HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SCOUTING

LESTER S. CANILAO

The Department of Education does not only confine itself to developing the knowledge, skills and values among learners but also provides real-life application in their daily living. One of which is the scouting activities that happen annually that give proper training to the learners to acquire life and real-world experiences.

Scouting is all about building self-esteem, confidence, and life learning. It aims to give full support among the Filipino young boys and girls in the country. This serves as one preparation in their future as they face the challenges of life and become independent.

In scouting, a student learns to foster academic skills, self-confidence, independence, leadership skills and citizenship skills in the future. They also learn how to render services in the community such as tree planting, clean and green, and recycling garbage in the community.

Other activities such as hiking, camping, and short courses help them to explore new things outside their loved ones. They rely on themselves and build self-assurance, among others. It also builds socialization among other scouts as they mingle with other students during the encampment activity. They take the various challenges given to them and work as a team to realize the goal of scouting.

The Boy Scouts of the Philippines together with the Girl Scouts of the Philippines help the youth to have desirable values and become responsible citizens in the country. These values anchor in the Scout oath and laws that will enable them to be good citizens of the country. Other methods brought by the activity develop personal growth, leadership development, and advance training that manifests the mission and vison of scouting.

This activity includes teamwork, leadership, time management, initiative, communication, self-motivation, cultural awareness, and love for the environment. Through these values, they can stand on their own for whatever situations they may experience in life.

As the saying goes, scouting is a character training with the goal of helping the participants become free and helpful as well as become “healthy, happy, and helpful citizens.”

Truly, scouting really reinforces youth to learn the environment from a wider perspective. It is one way to give them an opportunity to have a better understanding why they live in this world as human beings.

-oOoThe author is Teacher III of Telacsan Elementary School, Macabebe East

District