Were you a scout?

“Came home from tonight's Troop Meeting to see WD's "How did you get into backpacking?" thread. Lots of us through scouts. I sometimes get a little tired of all the time / attention required being a scout leader, as I know many others do - what did y'all think of your scouting experience? Would / do you encourage your son to get into Scouts? What was it worth to you, in retrospect?”

“I still think scouts is a good thing.. with good leaders.

I still see scout troops doing great things, and doing great hikes.”

“I was a Scout for 5 years and quit just before making Eagle. When I first joined, I had to switch troops to find one that was active. I loved it. We camped every month and usually went to the Sierras in the summer. We did very little backpacking at that time because we were a poor troop and couldn't afford backpacking equipment. I did get to backpack to the bottom of the Grand Canyon one summer

I couldn't wait to get my son into Scouting. We found a good troop and were very active for about 8 years. We had a great Troop Committee and I enjoyed every minute of working with the troop.

My son made Eagle when he was 17 and we both went to Philmont in 1993.His troop is where I got hooked on backpacking. After Scouting with my son, I became a volunteer for the Forest Service doing weekend patrols in the San Gorgonio Wilderness. Then, three years ago, I started going on TT trips...five so far.

I think Scouting is a great program, although often misunderstood by outsiders and even some who are involved. The goal of Scouting is to build character and develop living skills. The way to keep boys involved is by having fun (number 1) and offering a good program.

We run a Boy Scout Merit Badge Day at our university in the College of Engineering (I suggested it to our Dean and Associate Dean about 12 years ago. Little did I know that they both had sons who were working on Eagle!). 250 Scouts earn merit badges. We offer about 110-15 different ones. I teach the Drafting merit badge. It is always a big hit. The Scouts enjoy using the labs. Interesting note: About 6 boys from our troop are now engineering majors. Our former Scoutmaster's son is in my class right now.

I guess you can tell I like Scouting. The recent attacks on Scouting for a program they have had for 90 years are, IMHO, misdirected and simply reflect an intolerant agenda of certain special interest groups.”

“Yes, I have been involved in scouting both as a child and as an adult, with mixed, though generally positive, experiences both times. As a scout myself I never got past second class, working on first. At the time I was pulled to other activities that were more socially promising and scouting seemed "uncool". I now look back on those scouting years, perhaps through rose-colored trail glasses, fondly and think the ideals espoused by the BSA, if only partially carried out by the activities of the leaders, were important in my personal development and value set.
When my two sons came of scouting age I reentered scouting as a troop leader and spent 3-4 years engaged with a fairly active troop, including a couple of full weeks at Scout camps. It was at one of those, when I had an afternoon to myself, that I took out on a 10 miler day hike. As I look back that was probably one of the main events that spurred my later interest in bp-ing. (Opportunity played a part as well -- I moved to VA a few years back and the proximity to beautiful hiking places is too good to pass up.)
Phil, I tend to agree with your assessment. Scouting does mostly good for most people. But most organizations cycle, both in terms of their numbers and the acceptability/popularity of their ideas/values. IMHO scouting has tried, but I think it is struggling to find a way to remain relevant to a largely urban, more diverse, and divisive population than it appealed to when you and I were growing up.”

“I was in Cub Scouts, but really am not an artsy craftsy person and I got bored and dropped out. I wanted to be in the woods. I was also a Den Leader and Pack Leader for a year for my son's Pack, then he got bored and dropped out.”

“I was in for 4 years and was unfortunate in that we never had a leader who knew a lot, inspired, etc. My dad was extremely good at woodcraft and I grew up that way, hard to compare. I think its a valueable experience for kids, the right leader is paramount.”

“It's funny you should ask that question. I ran into my old Scout leaders youngest son last week and I hadn't seen either of them in probably 25 or more years and he told me how to get in touch with his Dad.I called yesterday but he was out and calling and thanking him was on my list of things to do today!”

“What about Girl Scouts?!

I was a girl scout and was constantly dissapointed that we weren't doing cool stuff outside instead of making macramay (sp?) plant hangers all the time! I look forward to leading a troop in the future if Abby chooses to be a scout and taking the girls outside!”

“Got to be "First Class"...how I'll never know because I didn't work very hard attaining anything. I just liked hanging out with the doods and doing scouting activities.”

“I was a scout leader for about 7 yrs. Had some great boys,later girls as scouting went co-ed in canada.They were a eager bunch.Loved to back-pack, winter camp,canoe.We were the envy of many scout troops in the surrounding area.At district group planning meetings somebody would mention some activity and our kids would always yell we did that already. Sure miss those kids.It seemed every other weekend We out camping or hiking.Still get phone calls from them today wanting to know if I want to go hiking with them.A buddy of mine is still doing scouts ,but says the kids just aren`t the same.. he can`t seem to get these kids interested.Anybody else out there find that with their troops.”

“I was an Eagle Scout, Senior Patrol Leader, Order of the Arrow, yadda, yadda, yadda...

I think it was a great experience and taught me alot of camping and life skills.

I regret that I haven't had a son yet so that I could become active in Scouting again with him. After three girls, my wife is ready to stop trying.”

“Yup. me too. Eagle Scout, all levels of leadership, Order of the Arrow, etc, etc.

Don't have an sons, two daughters. Try to get them involved in the outdoor activities as much as possible. Shooting, fishing, hiking. Now the oldest is 14 and becoming more interested in other activities. Movies, dances, ball games. In other words....BOYS. HEEEELLLLLLLLPPPPPPP!”

“LoL! Poor Chief!”

“When I was a kid I had no interest in Cub Scouts and would never join. When my buddies got into Scouts and started going camping, I joined. My son was bored by Cub Scouts also and never got any ranks in 4 years. He couldn't wait to get out camping.

Our Scout troop is now up to 59 active members in an area that has traditionally not had very many big troops.

I agree that it is tougher to seem relevant today, but Scouting is probably needed more than ever as an alternative to other activities kids seem to gravitate to.”

“Violin, once an Eagle, ALWAYS an Eagle.

I was never a cub scout and would have quit if I was one. The program is just too weak for me.

As anyone can guess from the first sentence I'm an Eagle Scout with Silver Palm. Currently I'm the scoutmaster of troop 623. I'm one of those rare guys that quit everything else to be more active in scouts.

Wanderer to answer your questions, Yes I get very tired of all the time I spend on our program. Geez, just this month I had 4 troop meetings, 1 parents meeting, 1 troop campout, 1 OA fellowship, 1 service day, 1 Eagle board of Review and this Saturday I have an Eagle Court of Honor. Yeah, I get tired and I don't even have any kids let alone boys but I can't think of anything I can do with my time that could be more rewarding.

My scouting experience taught me (and my older brother also an Eagle) that I can do anything and if I can't do it myself I can get some like-minded people together and we can do it. It taught me that most problems are just temporary. It taught me the value of work. It taught me to not only work hard but work smart. It also taught me fairness and the importance of listening to those who have different points of view because they just might be right. I also learned to appreciate and respect people who are nothing like me.

I would actively encourage ALL boys to get involved in Scouts and right now I ask that all of you that were in Scouts to get back involved in Scouts at whatever level your time and abilities allow. BUT I would never force a child to stay in a program he didn't enjoy, unfortunately it's not for everyone.

What was it worth to me? It (along with Mom and Dad of course) helped shape everything I am today. I owe the Scouting movement and the Adults who spent so much time with a gangly, hot-tempered, loud-mouthed punk named me a debt of gratitude that I plan to repay by doing for other boys what they did for me.

Like many have said before the quality of the troop is in it's leaders. Bored, tired crappy leaders=boring, tireing, crappy troop that no one whats to be a part of. If anyone out there is looking to put a kid in ANY youth group. Check several units out and be sure they are good ones.

I agree with Phil's last paragraph completely.”

“As can be seen in Phil's Pith Helmet Gallery on the Photo Page, my 9 years in Scouting contributed to my sense of style. Life rank, 5 merit badges short of Eagle; OA, just found my flap patch from my lodge, along with some other patches; various troop leadership posts; Philmont in '67.

I stayed with Scouts because I loved camping, hiking, canoeing, Indian lore, and nature study. My last troop, in high school, was not as active in those regards, though it was actually farther north in Michigan and closer to many of the places I had gone canoe camping with previous troops. The real downfall for me was the skill level of activities -- the troop had about 5 older Scouts with lots of experience, but we always had to plan activities for the rather numerous Tenderfeet. After enough "been there, done thats," the cadre of older Scouts dropped out. However, I believe the leadership experiences from Scouts was reflected in the fact that those older Scouts also were involved in school and church leadership positions, and political activities of the time, ie Viet Nam.

In college, I spent a summer working as Scoutcraft Director at a northern Michigan Scout camp. Still have my dark green Explorer shirts that were the adult staff uniforms. With so much awareness and interest in "adventure" sports today, I believe Scouting should focus on the core elements of camping and outdoor skills. The quasi-military structure (a very historical element of Scouting) and the over-emphasis by some (not all) on rank attainment can get in the way of bringing kids into the outdoors.”

“I was in the Girl Scouts for several years. We were fortunate enough to do some outdoors stuff. Camping, hiking, etc. But, as Joy said, not enough. It was definitley a push in the right direction, though. Between scouts and my parents, I grew to be a lover of all things wild!”

“Scouting has been a tradition in my family,my father and son are both Eagle Scouts as am I.
I have been involved as a leader since 1988 and presently serve my troop as an Assistant Scoutmaster, did my 5 years as Scoutmaster. I also serve on my district training team teaching Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills to new leaders.

I'm just as proud of teaching a boy to live by the Scout Oath and Law than I am of having a boy reach Eagle Rank.”

“I was also a Girl Scout. My mother was the troop leader and the most outdoorsy thing we ever did was an ice skating party. I can sure bake though, and I think macrame is kinda knot tying...it's a good thing most of my friends were Boy Scouts.”

“Never was a Boy Scout, but I made it to Bear in Cub Scouts before I stopped participating(lots of father/son activities and I didn't know my father and felt awkward attending the father/son functions). Anyways, I've been blessed with a 5 month old son who I plan on participating in the scouts. Hopefully, the backpacking experiences with the scouts won't be a letdown since he'll begin going with my wife and me as soon as he's potty trained. There are lots of scouts out there that's for sure. Three of my flight students are scout leaders.”

“I'm with you, Joy! I was involved in scouts briefly as a kid and I was bored out of my mind! I wanted to be out building forts, hiking and climbing trees and instead we sat around learning cooking and sewing, whadafuh?!

I was wayyy to much of a tomboy to be a girlscout. I think it can be a great opportunity for kids to get exposure to the outdoors though...but I hope things have changed for the girls.”

“I was a Boy Scout for a few years. We did a lot of fun stuff and I learned quite a bit about the outdoors and relationships. It was also the first time I ever watched anyone smoke marijuana.”

“I was a scout for a while. We did a couple of overnight trips, but no real backpacking. I did earn a merit badge though (Photography). That merit badge got me hooked on photography (I now have way too many cameras). I became hooked on backpacking later.”

“BTW, does anyone know where I can get one of those b!tchin' pith helmets, as featured in Phil's old photo? It looks functional as well as stylish!

"there is no shame in being poor, only in dressing poorly!"”

“Oh yah, those are stylin'! I have always wanted one too.”

“I'm an Eagle Scout and now involved as an assistant SM. I just recently went through Wood Badge and now have to work on my ticket.”

“You know what a pith helmet is for, don't you?

So monkeys don't pith on you.”

“deathmarch99, what's your patrol? Bobwhite here!”

“Violin, does it keep them from pithing you off?”

“Of course, here I am reading in article about 3 BS in Vernal, Utah who thought it'd be fun to throw 190 million year-old dinosaur fossils at buoys on a nearby lake.

I guess the scouts don't always attract the brightest.”

“Bobwhite's Rule!!”

“Yah!”

“I was for a short time. While at camp Zia in N.M. the older scouts decided I needed to be initiated. They de-pantsed me and I had to run thru camp butt naked. Upon returning to our camping area I took the opportunity to piss in the instigators sleeping bags. They kinda beat me up so I torched their tent later that night. I didn't last long in the boy scouts but it was fun while it lasted.”

“Johnny? Is that you?”

“Boy scouts introduced me to the outdoors. I was a boy scout and when my kids came along, worked as a leader both at the troop level and the district level. Some of the best times of my life.

Chief - hang in there - it gets worse before it gets better but it DOES get better. Daughters are a real challenge but well worth the effort.”

“I never was in the scouts. I started to get into it once but never did. I just kinda roamed the woods & creeks on an individual basis.”

“Wow, guess what!
I'm a Bobwhite too!!!”

“I was involved in the scouts in D.C. Briefly when we moved to Maine.Went on a couple of overnighters. Not nearly enough of them.About one every 9 months. I lost interest. I'd like to lead and sponsor some trips....maybe... The kids would have to be willing. Anyways, I go often now.”

“That's 3, how 'bout it? Any more Bobwhites out there? We might be able to get a patrol together!

And, good luck working your ticket. That's the hard part, but well worth it.”

“Thanks sklukaz.”

“Sounds like I'm the only one to post so far that was never in the Scouts.
I was BPing the Ridge trail at Cumberland Gap NP and ran into a Scout troop doing it to earn badges. I hooked up with them for the last 5 miles or so out. I took some pictures of them and they gave me a lift back to my truck. I sent the leader the photos I took and he sent a patch they all got for completeing it. That was pretty cool. I even sewed it on my pack.”

“The patch was the "Mischa Mokwa" patch. Anybody else got that one?”

“I was in the scouts, a long time ago. Got up to webelos (sp?). I liked it. Never had good "den" people that would take us on hiking trip and such. Pinewood derby was about it. I don't know if I would have my son go through it.”

“I was a girl scout for a long time, brownies, juniors, and cadets. My mother was a troop leader. We tent camped about once a year, and my grandmother sent us to girl scout day camp for a week or two each summer.

I grew up in rural Maine playing in the surrounding woods, the brook behind our house and the pond down the road. It was that more than anything that got me outdoors - there was nothing better (and nothing else to do) than playing in the woods, fishing or swiming.”

“I wuzz a Cub scout, but dropped out when I moved to another town.”

“I have seen Scouting transform a lot of pretty flaky boys into impressive young men. Many times it was a Scouting activity or merit badge that revealing some hidden talents or strengths. Other times it was showing them we cared enough to stick with them during their "weird" years.

BTW. We have a web page for our Merit Badge Day. Don't know if anyone wants to promote such a thing near where they live.”

“walkindude, many of our boys and adult leaders have that patch (I don't). Congrats, I hear it's a tough one. Is it really 20 miles up and one mile down, or are they exagerating for effect?”

“Pith helmets are available from Brigade Quartermaster. Genuine WWII new surplus for something like $17.99 on sale the last time I looked.

My last and most esoteric merit badge I earned, and the coolest embroidery patch, was Fingerprinting. Never even got sewn on my sash. Now there's a skill I've used a lot in the woods, LOL.”

“Sklukaz
It was tougher than I thought it would be. Very nice path though. Sand Cave & White Rocks were pretty cool near the end of it. I recommend doing it. I origionally planned to hike West to East and then turn around and head back. The BSA gave me a lift back to Cumberland Gap. That was too cool. After that, I even ate Pizza with them in Middlesboro before heading home.”

“Sounds cool!”