Brotherhood

About 30 years ago I joined the 1st Presentation Sea Scouts and began a journey that probably had the single most significant effect on my life. It was at 'Pres Scouts' that I learned to swim, row, sail, cook (well... ), pitch tents and build campsites out of bamboo, play the drums and bugle... and lots more! We would do three camps each year - including a foreign travel camp - to Venezuela, St Lucia, Barbados, Grenada...

The troop was essentially run by the older students, with a strong emphasis on personal responsibility, leadership and brotherhood... and it was all quite authentic stuff -we didn't role-play - we really had to erect campsites and cook on outdoor firesides as we removed ourselves from civilization for ten days/nights of survival. The lessons in leadership were also real - and the brotherhood that emerged would endure... treasured lifelong friendships.

This week I reconnected with Pres Scouts and the good news is that as I looked on from a distance I recognized the strong underlying elements still running through... despite the distractions and distortions of the modern world... and I am reminded of the powerful influence of traditional institutions.

+ve vibes,

Mark