As you would expect, there are many traditional boyscout tunes. Some are worth remembering, some are just really dumb. You’ll find many, many websites with all these tunes in it. Some kids (and adults) like the silly ones and that’s fine.

This website is actually pretty good for things traditional to boy scouts so if you are looking for those type of songs (as well as skits), try this out: http://macscouter.com/Songs/ScoutingSongs.asp

My preference has been to cover a few of these to keep the tradition alive, but I really wanted to introduce to the kids those great tunes we used to sing, like Clementine, Rosin the Bow, Jambalya, Home on the Range, Golden Slippers, Put Another Log on the Fire, etc. etc.  as well as a few old irish tunes I know and love.  A few of these are better sung with a guitar at the ready (and some, if I had to rewrite, I may not include again).

I can’t find the original ppt, so here’s a pdf. We used these at summer camp. It is meant to be copied two sided, folded, and the stapled as a booklet. I was hoping to keep the spirit alive with the kids and do it year after year, but some of the parents in troop 4 were horrible people to deal with and we had to leave. Camp Wah-tut-ca up in NH was a wonderful, wonderful place. Best summer camp I’ve ever seen. Great memories for my son.

lyrics2004.pdf

Funny how kids are. Some remain locked in their boyscout ‘john jacob jiggleheimer schmit’ silliness, others, well, you do make the connection with, and you can tell they appreciate learning something new, interesting, and meaningful. Its a matter of maturity of course and as a scout leader you have to smile and just be there for all.

[Technically, I mislabelled this book. A tune is a song without words.]