Jamboree withdrawals!
It was a lot of hard work on each of the Scouts, and a lot of worry on most
of the parents. Troop 1743 pulled off a great end to a legacy of camping at
Fort A. P. Hill. What a great way to close a chapter as we open the next
chapter: the 2013 National Scout Jamboree at The Summit Bechtel Family
National Scouting Reserve in West Virginia.
Back in November we set the stage. We were not just getting ready for
another camping trip or something like summer camp. As Tidewater Council
Troop 1743, each Scout represented our council on a national scale. The
standards were high. Scouts were required to do things that many are not
required to do. Mandatory meetings and planning sessions were held. The
uniform standards and the behavior standards were strict. But our guys
found that they could have fun, even with boundaries.
As the parents of these young men, you should be proud of their
accomplishments. And you should be proud of yourselves. During experiences
like these, everyone grows. While the standards and the costs were high,
the payback from the Jamboree came in sweat, emotional investment, and the
experience.
Some parents have seen to it to personally thank Steve, Anne, Sean, and me
for "sacrificing" our time to provide adult supervision to Troop 1743. I
think I can speak for all of us when I say that this is appreciated and
totally unnecessary. Let me explain.
Over the past eight months, Troop 1743 became my troop, and the Scouts in
Troop 1743 became my Scouts. I knew some of the Scouts previously and
others I met at Jamboree. I care about each one of them as if they were
members of my home troop. There are some people out there who ask, "Why do
you want to be Scoutmasters?" For them, I have no explanation. You just
have to experience it. For me, once I got a taste of it, I haven't wanted
to let go. I think that it will be the same for you all in your Scouting
and Scouter experiences. You may find that your Scouts had a similar
experience at Jamboree. When asked about Jamboree, my son says it was fun,
but it's just something that you have to experience to fully understand it.
Over the past eight months, I saw a group of strangers, with some cliques in
tow, forge to become a complete Scouting Troop. I watched shy boys
blossom. Boys made new and, hopefully, lasting friendships, breaking down
barriers of race, religion, and socioeconomic backgrounds. I saw boys who
were hesitant to get out from under their parents wings grow in
independence. I witnessed boys stepping up in leadership to fill in a
vacuum. I saw a bunch of unorganized boys who couldn't have a meeting on the
first day, become a troop who set up and tore down an entire campsite. I
was absolutely amazed that as each day came and went, the Scouts became
closer friends. No one got on each others nerves and we had no conflicts.
The adults discussed this during the Jamboree in hushed voices, as to not
ruin our luck. I watched boys who once were not responsible enough to
remember to feed their own dog, become conscientious of the group. And I
had the distinct pleasure of watching 36 Scouts set the standards which
positively influenced their contingent peers in motivation, uniforms,
leadership, and discipline.
If you know me at all, you know that I have bought into the "Grand
Experiment" first undertaken on Brown Sea Island, over 103 years ago. I
fully believe, in the words of our founder, that the Patrol Method is not
just a method to run a troop, but it is the only way. It was once said to me
that if one enjoys sausage, and justice, one should never watch either one
being made - for it's not a pretty sight. I think that this holds true with
a boy led troop as well. Youth leaders generally have a much simpler and
practical solution to a situation than adults. Troop meetings look like
unorganized chaos, and some troops often appear to be a scary place.
However, one just has to look at the quality of leaders produced by a youth
led troop to see value of that organization.
It is for these reasons that I would like to personally thank each and every
one of you for sticking with and supporting National Scout Jamboree Troop
1743. Thank you for allowing me to be the Scoutmaster for your Scouts and
sharing them with me. Each and every one of them is precious and the energy
and excitement that they have is contagious. I absolutely loved watching
and listening to them, spending time in the action centers, the campsite,
the arena shows, the 5K run, and even the "forced marches." The end of
Jamboree was very difficult for me. It was very tough seeing them leave the
parking lot that Wednesday afternoon. I have gone through many drafts not
to sound any sappier than I already sound.
I would like to take time to personally thank Steve, Anne, and Sean for
their service and fellowship. Without them, we would not have gotten and of
us to Ft. A. P. Hill. Especially when I was called away, they executed my
plan better then I could ever have imagined. While at Jambo, they were
invaluable cohorts in crime. We could not have had a better team.
It is my sincere prayer that the spark of the Scouting Spirit that these
young men approached the Jamboree with has grown into a flame. I pray that
to these young men, the Scout Oath and Law have become more than just words
spoken at the beginning of meetings. I pray that this experience has
helped each one of them discover that the Ideals of Scouting can lead them
to greatness and that they have come to a greater understanding of how to
use these ideals in their lives every day. They each have seen the National
Scouting movement and hopefully come to identify with something that is
larger than themselves. And in doing so, they should realize how large they
are. They have created life long bonds of friendship with other Scouts and
Scouters. Through challenges and sacrifice, they have excelled. These Scouts
are the foundation and are bound together through the Brotherhood of
Scouting. They have become a cheerful fire that warms everyone that comes
into their presence.
And I was the first to experience it. And for that I will be eternally
grateful to the young men of Troop 1743. I look forward to hearing about
their successes, especially in Scouting. If anyone is ever in need of
letters of recommendation or anything at all from me, please let me know.
We are planning to have a reunion and will keep everyone informed.
Yours in Scouting,
Scoutmaster Erich Röetz
