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TROOP A |
TROOP B |
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| Leaders could leave knowing that the scouts would do the right thing - they could leave camp in the care of the scouts. | When leaders left, the boys did things they knew were wrong. Leaders couldn't leave the camp. |
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A SCOUT IS TRUSTWORTHY |
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| The scouts stuck together and protected one another when necessary. There was some teasing, but it always stopped before it was hurtful | Boys taunted and name called. They were very malicious and teased deliberately with intent to hurt. |
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A SCOUT IS LOYAL |
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| When asked to help by either adult advisors or other scouts, the scouts pitched in. Some went way beyond the call and took on extra jobs without being asked - even bad ones. | For the most part, the boys refused to help when asked by either other scouts and even the adult leaders. They only helped when it suited them. |
| A SCOUT HELPFUL
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| The scouts were open to anyone. They went out of their way to get to know others - even when it was difficult | The boys were only open to a few chosen people. Anyone outside their group was "strange" or worse. |
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A SCOUT IS FRIENDLY |
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| The scouts treated leaders with respect - usually some with other scouts. They always were respectful of other adults. | The boys treated the Scoutmaster and other adults disrespectfully. They treated other youth just as badly and called each other names. |
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A SCOUT IS COURTEOUS |
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| The scouts showed they cared about others in many ways - by treating lesser creatures with respect, helping others who were weaker or less knowledgeable, and sharing among themselves and others | The boys cared little about others, did as little as possible for others, and made fun other's weaknesses and differences. |
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A SCOUT KIND |
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| When they had a job or obligation, the scouts did it without question. When the Scoutmaster or Senior Patrol Leader assigned a job, they may have complained, but they did it anyway. | The boys rarely filled obligations or assignments. They did little of what was asked of them. |
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A SCOUT IS OBEDIENT |
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| When things went wrong or the weather was bad, the scouts made the best of it. They usually did their tasks with a smile on their face. | The boys complained as soon as things didn't go as they expected. They blamed everyone but themselves for how things went. |
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A SCOUT IS CHEERFUL |
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| The scouts spent some money on stuff, but soon realized they were wasting it and stopped. They made good use of the opportunity their parents paid costs for their attendance at camp. | The boys received an opportunity from other people and their parents. They did not use the opportunity they were given. |
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A SCOUT IS THRIFTY |
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| The scouts were willing to try new things. They were willing to challenge themselves when opportunities presented themselves. They did things their way. | The boys stuck with the familiar. They didn't take any challenges or try to expand their knowledge. They followed the crowd. |
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A SCOUT IS BRAVE |
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| The scouts kept their bodies, clothes, and living quarters clean. They were also clean in language and showed good moral standards. | The boys bathed and changed when forced. They did not make their bunks or clean the camp. Language and actions were questionable at best. |
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A SCOUT IS CLEAN |
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| The scouts showed respect for the faiths of others. They tried to life accordingly to what they learned from school and scripture | The boys were disrespectful of others faiths. They quote scripture but lived otherwise. |
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A SCOUT IS REVERENT |
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Face it, guys, anyone can go to church on Sunday - it's what you do the rest of the week that shows what you're made of.
I want you to think for a minute and tell yourself which troop you would want to belong to. Just to yourself.
Troop 13 is not perfect, but you're well on your way to being Troop "A". You experienced some examples of what scouting is not. Think about them, learn from them, but don't emulate them. I truly think that all of you can be Eagle Scouts someday, and that most of you will.
But, even if you don't make it to Eagle, you will still have learned everything to make it in life if you choose to live by the Scout Oath and the Scout Law.
If you think about it, they're just a fancy way of saying what Jesus said in the Gospel yesterday: Love the Lord God with your whole heart, mind, and soul. And love your neighbor as yourself.