June, 2026

Now, for the month of August, we started up our new 2026-2027 Scout year, and were able to meet up with all of our fellow scouts and adults after a few months. Luckily, many of us were able to see each other at Camp Royaneh, Emerald Bay, and even the National Jamboree, for those of us who were brave enough to be part of it. Royaneh’s Week 6 crept into the first of August, and our troop’s Lost Coast Trail trip was nearly two weeks later, spanning August 12-15. I personally wish I could have made this trip, but unfortunately I missed it due to a combination of school as well as my coming home from a trip. 

There wasn’t anything until the 25th of August, in which we had our first meeting of the year. We welcomed a few prospective Scouts, who patiently participated in our lessons involving First Aid, Leave No Trace, and Knots. The meeting was an excellent introduction back into Scouting, as I got to see familiar faces I had missed for almost two months. It was also great to be able to meet prospective scouts as we hope they join us for this scouting year. 

Here are some things that are important to consider this Scout year as we look forward: 

1. Balance is extremely important. Every scout in our troop has Scouting to show up to, but also other extracurricular activities, whether it be soccer, band, or theater. The most important other activity that we all have to deal with is school, and this is especially important for our scouts finishing high school and those finishing middle school. School is incredibly important, there’s really nothing to argue about, but balancing it with scouts is everything. Being able to complete your homework before the meeting so you don’t have to do it at 10 p.m. is a key habit toward success, as is something like doing homework on time so you aren’t stuck with it on Sunday night after a campout. You can miss a meeting if you are completely overwhelmed by studying and/or homework, but the goal is to complete those things before the meeting so you can return home without any major responsibility to complete. 

2. Friends are everything. While this may sound like a Disney quote or cat poster you’d find somewhere, this is something that is absolutely true. While everyone in the troop may not be your best friend, e.g. someone you could hang out with for hours on end, everyone in the troop should be your friend, or at least someone you are very friendly with. I can’t name how many scenarios I’ve been in in which making friends in my troop has benefited me. In almost every troop event I’ve been to, I’ve either helped a friend or gotten help from a friend. Adding on to that, you don’t necessarily need to only help your friends; in fact, you may make a new friend by helping another scout in our troop with something. The bonds you make in our troop are permanent; this is due to the experiences you’ve had with your scout friends permanently shaping who you are and what you believe in as a person.

3. Organize yourself. While we as scouts may jump to criticize another scout for something we believe is wrong, often times we may be hypocrites. We instinctively want to point out someone’s own disorganization as a scout, yet we might be just as disorganized ourselves. I believe you should look at your own errors before jumping to criticize someone for the same things you’ve done wrong. Obviously, nobody is perfect and we all will have some flaws within us, but it would never make sense for me to criticize a fellow scout for something I haven’t even fixed myself. The solution? Organize yourself first. Look at the things that you can fix and accomplish right away, whether it is a rank requirement, a skill, or a quality you may have. Secondly, plan for the things you can accomplish going forward that may not be achievable immediately. Thirdly, think before you criticize another person’s flaws. If you believe someone is, for example, teaching a scout skill incorrectly, think first: are you completely knowledgeable about the subject at hand? Perhaps you have made the same mistake you believe you are calling out. 

This scout year is already looking like it’ll be amazing and full of growth. The potential is already ahead of us, we simply need to be able to grasp it rather than get ahead of ourselves. 

Thank you so much and have a great month of September.