Everyone has his own story to tell. I enjoyed Scouting as a kid, but don't know that it had a huge impact on me. I did learn to swim and lifesaving, and a lot of camping skills. Morse code too!
About 30 years after my last day as a Scout my bishop called me in and said, calling me by name, "I've got a hell of a problem. I need a Scoutmaster." I was no outdoorsman and thought the idea of my being Scoutmaster was pretty funny. I accepted anyway. It so happened that new leader training was a week later and I went. It turned out I lucked out with my trainers. They were awesome.
Long story short: I had a great time and I loved the boys in my troop - about 14 of them. I'm still on touch with them. For the next 15 years (until the present) I've been involved in the Young Men program. I've learned a lot about what not to do and what to do, and I've gained a real appreciation for what the program can do if the leaders remember it is about the boys.
The moment I will always remember is the phone call I made to a lifelong friend who was a Scout with me when we were kids. I had just accepted the calling and called him to joke about how unlikely it was.
Me: "Guess what my new church calling is?"
Friend: "What?"
Me: "Scoutmaster! Can you believe it?"
Friend: "Sure, you'll be great. Just be sure not to be like [name of our Scoutmaster when we were kids.]"
I was taken aback that 30 years later he still remembered that our SM as kids was a dud. I realized that the boys in my troop would always remember me as their Scoutmaster. It was pretty sobering.
So I tried really hard and loved it. I remain convinced it's a great program, but only as good as the amount of heart the leaders put into it. When I try to train others as Scouters, I always say there are three fool-proof rules for success:
1. Love the boys.
2. Follow the boy-led program.
3. Remember the first two rules!
That's how it seems to me.
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