What Started It All: Adventures in Scouting Chapter 1

I wrote this about a year and a half ago, but shared it with only few people, so now I am opening up to those who would like to see why I love Boy Scouts so much, enjoy, and may the trail you are on leads you to great adventure. 


_______________________


To my Scouting Friends, a small story that I wanted to share.

Growing up in rural Virginia and in Texas, I never had the chance to join in the adventures of Boy Scouts. That is one regret I wish I could change, but the good news is that I am fully involved with my Son's adventure. Let me share the story.

Never been involved with scouts, we never proposed it to my son. Then one day 2 1/2 years ago, he went to a birthday party with good friends that were all part of the same cub scout den. 6 boys who went to school together with my son, and have been doing cub scouting for at least 2 years.. there were all 9 or 10 year olds, what the Cub Scouts call Webelos. (4th grade boys in Cub Scouts)

Well, the den leader at that time asked my wife Jean if our boy would be interested... well, Jean did not make any commitments and basically said we probably would not enroll him. Then that evening, Jean mentioned it to me, and I said hey, if he has friends, and he wants to do it... well go right ahead... but I am not going to get involved... no time, no interest, no nothing...

The day came when the Cub Scout Pack had a "Cub Mobile Race" where they basically take home made carts, and raced them down a hill ... well the Den decided to invite my son... I said nothing, so what... Until...

Until he came home... his eyes were wide, he was full of energy and excitement, and he could not stop talking for an hour... something caught my son's interest, so much that he kept talking even as I walked into another room and came out again.. every detail of the races, and his turn at the race. His friends having fun, the games they played, and the number of other boys he knew from school that were in Cub Scouts... and it did not end there.

The bait had been swallowed, the hook was set, and my son begged for me to take him to Den meetings with his friends... I did not have the heart to squash his heart and enthusiasm. We went to the first meeting, I said nothing, it was in the Den Leader's home.

To my surprise, values I held true, traditions I cling to, this den surprised me. First by starting the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance to the US Flag, then they orderly sat and was LISTENING to the den leader as she opened the meeting. When she asked a question, they said "Yes Ma'am or No Ma'am" and they spoke with respect to each other, and still had a blast doing the activities as a team. I was floored. I did not not know that there was an organization that helped the boys learn respect for each other, and for elders, and to our great nation...

The cast was made, I was the fish, bait was taken and the hook set. I wanted to learn more.

Jean and I have taught our kids these values, but to have another organization support this and have them learn from it... now that was special. I approached the den leader and asked how can I help the den. She gave me something very specific... keep track of the boy's activity pins, and awards they have earned....

I jumped in with both feet, happy to help, and to see the boys earn awards for work they have done together or as an individual.

Soon after that, I started networking with in the Cub Scout Pack to learn about the other leaders and they, of course, introduced me to the supporting organization that supports the Pack. The district team was a huge mass of volunteer adults who give their talents and time for the success of the Scouting program...

I was having fun... oh yes, so was my boy... he was having fun just watching me have fun. I was at every meeting he was at, I helped where needed, and I even volunteered to teach a few topics.

Well, you think this was the highlight of my adventures in Scouting, well not quite...

There was one weekend we the cub den was to go camping, both my son and I were looking forward to it... but due to illness and such, the den had to cancel the trip at the last min... I was crushed... wanted to go camping with my son...

I dont know why I did this, but I picked up the phone and called around the district with my new found friends... well, I made new ones... there was a camp out called the Webelos Wood camp out our district was holding... where Boy Scout troops sponsor Webelos to come camping with them for 2 night, and learn what it is like to be a boy scout....

No idea, I just showed up as told, with a tent, sleeping bag, food, and wonder. I then met another friend on the journey, the Scout Master of Troop 61. He took us in, and sponsored us... and for the first time, I saw my son open up into a great new world...Boy Scouts... and my first glimpse of this great adventure we will take together.

Over that weekend I learned a lot, tons actually, and after many many more camp outs with my son, we became close friends... not just father and son.

From that point forward, in summary, my son had fun and was earning awards, and attending summer / winter camps, and I eventually took over as the den leader of the group which was a blast in itself.

Fast forward 2 1/2 years later, my son Crossed over as a Boy Scout in January, ahead of his peers and friends in the den. He chose Troop 505 in Austin, and has now forged many friends there, to include the adult leadership there. I was asked to join the ranks of the Assistant Scout Masters, which I feel humbled with all of these great leaders, many of whom earned their Eagle Rank when they were young.

My Son is having fun, smiles everytime we go to a troop meeting, he at 10 1/2 now hangs out with boys older than him.

Me? well, I continue to jump in with both feet. I support my son and other boys as much as I can. I contribute my time from teaching Cub Scout Classes to adults, outdoor leadership skills, and currently helping the new boys transitioning / crossing over to be Boy Scouts. Even took the top adult leadership course for Scouting, Wood Badge.

Am I proud of the Boy Scouts ? Yes, and am I proud of my son ? Yes. There are so many rewards in Scouting, no matter your views, or preference. I believe in core values, what ever they are, are not to be given up, and to have an organization that aligns with my core values and the values I wish my son to build on...it just makes my day.

Give me a couple of more years in Boy Scouts, and I am sure we will be sharing more fun stories ...

As the founder of Boy Scouts, Lord Robert Baden-Powell said, "Scouting is a GAME with PURPOSE." and it is all fun to both my son and I . 

Flexibility ? now where is Stretch Armstrong when you need him ?

There comes a time when all your best laid plans go out the window.  Yeah, it happens, and for me it was a reality check. 

Had a troop meeting where we had to move from our normal location, away from our class room, projector, tables and chairs.  ugh, I was going to help the boys learn a few things about Declination, you know, the difference between Magnetic North and Grid North ... for the Orienteering Challenge we have coming up in Jan ... 

Then the reality set in... we had 25 boys attend that night, and no projector, no class room, no tables, and no chairs... 

What did we do... well, I pulled out my trusty Night Sky Constellation Map, and my trusty green laser pointer... and outdoors we went.  It was dark, enough for the stars to shine, even with the light pollution from the city and church.  We still saw some wonderful stars and constellations.

Now the boys were outside, the air was crisp, and it was a great feeling to just run about and play.  But something happened. I started to tell stories about the stars, and some of the other boys shared their stories. 

Did you know back long ago, before there were eye charts to check your vision, generations ago used the star cluster of Pleiades , the "Seven Sisters" as a way to check if you had good vision or not ?  See if you go out, away from the city lights or any commercial set of lights, you can see the beauty of the night sky.  If you looked at the Seven Sisters, you should be able to see 7 bright dots... if you could see them all, well you were going to have good eye sight for the hunt or be a scout. 

Boys started to tell stories of they learned about the stars, some talked about their computer, and cool programs that chart the sky, where they can zoom in and out of star formations, and see billions of miles out into space.  Others were just curious what that bright star was, which at the time was Jupiter, not a star... which to many started talking about the gas giant and how it was almost a star :) 

Then the real test came... where is North.  All the boys started to point in different directions, some high, some low, some east, west, south, but none of them found north.  Here is where we started to learn about the night sky, and how the stars move across the sky, which I had to remind them all that our Sun is a star, and the stars & constellations moved very similar to our sun across the sky.  Rising in the East and setting in the West.  That gave them a clue.  While we were out there, only for 30 or 40 min, some noticed how Orion was starting to rise on the horizon... which they concluded that that was the general direction of East... FINALLY, the logic worked... 

They started to look North, and found a side ways "M" in the sky, which was Cassiopeia,  I told them that the point in the middle of the "M" generally points toward the North Star... 

Eureka, they found the North Star.  I also explained that the Big Dipper and the Cassiopeia are almost opposite sides of the north star, they dance around the north star, in a counter-clock wise motion.   This way they should always have a reference where the North Star is, even if the big dipper is hiding beyond the horizon. 

When you see the "Ah Ha" moment, and the boys get it... those are some of the best memories I have in Scouting.   It was great... it was fun... and boy they loved the Laser Pointer...  wait till you get the question on which star is that, is that a Galaxy ?  can you show me "the Horse" constellation :)   then you know, the reward of sparking the interest, that they one day will sleep out in the open, or sit on top of a pic-nic table and point to the stars and share stories about how if you can see the 7 stars of the Pleiades, you have pretty good eye sight :) 

Thanks for reading and may the trail you walk on leads you to great adventure. 

Friendships in Scouting

Everyday I think about Scouting... not sure why, but I guess it has to do with the fun I have as a Scouter (scouter n. an adult leader involved in boys scouts).  

Take this last weekend, the Owl Patrol from Wood Badge Class SR904 got together for their first annual family camp out.  There were 3 families involved, and we had a great time.  Getting to know the families that support the "Scouter" is just as fun as knowing the person. 

The neat thing about this camp out is that we got to camp at Circle R Disc Golf Ranch just south west of Wimberly Texas.  Now I have never played disc golf before, but I had a great time, granted my right arm and shoulder were sore the next few days.  See one of our Owls, "NEWT, the come back kid, " is an avid disc golfer.  This man can throw.  Me? well, lets just say I like hitting trees.  Even the Eagle Scout who attended the camp out got to play a few rounds, and enjoyed it... what a thrill. 

Back to the story, we only stayed one night.  We did like any other scout patrol, we divided up the chores, and it worked out pretty well.   We had a Fried Chicken Lunch, with pre-dinner snacks, a wonderful beef stew, and for breakfast, the traditional breakfast tacos.  

We had a camp fire (thank goodness the local burn ban was lifted) and we had plenty of firewood.  Heck good ol' "DOC" shared with the young scouts a new tool called a Blast Match for starting fires.  Which I thought was cool, might have to get one one day. :)  

The camp fire was great.  We sang and NEWT's boy brought his guitar, and and he played a few songs for us, and DOC well, he played a lot for us.  Funny thing is that NEWT taught us a song called "at the Quartermaster Store" ... had the kids singing that on the way home, and they are still humming the song.  I wonder if the boy scout will sing along ?  hmmm....  it is perfect for Cub Scouts, but Boy Scouts, I dont know.. :) 

We had a blast, I wish that we could of had everyone in our patrol there, but that is ok, life happens, but the best thing is, we want to continue this yearly trek for the Owl patrol.   At Wood Badge, we became good friends.. we learned a lot about others, and I learned a lot about myself. 

So now I have to work on my golf disk skills... now that is something I am sure the Troop would like to do one camp out.... I will have to ask them :) 

Thanks for reading, and may the trail in front of you lead you to a great adventure. 

Yep that's me...  the new Scout Master... well not yet, but soon will be.  Starting January 1, I will be the new SM for Troop 505 in South Austin.  


Now I know what you might be thinking... wow what fun... or ... your going to have a blast... or... to some of the cynics "sucker"... 


Well, I can tell you this, I am looking forward to this.  I have mighty big shoes to fill.  The outgoing SM, Butch, is well loved, and respected among the family and boys.  Before Butch, was Leonard who was a master at this, and before him, Matt, who still is very active in the troop and the first Scout Master of the Troop.  Both Matt and his brother Barry started Troop 505, and it has been a success since then. 

Now, is it one man, the Scout Master that makes this troop so awesome ? No.  It is the circle of friends from the ASMs like John, Travis, Bill, Marty, Jay, David, and a whole lot more.  The circle also includes the committee, they are the hidden heros of our troop, who make things happen for the boys.  You know what makes the Troop so Awesome, it is the boys. All of them.  


I have to remember that it is the boys who make this troop.  Boy led.  What does that mean?  Well, just that boy led, but the ASMs and the Committee are there to guide, and assist, so the boys can learn how to lead, and to take ownership.  

My Goal is not to write down every event, but to post weekly observations about each Troop meeting or camp out.  What did I learn, what can I share, and most of all, share what adventures we are having. 


Just recently we had a family camp out at Krause Springs .   It was a chance for the families to join in on our camping fun.   We do it once a year.  What was special about this camp out ?  I was committed to another camp out that weekend with my Owl Buddies from Wood Badge (another story), but on Friday night I went with the Troop for a flag retirement ceremony.  It was an honor to lead the ceremony.  My goal was to show how it was done, and then let the boys have a glimpse on what they could do for the future.   Another great event is that the Troop might form a Venture Crew...  so a couple of Girl Scout Troops attended the camp out, and they are in hopes our Troop does create this Venture Crew.   The girls want to go camping... lots of camping, which I think is really cool.. and who knows, more high adventures to come. 


Thanks for reading, and expect more later, stories, adventure, and hope the humor comes out. I was told by a very wise Scouter "If you are not having fun in Scouting, something is wrong" 


May the trail lead you to adventure and fun.