Well another boy scout klondike derby complete and damn I am more than thoroughly exhausted to the point of being in pain and very emotional. BUT I would not have traded the 9 hours from yesterday where I had set up and run one of the stations, with a high energy, constantly repeating the scenario to all the patrols, answering the questions, walking around and watching. And all of this in the wet mud and 32 degree temperature (at least I was the fire building station).
Anyway as I look at this weekend, as have in the past, I can definitely relate this to watching the new quitter groups as they join and form here.
The first year, young boy scouts -(12-13 in age) very little knowledge in what and how they need to do things. lots of questions and re-explaining, lots of arguing among them selves. tempers flaring at times. had 2 groups give up before the 30 minute time limit.
The middle aged scouts (14-15 age) - can tell they have the better knowledge. less questions and the ones they had were very direct. not much arguing, but with these groups it was more in the execution of the steps that were letting them down
The older scouts (16-17) - now these are the 'vets' if you like. they have been at many previous events, they have the knowledge, they work together like clockwork, and the execution is just about perfect. They have little to no questions and just get to 'work' when the go signal i given.
Sound familiar all? if not take a look at your groups. How much fighting did you have in your first 2 months (first years....). The how much after that.
It is a process when you quit, it is a journey. It is not a quick fix, and there is much in life where you can find the similarities (in case you had any questions about it).
keep on learning each and every day, as I have and will continue to do,