Will Scouting work for boys who are in court committed situations?

The question is like a situation they might give me in my National BSA training. How do we preserve our Scouting identity, while remaining flexible enough to reach boys who have never had a chance to do Boy Scouts?

We are in the midst of a great experiment. There is a Boys Probation House on Shirley Gate Road. The adult leadership there is interested in starting a Boy Scout Troop in order to give the youth there an opportunity to do a program that will connect them with positive role models.

The man who volunteered to be the Scoutmaster, Lt. Cmdr. Michael Files, asked the adults at the probation house what they would consider success. The Program Coordinator there said one word: “Trust.”

He wants the boys to be able to trust.

Is that success for Scouting? Or does Scouting demand more than just trust from its youth? The Scout Law demands the youth be “trustworthy.” What does this mean for court committed boys?

My guess is that ole Baden Powell would say Scouting works for any boy. I think you have to hope so…

If you have a heart--and the patience for boys like these--please let me know. We are currently looking for merit badge counselors who are willing to give a couple Sunday afternoons a year to the boys at the Probation House.