MANUAL

CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 9
IDEAS FOR REFLECTIVE MOMENTS
• Each Scout is invited to name
one thing for which he or she
is thankful.
• Pick one item from the Section
Law and ask how that has been
part of the week or the adventure.
“How has each of you helped
family and friends this week?” Or,
“Were we wise in the use of our
resources on this adventure?”
• Everyone takes three slow, deep
breaths. While doing so, each
Scout thinks about what was most
significant, interesting or fun in
the adventure.
• Ask, “What do you wish for the
earth today?” Once a few wishes
have been named, slowly take ten
steps (in place or walking around
the meeting hall). With each step,
imagine stepping that wish
into the earth.
• Turn to each of the four directions.
Stop at each direction and ask,
“What does this direction remind
you about what has happened
today?” Or ask a different
question with each direction:
North: “What good deed did you
do today?”
East: “What good deed did
someone do for you today?”
South: “What is a goal you want
to accomplish this week?”
West: “What are you thankful
for today?”
USING THE INTERNAL COMPASS
• Naming Gratitude: A Scout experiences and names gratitude for the many gifts of
nature and of the human community.
Example: A Pack Scouter ends the meeting by inviting each Cub Scout to name one
thing for which she or he is thankful.
• Experiencing Service: A Scout expresses gratitude and learns more about his or her
part in a larger spiritual and human reality through service to others.
Example: A Venturer Scout Company spends time visiting in a nursing home,
playing board games and engaging in conversation with the residents.
• Stopping for Reflection: A Scout pauses to reflect upon the Law, Promise and
Motto as well as his or her role in relation to a larger reality through prayer,
worship, thanks, meditation and conversation.
Example: A Scout Troop pauses at the base of a mountain after completing its hike.
The Scouts recite the Promise together. They stand still for a moment of silence,
and then each of the Scouts offers one word to describe how he or she is feeling
at that moment. At the next meeting, there is further reflection on the experience,
and youth raise questions and offer comments about how this experience impacts
their understanding of their role in the world. One of the Scouts shares a story from
his or her faith tradition about climbing a mountain. Another offers a quotation
from Baden-Powell that fits their experience. Another youth offers a prayer to close
the discussion about their “mountaintop experience”.
• Welcoming Wonder: A Scout wonders at the intricate beauty, diversity and
complexity of both nature and humanity.
Example: Out on a walk with a Beaver Scout Lodge, a Scouter invites the Beaver
Scouts to pause for a moment and listen very quietly, then to share what they have
heard, encouraging them to wonder about what made the sounds they have heard
and to delight in the joy of hearing those sounds.
USING THE INTERNAL COMPASS FOR REVIEW IN PLAN-DO-REVIEW
At the end of an adventure, the Internal Compass can be used to help review
the experience.
• Naming Gratitude: When you think of this (camp), what are you thankful for?
Who are you thankful for?
• Experiencing Service: During this (activity), how you we help each other? How
did you help the earth?
• Stopping for Reflection: Ask questions that focus on specific lessons of the
activity, such as “What did you learn about packing?” or “Is there any food you
wish you’d brought or not brought?”
• Welcoming Wonder: I wonder what you enjoyed, noticed, were challenged by,
succeed at during this (trip).
Welcome
Opening Prayer or Reflection
Scout Promise and Motto
Scout Law
Song
Reading or Story or Quotation
One or more Songs, Poems or Sayings
What are you thankful for
this evening?
Closing Words
SCOUTS' OWN—A BASIC FRAMEWORK
The Scouts’ Own (Beaver Scouts' Own, Cub Scouts' Own, etc.) is a short service that
allows us to reflect upon who we are as Scouts, and the core beliefs and values that
shape who we are and what we do. It may be used as part of a campfire, a sleepover
or camping trip, to end a meeting, or in any program to provide a pause for reflection.
The same framework can be adapted for use in all Sections. For a Beaver Scouts’ Own or
Cub Scouts’ Own, use age-appropriate language, stories and songs. Keep the Scouts’
Own time short. Scouters will need to provide guidance and support to Beaver Scouts
and Cub Scouts.
It is important we remember to include the Promise and Law, but after that please
adapt the framework as you wish. In good Scouting fashion, involve a team of youth in
planning and leading the Scouts’ Own, if possible.
To end this evening, we are going to share a Scouts' Own.
I invite you to get ready to think about who we are as Scouts.
We have had a fun evening. Now it is time to think about what Scouting means to us.
Choose an opening prayer or words of reflection connected with your adventure,
theme, story or reading.
Please stand and make the Scout Salute and join me in saying the Scout Promise.
(Say Promise.) And what is our Motto? (Say Motto.)
Please listen as I say the Scout Law, and think about how you live this every day.
(Say Law.)
Choose a song that fits the theme and the reflective spirit of the Scouts’ Own.
It might be one to sing together or one to which everyone listens. Make a few
comments about why you have chosen this song.
Share what you have chosen and what it means to you.
If you wish, invite a discussion or response to what you have shared.
Additional songs, poems, readings or sayings may be added.
We’re going to go around the group and I’m going to invite each person to say one
thing for which he or she is thankful at this moment. Please remember to give a
respectful answer as part of this Scouts’ Own.
(Go around the group and give each person a turn.)
Choose a closing prayer, words of blessing, quotation or poem to send the Scouts
on their way.
94 SCOUTER MANUAL—A SCOUTER’S GUIDE TO THE CANADIAN PATH SCOUTER MANUAL—A SCOUTER’S GUIDE TO THE CANADIAN PATH 95