Scouting is a social activity. It promotes social interaction and encourages youth, of all backgrounds, to meet and interact with one another.
Modern day Scouting is the outcome of a grand social experiment conducted on Brownsea Island during the height of the Edwardian era. At a time when social standing, class, and pedigree were the norm, Baden-Powell attempted something that no one else would dare. Baden-Powell took 21 youth from the highest pedigrees in England and interspersed them with local boys of a much lower education and social class. This was his experimental summer camp, and the first of many summer camp experiences to come for scouts all over the world.
The goal was to see if Baden-Powell, using the ideas and concepts he had written about in his book Aids to Scouting and based on what he had seen the boys of the Mafeking Cadets do during the Siege of Mafeking, could bring youth from different backgrounds and different rungs on the social ladder and get them to work as a unit. In a nutshell, Baden-Powell attempted, through Scouting principles, to break down the social structure of the day and help young people see each others as equals. To value their contribution to the whole instead of by their birthright. A radical idea at the time, but an extremely effective and successful one.
One could re-phrase all of that to simply state that Baden-Powell’s vision was for world peace. The method of achieving it was through Scouting principles. The most important of them being that Scouting is social.
All 12 points of the Scout Law are socially positive attributes. All people, especially youth, are socially stronger when they strive to apply them in their lives.
Consider for a moment being amongst a group of individuals who are all striving, “on their honor”, to be Trustworthy people. To be Loyal to each other. Helpful to others. Friendly to friends, foe, and strangers. Courteous to all. To be Kind when kindness would normally be difficult. Obedient to rules, laws, and requirements. Cheerful in the face of difficult times and trying experiences. Thrifty, not only with their money, but with the resources of others. Brave when standing up is both hard and the right thing to do. Clean in their dress, manners, and speech. Reverent, not only to their beliefs but to the beliefs of all. What kind of a society would that be?
Scouting is social because it encourages youth to serve others. When Scouts can begin to see themselves as equals to their fellow scouts, when they don’t see race, gender, height, weight, or other distinguishing characteristics; they then can see themselves in others and wish to help them when they are in need.
Scouting IS social.
To join an already existing unit, visit http://www.BeAScout.org
For scouting families in the Great Salt Lake Council wanting to continue their Scouting adventure, visit http://www.saltlakescouts.org/allinscouting.
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