After several years in Cub Scouts, my boys are nearing the
end of their Cub Scout journey. They are
in their second year of Webelos and getting closer to earning their Arrow of Light.
For me, my Cub Scout journey wasn’t much different than
theirs when I was a young man. Cub
Scouts was fun. I loved earning every
activity badge as a Webelos, and to this day I remember proudly earning my
Arrow of Light way back in…..well parachute pants were popular at the
time. My mom was my den leader, and a
very good one as I look back at the work she did. She encouraged me to excel in Scouts as she
believed in the program. She knew there
was nothing better for a young man than being a Scout. After Cub Scouts though, sports, girls, and
other things took my attention away from Scouts. Not finishing Boy Scouts and earning Eagle
Scout are some of the only things in my life that I look back upon with regret.
Flash forward a few (ok, many) years later, and I have
followed the unwritten family tradition of being a den leader. I
never set out to do it, but my wife (who became Cubmaster of our local pack by
a unique set of circumstances) asked me to lead one of the dens as they had no
den leaders with Scouting experience. I
have to admit that I initially didn’t want to do it. I still harbored a bit of regret (or maybe it
was shame) for leaving Boy Scouts. More importantly,
my wife was an excellent den leader and Cubmaster, and despite much success in
my professional life, I worried that I would pale in comparison to her work as
a leader in our Scouting program.
Reluctantly, I agreed to be a den leader.
Well, it’s three years later. I have a core group of boys (which include my
twin sons) that have stuck with me these last three years. They enjoy Scouts and quite frankly often
remind me of me when I was their age.
Their enthusiasm to learn, hike, and camp really has given my life a new
path and direction that I would have never thought possible three years ago. I’ve come to remember why I loved Scouts. I’ve gained an appreciation for why my mom
sacrificed what little free time she had to make my Scouting program great. Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts build character in
a young man. In today’s society,
programs like these are needed more than ever.
Cub Scouts helped set a path, for both my children and me. I have to admit that I think I have had as
much (or more) fun than my Scouts these last three years. I’ve grown closer to my sons and created a bond with them that I do not think would have been possible without Cub Scouts. Plus, who doesn’t want to camp at NASA, throw
tomahawks, or go rock climbing?
Unfortunately, most of the time fun comes to an end. As we approached Blue and Gold ceremony this year, I had a
bit of a sad feeling. This would be my
last year with the boys in my den. I’ve
watched these young men grow and mature before my eyes. I
think of these young men as if they are my own children, and I want nothing but
success for them in Scouts and life.
As they say though, one door closes and another opens. I was ready to stay on the path for one more
year in Cub Scouts and then become a "Scout parent” when my den moved up into
Boy Scouts. I truly believed my Scouting
journey was ending.
I wouldn’t have predicted that Scouts would again be
lighting my path.
After Blue and Gold, one of my sons told me, “Dad, we all
want you to be our Scoutmaster when we cross over into Boy Scouts, and I want
you to be there when I get my Eagle.”
I really didn’t know what to say. I told him I would need to pray about it. After much thought and prayer, I knew that
the door was open, and a new path lay before me. I went to my son and told him that I would be
there with him. He gave me a hug, and I
knew I had made the right decision.
Since that time, I’ve started planning for a new faith based
troop chartered by our church. I’m
finishing up my last year as a Webelos den leader and then starting down a new
path as Scoutmaster. I'm a little nervous about the future, but I have to admit I'm excited.
I thought my Scouting journey ended 30 years ago. I guess it never ended. I just took a little time off.
