Ever since Kathryn and I started to think about creating a blog together and especially over the past week, I've racked my brain trying to think of a concurrent theme on which my section would be about. Here, on the morning of Saturday, September 16th, at approximately 2AM in the morning, I am woken up by a thunderstorm gently passing in the night, and I realize how glaringly obvious the answer is: The Boy Scouts of America.

First, I must admit a fault of mine.

During a young man's Eagle Scout Board of Review (Final Interview for the highest honor in scouting) he is asked to take what seems like a simple vow: To give back to Scouting more than he has gotten out of it.

So what have has the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) given to me?

You may want to grab some more coffee...

Life story time.

When I was just a lad (11) my family moved from northeast Philadelphia to Bensalem, PA. A move that on paper seemed negligible. We didn't relocate more than 10 miles from my early childhood home and I continued on at the same grade school. No big deal right? Wrong. Young Shane was now able to explore for miles of neighborhoods, woods, creeks, fishing spots and all the beauty of a small section of Bensalem known as Andalusia. And explore I did. And the more exploring I did, the more I became addicted to it. My mother soon realized that Andalusia wouldn't be enough for me and through a client of hers, enrolled me in BSA Troop 132.

Through Troop 132 I was able to make a core group of friends who I saw weekly. Those friends went on to become high school friends, college friends, and friends I would spend time at the seashore of Wildwood, NJ with during college summers.

Not only did I develop friendships, I started to discover who I was, largely in part to the troop's monthly camping trips, and Troop 132 never camped the same place twice. I was quickly hooked to exploring the woods of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Deleware, Maryland and Virginia.

In those same forests, I learned how to shoot a 12 gauge shotgun; make a life vest out of a pair of pants (while treading water); apply first aid that could be the difference between life and death (used yesterday in a non life threatening situation); craft using wood, leather, and metal; navigate bodies of water using row boats, canoes and small sail boats (became a certified skipper last year); apply all the core skills to become a well rounded individual (see eagle required merit badges); and so much more...

Last and certainly not least, through scouting I was introduced to my partner in crime, my muse, the girl with love in her eyes and flowers in her hair who plays guitar and laughs and cries and sings...my absolutely wonderful fiancé Kathryn.

So back to my fault, when I take a vow I take it seriously and I've asked myself over the past eight years since receiving the rank of eagle scout,"How the heck am I supposed to give scouting more than it has given me!?"

The answer is simple. I cannot. But what I can do is encourage others to get involved with their local troop, explore as often as possible, respect and conserve nature, and to never stop learning.

If you've gotten this far thanks for reading!

I'll always leave you with a quote and a song.
To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate the beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch Or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
Ralph Waldo Emerson - SuccessEver since Kathryn and I started to think about creating a blog together and especially over the past week, I've racked my brain trying to think of a concurrent theme on which my section would be about. Here, on the morning of Saturday, September 16th, at approximately 2AM in the morning, I am woken up by a thunderstorm gently passing in the night, and I realize how glaringly obvious the answer is: The Boy Scouts of America.

First, I must admit a fault of mine.

During a young man's Eagle Scout Board of Review (Final Interview for the highest honor in scouting) he is asked to take what seems like a simple vow: To give back to Scouting more than he has gotten out of it.

So what have has the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) given to me?

You may want to grab some more coffee...

Life story time.

When I was just a lad (11) my family moved from northeast Philadelphia to Bensalem, PA. A move that on paper seemed negligible. We didn't relocate more than 10 miles from my early childhood home and I continued on at the same grade school. No big deal right? Wrong. Young Shane was now able to explore for miles of neighborhoods, woods, creeks, fishing spots and all the beauty of a small section of Bensalem known as Andalusia. And explore I did. And the more exploring I did, the more I became addicted to it. My mother soon realized that Andalusia wouldn't be enough for me and through a client of hers, enrolled me in BSA Troop 132.

Through Troop 132 I was able to make a core group of friends who I saw weekly. Those friends went on to become high school friends, college friends, and friends I would spend time at the seashore of Wildwood, NJ with during college summers.

Not only did I develop friendships, I started to discover who I was, largely in part to the troop's monthly camping trips, and Troop 132 never camped the same place twice. I was quickly hooked to exploring the woods of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Deleware, Maryland and Virginia.

In those same forests, I learned how to shoot a 12 gauge shotgun; make a life vest out of a pair of pants (while treading water); apply first aid that could be the difference between life and death (used yesterday in a non life threatening situation); craft using wood, leather, and metal; navigate bodies of water using row boats, canoes and small sail boats (became a certified skipper last year); apply all the core skills to become a well rounded individual (see eagle required merit badges); and so much more...

Last and certainly not least, through scouting I was introduced to my partner in crime, my muse, the girl with love in her eyes and flowers in her hair who plays guitar and laughs and cries and sings...my absolutely wonderful fiancé Kathryn.

So back to my fault, when I take a vow I take it seriously and I've asked myself over the past eight years since receiving the rank of eagle scout,"How the heck am I supposed to give scouting more than it has given me!?"

The answer is simple. I cannot. But what I can do is encourage others to get involved with their local troop, explore as often as possible, respect and conserve nature, and to never stop learning.

If you've gotten this far thanks for reading!

I'll always leave you with a quote and a song.
To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate the beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch Or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
Ralph Waldo Emerson - Success