Happy Birthday Boy Scouts of America!!

The new year is bringing us many great things. First is the 100th birthday of the Boy Scouts of America, incorporated this day in 1910.

This March recognizes the 10th anniversary of Pack 365.

So what has Boy Scouts (Cub Scouts) done for me that I didn't learn in kindergarten?

I can say that working with scouts and their families has been one of the high-lites of my adult life. I completed a questionnaire recently that asked me what my proudest moment in scouting has been. I had to think on that one. There have been several...watching my first son's first advancement in rank from Tiger to Wolf, then again when my youngest crossed that same stepping stone; earning my Wood Badge beads; being asked to join the staff of a Wood Badge course.

But I would have to say, while those are all proud moments, they are personal moments, mostly affecting my own family. No, what I determined is my proudest moment is when I kneel down and apply a new neckerchief on a scout who has just bridged to his next level in scouting.

You see, it's not just a new neckerchief, new challenges, or maybe completion of other challenges. No, it's the knowledge of what events have led to that scout crossing his bridge, whether from Tiger to Wolf or Webelos II to Boy Scout. Cub Scouting is a program to turn boys into young men, and Boy Scouting to young men into responsible grown men. Then, maybe, those grown men return that gift to a new Tiger Cub.

I believe that my personal achievements in my short scouting career have been the result of the program we serve, and not solely any efforts or work of my own. We do this for the boys. Period. What's the next proud moment? It starts with a parent coming to me to say how positive a difference scouting has made in his or her son. The boy they were a year before and the boy he is now is are two very different things. The they ask to be a registered leader. Wow, I get kinda goose-bumpy just thinking about it.

My friends, scouts and families, this is where it is at! There are many ways to have a positive influence on a youth. Scouting remains one of the definitive leaders. With its woven tapestry of leadership, discipline, religion, and FUN, Scouting provides one of the most complete learning experiences outside of the academic world. And the cost, by comparison even to public education, is rock bottom.

Now, I've placed scout program first because, as I said, that's where it is at. But I don't want to sell the adult program short. This was a wonderful surprise to me (I guess I should have realized that just a large institution would have ample educational opportunities for its leaders!). BSA offers new leader training (both online and in class), advanced training (Baloo, OLS fo Webelos Leaders, Safety Afloat, Hazardous Weather, Trainer Development Conference, Trainer's EDGE, University of Scouting, National Youth Leader Training, Philmont Scout Ranch, and the peak of Scout Leader training, Wood Badge. Although there are many, many more courses available).

Folks, not only are your sons (and daughters in Venturing Crews and Varsity Teams) availed of quality leadership, citizenship, and academic courses, but the men and women leading them are, as well.

It's easy to get excited and go on and on about the great things scouting has, can, and will do for our country's next leaders, so forgive me if I've gone long. I guess you could say scouting has thoroughly and perpetually permeated bones. I can think of many worse addictions!