Why I encourage my son's love of Scouting

[Gooch1971]

I've been asked why I encourage my son to be a part of the Boy Scouts considering all of the negative press they have received in recent years. This is the type of story that I tell people about. I think scouting can be one of the greatest character building and lifelong adventures a kid can have with their parents and friends.

My son is at Sid Richardson Scout Ranch this week and I miss him (probably more than he misses me).

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Scouter honored for heroism during Navy Yard shooting

Scouting Magazine.org

Navy Capt. Edward “Chip” Zawislak is a real-life superhero, and he learned those skills in Scouting.

Zawislak, an Eagle Scout and Scouter with Troop 903 in Southern Maryland, rescued and used first aid on a woman shot during the Washington Navy Yard attack on Sept. 16, 2013.

Yesterday, the BSA’s National Capital Area Council honored Zawislak (at center in the photo above) with its highest lifesaving award: the Honor Medal with Crossed Palms. An average of four of those awards are presented per year nationwide.

A lone gunman, whose name I won’t include here, killed 12 during the shooting and injured three. One of those injured was Jennifer Bennett, who was shot in the chest.

As this Washington Post story explains, Zawislak and two co-workers carried Bennett up some stairs to the only open door they could find. It led to the building’s roof. Still unsure whether the shooter knew they were up there, Zawislak stayed focused and applied pressure to Bennett’s wounds for more than an hour.

Zawislak, 45, told another civilian to write a note saying there were four people on the roof and throw it down to police. Soon after, a police officer arrived, helped stabilize Bennett and guarded the door while the four civilians were rescued by helicopter.

Bennett made a full recovery and sat in the front row during Thursday’s ceremony honoring Zawislak.

Hearing Bennett recount to the Post the story of Zawislak’s heroism gives me goosebumps. What she describes is exactly how you’d expect an Eagle Scout to react in the most dramatic situation imaginable:

“On that day, Chip was as perfect as perfect can be. He demonstrated leadership qualities. He showed confidence. He had humor. He was in control on that roof. He assured all of us we would get rescued. He sat there for an hour and 20 minutes and pressed my wounds. He showed no fear. He was in charge.”

Zawislak’s telling of the story has the humility you’d expect from an Eagle Scout, Scout volunteer and man who has served four naval sea duty tours. In Boy Scouts, he told the Post, “you are trained to just respond. I didn’t think about anything. I just did it.”

It doesn’t get much better than that. The skills we’re teaching our Scouts and Venturers stay with them throughout their lives. What you do matters.

[porsche4life]

Very cool story, makes me proud to be an Eagle Scout!

[Nostril Cheese]

You know, I really wish I had made it to Eagle. Got as far as Star Scout and then started playing in a metal band.

[Baz]

I only made it to First Class with 1 merit badge in swimming.

Then we moved to Florida and the area troop wasn't very organized, unfortunately. That does make a difference.

Thanks for your posts guys.....good job!

[onewhippedpuppy]

The local troop makes a huge difference, ours is a disorganized mess and my son only lasted two years. But I see the value when done right.

[porsche4life]

One thing about the local troops complaints. If you don't like the way things are going, GET INVOLVED. We had lots of parents that liked to drop kids off and then complain about what we were doing. I stayed active withy troop while I was in college because our troop was short on adults.

[id10t]

The troop I was in wasn't so much geared towards badge earning as outdoor enjoyment and serious outdoor skills. One of the fathers in our group did a stint as a SERE instructor. We had some interesting camp outs.

[porsche4life]

That wouldn't have necessarily been a bad thing..

[M.D. Holloway]

My Son is now working his Eagle rank. He has one last MB to accomplish then manage his project. We will be going camping all next week for Scout camp in Arkansas. he will get his small boat sailing, auto mechanic and shotgun MB there. I'll spend most of my time fly fishing....

[glewis80SC]

Great memories of my days in the BSA…lots of life lessons learned..didn't advance far but still learned a lot. Still have a Boy Scout Handbook and refer to it when camping to teach my kids.

[Nathans_Dad]

Originally Posted by M.D. Holloway

My Son is now working his Eagle rank. He has one last MB to accomplish then manage his project. We will be going camping all next week for Scout camp in Arkansas. he will get his small boat sailing, auto mechanic and shotgun MB there. I'll spend most of my time fly fishing....

Which camp are you going to? My son is heading to scout camp in Arkansas this weekend too with his troop.

[jshape]

Our troop was also very outdoors oriented and we spent many weekends camping - year round. The winter camping was actually the most fun and the most rewarding. I learned lots of skills from scouting that I would never have learned at home.

[Eric 951]

Loved my time in Scouts.
Earning the Tote-N-Chip card
Prepping the float for 4th of July parade
Camp weeks at Heritage Reservation--I will never forget the feeling of accomplishment earning the coveted "black" Heritage pin for marksmanship.

Every now and then the "Lord Baden Powell has many friends" song still gets stuck in my head.

[gacook]

I enjoyed scouts, but got kicked out when I was a wolf or bear or something like that. Got in a fight with the troop leader's son...

My girls are both in Scouts, and they love it. Oldest is 13 and plans on sticking with it through high school. She loves helping the younger girls with their projects.

My son is 7 and has talked about doing Scouts. He's so busy with Tae Kwon Do, though, that I don't know how we'd fit it into the schedule.

[peppy]

I guess scouting was different for yall.

I was in cub scouts for about a year and it sucked. I thought we would be outside, but no we were making popsicle stick forts, finger painting with pudding, and memorizing crap out of books.

I did like the pine wood derby.

[cockerpunk]

loved scouting. did amazing things when i was a scout. still am an eagle scout, even though i actually did draft the letter turning it back in over the whole absurd homosexuality exclusion thing. they over turned that right around when i became active in that push.

went to philmont 3 times, BWCA, winter camping in 20 degree below zero, ... fun stuff. very fun stuff.

[porsche4life]

Philmont rocks. You guys that have boys in really need to make sure they go. It's a lot of $$, but it will change their lives. I tried to go back a second time as an adult leader, but a back injury took me off the trip.

[Eric 951]

Originally Posted by peppy

I did like the pine wood derby.

How could I forget that--our troop also did the rubber-band propeller powered rockets on a line, and the (scout-powered) sailing ship derby.

and the Klondike derby was always fun--man we did do alot.

[Gooch1971]

I'm sure my son will make it to Philmont in a few years. The older scouts in his troop went to Sea Base in 2013 and are going to Northern Tier next week. They have a trip planned to Swamp Base in 2015 since they didn't get a spot for Philmont. They all sound like fantastic adventures.

He got pretty bored with Cub Scouts at times but did earn the Arrow of Light. They camped regularly and I tried to help him understand it was preparing him for boy scouts.

[porsche4life]

Chad, the last frontier council takes a contingent of like 6 crews to Philmont every year. You guys could jump in on that with just a few boys if your troop doesn't have enough for a full crew. That's how I went and it is cool, interesting to go with guys you haven't met before the training campouts. They do almost a year long planning process.

I used to know the guy that organizes the trip well, but I don't think he is doing it anymore. Either way I'm sure he could point you in the right direction. Call me if you have any questions when the time comes. I could talk Philmont all day.