Hrm. This is something that most people don't know about me. Or, well, they know it, but they don't know anything about what I did in it. And maybe they should, since I was involved in Scouting for 10 years.

I started out hangin' out with my older brother at his troop meetings. The guys always seemed to have a lot of fun, and I tagged along on a couple of the camping trips. They introduced me to Magic: The Gathering (which, to my knowledge, is still banned in T209 because of them.) Joined up with the Cub Scouts kind of late, but still managed to get my Arrow of Light and all that other good stuff.

12 was when I 'crossed over'. That's the actual name of the ceremony, and it was a lot of fun. Our troop had a small cabin next to a fairly decent sized lake. On one side, they set up a wooden arc, decorated with torches. Sunset was when the ceremony was held. All six of us that were passing from Cubs to Scouts marched under it, one at a time, and got into canoes paddled by two of the older boys. We did a circle around the lake, a serene, peaceful place, and landed on the dock. They had us line up, backs to the cabin, with a huge pile of wood in between. They lit the bonfire, let it get roaring before they started the next step. Each of us in turn had our neckerchiefs taken from us, and a new one presented. It was... A rewarding moment.

Over the next few years, I had a lot of fun. Camping every other weekend, bonding with the other guys, moving up in the scouting ranks. Summer camp was a blast, too. Hidden Valley was great for getting merit badges, and they had a nice sailing program, along with their rifle and archery programs.

The two summers at summer camp that stick out the most weren't at Hidden Valley, but Camp Bell, on the same lot of property. It was a huge place, and we were pretty much self-sufficient, save for food deliveries every morning. Horseback riding, waterskiing, hiking... Fun stuff. This was about the time I was appointed Senior Patrol Leader, about two years ago now. I was the oldest guy in the troop at that point, and I'd already gotten a lot of experience in different things.

And that was just the first year. That year, I bonded with one of the councilors, by the name of Emily. This was the same year and time as Hurricane Emily, so that's what her nickname for that week was. She was... Awesome. Year older than me, the first year she was still a CIT. Second year she was 19, had her own area all about Appalachian crafts, though she still took my troop out on the motorboat twice that week. Ended up doing my Metalworking badge with her, and as her assistant through most of it. Even helped her design the scimitar she made later that summer, wish I still had the pictures of it. She was an incredible friend, and I'm horribly disappointed that I lost touch with her. Last I heard, she was working as a farrier in the southern part of the state.

Cooking was always a blast. I managed to net first place every time I joined the competition, a double-edged sword. (They made me cook every time we went camping.) Klondike was fun, too, even though we were running through ass-deep snow every year.

Food drives played a big part of the bonding process I had with the other Scouts, too. Eight guys walking door to door together, handing out bags for people to put food in and be picked up the next week. We helped a lot of people through that program.

Selling popcorn... That was the only boring part of it. Oddly enough, I was better at the Hike-a-thon, where I was getting donations to walk several miles.

One experience selling popcorn sticks out the most, though. The last one I had, even. I was standing out in front of the local bank, doin' my think. I'd talked to the manager, a friend of my family (hard not to be in a town of <2000 people), and had permission. I was doing fairly brisk business, and attracting a fair bit for the bake sale that was next to my little stall.

Then comes FemAntiChrist. This woman was totally insane. I get the whole disliking Boy Scouts for the decisions by the top guys to be homophobic, though my troop had never had any problem with me, and I was totally open about it. She screamed in my face, made derogatory marks to me. At one point, she said that she wanted to spit in my face. Somehow, I managed to be civil and polite through the whole thing. I swear if I didn't hate the public I'd be an awesome sales rep. Then she asked me who had given me permission to set up, and when I told her, she stepped in to have a word with the manager. I still don't know exactly what was said, but the manager came out on break and asked me how I managed to deal with the crazy bitch and not blow my top.

Blowing my top came five minutes later, when one of the 'good ol' boys' in our town came up and told me I was doing the right thing. I guess he didn't expect me to be a sexual deviant.

Two merit badges left, halfway through my Eagle project, four weeks to spare. Thought I was goin' to make the dream I'd had my entire life to that point into a reality. I'd wanted to be an Eagle since I was a little kid, and... Well, our scoutmaster had resigned a year before. The new one had two kids in the troop, one of them was my second in command. He refused to send the bluecards (paperwork for finished badges) through, and to help me with my project. I didn't need the help, though I needed the paperwork done. All because I'd gotten farther than his son.

I had to make the hardest, and most depressing, decision of my life so far. I walked out of the troop that I'd spent years getting to know, helping guide. I'd made changes that were revoked as soon as I left. Other parents called up, asking why I'd left. So did their kids. A lot of letters and calls were made to the local council about the scoutmaster. Apparentally, he was pulling the same thing with most of the other kids.

The other kids were.... Upset, to say the least. That was the one place I really belonged. I was a leader there, in a good way. I helped the kids find the best outlets for their talents, gave them a way to have input in their activities... And because of this man, and his refusal to abide by the code, I left. I can honestly say that moment, that one decision, changed me forever. I haven't been the same since then. I finished my Eagle project, a set of dugouts for my highschool, though it didn't get me any closer to my goal. Two weeks before my 18th birthday was when I finished, and I was congratulated by quite a few in the town.

It felt hollow. -I- felt hollow.

Despite how my experience ended, I loved that time in my life. I could be who I was, without fear of reprisal, I could enjoy the outdoors, learn about nature, and a myriad of other things. Even if I wasn't recognized with the achievement, I finished the requirements to be an Eagle Scout. Maybe I'll become an adult leader later on in life and help kids again.

After all, that was the one thing I've ever been really good at.

Take care, everybody. Thanks for readin' this. I might put up some more of my experiences from Boy Scouts later on.