Scouting's apathy

Scouting has a apathy right now; a few do for the many. Parents seldom help, expecting others to do for theirs, leaving the scoutmaster or leader to do what was traditionally done by the committee and by the job title or only doing the minimum of what’s required. There is a reason that weekly meetings work, they are remembered.

I wish that others would become sold on the program of Scouting. In Scouting, it is a win-win situation. One team does not have to lose so the other can win, although there is a place in life for that too. If a Boy, or girl, tries to achieve in Scouting, they can. Scouting's rank achievements do not rely on another scout's activities. If they try, they do achieve, and on their own merit.

In recent years, nearly five-million boys have been involved in scouting. This has caused the biggest rebirth of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) since the Vietnam era when uniforms were hardly in. Scouting instills values in tomorrow's citizens and leaders. Scouting does this with their Boy Scout Oath & Law, and the Cub Scout promise & law. All scouts in the program must understand and pledge to live by these values. In fact that's the program's primary mission, to help install values contained in these pledges in their young people and in other ways prepare them to make informed, ethical choices as adults.

Yet there are not enough younger Leaders to run the program. The current leaders are generally older, and ageing. If younger adults and Parents of the boys do not step to the plate the program will flounder.