FORT HOOD, Texas -- "On my honor, I will do my best. To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law…"
These two sentences may not mean much to the average person, but to a scout in the Boy Scouts of America, these are words to live by.
Founded in 1910, the Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest male youth organizations in the United States; more than 110-million Americans have been members.
One officer from the "Lancers" 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, has contributed his time in leading Cub Scout troops, the younger level of Boy Scouts, and to spend time with his sons.
"Especially with the rapid deployment rate, leading their Boy Scout troop is a good way to spend time with my boys," explained Avon Park, Fla. native, Capt. Micah Chapman, commander of B Company of the Lancer Battalion.
Since the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, deployment rates have increased.
After looking for ways to spend quality time with his kids, Chapman's sons returned home from school expressing a genuine interest in joining the local Cub Scout chapter, sparking his interest in leading their group.
Although quality time with his boys is a big motivator for his participation, Chapman enjoys the quality of values offered to young Cub Scouts.
"I like the core values that Scouting instills in boys and I think it offers quality fun, outdoors and preparing young boys to take on greater responsibilities through learning and personal experience," Chapman explained.
There are four age groups available for Cub Scouts: Tiger Scouts (1st grade), Wolf Scouts (2nd grade), Bear Scouts (3rd grade) and Webelos (4th and 5th grades).
According to the "So, you're a new Webelos Den leader" handbook found on scouting.org, a Webelos leader is given "the opportunity to help boys learn good citizenship and to help shape them into men who have strength of character and are sensitive to the needs of others."
Although there are certain tasks that are required to progress as a Boy Scout, Chapman finds the curriculum flexible to where he can still be actively engaged.
As a Den leader you invest many hours a month. One night a week for den meetings, one night a month for pack meetings, Cub Scout roundtable and one evening for planning a meeting with other pack leaders, according to the "So, you're a new Webelos Den leader" handbook.
"I spend about 10 hours in the planning, preparing and administrative part of scouting, and about four hours a month holding scouting meetings," Chapman said about the amount of hours he puts in a month. "If we camp out that is an overnight event and last one evening and part or all of a day."
There are many extracurricular activities the scouts participate in -- shooting BB guns, archery, attending rocket academies, camping, and hiking are only a few.
The local Den has conducted many different events and has planned plenty of upcoming activities. The first major event for the boys is to participate in the Fall Festival at Camp Tahuaya in Temple, sponsored by the Leon Valley District, the leaders in charge of all Boy and Cub Scouts in this area.
"(Cub Scouts) really sets (the boys) up for success as productive members of society," Chapman concluded.
Social Sharing