Boy Scouts: How far did you get?
- Thread starter CH4
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I made Life with more than enough merit badges to make Eagle...could not get swimming and life saving....also was Order of Arrow member..great memories. my grandson just left here a few min. ago headed to his Blue/Gold Cub scouts banquet
fiasconva
US Veteran
I started going to Boy Scouts when I wasn't even old enough since my older brother was one and my dad was an assistant scout master. I had passed off most of the requirements for 1st class before I was old enough to join. We had a great scoutmaster that was a WWII vet and loved doing things outdoors and camping trips. Sadly he and my dad both changed jobs and had to leave. Our new scoutmaster was a wimpy little guy that did none of the above because he didn't like getting dirty. My scout lifestyle ended shortly after that.
We are a three generation Eagle Scout family. I made Eagle in 1962, Rocky Mountain Council/Royal Gorge Dist, Troop 127, Westcliffe, CO. My Son made his in 1985, Far East Council, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa Japan, and my Grandson made his in 2017, Rocky Mountain Council, Troop170, Westcliffe, CO.
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The adult leaders described in this thread could not survive in today's BSA . . .
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That's probably right... a different world a few years back. We had a fairly large and very active troop in the early '60s. All (five or six) of our adult leaders were WWII veterans. They were a conservative group, all of whom grew up during the Depression living meagerly to modestly. Such leaders had much to offer youngsters in the areas of self-sufficiency, discipline, and personal responsibility.
These same leaders, thrust into today's world, might not recognize it, but let's hope Scouting continues to have worthy leadership.
made it to life,did mile swim,summer camp lake Goshen NY.Jamboree Valley Forge MY dad was an Eagle Scout.
I thoroughly loved Scouting. Sadly, our troop didn't do much with advancement and only became a First Class Scout with four merit badges...one short of becoming Star. Still, I was one of the highest ranking scouts in our troop. I was Senior Patrol Leader and then Junior Asst. Scoutmaster. I was also Brotherhood Order of the Arrow. Our troop changed Scoutmasters like most people change their socks. We had four Scoutmasters in the three years I was in the troop.
In my adult years, I continued my involvement with Scouting, becoming a three-bead Wood Badger, serving on both District and Council boards, and receiving the Scouter's Training Award, the Commissioner's Key, District Award of Merit and the Silver Beaver.
In my adult years, I continued my involvement with Scouting, becoming a three-bead Wood Badger, serving on both District and Council boards, and receiving the Scouter's Training Award, the Commissioner's Key, District Award of Merit and the Silver Beaver.
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I enjoyed it until.....
We were a new troop. After a few years of not making a reallly good showing the 'leadership' decided we needed more rank and prestige. So they GAVE away merit badges and other honors you would normally have to work hard for. That was it for me. I really enjoyed it up until the leaders became 'corrupt'. I saw them years later and they had a huge plume of ribbons on the troop flag, so I guess they got what they wanted, eventually.
We were a new troop. After a few years of not making a reallly good showing the 'leadership' decided we needed more rank and prestige. So they GAVE away merit badges and other honors you would normally have to work hard for. That was it for me. I really enjoyed it up until the leaders became 'corrupt'. I saw them years later and they had a huge plume of ribbons on the troop flag, so I guess they got what they wanted, eventually.
I enjoyed it until.....
We were a new troop. After a few years of not making a reallly good showing the 'leadership' decided we needed more rank and prestige. So they GAVE away merit badges and other honors you would normally have to work hard for. All you had to do was TELL a leader that you fulfilled the requirements. Of course some people took advantage of that. That was it for me. I really enjoyed it up until the leaders became 'corrupt'. I saw them years later and they had a huge plume of ribbons on the troop flag, so I guess they got what they wanted, eventually.
We were a new troop. After a few years of not making a reallly good showing the 'leadership' decided we needed more rank and prestige. So they GAVE away merit badges and other honors you would normally have to work hard for. All you had to do was TELL a leader that you fulfilled the requirements. Of course some people took advantage of that. That was it for me. I really enjoyed it up until the leaders became 'corrupt'. I saw them years later and they had a huge plume of ribbons on the troop flag, so I guess they got what they wanted, eventually.
BLACKHAWKNJ
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My Scoutmaster was one the finest men I have ever known and that troop was lucky to have him for 25 years. Have good memories of the other adult Assistant Scoutmasters, plus that troop had quite a few long term Troop Committee members. It celebrated its centennial in 2018.
meaneyedcatz
Member
I made it to Weblos. The leaders son was a classmate of mine and he got a badge or patch for everything with half the work (his words not mine).
In my young mind I figured that was a load I wasn't putting up with so I bailed.
Not saying I was right to quit.
In hindsight I wish I would've put up with it. I love the outdoors and it might have helped me grow up sooner.
In my young mind I figured that was a load I wasn't putting up with so I bailed.
Not saying I was right to quit.
In hindsight I wish I would've put up with it. I love the outdoors and it might have helped me grow up sooner.
Abbynormal
Member
The Cub pack I joined was a joke. No one made any rank.
A few years later, the Scouts had a recruiting night and Dad took me and we met one of his coworkers who convinced me to join the troop.
All the Dads/Leaders were WWII/Korea vets. We were given expectations when we joined and the Dads followed through and our troop had a 15% Eagle rate.
I made Eagle in 4-1/2 years and was the 7 th of about 15 in my HS class to achieve it.
Went to Philmont, Camp Kikthawenund life guard staff, made OA and went to 1973 Jamboree in PA.
Dad went on to be a 4 beader Woodbadger, but after HS, I lost all interest.
A few years later, the Scouts had a recruiting night and Dad took me and we met one of his coworkers who convinced me to join the troop.
All the Dads/Leaders were WWII/Korea vets. We were given expectations when we joined and the Dads followed through and our troop had a 15% Eagle rate.
I made Eagle in 4-1/2 years and was the 7 th of about 15 in my HS class to achieve it.
Went to Philmont, Camp Kikthawenund life guard staff, made OA and went to 1973 Jamboree in PA.
Dad went on to be a 4 beader Woodbadger, but after HS, I lost all interest.
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Grayfox
US Veteran
As a kid I was both a Cub Scout and a Boy Scout. However, both units had problems retaining adult leaders and both folded within a year. I did make it to summer camp once.
Many years later my older son decided he wanted to be a Cub Scout. In the process, both my wife and I ended up being Adult Leaders.
My oldest did go on to become an Eagle.
The wife quit when they graduated to Boy Scouts.
But this is my story. I loved being a Scout Leader and stuck with it for 12 years. They have a saying for adult leaders : "If you're not having as much fun as the kids, you ain't doing it right." I had lots of fun.
During my time, I held positions of:
Webelos den leader
Cubmaster
Assistant Scoutmaster
Scoutmaster
Roundtable Staff
District Trainer
Unit Commissioner
I was inducted into the Order of the Arrow, completed Wood Badge and won the District Award of Merit.
If you think taking a bunch of kids camping is fun, you should try spending a training weekend camping with a bunch of adult leaders aka the big kids! Silliness is the order of the day!
The truth is I was getting a bit too involved. I was Scouting 2 or 3 evenings every week and camping often twice a month. But I enjoyed every bit of it.
Anyway, in 2000 I had a heart attack and triple bypass. By then my older son had made Eagle. The younger one never did particularly like Scouts and wanted to quit. I figured it was a sign from God to slow down. So after 12 years I hung up my hat. I do still miss it, but I have a lot of wonderful memories.
Many years later my older son decided he wanted to be a Cub Scout. In the process, both my wife and I ended up being Adult Leaders.
My oldest did go on to become an Eagle.
The wife quit when they graduated to Boy Scouts.
But this is my story. I loved being a Scout Leader and stuck with it for 12 years. They have a saying for adult leaders : "If you're not having as much fun as the kids, you ain't doing it right." I had lots of fun.
During my time, I held positions of:
Webelos den leader
Cubmaster
Assistant Scoutmaster
Scoutmaster
Roundtable Staff
District Trainer
Unit Commissioner
I was inducted into the Order of the Arrow, completed Wood Badge and won the District Award of Merit.
If you think taking a bunch of kids camping is fun, you should try spending a training weekend camping with a bunch of adult leaders aka the big kids! Silliness is the order of the day!
The truth is I was getting a bit too involved. I was Scouting 2 or 3 evenings every week and camping often twice a month. But I enjoyed every bit of it.
Anyway, in 2000 I had a heart attack and triple bypass. By then my older son had made Eagle. The younger one never did particularly like Scouts and wanted to quit. I figured it was a sign from God to slow down. So after 12 years I hung up my hat. I do still miss it, but I have a lot of wonderful memories.
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I made it to Life and have no real regrets. Both of my brothers were Eagle Scouts and mother received the Silver Beaver award. I volunteered off and on for local troops when my son and grandson were in them.
At age 14 I discovered the three G's and don't regret it. [guns, girls and gasoline]
At age 14 I discovered the three G's and don't regret it. [guns, girls and gasoline]
I won my heat in the Pinewood Derby, that's it, that's the high point.
This is a timely thread for me. Son number two is scheduled for his Eagle board of review tomorrow night. So both of my sons will have attained that goal. Although a successful Cub Scout, my Boy Scout career ended with my quitting before getting Tenderfoot. As the ultimate nerd, the only merit badge I earned was Scholarship. So, partly as a family joke, I persuaded both of my sons to earn that badge as their final one on the road to Eagle.
357-RevolverGuy
Member
I had great memories Scouting but only made it to First Class due to our family having to move overseas.
Also just something I once heard that stuck with me. Becoming an Eagle Scout is probably one of the only achievements accomplished as a child that you could list on a resume as an adult.
Also just something I once heard that stuck with me. Becoming an Eagle Scout is probably one of the only achievements accomplished as a child that you could list on a resume as an adult.
Grayfox
US Veteran
Very true. I know of more than one occasion where there were multiple equally qualified candidates for a job and the being an Eagle Scout made the difference.
Many fond memories of scouting. My brother, two years older than me, joined the Boy Scouts back in the mid-sixties. I just could get the Morse code memorized, why I didn't make first class.
Looking back I consider Scouting as one of my major character building experiences.
Looking back I consider Scouting as one of my major character building experiences.
