Scouting is in my blood. For years, my dad was our ward’s Cub Scout leader and I saw him camp with those boys, teach them to start fires, tie knots and everything under the sun. I desperately wanted to be a Boy Scout but there was a problem: I was a girl. And so I signed up to be a Brownie, fully expecting to have have the some rough ‘n tumble adventures as those boys.
Oh, how wrong I was. I don’t think we went on any backcountry activities–in fact, we never even left the school stage where it was held. All I can remember was being required to wear ridiculously short brown dresses as our uniform, singing cheesy songs and skipping around in a circle.
Suffice it to say, I was a Brownie dropout after one year.
Upon turning 8, Bode reached a rite of passage in the church: he became a Wolf. We have a great Scouting tradition in our ward–in fact, most of my friends’ sons have achieved their rank of Eagle and are some of the most stalwart young men I know. I made Bode pose on his first day, telling him we’d share that picture in his slide show when he became an Eagle Scout.
“But Mom, we don’t know if I’ll become an Eagle.”
If you know anything about Mr. Responsible/goal-setting Bode, you know that once he delves into Scouting that boy will fly.
Their first gathering was a fun pack meeting at the lake on July 31 but his first Den meeting with Sisters Mauger and Phillips (his den leaders) was the following Thursdays when they learned about personal hygiene and household safety. He came home with a checklist of precautions we should be taking, which he took very seriously and proceeded to lecture us in the areas where we were lacking.
Welcome to the next 8+ years of my life.
Most of his besties are in his den, which makes it extra fun but that’s not what it’s all about. As we were thumbing through his Wolf Handbook, we reviewed the 12 achievements he must pass to learn his Wolf badge and I became convinced that every young man should become involved in Scouting as they learn everything from Feats of Skill (physical) to Your Flag to Tools for Fixing and Building to Your Living World to Family Fun to Making Good Choices.
The Boy Scouts of America has gotten so much flack in the media that people have forgotten what it’s all about. As I was waiting in the car one day, I watched a normally rambunctious and wild group of Webelos Scouts (age 10) respectfully learn to raise, lower and fold The Flag.
I was teary-eyed over their reverence…something that is NOT being taught in today’s society.
And coming from a Canuck, that’s really something.
Now, if I can just rope someone into sewing on all his scouting badges….
I'm a Canadian-born mom of two, former Denver Post columnist, family travel writer, editor of MileHighMamas.com and 9News contributor. Expert on all things Utah, Denver, family and travel. Lover of laughter and life. Happily married to a man obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin. 