Family&Links
Most families come to Scouting because they are seeking a strong, supportive,
nurturing environment to develop their son's character. They want their son to
become "all that he can be", a good person, loved and loving, happy and
productive. They recognize that the family that is Scouting is an extension of
their family, whoever is in it, providing resources they need, while they bring their unique
resources to Scouting. They join to be involved, in their family,
our family, and our community.
Scouting is about family. Most of Scouting doesn't happen in the Den meetings or the Pack meetings, it happens in your family, at home, on adventures together, working on Scouting achievements together, trying new things together. By working with your son on Scouting achievements, you build a relationship with him in a positive, exciting, and permanent way. Lessons learned will last a lifetime, for all of you! An exciting element of Scouting is that as you build your son's character by involvement with him, his Den and the Pack, you build your own character as well. Its easy to find ourselves, as parents and guardians, struggling to find ways to interact with our children that don't start with something our child has done wrong... Scouting is a way to start those interactions with something that goes right! Scouting is about growing together positively.
Scouting is an active sport: it takes action to move forward. It isn't always easy. You get out of it more than you put in, but you have to play actively. Like trying new foods, new adventures don't always work out. We don't always find success or something we will enjoy, and things may not always work out (that's life, isn't it?). Maybe this keeps us from branching out and living life to its fullest: fear of failure, embarrassment, or mis-adventure... Scouting gives us a chance to develop new aspects of our lives by taking journeys, short and long, together. Along the way, we will learn to do our best, we will grow from having tried, and there's something special about that journey. That's where Scouting finds its excitement! Its found in taking your family on small and big adventures (and mis-adventures!), and working together, learning together, and finding out what life has to offer, together. Think of the life you are giving your son by teaching him to try new things and expand his world, give it his all by doing his best, and learning despite success or failure, finding grace and humility, pride and self-confidence in the process. Scouting is not about winning, but about trying and learning!
Scouting cannot happen for your son, by himself. It takes a community (yeah,
sounds corny, but its a fact). Being part of
a
community is what makes life rich and successful. Giving to our community by
being a part of it is one of the wonders of being human. Teaching our children
about community lives in the community that is your family. What your son learns
in his home sets his view of the world he lives in, and gives him the tools he
needs to become that person every parent and guardian wants their child to be: a successful human being,
contributing to his world instead of taking from it, putting others before
self. No one can carry the responsibility of teaching their child these things
alone because no one person has all the skills, insight, or abilities needed. You have
skills and abilities you know well, and some you haven't discovered yet, just
like your son. It takes a community, and together, we are that community.
Together, we can do wonderful things! We hope that as you grow in our family,
you learn from us, but we also need to learn from you. To do that, our family
needs you, just as your son needs you. Be a part of our family by being active
in your son's Scouting adventures. Work through those wonderful fun times, and those
demanding, not-so-wonderful times as you involve yourself in our community.
Learn and teach perseverance, initiative, selflessness, community. Read your
son's Scout manual and learn what Scouting can bring to you, your family, our
community! Move beyond the manual's ideas, and create new ideas, new adventures,
for you, your son, your family, your Den, your Pack, and your community! Learn
how, by working closely with your Den and Pack, and build character in yourself
and others. By the way, there are formal educational and training opportunities
in Scouting for adults too!
Be involved, in your family and ours! We know you can't make every Den or Pack activity, and we don't expect you to. We don't expect you to volunteer for every task or committee. We don't expect you to know how to do things, but by learning this time, you can teach next time. But we do need you, and we need you to make the best of the time we have you! Its about quality and quantity time. We know that you came to Scouting because you want the best environment for the development of you son's character, and the most important part of that environment is you!
Want more? Volunteer by contacting your Den leader, our Cubmasters, or by emailing us!
Ken Bell, Cubmaster
Chuck Arel, Assistant Cubmaster
email: [email protected]
Family Links
Scout Parents - Boy Scouts of America Parenting Initiative
MacScouter - Scouting Resources
Scout Stuff - BSA On-line store
Boy Scouts of America
Green Mountain Council
Land of Champs District
Pack 655, Colchester, Vermont
Webmaster