Hi-Line Living: National Boy Scout Week

Since 1910, the Boy Scouts of America organization has aimed to help young people grow into responsible adults. Throughout the years, over 110 million people have become members.

According to the Boy Scouts of America website, the organization provides youth with opportunities that allow them to try new things, provide service to others, build self-confidence and reinforce ethical standards.

Thomas Huether, district executive for the Boy Scouts of America Montana Council, said the Cub Scout program is for boys ages 7 to 11, or 1st through 5th grade and the Boy Scout program is for boys ages 11 to 18, or 5th through 12th grade.

There are many programs involved with Scouts as a whole.

"Our other program that we have is called 'Learning for Life,' and it's a career-oriented program called 'Exploring.' Currently we have an exploring program with the border patrol and they do hands-on learning with law enforcement," he said. "(Also,) we just started a medical post with Northern Montana Hospital."

Huether also said that Scouts learn leadership, communication, planning and project development skills.

"Everything that they're going to need when they get to college, the military, the workforce - they're learning through Scouts," he said. "They're out there helping people, they're giving back to the community through service projects.

It helps build and strengthen our young men. We like to say that we're preparing them for life."

David McLeod, assistant scoutmaster for Troop 1492, said that his troop has done a lot recently.

Currently the boys are learning about cultural diversity, where various individuals from different cultures talk to the Scouts about the trials and tribulations about being a minority.

"We've been concentrating on Hispanic and black culture in America, as well as working toward the Native American (culture)," he said. "We try real hard to teach boys to live with good morals and good ideals."

Bill Lanier, pack advancement chair of Pack 4426 and committee chair of Troop 1438, said that people can join Scouts at any time.

"They don't have to do it at the beginning of the year," he said. "They can join now if they want."

Lanier also said Scouts is "a lot like life."

"You get what you put into it," he said. "If you put a lot into it, you're going to get a lot out of it."

Dylan Kuhn, 9, of Pack 4426 said this is his first year being involved with Scouts.

"It's fun," he said. "We just made mandalas. Mine's hanging in my room right now."

The mandalas are art pieces that consist of a hoop and leather material and the Cub Scouts decorate the pieces with badges they earned while in Cub Scouts. These will be displayed when the Scouts have their crossover ceremony Feb. 21 at the Blue and Gold Banquet at 6 p.m. at St. Jude's Parish Center - Webelos II, the last rank of Cub Scouts, will be crossing over into Boy Scouts.

Logan Twombly, 13, of Troop 1492 said he has been involved with Scouts since he was in pre-school.

Twombly also said his favorite part about about being involved with Scouts is going on camping trips with his troop.

"We are planning our campouts for this month," he said.

Twombly added that he has learned a lot through scouting.

"(Scouts has) taught me about responsibility and learning about how to do certain things."

For more information on Boy Scouts of the Hi-Line, visit http://www.montanabsa.org/hi-line.