On Sunday when the mother went to pick him up, he was a sight to behold! His sleeping bag was hanging over his shoulder, his hair was disheveled, and his face and clothes were covered in soot. However, what his mother noticed was his grin, it was from ear to ear. As she drove home, with every window down, she asked him about the weekend and all he talked about was the animals they had seen, cooking over the fire, and most of all, the friends he had made! She said she was in shock about everything he was saying, especially the part about his new buddies. He said he could not wait for the troop meeting that week to talk to his new friends. She was almost tearful as she shared with me at a meeting about the difference she was seeing in him and how grateful she was for the Program. She told me: “Scouting has become a second family for them!”
In the Central Florida Council, we talk about how we will offer unparalleled experiences for more youth. Just as this family in my District discovered, we made good on our promise!
As we head toward the summer camp season, I know that every single one of us have met young men and women who need to be invited to experience more of these unparalleled experiences and the wonders of Scouting.They may be a neighbor down the street, at your place of worship, children of someone in your office, or at your school.I invite you to think about who needs to be invited, and just like the family I talked to, can be welcomed into our Scouting family!