Boy Scout Troop 325 Scoutmaster Minute

A Scout is Thrifty

April 21, 2009
Arvinder Loomba, Assistant Scoutmaster

According to Scout Law, A Scout Is Thrifty. "A Scout works to pay his way and to help others. He saves for unforeseen needs. He protects and conserves natural resources. He carefully uses time and property."

Scouts, here I have two containers in my hands-one contains the topsoil, and the other contains the sand. What is the difference between the two? There's the difference between wealth and poverty-the difference between prosperity and starvation for mankind. Our very existence depends on the narrow margin of about six inches of topsoil that covers much of our planet. If all the topsoil eroded, how would mankind survive?

Let's look at the common definitions of thrifty:
THRIFTY-adjective

We can be thrifty by focusing our efforts to preserve our topsoil so that we can sustain as a human race. These definitions of thrifty obviously apply to Family Life and Personal Management merit badges among others (like Environmental science, Forestry, Soil and Water Conservation).
But let's take a look at another definition of thrifty:

This one applies directly to the Scout Oath or Promise... On my honor I will do my best... to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

A scout can be thrifty by making the best use of his property-his body, by staying physically fit so that he can keep the topsoil enriched and live the Boy Scouts' motto: "Be Prepared." This definition applies to Personal Fitness, First Aid, Emergency Preparedness, and Wilderness Survival merit badges).

A scout can also be thrifty by making the best use of his another property-his mind, by staying mentally awake. This urges scouts to think of innovative uses of sand (in silicon chips, in concrete, in water purification, etc.) or alternative ways to growing food without topsoil-on water (hydroponics), in air (aeroponics), in salt marshes, (arid aquaculture) etc. This definition applies to Reading and Scholarship merit badges among others.

And finally, a scout can also be thrifty by making the best use of yet another of his property-his values, by staying morally straight. This urges scouts to learn right from wrong, and doing our duty to God, country, and other people before self. This definition applies to Cit. of Comm., Cit. of Country, Cit. of World, Disability Awareness merit badges, and Religious Emblems among others.

Think of all the possibilities of being "thrifty" that Boy Scouts offers you. Good Night scouts!