The Mountains Are the Means, The Man Is The End

In August of 2006 four determined Scout leaders and seven anxious boys set out with big plans to backpack 55 miles across the spine of the High Uintas.  On day two it became painfully obvious that lack of adequate conditioning, experience and preparation would cut the distance far short of the intended goal.  With disappointment the leaders resorted to one of their bailout strategies and arranged for a pickup at a closer, more accessible trail head on the same planned exit day, but 25 miles shy of the original destination. The leaders' hopes for earning the "50 Miler" award were quietly dashed, however, they kept their discouragement from the boys.  The rest of the trip was focused on fishing, exploring, outdoor skills and camp firesides. The leaders initially felt they had failed the boys -- until they overheard those young men sharing stories and recalling with joy and satisfaction the events of that trip.

Walter Bonatti, the famed Italian mountain climber, explorer and journalist who was the first to climb the North Face of the Matterhorn in winter wisely said: "The mountains are the means, the man is the end. The idea is to improve the man, not to reach the top."  As we plan and execute our "Super Activities" for next year, keep Bonatti's words in mind.  Our activities might not always go as planned, but the plan really should be improving the young men.

Written by: J Ralls - District 18 Ventures

Magnifying Your Calling as an Aaronic Priesthood Leader

“There is no more significant work in this world than the preparation of boys to become men of capacity, of strength, of integrity, who are qualified to live productive and meaningful lives.” (President Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, April 1985, p. 76)

You have been called to an holy calling—to serve as an Aaronic Priesthood leader. Through your calling you are in a position to influence for good the future missionaries, husbands, fathers, and leaders of the Church. You can ignite the spark of testimony within a young man that will light his path for the rest of his life. Your righteous influence can be felt for generations. Many people will be blessed when you magnify your calling in the Aaronic Priesthood.

When properly cultivated, you have within you two immense powers that can soften every heart, uplift every soul, and enlighten every mind of the young men under your stewardship. When it comes to working with your boys these powers will help you see what otherwise you may not have seen, hear what you may not have heard, and know what you would not have known without these gifts.

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Cub Corner October 2014

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Cub-O-Ree and Webelos Night last month. We had over 1,000 scouts and leaders combined at the two days. That is impressive! Thanks for making a fantastic event! We look forward to next year!

I want to share one of my favorite Cubmaster Minutes. This month’s Cub Scout Core Value is Citizenship and this Cubmaster Minute is about our flag. Our country’s flag is made up of thousands of individual threads and stitches. None of them separately is anything more than a thread or stitch, but put them together and they make a flag. Each tiny thread joins all the others to do its job. Our country is made up of millions of individual people, like you and me. Separately we may not accomplish much, but if we join together, work together, and stick together, we can move the world. Let’s work to be united and help our country.

Upcoming Events

·       10/9/14 Roundtable @ 12242 S 2700 W

·       10/27/14 - 10/30/14 Haunted Woods at Camp Tracy

·       11/8/14 College of Cub Scouting

·       11/13/14 Roundtable @ 12242 S 2700 W

·       11/21/14 Holiday Auction

·       12/11/14 Roundtable @ 12242 S 2700 W – Cookie Exchange

·       1/8/2015 Roundtable @ 12345 S 2700 W – Blue and Gold (Dinner Provided)

·       Sign up for email reminders and information. 

http://eepurl.com/wCQUX 

Putting the Magic in Scouting

If you had a magic wand, would you use it to make the Scouting program better and more fun for youth so they stayed in Scouting longer, so it had a larger impact on their lives? What if the same magic wand made leadership roles easier and more rewarding, and also led to better retention among adult volunteers? Would using that magic wand be a top priority?

Well, such a magic wand does exist—in the form of the training program for volunteer leaders in the Boy Scouts of America.

Common sense tells us training is important, and research shows the importance of trained leaders. In the early days of the Boy Scouts of America, our first Chief Scout Executive James E. West was asked what the three greatest needs of the new movement were.  He replied, “Training, training, and training.” That is still true today.