Passing It On

A friend of mine recently was telling me about going camping with his girlfriend and her children. They mentioned that since he knew "all about compasses and stuff," maybe he could teach them a bit about navigation. He couldn't pass up such an opportunity, and gleefully passed along knowledge to another generation. Three inexpensive compasses, a map, and some satellite photos later, three youths are better suited to face life.

In the past six and a half years, we've spent a whole lot of time and bits imparting useful skills and knowledge to all of you, our dear readers/watchers/followers. I know the staff enjoys it, and we intend to continue that mission for as long as we are able. It's what Dad did, it's what America does, and it's worked out pretty well so far.

How about all of you, though? Now that you have some knowledge of your own, what are you doing with it? Have you discovered anything you had in your skillset that didn't seem applicable, but maybe now it is? Have you started sharing your knowledge with others?

There are a huge number of ways to spread the knowledge you have. My byline picture spoils my favorite way to pass on what I know; I volunteer as a BSA merit badge instructor, and just got asked to lead a group of young boys again. While Scouting provides a great opportunity to volunteer and teach, it is far from the only option. Girl Scouts, your local YMCA/YWCA, or community center all have teaching opportunities.

If you think you have nothing to teach, remember that you're probably a functional adult. This means you have to have some useful skills that a younger person or someone with a different background may not have. At the very least, you may have a different approach to a problem, which can definitely help others.

If teaching in person isn't for you, especially in this time of social distancing and restricted gatherings, you can share your knowledge here. We're always interested in guest posts expanding our point of view. Write out what you'd like to share, and get in touch with Erin or any of the staff. The beauty of a community like ours is that we all learn from each other, and we love when you're part of that.

Lokidude