Scouting helps children embrace adventure – and succeed in life
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Version 0 of 1. What really makes the difference when it comes to making a success of your life? For me, it’s about one thing: character. And what is character? It is resilience, common sense, kindness and an independence of mind. It’s about inspiring others and believing in yourself. Now tell me which GCSE or A-level will qualify you in that? That’s why scouting, one of the nation’s greatest character factories, is so important. We develop the soft skills that employers so desperately seek. Some forward-thinking schools have known this for years, which is why they make time for citizenship and sport, and even, in the case of Stoneyholme Community primary school in Burnley, bring scouting into the school day. In my latest TV series, Mission Survive, the character of celebrities such as Laurence Fox and Mike Tindall is tested on a daily basis as we trek through the Costa Rican rainforest. This is one of the most dangerous jungles in the world and they showed some genuine steel. But grit and resilience don’t just belong in the jungle – or in school, for that matter. You’d be surprised at the amount of everyday adventure available to us in Britain. It is through adventure in our wild spaces that people, especially children, really learn and grow. When I think about the outdoors, I don’t just see woodlands, rivers and mountains; I see the world’s biggest classroom. Taking part in an outdoor expedition frees the mind and liberates the spirit. It also reminds us of what we’re truly capable of achieving. That is why I believe that every child has the right to adventure. It is something I’ve seen tested time and time again in my five years as chief scout. Recently I was speaking to Polly, a 10-year-old scout, about her experience at an adventure camp, and she captured it perfectly: “When I went climbing, I was really excited but maybe a bit scared, too. They told us to set ourselves challenges and to try to reach our goal. When I did it, when I was standing up there far above the ground, it felt amazing, like I’d won a million pounds or something.” Challenging ourselves in tough outdoor environments can be scary, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do it. Some of our greatest British heroes, from Dame Ellen MacArthur to Ernest Shackleton, made their names outdoors. It’s where their qualities shone through, taking instinctive judgments and balancing risk against safety. An outdoor education teaches young people how to make good decisions and to take responsibility for their actions; it’s all about preparing them for life and providing the skills they need to succeed in the modern world, while allowing them to have fun and experience adventure. But this talk of character training is nothing new. It’s exactly what Robert Baden-Powell had in mind when he first dreamed up the notion of scouting. “It has more value,” he said, “than any other attribute in life.” So how do we bring these kinds of opportunities to more young people? To my mind, it’s about forging partnerships with schools. While it’s great to see so many UK schools championing character education, resilience can’t be developed by teachers alone. Whatever young people want to achieve in life, whether it’s reaching the summit of Everest or starting their own business, they can’t rely solely on pieces of paper to get them there. Teamwork, leadership, perseverance and good communication – these are the skills that will help them succeed. It’s time we recognise this and help children reach their potential by embracing adventure in every aspect of their lives. |