Once upon a time, in a world filled with bears and bison, I was working at a sporting goods store. It was the year 2004, and my job was at the customer service counter. One day, a father and his son, who appeared to be around 11 years old, walked in. They were looking for camping equipment, as the boy was going on his very first Boy Scout campout.
As an Eagle Scout myself, I take my role in scouting very seriously. So when my boss allowed me to personally help this father and son, I was thrilled. The father was clearly out of his element when it came to camping gear. It seemed like he had never ventured beyond the city limits in his life. But he had a list of items provided by his son’s troop, so I guided them through the store, explaining what each item was and its purpose.
During our time together, I also had the opportunity to talk to the young scout. He had recently joined the troop and was excited about all the adventures that awaited him in the wilderness. I shared stories of my own scouting experiences, from climbing mountains to exploring military bases. The boy was impressed and eager to embark on his own scouting journey.
After carefully selecting a cart full of camping essentials, we reached the checkout counter. The total came to a bit over $200, and the father’s face displayed a mix of shock, fear, and resignation. He clearly hadn’t expected it to be this expensive, but he couldn’t disappoint his son. Just as he reluctantly reached for his wallet, I smiled and knocked 20% off the total. “A scout is helpful and kind,” I quoted. The father and son were incredibly grateful and left the store with beaming smiles.
Over the next year, they became regulars at the store. The boy’s troop required various camping supplies, and they often came in to make their purchases. More pictures of their camping adventures were added to our brag board. The boy’s first summer camp was a great success, and he even earned several merit badges.
However, as life goes on, our paths diverged. I couldn’t dedicate as much time to his troop due to school and new jobs. But then, in 2010, I received an unexpected phone call. It was the young scout, now a young man, inviting me to his Eagle Court of Honor. Memories of our time together came flooding back, and I promised him that I would be there to celebrate this achievement.
At the ceremony, he stood tall and proud as the Eagle Medal was pinned to his shirt. He spoke about the people who had made a difference in his life, and he specifically mentioned me as the first adult to encourage him. Tears of joy streamed down my face.
After the ceremony, I had the chance to talk to his father. Scouting had transformed both of them for the better. The father had realized that harboring bitterness towards his ex-wife wasn’t the path of a scout leader. Their divorce had become more amicable, and they had successfully renegotiated custody. He was a happier man, bursting with pride for his son. The young man, destined for greatness, was graduating high school soon and had plans to pursue a degree in psychology with a minor in criminal justice. He aspired to be a police officer, living by the Scout Oath and Law.
To this day, I stay in touch with him. As he prepares his applications for various police departments, I have offered to be his reference. He embodies the qualities we all seek in a police officer – duty, honor, integrity, generosity, and kindness. I am confident that he will make a remarkable officer, and I take pride in knowing that my willingness to help him choose camping equipment years ago played a small part in his journey.
Because, in the end, scouting is about helping others and making a difference.
