I’m not here to pit Scouting against sports or band or any of the other activities that kids get in to. Every one of those pursuits has its pros and cons. Every one has opportunities for young people to grow, make new friends, learn new skills, and become the best version of themselves. But in my experience, I have found one thing Scouting has that many other activities don’t: It is a year ‘round program that offers fun, adventure, and learning in every season. There is no “Scouting season” — it is for kids every day, every month of every year.

Say a young Scout decides she wants to play soccer or join a robotics team or be in marching band. That doesn’t mean she has to give up Scouting. Depending on her priorities and those of her family, she can fully immerse herself in that other activity, with all of its time commitments, practices, and competitions. When she does, she may choose to put Scouting activities on temporary hold. Then, when the soccer season ends, she can return to her troop or pack meetings and pick up where she left off with the friends, outdoor adventures, and merit badges she loves. One activity might even compliment the other and lead her in new directions in both.

I used to tell Scouts the troop would still be here when their sport was done for the year. Some didn’t return, but the majority did and still do. They may not know (but their parents do) that it takes lots of activities and interactions to make a well-rounded person. Scouting does not exclude a young person just because they have found something different to do with some of their time. Scouting waits patiently for a chance to be a part of a young person’s life. It doesn’t have to occupy every minute of every day to have an impact.

Sportswriters talk about the professional baseball season being a marathon, not a sprint. A division-leading team may fall into a slump this week, but there are so many games over so many months, things can and do change right up until the end of the season.

Scouting can be a marathon, too, especially when a young person joins as a Tiger Cub at age five. If they achieve the rank of Eagle Scout before turning 18, they could be in a Scout uniform for 13 years. No doubt there is a lot of procrastination involved, some Scouts skid in at the last minute because they have done “other stuff” along the way. That doesn’t mean Scouting doesn’t have what it takes to grab and hold someone’s interest and attention for 13 years. Just the opposite. It shows that Scouting can be a foundation on which so many other youthful experiences are built, from athletics and academic pursuits, to outdoor skills, problem solving, and leadership.

There is no specific season for joining Scouts, either. You hear a lot about it at this time of year, flyers come home in backpacks and local recruiting events pop up on social media. Even if your child is already in karate, speech team, marching band, robotics, or anything else, heed the call and sign them up for Scouting. It’s been here for 115 years. It will still be here when that other season has ended.

Scout On!

Scott Fishel wears several hats in Scouting, including a longtime association with Troop 178 in Morton. You can contact him at [email protected]. Find a Scout unit in your community at beascout.org.