What seems like a very long ago, a good friend of mine talked me into helping him form a Cub Scout Troop. Eleven eager, noisy, active 7-yr olds. After the first couple of meetings, I really wondered what I had gotten myself into. Today, we went to the 8th- and last- Eagle Scout Ceremony out of that original group.

In the slide show, it was all there- the outings, the pinewood derbies, the crossover ceremony into Boy Scouts. Campouts...I'd have forgotten half of them. Snow caving. Sledding. Snowboarding Campouts. In case anyone wonders where I got my handle from, all anyone had to mention was the words "snow" and "campout" together, and I was in. The trip to Glacier Natl Park...with the entire troop. What were the wife and I thinking? The 50-mile Canoe trip. Whitewater rafting. Where in the heck the time went, I'll never know- but there it all was, documenting a good portion of the last decade of my own life.

What I can share with you parents of small children is this- the most valuable thing you can give your kids is your time. Nothing else comes close, will last as long, or mean as much. My own son chose not to pursue the Eagle, finding a different path that led him to the trees. In two weeks I get to see his Senior Seminar Project- an object study in sustainable logging techniques. OK, I'm a proud dad- but awed at how those noisy little kids turned into fine young men.

 

polarbear
the boyscouts gave a lot of us a better thought on life and how to live it. i never made eagle"2 badges short" due to a health problem that i out grew but scouting did give me a cleaner thought on life. yes all those camp outs and canoe trips. in my case down the delaware river helped. having a best freind who is native american helped also.
it's a shame that todays kids don't see life the way it is in reality as put to us in scouting. or even want to be known has being one. making eagle helps a kid become a man in my mind.

 

Congratulations on seeing the boys thru the trail to Eagle.

Stick with the program and offer your experience with the program to new leaders. There are many district volunteer positions available that support the program as well as with your troop. Call your DE or council office for more information. We need more active adult volunteers.

 

I earned my Eagle a few years ago. If I had to do it all over again I would. I loved scouts. The campouts were the best part of it. I can remember having so much fun and learning things on them. I am lucky because I have a dad who is very knowledgeable with the outdoors, but I had friends who had never been camping in their life until scouting. Teamwork plays such a huge role in scouting. I get them same feelings every once in a while polarbear, I miss spending a week at scout camp, and getting the merit badges. My favorite scout camp had to be Catalina Island.

 

3 cheers for making it all the way.

 

8/11 is a DAMN good ratio.

I loved scouts

-Eagle scout class of 1996

 

3 more cheers good work man.

 

Congrats on the 8 Eagles, that is a real accomplishment considering scouts competes so much with sports for kids' time and participation. Are staying in the troop or getting out? hmm, the eagle plate ad, mere coincedence or...hmmm

 

Thanks guys- 8 out of 11 is a darned good number. I'd like to take credit for it, but there was a lot of time and work from more people than I can count involved in it. And the boys themselves- kudos to them for seeing it through. The very best part- two of them were kids I would have called "at risk." Troubled families, etc. For them, especially, the program offered them something that I think made a lasting difference in their lives.

Now the middle daughter recently joined FFA. I see a large farm-animal in my future.

 

That's great! 8 out of 11 from the same cub scout group is as good as it gets!