Having Initiative

"Thinking is good, knowledge is good, but no man ever gets very far with either if he does not have initiative" - Boy Scout Handbook, 6th edition, 1959

Its fun to learn about adventures through reading, computers, and television, but it is even more exciting to have experiences of your own. Grab your pack and head for the hills with your patrol or troop whenever you can. Paddle a canoe, climb a mountain, and sleep under the stars. Catch a fish, repair a trail, cook a meal outdoors, and hike in the rain.

See new places, too. Explore neighborhood parks, city museums, and zoos. Visit factories and public utilities. Your travels as a Scout might take you to a high-adventure base far from home, or even across the ocean to a world jamboree.

Take time to meet people, too. Great neighbors down the street and Scouts from other troops. Visit with new students at school and with hikers you meet on the rail. Who are they? What do they do? Everyone has a story. Listen, learn, and discover.