Meet the Owls

I would like to introduce you to six of my newest heroes. For the last few weeks I have known them as the Owl Patrol. They are Randy, Jeffery, George, Sally, Everett, and Eric. Together they share a common passion to help the youth in our area to live lives based on a common set of values that are seldom talked about in today’s world. These values center on the three Aims of Scouting; Character, Citizenship and Fitness.

Just weeks ago they were strangers to each other and now I can tell you they have built bonds that may last a lifetime. They came together to attend the premiere Boy Scout Adult leader training known as Woodbadge.

Believe me this in not an easy commitment. Participants (and staff) pay to participate and are required to attend two four day weekends of training and then complete five goals known as “tickets” within 18 months. The actual course is action packed with activity starting with breakfast and running all the way to after nine PM.

You might find it surprising to learn this training does not involve fire building skills, camping skills or knot tying. Instead, the participants learn advanced techniques for project planning, team development, teaching others, coaching, mentoring, conflict management and more. I was a leadership trainer for many years and can tell you this course is on par with anything you will find in corporate America.

Back to the hero part.

These are not six super heroes that you will most likely ever read about in the paper or see on TV. With the exception of a Scout related training award or two, these heroes will most likely never get any recognition for their efforts and certainly will never benefit financially. Most kids they encounter will never thank them for their efforts and from time to time there will be conflicts with parents as well as other volunteers. They will have many nights of sleeping on the ground, getting bug bites, and dealing with homesick children. Many will no longer have family vacations due to all off time being used for training or for sponsoring trips. They will ultimately spend hundreds if not thousands of their own money to pay for camps, travel, gas, uniforms and equipment.

But with all these challenges they will press on. Press on with the inner confidence that they are making the only investment in life that actually matters. It is an investment through service and sacrifice in the lives of others. Based on what I know of these folks, the world will reap benefits finer than any gold from their efforts.

Congratulations Owls and “work those tickets if you can”. If that catchy Bette Midler song were not so hard to sing I would belt it out for you now.

Are you a hero? If not sign up as a volunteer and you too will soon be making a difference for others.

YIS

David

Reflections

I spent some time this morning looking over my presentations and preparing for my final weekend of Wood Badge as a Troop Guide. What a wonderful experience overall this has been. Truly we do get more out of teaching than we do from the receiving process.

Wood Badge has refreshed my knowledge and passion around this great program we all have the privilege to give so much of our time. There is so much potential in each of us to make a difference in the lives of the youth and the adults we encounter. I see this difference playing out as selfless and positive most of the time. There are other times when I see it as selfish and negative. And finally, there are times I see it with no impact at all due to passivity and apathy.

Whether you have been to Wood Badge or not, I hope that from time to time you will challenge yourself to deeply review the Aims and Methods of Scouting. Measure yourself and your program by this as well as the Oath and Law. If you do, I know you will leave this time of reflection refocused on why you are here and the positive potential you have to impact generations.

YIS

David

See us Grow!

This is a little song I wrote a few years ago when my son was in Cub Scouts. It is most fun if everyone joins in the singing. Hard to believe how much he has grown even since the attached picture was taken.


See Us Grow!

Sung to the tune of Let it Snow

Well, being a Scout is fun,
And we want to tell everyone
Pack 164’s the best ya know!
See us grow, See us grow, See us grow

From tigers, to wolf’s to bears
We know the fun is there!
And don’t forget the Webelo’s (shouted by the Webelo’s)
See us grow, See us grow, See us grow

Oh I promise to “Do my best”
And I’ll follow the “Law of the pack”
As pass through many tests
I’ll remember to serve and give back

Finally, welcome to our blue and gold
It’s going to be great we’re told
To everyone here---HELLO!
and
(Big Finish!) See us grow, See us grow, See us grow

Trappers!

The Troop’s January campout was Trapper’s Rendezvous near Newton Kansas with a record crowd this year of over 5,000 people. This is a great Scout event that many of the boys look forward to attending every year. It has a little bit of a bad reputation for some due mostly to the potential for cold. (there was a legendary year with ice and high of 6) I think my family has brought warm weather karma with us since for two years in a row there have been sunny skies and warm daytime temperatures.


Trappers is an encampment of old time mountain men and there are many period re -enactors walking the grounds to tell their story. They each handout a wooden coin after they tell you who they are and what made them famous. There are also displays and demonstrations of period skills such as blacksmithing and cooking.
The attraction for most of the boys is the trading. They are encouraged to bring items for trade and it is amazing the number as well as variety things you will see traded. There are many pocket knives of course but also, old toys, hats, animal furs, etc.


My son came home from this weekend with boxing gloves, a snuggie, an old army helmet , a bugle and a variety of other random items. The most unusual things I saw up for trade were a fairly new house window with frame and a dishwasher.
It was especially cool to see the boys learn negotiation skills as they haggled. Each successful transaction ended with a left-handed shake and a “good trade” comment.


This year an older Scout challenged himself by starting with only a rock off the ground to start the day. He ended with a really cool guitar and a couple of other things. Now that is some serious trading up!
Walking around the event and soaking it all in, I was once again thoughtful of just how cool it is to be involved in Scouting. Time hanging out with the Scouts, chatting with the adults, and meeting other Scouts are just priceless to me. I almost feel sad for kids that were home instead playing video games or hanging out at the mall.

These are certainly moments the Scouts will not fully appreciate now but in years to come will enjoy telling. “Remember the time I went to that event and traded a rock?”

Building Men

"It is easier to build a boy than to repair a man"

This line greets participants of Scoutmaster specific training early in the session. These words more than any other to me sum up why I give so much time to Scouting. As the year comes to a close, I am looking back and wondering how much of a builder I have been. Am I doing my part? Am I making a positive difference? What about my Troop? Are the adult leaders and youth leaders really building foundations for the future?

The youth of this generation are facing challenges unknown to those previous and an American future that is very much in doubt. Changes in technology, communication, economics, family life and cultural focus have reached a tipping point that may move our country up to promising future or down to an abyss of despair.

I do not consider myself just an adult volunteer. I am construction worker on mission from God to help build men of the future. Men who will be faced with choices someday that will impact the lives of others. Men who hopefully will at a critical time will maybe--just maybe in the depths of their subconscious think "brave" when deciding to go against the crowd. Men who will think "trustworthy" when faced with a critical ethical choice or personal temptation. Men who deeply know the meaning of the phrase "On my honor" and put these words into action with their daily lives.

Reflecting back on 2009, I am not so sure of my success. What I do know is that no matter what challenges I may have faced I was clear in my personal mission.

I also know my effort was only a single brick in this project. There are many other influences that will impact the future of these boys and there are many other influencers working to make a difference as well. In the end, if I have only made a difference in the life of one young person then I have been a success.

What about you? Are you a builder of others? Do you keep the Oath, Law and Aims of Scouting in your heart as you interact with your Scouts? Do you have clearly defined personal vision as to why you are involved?

I would like to challenge you as this year comes to a close to look deeply inside yourself. Reflect on your actions of 2009 and look to making even more of a difference for others in 2010. The boy you help build today may indeed be the man that changes the world for the better tomorrow.

YIS
David

Troop "Turkey" Campout

This campout is a Troop 168 tradition. We cook Turkeys in a pit and invite all the families out for a big Thanksgiving feast including all the trimmings. The boys (and Crew ladies) work really hard to make it a nice event. Here are just a few pics I thought I would share.

Twitter vs. Facebook

Last week I read no less than four articles about Twitter in the various magazines and newspapers I subscribe. I am a twitter nut myself with two accounts @davidtcopeland and @okcscouter. I have found it to be to a great tool for connecting with others and for learning about all the latest trends in social networking. My Scouting account has lead to some great connections with people in other parts of the country that also have a passion for this great program. Does my Twitter obsession mean and end to my Facebook days? Absolutely not!

I see the two as distinctly different tools with difference purposes. Twitter has been great for “virtually” meeting people from all over the country. I consider many of these Twitter folks to be my friend even it is in a weird I have never met you before kind of way. Most Twitter people seem to talk mostly to themselves and for whatever reason have little desire to really communicate and connect with their followers. (More on this with a later post)

I treat Facebook on the other hand as a “real” friends only forum with all my settings set as private. Every friend I have on FB is a person I have some kind of connection and 99% of them I have met in person at one time in my life. My family, childhood friends, and many other people are on this with me. We share updates and my favorite feature is the picture albums people post showing families. The connections on Facebook to me seem more personal.

Both tools to me have a purpose and they are distinctly different for me. I personally plan to hang on to both.

What about you? Facebook or Twitter? Do you have both? What do you see as the difference?