The Boy Scouts -- But Wait, There's More!

The Rockwell paintings were my favorite part of the National Scouting Museum. But I wanted to share a few more bits in case you are able to get there in person. It's well worth visiting, especially on Sunday or Monday when it's free! (Remember, if you are interested in this and in the Dallas area, the museum closes in May to move to a locaton in New Mexico.)

My experience with Boy Scouts is limited but what little I had was good. Both the kids were in Scouts when I came into their lives. Rick and his buddy Paul were involved with the troop. I didn't go to the meetings in general but did attend some of the special occasions. The Pinewood Derby was always a favorite.

At the Scouting museum, we were reminded of those times as they had a track set up with a timer so that the handmade cars could race for glory!

Those memories bring a smile to my face. Lots of little boys with the cars they'd carved and painted carefully (with the help of a parent of course, some perhaps more than necessary). They were all so proud of them! The track took over a good part of the church basement and everyone was eager to see which car would win.

Then there was the time we hosted the Scouts from Trinidad for a Jamboree. (My jamboree photo of the musuem didn't turn out well, but I still want to share the story!)

One of their scoutmasters, Camille, stayed at my house, with Rick hosting two of her fellow leaders. We attended some fun activities but one of the things I remember most was Camille, who we christened Hurricane Camille. The storm had passed the autumn before but Camille lived up to it -- a whirlwind who had a love affair with the washing machine and must have washed everything at least twice during her three-day stay! She also poured catsup on her pizza which was interesting.

One of the highlights of the visit was when the troop came over to Rick's with their host families for a dinner that the kids prepared. It was a rice dish with sausage and veggies called Pilau and boy -- did its preparation ever take over the kitchen! While the cooks were sweating it out in the hot summer over the stove, others were on the patio playing their steel drums. A night to remember.

I bring this up because Scouts have had more than their share of problems in the past. Rick's friend calls them the "Three G's" -- Girls, Gays and God. And they're working on it, not necessarily pleasing all but moving the organization forward. But the skills that are conveyed to these boys and young men are valuable ones. Rick said he learned pretty much everything he needed to know in life through his scouting activities. It broadened his view of the world at a young age and taught skills he would continue to use forever, from management to survival.

Rick was an Eagle Scout and credits his scoutmaster as being one of the most important influences in his life. I'm sure a lot of those memories came back to him as he walked through this well done museum.

He celebrated his sixteenth birthday at Philmont Scout Camp in Cimarron, NM (the future site of the museum -- we can't figure out why) and there were displays related to camp.

(We also remembered Greg going off to Scout camp and being simply miserable and homesick. That was his last experience with the Boy Scouts!)

There are plenty of interactive exhibits at the Scouting museum. Apart from the Pinewood Derby and a cave you can crawl through (I didn't), there was a marksmanship gallery.

I did pretty well, but Kitty was aces! (Let's just say I'm not messing with Rick's mom!)

There were lots of displays of Scout memorabilia -- badges, handbooks and even china.

A large section was devoted to the watercolors of Lord Baden Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts. I'll do a post on that one in the future.

Whether or not Scouting is something that was part of your own life of that of your children, I can recommend the National Scouting Museum wholeheartedly.

Just see it soon!