Eight years ago from now, I would have never believed that Scouts would be like a second family to me. I remember when I would beg my mom to let me quit Scouts, but she would never let me so I eventually grew a deep hatred for Scouts. The stress of waking up to waste a perfect Saturday morning for a scout meeting was not the ideal weekend starter for a seven-year-old. Getting dressed into my uniform of thick winter pants in the summer, a shirt that always ended up sweaty, and a restricting neckerchief, while standing under the scorching sun for 4 hours straight made it feel like a chore. Soon enough, the weekly ‘chore’ became a huge part of my life. The biggest camp of the year, Bridging Camp, went from lame, tiring, and hot to “bridging camp was a movie” and “I can’t wait to do this all again next year.” Every meeting had its ups and downs, but sharing it with the people you grow to love as a family made it all worth it.

Not only did I have a change in perspective as I aged out of brownies, juniors, and finally cadets, it changed me. Aging into Crews gave me a more responsible and sentimental point of view. I’ve learned several skills of planning camptivites, parties, fundraisers, and most importantly, living in the present. The people here have taken me to new heights, allowed me to experience things I would have never gotten to experience, and developed a connection with such an amazing group of people. 

Through scouting, I was able to develop a greater sense of identity and even got to participate on board as a historian. I’m only 15 and don’t know much, but I know for sure that the friends I’ve made at Scouts will remain my friends for life and all the connections and memories I’ve created with them will always hold a special place in my heart. The people that make up Crew 980 are my community and I wouldn’t change a single thing.