April 28, 2011

Were you involved in Cub and Boy scouting? What Rank did you achieve?

I was always a scout it seemed. I earned my Bobcat, Wolf, Bear, Webelos and Arrow of Light awards as a cub scout. I earned my Tenderfoot, 2^nd class,  1^st class, Star, Life and Eagle Awards as a Boy Scout.

What was your favorite merit badge to earn? Why?

I would say my camping merit badge. I enjoyed every campout and loved every one of them. I also learned many things about the world of nature around me as I got to go out camping. I have been lost on a campout, swam in mountain lakes, hiked in the rain, signaled messages across a like and won a contest doing it, learned to cook in a reflector oven and sleep on rocks. Of course I have since learned how not to sleep on rocks but it did make those camps very memorable. I also learned how you can hike right over a trail and not know it is there unless you are watching your surroundings and looking in every direction as you hike. I have learned not to make instant pudding in a water canteen because it sets up and you can’t spoon it out. I have learned how to not have to stay up all night drying out a wet sleeping bag because I properly waterproofed it when packing up for the camp. I probably learned more form the requirements of that one badge alone than all of the others.