The Scoutmaster should never waste the opportunity to let leadership spawn in each of the leadership positions. When our troop was on a weekend outing, Sunday Morning’s “Scout’s Own” turned out to be a most powerful time, given the unique setting. The outing was a trip down the American River with an overnight camp at River Bend Park, and we had just such a special situation. That morning our Chaplain’s Aid put together a plan to hold our Scout’s own while afloat in the middle of the river. While the boys held all the canoes together, we exchanged our reflections on the trip. One boy eloquently related the whole arc of his Scouting story, since this was to be his last outing before aging out. He had also just earned his Eagle Scout rank. Without that unique opportunity, we may not have heard his story and what it meant to him to be there at that moment. Everyone was silent and respectful, listening with great interest and reverence.

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