5 Things That Scouting Has Taught Me

Hi! My name is Lydia and I am a Scout.

 

Many people know me for being active in my church and community, but I am not sure many realize that I am a Ventureer. "What is that?" people will ask.

 

A Ventureer is basically a program of co-ed Boy Scouts. We are 14 to 21 year old males and females who are part of the Boy Scouts Of America program (BSA for short). We are under the same "umbrella" as Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Sea Scouts, and Explorers.

 

We are unique in the fact that we are youth led. We plan what we want our adventures to be and then we plan how we are going to get there.

 

With that being said.....I am asked on occasion what I have learned from being being a Scout. I have been in the Venture Crew program for 2.5 years, but I have participated, alongside my brothers, in Cub Scouts and, on occasion, Boy Scouts, for over half my life. I live with a Charter Organization Representative, an Eagle Scout, and a Webelo 2. Scouting is part of who I am.

~5 Things That Scouting Has Taught Me~

• Scouting has taught me what respect and equality can look like. As a Ventureer, every time I put on my uniform, I am more than a female or tagalong sibling, I am a Scout. As such, I am treated as an equal in most scouting environments, even if I am one of the only females. I work hard and I play hard, right along with every other Scout.

 

• Scouting has taught me to know who I am and to be true to myself. I have been challenged in all of my awards that I have earned thus far to know exactly what I believe and why. This covers everything from my personal faith to why I do what I do in everyday living.

 

• Scouting has taught me to get out of my "bubble." Sometimes it has taught me this despite myself, but it is something I value. I have never gone to a scout event or earned an award and not been faced with opposition or trying circumstances. It challenges me to look at things differently, to be flexible, and in all things: DO MY BEST!

 

• Scouting has taught me to savor the little things in life that I often ignore. There is honestly nothing more breathe-taking than a colorful sunset or sunrise painted by God. There is nothing more peaceful than gazing at the stars in all their glory. There is nothing more satisfying than realizing you made it through a trying day, and it feels amazing. And there is nothing sweeter than knowing you are part of something.

 

• Finally, Scouting has taught me the value of teamwork. No, this is not some new novelty to me, but if you have ever seen a group of scouts work together, you know exactly what I am talking about. The class clowns and Valedictorians, the band kids and the athletes, the CEOs and the Janitors, the "well off" and the "barely making it." People from different backgrounds, beliefs, and cultures, all coming under the "umbrella" of scouting to get something accomplished. Whether that be planning a Scout meeting or putting into motion a Summer Camp. We work hard, and we play hard....as a TEAM!

In conclusion, Scouting has taught me many life lessons, more by example than instruction. These are things that no money or class could ever teach me; they are things I value. I would hope that I would continue to learn from being involved in Scouting and that I would be able to teach more by example than instruction.