Tag: Boy Scouts

One of the seminal experiences in my life was participating in Boy Scouts as a youth. If I remember correctly, I started a little late, like seventh grade and participated actively until I was eighteen. So let’s call it six years. So much of the fiber of my being was shaped and characterized during that time.

For the uninitiated, “Do a good turn daily” is the Boy Scout slogan. It is intended to mean look for opportunities to help someone every day. The motto “Be prepared” has also had a great impact on my life. I remember when I was a senior in college and the only tools I had were a hammer and a 4-in-1 screwdriver (and a Leatherman for pliers, from my scouting days) and I needed another tool. I realized that I wasn’t prepared for anything around the house or car.

It kind of hit me like a ton of bricks and I started buying tools and building kits. Not too much later, I started doing projects and I wanted to have my tools at the project or in the vehicle to go back and forth as well as have something at home at the same time. Then, I found myself running back and forth to the shop so I wanted tools in the shop as well as in the house. Maybe it went a little far?

So, that was one part I clearly took to heart. But a deeper and more meaningful experience was also had. I was lucky enough to get some youth leadership training and that was the gold in the program. I won an award called the HTGR or Hit the Ground Running which allowed me to become a counselor the next year and teach the class reinforcing the training at a deep rooted level. I still draw back to those lessons learned and I credit that training to being a capable leader when the need arises.

My two boys are now in Boy Scouts. Today we are helping the local food pantry distribute about 200 boxes to families that are in need. I have always enjoyed helping with no strings attached. Of course the real work is organizing and running the operation, not just putting in a couple hours of work. But despite that, it is nice to give a little just because you want to and can.

It is kind of strange looking at my kid’s troop that the profile of the individual scouts are a lot like my own experience. Most of them are socially awkward, band or theater kids. Myself is not excluded. We played a lot of games while camping like role playing games or card games and my son’s troop does as well. Truthfully, it is kind of surreal.

All that aside, I am super grateful for what I learned and carry forward in my life. I have heard from other parents that competitive programs do not provide the same value, I do not really have any experiences to compare. What is different from when I was a youth is that there are female troops now. So, in other words the unit is all girls, not co-mingled. I don’t know if there are any differences, again no exposure. But, if your child is not plugged into any extra-curricular activities I can highly recommend the Boy Scouts for a life changing activity.