"To Keep Myself Physically Strong"

By Greg Gamache

Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle are taking their toll on Americans. Every few days the media tells us of studies that link our nation's lack of physical fitness to cardiovascular disease. This problem is no longer confined to the middle aged. The alarming increase in Type 2 Diabetes among youth has been directly linked to the lack of a healthy diet and exercise regime.

Physical fitness is a core value of scouting. The Scout Oath ranks physical strength on par with mental alertness and moral behavior. In fact, the BSA has incorporated physical fitness requirements into every level of the Scouting program, from Cub Scouts through Venturing. Adult leaders should strive to deliver unit programs that encourage Scouts to challenge themselves physically and to expand their physical capabilities.

The BSA Physical Fitness Award offers adult leaders an opportunity to demonstrate their personal commitment to physical fitness and to "lead by example". This award was instituted in the last two years with the express goal of providing adult leaders and youth members a program for increasing fitness awareness, improving exercise habits and following a healthier diet.

The program relies on mentors to work with award applicants and verify fulfillment of the requirements. Mentors are individuals who have been identified by the council's training committee. In our council, they include any merit badge counselor for a physically oriented merit badge.

To earn the award, a participant must work with the mentor to establish and execute a fitness plan. Over time, the individual's plan should result in measurable improvements in seven key aspects of fitness:

1. Posture - improvement is evaluated using a personal posture-rating chart
2. Accuracy - based on ability to hit a target throwing a softball
3. Strength - the goal is to increase the number of sit-ups completed in a period of time
4. Agility - based on the side step
5. Speed - time required to run a fixed distance
6. Balance - maximum time participant can hold a squat stand
7. Endurance - number of completed squat thrusts made in a given time

In addition to the above, the participant must:

1. have their cardiovascular fitness evaluated by their personal health-care provider
2. give a presentation on fitness to a youth group
3. demonstrate knowledge of proper equipment and safety considerations for different activities

The BSA Physical Fitness Award is also available to youth and its requirements will meet many of the advancement requirements for fitness activities in the Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Venturing programs.

Upon completion of the program requirements, Scouts and Scouters may wear a special pin and BSA Physical Fitness Award patch that can be purchased at the Council Trading Post.

See the BSA literature available from the Council for details on this excellent program.

This year, let's all resolve to "lead by example" and "do our best" to "keep ourselves physically strong".