At just $35 to join the Cubs, it’s a real bargain

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At just $35 to join the Cubs, its a real bargain

 

http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/09252005/mike/64709.htm

 

By Mike Sullivan

mikesullivan@seacoastonline.com

 

Anybody seen the Boy Scouts of America lately? You must remember: It was that organization for boys and young men that taught values, camaraderie, survival and social skills and just about everything a kid needed to know to grow up and be the next MacGyver or president of the United States.

 

At one time, it seemed just about every boy in your town and mine used to be involved in scouting at some point, at some level. The funny thing is you just dont seem to hear much about scouting anymore.

 

Much of it has to do with the fact there are so many after-school and recreational options for kids today. There are more organized sports offered than ever before and, sadly, some children are spending all their free time sitting in front of those computer games.

 

Some of it has to do with negative publicity brought on by reports of, shall we say, "troubled" adults working with kids in youth organizations. But if thats going to give scouting a bad name, you might as well shut down every youth hockey league, Catholic youth organization and any other group where adults work with kids.

 

The exception shouldnt stain the majority.

 

Well, contrary to popular belief, the Scouts are still around. And while numbers for the organization have been down nationally in recent years largely because of the plethora of activities kids have to choose from, scouting is alive and strong in the Seacoast, from the Cub Scout level up through Eagle Scouts.

 

In fact, right here in Portsmouth, Cub Scout Pack 164 is taking on as many as 20 new members each year and making a difference with its work in the community. And, of course, the boys involved are still learning all the aforementioned skills - Scouts honor.

 

That skill set, according to assistant Cubmaster Jeff Lisbon, a Portsmouth resident, is invaluable.

 

"Theyre at such a great advantage over their peers because theyre learning things about the community, state, government that, while it is covered in our schools, we put it to practice a little bit more," he said.

 

And at $35 a year - yep, thats all it costs to join, and $25 of it goes to the national organization - its the best recreational bargain this side of Mars. The criteria to join are pretty simple, too. You basically need to be a kid in first grade or higher, have a pulse and youre in. Oh, and if your family cannot afford the $35 fee, you can still join.

 

"Its an environment that encompasses everyone," said Scout Pack 164 Cubmaster Christina Westfall, a Portsmouth resident. "We dont discriminate. All we care about are these kids and their safety."

 

Safety is the reason all adults who work with the kids must undergo a criminal background check. Beyond that, Westfall and Lisbon are looking for people who want to help them prepare these boys for life.

 

"Were not looking to be a political juggernaut," Lisbon said. "We dont have an ulterior motive. We just want to help these kids become better individuals and better members of society."

 

Westfall echoed Lisbons sentiments. "There are no politics here," she said. "This is just kids being kids."

 

Westfall said she has seen that happen numerous times during her lifetime of scouting.

 

"Ive seen some kids who were uncontrollable in sports or even school, but in this program these same kids channel that energy and thrive," she said.

 

Westfall not only saw this, she has lived it. A self-proclaimed "closet Girl Scout in high school," the organization was an outlet for her. She was raised in a single-parent household and had a physically disabled older sister, so scouting was a place for her to go and be a kid. "Scouting saved me," she said.

 

Westfall never left it, and has been involved with scouting in the Seacoast for more than 15 years. Her daughters, Britni, 21, and Whitni, 19, were Scouts and chances are if they someday have children, theyll be Scouts, too. Westfalls son, Damian, is a member of Pack 164. In short, scouting is in the Westfall blood.

 

Along the way, Westfall knows in her heart the Cub Scouts have made a difference. Just recently, the Scouts collected a mass of candy and took it to the Booma Post in Portsmouth to send to youth victims of Hurricane Katrina.

 

Next Sunday, some Scouts will be participating in a walk to benefit the National Alliance for Autism Research. The event is at 10 a.m. at Fisher Cats Ballpark in Manchester. Log on to www.autismwalk.org for more information.

 

And as always, the Scouts will be doing their annual collection for Thanksgiving in which they blanket Portsmouth and leave bags at homes for people to donate items. Scouts then return to the homes later to collect the donated goods, sort them out at their headquarters at the North Church Parish House, and bring them to local shelters.

 

"Activities like these help teach the boys responsibilities, character and morals," Westfall said. Westfall cites working with Special Olympics as the greatest experience her pack has had. She said many of the boys had never encountered anybody with physical or mental disabilities before.

 

"We worked with the older kids and they bonded so much with these people," Westfall said. "At the end of the day, our Scouts had new friends, pen pals and they were taking pictures together. It completely changed them and they werent afraid of these people anymore, they loved them."

 

A common belief in scouting is that you help yourself by helping other people.

 

Beginning this weekend at a location near you, the Scouts also will be starting their annual popcorn fund-raiser, which helps pay for their annual camping trip to Camp Carpenter in Manchester and other activities.

 

So when you see the Cub Scouts around town, let them know you support them. Tell them if you, or someone you know, were once a Scout. Above all else, appreciate that these are kids trying to do good work and make a difference in the community.

 

Mike Sullivan is a Herald Sunday columnist. He can be reached at mikesullivan@seacoastonline.com