It made me think a little about just when Scouting manifests itself in our boys, or the boys that pass through our Troops.  

The answer is not a simple one because it is dependant on the young man and the situations that he finds himself as he negotiates life.

I shared with the parents that Scouting did not manifest itself in me until I was in my 20′s and away from home.  I realized what Scouting had taught me, skills like map and compass, first aid, and cooking.  I took Scouting’s values with me when I entered the Army and developed a better understanding of loyalty and obedience.  As I became an adult I understood those values and demonstrated them more frequently.  I could see that between the up bringing of my family and the things I learned in Scouting, I was becoming the man that my Scoutmaster had hoped we all would become.

And now I am a Scoutmaster and I have that same hope for the boys in my Troop.  I see development of skills every time we go camping.  I see a strong sense of citizenship when we retire flags and participate in civic events as a troop.  As these boys grow physically I see them getting stronger and in better shape.  I can see how they do better each time we hike and that what was hard last year is no longer a daunting task.

So when does Scouting manifest in our boys?  I don’t know.. but I do know that it does.. some day.. some time.. it will.