A Scout Is- Part 2

I got my gripe with BSA out of the way in my last post, and now I'm ready to share the photo journal I had intended to write last time I sat down to blog. Scouting has been an amazing experience for my son, and he's still on the journey. Last year, when he was attending an event at Camp Miles, a local scout camp in Punta Gorda, I had to drive out to pick him up on Sunday. I had intended to spend a little time visiting with everyone when I got there so I was traveling leisurely, no rush.

It was a beautiful sunny day and as I was alone, I was much more observant than I usually am when entering the camp. I found myself taking time to soak in the beauty of the grounds and appreciating all my son has gotten out of spending time there, disconnected from the daily chaos of his usual surroundings. I turned off the radio and opened my window so I could hear the sounds- birds chirping, cawing, and flapping, buzzing insects. Spending time in nature without computers, phones, and iPods is a rare opportunity for today's teens. I've got to say, I'm pleased my son still enjoys it. Even on occasion when he complains about his impending weekend being taken up entirely by a scouting event or camping trip (a common conflict for teenage boys who remain in scouts, despite the social pressures and distractions that tug at them), he always enjoys being outdoors, getting a good dose of fresh outside air, dirt under the fingernails, and a night or two under the stars. He always sleeps well when he returns too. It's a really good kind of tired.


A Scout Is...

Scouts and other visitors are blessed with the nature of "Real Florida" the minute they pull into camp.

Shortly upon entry, you are reminded with signage, "Scout Law is the law of the camp." 

The 6th characteristic of the Scout Law is kind.

A scout is not only kind to people, but to nature as well. Leave no trace they're taught. 

In other words, leave a place you visit just the way you found it.

The long entry road that winds into camp is lined with tall slash pines, creating a natural hallway into the campgrounds. It's a dramatic entrance into the back of the property.

I couldn't get enough photos of the lush land on this sunny and blue sky day.

The eighth characteristic in the Scout Law is cheerful. It's hard not to be when spending time at camp.

Throughout camp there are spots with different textures and land denseness. Between some trees there was this clearing with what seemed like rows of various plant life; grasses, littorals, and trees.

Thrifty, not a word you hear too often anymore, is characteristic number nine in the Scout Law. According to the dictionary, thrifty doesn't just refer to economical management. It also means thriving, prosperous, successful, thriving physically or growing vigorously.  A scout really is thrifty!

Brave is number ten. Scouts first learn to be brave as they crossover from Cubs and need to learn how to survive by depending on each other, rather than moms, dads, and other caretakers. This develops even more as they learn self-sufficiency and survival skills.

These slash pines tower over the land throughout the camp, like nature's guards.

Eleven out of twelve is clean. Not just clean physically, but of mind for making good decisions.

The final characteristic in the Scout law, number twelve, is reverent. It's quite probable many scouts don't even know the meaning of this word until they learn the Scout Law. But you can bet they learn to be respectful to their peers, adults, and the land as they develop in the BSA ranks.

Finally, a mile or two on the winding road through natural SWFL, you come to the official camp sign.

As you enter the actual camp you see an amphitheater, a lookout tower, a dining hall, pool, and several other structures. It is a full service camp all year.

This lake is significant to our troop. When Cub Scouts crossover into Boy Scouts, the senior members of the troop canoe out by the light of tiki torches from a small island out in the distance, to the ceremony on the main camp where they pick up their new troop members for the first time. It's a great ceremony to mark the official crossover from Cub Scout to Boy Scout.

I have many other photos of the camp and the time my son, his troop, and our family have spent there. We camped at Camp Miles as a family when he was a Cub Scout, and he continues to spend time there and other Scout Camps with his troop as a Boy Scout. 

Scout Law

A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.