Show of hands. Have you been part of scouting and has it been useful for your trips. Either First Aid training, Camping training, etc..

Do you consider yourself lucky to have experienced it?

Lastly, how far did you go in scouting?

I made it to Life and only lacking my Eagle project. I do consider myself lucky to have had that ingrained knowledge at this point in my life.

Yes. Also "life for life" as they say. But both my sons are eagle scouts and my first BWCA trip, first time in a canoe, was as an adult leader on a BWCA trip.

Eagle Scout '91. Without a doubt, Scouting transformed me from a skinny, nerdy, shy, city kid into a less-skinny, just-as-nerdy, confident outdoorsman as an adult. I was lucky to grow up in a car-camping family, and canoeing and swimming were a big part of our vacations. But Scouting pushed me to explore the more rustic / high adventure styles of camping, including my first BWCA trip in 1990 (a separate High School experience, not run by my Scout Troop). Without scouting, I would have been scared to death as we put in for that 11-day wilderness trip. It was a great moment of personal growth to discover that my canoeing and camping knowledge made me more confident about that trip than some of my peers. That included some football letterman and cheerleaders who were definitely more confident (and popular) than I was in the school hallways.

Skills that I learned in all of the core merit badges translate nicely to a BWCA experience.

Incidentally, I got my first job in Engineering based on a conversation with the interviewer about Scouting (we barely discussed school at all), and Scouting has served me well throughout my life.

The last line of this poem is inscribed over the exit gate from my Scout camp, and it is exactly how I feel about the BWCA:

"For these things your heart shall yearn,
For these things your soul shall burn,
And in the end, friend, you will learn,
That to these things you must return.”

I wasn’t…my local troop were idiots as a youth…but both my son’s are in scouts and it has been great and are on track to get their Eagle…if they choose to finish.

They just got back from a trip to the Harley Davidson Museum where they earned the Engineering Merit Badge, then slept on a submarine over night on Lake Michigan.

Lot’s of great experiences!

T

Eagle Scout, 1973. I learned to paddle at summer camp and, especially, at Region 7 National Canoe Base. Scouting definitely helped me all-around: cooking, fire building, food/gear planning, knots, an interest in weather, open water swimming, tracking and trail signs, first aid and lifesaving. I also learned a heck of a lot about myself, teamwork and loyal friendship. I regret there was no good scouting option near us when my boys were that age. They got a lot of those skills through their mom and me camping and at Y camps. I still recite the Scout Law to myself and need further improvement on at least 4 of the 12.

I tried. As a very young child I had images of girl scouts camping and building fires and canoeing, etc. My Mom took me to my very first meeting. We sat and made dolls out of clothes pins. One and done. Never went back. Thankfully, my family did a lot of outdoor 'stuff', camping, boating, hunting, fishing, etc.

Yes, I got as far Life and then got to be old enough and big enough to work on the farm and had less time for scouts. I had my first lessons in canoeing in Old Town canvas and wood canoes in probably 1954 or 55 at Camp Lazarus north of Columbus Ohio, and have paddled ever since. And most of my camping skills began then as well. And just as importantly, to me, Scouts influenced my entire professional life. I studied landscape architecture as an undergraduate ( and worked for the U.S. National Park Service in the summers) and did graduate degrees in planning and natrual resource management with an emphasis on ecology. I spent 32 years in academia teaching and conducting research in subjects related to the relationship between humans and their environment. So yes, you could say that Scouts influenced my entire life.

Yep, made it to Life. Did the Eagle project too, just couldn't get myself to finish up the last couple merit badges before I hit the big 1-8. Thankfully I had a pretty good troop and went on a lot of fun camping trips. Up in MN there is a camp called Many Point that I went to a few times and really enjoyed it as well. Did some sailing, climbing, rifle shooting, and got into plenty of shenanigans as well...

I don't give BSA enough credit but I do think it shaped who I am. I've always been a computer nerd and it was something that got me outside, helped me make friends, and taught me vital skills for survival that are becoming so rare these days. I am incredibly thankful for the experience.

JD: Up in MN there is a camp called Many Point that I went to a few times and really enjoyed it as well. Did some sailing, climbing, rifle shooting, and got into plenty of shenanigans as well."

I grew up about 5 miles from Many Point Scout Camp, I climbed the fire tower a few times and used to know the managers since we were on the fire dept together.

I was a Cub Scout once, but not sure why I quit.

I was in Cub Scouts, Bear Scouts, Webelos, and Boy Scouts. I made it to Star rank. I went to Boy Scout camps for years when I was a youth. I still have all of my books, kind of fun to see how times have changed. That training helped me gain my love for the outdoors. I will always be grateful for my Scoutmasters and helpers in my Scouting time.

I was a Boy Scout. Definitely not an Eagle Scout. I achieved approximately 10 merit badges. I did attend Tomahawk Camp in Wisconsin 2 summers in a row for 1 week each which was fun. I wanted to go on camping trips but the type of camping that our troop did outside of Tomahawk was just one nighters in the local State Park. There was definitely no opportunities for wilderness camping with my troop. I did learn a ton about first aid and fire building and handling saws and hatchets. The canoeing merit badge was definitely helpful in my development of a wilderness canoe camper. But by the time I was entering 9th grade, sports and other activities took priority and so I quit the Scouts. I do think Scouts played a role in my development as a wilderness canoe camper, but I actually developed more wilderness camping skills at a non-scouting summer camp and a church youth program than I ever did as a Scout.

I was in Cub Scouts, Bear Scouts and Webelos. Like SV, I still have my books. I did not walk over to boy scouts. Not sure why because I had good experiences in the prior even though there were little to no camping opportunities in my pack at the time. I will blame it all on having to help on the farm.

My son was a Life Scout. He had everything done for his Eagle other than his project...and then he got his drivers license. He never looked back :) But before that, we got to spend a lot of time together as I was involved in his pack and troop. I was able to take he and his troop to the BWCA a couple of times, each where a blast. Great experiences for both son and dad.

Like others in this thread, I too made Life scout. Attended scout camp 1959-1962 as a camper, then 1963 and 1964 on camp staff. I was active in Sea Scouts until the start of my senior year in high school. When I returned from camp in 1964 the Sea Scout post had ceased to exist and I moved on to other pursuits so never completed my Eagle requirements lacking only 4 or 5 merit badges. I have regretted not making Eagle.

I so enjoyed my summer camp experiences that I started a teacher training program after a hitch in the military. Once I practice taught I found it was not for me. My motivation for teaching was so I would have summers free to work at summer camp. I worked on the camp staff the summer of 1970 after getting out of the navy. That was my last involvement with scouting which I thoroughly enjoyed for over 10 years.

I was in it from Tiger Cubs (I believe their inaugural year) to I think Second Class, at which point we got new leadership and I lost interest. Still, it was an important part of my adolescence and helped foster my love for the outdoors. Like others here I believe I still have all my books and my old uniform around somewhere. And my Pinewood Derby cars, one of which won third place locally. Any other Minnesotans here who went to Camp Wilderness? Or did the Crow Wing canoe trips?

My son was in Cub Scouts but the pack was never as organized or as fun as when I was in it, IMO. I can't complain because after all it is volunteers and I wasn't able to help much at the time. When football and basketball and music started conflicting he couldn't do it all so Scouts was the odd man out.

My girls never expressed much interest in Girl Scouts and were also busy with sports so we never pushed it.

Yup....and still a scout - and a good old Antelope too! Did the Cub and Boy Scout programs and made it all the way to Scoutmaster! :D Currently District member at large. Scouting came at a point in my youth that I really needed it and I'm forever thankful to the adults that helped provide the program. Useful? Heck yeah - canoeing, camping, first aid, cooking, swimming, wilderness survival, map/compass - and not just the hard skills, but the character development too. The most important of the hard skills was organization. Scouting taught me what I feel is the 13th point of the Scout Law - Intergrity. Scout camp is where I got bit by the canoeing bug which became a lifelong affliction. As a troop, we paddled on local rivers and I did not know of the BW/Q until an adult Scouter myself. Probably a good thing, as if I had, I probably would have never left the northwoods! First trip was to Quetico as an adult trip advisor and of the 2+ dozen trips, about 1/4 have been Scout trips. The best things I got out of Scouting were the time I spent with my own kids and the opportunity to give back in honor of leaders I'd had. I've been an adult leader since my 38-year-old was a Tiger.

pd

HangLoose: We went to Tomahawk every summer. Was always my favorite time of the year. I did the mile swim there 3 times one year.

These are some great stories. I hope there is more to come.

I was a Girl Scout (Brownie first) back in the 50’s, but didn’t continue past Senior Scout in Junior High School. Did go to scout camp at Camp Fort Hill on Klinger Lake in southwest Michigan for at least three different 2-week summer sessions and loved the idea of campfires, cooking over the fire, etc. Lots of swimming in the lake, Our troop went to camp together, so it was a bonding thing, too. In addition, I went to YMCA camp for several summer sessions, too. Similar experiences, but cabins, not tents. (The tents at our scout camp were the big ones on wooden floors and we slept in cots.). But we had one night when we slept in our sleeping bags “under the stars”. That has to have been 65 years ago, but I still remember how much fun it was and how I loved it!

Our Scout Troop did a bunch of interesting things. One time we did our horsemanship badge and rode at a nearby stable for a number of sessions. That was a favorite of mine at the time. Even though I didn’t come from an outdoorsy camping family, I always did enjoy outdoor activities and I was glad that our scout troop did quite a few of that sort of projects.

When I got to high school, I don’t remember that there was a scout troop for that age group in my small town. It might not have mattered, as I was very busy with musical activities and an after-school job so wouldn’t have had the time anyway.

I never did any canoeing until I met Spartan1 in college.

KawnipiKid: "Eagle Scout, 1973. I learned to paddle at summer camp and, especially, at Region 7 National Canoe Base. Scouting definitely helped me all-around: cooking, fire building, food/gear planning, knots, an interest in weather, open water swimming, tracking and trail signs, first aid and lifesaving. I also learned a heck of a lot about myself, teamwork and loyal friendship. I regret there was no good scouting option near us when my boys were that age. They got a lot of those skills through their mom and me camping and at Y camps. I still recite the Scout Law to myself and need further improvement on at least 4 of the 12. "

Eagle Scout, 1967. I also went to Region 7 Canoe Base up on White Sand Lake in '63, '64, and '65. The first few days of Canoe Base I HATED! Then I LOVED it! I'm sure I would never have fallen in love with BWCA/Quetico without the scouting experience. I've had to use emergency first aid a number of times suddenly in my life, and I am so thankful to scouting for the knowledge and practice.

Scouting taught me to love the outdoors, the peaceful forest, building a fire (only two matches or start over, Scout!) sleeping under the Milky Way, singing songs around a campfire, hiking, knot tying. When I was a fifth grade teacher I taught my students how to tie a taught line hitch, a skill I learned from our counselor at Canoe Base. I could go on, but the point is, scouting absolutely changed my life in a wonderful way!

Dave I am second from right, front row

Star, SPL, O.A. but not brotherhood. Troop comittee member, also assistant scout master for a couple years.

Growing up our local troop was so-so, but gave us jr hi and early high school kids great autonomy. Planned and carried out our own trips sans adults. Life was simpler then. Eventually found guitars, girls and Grain Belt and moved away from scouts at about 17 or so.

Used the outdoor skills, esp. first aid, camp waterfront director, later a fly fishing guide, river raft guide, etc. By luck and design spent 1/2 my life in the holy land where MT /ID/WY nearly touch. Taught science mostly at Jr High level, incorporated scouting skills into classes e.g. environmental and other natural science, plus navigation- compass and map.

One of 2 offspring became scouts.

I was a Girl Scout (2-5th grade so Brownie & Junior), but quit after that year. A main reason that I quit was my troop was not outdoorsy enough for me. I wanted to camp and learn to start fire and other camping related things. Probably those troop leaders didn’t do much camping. My troop wanted to paint their nails and have sleepovers indoors. It rained at our “camp” and they made us sleep inside… I eventually did some month long canoe trips in high school/college and joined the outdoors club in college, which is what got me more into camping/canoeing/BWCA.

chessie: "I tried. As a very young child I had images of girl scouts camping and building fires and canoeing, etc. My Mom took me to my very first meeting. We sat and made dolls out of clothes pins. One and done. Never went back. Thankfully, my family did a lot of outdoor 'stuff', camping, boating, hunting, fishing, etc. "

This was kind of my experience with Girl Scouts too. Crafts were fun as a brownie, and I am a crafty/artsy person, but I wanted to camp and be outside and learn actual skills. Not gossip and paint our nails, lol!

RetiredDave: "

KawnipiKid: "Eagle Scout, 1973. I learned to paddle at summer camp and, especially, at Region 7 National Canoe Base. Scouting definitely helped me all-around: cooking, fire building, food/gear planning, knots, an interest in weather, open water swimming, tracking and trail signs, first aid and lifesaving. I also learned a heck of a lot about myself, teamwork and loyal friendship. I regret there was no good scouting option near us when my boys were that age. They got a lot of those skills through their mom and me camping and at Y camps. I still recite the Scout Law to myself and need further improvement on at least 4 of the 12. "

Eagle Scout, 1967. I also went to Region 7 Canoe Base up on White Sand Lake in '63, '64, and '65. The first few days of Canoe Base I HATED! Then I LOVED it! I'm sure I would never have fallen in love with BWCA/Quetico without the scouting experience. I've had to use emergency first aid a number of times suddenly in my life, and I am so thankful to scouting for the knowledge and practice.


Scouting taught me to love the outdoors, the peaceful forest, building a fire (only two matches or start over, Scout!) sleeping under the Milky Way, singing songs around a campfire, hiking, knot tying. When I was a fifth grade teacher I taught my students how to tie a taught line hitch, a skill I learned from our counselor at Canoe Base. I could go on, but the point is, scouting absolutely changed my life in a wonderful way!


Dave I am second from right, front row"

Love the photo, Retired Dave, and am happy you have been able to share the experiences as a teacher. I can completely relate to hating it up front and then loving it! I thought I had made the mistake of a military enlistment instead of a fun camp for the first day or two. It was tough! It all fell into place and then was great for the duration. I think I was there 72 and 73, the second time as "voyageur," a kid who went early and trained to help train your group in the Region 7 way.

I still camp every year the Northern Highlands-American Legion State Forest around there and stop at White Sand Lake now and then. The camp is gone and is public land. You can park on Nixon Lake Rd off K and walk in through the old Region 7 stone driveway gate markers down to the beach. I think there's just one building left but it's all still familiar and very cool to visit. It's also still a crystal clear lake, a great sand beach and a nice swim.

Eagle Scout 1976. Had a fun Troop with a very dedicated Scoutmaster. Lots of Camporees, summer camps and Winter Klondikes. I learned skills that I still use today.

Got to do it all over again when my son got to the age to join Cub Scouts, then Boy Scouts. He made it to Life Scout and we also went to Philmont and Northern Tier, as well as a week-long backpacking trip on Isle Royale. Lots of great trips and tons of fun.

I was in girl scouts up until juniors. I only started GS because my neighbors were both boy scout and would brag about all the cool stuff they did. They wouldn't let me join boy scouts so i was forced to do GS. After a a couple years of just doing arts and crafts and not actually doing any outdoorsy stuff I got tired of it and quit. Didn't have enough time for GS with baseball, hockey, and gymnastics anyway.
My troop leader was great, she was just more focused on crafting than teaching us actual skills. As a kid I was expecting more survival type skills being taught, but that was usually reserved for the boys. The final straw for me was at camp. Girls are too click-y and I was the weirdo wondering why we were making dream catchers instead of learning to build a fire. Was not a fun week for me

I also made it to Life. The benefits for me were many. I first became aware of the BWCA reading Boys Life in the late 60's and wanted to go then. I finally made it about 40 years later as a Scout leader. I sent my Eagle Scout at 16 to do the Order of the Arrow service in the BW. This led him to become a guide for Northern Tier High Adventure summers during his college years. I was lucky to have him as our interpreter guide for my first of 3 Scout trips and have been with him and my other son on adult trips as well.

Growing up I was in 4H, not scouts. When my daughter started school she wanted to join Girl Scouts, but there wasn’t a leader for her age group. So I became a leader, and stayed with the troop through their sophomore year of high school. I tried to cover all the bases- crafts, fashion show, cooking, sewing, community service, as well as canoeing, orienteering, camping, archery, snowshoeing. Organized a summer day camp program with the Necedah national wildlife refuge. Spent the night in Eagle Cave (the boys scouts weren’t thrilled to see the girls).

My son joined cub scouts and went until he earned his Eagle Scout. My husband and I were Cub Scout and webelo leaders, and tried to do a lot of the outdoor activities you’d expect. When he moved into Boy Scouts we were still active parents, but there was another troop leader (with an older son). Unfortunately, this leader put the bare minimum effort into it, and was not into camping (yes, my husband and I offered to do the planning and take the boys). It wasn’t a very active troop - my girls did more than the boys. We did a lot of camping as a family, and taught the kids many of their outdoor skills then. At that point my son stayed in scouting only to get his Eagle Scout.

So now that both kids are adults, my daughter loves hiking and kayaking, and is pretty confident. And while she’ll camp, she will probably never make a second trip to the bwca.
My son is into anything outdoors, and has the skills to support going solo, and spending time in wildernesses. And he will be joining us for a mid May trip to Tuscarora Lake.

I did learn a good bit about camping and first aid in Boy Scouts but didn't do any of the more substantial adventure camps. So I think all of my Boy Scout camping was car camping. I also did some canoeing at Boy Scout camp. And I do think I heard about the BWCA during scouts. But I can't remember any specifics.

For camping, my more influential experiences were my parents liking to hike a lot (but not camp) and a junior high school that went to the Adirondacks for multi-day science trips. We canoed during one of those and after the second one a teacher took several of us on a backpacking and climbing trip. That trip had the most impact on me.

In Scouts I made it to Life and into Order of the Arrow. I had a disagreement with my Scoutmaster about my Eagle project and left without finishing that last step. I'm enjoying seeing how many of us made it to that and didn't make the final step. I think it was just time for me to move on but, overall, scouts was a good experience.

As I've mentioned in a couple trip reports, my first trip to the BWCA and Quetico was through BSA's Charles L Sommers Canoe Base on Moose Lake in 1978 (as an adult advisor, not a scout). Next summer I came back with my wife, who got me interested in canoeing in the late '60s before we were married. I only made it to Star; moving at 13 and 14 messed up further progress.

As an adult, I've been an assistant scoutmaster, a scoutmaster, a troop committee member, and have worked with three different troops through the years. I also have a Lifetime Membership in Girl Scouts, and have helped my wife with troop meetings, camping events, etc. We were both trained as challenge course and climbing wall facilitators for local GSUSA camps.

My wife has been involved in Girl Scouts all her life, and will get her 65-year pin next year. She worked 16 years as director of adult training for our local council, and is now a volunteer county manager. Our son earned his Eagle, and our daughter earned her Gold Award (which I personally think was more challenging than our son's Eagle!).

TZ

Spent the night in Eagle Cave (the boys scouts weren’t thrilled to see the girls).

4keys - I might have been one of those Boy Scouts! But at that age, I probably would have been thrilled to see girls there! I've done several winter 'campouts' in Eagle Cave! Even did a canoe trip on the Wisconsin from there in the summer. I was actually friends with the owners' daughter and went to her wedding in '85.

BTW...my sister lives in New Lisbon and used to teach in the Necedah school district.

pd

portagedog09: "

Spent the night in Eagle Cave (the boys scouts weren’t thrilled to see the girls).

4keys - I might have been one of those Boy Scouts! But at that age, I probably would have been thrilled to see girls there! I've done several winter 'campouts' in Eagle Cave! Even did a canoe trip on the Wisconsin from there in the summer. I was actually friends with the owners' daughter and went to her wedding in '85.

BTW...my sister lives in New Lisbon and used to teach in the Necedah school district.

pd"

I took my GS there for several years, until two of the girls became too boy crazy.
There’s a good chance I know your sister- I have been subbing in Necedah for 20 plus years, and both of my kids went there. And wow, another connection - I just checked your profile and you live in VA? That is where my daughter now lives.

Love the photo, Retired Dave, and am happy you have been able to share the experiences as a teacher. I can completely relate to hating it up front and then loving it! I thought I had made the mistake of a military enlistment instead of a fun camp for the first day or two. It was tough! It all fell into place and then was great for the duration. I think I was there 72 and 73, the second time as "voyageur," a kid who went early and trained to help train your group in the Region 7 way.

I still camp every year the Northern Highlands-American Legion State Forest around there and stop at White Sand Lake now and then. The camp is gone and is public land. You can park on Nixon Lake Rd off K and walk in through the old Region 7 stone driveway gate markers down to the beach. I think there's just one building left but it's all still familiar and very cool to visit. It's also still a crystal clear lake, a great sand beach and a nice swim. "

I haven't been back since 1965. I'm saving your info in the event we head up there camping some day and I want to revisit White Sand Lake. I'm sure it will look nothing like I remember. Thanks for the update, I'd love to take a dip in that lovely lake again!

Scouting was big part of my early life with many lasting impacts. I made Eagle just before turning 18, was OA Brotherhood member and on the ceremonial team, went to Philmont, camped at Many Point for 6 years as a scout then worked there on staff for several years. Also completed my Woodbadge training. I count myself extremely lucky to have been associated with such a large and thriving troop. My 4 Scoutmasters were truly wonderful men; two having been Eagles themselves and the other two simply stepping up when no one else did - but all did great jobs. And there were many other dads and moms who did so much to make the troop successful. I was lucky.

My first BWCA trip was with a group of boys from our district leadership group. Certainly earning merit badges like first aid, camping, orienteering, canoeing, etc (and later teaching these at Many Point) had an impact, I feel I also benefited from other skills such as planning, leadership, even conflict management. Scouting had a big impact on me.

I keep a spot on one of my bookshelves for a few pieces of important memorabilia.

portagedog09: "Yup....and still a scout - and a good old Antelope too!"

I too use to be an Antelope! And now that you are finished Anteloping, I'm glad you have found other things to do. Wouldn't want to grow old and feeble!

I was in scouts in the late 50s and early 60s until I turned 18 (Life), then stayed on as an assistant SM for another year. Went to Tomahawk in Wisconsin 4 or 5 times. Learned to canoe in those wood/canvas boats. Learned most of my camping skills on camp outs along the St Croix river with Gus, an assistant SM that regularly took 6 or 7 of us to undeveloped areas along the river. Put in another 15 years as an assistant SM with my son thru cubs and Eagle, staying on a few more years after he was done. Went to Manypoint with the troop 8 or 9 times and 3 trips to the scout camp in the Black Hills. Never felt a need as a leader to do Woodbadge or get involved with the district.

As an aside: The Black Hills camp was somewhat of a bit of an experience in the evolution of my scouting experience. We went 2 years in a row in the early 90s where we did actual rock climbing in the Rushmore and Sylvan Lakes areas for 4 days in a row with experienced climbing instructors. We did some truly great climbs for novices. The 3rd time was in the late 90s and I lead the trip fully expecting to do some real rock climbing. The climbing was done in the camp on minor 20-30 ft climbs. I asked the camp director when we were going to Rushmore or Sylvan Lakes and he said "We've never done that, it's too risky." When I told him we had done just that 4-5 years earlier he said I must be mistaken. I was somewhat astounded to say the least. I don't know if it had become Scout policy nation wide or it was just him or the local district policy to avoid any and all risk.

Made it to Webelos. I had two great Den Mothers in Cub Scouts and my Webelos leader was a former fighter pilot in the Korean war. Some of our meetings turned into a basic training, Officer and a Gentleman type thing. I loved it. I had so much going on in my teens. three sports year round and being in a rock band. I saw no point in moving on to Boy Scouts.

Eagle Scout here, 1980 I think. Great experience overall. Fun summer camps to Many Point, Black Hills, Florida Keys and others. My First trip to the BWCA was with the scouts. Very grateful for that and the rest of the experiences.

I think I was lucky back in the olden days as a Girl Scout in my small town. Granted, we didn't do a lot of camping trips and such, but we didn't just sit around and do crafts, either. We worked on badges: some I remember were hiking, forestry, horseback riding, swimming, music, cooking, gardening, and first aid. We were encouraged to go to camp, and we had the opportunity to work on more badges there, too. I said in a previous post that I went as far as Senior, and in thinking about it, it was probably Junior, since I didn't go on after 8th grade.

There probably were a few meetings that were just at the church meeting room where we might have done crafts or something like that, but since I am NOT a crafty person, they weren't memorable times for me. What I remember is that Scouts was mainly a group of active pursuits, and interesting troop adventures.

And of course we sold cookies!!!

I have hesitated to post on this, cuz I hated being a boy scout. All my buddies bailed and I kept joining. I was always interested in the outdoors, but what we did mostly was some stupid jamboree thing and you got stuck in a tent with 3 dorks who were trying to be cooler than you, with a kerchief around their neck thinking that cooking weenies over sterno flame was the coolest thing ever. Back in the day, where I come from or whatever, there wasn't a lot of camaraderie, it was basically dog eat dog. And being in a BS troop was no different. How many of you have been on a 'snipe hunt'... or told to go find a 'left handed smoke bender' at the amusement of some creepy supposed leader. Don't remember one person I would want to remember. And my mother never wanted to sew on the patches I earned...

Never learned anything relevant about the outdoors by being a boy scout, just a bunch of punks acting like jerks... Like having to hang around the caddie shack just waiting for a fight. Hated the 2 week whatever it was called summer thing in Wi. But still love the outdoors and the BW, that will never let me down.

Cheers, scat

"I took my GS there for several years, until two of the girls became too boy crazy. There’s a good chance I know your sister- I have been subbing in Necedah for 20 plus years, and both of my kids went there. And wow, another connection - I just checked your profile and you live in VA? That is where my daughter now lives. "

Yup, I figured - pretty good chance you know her - April. She's been in Guidance her 35-year career and is in Mauston school district now. I'm in NOVA....the metro DC area.

pd

Boy Scouts in the late 70s loved it was part of a very active troop. One of the first week long trips was a 50 miler down the Wisconsin River. We competed in Scout jamborees Klondike Derby’s and others (can’t remember the names) summer camps at Two Bears in northern Wisconsin and Indian Trails in Janesville. We had camp outs at least once a month all year. I made Life Scout didn’t like or want to do the class room type required merit badges to get my Eagle no regrets.
Was lucky enough to go to Philmont twice with my boys and two trips with them to the BWCA as an assistant scout master.

burrow1: summer camps at Two Bears in northern Wisconsin and Indian Trails in Janesville. "

Wow....Camp Two Bear and Camp Indian Trails...got some stories about those places from the early/mid 80's! It's like Scouting home week here on the forum!

pd

scat: " But still love the outdoors and the BW, that will never let me down.

Cheers, scat"

I'll second the poor experience. Made it to Webelos, and it pretty much sucked. I always read the "Boys Life" mag which showed kids camping, hiking, fishing, etc. I was always so jealous of those kids-we never did any of that. We were doing arts and crafts in somebody's basement. Probably the best thing we ever did was that wooden car derby. Glad others had good experiences but I did not.

Since we're still on the topic of Scouting, I have an offer to any Eagle Scout who has lost his medal. My good friend Dan and I earned our Eagle Awards together back in 1967. Dan passed away a few years back and I was given his old Boy Scout badges, etc. I have his Eagle medal, and I would be happy to give it to any Eagle scout who has lost his own.

Let me know!

Dave

I was a Campfire Girl, but my camping skills were all learned at the knee of my parents and at YMCA Camp Menogyn.

RetiredDave: "Since we're still on the topic of Scouting, I have an offer to any Eagle Scout who has lost his medal. My good friend Dan and I earned our Eagle Awards together back in 1967. Dan passed away a few years back and I was given his old Boy Scout badges, etc. I have his Eagle medal, and I would be happy to give it to any Eagle scout who has lost his own.


Let me know!


Dave "

That is a beautiful gesture. I hope you find someone to accept that offer. What an incredible tribute to your friend Dan

scat: "I have hesitated to post on this, cuz I hated being a boy scout. All my buddies bailed and I kept joining. I was always interested in the outdoors, but what we did mostly was some stupid jamboree thing and you got stuck in a tent with 3 dorks who were trying to be cooler than you, with a kerchief around their neck thinking that cooking weenies over sterno flame was the coolest thing ever. Back in the day, where I come from or whatever, there wasn't a lot of camaraderie, it was basically dog eat dog. And being in a BS troop was no different. How many of you have been on a 'snipe hunt'... or told to go find a 'left handed smoke bender' at the amusement of some creepy supposed leader. Don't remember one person I would want to remember. And my mother never wanted to sew on the patches I earned...

Never learned anything relevant about the outdoors by being a boy scout, just a bunch of punks acting like jerks... Like having to hang around the caddie shack just waiting for a fight. Hated the 2 week whatever it was called summer thing in Wi. But still love the outdoors and the BW, that will never let me down.

Cheers, scat"

I had a similar experience in my youth Scat…almost exactly like yours.
I am so glad my kids wanted to join in their early days and I have never met a better group of parents and kids than I have in our current Scout Troop! Just a completely different experience than I had as a youth!

T

Ha - that's the genesis of my screenname. Earned my Eagle in 98 in MN. :)

I really enjoyed scouts and credit it with laying the groundwork my passion for the outdoors today. I have refined my skills a lot more in adulthood, but scouts established the interest and excitement for getting outdoors.

I was a Boy Scout When I lived in Wisconsin. I think I made it to Life Scout. We had a pretty active Troup, lots of camping and outdoor programs. Really did enjoy the experience. I was more involved in scouting after my son joined the Boy Scouts here in Calif. I became a Assistant Scout Master, then Scout Master. While working for Cal Fire I asked our unit Chief about starting a Fire Service Explorer Post. He was all for it. I spent the next ten years as the Post Advisor. After my son finished his Eagle Scout I stayed Scout Master for another year before stepping down, to focus on the Explorer Post. I did stay as a merit badge counselor for several badges. Scouting is a great program.

It's inspiring to listen to stories of many of you remaining in scouts into your adulthood. Nearest I can come to that is volunteering every year to help the scouts put their annual Haunted House together as one of their fundraisers.

In 1972 I joined a very large and well-established troop (187) in south Minneapolis. There were about 80 boys in the troop at that time.
The troops sponsoring institution owned (and still does) a piece of land in NW Wisconsin on the St. Croix River. Since scout troops can't "own" anything the property was in the church's name but we pay the property taxes, maintain the property, and operate a two-week summer camp.

I had done family car-camping as a child but the summer of 1972 was my first exposure to a tong-term camp and I fell in love with it.

I advanced through the ranks but my interest in obtaining Eagle was being replaced by other activities away from scouting. I did make it to Life however. I was also awarded the Order of the Arrow and made it to the Brotherhood level.

Now, fifty years after my first night at the camp, friends from that period and I gather each spring to spend a long weekend there.

Scouting provides important skills training and is a great opportunity to meet potentially lifelong friends!

Eagle Scout 1985, OA as well.

Was an adult leader in Cub scouts and Boy Scouts. Started canoeing as an adult after a Northern Tier trip with my son and one of his scouting friends.

Ryan

i was a scout in the 50's early 60's.our two week adventure camp in Canada and the canoe trips set me up for 35 years of bw-Q canoe trips.my dad was a scout in the 1930 and i have his merit badge sach.he was always disappointed that he was drafted soon after high school and never had a chance to make eagle.
i was order of the arrow and my daughter in the girl scouts.

I was a part of a quality troop in Omaha that prided itself on having the most Eagle scouts west of the Missouri river (that was their claim, no idea if it was true). Loved the camping, backpacking, and summer camp. Very thankful to that troop for introducing me to backpacking, but couldn't have cared less about the rest of "Scouting". Barely made it to second class despite a whole lot of pressure and nagging from some of the leaders.

Once I hit 16 and could drive myself to go camping at nearby state parks, I had no use for scouts anymore...

Cub Scouts, Webelos and Boy Scouts. I have good memories of doing fun stuff with friends. Mostly camping. We went to Crow Wing Scout camp in the summer, did archery, fishing, trap shooting. I never did great at it but loved the camping.

When I was just getting going into Boy Scouts our leader resigned and no one would lead the troop so it folded. The other local troop refused to take us in. I am not sure I would have gone far in the progression because I was easily distracted and only wanted to do fun stuff.

Kinda like I am today.

I was in Lithuanian scouts for a few years. We had meetings, a few field trips to some local forest preserves. A week in a camp they have near Ludington Michigan called "Rakas".
I didn't learn a heck of a lot. While the camp in Michigan was a cool place, it was regimented and we spent a lot of time marching on dusty grounds while singing the camp song and the repetitive "left.right.left right left." It was mostly about hierarchy - the leaders had their tents up on a hill and would come around to "inspect" our grounds/tents/surrounding area and adding or subtracting points. As for nature education, I learned such facts as "you can never outrun a cottonmouth snake". We had five of us to a tent. Didn't get along so great, though we had before camp. At 6am a speaker would blare a trumpet sound and we'd have to line up outside our tents for calisthenics.
Inspections, marching, early a.m. calisthentics, leaders' power trips. At least the food was pretty good. And it was my first time in a canoe and they did demonstrate a T-Rescue.
Supposedly Week 2 was easier/more fun, but I only was signed up for week 1.
The girls' camps were separate but also within Rakas. My sister, during another year, called home crying and we got her before her Week 2 was over.

Lituanikos Tuntas - Vis Budziu! lol

HowardSprague: "I was in Lithuanian scouts for a few years. We had meetings, a few field trips to some local forest preserves. A week in a camp they have near Ludington Michigan called "Rakas".
I didn't learn a heck of a lot. While the camp in Michigan was a cool place, it was regimented and we spent a lot of time marching on dusty grounds while singing the camp song and the repetitive "left.right.left right left." It was mostly about hierarchy - the leaders had their tents up on a hill and would come around to "inspect" our grounds/tents/surrounding area and adding or subtracting points. As for nature education, I learned such facts as "you can never outrun a cottonmouth snake". We had five of us to a tent. Didn't get along so great, though we had before camp. At 6am a speaker would blare a trumpet sound and we'd have to line up outside our tents for calisthenics.
Inspections, marching, early a.m. calisthentics, leaders' power trips. At least the food was pretty good. And it was my first time in a canoe and they did demonstrate a T-Rescue.
Supposedly Week 2 was easier/more fun, but I only was signed up for week 1.
The girls' camps were separate but also within Rakas. My sister, during another year, called home crying and we got her before her Week 2 was over.


Lituanikos Tuntas - Vis Budziu! lol

"

Like has been said, the scouts are like the military without the weapons.”

deerfoot: "

HowardSprague: "
Lituanikos Tuntas - Vis Budziu! lol "

Like has been said, the scouts are like the military without the weapons.”"

Although I had a bad experience personally in scouts…the above statement is ludicrous. BSA is not like the military without weapons. If that was your personal experience then I cannot deny you your own experience but even with my past I’ve already mentioned I’ve never seen or heard that.

The focus on BSA is learning more about yourself, improving your interpersonal skills, service to your community, supporting your fellow scouts, how to teach-encourage others to learn new tasks, and being a good steward to the environment. The main idea is to get kids away from the environment where adults do everything for them and they learn to take care of themselves. The older scouts lead by showing the younger scouts in an encouraging way. Adults are just there to help or on occasion if the scouts don’t follow this process to guide them back.

I am sure some troops fail…I am sorry if your personal experience was different. But I can’t let that slide, because it is so opposite of what my sons have experienced. I’ve got nothing against the military either—not trying to be negative on military service. It’s just different. If it isn’t then something was done wrong and you should join a different troop.

T

I second this. The only thing we did in Scouts that was vaguely miliary was march in parade formation in front of the flagpole right before dinner. And that was really a function of the Camp itself, not our Troop. We learned life skills...outdoor, indoor, community, personal finance, etc. I wish my son had learned half as much about those skills during his 10 years in the Army as I did in 6 years of Scouting. Clearly he knows more about weaponry and demolition than I do, but that accentuates the differences between the Scouting and Military institutions, not any similarities.

I won't argue that MANY Scout Troops fail. At that same summer camp, we witnessed Troops that focused too much on crafts and games, others too much on competition between the scouts and their leaders, others too much on Archery and Rifle Shooting...and judging by the previous comments, some Troops focus too much on how to march and salute. That's a shame, but its not the way all Troops - or Camps - function.

While in my instance there was a degree of wannabe military, on the other hand in a previous life I was a stepson's "Akela" (is that correct?) for Tiger Cubs/ Cub Scouts through Webelos. It was an outstanding experience for him and nice for me as well. His troop had great campout trips and interesting excursions and a really good, involved scout leader who cared and put time into it. Another pack across town, in which my nephew was a member, did primarily crafts. As has been mentioned, there is a lot of variation. And i'm sure even in Lituanian scouts there are many with good experiences. (LOL my cousin remembers it fondly because at camp is where he learned to smoke weed. No wannabe military stuff there, haha.)
Done right, it's a good thing.

Still am, scouting weaves a long thread through my life (35 years and counting), so thankfully It was positive along the way, and if it wasn’t I wouldn’t still be hanging around. I have seen and heard many of the negative’s others have noted along the way though, and hope that it doesn’t turn them off to the outdoors, or letting their kids give it a go, and possibly volunteering to give them and their peers a better experience.

So moving on, even before scouts I was an outdoor kid, scouts gave the outdoors some focus and a base level of skills (camping and life) to build on.

I Started as a cub scout in the late 70’s, had a great den mother (Sally), with a mix of crafts, tours (Tonka toys and Kodak film processing come to mind) and the outdoors. And when it came to power tool projects and longer outdoor activities the dads were brought in, and then they took over for Webelos (Steve and My Dad, both were on rotating shifts) (it’s how it was done then). A few summer weekends and then a week at Camp Heritage as a cub scout (now Stearns).

I got fully hooked during my first trip to Many Point as a scout. I was taking Astronomy MB and needed to do the night sky portion on Thursday night. It was a bit over ½ mile from the beach to our site, so I went to the beach for free time and stayed for the night skys portion looking through a telescope. Like any good first year scout I didn’t think about taking my flashlight with, nor did the other scout in our troop. So we worked our way back to camp by following the gap in the tree canopy over the road, using the stars as our guide. The last few hundred yards was harder as the road up to the site was just wide enough for a vehicle, so no stars were visible, walked into the woods a time or 2. We did lots of camping as a troop, and our charter org Westphal American legion had canoes, so we did a lot of canoeing on the St. Croix and Apple rivers. I completed my Eagle in 87, took a bike tour along the Mississippi when I was 12, went to Philmont, 2 national jamborees one of which was visited by Hurricane BOB. Had my first BWCA trip, in February of 84 or 85. Did about a dozen Winter trips, before I did a BWCA canoe trip. Never done a scout BWCA canoe trip (odd). Joined the Staff at Many Point off and on from the mid 80’s thru the mid 90’s as time and finances allowed. Made a few lifelong friends there as well as met my wife. Many great leaders along the way a few of Note were Jim (SM) Duane and my Dad (ASM’s). All of the high adventure items were lead by district or council volunteers.

Had a few years out of scouts as we started our life and family. Our son was in cub and boy scouts (Eagle in 17), I went along for a good chunk of the ride as a leader in various positions and advisor for some of the bigger trips (Philmont, Sea Base and Sommers for the Okpik program at -30). Our daughter had no interest in the GSA once she heard that their field trip was to go shopping at MOA. She tagged along to most the cub scout meetings (really, she had no choice) but enjoyed them.
Later she became part of the Venturing crew (co-ed scouting program 15+, like exploring but an outdoor focus), She went to Philmont for the horse trek and we went to Okpik for the dog sled trek (highly recommend). She worked at Many Point for a few years prior to Covid, when camp was reduced to a skeleton crew for the summer.

Since my kids have been done with scouts for several years, I help at the bigger events a few times a year, and run the cub scout leader outdoor training, and some additional adult training during the year.

One of the elements of scouting that I believe sets it apart from any other program is the variety of experiences that they can get from the program that I haven’t seen from any other program.

Oh, and one last item. Antelope, Antelope have no business in the BWCA, now a Beaver on the other hand… jk… Off to Gillwell happy land…

I have the best critter for the BWCA, as I used to be an Eagle.

I was a Scout as a youth - Tigers through my 18th birthday. Forever Life as I was an exchange student for a year and couldn't get my project or several merit badges done.

Re-joined as an adult when my oldest joined as a Tiger and took over as Scoutmaster in 2022 after a decade as an ASM. My youngest is currently a Tenderfoot Scout in the Troop and I was doing double duty as ASM/Den Leader for a few years until he crossed over.

Yes, my training and experience has been useful for BWCA trips. I've also taken the Troop on a few trips, which may have never happened had I not experienced the BWCA as an adult. I developed a love of canoeing as a youth but never heard of the magical wilderness in Minnesota until I was in my 20s.

timatkn: "

deerfoot: "

HowardSprague: "
Lituanikos Tuntas - Vis Budziu! lol "

Like has been said, the scouts are like the military without the weapons.”"

Although I had a bad experience personally in scouts…the above statement is ludicrous. BSA is not like the military without weapons. If that was your personal experience then I cannot deny you your own experience but even with my past I’ve already mentioned I’ve never seen or heard that.

The focus on BSA is learning more about yourself, improving your interpersonal skills, service to your community, supporting your fellow scouts, how to teach-encourage others to learn new tasks, and being a good steward to the environment. The main idea is to get kids away from the environment where adults do everything for them and they learn to take care of themselves. The older scouts lead by showing the younger scouts in an encouraging way. Adults are just there to help or on occasion if the scouts don’t follow this process to guide them back.

I am sure some troops fail…I am sorry if your personal experience was different. But I can’t let that slide, because it is so opposite of what my sons have experienced. I’ve got nothing against the military either—not trying to be negative on military service. It’s just different. If it isn’t then something was done wrong and you should join a different troop.

T "

It was not my intention to disparage scouting, which I thoroughly enjoyed from Cub Scouts starting in the late 1950’s through working on summer camp staff as an adult in 1970.

During the time I was involved with scouting, many of the scout masters were WW2 vets, some of whom were quite proud of the military bearing they used in running their troops. This was quite apparent while I was on summer camp staff in 1963 and 1964. It was at this time that the joking comment was commonly made about the scouts being like the army without the guns. The summer camp director during those years, a professional scouter, ran the camp rather strictly frequently referring to his time in the army during WW2.

My last involvement with scouting was summer camp commissioner in 1970 after I got out of the navy. There was a definite difference in how the camp and its program operated compared to my earlier years on camp staff. The camp director was younger and was not a veteran. The staff member who ran the rifle range that summer was a Marine veteran of Vietnam who had intended to be career military but had been medically discharged due to his wounds. He had actually served as an assistant drill instructor at MC Recruit Depot San Diego just prior to his medical discharge. Everyday he wore his drill instructor campaign hat and ran the rifle range in military manner. He was the most popular staff member with the campers that summer.

Yes, I had 10 merit badges and made Life scout. After that, other things captured my attention.

Not as a Scout, but as a den leader for Tiger through Arrow of Light at the Cub level. Outdoor Activity Chair, Assistant Scoutmaster, and Scoutmaster for almost 5 years including the pandemic at the Troop level. I'm currently the unit Charter Organization Representative and a District Commissioner for 62 units in the Northern Star Council here in Minnesota. Being a Scout leader has given me as much, maybe even more than it gives to the youth. I've grown right along with them.

We signed our son up to the local Pack as a Lion Cub when he was 5, and his journey began. He earned his Eagle last fall at 17-3/4 years old, after being a Life Scouty for 4+ years. We had many, many adventures along the way. He's aged out of the youth program now, will graduate high school in May, and is preparing to ship out to Texas for BMT to begin his journey as an enlisted E3 in the USAF this summer. He may not realize it yet, but Scouting has been a positive influence and presented many opportunities to him. To both of us, really.

My wife and I took him into the Boundary Waters for the first time when he was 6. He's been hooked on wilderness and backcountry adventures ever since. We've been to the BW at least 10 times both summer and winter in the years since then. About six weeks ago he spent one of the coldest weekends of this past winter camping with friends in a three-season tent on the campsite just south of the Stairway Portage on Duncan.

Most of the time we've tripped with other folks, as a small group, or as a family. A couple of weeks ago I asked him if there was anything special he wanted to do before leaving for BMT. True story, his answer was, "Just you and me in the Boundary Waters for a week. Fast and light. I don't care where we go, let's just go. It may be a while before we get to go again".

I pulled permits yesterday.

I was, I am still friends with 2 guys from my troop.

2 merit badges short of Eagle. Biggest regret of my life not making Eagle Scout.

I wish BSA had a program for old folks that came up just short of making Eagle. I would do it in a heartbeat!

Wally13: "2 merit badges short of Eagle. Biggest regret of my life not making Eagle Scout.


I wish BSA had a program for old folks that came up just short of making Eagle. I would do it in a heartbeat! "

Me too. I was 5 merit badges short and I had all the harder ones.

I was in for only about a year or two and did make it to First Class. My best part of the scouting experience actually was to be a den chief for my younger brother's Cub Scout Pack. Our local Cub Scout orgaization had dedicated and involved parents who cared that their sons and other kids entrusted to them had a good experience.

For the regular scouting with other boy scouts, not so great an experience. The troop had a bunch of nasty bullies who were pretty bad people as kids and ruined things for the rest of us. The leadership, while they are to be commended for taking on the role, were weak in their positions and rather blind to what was going on. On a troop fishing outing, one of our adult leaders actually kept a nice bass he caught when he knew it was before the season was open. He joked to us that it was OK for him not to release it since it was a "small-mouth northern"

My one time at camp was at Parker Scout Reservation near Merrifield, MN. The week started off poorly when due to some mix-up and a shortage with the tents, I had to spend the first night with the scout master instead of in tents with the friends I did have in this troop. You can bet that this was a source of derision that the bullies jumped on. These bad apples then took the opportunity that week to ramp up their shenanigans and overall behaved in ways that specifically violated just about every point of Scout Law. I'll not go into details but their acts of intimidation and some of the things they forced the smaller and younger boys to do would still likely shock most people today.

The week also included a night of an Order of the Arrow "tapping" ceremony and I was not impressed with the faux seriousness and aura of secrecy about this whole event. It came across to me as a power trip by those who were already "in" and a clear message to those that weren't that you were somehow lesser and how privilaged the boys were that were lucky enough to be "chosen".

About halfway through the week I wished for my parents to come get me. When I reached my dad he encouraged me to stick it out for the remaining couple of days, which I did, but soon after camp week was over I quit scouting.

Shortly after I quit, one of my best childhood buddies, and one of my best paddling partners still today, joined Boy Scouts and stayed in it for quite a few years. Soon after he started, most of the rotten kids had left as well and he now looks back on Scouting as a great time. He still uses skills gained in Scouting and whenever we're on a canoe trip together I know that every night we camp we're going to have a great fire (unless the Forest Service says we can't).

I guess it all depends on timing...

Eagle Scout- 2007. I received the last couple of signatures I needed to earn Eagle at 6 PM the night before my 18th birthday. Plenty of extra time if you ask me!

I went on my first solo BWCA trip last year. All my friends and family were worried about my safety because I would be out in the big wooded area of the BWCA. One of my mom's customers even offered to loan me his InReach to me because of her worry. I was confident in my trip because of all the skills and knowledge I had gained during my time in Scouts and from being around adults who knew a lot about the woods. My 5-day solo is a highlight of my life and I would do it again in a heart beat!

bottomtothetap: "For the regular scouting with other boy scouts, not so great an experience. The troop had a bunch of nasty bullies who were pretty bad people as kids and ruined things for the rest of us. The leadership, while they are to be commended for taking on the role, were weak in their positions and rather blind to what was going on."

Sounds like the troop my son was in originally. At one point he was ready to quit. After the first two years we moved to another troop and he flourished there. And as a number of others have noted, he turned in the final eagle requirements the day before he turned 18.

As noted, it all depends on timing...

I was a Boy Scout from 1972 to 1980 in Minneapolis. I earned my Eagle Scout Award in 1978. We had a great troop with lots of parent involvement. Many of the dads were vets with a can-do attitude, and we had our own land to camp on that was close enough that we'd camp out one weekend every five weeks, year-round. We'd go to Many Point Scout Camp for a couple of weeks every other year, and do our own trips in the BWCA or Montana the alternate years.

It was great to be a scout in the 1970s, and it had a HUGE impact on my life as an outdoorsmans and conservationist. We had just enough adult supervision, but also plenty of freedom.

I think the sexual abuse revelations of the past couple of decades---by a small number of criminals---changed and damaged the organization to the point where my friends and I would not fit in so well today. And I didn't put my own two boys into scouting, but raised them in the outdoors myself with my wife.

arctic: "I think the sexual abuse revelations of the past couple of decades---by a small number of criminals---changed and damaged the organization to the point where my friends and I would not fit in so well today. And I didn't put my own two boys into scouting, but raised them in the outdoors myself with my wife."

An interesting take on the general decline of our society as a whole and specifically rape. I would posit however, that these crimes have always existed and only media brought them into the light. Horrible crimes that I now am able to know about.

Damaged the organization? For sure! (sad)

That said, I don't think it would stop me from encouraging my grandson to join.

Was an Eagle Scout in 1968 then an asst. scoutmaster and scoutmaster for about ten years when my boys were in scouting in the 80’s and 90’s. Not sure I learned as much from scouting as from my dad, but no question it had an affect on my life.

arctic: "I was a Boy Scout from 1972 to 1980 in Minneapolis. I earned my Eagle Scout Award in 1978. We had a great troop with lots of parent involvement. Many of the dads were vets with a can-do attitude, and we had our own land to camp on that was close enough that we'd camp out one weekend every five weeks, year-round. We'd go to Many Point Scout Camp for a couple of weeks every other year, and do our own trips in the BWCA or Montana the alternate years.


It was great to be a scout in the 1970s, and it had a HUGE impact on my life as an outdoorsmans and conservationist. We had just enough adult supervision, but also plenty of freedom.


I think the sexual abuse revelations of the past couple of decades---by a small number of criminals---changed and damaged the organization to the point where my friends and I would not fit in so well today. And I didn't put my own two boys into scouting, but raised them in the outdoors myself with my wife."

When scouts became political and woke many of the churches in our area stopped sponsoring scouting, ours included. The men and boys that were active in scouting moved to Trail Life and love it.