Follow
These ten Scouting moments (in no particular order) are the best times I’ve spent as a Scoutmaster:
- One early spring night we all got up at three in the morning and hiked our sleeping bags and pads down to a field at camp and watched a meteor shower. Stars shown through crystalline skies as if they were close enough to touch. One hour later we had counted over 100 ‘shooting stars’ and, thinking that enough for anyone, escape the numbing cold and returned to our cabin.
- Receiving an ‘Eagle Mentor’ pin form a Scout who’s father had passed away the year he joined our Troop.
- Watching my wife pin an Eagle medal on my step-son.
- Canoeing around the corner of a lake shoreline in Canada to see a moose a few yards away through the morning mist.
- A long-planned camping trip precluded my attending our council dinner so the next night a team of friends and fellow Scouters came to our camp out and presented me with my Silver Beaver. I was so pleased to be there with my Scouts for that moment.
- Seeing the face of any of my ‘old Scouts’ when they take the time to stop and say hello when they are in town.
- Shaking hands with a new Scout as he steps off the end of a ceremonial
bridge in the knowledge that we’ll likely shake hands over an Eagle
badge some day. - Keeping my vigil throughout a serenely moonlight night on a hillside at our camp and hearing the voices of so many good friends.
- Introducing another candidate to his Eagle board of review.
- Listening to the excited voices and laughter as a gaggle of Scouts heads off to some new adventure.
