SM Minute—A Good Turn

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Scoutmaster Minute—A Good Turn

As you know, the Boy Scouts of America was started in 1910.  Now for a tougher question: Who started the BSA?  Not Baden-Powell.  He started Scouting in England.  It was an American businessman, William D. Boyce.

In 1909, William Boyce was wandering around London and got lost in the dense fog.  He met a young boy who led him to his destination.  The boy refused to accept a tip from Boyce, saying that he was a Boy Scout.  That intrigued Boyce, and he asked the Unknown Scout to take him to meet Lord Baden Powell later.

Because of that meeting, Boy Scouts of America was officially organized in 1910, and there have been more than 93 million Americans involved in the BSA since then.

The Scout slogan is “Do a Good Turn Daily.”  That is what that Boy Scout in 1909 did for William Boyce, and that is what you should always try to do, every day–a Good Turn. You never know what it may give return.

You can read more about the Unknown Scout on page 27 of your Centennial Boy Scout Handbook.

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(adapted from Troop Program Resources, p.18)

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SM Minute—When the World Stopped Turning

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Scoutmaster Minute—When the World Stopped Turning

Today is September 11^th. Some of you remember the events of ten years ago today. Most of you have learned of them in history books and television. There are few days in the history of the nation when, as they say, “the world stopped turning” and everything changed direction. Pearl Harbor. Gettysburg. 9/11.

The events of the day speak for themselves. I would like to speak to how this days speaks to the Scout Oath.

On by honor I will do my best

Your honor is something that cannot be taken, but only given—it is what you do when nobody else is looking. The same with ‘doing your best’. Only you know what your best is, and you may not even know that until you are called to duty.

To do my duty to God and my country

Many people are paralyzed in an emergency. When the time for service comes, a Scout stands up—for his God and his country, for friends and family.

and to obey the Scout Law

A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent, in good times and in bad.

To help other people at all times;

Times of crisis are a true test of character.

To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

It is much easier to do what must be done with stamina, smarts, and good common sense.

However, the best lesson of the day may actually lie in the Scout Motto: Be Prepared.

Be prepared, Scouts. Be prepared.

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Dutch Oven Cooking: Fiesta Omelet

I’ve been working (eating) my way thru The Scout’s Outdoor Cookbook, put together by Christine & Tim Conners. It was a gift from a friend, who I think was simply tired of my complaining about eating the same old thing all the time. It’s been a great tool to expand on the trusty old recipes in the Scout Handbook.

This week I flipped back to the beginning of the book to page 2, Fiesta Omelet, contributed to the collection by Scoutmaster Ed Newell of Troop 25, TwinRiver Council NY. In full disclosure I’m not really an omelet-kinda guy. I like my eggs scrambled, please and thank you. But this recipe is rated “easy” and serves 6-8, perfect to suggest to the New Scout patrol.

Ingredients:
5 slices of bread slightly dry
8oz pack precooked sausage links
1 doz eggs
16 oz jar “Newman’s Own Peach or Mango salsa,
16 oz shredded taco cheese
1/2 stick butter
Hot sauce to taste

Prep:
1. Tear dried bread into pieces, line bottom of 12″ greased Dutch oven
2. Break sausage links into small chunks & sprinkle over bread
3. Whisk eggs in medium-size bowl then spread evenly over sausage
4. Pour salsa evenly over eggs
5. Top mixture with shredded cheese
6. Slice butter into thin pats, laying slices evenly across cheese
7. Use 12 coals under, 12 coals on the lid, bake about 20 minutes or until eggs congeal and cheese melts
8. Serve, adding hot sauce to taste.

My meal turned out OK. I live in a small town and our market doesn’t carry anything exotic like “Newman’s Own” (Sorry, Ed) so I substituted chunky Pace salsa—it turned out a bit watery. I’m going to wrap my leftovers in tortillas for breakfast burritos. And also I did my test run indoors, which changes the look and feel. Everything tastes better in camp!  Adjust how spicy your salsa & hot sauce are to your own scouts’ palates (my guys are Scandinavian bland).  Overall it’s an easy meal for your Scouts to try if they’re stuck in the “same old thing” rut.

p.s If you have new Scouts coming in or are entertaining Webelos, be sure to ask about food allergies (milk/cheese in this one).
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