3rd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 10

Day 10

We have waited for this weekend for a very long time.

Four and a half years, to be precise.

A brand new troop of three Boy Scouts, all former Lone Scouts, and two Webelos Scouts who were about to make the jump to the troop began what is still our best project: backpacking the entire 184.5 miles of the C&O Canal.

The oldest was 16, and he would age out before we finished.  Another will age out in about 60 days, and we are making the effort to knock out the last 16 miles before he does.  He has been through all of the miles and trips up to this point.  The third Boy Scout just attained Eagle Scout status.  One of the Webelos Scouts is now a Life Scout, and the other is the SPL.  

The troop has grown to 22 Scouts, which stuns everyone.  Five more boys will move up from the pack, days before he ages out and graduates from high school.

This journey has been in pieces over the years, giving our troop legends and stories to pass along to the younger Scouts.  

The Life Scout, the SPL, the one aging out and I have completed the other 168.5 miles together.  So this is historic and a bit emotional.  We wrap up one adventure as these boys begin new ones--college, work and their own paths to Eagle.  I have watched, in way too short a window, these boys have become men who really only need me to be there because the rules say we need adults.

They have all the skills needed, and can out hike me any day.  I can still get 10-12 miles in, 15 if I have to, but they do it so fast.  And with such ease.

My phone rings from where we are staging our trip--getting a good night of sleep before the finale.  My family is dropping with a stomach virus at home, and there really isn't anyone old enough left to be in charge and help the sick.

I am momentarily torn.  These guys--let's be honest, my friends--are going to complete this now without me.  

Duty calls, and I leave them with final advice, reminders about watching the weather, and instructions about enjoying this last great moment.

Take a picture boys.

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 10

Astronomy Merit Badge

Today I:

• Placed an order with the National Catholic Committee on Scouting for their Rosary Patch Program.
• Spoke with parents who very supportive of their Boy Scout...and maybe a little too helpful. ;-)
• Updated the 100 Days list of participants again--22 now!  I'm very excited about the new folks joining us.  We are already at 400% of last year's participants--and I think folks are enjoying the exercise.
• Helped a very excited Wolf go over his "equipment list" for this weekend's camping trip.

Some days are simple and straightforward--and Scouting can be the same way.  Nothing elaborate, just checklist items to clear the to-do list for the day.  How's your Scouting to-do list looking?  If you read this far, enter a comment and we'll have a drawing for something special at the end of the 100 Days.

100 Days of Scouting: Day 10

African Adventures 

Today I:

Reached a 100 Days of Scouting, and personal, milestone:  10% of the way through this project!  Pretty exciting, and even more so to see the efforts others are putting in, like @bryanspellman and @scoutdude.

Congratulated our newest Eagle Scout!  Go Matt!  Passed last night with flying colors, and only a few days to go until he ages up to Assistant Scoutmaster.

Worked on Scoutsigns blog posts.  I'm trying to spread the 100 Days of Scouting message by putting up links to daily updates in groups of 5.  

Tweaked our council's BSA camp's Twitter list.  Even a little thing like this adds to Scouting.  I have been able to show Camp Rock Enon to more folks via blogging and Twitter.

Is Scouting worth a little something from you every day?  No matter how small, every effort adds to the greater good.  What was your contribution today?  Comment below, or tweet away.