 If You Can Talk, You Can Sing 
Those who love the
outdoors must believe the old Zimbabwe Proverb:
 If you can walk you
can dance.
If you can talk you can sing.
Music has always been associated with
the outdoor life. Consider:
- Hikers sing: "I love to go
a-wandering, along the mountain path."
- The psalmist sat looking at the heavens
above and singing "...what is man that thou art mindful of him?"
- The von Trapps told us, "The hills
are alive with the sound of music.".
- Military marchers sing "Jody was
there when I left..."
- Cowboys living in Line Camps in the
Frontier West invented Line Dancing - the fad which swept the Country in the 1980's (no,
it wasn't named because the dancers stand in a line).
- As they hike, Scout troops sing: "I
like bananas, coconuts, and grapes."
- Philmont trekkers end the day by singing
"...out in God's country tonight."
- Every Scout Camp and High Adventure Base
has it's own song.
- Every Jamboree Campfire ends with
singing.
Those of us who have been in Scouting
for decades (it's not polite to ask how many) assume that every Scout from the littlest
Daisy and Tiger Cub to the Eagle and Explorer, experiences singing as a normal part of the
program. I was reminded that this is not always the case, when chatting on-line with a new
den leader from an East-Coast Pack. She said, "My Pack never sings. I'm sure it would
be fun, but we don't." I explained that some adults are reluctant to lead singing.
Each leader waits for someone else to do it - and the Scouts miss out on the fun.
"I'd do it," she said. "I just don't know any Scout songs."
Do I have a NetCompass Point for her! Then, I realized there must be other New Leaders
looking for easy, fun, songs to use in their Units. I began to search on-line for some of
my favorite Scout songs. I found some excellent sites and some very dedicated webmasters.
I'll share my favorite Scout songs and a little information about some of the dedicated
Scouter/webmasters who make them available for you.
Troop 70's Song Page-Pennsylvania
Scout
Song Book-Oregon
Flying
Pigs Campfire Songbook-United Kingdom
New Version of an Old Favorite - Just For Fun
Some other thoughts about music
SCOUTER Songbooks Available
Troop
70's Song Page
If
you want to get your Den or Troop comfortable and enjoying singing, begin with something
that is silly and fun. A good choice is the Commercial Mix-Up song.
Next, I believe every Scout and Scout parent should sing Scout
Vesper often enough that he/she knows the words to the first verse by heart. On Troop
70's website y
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