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Three years ago, on a frigid December weeknight I took my 12-year-old son to a campfire by the Milwaukee River. There were kids his age, some older ones, and their parents. They sang, told funny stories, celebrated accomplishments, and roasted marshmallows. I was hooked, but my son needed convincing. I get it—school, peer pressure, and technology are equally overwhelming. But I kept pushing him. The next year, we joined Scouting America’s Troop 15 based in Shorewood, formally known as Boy Scouts of America.
I understand the challenges and harm that Scouting has caused. I’m grateful that our experience has been different from the horrors of abuse. I’m not a parenting expert, but I do know that youth struggle to find meaningful, accessible activities that promote individual growth and fun.
Especially since the pandemic, it’s been harder to get teens off their screens, out of their bedrooms, and away from their neighborhoods. Scouting is a low barrier to entry activity, no previous scouting, or camping experience is required to join.
On its 115th anniversary in February, Boy Scouts of America rebranded to Scouting America. The new name reflects a focus on inclusivity to welcome girls and LGBT members, while also helping the organization recover from bankruptcy, and the decline of membership. For us, Scouting has been a pathway for my son to turn off the technology, gain valuable skills, go outside, explore careers, build friendships, and grow in confidence.
New experiences for my son
Today we are engrossed in the program. Now 15, my son is a mentor to newer scouts, and well on his way to obtaining Eagle Scout rank, the highest honor youth can earn. The Eagle Scout rank is a nationally recognized beacon for perseverance and excellence for employment and college applications. And at the encouragement of other parents in the troop, I am currently serving as Troop 15’s Scoutmaster.
In the years since my son has joined the troop he has turned off his phone, and left his bedroom and our neighborhood a lot. He has attended more than 15 multi-day camping trips in every season, including four days backpacking and hiking over 20 miles in the Porcupine Mountains in Michigan. This summer, he’s traveling to Philmont Scout Ranch, Scouting’s largest youth camp, on the east side of the Rocky Mountain range in New Mexico. Philmont is considered to be the pinnacle of a Scout’s experience.
Additionally, he has earned 20 merit badges, awards for completing specific requirements in a variety of disciplines. Taught by adult leaders in small group settings, he has earned badges in swimming, cooking, kayaking, plant science, dog care, first aid, fire safety, rock climbing, engineering, textiles, and more. There are a total of 139 merit badges offered to scouts, but to earn the rank of Eagle Scout, participants must earn at least 21 badges, with 14 of them from a specific list, to develop a well-rounded skill-set.
Celebrating successes along the way is a big part of the Scouting philosophy and it encourages youth to work together against competing priorities of school and sports. We regularly hold ceremonies called Court of Honor when Scouts advance in rank or earn badges. There are seven ranks in Scouting – Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and Eagle. To advance rank, youth must meet minimum standards in skill development, merit badges, troop leadership, community service hours, and more.
All in the family
For us, Scouting hasn’t just been about my son leaving his room and creating memories outside. But as a single parent, I’ve realized that Scouting is a very affordable year-round activity that I can join him in, compared to other extracurriculars. Many troops host fundraisers and lend equipment like tents, camping stoves, and sleeping bags. Through the region’s governing body, Three Harbors Council, there are often scholarships available for summer camp.
I share with new parents in our troop that scouting is truly a family activity. We meet locally so that the families can easily attend events amongst busy schedules. We encourage adults to be registered volunteers with the troop so that they can organize a service project, join a campout, and experience a break from city-life and connect with their kids without distractions. All of the adult leaders are required to complete anti-abuse training.
Scouting is affordable, and fun but the experiences are invaluable. The Scouting curriculum emphasizes critical-thinking and problem solving skills, while youth can still be silly, and creative. Scouts learn by doing and this is a fundamental approach to building confidence, and self-resilience, qualities that carry well into adulthood. If you’re searching for a structured, low barrier to entry opportunity for a youth, I encourage you to try Scouting and find a troop to get involved in.
Rae Johnson is a marketing content writer at Esri. In her free time, she serves as the Scout Leader for Troop 15 and as an Equal Rights Commissioner for the City of Milwaukee.
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