Scouts learn to build skills
CRANBERRY TWP — There's a moment during a Boy Scout's first outdoor excursion that Jayme Meredith enjoys seeing more than anything — one he'd like to see happen more often.
Surrounded by trees and streams, untethered from their daily digital distractions and, sometimes, away from their parents for the first time in their lives, they see a side of life and the world they perhaps didn't know existed.
“It's fun when you watch the scout get hooked on the outdoors,” said Meredith, scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 404 in Cranberry Township.
Meredith is hoping the appeal of that experience, as well as the successful habits scouting tends to breed, will convince more young people to join the organization. He took over as scoutmaster earlier this year, replacing Jim Meinert, who lead the troop for 15 years.
Both Meinert and Meredith believe scouting offers participants the type of education that is harder to find in a digital world — one that is hands-on and promotes communication, teamwork and service. Both are lifelong scouts who have seen the benefits of scouting's steady values.
“It's getting back to the basics: going out and using — not abusing — wildlife and the resources you have outside,” Meinert said. “It gets the youth out of the thumb-flipping on the cell phones and other electronics ... and brings them down to the nitty-gritty of ... making something. ... and learning to have fun but still work at something with good values.”
The competition for boys' time these days is fierce, however, as Meinert said things like sports, school commitments and technology often take precedence. Meredith agreed.
“It is hard to compete with those things,” he said. “There isn't a sideline full of adoring fans when we go on campouts. ... That adrenaline rush and glory of the goal isn't there.”
The Cranberry troop has made concessions to allow scouts to participate in all activities whenever they can, and Meredith said the goal is to show them the benefits of scouting as often as possible.
“If we can get one little hook, that's all we need,” he said.
For many, that hook is as simple as seeing success, as the troop has produced 56 Eagle Scouts since its inception. That requires, among other things, the completion of a major community service project, which Meredith said challenges young men in a way their peers often are not.
“How many 15-, 16- or 17-year-olds have to contact their community leaders to build a park bench somewhere?,” he said. “It can be scary talking to an adult, having to explain yourself and answer questions, but when its done, you've accomplished something.”
Meredith, an Eagle Scout himself, hopes that experience, as well as scouting in general, will prepare his troop members for their adult lives. For Caesar DeLeo, who assists with the troop and has two sons who earned Eagle Scout honors, the proof of that is clear.
His younger son, Michael, is a computer engineering student, working hands on and completing projects with skills he honed in scouting. His older son, Caesar, serves in the Army National Guard as a medic, and has transferred the lessons of his youth to his career.
“I think being an Eagle Scout gave (my son) a lot of the basic skills so when he did his basic training, orienting and working a map was second nature. First aid was second nature. He ended up becoming a medic, in part, because of that,” DeLeo said.
Meinert, whose sons also earned Eagle Scout honors, said the takeaways from the process are many.
“You strive for that accomplishment of that goal of making Eagle, and the values that scouting has are instilled there,” he said.
As Meredith continues the transition to scoutmaster, he said his goal will continue to show as many young people the benefit of learning those values, as well as the successful base they can build for their futures.
“If we can nudge their life in a positive direction even an inch, I'll take that,” he said.
Troop 404 meets every Tuesday evening at the Cranberry Township Elks. Youths ages 12 to 18 years with an interest in becoming a Boy Scout can contact scoutmaster@troop404.org or stop by for a visit.
