GLEN JEAN, W.Va. — While Scouts may not notice it, their adult leaders see the impact of scouting organizations like the Boy Scouts of America not only on their lives, but the future of the United States.
“There’s a bright future, without a doubt, with these kids that get trained up properly on how to lead (and) how to be courtesy and kind as we say,” said John Mizner, West Virginia adult leader. “You got to actually do that initially. You’ve got to help them see their way through it, and now they are doing it with kids and other countries.”
Mizner spoke on MetroNews “Talkline” last week about the effects of scouting and what he has seen among the attendees of the World Scout Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve in Fayette County.
Mizner said Scouting forces members to address their own shortcomings and becoming stronger people
“There’s a lot about this that can be very uncomfortable. The elements, sleeping on a cot that may be too narrow or too hard. There are reasons to complain,” he said. “Overall, everybody looks past that because we’re all in the same boat. You don’t need to hear it from somebody else. It’s also not part of the Scout credo to complain.”
Around 40% of the World Scout Jamboree’s attendees are female; young women became eligible to take part in the organization’s main program, renamed Scouts BSA. Mizner said he sees potential in the policy change.
“We have co-ed public schools. We have co-ed other types of camps. This should be as big of an issue as some people wanted to make it in the United States,” he said.
Wednesday is the final day for visitors; the jamboree’s closing ceremony will be held Thursday night.