Positive PR in "National Treasure: Edge of History"

[BlueandSilverBear]

I love the original "National Treasure" movie and have gotten a kick out of the new Disney+ series, "National Treasure: Edge of History."

No spoilers, but in the season finale two of the main characters are trying to navigate a swamp.  One says something along the lines of "I wish I had paid more attention in Boy Scouts."  He jokes that his dad made him sign up so he could become an adventurer but he never made it past Scout.  When he asks the second character how far he made it, the second replies "Eagle."

The Eagle Scout uses some basic navigation skills (direction of the sunset) to go get help and eventually returns to save the day.  After the Eagle Scout explains how he did it, the first character exclaims, "Boy Scout!" 

I was honestly surprised at how long the conversation went on, and even more to see the positive impression of Scout Skills come back for a second time. Great to see some positive cultural relevance.

I'm off to MC our pinewood derby... fingers crossed that my Wolf's Princess Peach Mario Kart makes a good showing.  Scout on!

[ALongWalk]

Thanks for the post! I will check this out.

How did the PWD go?

[qwazse]

On 2/11/2023 at 9:43 AM, BlueandSilverBear said:

… The Eagle Scout uses some basic navigation skills (direction of the sunset) to go get help and eventually returns to save the day.  After the Eagle Scout explains how he did it, the first character exclaims, "Boy Scout!" 

…

Art imitating life. From marines at boot camp “remembering all those orienteering lessons that I had tried to forget” during their night in the crucible to veterans who told me about how calm and fearless Eagle Scouts were when their platoon had to bivouac … I’ve heard this story multiple times in multiple ways from multiple people.

[BlueandSilverBear]

5 minutes ago, qwazse said:

Art imitating life. From marines at boot camp “remembering all those orienteering lessons that I had tried to forget” during their night in the crucible to veterans who told me about how calm and fearless Eagle Scouts were when their platoon had to bivouac … I’ve heard this story multiple times in multiple ways from multiple people.

Camping, shooting, first aid... time in the field was my favorite part of basic training 🤠   

[Eagle94-A1]

17 hours ago, qwazse said:

 From marines at boot camp...

One of my Eagles told me how in Iraq, the plastic tensioners on the tents kept breaking. So he used a Tautline Hitch on  his ten to fix the problem. His platoon's Gunnery Sgt. sees him doing this, and has him teach everyone in the platoon hot to do this so that when they break, they know what to do.

[SiouxRanger]

Two unimportant anecdotes (but entertaining and IMPORTANT, scoutily):

1.  I bought a canoe once, tied it onto my van.  The Dad (seller) nodded to his son to look under the van to check out my knots-son was an Eagle.  (Me-Eagle) Dad did not think I saw Dad's direction to son, or understand its meaning. (Was a mere look-Dad to son-eyes moved toward my knot work-subtle) Son looked, son subtly nodded to Dad: "OK."  Take aways:  Dad was concerned that I would adequately secure the canoe.  Son was trusted by Dad to understand the meaning of a few eye movements,  AND trusting that son KNEW HIS KNOTS to such a degree that if son approved my work, Dad was satisfied I was good to go, even though Dad did not personally inspect the knots. Isn't this just how it is supposed to be?  I understood the whole situation as it happened.  I still have that canoe, and plan to offer it back to the Dad at the same price I paid for it, 25 years ago. (Worth 3 times now what I paid, but there are perks dealing with Eagles.)

2.  At a troop meeting, in uniform, I had to walk across the grade school campus to the Rectory for something or another.  As I walked across the playground/parking lot, I heard some guy hollering at his wife, he was in his garage just across the street.  "I CAN'T TIE A KNOT."  (Well, that was curious to me being pretty knot-tying capable.) Then, "I need a Boy Scout!!!" (OK, THAT has my attention, and in full uniform and fully visible, I smiled, turning toward his garage.)  Then, "THERE'S A SCOUT!" (referring to me-that was unexpected, but "Yeah" I AM a scout and proud of it). I was never so proud (even at 60). I tied his knots.

These are two of my highlight moments that I experienced as an adult leader.  There are many precious others. But they don't happen daily, nor perhaps even yearly.  Sometimes two in a day.  They are the moments when an adult sees a scout accomplish that which the SCOUT sees as unaccomplishable. Like a terrified scout who rappels for the first time, or who passes a flooded canoe over another canoe and then re-enters the rescued canoe. (These both brought me to tears as I watched, helplessly but hopefully. And the scout, crying also with me, made it happen.)

Many adults worked tirelessly, in the nameless shadows of the Program to make Scouting available to me.  And as my sons, all Eagles, are out of the program by many years, I soldier on. 

In tribute to those who made the Program available to me, I continue on to make it available to my current troop.

And Scouting Changed My Life.