Scout Talk

B11

By Paul Murray

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All too often, the only press and publicity that young people get is negative. A lot of positive news gets passed over because it isn't sensational enough.

There are many young people who do great things for our communities and get overlooked because they did not seek praise or glory. Not all of our youth are involved in criminal activities, such as vandalism, bullying and littering. Not all of our youth are smoking and drinking, and know the ins and outs of the youth justice system.

In the Sussex area, many youth groups connected to churches, schools and other organizations are regularly helping out where needed, with no ulterior motive, just because they can.

Part of the Scouts Canada youth program is based on community involvement and many of our local groups have done their share. This spring, the St. Paul's and St. Mark's groups helped out with the clean-up day in Sussex and in past years, these groups have walked the local walking trails picking up garbage. The St. Paul's Venturers have volunteered at the past two Relay for Life events, staying up all night helping out anyway they can. Scouting youth accompanied the Sussex Fire Department this spring as they did a community door-to-door smoke detector check. Many scouting youth also help out with the annual Harvest for the Hungry campaign and make food donations at Christmas time.

The three groups in the Sussex area are sponsored by churches and the youth connected with these groups often help out at church services and functions. Many youth have acted as greeters and ushers at a Sunday church service, servers at breakfasts and suppers and helpers at Sunday school or Bible school activities.

The annual Sussex Santa Claus parade is a big event for many scouting groups, and often a local group will win the award for best entry in their category. Over the past few years, the members of the local Scouts Canada groups have been the largest contingent at the Sussex Legion's Remembrance Day parades.

I recently took part in the NB Council's linking camp held at Camp Yoho, near Fredericton. About 40 Beavers landed, full of enthusiasm, ready for a day of activities. From 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., these five-, six- and seven-year-olds had a great time, and many were asleep before they left the camp. The whole day's activities for these Beavers was planned and led by the NB Council's Youth Committee, made up of Scouts and Venturers from around NB. These teenagers really did a super job, and were great role models for the youngest section of Scouts Canada.

Once in a while, we should look around and give credit where credit is due. There are many youth who don't deserve being lumped into the "undesirable category," but should have their own "desirable category."

Many of our town's prominent citizens have had some exposure to the Scouts Canada programs, and were once part of the "desirable category" of youth. Let's take some of the publicity that we give the undesirable youth and give it to those who really deserve it.