Who was/is in scouts?

I was in scouts from Cub to Explorer.

I never finished Eagle, and have regretted my choice not to ever since.

I also turned down an opportunity to finish Order of the Arrow, but lost my appetite for the rank watching the scoutmaster's son and his friends earn merit badges by default while I had to earn them. It just lost a good deal of meaning to me.

Had I been in a more outdoorsy, less force-hike to "get it over with" troop, I would have been ecstatic about scouting.

My Explorer experience was significantly more geeky. Post 509 met over at Jet Propulsion Labs in Pasadena, CA. Although we spent some time in the field camping during projects, a majority of the time was spent on tours, and hosting the Space Settlement Design Competition, a 72-hour co-ed event.

I had a blast doing it, and just recently went to a little reunion with a bunch of the folks I hadn't seen in 8 years.
 
I only got to First Class. At that point, our Scoutmaster - great guy, extremely knowledgable, fun, Korean vet, retired (strike one). The new Scoutmaster was an idiot. One morning I witnessed him chopping wood without placing a foot on the branch he was chopping. Branch whipped up into his face and he required a couple of stitches (scary thought that this guy was in charge of a whole Troop in the woods - strike two). The amount (# of times a year) and the intensity (i.e. remoteness, length, amount of backpacking, temperature extremes, etc.) were severely curtailed "due to insurance reasons" - strike three - I was out.
 
I reached the rank of Life Scout, just needed to finish my Eagle project when they changed the rules on me and wouldn't grandfather me in. So I told them to go F**) off! :jerkit: I do regret not getting though sometimes.
 
I earned my Eagle and had enough badges left over for 2 silver palms, got all the paperwork submitted 3 days before my 18th birthday. Also a vigil member of OA.
 
Maybe one of you fellas can help me out. I know nothing about the outdoors, but I want to learn before I have my own child. I am a high school teacher and am thinking about maybe volunteering with the scouts, both to help out, as well as to learn and maybe be able to someday teach my own children. Any ideas how I can do that. I've looked online, but I had trouble finding definitive answers. Thanks, people.

Jason
 
I am a high school teacher and am thinking about maybe volunteering with the scouts...
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The BSA is divided into regions, then districts, then troops. If you contact the district office where you live, they should be able to hook you up with the necessary background checks and plenty of volunteer opportunities, as well as contact information for local troops in your town.

The local district should have a listed number in the phone book and/or a website.
 
Eagle Scout, Bronze Palm circa 1975 along with OA Brotherhood. Last bit in Scouts was in an Explorer Post for a while in college.

Having no kids, life and work have taken over my time. That said, being a Scout was a great time and a great experience. I learned things there that I'm afraid kids nowadays don't learn.
 
Started as a Tiger Cub and made it to First Class. Then my Scout Master pocketed all our troop's money and my troop shut down with no one else to take over. I can't wait until I have a sun to get involved and help him make it all the way.

A kid in my youth group just made Eagle Scout and I was honored to take part in his ceremony. Sure looking forward to getting involved in the future!
 
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