On drumlin paths we learn to stand

1
On drumlin paths we learn to stand,
Where lough‑winds shape the day;
Lord, guide our hearts to Be Prepared,
And keep us on your way.

2
As George once faced the shadowed wrong
With courage, calm and true,
So teach our hearts to do our best
In all we say and do.

3
Through forest trails and rising mist,
Through heather, rain, and flame,
Form us to be of service, Christ,
And call upon your name.

4
In campfire glow at eventide
We pledge our lives anew:
To serve with honour as our guide,
Be loyal, kind, and true.

5
From Mourne‑side streams to Antrim shore,
Your steadfast love is shown;
So shape our scouting evermore
To mirror Christ alone.

Hymn information

First line: On drumlin paths we learn to stand
Text: Michael McFarland Campbell
Metre: CM
Tune: Kilmarnock or Crimond, or St Columba
Theme: St George’s Day and Scouting

Reflection

As a Queen’s Scout, this hymn feels less like something to sing and more like something to live.

It recognises that scouting is not just activity but formation. The opening image of “drumlin paths” shaped by wind speaks of a life gradually formed—skills learned, character tested, faith deepened over time. Be Prepared is no longer a motto on a badge; it becomes a way of standing in the world with steadiness and quiet readiness.

The reference to Saint George is not about legend so much as example. Courage here is not dramatic or distant—it is calm, truthful, and consistent. It is the courage to do the next right thing, even when unnoticed.

There is also something deeply recognisable in the movement through landscape—forest trails, mist, rain, campfire light. These are not just settings but places of encounter. Scouting teaches that faith is not confined to buildings; it is discovered in creation, in service, and in shared life. The hymn gently gathers all of that into prayer.

By the final verse, the focus shifts outward. From Mourne to Antrim, the land itself becomes a witness to steadfast love—and the calling becomes clear: that scouting is not simply about personal growth, but about reflecting Christ in service to others.

For a Queen’s Scout, that feels about right. Not an ending, but a commissioning: to carry what has been learned—discipline, kindness, loyalty, faith—into the wider world, and to live it quietly, faithfully, and well.

Copyright

© Michael McFarland Campbell. 2026. 
Permission granted for local scouting, church or parish use with attribution. Not for commercial reproduction.

Written recently and shared here as part of the NeuroDivine hymn collection.