Budgets

Recently we received a question from a reader regarding budgets and fundraising. We know this is a big concern in many Scouting programs. There are many sides that need to be considered, and so we need to break the discussion up into more than one post. This post will cover budgets and fundraising will be covered in another post.

To lay the foundation for our discussion, we need to start with exactly what the Church guidelines are regarding how we fund our programs. There are many expenses in Scouting. In traditional (non-LDS) troops and packs, these expenses are often covered by pack/troop dues and door-to-door sales of products. Church policy does not allow charging of any dues to either members or non-members to participate in Scouting. Door-to-door sales and the sale of products are also not allowed. Instead, most of the money needed to fund Church programs is provided for in Stake and Ward budgets.

The newest edition of the Church Handbook (see section 8.13) explains the policies thus:

o The Church pays all or part of the fees for registering young men and adult leaders in Scouting. The Church also pays for unit chartering. Registration and chartering expenses are paid from the stake general checking account. The Church provides these funds in addition to the budget allowance.

o Funding for Aaronic Priesthood activities, including Scouting activities where they are authorized by the Church, should come from the ward budget.

o If the ward budget does not have sufficient funds to pay for an annual extended Scout camp or similar activity for young men, leaders may ask participants to pay for part or all of it. If funds from participants are not sufficient, the bishop may authorize one group fund-raising activity annually that complies with the guidelines in 13.6.8.

o If possible, equipment and supplies that the ward needs for annual youth camps are purchased with ward budget funds. If these funds are not sufficient, the bishop may authorize one group fund-raising activity annually that complies with the guidelines in 13.6.8.

o Church funds may not be used to purchase uniforms for individuals.

Sometimes there isn't enough in the ward budget to cover everything. In the case of insufficient budget, the boys can be asked to help pay for one annual camp. One fundraiser a year may also be used to help pay for an annual camp and needed equipment. That's it. Exactly how this is handled is going to be different from ward to ward and is ultimately up to the Bishop.

A caution is also given in the handbook: "In no case should the expenses or travel for an annual camp or similar activity be excessive. Nor should the lack of personal funds prohibit a member from participating."

Care should be taken when asking boys and their families to help cover camp costs. This is something that should be done under the direction of the Spirit and the priesthood.

Leaders should carefully evaluate the expenses of activities. Is there any way you can pare down what you have planned to save your ward money? Is it all absolutely necessary? While there are many inherent expenses in Scouting, we should be careful not to confuse an expensive program for a quality program.

In a 1990 talk, President Monson addressed this issue:

It is the desire that restraint be used in programming youth activities and that consistency between Young Women and Young Men programs be achieved.

The primary responsibility for building testimonies and providing faith-building experiences in our members, including our youth, resides in the home. The Church should continue to support the determination of the family to do this. Priesthood leaders will wish to increase their efforts to build strong, gospel-centered homes. Families vary in size and composition. All are to receive our devoted attention. The building of testimonies is not related to financial costs. It is not necessary to buy the activity of our youth. Our youth activities depart from the pattern of the world.

To measure the goodness of life by its delights and pleasures is to apply a false standard. The abundant life does not consist of a glut of luxury. It does not make itself content with commercially produced pleasure, mistaking it for joy and happiness.

To find real happiness, we must seek for it in a focus outside ourselves. No one has learned the meaning of living until he has surrendered his ego to the service of his fellowmen. Service to others is akin to duty, the fulfillment of which brings true joy.

In some respects, many of our youth activities in recent years have supplanted the home and family. There has been a tendency to trend in our thinking to the position that an activity must be exotic to be successful. Faraway places with strange sounding names beckon as a Pied Piper for our youth to follow. Featured in our Church publications at times are glowing accounts of excursions to Hawaii, the Sacred Grove, historical sites, and other tempting locations. The word spreads, the cost escalates, and yearning increases, while objectives dim and time commitments of leaders and youth border on the burdensome. Errantly, we have used the term “super-activity” to encourage the exotic rather than the practical.

Many units are now planning major youth conferences on a two-year or three-year basis rather than each year. Some have discovered that through careful scheduling, there are sites and facilities very close to home available for productive youth activities. One stake reported holding its youth conference at the stake center, utilizing the parking lot and grounds for some of the functions and the recreational hall and chapel for others. The report: “One of the finest youth conferences we have ever held!”

When we turn our attention to outdoor encampments, let us remember that the same moon, the same stars shine forth from the heavens from hilltops close to home as the ones which shine over the Himalayas. The campfire glow, the sharing experience, lessons from leaders, and that inner feeling of closeness to God do not depend on distance. They are available to all.

In every location there are places of historical significance which can provide a focal point for a successful activity. You can identify such treasures. Even the local cemetery is a backdrop for effective teaching.

Boyd K. Packer also shared some thoughts along the same lines:

Most of the deciding must be left to you, the members of the Church, acting in harmony with the principles announced in the guidelines. The change will require some considerable adjustment in our thinking. It will not be possible to do all of the things we have been doing in the same way we have been doing them. It will bring an inevitable reduction in programs. That was intended. There will need to be some “pick and choose.” Nothing essential will be lost; rather, essential things will be rediscovered, be found!

...

Some of you have asked why this change should come just when the forces of temptation are surrounding our youth as never before. You ask, “Do we not need more impressive activities and more meetings, rather than fewer?”

Sometimes more can be less, and sometimes less is more. Even with all we expend and all we do, we are not doing as well as we should and have little evidence that the expensive activities really secure our youth.

There is a lesson, a profound lesson, in the Book of Mormon. In Jacob’s parable of the olive tree, the lord of the vineyard wept because he had worked so hard but the trees brought forth wild fruit. “What could I have done more?” he asked. “Have I slackened my hand, that I have not nourished it, and digged about it and pruned it and stretched forth mine hand almost all day long? What could I have done more for my vineyard?”

How many bishops with disappointing results have felt to say those very words in their souls? “What could I have done more for my ward? Why wild fruit after all our work?”

It was the servant—it always is the servant—who said, “Is it not the loftiness of thy vineyard—have not the branches thereof overcome the roots which are good? And because the branches have overcome the roots thereof, behold they grew faster than the strength of the roots, taking strength unto themselves.”

“Nevertheless,” the lord of the vineyard said, “I know that the roots are good.” Then he brought cuttings from the trees he had planted in poor ground, for he found them to be strong; and grafted them in that “the root and the top may be equal in strength.”

...

This change in budgeting will have the effect of returning much of the responsibility for teaching and counseling and activity to the family where it belongs. While there will still be many activities, they will be scaled down in cost of both time and money. There will be fewer intrusions into family schedules and in the family purses.

I strongly encourage you to prayerfully read both talks in full, especially if you are struggling with budget issues in your program. I think the counsel is as relevant today as it was twenty years ago.

In planning our youth programs, we need to make sure that we are covering the essentials and providing ways for the boys to fulfill the requirements of the program. We also need to carefully evaluate every expense using the Spirit to decide whether it is necessary and whether it helps meet our ultimate goal of bringing young men to Christ and helping them fulfill their duty to God. You may find that "the way we have always done things" is not necessarily the best or only way.

Church leaders have agreed that sometimes fundraising is necessary. In tomorrow's post we will cover fundraising guidelines and suggestions.

Where Does "Duty to God" Fit In With Scouting?

As one commenter recently brought up, there can be a lot of confusion about Duty to God and its overlaps with the Scouting program (in countries where Scouting is used in the Church). People may have questions about when to work on Duty to God requirements, whether Duty to God will eventually replace Scouting, or whether one program should take priority over the other.

In an LDS-BSA Newsletter last year, the Young Men General Presidency addressed these questions:

"The duty of all Aaronic Priesthood holders is to 'invite all to come unto Christ.' The objective of Scouting as given by Lord Baden-Powell is to '...bring about God's Kingdom on earth.'

...

"The new Duty to God positions the activities provided through Cub Scouts, Boys Scouts, Varsity Scouts and Venturers as even more relevant in the development of these Priesthood Men of God.

...

"As the Young Men General Presidency, we fully support the four programs of Scouting and strongly encourage you to see them effectively utilized in your ward. These are tools that supplement Duty to God in developing strong, well-rounded, self-reliant priesthood men of God who love the Lord with all their heart and are going about, engaged in His work."

This is made even more clear when combined with the special Priesthood/Scouting training broadcast in 2007. The talk by Dallin H. Oaks was actually a conversation between Elder Oaks, Elder Holland, a Seventy, a Stake President and a Bishop. (Note: I found the segment easier to follow watching the video rather than just reading the transcript, because of the format.)

The main idea was that Young Men leaders should be using Duty to God to focus on Young Men's spiritual growth and Scouting (again, in countries where Scouting is used in the Church) for other areas of personal growth:

Elder Snow: Well, I personally believe that if they'll thoughtfully consider the requirements of Duty to God, what's set forth in the pamphlets, it'll become pretty self-evident what's most important - the spiritual development of our young men. A lot of the other physical activities and physical requirements - citizenship requirements - that will be sorted out by our Scouting program.

...

Elder Oaks: ...focus on the spiritual strength and priority of the Fulfilling [Your] Duty to God program and the uniquely successful activities program of the Scouts.

When used well, Scouting, Duty to God and Aaronic Priesthood instruction should all fit together seamlessly. The separate programs should all overlap and fit together to help build the young men into what God wants them to become:

David L. Frischknecht: I guess that's a little bit why it's difficult for me when I hear comments like, "Well, on Wednesdays we do Scouts, and on Sunday we have our quorum instruction," and, "When are we supposed to do the Duty to God Award?" Well, everything is purposing to help Aaronic Priesthood holders fulfill their duty. And this weaves into all of the - it must weave into their individual lives - in their quorum lives, including their quorum activities.

We have a good example of how to combine all of these things together in the boat story told by Bradley D. Harris in Trails to Testimony (you can read the story here). He explains that quorum activities - Scout activities - should become a laboratory for what is learned on Sunday.

David Pack has also emphasized how Scouting activities can be combined with and enhance the spiritual instruction that should be taking place: "I love 50 milers and what it does for a boy....Tuesday night at the campfire program, you will never see a more teachable group of boys, never better. Someone needs to be there to teach them. Sunday lessons will never be the same. Each boy has accomplished the hardest thing in his life up to that point, which makes him able to do more."

Elder Oaks finished off the segment with these words:

"Thank you. Brethren, we thank you for your time and attention. You have a sacred trust to teach and help young men learn and fulfill their duty to God; this includes the meaning of covenants and the significance of the promised blessings. We hope you have caught the spirit of what we have tried to teach in this discussion. We've spoken of Fulfilling Our Duty to God as a priesthood program that involves important priesthood duties now and leads to the three M's - Melchizedek Priesthood, mission and marriage in the temple.

"We've stressed that a young man's fulfilling his duty to God is about becoming what God wants him to become. That requires us to concentrate on young men fulfilling requirements listed under 'Priesthood Duties and Standards,' 'Family Activities,' 'Quorum Activities,' and 'Spiritual Development.' The other requirements, which overlap Scouting, are of lesser importance for the purpose of this priesthood program.

"Finally, priesthood leaders and parents need to administer this Fulfilling Our Duty to God program as an opportunity to bless the lives of our young men. As you follow this counsel, the Spirit will inspire you, and you will see this program in a new light.

"I invoke the Lord's blessing upon you in your vital responsibility to help young men fulfill their duty to God and thus put their feet on the pathway to the temple.

"This is the work of the Lord; I testify of it and invoke His blessings upon you."

I would strongly encourage you to watch the entire segment and either read or watch the rest of the broadcast too, if you can find the time. It will strengthen your understanding and testimony of both Scouting and the Duty to God program.

I think for Primary leaders, the same ideas can be applied to Faith in God for Boys and Cub Scouting. They can work together and become one seamless program, if leaders will listen to the Spirit.

Uniforms

Foreword by firebirdluver

I recall my excitement when I was first called to be a Cub Master. I was thrilled for the opportunity to be a part of the Cub Scouting program again for the first time in many years; a certain change from the Boy Socuting I had been involved with! Early on I met with the ward Primary Presidency representative and the topic of uniforms came up. She told me as far as she was concerned, the proper uniform for baptized boys is a white shirt and tie. I was stunned. I really didn't have a reply for that at the time. On later reflection, I had to agree that in certain situations, that may be the appropriate attire. However, not when participating in Scouting activities. The uniform is more than just a shirt with patches on it; it is a unifying symbol of what the wearer stands for and what group he belongs to. A person in uniform tends to stand taller and be more cautious in his words and deeds. Like the traditional white hat, wearing the Cub Scout uniform should be a constant reminder that the wearer is one of the good guys and must uphold the high standards he has committed to. Proper wearing of the uniform is a very important part of the program.

Uniforms are expensive.

They are also an important part of Scouting. The Church Handbook on Scouting states, "No boy or young man should be excluded from Scouting if he is unable to purchase a uniform... The wearing of Scouting uniforms by adult leaders is optional, but it is encouraged where feasible." Uniforms are not required, but they are strongly encouraged.

Uniforms are one of the Methods of Scouting. There are many reasons for the boys to wear them. Uniforms will give the boys more of a sense of belonging to a group. They will be more likely to identify themselves as part of the pack or troop and feel like they belong. Uniforms also affect their behavior. A group of boys in uniform will behave differently than a group of boys in street clothes. (Note: They will still be boys. Uniforms help, but they are not magic.) Uniforms also give the boys a place to display their badges. They are very proud of their achievements and like to show them off. The chance to display achievements also serves as motivation to earn achievements.

The boys should be helped to understand that when they are wearing their uniforms, they are representing more than just themselves. They are representing their den, pack, church and the Boys Scouts of America. You can relate this to when they were baptized and took upon themselves the name of Christ. Their actions everyday should reflect Christ, and their actions when they are wearing Scout uniforms should reflect the Scouting ideals.

It is especially important for boys to get in the habit of wearing uniforms as Cub Scouts. This may be the first uniform they have ever worn. It is good for them to have the experience of wearing a uniform, both because of the pride it will give them and so that they will be ready for other uniforms they may wear in the future.

One of our biggest aims as Cub Scout and Boy Scout leaders in the Church should be preparing the boys to serve missions. On a mission (with rare exception) they will be expected to wear a uniform. The uniform they will wear on their mission is different than the Scout uniforms they have worn in practice, but it will serve some of the same purposes. It will identify them, and they will be expected to act in a way that represents Christ and the Church.

Making sure everyone in your pack or troop is outfitted in a uniform can be looked at as an opportunity for some ward teamwork. Some boys' families may be able to afford uniforms, but likely some will have trouble with it. When a family is financially unable to send a boy on a mission, often other members of the ward donate funds to help out. The same can be done for boys who need uniforms. Ask around the ward to see whether anyone has an old uniform they can donate. A uniform library can be started where uniforms are recycled. Boys can borrow uniforms from the library for as long as they need, then give them back when they are done. Choose someone to run the library whom you can rely on to keep track of the uniforms. Encourage anyone who outgrows a uniform (and doesn't have little brothers who might need it later) to donate it. Enlist the help of ward members in rounding up uniforms from other sources. For example, there are no DI's where we live, but many people from our ward visit Utah on a regular basis. We ask people to check a DI or two if they can while they are there. DI's and other thrift stores don't always have Scout uniforms (they tend to get snatched up quickly), but with enough people checking, your uniform library will grow.

It is just as important for leaders to be in uniform for all meetings, if possible. This sets a good example for the boys, and it is an outward sign that you care about the boys and about Scouting. Again, the boys will act differently towards a leader in uniform. It will give you an aire of authority.

Wards can also have a uniform library for leader uniforms. Since leadership positions in the Church often cycle frequently, there will be people who were involved in Scouts for a short time, purchased a uniform and don't need it anymore. Ask around. Check ebay for deals. Sometimes "Class-B" type shirts are available for a low price at the scout shop or online. These can be used as leader uniforms in a pinch. In one ward we belonged to the Cub Scout Committee Chair purchased several tan polo shirts on clearance at the local Scout Shop. She understood that Cub Scout leaders are often reluctant to purchase uniforms, especially if they don't have a boy in the program or don't expect to be in the calling for very long. She made the shirts available to borrow for those that didn't have real uniforms to wear.

As of the writing of this article, there are Ladies' Uniform Blouses available in the clearance section of the online Scout store for only $5. This is a good opportunity, while it lasts, to start a leader uniform library. You might also want to talk to other leaders in your ward about who is interested in purchasing a uniform and put in a group order to save on shipping.

Making it a ward effort to supply uniforms for everyone who needs them can help strengthen and unify your ward. Just as "The pack is the strength of the wolf, and the wolf is the strength of the pack," (Law of the Jungle, Rudyard Kipling), if the ward as a whole will strengthen the Scout program, the Scout program will in turn strengthen the ward.

Service

This is another of the requirements for my 100 years award. This letter was sent to the editor of the Elko Daily Free Press.

I joined the Cub Scouts 29 years ago. That started a lifelong learning process; I learned to be prepared and to do a good turn daily; I learned that camp counselors are flammable and that you should always pack your underwear in a waterproof bag; I’ve learned that it’s possible to receive an award you didn’t earn, but it’s nowhere near as satisfying as working for it; I’ve learned many virtues such as trustworthiness, loyalty, friendliness, courtesy, kindness, obedience, cheerfulness, thrift, courage, cleanliness, and reverence.

I’ve also learned the importance of being helpful. I’ve been fortunate enough to be on both the giving and the receiving end of service. One of the highlights of my scouting career has been my association with the local Cub Scout Day Camp, which is usually held the first or second weekend of June. During Day Camp, I get to provide a service to the boys and the community and I get to receive the benefits of working with others. The boys have the opportunity to play games and complete items required for advancement. The adults have the opportunity to provide a good example and see the growth of the wonderful boys.

Our district has an amazing group of people that seem to be involved in all the big events. These people give of their time and talents to help our boys grow to be men we can be proud of as a community and as a country. I would encourage anyone that has the time (all other qualifications can be earned on the job!) to volunteer with a troop or pack or even with the district.

My Scout Hero

One of the items on my "To Do" list for the 100 Years of Scouting award is to "Think of a Scouting leader (youth or adult) who made a positive difference in your life. Write a letter to the editor of a local publication about how that individual taught you about leadership."

When I think of great scouters, of great scout leaders, a few people come to my mind. I think of the people I went through Wood Badge with; I think of my nephews, the oldest of whom have already earned their Eagles; I think of the leaders that taught my National Camping School course (best training ever!!!); but the one person who rises to the top, who has affected me personally the most, is Julee Hicks. Her dedication, devotion, organization and enthusiasm to get the job done always has me in awe. She personifies the statement "above and beyond" with respect to scouting. And yet, she doesn't do it for accolades or for personal gain.

She doesn't limit her volunteerism to her local area. (She volunteered to come over 1000 miles to assist me with our district's Day Camp. Of course, I couldn't let her put herself out like that, but she would have come if I'd said yes).

When I was involved with her unit several years ago, she was the grease that kept the unit running smoothly. All the "i"s were dotted and all the "t"s crossed. One of my loftiest Scouting goals is to become more like Julee.

During my military service I was stationed at an NROTC unit and one of the primary ideals was that as future officers we should lead from the front. Julee does that. She's in the fray, making a difference. Thanks for your fine example Julee. You have no idea how your example has benefited many scouts where I live now.

Service Projects for Cub Scouts

The new Cub Scout delivery method encourages holding two regular den meetings a month and using the extra week for an activity or outing. One possibility, especially in the colder winter months, is to do a service project with the boys. It can be difficult, though, coming up with service project ideas for this age range. Here are some websites with suggestions:

366 Community Service Ideas from UNL

Community Service Ideas For Kids from Buzzle

Developing Service Project Ideas For Younger Children from Corporation for National and Community Service

Community Service Ideas For Kids Of All Ages from Kid Activities

Kidz4Troops

LDS Service Ideas from About.com

Service Projects For Kids from suite101.com

Pocket Flag Project

Boys this age can learn to tie quilts (a good reinforcement of square knot tying); read to younger children or the elderly; draw pictures and write letters (for troops, hospital children, rest home residents or missionaries); sign up to clean the church as a unit when it's your ward's turn (a good activity for involving families too); clean up trash in a neighborhood, park or canyon. If your area has a festival of trees you can plan ahead for next year. After Christmas artificial trees can often be found on clearance for a very low price. If someone in your pack is willing to get a tree and store it for a year, the boys would have a great time making ornaments and decorating a tree to donate next year. In the summer or spring an environmental service project can be tied in to the Leave No Trace Award. You can find suggestions for projects to meet the requirements for the award here. You'll need to contact the groundskeepers of local campgrounds and hiking trails to find out exactly what is needed.

You may need to call around to various organizations in your community to find out exactly what it is that they need that the boys can do. Some may prefer visits, while other may ask for drawings and letters or quilts. Try contacting your local senior center, hospital, museum, animal shelter, homeless shelter, foster parent association, schools or library.

Camping

Why do we use a program that places such a major emphasis on camping? This is something I have wondered for a long time. I have found several reasons the multitude of camping trips are beneficial to Boy Scouts.

The Boy Scout program relies on the patrol method. Boys are meant to be the leaders. They each have a position, and together, as a quorum, they plan the program. They should be the ones who decide on the activities and plan out what they will need. Weekday activities offer them some opportunities to practice this leadership experience, but there is nothing like a campout to really give the boys an opportunity to test their skills. In planning and executing campouts they will learn a lot about being prepared, using resources, meal planning, budgeting, cooking and how to get along with each other. These skills all directly translate to the mission field, where young men have to know how to take care of themselves, budget and get along with a companion and other roommates.

Recently I was listening to the audio version of Other Side of Heaven, the memoirs by John Groberg of his mission in Tonga (which the movie was based on). The first half of his mission was spent on a relatively primitive island. At one point there was a storm that knocked down most of the fruit trees and destroyed the crops. Remaining food was rationed out for five weeks, as another boat was expected before then. However, the boat didn't come for more than two months. As supplies got shorter and shorter, Elder Groberg found himself mostly sitting doing nothing to conserve energy. He would read scriptures or just think as he was sitting there day after day. He describes it as one of the most spiritual experiences he has been through and a wonderful chance to grow closer to God:

"It is possible, that in our busy, work-a-day world, one of the great blessings the Lord gives us is to put us in a situation where we must be quiet, without a lot of outside disturbance and pressures. Maybe then, we will study, ponder, and think of Him, His ways, His purposes.

"I reflected on the scripture found in the Doctrine and Covenants: 'Be still and known that I am God.' I had always thought of that scripture as a statement to watch for his salvation after we had done all we could. Now I looked upon it more as a commandment, or better, an invitation and explanation of truth: 'Be still. Sit quietly. Get rid of outside pressures. Go to the temple, for example. Don't worry about this world, and know that I am God.' Or, 'Be still, so that you can know that I am God, and so you can learn of me and my ways.'

"If we aren't willing to be still, it's harder to know that he is God. If the purpose of life is to know and love God, than maybe one of Satan's best weapons to keep us from that knowledge is to keep us so busy, even doing good things, and so occupied with commitments and pressures, that we don't allow ourselves to be still so we can know that God is God."

Over the last few years, our lives have become increasingly dependant on technology. Most of us are rarely far from a phone (many of which allow sending and receiving text messages and checking e-mail or the internet), computer or television. In fact, addiction to this technology is becoming very common. Our drive to be constantly connected even results in poor judgement and dangerous behavior, such as people texting in cars, on bicycles or as they walk down busy city streets. Some scientists are saying this is causing a constant distraction in our minds, almost like a steady background noise that prevents us from spending time in real meditation. This interference may also make it difficult to really listen to the Spirit or find opportunities for deep reflection, to be still and know God. These scientists "argue that heavy technology use can inhibit deep thought and cause anxiety, and that getting out into nature can help."

It may be more crucial than ever for us to take opportunities to get away from technology for periods of time, to get out in nature and commune with God. Teenagers find it even more difficult to separate themselves from technology. Frequent campouts provide them the opportunity to not only get away, but to use that time productively to grow spiritually, physically and in maturity.

In Trails to Testimony, Bradley D. Harris explains how to help the boys really take advantage of this opportunity for spiritual growth by using Scout activities as a "laboratory" for the boys to practice the things they learn on Sunday:

"We often go canoeing on Utah Lake. One evening, in the summer time, we were out on the lake. It was very windy. The waves were very big, kind of scary on a canoe. We had several people out there. Some were better than others in canoeing, and we had to help those that were being blown to the north part of the lake. We were concerned. We finally got some of the stronger strokers to help them back in, and we were getting within the safety provided by the rock jetty, and we knew that we were going to do a reflection, because we had taught the young men this before. The wind in my face and the front of my canoe, I was trying to make headway back to the shore. I looked at the tree, a tree where I wanted to go, it was my destination, and I realized that if I concentrated on the tree, that I would get there quicker and get there better. Also I noticed that if I concentrated on my strokes, every stroke, the way I had been taught in the canoeing merit badge, to get the maximum power from each stroke, that I would make headway. If I did less than powerful strokes, it was almost as if I was standing still in the water.

"So we all made it safely on the shore, with our life jackets still dripping wet, and here's the rules of a reflection: It's got to be done immediately after an event, and you set the rules. No cut-downs; no put-downs. There's no right or wrong answers. Ask open-ended questions. You make sure the young men understand this, because if not, there will be boys who will poke fun or make fun of others suggestions. You want everybody to be involved and to feel equally involved in the communication.

"So I began this reflection by asking some open-ended questions. 'What did we learn from this event? How did some of you feel when this happened?' And so on. Then I said, 'Let's see if we can draw some spiritual metaphors into this event.' Then I told them my observation of the tree. Many times when you conduct a reflection, you're not sure where this is headed. I wasn't sure where this was going to go, but that's fine. I said, 'What might the tree represent in this experience we had, from a Spiritual perspective?' One of the youth said, 'Well, that could be the priesthood or Jesus Christ.' I said, 'That's sounds great.' I said, 'What about the wind and the waves in our face,the constant problems that we had to face to get here?' And he said, 'That could be the temptations of Satan.' I said, 'What about the canoeing and concentrating on strong strokes each time?' and again, I didn't know where this was headed. One of the young men said, 'Well that could be daily scripture study and prayer.'

"The bottom line is, these young men left this event saying to themselves, 'That was fun. That was hard. Oh, and by the way, I need to remember to read my scriptures, say my prayers, focus on Christ and avoid temptation.'"

At a Little Philmont Training Course in Orem, Utah, David C. Pack told participants, "We are on a journey in our callings to work with youth, to know how to change boys forever. I love 50 milers and what it does for a boy. Before the hike, as a quorum, they think they are so tough. Everything is perfect. Then on Monday, a few hours into the hike, they wonder who talked them into it. That night, they are so tired; they just climb into their sleeping bags and go to sleep. Tuesday morning comes and as they contemplate death, they wonder if they will ever see their mothers again. Tuesday night at the campfire program, you will never see a more teachable group of boys, never better. Someone needs to be there to teach them. Sunday lessons will never be the same. Each boy has accomplished the hardest thing in his life up to that point, which makes him able to do more. Outdoors is a wonderful place to test a boy. Help each boy with a significant away-from-home experience, so, when he gets on his mission, he will remember that he didn't give up on the 50-miler, so he won't give up then."