Traditions

Scouting is 100 years old this year.. and in a couple years the Boy Scouts of America will be turning 100. In that 100 years the BSA has established many great Traditions. Summer camps all have their own traditions, Troop’s all have traditions that they treasure. Tradition is that something that keeps it special.
We can all look back either to our childhood in Scouting or to a recent event that tradition played a key role in the experience.
When I was a youth I was in Troop 100 in the Charlemagne District of the Transatlantic Council. Our Troop was made up of all military dependants. So we had Scouts coming and going all the time, yet we still maintained traditions. Something as simple as the Troop yell or song keeps tradition alive in a troop. Each year we went to Camp Freedom in Germany for summer camp. I loved the way things ran at camp, and looking back, its tradition, it’s the way they have always done it. From the opening camp fire to the closing, the camp was full of cheer and activity. Special songs and little things that made it special. Camp Freedom is closed now. As US forces draw down in Germany, the need for Camp Freedom has gone away. But I will cherish my memories of it.
Now that I am a Scoutmaster, we are building and carrying on traditions within our Troop.

One of the great traditions that we are carrying on is the Tradition of the ashes.
When I completed Woodbadge (WE1-492-1-05 and a good ol’ Beaver too) I was given ashes.
Legend has it that the founder of the Scouting movement Lord Robert Baden-Powell, would collect some ashes from the campfire of each Scouting event and carry them to the next. He would spread the ashes of the previous fires with the leaping flames of the new one. The ashes represent the Friendship and Scouting Spirit shared by Scouts and Guides at campfires around the world. Joining of these remnants of past Scouting experiences with the cheerful spirit of new ones symbolize the unbroken chain of fellowship and dedication to a common purpose that binds the Scouts of all nations.With these ashes came a list of all the Campfires the ashes had past through. They dated back to 1912. Every camp out our Troop goes on, weather we are backpacking or setting up in a cabin we take the ashes and keep the flame alive. We have added our fires to the list, so it grows and grows.

Another Tradition of our Troop is our Mascot. The GNOME! We are the 2nd Gnome now as the first became a casualty at Camp Cooper, but Gnome 2 is an honored camper. We also have our Backpacking Gnome (Gnomelite) he makes the adventure that much more interesting.

The Gnome has been so popular at Scout Camps and Camporees we have to really keep an eye on him.

One of my favorite Traditions in Scouting is Vespers. I was reading a great post from another blogger I visit. He nailed it when he wrote about Vespers. Vespers to me is the absolute best part of any Scouting day. As the embers of the fire begin to fade and the Scouts are in the “Stare at the flame” mode, the setting is right for a quiet reflection and a simple message about the day, a lesson learned or a chance to reinforce our Scouting values. Vespers marks the end, it is a perfect way to close out a day of fun and adventure. As we stand around the fire and sing; Softly falls the light of day, as our Campfire fades away… I like to look around the circle and see the pride and thoughtful expressions on the tired faces of the boys of my Troop… Silently each Scout should ask, have I done my daily task…. again a thoughtful reminder that tomorrow is another day, another opportunity to do a good turn, to help other people, to live the law and keep the promises’ of the Oath…Have I kept my honor bright? Can I guiltless sleep tonight? …How many other kids you know ask themselves this deep rooted question?…Have I done and have I dared everything to Be Prepared…. and then we hum as you can hear the last crackles of the fire, the crickets and distant wind blowing through the trees, it is the sound of Scouting. When the day’s laughter and cheer have faded away and we prepare for a good nights rest. Then it ends with a quiet “Good Night Scouts” and the adults leave to our tent area.
A look back to the fire and see the boys making their way to cozy sleeping bags, a few of the older fellows tend to the fire and all is quiet.

Happy Scouting!