Scouting opens doors

[yarrow]

Scouting makes opportunities available to youth that no other organization can match. I wanted to take my scouts to a book bindery normally not open to the public. We are a scout troop...........no problem, they say, what day would be good for you?

 

I have found scouting to be an excellent door opener. You? Tell me your experiences.

[dsteele]

I agree completely that Scouting is a door opener. And not just to places.

 

I've told my own story a few times, but I'll keep telling it because I think it's a great example of the possibiliities that involvement in the BSA can hold for a young man.

 

When I was growing up, my parents were always on me to get good grades. They said the only way I was going to be able to attend college was to get a scholarship. Neither one made much money and there wasn't any savings for me to go to college.

 

I got involved in Cub Scouts, then boy Scouts and did manage to make Eagle very young. I was involved in the OA and got lots of leadership and other wonderful opportunities.

 

Then college came closer. I applied to the military academies. I really wanted a military career. Because of my inolvement in Scouting (and a few other reasons, but mostly BSA) I was able to secure the congressional nomination to West Point.

 

Because of a childhood epilepsy, I was not admitted to West Point. I didn't meet the standards set by the Department of Defense Medical Review Board.

 

I did, however qualify for a leadership scholarship called the Reagan Fellowship to Eureka College that paid full tuition for all four years as well as setting up opportunites for mentorships in the summer. I spent one summer (3 weeks) touring Washington D.C. and New York meeting with various heads of agencies and other dignitaries (tea with the Japaneese Ambassador for example) and the second summer I toured the country by train and got writing lessons from Clive Cussler, Stephen R. Donaldson, and Terry Brooks. Spent the third summer with 6 weeks on an archaeology dig in Peru. All because of Scouting.

 

Then, even though West Point means at least 4 years service as an Army Officer and the Reagan Scholarship does not require public service after graduation -- I went to work for the BSA and will celebrate my 15th year in the profession on October 27, 2003.

 

And I will add that in my 15 years in the Scouting profession, there have been a few times where my involvement with the BSA has closed some doors, for every one that closes it seems like three more open.

 

DS

[frank10]

NY city, Scouts took a trip to see the Intrepid the same time that the tall ships were in port for Op Sail 2000. When we got there we found out that the police were not allowing one to cross the street. We would have to walk 3 blocks down our side, cross over and walk 3 blocks back to the Intrepid.

Should have seen it when the cops stoped trafic and pulled us out of the crowd of thousands to let us cross so we could make our reservations.

 

(trip photos at http://www.onmyhonor.com/events9900/intrepid/ )

 

BTW: we are going back this Saturday

[ozemu]

In Vanuatu last year when the Troop wore normal clothes we were mostly ignored. When in uniform we were the centre of much excited attention. Made us feel really good and safe.

 

Got pulled up once by a policeman for making a wrong turn in a heavy fog and going wrong way in a one way street for a few yards. Was then chased by some irate driver who put lights on high beam and chased me through traffic. I tried a quick lane change and acceleration to get away from the car only to have it come alongside and the officer in the car on his way to work waves me over. Was late after a Scout meeting and I only got a short lecture when I stepped out of the car wearing full uniform. I never even explained why I was driving so erratically.

 

As an army officer I had on my office wall my commission, degree and Queens Scout certificate. Only ever got comments on the QS cert. All favourable too.

[Sparkie]

Yarrow, i agree 110%!

 

Two activities come to mind right away. Sleeping overnight at the Chicago Field Museum (only open to youth groups), and flying in a bi-plane with the EAA to get 1 million kids up in the air. Although the last one wasn't only for youth groups, i wouldn't have heard about it if i wasn't for scouting.

 

I'm kind-of embarassed to say that many things i've done with my son(s), i wouldn't have done if it wasn't for scouting. I'm so thankful for the personal growth i have seen in my older son, and how he has learned to become independent, especially from camping every month (packing, cooking, etc.).

 

Also, working on MB has opened many doors for him, who knows where the knowledge will lead him later in life....a new hobby, or better yet, possibly a career?

 

Sparkie

 

[acco40]

Recently camped at a Michigan State park. The "group campsite" is now open only to Scouts (boy & girl). The comment I got was that "too many church groups have trashed the place."

 

Going to Gettysburg in a month. The campsite we are staying on the battlefield itself, an area not available to the general public.

 

Now some bad news. I was talking to a park Ranger who worked on Isle Royale (National Park in Michigan). It is a pristine area. However, the ranger commented that the boy scouts who visited were some of the messiest, least respectful (to the environment) of the visitors. Let's all try to police ourselves better! We do not want to lose the "privileges" that some grant us.

[eagle90]

A few years ago we were returning from a rafting trip in West Virginia and had reservations to stay overnight in Dayton Ohio after touring the USAF Museum there. On checking into the motel, the Hindu gentleman behind the counter saw the uniforms and gave us an extra 20% discount on the rooms, which added up to a nice chunk of change since we had 5 rooms!

[Fat Old Guy]

In my troop we have a continual battle about wearing the uniforms on trips, especially among the adults. Evidently, the uniforms are made of lace and satin because travelling in them "messes them up." The ironic thing is how many of the anti-uniform people comment on the positive things that happen when they are travelling in uniform but it doesn't change their minds.

[Sparkie]

Fat Old Guy, Obviously the term "Lead by example" doesn't mean anything to them (unless no-one has to wear the uniform on trips).

 

Sparkie

[slontwovvy]

On a troop trip near the Mississippi, we got a private tour of a lock and dam system, one that I'd be willing to bet was more than most other groups received--an hour and a half hands-on tour. Later that trip, the pizza place we stopped at donated all of the soda and gave us ten percent off on the pizza.

[vmargard]

We dont usually do this for groups, but since youre working on a badge . . .

 

I love hearing those words! As a Cub leader, I have taken special pleasure in seizing those in service days when school is closed and planning an entire day of activities. It has gotten us into so many places, especially those usually only open bankers hours. Among those doors opened to us because we were Scouts:

 

* Local TV, typically not available post-9/11. Not only did the weather man give us the grand tour, he did it during a news broadcast. The boys got to sit in the studio, going out in small groups during commercial breaks to see the control room.

* Local bank but more, actually getting to go into the vault!

* Restored theater, where our symphony plays. The plus? Tour of the stars dressing room. The house organist even came in just to play for our group.

* Krispy Kreme factory. No, not a retail store, but the regional bakery only group ever to tour the facility.

* On a citizenship tour, just days before a statewide election, visited both the Republican and Democratic headquarters, and met with the party chairs. Then went to the Board of Elections where they had set up a voting machine just for our boys, who not only voted, but got to see how they removed the votes and tallied the results.

 

And that's only scratching the surface! Ive always found that explaining what I want the boys to learn allows my hosts to open more doors than I could ever ask be opened. When its not just a field trip, but an educational experience, many will more than go out of their way!

 

[slontwovvy]

Also, one more I remember. It was pre-9/11 and our troop went to an Air National Guard field (one of the dads was a former Navy pilot with connections). We spent the weekend in the pilots' barracks (very, very nice), received guided tours of the "top gun" system and other base facilities, and got to watch three private fly-bys by two F-16s.

 

On Sunday, we drove to another base, where we toured the hangar. An F-16 pilot spent over three hours with us, letting us look into the cockpit, talk with maintenance personnel, fly the flight simulator, and more. Why? "We like to help out the Boy Scouts, because many of our best recruits were Boy Scouts."

[hops_scout]

"We like to help out the Boy Scouts, because many of our best recruits were Boy Scouts."

 

Heck yeah... I bet so. I say this because some scouts already have some leadership experience, outdoor experience, citizenship experience, etc.

[britag]

Any one who is an Eagle Scout will recieve accellerated advancement upon graduation of basic training in any armed forces branch.

 

-britag

 

-this must be documented by your recruiter prior to enlistment.

[matuawarrior]

When the U.S.S. Independence came out here for port call before its decommissioning a couple of years ago before 9/11. We, troop/crew, arrived late due to traffic for the Scouts only tour at a certain time. So we had to line up with the general public. We were at the tail end of over a thousand people. We watied no longer than ten minutes in line, when a Naval Ensign approached us and instructed us to follow him. So we did. He put us on the next charter bus and escorted us to the ship. He instructed the driver to drive by the rest of the charter busses parked outside the gate to the pier and to proceed inside. Once we got off the bus, we were escorted to the head of the line and up the steps to the elevator. We were given a special tour of the ship. We were able to see things the general public were not allowed to see: the war room, the tower, the flight deck, scouts got to sit inside a fighter and helocopter on deck, see the racks the sailors slept in, even have lunch with our escorts and a meeting with the Captain. We discovered that the Captain, his XO, the CAG, and our escorts are all Eagle Scouts. We eventually caught up with the other troops on the tour.

 

We've had other door openers too. Free passes to movies, free admission to sporting events when Guam hosted the South Pacific Games, discounts at restuarants nad much more . . .

 

Having Fun,

 

Matua