Success and Failure Scout Style

One of the things that I like to tell parents and youth members about scouts is that scouting is one of the few environments where members are allowed to make mistakes in their approach or ideas and not have terrible consequences as a result of their action. I am not going to say that this applies to every situation because their are certain areas in scouts where mistakes are not allowed which include hazing, harassment, social well being, and health and safety issues. Mistakes when developing your skill set to accomplish a certain goal are okay as long as you as the member are trying their hardest to accomplish and task.

So to wrap this up in one sentence failure is a acceptable option for scouts as long as it does not cause health and safety issues and the person has exhausted all known resources that are available to the group.

Knowing the difference between accepting a appropriate failure and not accepting a inappropriate failure is a delicate line that leaders must learn not to cross because crossing this line leads to huge problems for not only the leader but the rest of the group as well.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 Philmont AA '08