Prepared For Life

Zach Zimmerman didn't want anything to do with scouting but he says, "his Dad made him do it". He can't begin to tell you how grateful he is that his Dad pushed him. Zach is a Life Scout and working toward his Eagle Scout rank. Zach tells Adrienne Wrona, District Executive with the Boy Scouts, Hawk Mountain Council, that his favorite part of scouting is the progressing through the ranks. He likes the challenges that are put in front of him. Today younger scouts look to him for guidance... he is like a scout super hero!

Austin Flagler and Shaun Arnold say that scouting is like a family relationship. They learned how to work side by side and help each other. Austin and Shaun say the challenges they faced in the scouting program taught them how to navigate through rough spots. But it’s not all serious; their faces light up with knowing grins as they recall the experiences that leave them with lots of stories to tell!

Baltimore Scout Troop Chooses Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation Camp Meade for their Summer Camp Trip. Julien Mouton and Casey Murray from Baltimore Boy Scout Troop 733 say they heard a lot of good things about Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation, Camp Meade. When they did their research it sealed the deal. Their summer camp trip would be Camp Meade. Julien and Casey tell Adrienne Wrona, District Executive with the Boy Scouts, Hawk Mountain Council, that the food is good and the fact that there is a lake AND a pool is the icing on the cake. These boys detail all the things that keep them in the Boy Scout program. Organization and discipline are on the list, but not the top of the list. Tune in and find out what excites them the most.

Meet this Father and Son Aquatics Team at Camp Meade in Schuylkill County. Adrienne Wrona, District Executive with the Boy Scouts, Hawk Mountain Council, talks with Art Kayhart, a Scoutmaster and his son Noah, a Junior Assistant Scoutmaster. The two have a great deal of respect for each other and it shows in the conversation. Noah says scouting gave him the opportunity to take chances and find out what he can do. Rowing was not his favorite; he says he wasn’t very good at it. Today Noah is the rowing instructor at Camp Meade. Art talks about the rewards and challenges of being a Scoutmaster. He says “The important thing in life is to be able to return what has been given to you”.

Katie Casserly is a Venturer who spent two years earning her Silver Award. The same week she was preparing for the Silver Award Ceremony she got some other news. Katie was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. That was two years ago. Katie attributes her ability to maintain a positive mindset to Scouting. Katie tells Adrienne Wrona, District Executive with the Boy Scouts, Hawk Mountain Council, how Venturing helped give her the skills she needed to be walk through the cancer diagnosis and treatment journey.

Robert Blackwell is the Climbing Director at Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation, Camp Meade. Rob did not grow up in the scouting program. He says he first got involved with the Boy Scouts through the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. His curiosity about C.O.P.E. and climbing led him to accept the position and join the climbing staff at camp. As director of the program, he gets an overview perspective and says the most important outcome is watching the scouts grow and become young men. Rob says it is ‘the people’ that drive the scouting movement forward.

Adrienne Wrona, District Executive with the Boy Scouts, Hawk Mountain Council, went to Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation, Camp Meade to catch up with Cody and Cordell Maurer. They grew up in Reading and were first exposed to scouting at an open house at Riverside Elementary School. Cody says it all started with wind chimes at an open house! Tune in to find out why these brothers like Venturing so much. Cordell says scouting has really helped him develop leadership and interpersonal skills. Cody says scouting is ticket out of the inner city environment. These brothers found a new life in scouts and believe it’s important to give back and show other younger kids a different way of living.

You always wondered: what is the attraction to Scout camp? Now Adrienne Wrona, a district director for the Hawk Mountain Council, shares the inside scoop with great enthusiasm! Adrienne recalls fond memories of attending Tiger Day Camp with her brother and Dad when she was a kid. She even remembers the archery range volunteer by name, Denny Greenfield. You see, Denny called her to join the boys in learning how to shoot a bow. She was hooked and eventually became a camp counselor and now works for the scouts as a COPE and Climbing director at camp. COPE is an acronym for challenging outdoor personal experiences. Adrienne details the ‘ropes’ for Bill Garrett, Scout Executive and CEO of the Hawk Mountain Council. The biggest reward is watching scouts and adults grow together in team building, leadership and problem solving skills all while having fun!

Brian Beddow is a Field Director for the Hawk Mountain Council and he talks about the variety of ways to get involved in Scouts. The Hawk Mountain Council is made up of four districts and serves about 12,000 young men and women. Even though he only spent a year as a Scout when he was young, Brian has made a career of Scouting in his adult life, sharing the opportunities it provides to everyone in the family. Scouting is starting a new program this fall called STEM Scouting. It is the convergence of Scouting values like citizenship, personal fitness and leadership in a lab setting with science, technology, engineering and math. STEM Scouting is just one aspect of the Boy Scouts of America. Scouting opportunities start in kindergarten with Cub Scouts and grow with the kids through Boy Scouts, adult leaders, Venturing for young men and women between 14 and 21 and Explorers which provide opportunities for kids to participate in career based programs. Find out more by calling 610-926-3406 or visit their website http://www.hmc-bsa.org/

Brian Beddow is a Field Director for the Hawk Mountain Council and he talks about the variety of ways to get involved in Scouts. The Hawk Mountain Council is made up of four districts and serves about 12,000 young men and women. Even though he only spent a year as a Scout when he was young, Brian has made a career of Scouting in his adult life, sharing the opportunities it provides to everyone in the family. Scouting is starting a new program this fall called STEM Scouting. It is the convergence of Scouting values like citizenship, personal fitness and leadership in a lab setting with science, technology, engineering and math. STEM Scouting is just one aspect of the Boy Scouts of America. Scouting opportunities start in kindergarten with Cub Scouts and grow with the kids through Boy Scouts, adult leaders, Venturing for young men and women between 14 and 21 and Explorers which provide opportunities for kids to participate in career based programs. Find out more by calling 610-926-3406 or visit their website http://www.hmc-bsa.org/

Jerry Beaver says it all started when he volunteered to be a Popcorn Colonel! Jerry’s son was a Cub Scout and the pack needed someone to head up the popcorn sales and that eventually led to Jerry chairing the Black Rock District. Jerry tells Brian Beddow, Field Director for the Hawk Mountain Council, that scouting changed his life, built relationships and expanded his circle of friends. Jerry says he was shy but as a volunteer he developed public speaking skills and built confidence and respect … “the 12 tenets of scouting are good rules to live by and when you know what Scouting can do for you, you want to give it to others”. The Scouting experience gives as much to the parents and volunteers as it does to the young men and young women who join.

Vaughn Golden, Eagle Scout with troop 241 says his Scouting journey began in first grade when the Scouts came to his school to talk about Cub Scouts. He joined because it sounded like a lot of fun and never left Scouting. He tells Brian Beddow, Hawk Mountain Council Field Director, some of his favorite memories are the adventure opportunities. Lifelong friendships were forged during a 12 day back-packing trip when Mother Nature left them in some tricky predicaments. Vaughn values the skills he learned in Scouting from raising funds which taught him financial planning and budgeting to leadership skills he learned as a youth leader and now an adult volunteer. As a member of the Order of The Arrow, Scouting’s National Honor Society, Vaughn continues to enjoy the volunteer hours he spends at camp giving back to younger Scouts.

Steve Silverman shares his son’s journey to becoming an Eagle Scout. He says it wasn’t a goal when they signed up for Cub Scouts. He really welcomed the opportunity to get their son involved in something interesting, fun and educational with his peers. Attaining the highest Boy Scout Rank wasn’t on their radar. The years flew by and looking back Steve talks about Scouting as a very rewarding experience. He had as much fun volunteering for activities when parents were needed as his son did participating in Scouts. Steve says the biggest benefit of Boy Scouts is the conviction of the value of the Scouting Program. He says “It turns boys into men … and builds future leaders for our community.”

Adrienne Wrona, District Executive with the Hawk Mountain Scout Council found out why Moms like the Scouting program so much! Heidi Silverman says she was hooked after the first troop committee meeting she attended. That was when her son Craig was in first grade. Now her 18 year old son is an Eagle Scout. Heidi says Scouting afforded her quality time spent together with her son, with her son’s friend’s parents and with troop parents. It allowed her to stay connected with her son. Heidi says being involved with the Hawk Mountain Scout Council also fostered a relationship with nature and cites her love of the outdoors as one of the biggest benefits of Scouting.

Adrienne Wrona, District Executive with the Hawk Mountain Scout Council talks with Alex about the profound changes she witnessed in her son after just a few months in the Boy Scouts. Her son was shy, afraid and unsure of himself. Yet is was her son that brought papers home and asked his Mom to please come to a meeting so they could talk about the Scouts. Alex says since he has been an active Scout member her relationship with her son has changed. He is excited, motivated, engaged and happy. Alex says now her son teaches her things. She says he son is getting more attention and has more power because he is motivated to represent the Scouts well. He has perfect attendance and is on the honor roll now and has been awarded Student of the Month! Alex says the Spanish Community needs a lot of these programs and is happy that her son found the Boy Scouts.

Tom Kauffman was 8 years old when he joined Leinbach’s Pack 190. Tom says he is results-driven and really enjoyed earning pins and badges and liked the opportunity to become a leader. By the time he was 14 he was an Eagle Scout and a Patrol Leader, and he learned how to be a leader, follower and teacher all at once! Tom says Scouting has come full circle in his life. He says he is happy to be invited to be part of the Boy Scouts as an adult. Tom is currently on the Board of Directors for the Hawk Mountain Scout Council and serves because he feels it’s important to give back to today’s young men and women what was given to him.

Bill Garrett, Scout Executive and CEO of the Hawk Mountain Scout Council, talks with Dave Patti, President and CEO of the PA Business Council about how scouting shaped his life. Dave’s job entails working with CEO’s, shaping public policy and communicating about life and business in PA. He can trace everything he does today to growing up as a Scout and the various merit badges he earned. Communications was the first merit badge he attained. He says it was through scouting, at age 17 he had the opportunity to sit next to Paul Rodale and Marlin Miller. He learned how to read financial statements. Why join scouts? Dave says it is where you really develop the soft skills that employers are looking for when hiring. Employers want skills like dependability, honesty, integrity, showing up on time, working well with others, these are all skills that are honed in the Boy Scouts. And then of course there’s the fun you have while learning. Dave shares fond memories of some camping trips too.