By Chief Jim Heavey
The Boy Scouts of America recently changed its name to Scouting America, but its mission remains the same: to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. While this might sound like the lofty goal it is, Scouting programs do this via exciting group activities, service projects, and fun outdoor adventures. These undertakings also give Scouts the opportunity to learn values-based leadership skills.
The Greenwich Scouting Program has many great opportunities for kids and teens. The Greenwich Council has been helping youth to do your best and be prepared for over 113 years. There are several types of Scouting units in Greenwich.
The Cub Scout program is co-ed and serves children in kindergarten through fifth grade. Cub Scouts engage in a wide range of activities that promote personal growth, teamwork, and a sense of community. Dens are organized by school grade and meet a few times a month, and all the Dens meet as a Pack once a month.
Youths can join Scouts BSA if they are at least ten and in the fifth grade. Scouts BSA is made up of separate Troops of girls or boys. Scouts BSA is dedicated to preparing young people for life by instilling values such as citizenship, leadership, and self-reliance through a variety of adventurous activities. The addition of female Scouts is a relatively new development, and Greenwich currently has two girl Troops and six boy Troops. They meet once a week and usually camp out once a month.
Greenwich also has three Explorers Posts. These Posts are co-ed programs for high school-aged youth that focus on careers or vocations. Our town offers Police, Fire, and EMS Posts. Many adults go on to become police officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, or related professionals because of their youthful experience in the Exploring program. Exploring can help youth learn about these fields as possible careers or volunteer service.
Another exciting opportunity starting this fall is the resurrection of an old Scouting program called Sea Scouts. The Indian Harbor Yacht Club (IHYC) will sponsor Ship 1 as a new unit. Ship 1’s first meeting will be Sept. 6 at 6 p.m. at IHYC.
The Greenwich Council is hosting a “Scout-o-R a ma” at their 175 -acre camp, Ernest Thompson Seton Scout Reservation, at 363 Riversville Road on Oct. 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Scout-O-Rama 2024 is for future Scouts and their families to explore the exciting world of Cub Scouting and Scouts, BSA in a fun-filled day that showcases adventurous, educational, and community-focused activities that make scouting a unique and rewarding experience. The event includes activities such as Archery, climbing wall, bounce house, crafts, food, and demos from Greenwich First Responders.
Recently, Scouting America released a new study about the needs of youth post pandemic. The study revealed that many parents felt their child had lost part of their childhood. The research showed that kids are increasingly focused on friendships and the future, being trusted and respected for who they are, and being able to take charge of solving problems on their own. We are very fortunate the Greenwich Council stands ready to support both parents and youth with developing these important life skills.
“The global pandemic made parents realize that they will never be able to fully protect their kids from harm and therefore made them more enthusiastic about equipping their kids with traditional skills more associated with older generations, such as preparedness, resilience and ingenuity, to help their kids lead vibrant, resilient lives,” the national off ice of Scouting America said in a recent press release.
“Scouting America can be a big part of the solution for these understandable concerns,” said Roger A. Krone, president and chief executive officer of Scouting America. “Especially when introduced at a young age, Scouting can help kids develop relevant skills and promote the resilience, critical thinking and leadership their parents seek that are vital for them to become well-rounded individuals, ready for success in today’s world.”
“Based on our analysis, there is a growing demand from both parents and kids for opportunities that unlock the full experiences of childhood,” said Nico Turk, senior strategist at Humanology. “Scouting can play a pivotal role in addressing these needs. Their programs provide structure to kids so they can accomplish things they haven’t yet imagined.”
Modern Scouting isn’t all camping, fishing and hiking. While many Scouts love their boots and tackle, they also take advantage of Scouting skills that range from essentials in self-sufficiency and kindness learned early on in Cub Scouts to advanced, like rocketry, robotics, coding, and combating cyberbullying.
“At Scouting America, we pride ourselves in delivering the skills we know youth seek in fun and exciting ways,” says Angie Minett, Scouts BSA Chairperson. “For example, engineering and creativity are taught as early as Cub Scouts with the iconic Pinewood Derby, offering Scouts hands-on problem-solving experience that remains relevant in today’s environment. While kids may think they’re just building and racing cars, we know they’re accomplishing so much more.”
Be on the lookout for a Scouting America recruiting table at your school’s open house after school starts in the coming weeks. To learn more and find a Pack or Unit near you, visit linktr.ee/greenwichscouting or contact Robert Behan, District Director at robert.behan@scouting.org.
Scouting makes you prepared for life.
Chief Heavey, pictured here on a scouting trip, is an Eagle Scout and the recipient of the Silver Beaver award for distinguished service to youth. Besides being a local Scout leader, he has served on the national staff of numerous Order of the Arrow conferences, led four troops at various national jamborees, and served as the crew advisor for five hiking treks at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. His daughter, Ana, earned her EMT at 15 years old as a member of the Greenwich EMS Explorer Post, where she served as post president. She is now an RN. His son, James, who participated in Greenwich Scouting for many years, is an Eagle Scout. James was a member of the Fire Explorer Post before becoming a volunteer firefighter in the Glenville Volunteer Fire Co.
