I liked being a cub Scout in North Platte, but was intimidated by a leader who barked at the boys like a drill sergeant when I attended a Boy Scouts meeting in Westwood. I didn't join up and never went back. I had enough people yelling at me already.
I was so jealous of you when you got to go camping with your den. (Camp Opal Springs!!!!) None of the troops I belonged to did camping, but I jumped at the chance to sleep on cots in those Army surplus tents in the summer.
I remember Camp Opal Springs. Right near the booming metropolis of Wellfleet. I think Dad went with me (?). I also remember trying to sleep on an army cot in a tent with no floor. During the night there was a thunderstorm that woke me up to see things floating in dark muddy water flowing around my cot "island."
Scouting is an acquired taste. My older son made Eagle Scout thanks to both his engaged dad and best friend. I credit the stick-to-itness for many of his subsequent college acceptances. He is now mentoring our grandson as he moves from cub to regular scout (weblos??) I think grandson will be a chip off the old block, and that will be a good thing!! The ethic of scouting is a good one!!
Troops and troop leaders vary a great deal, too. My troop leaders were into crafts and singing, but not the outdoorsy stuff. Leader training emphasizes "girl planning", not leader planning, which I embraced. We did what the girls wanted to do, even if I had to learn along with them (example: skiing) Some of the leaders in other troops could not let go of planning, because they wanted every activity to go perfectly. I let my scouts make mistakes, as long as they weren't dangerous. I doubt if any of them will ever attempt to make spaghetti for twenty in a single pot ever again, after one particular camping trip.
I liked being a cub Scout in North Platte, but was intimidated by a leader who barked at the boys like a drill sergeant when I attended a Boy Scouts meeting in Westwood. I didn't join up and never went back. I had enough people yelling at me already.
I was so jealous of you when you got to go camping with your den. (Camp Opal Springs!!!!) None of the troops I belonged to did camping, but I jumped at the chance to sleep on cots in those Army surplus tents in the summer.
I remember Camp Opal Springs. Right near the booming metropolis of Wellfleet. I think Dad went with me (?). I also remember trying to sleep on an army cot in a tent with no floor. During the night there was a thunderstorm that woke me up to see things floating in dark muddy water flowing around my cot "island."
Scouting is an acquired taste. My older son made Eagle Scout thanks to both his engaged dad and best friend. I credit the stick-to-itness for many of his subsequent college acceptances. He is now mentoring our grandson as he moves from cub to regular scout (weblos??) I think grandson will be a chip off the old block, and that will be a good thing!! The ethic of scouting is a good one!!
Troops and troop leaders vary a great deal, too. My troop leaders were into crafts and singing, but not the outdoorsy stuff. Leader training emphasizes "girl planning", not leader planning, which I embraced. We did what the girls wanted to do, even if I had to learn along with them (example: skiing) Some of the leaders in other troops could not let go of planning, because they wanted every activity to go perfectly. I let my scouts make mistakes, as long as they weren't dangerous. I doubt if any of them will ever attempt to make spaghetti for twenty in a single pot ever again, after one particular camping trip.