Prepared For Life

Zach Zimmerman didn't want anything to do with scouting but he says, "his Dad made him do it". He can't begin to tell you how grateful he is that his Dad pushed him. Zach is a Life Scout and working toward his Eagle Scout rank. Zach tells Adrienne Wrona, District Executive with the Boy Scouts, Hawk Mountain Council, that his favorite part of scouting is the progressing through the ranks. He likes the challenges that are put in front of him. Today younger scouts look to him for guidance... he is like a scout super hero!

Austin Flagler and Shaun Arnold say that scouting is like a family relationship. They learned how to work side by side and help each other. Austin and Shaun say the challenges they faced in the scouting program taught them how to navigate through rough spots. But it’s not all serious; their faces light up with knowing grins as they recall the experiences that leave them with lots of stories to tell!

Baltimore Scout Troop Chooses Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation Camp Meade for their Summer Camp Trip. Julien Mouton and Casey Murray from Baltimore Boy Scout Troop 733 say they heard a lot of good things about Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation, Camp Meade. When they did their research it sealed the deal. Their summer camp trip would be Camp Meade. Julien and Casey tell Adrienne Wrona, District Executive with the Boy Scouts, Hawk Mountain Council, that the food is good and the fact that there is a lake AND a pool is the icing on the cake. These boys detail all the things that keep them in the Boy Scout program. Organization and discipline are on the list, but not the top of the list. Tune in and find out what excites them the most.

Meet this Father and Son Aquatics Team at Camp Meade in Schuylkill County. Adrienne Wrona, District Executive with the Boy Scouts, Hawk Mountain Council, talks with Art Kayhart, a Scoutmaster and his son Noah, a Junior Assistant Scoutmaster. The two have a great deal of respect for each other and it shows in the conversation. Noah says scouting gave him the opportunity to take chances and find out what he can do. Rowing was not his favorite; he says he wasn’t very good at it. Today Noah is the rowing instructor at Camp Meade. Art talks about the rewards and challenges of being a Scoutmaster. He says “The important thing in life is to be able to return what has been given to you”.

Katie Casserly is a Venturer who spent two years earning her Silver Award. The same week she was preparing for the Silver Award Ceremony she got some other news. Katie was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. That was two years ago. Katie attributes her ability to maintain a positive mindset to Scouting. Katie tells Adrienne Wrona, District Executive with the Boy Scouts, Hawk Mountain Council, how Venturing helped give her the skills she needed to be walk through the cancer diagnosis and treatment journey.

Robert Blackwell is the Climbing Director at Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation, Camp Meade. Rob did not grow up in the scouting program. He says he first got involved with the Boy Scouts through the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. His curiosity about C.O.P.E. and climbing led him to accept the position and join the climbing staff at camp. As director of the program, he gets an overview perspective and says the most important outcome is watching the scouts grow and become young men. Rob says it is ‘the people’ that drive the scouting movement forward.

Adrienne Wrona, District Executive with the Boy Scouts, Hawk Mountain Council, went to Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation, Camp Meade to catch up with Cody and Cordell Maurer. They grew up in Reading and were first exposed to scouting at an open house at Riverside Elementary School. Cody says it all started with wind chimes at an open house! Tune in to find out why these brothers like Venturing so much. Cordell says scouting has really helped him develop leadership and interpersonal skills. Cody says scouting is ticket out of the inner city environment. These brothers found a new life in scouts and believe it’s important to give back and show other younger kids a different way of living.

You always wondered: what is the attraction to Scout camp? Now Adrienne Wrona, a district director for the Hawk Mountain Council, shares the inside scoop with great enthusiasm! Adrienne recalls fond memories of attending Tiger Day Camp with her brother and Dad when she was a kid. She even remembers the archery range volunteer by name, Denny Greenfield. You see, Denny called her to join the boys in learning how to shoot a bow. She was hooked and eventually became a camp counselor and now works for the scouts as a COPE and Climbing director at camp. COPE is an acronym for challenging outdoor personal experiences. Adrienne details the ‘ropes’ for Bill Garrett, Scout Executive and CEO of the Hawk Mountain Council. The biggest reward is watching scouts and adults grow together in team building, leadership and problem solving skills all while having fun!

Brian Beddow is a Field Director for the Hawk Mountain Council and he talks about the variety of ways to get involved in Scouts. The Hawk Mountain Council is made up of four districts and serves about 12,000 young men and women. Even though he only spent a year as a Scout when he was young, Brian has made a career of Scouting in his adult life, sharing the opportunities it provides to everyone in the family. Scouting is starting a new program this fall called STEM Scouting.

It is the convergence of Scouting values like citizenship, personal fitness and leadership in a lab setting with science, technology, engineering and math. STEM Scouting is just one aspect of the Boy Scouts of America. Scouting opportunities start in kindergarten with Cub Scouts and grow with the kids through Boy Scouts, adult leaders, Venturing for young men and women between 14 and 21 and Explorers which provide opportunities for kids to participate in career based programs. Find out more by calling 610-926-3406 or visit their website http://www.hmc-bsa.org/

Brian Beddow is a Field Director for the Hawk Mountain Council and he talks about the variety of ways to get involved in Scouts. The Hawk Mountain Council is made up of four districts and serves about 12,000 young men and women. Even though he only spent a year as a Scout when he was young, Brian has made a career of Scouting in his adult life, sharing the opportunities it provides to everyone in the family. Scouting is starting a new program this fall called STEM Scouting.

It is the convergence of Scouting values like citizenship, personal fitness and leadership in a lab setting with science, technology, engineering and math. STEM Scouting is just one aspect of the Boy Scouts of America. Scouting opportunities start in kindergarten with Cub Scouts and grow with the kids through Boy Scouts, adult leaders, Venturing for young men and women between 14 and 21 and Explorers which provide opportunities for kids to participate in career based programs. Find out more by calling 610-926-3406 or visit their website http://www.hmc-bsa.org/