Hmmm… We all tell the scouts to live by the scout oath, but sadly, I’m afraid we don’t always practice what we preach. While I’m certainly in far better physical condition than I was two years ago, I have a very long way to go. What is important is that they see us trying.
How many times have you as a scout leader been teased for having the scout master belly? Or worse, as has been done in even our troop, been told that a thin scout master can’t be trusted? There was a short period where my own husband helped to fill our scout master’s (aka buffaloeagle’s) shoes and he was joked with that he couldn’t be scoutmaster because his belly wasn’t big enough. Yeah, I know, it’s all meant in good fun, and any of you who have been teased know it is too. But…. But, it can’t possibly feel that good when you’re the one having to laugh along.
As someone who struggles with their own weight, I know that we want to be physically stong (and fit). Well, what are we willing to do about it? I for one am a regular at the gym and on the trails. How about you? What are you doing to show your scouts that you too want to be physically strong? Better yet, when is the last time you went for a five mile hike without the troop?
I touched on this back in December, challenging Scouts to earn (and Scouters to “earn”) the Athletics merit badge. The Scoutmaster profile is abundant, and we can be setting a better example–definitely applies to me.
Of course, I’ll still never trust a skinny Scoutmaster…;-)
http://scoutsigns.blogspot.com/2008/12/merit-badge-of-week-athletics.html
Very good point. We have a Scout who is on his cross country team in his school. He could hike all day. Then we have a Scout who is over weight and can barely get through a 3 mile hike. Then we have them all in between. I also hit the gym on a regular basis and have a pretty good relationship with a couple of elliptical machines.
I even like to go out on a backpack trip alone or with my son occasionally to try out different equipment or techniques to see if it is worth passing on to the Scouts. I want to be able to be able to be there for my son and the other Scouts when they need me.
Yeah, that’s a big reason why I didn’t accept the post of Scoutmaster when it was offered. I’ve got too much belly to argue for being physically fit although I have gone on all the recent hikes with the troop. The Scoutmaster I talked into the job is 20 years older and in much better shape than me. Must be those surfer genes of his. Man, I’ve got to get in shape.
I have met alot of scoutmasters and asst scoutmasters that have told me they do not or cannot participate in some outdoor activities due to a poor fitness level. I have seen some that looked like they were about to keel over after walking 50 yards. I feel it is important that adult leaders be a good example for their troop, scouts and scouters………and If they cannot trust a skinny scoutmaster Too Bad!