Blast from Boy Scouting Past

I don't think I have any utensils left. My dad was Scout Master and I hope he gave them to some scout who could not afford new. I have my merit badge sash and OA I think. I gave a lot of stuff to a local Boy Scout museum. I think I have a shirt from the 64 Jamboree at Valley Forge.

I am an Eagle and if you contact Buck Knives you can get an Eagle knife.
 
I made Life Scout - one merit badge and half a project away from finishing Eagle when I had a dispute with the national council over certain discriminatory policies and walked away.

Up to that point, it was one of the greatest experiences of my childhood. My parents weren't into outdoors stuff at that point in their lives, so it was the only way I got to go camping. And growing up in AZ, I didn't realize how spoiled I was getting to hike the Grand Canyon in sixth grade and do lots of other cool Southwest-specific activities.
 

Attachments

  • IMG-2681.jpg
    IMG-2681.jpg
    185.3 KB · Views: 17
I still have a few things of my old kit.
 

Attachments

  • FAFFD8C7-A2F7-492F-B9E5-2302365B2E15.jpg
    FAFFD8C7-A2F7-492F-B9E5-2302365B2E15.jpg
    91 KB · Views: 30
  • 4E873F64-F239-41EC-8B5F-827066AC60E5.jpg
    4E873F64-F239-41EC-8B5F-827066AC60E5.jpg
    98.3 KB · Views: 24
  • Like
Reactions: CH4
I really enjoyed my time as a scout. .22s, canoes, camping, woodcraft, fire making, etc., etc.
It bothers me seeing the recent commercials all over to get on board the class action law suit train to sue the BSA for sexual assaults that, according to the lawyers, happened everywhere all the time.
In the years my brother and I were scouts we never experienced, saw or even heard of that happening.
It may have since pedophiles can be anywhere and that might be a target rich environment, but to hear of it now it sounds like it was the status quo.
It was not in my experience. It angers me that some will tear down the Scouts just to make a dollar.
 
I saw none of those problems in my day, my Scoutmaster was one of the finest and most upright men I ever knew, as were the other adult leaders, Troop Council, etc. I agree it was a target rich environment but those predators usually had powerful patrons who covered up for them. Can you say, Jerry Sandusky ?
 
Last edited:
I was fortunate that my Dad was active in our Scouting. Even though he was never my Scoutmaster (even though Mom led our Cub Scout Pack), I can't remember a single camping trip where he wasn't along, except for the year that he was in Vietnam.

The other men were all upright specimens of American manhood, and there was never a whiff of abuse or scandal. I feel sad, very sad, for those who did not share in that experience.
 
The BSA organization went to great lengths to cover up allegations and protect known molesters. I have no sympathy for their current plight.
Boy Scouts helped alleged molesters cover tracks, files show - Los Angeles Times

If those cases are true then everyone involved should be held accountable and criminally charged if it applies. I don't countenance aiding a pedophile at all.
I also don't believe in taking down a whole organization for behavior exhibited by some, even if they're in management.
It's similar to what's happening today in law enforcement.
Cull the bad ones, charge them if criminal but don't destroy the whole organization.
That's just my opinion of things.
BTW, I'm sorry for hijacking the thread in this direction.
I'm done here.
 
Last edited:
Just the other day I found a little red plastic cup that folds into itself with the Scout emblem on the lid. I made Eagle and Order of the Arrow. My son also made Eagle and I was an assistant Scout Master for twelve years in N. Ca. I'm too old and broke down to do all that backpacking now, but I sure enjoyed it then. Many miles on the Pacifiic Crest Trail, and still do some of it when hunting. Memories I wouldn't trade.
 
I had official BSA kit. Used it once on a fire and learned how hard it was to clean... and did I really want a sooty kit in the cloth bag. Nope. After that my troop used a big kit and that was the end of it.
 
I had official BSA kit. Used it once on a fire and learned how hard it was to clean... and did I really want a sooty kit in the cloth bag. Nope. After that my troop used a big kit and that was the end of it.
Apparently the Scouts didn't teach you to wipe a light film of dish soap on the outside of your pans/pots before you cooked with them each time. They still smoke up, but it washes right off with plain old water afterwards. 😉
 
Apparently the Scouts didn't teach you to wipe a light film of dish soap on the outside of your pans/pots before you cooked with them each time. They still smoke up, but it washes right off with plain old water afterwards. 😉

Didn't learn that trick until we were at Philmont!
Eagle, OA, my Dad was a 4 Beader in Wood Badge. He was SM for 12 Wood Badge classes. I gave it up soon after Eagle and never got a palm, Dad continued for 20 more years.

Good memories, good times, good friends, now we enjoy good whiskey together.
 
Apparently the Scouts didn't teach you to wipe a light film of dish soap on the outside of your pans/pots before you cooked with them each time. They still smoke up, but it washes right off with plain old water afterwards. 😉

Well, yes, actually, they did :) I also learned to use sand from the creek to scour off any stubborn stuff. When backpacking, we burned any cans in the fire ("backpacking food," aside from k-rations, was unknown). The burned cans were then crushed with a rock and packed out. We camped out, in Colorado, one weekend every month and took annual trips that we financed with fund raising projects to places like Yellowstone, Boundary Waters, and the Green River. We bought our own ex-school bus. The leadership, including a Catholic priest, were all exemplary, well maybe except for my still-best friend's dad who drove the bus, cooked, and doled out cigarettes to a couple of the delinquents :)
 
Back
Top