The Enduring Lessons of Scouting
Introduction by Bruce Hennes, Hennes Communications
I was a proud Boy Scout in the 1960s. Growing up in Ohio near Camp Manatoc—once considered by many to be the second-best Boy Scout camp in the country, after Philmont—we learned how to hike, haul water, pitch tents in the dead of winter, practice gun safety, work as a team and prepare for a wide range of emergencies. Of course, we suspected that if a real disaster struck, our parents probably weren’t going to let us stray too far from home to help, but that didn’t deter us from hoping otherwise. My Boy Scout Manual was dog-eared from constant use, and I eagerly devoured each new issue of Boys’ Life magazine.
It’s no secret that Scouting is not as popular today as it once was. The organization has been deeply scarred by decades of heartbreaking and unacceptable sexual misconduct. That said, I believe most who went through Scouting would still tell you: it was a profoundly formative experience.
If you’re a parent, or a mentor to a young man or young woman, I still believe the core lessons of Scouting hold tremendous value. And if a local troop isn’t an option, or if you have understandable concerns about the organization, there are many other ways to help young people gain the confidence, skills, and resilience that Scouting once provided.
The above trip down memory lane was prompted by a recent article in The Domestic Preparedness Journal published by the Texas Division of Emergency Management, written by Ethan Beaty.
A Proven Path: Scouts and the Operational Value of Prepared Youth
For over a century, Scouting has served as an enduring and versatile youth development program in the United States. At its core lies a single, timeless imperative: Be Prepared. More than a motto, these two words represent a philosophy of readiness that shapes the skills, mindset, and sense of duty instilled in every Scout. While the uniform and merit badges are often what the public sees, the deeper legacy of Scouting is its ability to cultivate capable individuals who know how to stay calm under pressure, take meaningful action in moments of uncertainty, and support others in times of crisis.
While most youth may not don turnout gear like firefighters or deploy alongside first responders, their contribution during an emergency response should not be underestimated. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), children make up about 25% of the population of the United States. Although they face unique vulnerabilities, they can play an important role during emergencies. Youth who are trained to manage their own safety and support those around them can transform the emergency landscape.
The prepared youth’s function in an emergency is best understood with three overlapping capabilities. They are equipped to be non-victims, to act as stabilizers within their immediate environments, and to bring mental readiness to situations where their peers may panic. These qualities are core tenets of Scouting. By ingraining them into the youth of America, the program yields citizen responders who may not be commissioned by a department but are no less essential when minutes matter.
Being a Non-Victim
Emergency response is built on triage. When resources are stretched thin, responders must direct their efforts to the most urgent needs—those who cannot help themselves. In this context, every person who is capable of remaining safe, stable, and self-sufficient during a crisis becomes an asset rather than a victim. Prepared youth, even if not responders themselves, can reduce the strain on emergency services simply by not becoming additional casualties. By staying calm, avoiding preventable harm, and following basic safety procedures, they remove themselves from the pool of those needing immediate assistance.
Beyond protecting themselves, prepared youth can ease the burden on emergency responders in meaningful ways. Young people who understand how to follow protocols, assist with family-level logistics, and carry out simple preparedness tasks can improve outcomes for those around them. In large-scale emergencies, these small contributions add up. A population of youth trained to act calmly and independently can help reduce confusion, support family stability, and allow professional responders to focus on the most critical situations. Scouting in particular has proven to be an effective way to foster this kind of readiness.
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