Nemo

I finished the YPT today and must say I really approve of that module. I’m in a much better place now and so I feel free to disclose and discuss, but Scouting gave me the resilience and skills to survive domestic violence, etc. perpetrated of my stepfather. As mentioned before, I’ve decided to look at coming back to Scouting because I feel that Scouting gave me more than any other youth activity in which I participated and I would like to give back. I felt shy about mentioning it, but part of my reasoning for choosing Scouting was because I could be in a proactive position to help prevent child abuse, something that is very close to my heart. I also chose Scouting because upon reflection, besides a couple high school teachers, the role models I most looked up to growing up were my Webelos leader/ Sunday school teacher—a retired Telluride hard rock miner, and my Scout Masters—a Telluride locksmith/ski patrol (also Sunday school teacher),, and a rancher/school maintenance man. They were the people that made the biggest difference to me and the people I’ve most wanted to be like. Not to dwell on the subject too much, but I recently thanked one of them for being there. He actually apologized to me for not being able to do more. He knew my brother and I were getting a too liberal application of the belt and couldn’t do more under Colorado law which had too little definition of child abuse at the time—liberal belting was permitted. I suspected he knew because he stopped letting his son, a best friend, come over. Even though I already held the Scout Master in high esteem, that he was mindful of the belting and trying to do something about it I found reassuring. I guess I’m telling you this story just to let you all know that you can and do make a difference. I’m fully behind the YPT module. I believe all adults that have youth leadership roles could benefit from its training.

Thanks all! I should mention I’m now in Gresham, OR, work in Portland. I enjoyed my role as ASM and believe this might work for starters. I have MB counseled for horsemanship, photography and archery. I am a fluent Spanish speaker and I have also worked with at risk youth in Spain and Chile. I am of Chilean heritage and like to point out that Chile had the second Scouting program in the world in 1910, founded by Baden Powell himself. Now that I got that bragging point out of the way, 😉, on to business: I am an avid cyclist & commuter and am very keen to promote best cycling practices for the good of the youth, community and environment. It’s a plus that it’s a silver MB. I’m also an avid sea kayaker and likewise am interested in promoting best practices. There are a lot of other areas I could counsel, but I’ll start with one or two to see how it goes. I wouldn't want to over commit, and not knowing when to say no. I find the idea of photographing scouting events intriguing and would be open to that. I’ve started the Youth Safety modules so I’m on my way. Council meets first Thursday, the Council Commissioner said I should arrive late, 7:30sh to avoid getting bogged down in council business.

I’m considering coming back to scouting after years. I didn’t make make Eagle mostly because of a domestic issue when I was 15, but I served Troop 500, Telluride, CO., as an Assistant Scoutmaster after I turned 18 but before going to college. I spent my 20s as a horse riding instructor, my 30s as a location photographer and my 40s onward as a linguist—English teaching, transcription and translation. Because of the horsemanship, photography and English teaching, I didn’t settle down until recently. It occurred to me that the thing I most valued growing up was scouting. What I learned in scouting has served me time and time again from practical knots and orienteering, to first aid, or camp fires in pouring rain. I’ve been thinking about getting back into scouting for a while now as a scouter. My principal reasons are that I enjoyed sharing my knowledge in my roles as an instructor and I have a broad catalog of traditional outdoor skills. I would like to make a positive impact in youths’ lives and give back to my community. I believe in scouting and I would like to be part of it. I spoke to our local district commissioner but I remain a bit confused about what role I wish to play. In the scouting I grew up with in rural Colorado, most of the Scouters multitasked as MB counselors, leaders and council members. I believe I want a fairly active role. Any input would be appreciated.