Pioneering has always been part of Baden-Powell's vision of Scout training, from the first edition of Scouting for Boys (Chapter IV- Camp life- deals with huts, bridges, towers and lashings). BP would have been exposed to pioneering as a military discipline in the army- pioneers were engineers who moved in front of the main column of the army and pioneered a route- building bridges and roads where needed. I think pioneering attracted BP for the following reasons:
- It is an adventurous, outdoor activity, supporting Scouting's ideal of learning in the outdoors
- it requires teamwork, so is suited to the Patrol system
- it is practical and concrete - at the end of the work, there is a visible, physical THING that has been made.
Having said all of these things, I think it's possible to be a Scout, to really learn the important things we are trying to teach, without building bridges or trebuchets or any of the other hundreds of things I've blogged about. Of course, pioneering is something I'm passionate about, otherwise I wouldn't be writing this blog, but I'd like to hear from all of you:
What do YOU think pioneering has to offer to Scouts?
Where does pioneering not serve us well? What would you (or do you) do instead of pioneering?
(please remember your Scout law in your comments and discussions)
