How Will You Serve?

With the beginning of a new Calendar year, we started out strong as a Troop. We have new leaders that are taking roles for the coming 6-12 months. We had 14 Scouts and leaders attend Snow Base and we have 15 new Scouts cross-over from Cub Scouts to Troop 283. As I have been able to travel, stay and discuss with each of them, I have had time to dive into the ‘why do you participate in Scouts? I am often struck by the different why’s I get, some are common, some are unique. What’s similar across them all is the focus and attention each Scout gives to these answers. They know why they participate, they know what they like. They also like discussing these ideas with their adult leaders. It is a great opportunity for each to share a little about themselves, and I encourage each adult to stalk to their Scout about it this month. Then we can collectively take this information as a Troop, add to what is working well and work on where we have improvement suggestions.

As we look ahead to February, we’ll have an opportunity to keep developing our winter fun skills – both having fun and doing service. The annual Ft. Snelling National Cemetery Clean-up depends every year on the Scouts to go from Christmas green to winter white. Every year, for 4 hours, nearly 500 volunteers descend on the Cemetery to pick-up, gather & dispose of the Holiday Decorations. It is amazing to see the Cemetery transform, and all because we show up and help. We also will have the opportunity to ‘be on display’ at our places of worship’ – assisting each of our faith beliefs in holding services and ‘doing our duty to God.’

So, my Scoutmaster challenge to each of you: where will you grow in your faith, how will you serve our Country? Scouting and the USA is strong because each person within it does his part to make it better. How will you add to that legacy this month?

Yours in Scouting,

SM Smith
c 612.281.7501