Being part of a team, it sounds simple, just a walk in the park, reality however, is a completely different matter. Working with others requires trust, friendship, and no small amount of patience. Things don't always work out and sometimes the best laid plans end up in a ditch. But working in a team has benefits as well; a group of people can do things that no individual can alone. Teams that function well can work quickly and efficiently to accomplish their goals. Scouting has taught me a great deal about how to work within a team and how to be more of a team player.
When I first came to Troop 161 I had been a troop that was barely able to tie its proverbial shoes. The difference was night and day. The first meeting I ever went to was one of our realistic first aide events. Needless to say I was completely blown off my feet (slight exaggeration), I later learned that this was one of the more exciting meetings the troop offers but that night I was hooked by 7:30. Where did this difference come from? My old troop of ten had less organization than another troop of seventy. The answer is teamwork (I know your shocked Teamwork is only the subject matter of this entire essay). This teamwork came from the great leadership, both youth and adult, that was and to a large extent is present in our troop.
A little later on I found myself in the Tiger Patrol under the jurisdiction of one Brent Wiedemann. Brent was one of the best patrol leaders I can remember. Leadership is one of the core lessons of scouting. I cannot remember time were the tiger patrol has worked so well. Of course as with all of the leadership in our troop he was invited to join LC and move to a leadership position at the troop level. While it is never pleasant to lose a member of your patrol Leadership Corps is a necessary evil. I allow new people to take position in the troop and for the team to develop. I have learned that as groups work better and better with each other a strong leader begin to fade more and more into the rest of the team. This leader hears the opinions of all members of the group and then makes a decision.
This brings me to the peak of teamwork in scouting, Philmont (see I managed to work it into my essay). On our last Philmont trek our crew was lead by Joe Kunda, and there is one infamous mistake he made (the gully trail) but all in all he did a remarkably good job. Philmont does not encourage teamwork, it requires it. Everyone has to be on the same page from the pace setter at the front to the greybeards at the back. If one person needs a break then everyone needs to take a break. When one person on your team need someone to take some weight off their back it is imperative that someone is there to take it. I learned what it was to be part of a team at Philmont. It is more than working together, more than friendship, more than trust. It is more than words can even attempt to capture. It is the single most influential experience of my life. That is the most important lesson ever learned. It is an experience utterly unique to scouting and it is something that I am truly thankful for.
Teamwork is an important skill for anyone and I can think of no better way to obtain it than through scouting. Teamwork relies on each person doing the best they can and on communication. Without leaders to guide and shape the group, or adults to provide general oversight I doubt it would be possible to create an organization as devoted to is members as scouting is. My experiences have shaped who I am and will continue to shape me for the rest of my life. I am glad that I have had the opportunities which have been made available to me and I am even more thankful for the wonder ful people who have helped me follow my dreams.
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