Scouting

[JoeyGee]

Sam's recent project got me to thinking about this. A lot of people have mentioned how much they appreciate scouting. I would like to know what people's experiences are. I am sure we have a few Eagles here (and parents of Eagles).

I quit Boy Scouts when it wasn't "cool" any more, which I have regretted ever since. I think it was probably around 7-8th grade. My son just started Cub Scouts and really enjoys it (1st grade Tiger). I am fairly active and involved. His den is pretty big and has some great kids in it with great parents. I hope a lot of those kids stay active and my son really wants to stick with it (and NOT just for me. I won't push him).

[mclear6]

Yep, I'm an Eagle Scout. I really didn't realize what type of an accomplishment it was until it was on my resume. It is one thing people commented on. I am one of four children. I got my eagle, my younger brother got his, and my sister got her gold award which is the girl scout equivalent. My older brother dropped out because it wasn't cool. I did however switch troops which made a big difference in my completion (different leaders more friends in the other troop).

I have two young sons 2 and 2 months and will encourage both of them to be involved in scouting.

[pelligrini]

I didn't finish getting my Eagle. I was about halfway there from Life, but the fumes got in the way (gas & perfume). I've always regretted it. I was very involved when I was in it. The leadership skills learned have been the biggest payoff.

My stepkids would have nothing to do with it. They still have no idea what they missed out on.

I attended my old troop's 250th consecutive campout a decade & a half ago. We went rain or shine, every month. The troop had really changed by that time. Just a handful of boys. Most all of the troop gear fit into the scoutmasters hatchback. When I was quartermaster for that same troop I was in charge of two trialers, one just the canvas tents.

[cabinetman]

Eagle scout and O/A. Can't believe I saved these:
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[DUD]

I was a Life Scout, working on My Eagle, when I graduated High School. I went into the

Air Force, does that count toward Eagle. Bill

[182much]

Scouting

I was involved in scouts during the 60's and was a lot of fun.
My 12 year old is involved in scouts now and so am I
Seems like the lawyers took most of the fun out of it

[ars_lurker]

I managed to get Eagle scout just a couple months before I turned 18. I would agree with the resume comments. I still put it on there and it has been more than 15 years since I earned it. My sons are in cub scouts now and they love it.

[bthere]

Eagle and OA here with a 20 year old son who went all the way through from Tiger to Eagle and a 14yo who is at the age of waning interest, but time will tell.

I remember when my oldest had started as a Tiger in a Cub Scout Pack that was chartered by his elementary scool, we were about half way through the school year when the Cubmaster and his wife, the committee chair, ended up transferring out of state. The Pack was left disorganized since there was no backup leadership. As those of us remaining got together trying to decide how to reorganize, I remember the relief in everyone's face when this one nice young lady sitting behind me volunteered her husband to be the new cubmaster. It took me a couple of seconds to understand that it was my wife's voice.

Oh well, I was Cubmaster for the remainder of the time my older son went through Cubs and my wife spent time in various positions including committee chair. Most of her time was spent with the Girl Scouts, though. As my older son went to Boy Scouts, I went ahead and got the training to be Scoutmaster and spent some time doing positions within the Troop.

When my younger son went into Cub Scouts, I shifted to Den leader through his tenure. I am now doing some Assistant Scoutmaster work as well as District work when they need somebody.

[shoottx]

Eagle Scout - Was selected as speaker for the Eagle Banquet
Vigil Member Order of the Arrow
World Jamboree 1967 (Farragut State Park,Id, United States)
Member of Specialty Explorer Post
Scout Master for a troop while in College

I lost touch with Scouting after college and started the career run my fault not theirs. Thinking it may be time to get re-engaged.

I can say with out question, Scouting made available a whole spectrum of opportunities, that greatly enhanced my life.

[ironhat]

I was in two different troops and in each case the scoutmaster's interest ebbed as soon as his boys were Eagles. So, we would play basketball and I hated that! I quit but found it interesting that years later in a psychology class the prof would ask questions on preparedness - various topics, like first aid, cooking, etc. I was frequently the only hand that went up in a class of over 70 signifying that I knew something on that topic (aside: I don't want to take anything away from my mother who instilled the skill sets for many essential tasks). He got a little suspicious that I was just blowing smoke for points and would occassionally test me with further questioning. One day he said that he noticed many of the others mocking my membership in the BSA. He followed up with noting that they didn't seem to know how to take care of themselves. Go scouts!!

[DaveS]

I went the whole way through cub scouts.

During my first year of boy scouts, I got hazed.

It really scared me. I never went back.

My two boys are in cubs now... it is a good experience I think.

[Black wallnut]

I only advanced to Star. I also received the Brotherhood honor in the OA as a youth. When my oldestson brough home a flier to join cubs in second grade I was supportive. I was successful in avaiding a leadership position in his pack for the first two years of his involvement. In my college years I stayed active as an assistant scoutmaster for three years. Since being badgered back into Scouting, guess it really was my turn again I've become very involved. I'm currently serving as my son's troop's Committee Chair, and Unit Commissioner, OA Chapter Adviser, and a member of the District Committee. In the next 7 weeks I have a Scouting event evey single weekend. Most weeks I have at least two Scout meetings of one type or another.

[shoottx]

Found this from a long time ago (42 years)

[backpacker85]

Chalk up another Eagle here, and another one that didn't appreciate the achievement until many years later. Some of the best experiences of my younger years involved Scouting, but that was just the warmup.

Two sons, both got into Cubs back in Ohio, and I ended up spending a several years as a Webelos leader, heading for Boy Scouts (my old Pack & Troop).

Moved to Tennessee and figured I'd get a year or off, but the boys wanted to continue. LOML sought out a great Pack, and when I took my son to his first Webelos meeting, I was greeted in the parking lot with "....you must be Ken. I spoke with your wife, and am really thrilled that you have agreed to step in as a leader for us...." And so it began (again). Webelos Leader, Assistant Scoutmaster, Scoutmaster, District Committee, Roundtable Chair....and I wouldn't trade a minute of it away.

Remember....."it's ONLY an hour a week"

[Pappy]

All the way in Cubs and Webelos then less than a year in Boy Scouts due to a bad experience with the Scoutmaster.

I got roped into the Committee Chair job with the base pack when my sons were both Cubs. Two weeks later I held my first meeting and I'm sure a few wondered what they got into. The meeting was in my house and I greeted each member at the door and informed them that rank would left outside and everyone would be on a first name basis. The same meeting I brought up a Webelo leader that was holding minimal meetings, when he held them (because of personal problems). When I asked for suggestions to help him out until he could get everything else in line, he told me to back off. I doubled the size of the other Webelo tribe and asked him to bring his records to me. After he left I asked if there was anyone else with a reason to be there other than for the boys. From that point on we never looked back.

Moved to Asst Scoutmaster with my oldest as additional duty until my youngest bridged over. The base troop was stuggling and the boys and I moved over to try to salvage it. We had 6 boys in the troop that were still hanging around. With a couple of good Assistant Scoutmasters and a great committee, the troop was almost 30 strong 2 years later when I retired. Elected to OA as an adult.

When we moved to San Marcos the boys found a new troop but work kept me from being involved. My oldest had everything done except to execute his Eagle project and appear before a board when he quit. Girls, friends, and drugs became his main focus. He says he was the only kid that ever snorted an Eagle badge. One of his biggest regrets in his life.

My youngest eraned his Eagle and keeps his certificate and badge on display to this day. (He is 32 now)

I can't say I never pushed them a little, but they earned everything they got. The only merit badge either has with my signature is camping. They were half done under another Scoutmaster when we took over the base troop and I made them start over. told them that if I was going to sign off on a requirement, I wanted to see how it was done.