I think becoming a Foxman and a Patrol Leader gives me a challendge and I love challendges. It gives me more responsiblity and shows other people what I can do being a Foxman and Patrol Leader. It gives me a chance to show people I am older than I look. It shows kids that if you put your mind to do something, then you can do it. I put my mind to it and if I can do it then you can too.

The Boy Scouts of America has always been a uniformed body. Its uniforms help to create a sense of belonging. The Scouting program has three specific objectives, commonly referred to as the “Aims of Scouting.” They are character development, citizenship training, and personal fitness. To accomplish these aims, the BSA has designed eight methods in Boy Scouting. One of these methods is uniforming.  Wearing a uniform gives youth and adult members a sense of identification and commitment.

Over the years, Scoutmasters have noticed that Scouts who truly try to live by the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives seem to be moved by the spirit to wear the Scout uniform. Why? What is so magical about a complete Class ‘A’ uniform including a BSA issued shirt, pants/shorts, socks and belt? Why would the BSA include uniforming as part of the eight methods of Boy Scouting? Let’s take a few minutes to investigate this method to see what it brings to the table.

The uniform supports the first Aim of Scouting, that of character development. The uniform is a symbol of the boy’s commitment to Scouting – his acceptance of the BSA’s ideals and willingness to live by them. The boy knows that when he is in that uniform he is expected to act in accordance to the values of the BSA and the values he has made an oath to live by. This purpose of uniforming is as much a part of the method as uniting him with his troop or patrol. Boy Scouts is an action program, and wearing the uniform is an action that shows each Scout’s commitment to the aims and purposes of Scouting. You can relate the requirement to wear a uniform to your son playing sports.  Would you take your son to a baseball, football, soccer or basketball game without his complete team uniform? If no, then please treat the Class ‘A’ Boy Scout uniform with the same respect.

The Scout’s identification grows even greater when it is realized that the uniform gives the Scout an identity in a world brotherhood of youth and adults who believe in the same ideals. The uniform identifies youth and adult members of the Boy Scouts of America, visible as a force for good in the community. When properly and smartly worn, the uniform can build good unit spirit.

Scouts often do not have a complete understanding of Scouting or the commitment they have chosen to make. We need to communicate to them that that the uniform is a symbol of their commitment to Scouting, to the BSA, to their Council and to other Scouts and, not wearing the uniform is a sign to others that they may lack that commitment.

The uniform also makes the Scout troop visible as a force for good and creates a positive youth image in the community. People who are not Scouts recognize the Boy Scout uniform. To the community, the uniform represents a welcome image, a reminder that not all kids are bad.

Uniforming also supports the second Aim of Scouting, that of citizenship training. In that it contributes to patrol and troop spirit. Boys who wear the uniform have a sense of personal equality as the uniform represents a democratic idea of equality, bringing people of different backgrounds together in the Scouting tradition.. The uniform helps to build loyalty and gives the troop and patrol an identity with the program. However, that ‘uniformed Scout’ represents more to himself, to his fellow Scouts and to the public as a whole, than simply belonging to his patrol or his troop. Used broadly, citizenship means the boy’s relationship to others. He comes to learn of his obligations to other people, to the society he lives in, to the government that presides over that society. The BSA uniform unites the boy with this larger goal by uniting him with the organization whose aim is that goal: the BSA.

Uniforming also contributes to the third aim of personal and mental fitness. In Boy Scouting, the Scouts must satisfy certain requirements to achieve rank and responsibility within the program. These requirements often require the mastering of a physical or mental skill. When the requirements are satisfied an award or badge is earned. The uniform gives the Scout a reason to take pride in the way he looks and in the badges and awards that testify to his achievements as the uniform shows the wearer’s activity, responsibility, and achievement. The accomplishments of every youth and adult member can be recognized by the insignia worn on the uniform.

The leaders of Scouting—volunteer and professional—should promote the wearing of the correct, complete uniform on all suitable occasions.  You are the model to your boys and your example will reflect itself in them. When you are with the Scouts, even for the simplest of things, put on your uniform. It raises the moral tone of the boys and it heightens their estimation of their uniform when they see it is not beneath a grown man or woman to wear it. It also heightens their estimation of themselves when they find themselves taken seriously by men and women who also count it of importance to be in the same organization with them. As Scouters, we must constantly remind ourselves that it isn’t so much what we say to the Scouts that they will emulate, but what we do. The Scouts are told by other leaders, by their handbooks and by each other to look to us as role models. And they will, they will do what we do and wear what we wear.

The uniform is a constant reminder to all members of their commitment to the ideals and purpose of the Scouting movement. It is a way of making visible members’ commitment to a belief in God, loyalty to country, and helping others at all times. It is important that each of us fully understands the importance of each of the eight methods of Boy Scouting. I hope that after reading this discussion on how uniforming directly contributes to the three aims of Scouting that you have a better understanding of the often neglected and misunderstood method of uniforming.

The Tribal Celebration was June 2 through June 4 this year. A few of us went down early and the rest came down later that Friday night to participate in the various activities that weekend. Well on Friday night we went to Late Night In Lone Bear. This is where they have various games and contests that Braves participate in to win prizes. Well we had one Brave who participated this year and that was Justin Lee. He was chosen to compete in the pickle eating contest. Now these are the BIG Dill Pickles to see how many they can eat in a certain time limit. Well Justin didn’t win but he still ate 3 Big Dill Pickles and received a Mic-O-Say T-shirt for trying. Afterwards we went to Cracker Barrel to eat a Peach Nehi Float. On Saturday there was a lot of activities going on. The boys played in the Chieftains Challenge which consists of games of skill, communication, knowledge and teamwork. Some of the other activities that the adults went to were Garage Sale, Silent Auction and the memorial service to name just a few. And the food was good especially the Barbeque. Then Saturday Night the Chieftain Ceremony this is where the new Presiding Chief is named for the next 12 months. So after the ceremony we headed back home. I think I can speak for everyone that went we all had a great time. Some of us just can’t wait to go back down when the whole Troop is going down for Summer Camp. But I guess we will so we all can have that Peach Nehi Float.

This summer I was tapped to serve as the Counselor down at the Lone Star Scoutcraft Lodge, and let me tell you, it’s a lot of fun already. I’m not even done with first session yet and I’m enjoying both working with my staff (all first year guys) and campers. They’re having a blast.
Now at Scoutcraft, we teach five merit badges in total. Camping, Wilderness Survival, First Aid, Geocaching, and Pioneering. We also have a program for scouts who have not yet achieved the rank of First Class, befittingly called Trail to First Class.
In our merit badges you’ll learn how to camp properly, how to survive in the wilderness (with and without gear,) how to build big and useful things with just some rope and long poles, and even how to potentially save someone’s life some day. And oh yeah, geocaching is fun too! We have nice new geocaches that really will be fun to find and hike around for.
Scoutcraft is a great place to learn your knots, learn Scouting skills, and have fun. I invite everyone to come down and see us for a badge or two this summer. I can already see that it’s gonna be a good one.

First, Boy Scouts of America is one of the nation’s largest and most prominent values-based youth development organizations. The BSA provides a program for young people that builds character, trains them in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and develops personal fitness.
Second, Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, is an Eagle Scout. When he said, “The Eagle has landed,” he wasn’t kidding. In 1969, Armstrong became the first Eagle Scout to be portrayed on a U.S. postage stamp— called “The Man on the Moon.”
During a three-month drive in the spring of 1942, Scouts collected 318,000 tons of paper for the war effort.
In 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt requested the Boy Scouts’ service in collecting 1.8 million items of clothing, household furnishings, foodstuffs, and supplies for victims of the Great Depression.
Next, In 1929, an African American Boy Scout from Fort Worth, Texas, found and returned a woman’s pocketbook that contained more than $300 in cash. The boy declined her liberal reward, saying, “No, madam. I am a Boy Scout and cannot take a tip for doing my duty.
“A mass shooting erupted in a Houston, Texas neighborhood on Sunday, leaving one man killed and six others injured. Unaware of the terror and gunfire that had just been unleashed moments before, 17-year-old Boy Scout Nicholas L., rushed to the aid of a man he found crying in pain and bleeding in the street of his neighborhood. It wasn’t until he asked the victim what happened that he discovered the man had been shot – and the shooter was still at large. Nicholas wasted no time before he sprang into action, employing the techniques he learned in Scouting to help the gunshot victim before an ambulance arrived. “That’s when I realized there were actually two wounds, one where the bullet entered his thigh, and one where it exited,” Nicholas explained.The Scout asked bystanders to call 9-1-1 and then requested that the victim remove his suit vest. Using the vest, the Scout quickly crafted a tourniquet to tie off the wound and prevent further blood loss. The Scout understood the importance of keeping calm under pressure so he spoke to the victim the entire time, ensuring he was at ease while tending to his wounds. Nicholas’ high school history teacher happened to be nearby and assisted the Scout. The police arrived shortly thereafter and secured the perimeter. First responders then loaded up the victim in the ambulance and overtook treatment.
scoutingnewsroom.org

“In 1929, an African American Boy Scout from Fort Worth, Texas, found and returned a woman’s pocketbook that contained more than $300 in cash. The boy declined her liberal reward, saying, “No, madam. I am a Boy Scout and cannot take a tip for doing my duty.’”
“Sammy was on a camping trip at McKinney Falls State Park with his mom, Kelly, his dad, Stacey, and his brothers, Ben, eight, and Willy, two. Around 11 a.m., Sammy’s mother and little brother Ben dropped the family kayak into Onion Creek and paddled off. Sammy and Willy accompanied their dad to Upper Falls. With his father watching from the rocks above, Sammy jumped in. Sammy played in the water for a while, eventually pulling himself out of the swimming hole and onto a warm boulder and watching a group of children tramp through the creek bed above. As the kids passed Stacey and Willy, a tiny five-year-old girl reached down to grab a water bottle and lost her balance. In an instant, she was swept over the falls. Sammy caught a glimpse of the girl’s arm and the top of her dark head as the roiling currents pushed her into the hollow beneath the rock ledge, hiding her from the crowd above. she struggled in the deep water. His father walked toward the edge of the waterfall to try to locate the girl, but Sammy was the one in striking distance. Sammy was nervous but he understood what he had to do. He dived in, cutting through the churn of the waterfall. In a few seconds, he was next to the struggling girl. Panicking, she tried to climb on top of him. Sammy was Treading water an arm’s length away from the girl, he asked her if she could swim. When she said no, Sammy carefully pulled her onto his back and followed the rock wall’s slick contours around the edge of the waterfall toward the shore.Soon, someone threw a swim float from the bank and pulled both kids from the water. Sammy had saved a little girl’s life.”
Finally, “Scouts collected more than 1 million tons of litter on Scouting Keep America Beautiful Day in 1971.”

“Of 122 merit badges, the one earned most by Scouts across the country is First Aid; more than 84,419 Scouts earned the badge in 2008. “
“The BSA is eco-friendly! In addition to publishing the first “green” Boy Scout Handbook in 2009, BSA magazines Boys’ Life and Scouting have been certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative.
In conclusion these are the reasons that we should love scouts.

The March overnight was extra special because we had a surprise birthday party for Mr. Leabo. Mr. Leabo recognizes how important it is to participate in all the troop activities regardless if it falls on your birthday so he packed his gear and spent the weekend camping. He celebrated with his family after returning home on Sunday. 
But that is not all that was exciting about this month’s overnight as the Troop went up north to Wallace State Park where we have not been in a very long time. The Campsite was great and we slept under the troop’s awnings covered with plastic. The leaders and boys prepared the meals as a group. The menu for the overnight was spaghetti with meat sauce for dinner and scrambled eggs, sausage and hash browns for breakfast. The scouts cooked both meals and they were both great. Even though we didn’t get a white coup as we were hoping for this overnight, it was one of the best as everyone worked together during set up and take down making the work go smoothly and quickly.

This award was not just earned by me, but by all the scouts and leaders that I have been involved with over my 34 years as a scoutmaster. I especially would like to thank the scouts of Troop 282, as they are the true backbone of a scout troop, not the scoutmaster. As the Scoutmaster, I have watched as numerous boys grow and mature into effective leaders and excellent citizens as they move their way from the Scout Rank to earning the Eagle Rank. 
I have been involved with scouting since I was 8 years old. My scouting career has taught me many skills, introduced me to new ideas, allowed me to cross paths with many people and provided me with opportunities that otherwise would not have been available to me. Just like any other job, I worked my way through the leadership position, starting as a Cub Scout Denner, Den Chief, Assistant Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Senior Patrol Leader, Jr. Asst. Scoutmater, Cubmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster and to my current roles as a Scoutmaster and a Wolf Den Leader. 
I contribute my success as a Scoutmaster to all of the young men and leaders that I have encountered during my scouting career. Each of them has enhanced my life as well as my scouting skills. I have formed lifelong relationships with many fellow scouters. Watching each young man grow mentally, physically and morally into adults is what makes being a Scoutmaster so rewarding. 
I have also been very lucky because I had four great mentors who taught me about being a scoutmaster; JD Hammontree, Bobby Morris, Paul Arend and my father. All four of these men understood what it meant to be a Scoutmaster and/or Leader in the Boy Scouts. It was not about them, the awards they earned or the recognition they received. Instead, it was about the scouts they led, setting a good example for the scouts and to mentor them to become effective scouts and leaders. These four men understood that it was their responsibility to stand in the background, watch, listen and provide guidance when necessary. 
Both of my Scoutmasters, JD Hammontree and Bobby Morris, both taught me leadership skills that have allowed me to continue in their footsteps allowing the young men to function and lead our troop while the other leaders and I remain in the shadows providing guidance. 
One of my most memorable scouting moments occurred during my first time as the Blue Elk District Training Coordinator in 1987 or 88. At that time, I was only 28 or 29 years old and had only been a Scoutmaster for four or five years. All of the participants were gathering to begin the course, when Mr. Paul Arend walks in and sits down in the center of the front row. At this time, Mr. Arend was a tenured scoutmaster with 46 years of experience. As I am standing in the front of the participants waiting to start the course, I am thinking to myself, what I am going to say or what is this training course going to do to inspire Mr. Arend. I could not figure out why such a tenured Scoutmaster would take time out of his busy life to attend basic leaders training again. When I was finished with the opening remarks, we went around the room and asked each scouter what they were hoping to gain from this training course. Mr. Arend stands up and says, “A Badge to wear is a responsibility to bear”. He then said, “How else can you fulfill the responsibility of a Scoutmaster but to come to training and learn what your role is in the troop. There is always something to learn each time you take a training course.” Although having him present made me a bit nervous, it was refreshing to know that even he felt the need to retake training to enhance his scouting skills. Mr. Arend was a man who had compassion and inspiration. I try to follow his lead, keep an open mind and view opportunities as a learning experience. 
I hope that I can continue to grow as a scoutmaster, remain a positive role model and provide opportunities for boys that otherwise would not be available to them. 
I would like to thank my mother who allowed me to be a Cub Scout some time ago. 
I would thank my dear wife Stacy, my two Eagle Scout Son’s Scott and Adam for allowing me to spend that one hour a week and one weekend a month to be a scoutmaster. As my wife married into the scouting program, Stacy and I will be celebrating our 32nd wedding anniversary in May and I have been a Scoutmaster for 34 years. 
Thank you for honoring me with the Paul Arend Outstanding Scoutmaster of the Year Award.

The troop carried the Christmas trees and some decorations back to the basement of the Bingham Waggoner Estate, Wednesday, January 25, 2017. The job went quickly as the staff was well prepared for us. It was tricky to carry the trees down the basement stairs instead of opening the large door to the basement on the back porch. We worked as a team and was able to get the trees down the narrow stairs and back to the storage area.

How many Troop 282 members can say they have slept 650 feet underground? Well I know of 23 members who can say they have as of January 29th when we came back to the surface. The Strataca overnight in Hutchinson Kansas was a great time. The scouts that went, earned the Mining Society Merit Badge and learned more about a salt mine than they could imagine. The mine was very interesting and our guides were very knowledgeable. I hope the troop chooses to do this trip again in a few years.

Yes Troop 282 once again got the Christmas decoration back to the 3rd floor for the Vail Mansion Society on January 21 as always it was a very fun and exciting project. The scouts and Webelos pulled and push those trees up the stair cases from the 1st floor to the 3rd floor and to the basement. Then came the plastic containers and all the loose items. The Scouts, Webelos, Leaders and Parents who showed up did a great job. Once the project was done everyone was given some punish and cookies in the kitchen. Mark your calendar for carry everything back down on October 31st at 4:30 PM. 
Great job everyone.