The Boy Scouts of America are 100 years old today!
Still a great organization despite efforts from outsiders to change it to their images of what it should be. I never met a man who did not benefit from their experience in the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts. We need this and similar organizations now more than ever. Thank you to all the leaders everywhere.
I participate in Scouting, and do some fly fishing. It would be difficult to say which I enjoy the most. Just being out where there’s trees and fresh air… one of my favorite things. Interesting to note, the Boy Scouts of America were founded by William Boyce. He was lost in the fog in London, and a boy there showed him to his destination. As was the custom in those days, Boyce offered the boy some money for his assistance. The boy answered that he was a Boy Scout, just doing a good turn. Boyce later met with Lord Baden-Powell, brought the idea here, and the BSA was born. I hope doing a good turn never goes out of style, seems to be a prevailing thought here at FAOL, too!
Gotta love the Boy Scouts. I was one, my sons were, my dad, uncles and grandpa were. I’ve served there for many years and love what it does for boys in instilling values that matter. Happy Birthday!
Kelly.
We had a little cake at my sons Troop meeting on Monday. Being a leader and fly fishing merit badge person give me a great excuse to hit the rivers. Not that I need an excuse.
I approve of anything that gets kids outdoors and away from the TV.
But every time I moved as a kid, the scouting organization told me I had to start over from scratch with everything I had earned to date. After a couple moves, I quit, and my father stepped down as a Scoutmaster for the same reason. I did the rest on my own, or with family.
I hear that way too often and it ticks me off every time. That is NOT the way it is supposed to work.
When I was Scout age, the program in this area was pretty weak, and I didn’t make it past 2nd Class. I’ve since been involved in several areas of Scouting that I missed in my youth. The knowlege gained from just reading the Boy Scout Handbook is invaluable. My wife, when we were first married, was pretty shy and reluctant in most situations where people were involved. She started out teaching some young Cub Scouts, where she gained some knowlege and confidence. It lead to other things in Scouting, and eventually to leadership on the District level, working with the executives, and training Scout leaders. Needless to say, the Scouting program worked wonders for her confidence, and abilities. She attended Wood Badge training, and eventually was awarded the Silver Beaver badge, which is one of the highest honors one can be given in Scouting. As adults, we have both benefited greatly from working in the BSA. Happy Birthday!!!
Was a scoutmaster for 16 years , son is an Eagle Scout.
I still work with the troop here in Pottsville Pa. as an
asst.scoutmaster and fishing,flyfishing merit badge person.
great program.
wet
I’m an Eagle. Scouting was responsible for many, many memorable times and lessons learned as a kid. A great experience for anyone involved. 
we’ve never met, but I had bad Cub experiences, and dropped before Webelo. It didn’t keep me from letting my kid sign up and my little Wolf is loving it. As a previous poster stated, anything to get the kids outdoors.
Scoutmaster keeps trying to get me to take a leadership role, but I won’t do it until BSA changes their feelings on equal rights for ALL. (If that last part was too political, Delete this). I have agreed to set up the annual fishing derby ANYONE KNOW OF A GOOD PLACE TO FISH AROUND SACRAMENTO WITH 20+ CUBS?
Happy Birthday, Boy Scouts!
I’m a lifelong Girl Scout, achieved First Class status which was the equivalent of Eagle. I could never repay the scouts for all that they’ve given me and mine over the years. It’s from scouting that I learned outdoor skills, leadership, integrity, how to deal with a crisis, friendship, and just about every other bit of decency in me.
I noticed several scouts and leaders in uniform at church this past Sunday.
I loved scouting. Eagle Scout w/Bronze Palm, God & Country Award and Brotherhood Order of the Arrow. I have allot of scouting memorabelia packed in a box. Don’t know what will happen to it when I die. None of my grandsons took an interest.
May 5 1952 I was awarded my eagle scout award.
The things I learned during my active time as a Boy Scout has been priceless.
When mY two boys went into Cubs I went to work as an adult leader. Again a Priceless time in my life.
Today as a Co-Owner of Conranch Hackle our main donation is to the Boy Scouts Of America. It is done on a National basis and the first year over 7,000 young men obtained their fly fishing/tying merit badge, using our free hackle.
Help out your local troop, donate some time to help. I assure you the feeling you get back will be more than worth it. Take a youth fly fishing and or teach him or her to tie flies…
Denny
Was a cub scout and a first(?) class Boy Scout. Never went past that, moved to town and didn’t continue BUT remember some very great times!!!
Youngest daughter and her husband were scout leaders in Lawrence, KS, They plan to continue when Jason gets a more permanent posting in the Army.
LONG LIVE THE BOY SCOUTS!!!
Another vote for the scouts! My wife and I currenlty lead the bear dean in Cold Springs NV. We also participate in the Pack Committee. spent today working with one of our Den parents and the local church pastor (our sponser) sanding down and getting the track ready for the pinewood derby in early March. If you or your child are not involved, I hope you find a way to do so. It is great to see the boys learning how to function outdoors, how to fish, how to use hand tools, how to camp, etc. I was a scout when I was a boy, and sometime being a scout leader makes me feel like a kid again.
d
I know I am having as much fun now as I did as a boy. It is having a profound positive effect on my life as well.
We did Scout Sunday this weekend at church. The boys handled all of the usher, greeting, and reading duties for 3 services. If folks didn’t know that the church sponsors a Troop before this weekend, they do now! :lol: