Scouting can lead to big things.
Five U.S. presidents, John F. Kennedy, Gerald R. Ford, William (Bill) J. Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama participated in Boy Scouts, with Ford earning the rank of Eagle Scout.
Boy Scouts have a strong history in Cook County, with several young men becoming Eagle Scouts over the past decade. But currently, there is no Boy Scout troop for Cub Scouts to advance to after they have earned all of their badges. To correct that, some parents are trying to bring back Troop 167.
“Have you ever been up to George Washington Pines Memorial Forest, just up the Gunflint past Hedstrom Lumber?” Tina Hegg asks. “Those trees were planted back in 1932 by our local Boy Scout troop! You can read more on the sign there maintained by the Forest Service.
“I do not know when the troop was originally established, but it has been a fixture of the community for a long time. We have had Scoutmasters who served our troop for long periods, earning awards for their service: some of the big local names are Bruce Kerfoot, who used to own Gunflint Lodge, and Dan Baumann, who owns Golden Eagle Lodge,” said Hegg, who is one of the people trying to bring back Boy Scouts to the county.
“Each (Kerfoot and Baumann) served for many years, and each received the Silver Beaver Award, which is the Council’s distinguished service award to adult leaders, who are recognized for making Scouting programs possible through their hard work, dedication, sacrifice, and years of service.
“The Boy Scouts of America gives recognition not only to kids but also to its adult volunteers,” added Hegg
Both Baumann and Kerfoot were Eagle Scouts and tremendously dedicated leaders, but you don’t have to be an Eagle Scout to lead a troop, noted Hegg.
To start up a Boy Scout troop, said Hegg, “You first need at least five interested boys to join the troop. I have heard a lot of interest from kids and parents in the community, and we have got some boys who are finishing up with Cub Scouts and are ready to bridge to a troop as well. If we build a troop, they will come! The difference between a Cub Scout pack and a Boy Scout troop is that in Cub Scouts, the activities are led by parents and adults.
“In Boy Scouts, the activities are led by the boys, and the adults serve as mentors and supporters,” said Hegg.
Regarding adult leadership, no matter how big the troop is, you need the following roles filled:
Scoutmaster: A scoutmaster is responsible for working directly with Scouts to help them create the program for the troop. A Scoutmaster trains leaders to run the group by providing direction, coaching, and support.
Committee: A committee supports the troop by conducting the business of the troop, setting the troop’s policies, and helping the Scoutmaster and Scouts with the outdoor programs and other planned activities. The committee also provides a Board of Review so that the work and achievements of the boys is examined, and the Committee determines how well each Scout is benefiting from the program.
Three Committee members are needed to charter a troop: The Committee chair appoints and supervises the committee and other adult leaders. The other two committee members can fill a variety of roles according to their talents and interests, such as secretary, treasurer, advancement chair, outdoor activities chair, public relations chair, fundraising chair, and many others. The committee would probably meet only once a month.
All the leaders can be male or female but must be 21 years of age and pass a background check.
No experience is needed, although a passion for serving youth and a love of the outdoors is very common to adult volunteers in the BSA.
“Our troop,” said Hegg, “falls under the Arrowhead District, which is in the Voyageurs Area Council, under the Boy Scouts of America national organization. These different overseeing groups provide lots of excellent training and support. There are also workshops and camps to attend. There is online training as well, and Youth Protection Training is required for all registered adult leaders.”
Scouting provides youth with an opportunity to try new things, provide service to others, build self-confidence, and to get to know themselves. “These opportunities not only help them when they are young, but also carry forward into their adult lives, improving their relationships, their work lives, their family lives, and the values by which they live,” Hegg said.
“We have introduced our elementary school-aged youth to these skills and opportunities for service in Cub Scout Pack #167, but I am even more excited to offer this leadership and team-building program to our middle and high school youth, who are soon to be our leaders of tomorrow.”
If your son is interested in Boy Scouts, contact Tina Hegg at cmhegg@gmail.com or 370-8321.
Boys must have completed fifth grade or be age 11, and not yet have turned 18 to join.
“It doesn’t take much – there’s a handbook, a uniform, and a $33 registration fee for this year-round program. Boy Scouts can be a great group activity for homeschoolers, and we also encourage boys who are enrolled in sports and other activities,” Hegg said.
And maybe, just maybe, your boy scout will someday become the sixth Boy Scout to become Commander in Chief… But first a troop is needed.
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