Who all used to be a Scout?

Peter Atwood

Peter Atwood

Joined
Oct 26, 2000
Messages
2,468
I was in Cub Scouts first then one year in Boy Scouts before we moved away from CT to the farm in VA. I remember having a pretty good time and learning some really cool stuff. I think it was the fact that I was with other kids who all wanted to learn outdoor and survival types of things that made it so much fun. I wish I could have stayed in it longer but it was not to be.

At any rate, the one thing that I took away from the whole experience was the basic credo, " Be Prepared". That really has been the guiding force in my life and the reason I'm such a gadget hound. I've always wanted to have the right thing with me, be it tool or knowledge, to deal with the situation.

What was your experience? Did it make you a gadget freak or were you headed that way regardless? :)
 
I am, started in Cubs and have been with them ever since, 40 years in Scouting. I am now the LE Coordinator for the Council, work the National Conference and Order of the Arrow. Started with a Scout knife and progressed to the customs. Now it is my turn to introduce the kids to good knives. I still have my first SAK and Buck 110. Both Eagle and Vigil as a kid, Founders Award as an adult. 73 World Jamboree, lots of NOACs and Jamborees, Philmont and summer camps galore! Great fun!
 
I did a stint as Den Leader and Cubmaster, and served on Round Table staff.

Paul
 
I was a Scout, but my troop kinda disbanded when I was about 14. I was a Star, just about to go for my Life badge. .
 
Old eagle scout with triple silver palms here. Loved scouting! Learned so many things I find helpful every day.

AJ
 
Eagle scout. I think it had a lot to do with my being a gadget freak. Or was it the other way around? :D
 
Life Scout, just shy of getting my Eagle when we moved away. I got involved with another troop after the move, but it wasn't the same.
When I look back, I see that Scouting helped teach me discipline, about setting and achieving goals, and due to the activity level of our troop (not to mention a landowner who gave us a 40 acre section of his property out in the boondocks, so we had our own camp for use whenever we wanted), constantly fed my love for the outdoors.
There's a troop that meets about a mile from where I live right now. I would like to get involved, in whatever adult capacity, were it not for a constantly changing schedule that would rarely if ever, make attending meetings or campouts a possibility.
 
Was a scout until I was 15. Many fond memories. Summer camp, camping, and hiking were the best times! Never mastered that Canoeing J-stroke, though - got my Mile Swim instead.

Probably helped influence my decision to join the Marines in '88.

Regards,

Jeremy
 
Was a scout for a short time growing up... loved it! Never got any of the badges... the group split! Probably should have found another, for here I sit lacking skills that could have come from scouting!


:cool:
 
As time goes on, I appreciate even more the lessons learned in scouts long ago. Starts with something about "On my honor...". Late 60's Eagle, Brotherhood OA here. As far as knives are concerned, I remember being taught early on that a sharp knife was better than a dull one, how to whittle, the safe use of an axe, and the benefit of having a knife when you needed it....which probably explains why I generally carry a small pocket knife today. I can credit these forums for leading me to the path of enlightened knifehood.
Jim
 
Jerok said:
Was a scout until I was 15. Many fond memories. Summer camp, camping, and hiking were the best times! Never mastered that Canoeing J-stroke, though - got my Mile Swim instead.

Probably helped influence my decision to join the Marines in '88.

Regards,

Jeremy
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I was a Scout, and did the Mile Swim badge too. The feeling of accomplishment I got from that was unreal, so I did the Mile Swim several times, just for the feeling. I loved Scouting; especially the camp outs. Scouts is where I developed my real love for knives. We used to go to our meetings, and compare each other's knives to see who had the best and coolest knives. Every time though, there was some rich kid who ALWAYS had better stuff.
 
JimM said:
As time goes on, I appreciate even more the lessons learned in scouts long ago. Starts with something about "On my honor...". Late 60's Eagle, Brotherhood OA here. As far as knives are concerned, I remember being taught early on that a sharp knife was better than a dull one, how to whittle, the safe use of an axe, and the benefit of having a knife when you needed it....which probably explains why I generally carry a small pocket knife today. I can credit these forums for leading me to the path of enlightened knifehood.
Jim
Click to expand...
Same here. Makes me wonder why so many people cut open boxes with their keys and stumble around in the dark looking for a light switch. Having a flashlight and knife on me all the time just seems like common sense! (an uncommon attribute I know)
 
AJ said:
Old eagle scout with triple silver palms here. Loved scouting! Learned so many things I find helpful every day.

AJ
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triple silver! that's 3*15+21=66 merit badges. You must have learned a boatload. I am a Scoutmaster now, have been a Scoutmaster, Cubmaster or Webelos leader for 20 years or so. I have a great group and our Troop gets almost 50% to Eagle-- an astonishing accomplishment. But of the Eagles I bet one in 25 gets a Silver Palm (you get a Bronze for 5, old for 5 more, silver for 15 and then start over --- just keeping the palms worn as a "cumulative over Eagle"). I met a guy that had earned four silver palms about a jillion years ago. He earned all but one of the available merit badges at the time and I think that he missed "Beekeeping" don;t know if it's even available know.

My Scouts particularly like to learn about Fire Safety. Favorite lesson "Scoutmaster, show us some things we should never, ever do!
 
Yes, a lot of good came out of being the Scouts. I started in England, continued back here in the US, moved to the Explorer Scouts. We had two Posts in San Antonio, TX that got into smallbore shooting. I really enjoyed being able to shoot with the USAF smallbore team while in the Post. I continued to competitively shoot for the next 10 years. Too bad I had to quit it during my first marriage, though.
A lot of fond memories.

Howard
 
I'm currently a Life Scout, finished my Eagle project a few weeks ago, now I gotta finish all the paperwork and the Board of Review. Scouting has done great things for me, it's made me realize my leadership skills, fulfilled my outdoor urges, taught me skills that other folks dont know, and has given me many great experiences.

Got back from an orienteering day yesterday, spent the whole day running around the woods with a map and compass. The Troop sent two venture patrols down to Seabase in the summer, unfortunately I didnt go :grumpy: . But this next year we're goin to Lenhocksin and doin some backpacking. All in all, my Scouting experiences have been outstanding.
 
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