The snow-shoe hike to Donut Falls was supposed to be the capstone to last night’s overnight camp. So, why do I feel good about giving up on the hike this morning?
Just yesterday I posted about sticking to your plan. Why am I satisfied now with an outcome that doesn’t resemble the plan?
I’m a Scoutmaster
About 4 month’s ago I sat in a troop meeting with the boys and asked them what was important to them.
“I want to advance. I want to earn awards.”
“Me too. And I want to do something fun.”
“Hiking!”
They decided that a snow camp in Big Cottonwood Canyon followed by a day hike to Donut Falls would be fun and help them advance.
I’ve taken boys on this overnighter-plus-hike before. The hike is pleasant in the summer and even more rewarding with snow-shoes in the winter. I liked their plan.
Permits. Food. Training. We had a good plan. Finally, yesterday came.
While Word Press’ mechanical mind was counting down the minutes to publish my post on plans I was already executing our Donut Falls Camp.
We Failed the Plan’s Intent
The camp plan had a clear intent: complete award requirements. The hike was just long enough for advancement purposes. Snow camps help the boys advance.
By giving up on the hike we failed to deliver on about half of the plan’s intent. So why am I happy? Am I just glad to come home earlier and wash up?
Circumstances Changed
Of the boys that originally made the plan only one came on the camp. Two of the boys that did come were new to their patrols and didn’t yet fit in. Another boy that came wouldn’t benefit at all from the advancement opportunities — he already has those awards.
Things Change at Work
How often at work does a plan take so long to execute that the architects are gone by the time all is finally done? Have you ever felt trapped by the structure of a plan no longer in touch with the current facts?
The director sets a vision. Group managers create supporting goals. You labor away on improving measurements and skills. When you finally finish the director is gone and you’re out of touch with the new direction.
Don’t get trapped in a dead plan.
Serve Deeper Values
I volunteer as a scoutmaster because I want to prepare young men to be successful men. (The unit I’m in only serves boys, sorry.) Scouting provides a framework for engaging and growing youth. Awards are just one enticement.
Real growing comes when boys make friendships, embrace difficulty, and prevail.
That’s why I’m happy. The four boys slept in one tent. They happily chatted past 1 AM. They broke camp together and without complaint. Each did his share. And the camp was genuinely challenging with temperatures into the teens.
There was no fighting. There was no shirking.
There was friendship, helpfulness, courtesy.
Serve Today and Tomorrow
We’ll take another run at the mountain. They’ll all get to see the falls — with or without snow.
More important, they are more likely to take on challenges again because they faced credible difficulty and worked together to have fun.
And, yes, I didn’t mind a hot bath.
Don’t despair when company changes make your plan irrelevant. Take the good your plan has enabled you to deliver. Embrace change. Make a new plan. Start again.
