August 02nd, 2012

I guess it is time to get to blogging again, before school gets
here too soon.






     Let me start off with a confession.  I’m Brian Ketcham,
and I am an Eagle Scout.  Phew, that feels better.  I never liked
to brag or even mention that I was one in school, but I am very proud of that award, and more importantly, proud of all the things the BSA and the path to my Eagle provided for me.

     I received an e-mail from my father the other day inviting me to a Troop 32 Eagle dinner and ceremony for all Eagles in the long History of Troop 32. I at first blew it off, as something I don’t have time for.  As I was painting the house however, I started thinking of my days in the
boy scouts.
                
     Sure scouting gave me a chance to go camping, hiking, and backpacking.  Those are all great things and were fun.  I also got to explore parts of the state and county that I wouldn’t have otherwise. These are all fantastic things. However, it is funny looking back 15 years later at what were the most important things scouting gave me: Skills in organization, leading people, asking for input, cooking, and  friendships.
                
     Scouting is an interesting organization that is different than a school
setting (however, I think we are going more towards what the Scouts have been doing for years).  It is led by the boys.  Sure we had adults that
helped, and were ultimately in charge if the poop hit the fan, but we planned where we wanted to go, when, what was to eat, and every other detail. Even behavior problems were often handled in house by the boys. 
 
I remember 3 years in a row of being SPL (Senior Patrol Leader) just in time for the Annual Planning meeting at Mr. Walker house.  There theboys would sit, and discuss what camp out or outing we wanted to go on EVERY
month, when to have meetings, and what our bigger goals were.  No idea was dismissed without looking at how we would achieve it.  We learned how to compromise, and work with difficult people (myself included). 
The teambuilding is amazing that you acquire almost through osmosis.  I think it has to do a lot with your elected peers being in charge. It always SHOCKS me when I am trying to count kids in D.C. and they move, are late, or just generally 8thgraders.  Funny thing, this crap doesn’t fly in the scouts.  

You understand the buddy system and counting to make sure you don’t lose anyone.  They police themselves, adults don’t have too.  Maybe I need to about a DCL for next year?

 As for friendships and cooking… Let’s just say after several mishaps over the years of camp cooking, I started out much ahead of non-scouts when I moved into my own place.  With friendships, I am still friends with most of my “Shark Patrol” and it is so funny if you post a picture of a campout on facebook, you’ll quickly see the comments roll in.  Everyone has a memory or their take on a memory from that trip.


In summary… I hope Ben likes scouts, I think the organization would suit him well in life.

Alright, it late and I’m too tired to even proof read this.

 Ketcham Out.

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