Leadership, NOT merit badges, is the goal of the Boy Scouts program

Building a fire, especially after a rain, is a difficult thing to do. But, at a recent summer camp competition, the scouts were faced with just that challenge. After a short discussion, they sent one scout back to the campsite for their tinder box. The other two scouts started preparing kindling and building the fire lay. Once they were ready, the scouts ignited the fire and took turns blowing on it to stoke the fire until it was able to sustain itself. They did this all efficiently without adult direction or intervention. In fact, if I hadn't been loitering nearby hoping to get a good picture, there wouldn't have been an adult in shouting distance. It was a beautiful thing.

Many parents assume the goal of scouting is for their child to collect merit badges and attain rank advancement. The stated aims of scouting, however, are character development, citizenship training, and personal fitness.

To accomplish these goals, a good scouting program uses 8 stated methods:

1. Scouting Ideals - the oath and law
2. Patrols
3. Outdoors
4. Advancement
5. Personal Growth
6. Adult Association
7. Leadership Development
8. The Uniform

It's important to remember advancement is only one method. Scouting is supposed to be a boy led activity (the patrol method). Most activities for kids aged 11 to 18 are extremely structured. Kids show up, do what they're told and, once in a while, they put on a performance for adults.

Scouting is a notable exception. When it comes to the scouting program, the scouts themselves are required to make it up and make it happen. If they want to go camping, play chess, or build a fire it's up to them. What the scouts do, which often includes completing merit badges, is not important. It's how they do it that turns a kid into a leader.