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.8 : Wed Jul 26 2006 - 11:59:40 CDT