Empathy - The Quiet Scout on the Campout
| Category: | Empathy |
|---|---|
| Notes: | Good before a campout or at the first campfire. Encourages Scouts to notice and include peers who seem withdrawn, and to tell an adult if something seems seriously wrong. Pairs with the other Empathy minutes and wellbeing-its-okay-not-to-be-okay. |
At almost every campout, it happens. Everybody's laughing around the fire, the cards are out, the patrol is loud and happy. And off to the side, there's one Scout who isn't really part of it.
Maybe they're new and don't know anyone yet. Maybe they're homesick. Maybe something happened at home or at school. Maybe they're just tired, or shy, or not feeling well. You don't always know why. But if you look, you can usually tell when someone's on the outside.
That's what empathy starts with: noticing.
Most people miss it. They're having fun, and they don't look around. The Scout with empathy looks around the circle and asks themselves, "Who isn't okay right now?"
And then they do something small. Sit down next to them. "Want to join the game?" "You doing okay?" "Come help me with the fire." You don't need a big speech, and you don't have to fix anything. Sometimes just being noticed is enough to turn a lonely night into a good one.
If someone tells you something that worries you, or they seem really upset, let an adult leader know. That's part of looking out for each other too.
This weekend, before you get lost in the fun, take one look around. Find the Scout on the edge of the circle. And invite them in.