What we accidentally learned was that:
- 11 year-old Scouts can handle the Wilderness Survival merit badge.
- This was a great way to stress the importance of the 10 essentials.
- Wilderness Survival merit badge can be taught well and effectively as a group. The more experienced Scouts had plenty of leadership opportunities to teach and demonstrate skills.
- The Scouts figured out how little they really need to go camping or backpacking. Subsequent camping trips have had gear slashed food is well thought out (usually) to account for weight and necessity.
- They have figured out how to make each thing they bring do 2 or 3 jobs.
We were able to test out new-found theories out a few weeks ago. We brought 5 newly crossed-over Scouts camping with us. Each patrol was able to get their own campsite, all within 100 yards of each other.
The weather was a lot better (sunny and 60s during the day, 30s at night). The new Scouts were greener than the previous year, so that balanced the weather out.
The older Scouts were anxious to get started, and build much better shelters this year than last. I challenged them to really pretend they had gotten lost with just their 10 essentials--no sleeping bag. Some of the shelters I would have gladly slept in--they were well constructed, water resistant, and downright roomy.
The new Scouts were a different story. We used the same format as last year--instruction, followed by building shelters and having the older Scouts provide advice and encouragement. Two of the new Scouts were nervous--homesickness and fear crept in.
You could tell that they were considering bolting back to their tent and campsite once it got dark out.
Command decision: "Guys, let's save some time in the morning, and break down the campsites tonight." A lot of "deer in the headlights" looks from the new Scout patrol.
An hour later the van was packed, and as the sun went down, they trudged off to their shelters.
...and loved it! No one had any trouble sleeping, no one woke up afraid in the night, and they had a great new level of confidence and experience to draw on.
Word has already trickled down to next year's Webelos Scouts that this adventure is waiting for them next April.
What does your troop do to help "break in" the new guys? What worked well? What didn't? Share your experience in the comments.
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