Recognition

Most of us call it "advancement". But it is really recognition. Boy Scouts is a program that allows a boy to grow and learn by experiencing, by doing. Our jobs as adult leaders is to provide the opportunities and make sure the boy stays safe. But what we really want is a boy-led Troop and if that is true, we should have boys doing the teaching of new skills. Sometimes we adults need to step in and give some guidance, when the skills level of the boys are lower than they need to be to provide the proper information. But that is temporary. Once the leaders are back on track and there memory of skills they learned and forgot is refreshed, we adults must again back off. It's a little dance. One that takes some time to learn.

But back to the recognition. the awards we give out at our Court of Honor represent recognition of experiences and learn that the boys have passed through. A scout does not become a master of knot-tying by passing a few requirements on the path to First Class. He masters them (assuming he does that) by actually practicing what he has learned. The good news is, the skills they are taught have practical use for camping and hiking and often other life activities. A tautline hitch, for example, is one I use on EVERY single campout, and sometimes at home. This goes for just about very skill the Boy Scout Handbook teaches.

But for a boy, knowing is not enough. It's important for him to stand in front of his peers and his friends and family and have someone say, "this boy did this. And he did it well." It's important. And so we recognize him, knowing that someday he will pass on what he has learned by teaching another Scout. And that's when he will truly KNOW what he has LEARNED.