Troop 325
Scoutmaster Minute
May 14, 2002
By George Denise
Tonight, we have been working on finding our direction using a compass. How many of you ended up on the right spot, or close to it? Some of you! That's good! The correct way to use the compass is to locate the correct number of degrees on the compass, turn the dial until that spot is lined up with the arrow on the base of the compass, then turn the entire compass until the red needle is lined up with North. The arrow on the compass base will now be pointing in the direction of the number of degrees you set the compass for. Now look in the direction the arrow is pointing, find a good landmark off in the distance that it points to (a large tree, rock, or other easy to recognize object) and then walk the number of specified paces toward that object. We call this finding your direction, or getting your bearings. If you do everything carefully each time, you should end up at your goal. Often it takes practice before you get it right, but it's a good skill to know. It could even save your life.
We have other means of finding our direction in Scouting, different kind of compasses, so to speak: they are the Scout Oath, the Law, the Motto, the Slogan, and the Outdoor Code. They are excellent guides for mapping your direction in life. Whenever you are wondering what is the right thing to do and you need to "get your bearings", think of these guides. They were developed almost 100 years ago, and they have stood the test of time. Repeat them after me now: "On my honor, I will do my best, to do my duty to God and country, and to obey the Scout Law To help other people at all times, and to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight." The Scout Law: "A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent." The Motto: "Be Prepared." The Slogan: "Do A Good Turn Daily." And the Outdoor Code: "As an American, I will do my best, to be clean in my outdoor manner, be careful with fire, be considerate in the outdoors, and be conservation minded." These are the compasses on which we take our bearings in Scouting. They are good guides for leadilng ones life. Like using the compass, it often takes practice before you get it right, but it's a good skill to know. It could even save your life.