TONGUE TIED? SING TO TIE THE MOST IMPORTANT SCOUTING KNOTS

Every month Powhatan Cub Leader Roundtable Commissioners mention that as Cub Scouts/Scouters we should SING!  When we can’t sing WELL, we sing LOUD.  We should also be singing PROUD.  But why?

As adults we don’t always like to sing, but it’s a very important thing to do (especially with youth and even more so with our Scouts).  Over the years many of us have become self-conscious and may even have anxiety about singing in a group, let alone leading a song at a Scouting event. The “why” of not wanting to sing is probably different for each of us.  We don’t think we are good at it.  We can’t carry a tune. We don’t like to. We just don’t want to.

Singing with our Scouts in important.  Here are just a few reasons:

• It changes the mood of the event.   Adults can do something silly to inject fun or shift you into reverence for a closing prayer. It’s your ticket to great transitions. It offers variety for the program and allows you to control the pace/mood of the event.
• Singing Reduces Stress. Scientist have proven that singing reduces stress in adults and children. It not only has psychological value, but physiologically impacts the body too.  Creating an environment that reduces stress is needed in the world we live in. Scouting should take Scouts out of the everyday life, make them comfortable and then empower them to pursue their dreams
• We Learn from Singing. Singing can connect us to ideas, concepts or just facts.  We can learn about onomatopoeia from Pop Goes the Weasel.  But want to teach your Scouts about the Sun?  Songs like “Why does the Sun Shine?” by They Might Be Giants can teach us things like “The Sun is a mass of incandescent gas...” that is “about 93 million miles away…” and it is “a huge atom smashing machine”.  What can you learn from song? 
• It’s FUN.  Most of us would be reluctant to think back and say “I enjoyed camp, but I hated the singing”.  It is a large part of why we go see live music. Sure sometimes we are there for the artistry of the musicians, but more often we are just there at the show to sing-a-long so that we can “take the Chevy to the levy, but the levy was dry” with Don McLean or make sure we “Don’t Stop believin’, Hold on to that feelin'” with Journey.
• It is a bonding experience.  Singing is for everyone. Scouts, Siblings, Parents AND Leaders.  It’s memorable when everyone gets silly together singing the Shark Song or An Old Austrian. No one will forget the time Grumpy Old Mr. Rockwell waddled like a duck while he “wiggle waggled, wiggle waggled to and fro”.  Create those memories. 

Sing LOUD and PROUD and tie your Pack together with singing for fun.