A scout is

I can recall the day my oldest son came home from school eagerly clutching a Cub Scout flyer and membership information. I inwardly groaned remembering the scout events I was dragged to when my brother was a scout. Yet how I could tell him no? Especially when he said "Momma, this will be so much fun for us! Do you think I can get a race a car or build fires?! We can camp too!" Over the years just a few of our favorite projects were building his Pinewood Derby cars, building a rocket, rain gutter regatta boats, service projects to help in the community, built bird houses, and collected cards for soldiers. I found the projects encouraged activities that helped my son not only learn but to build relationships, leadership skills, and confidence in himself. The program is also family based to encourage participation as a family.

My youngest son ran home one day with the same look in his eye and papers clutched in his hand. So we once again began the scouting program, he attended for just the Webelo year and loved every minute of it. His favorite part was the wood working projects. As he learned the Scout Law he asked for a poster to help him practice it. We designed this for his room.

 

I am so glad each of my boys participated in Cub Scouts and feel the program helped them build skills they will use throughout life. The boys learned to set a goal for themselves and worked toward achieving that goal, this helped build their self confidence and learned to lead themselves. The focus on community and service projects reinforced the idea that we are all responsible for our community and to think of ways to help. Even years later I see the impact of scouting in their day to day actions.