Bonds that last a lifetime-Enduring friendships begin in Boy Scouts

By Margaret Hobbs

Long-time assistant scoutmaster Wally Bigbee enjoys visiting with members of Troop 395 at a reunion held recently at First Presbyterian Church.

A unique bond and circle of friends is formed by young men who are members of the Boy Scouts of America organization. The scouting tradition is experiencing its 98th year, with plans being made for a huge Scouting Jamboree in 2010 commemorating 100 years.

Warren County, along with Van Buren, White and DeKalb Counties, is part of the Black Fox District of the Middle Tennessee Council. They consistently rank in the Top Ten councils of the association and have a total membership of 13,007.

District chairman Jim Carden proudly proclaims the district being top in membership, and being a centennial quality district, receiving awards for setting and attaining goals in membership, leadership and training.

‘We have several activities coming up in the future, and are very excited about the council’s purchase of 1,600 acres in White and Van Buren Counties. We are developing Latimer High Adventure Reservation, which will serve as a meeting place in the future,’ said Carden.

Recently Boy Scout Troop 395 held a reunion at First Presbyterian Church, with 31 attending the event, representing 14 different cities and seven states. The church was the meeting site for the first gatherings beginning in the fall of 1989. Clark Boyd was the troop’s first scoutmaster, with the troop being active in the Black Fox District. Members of the troop attended summer camps at Boxwell in Tennessee and Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.

A slide show of troop activities was presented, with former assistant scoutmaster Wally Bigbee and others providing narration. Old eight millimeter movies were shown, much to the delight of the attendees, as well as displays of scout uniforms, and camping and hiking gear.

Bigbee, involved in the organization for 15 years as activity director, planned numerous outdoor activities and camping trips for the youth, and assisted his three sons receive Eagle recognition.

‘Scouting is very important for boys to be widely exposed to leadership, and have experiences that will make them more successful adults. Our troop had an unusually large percentage earning their Eagle rank,’ said Bigbee.

Carden wants the public to know about an upcoming Friends of Scouting luncheon to be held Feb. 27 at the McMinnville Country Club. Dr. Steve Flatt, former Lipscomb University president, will be the guest speaker. For more information about the luncheon or about scouting, contact Carden at 473-3248

‘We need folks to volunteer with scouting, and I want everyone to realize you do not have to previously be involved in scouting to assist. We will gladly train anyone interested in helping,’ said Carden.

‘I firmly believe scouting will mold and shape our youth for the future,’ concluded Carden.

Building men

The Boy Scouts of America movement started on Feb. 8, 1910 and was chartered by Congress in 1916. Their purpose is to provide an educational program for boys and young adults to build character, to train in the responsibilities of participating citizenship and to develop personal fitness.

The Boy Scout program includes something for boys age 7 through 20:

Tiger Cubs – a family- and home-centered program that works with first-grade (or 7-year old) boys. These boys participate in the program with their adult partners and emphasizes shared leadership, learning about the community and family understanding.

Cub Scouts – a program that develops ethical decision-making skills for boys in the second through fifth grade (or who are 8, 9 and 10 years old). Activities emphasize character development, citizenship training and personal fitness.

Webelos Scouts – a program that develops ethical decision-making skills for fourth and fifth grade (or 10-year old) boys. Webelos scouts participate in more advanced activities that begin to prepare them to become Boy Scouts.

Boy Scouting – This program is designed for boys 11 through 17 and is designed to achieve the aims of Scouting through a vigorous outdoor program and peer group leadership with the counsel of an adult Scoutmaster.

Varsity Scouting – An active, exciting program for young men 14 through 17 built around five program fields of emphasis; advancement, high adventure, personal development, service and special programs and events.

Venturing – A program for young men and women who are 14 through 20 years of age to provide positive experiences through exciting and meaningful youth-run activities that help them pursue their special interests, grow by teaching others and develop leadership skills.

Explorer Post’ Programs adopted by businesses taking the opportunity to train youth in their prospective fields.