For those who have worn the uniform (or still do), Feb. 22 marks “Thinking Day” — an  annual celebration for Boy Scouts and Girl Guides which marks the birthday of two of the organizations’ founders, Lord and Lady Baden Powell.
Things have changed since both organizations were started more than a century ago.
The original Boy Scout Handbook required a youth to “send and receive a message by semaphore, or American Morse, or Myer alphabet, sixteen letters per minute.”
Blacksmithing, bee farming, dairying and taxidermy merit badges have now been replaced with ones for graphic arts, nuclear science and robotics.
Over the decades, Boy Scouts opened its doors to both genders, while Girl Guides has adapted to also tackle issues that young women are facing nowadays: Eating disorders, bullying, healthy relationships, self-confidence and encouraging a new generation to go into careers like Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, where women have been underrepresented.
While times have changed, there are core values about the program that have stayed: Things like citizenship, camaraderie, trustworthiness, and working to make the world a better place.
In line with this, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts has deemed the theme for “Thinking Day” as “we can save our planet.”
With a century and a bit under the belt, it’s the countless leaders who dedicate their time towards these programs that need to be thanked for keeping the “B.P. Spirit” alive.
Some are “lifers,” having gone through Scouts or Guides while growing up. Others are new recruits looking for something to do with their children, or just wanting to be involved with a program that shapes young lives.
It’s not always an easy job.
These leaders find themselves coming home at the end of a work day only to run out again to a meeting. They’re on constant surveillance for when googly eyes (and other craft supplies) go on sale.
They see one shelf taken over by supplies, and then grow until it takes up a whole closet, a wall, then a room, basement or garage. They fill out paperwork, coordinate, event-plan and mentor. They get silly songs stuck in their heads about camels, kookuburas, alligators and moose and absolute gibberish words.
And then they ditch their families for the weekend to head out into the rain and cold to show a new generation how to light a campfire, set up a tent, backpack, canoe, enjoy nature and s’mores.
But it’s worth it to see a new badge achieved and a new challenge accepted.
So here’s to many more birthdays.
Peggy Revell is a News reporter. You can comment on this and other editorials at www.medicinehatnews.com/opinions.