(adapted from "Woods Wisdom - Scoutmaster's Minutes")
Scouts, have you ever heard of people who claim to be able to read your character by the lines in your hand, the shape of your head, or your hand-writing? I don't put any stock in such nonsense, except perhaps in regards to sloppy hand-writing.
But I do believe that there are outward signs of inward character. For instance, you can tell a lot about a Scout's character by looking at his cook kit.
First you ask, "Is it clean?". Then you ask, "Who cleans it?" Every self-respecting Scout cleans his own kit. He doesn't expect his mother to do it for him.
The next thing you ask is "Has it been used a lot?" Some Scouts don't use their mess kits very often. Perhaps that's because it's a lot easier to pack a lunch in a bag, and avoid the work of cooking with and cleaning up a mess kit.
But then there is the Scout who really uses his cook kit - and keeps it clean too. He can cook with a stick, and he can cook with aluminum foil. In fact, he can cook just about any way he wants to and have fun doing it.
This kind of Scout shows himself to be our kind of Scout. Among other things he shows himself to be thrifty, resourceful, and clean.
Keep an eye on how a Scout uses his cook kit. It just might help you to learn something about his character.
Last Revised 12/19/01