I was a Cub Scout as a kid growing up in the small town of Minier in southeastern Tazewell County. We had weekly den meetings in the Minier Christian Church basement, which was on my way home from the grade school. I remember songs and games, blue uniform shirts, the Law of the Pack, Pinewood Derby, and cupcakes or cookies at the end of every meeting. Most of all, I remember the fun I had with my friends in Pack 188.

The world we live in now is quite different from the world of my childhood. But the things that attracted me to Scouts way back then are the same as what the program offers today: Fun, adventure, learning, and growth in a safe, family-friendly environment.

Fall Cub Scout recruiting kicks off this month, with recruiting nights planned in towns across Central Illinois. Boys and girls in kindergarten to fifth grade and their families will have a chance to learn about and join a Cub Scout Pack. Here in Pekin, there is currently one Cub Scout Pack (Pack 3181). It has outstanding adult leaders and is active all year round. There used to be at least three Cub Scout packs in Pekin. If the right adult leaders step up, there could be again.

On the Scouts BSA side (boys and girls ages 11-17), Pekin has three male-only troops (Troop 62, Troop 181 and Troop 65) and one female-only troop (Troop 265). Most boys and girls who join a troop do so after a few years in Cub Scouts, but that is not a requirement. Any boy or girl who is at least 10 years old and in the fifth grade who registers on or after March 1 can join in on the fun, adventure, and leadership opportunities of Scouts BSA.

Don’t be surprised if your son or daughter (or grandchild) brings home a flyer from school with the time and date of a recruiting meeting. That’s what got me and the first of my three Eagle Scout sons hooked back in the mid-90s. If you don’t see a flyer, check out beascout.org to find contact information for Pack 3181 or any other pack in the W. D. Boyce Council. Or if you have kids (or grandkids) in the 11-17 age range, make it a point to find out about all three Pekin troops at the same website, beascout.org. Find out when they meet and plan a visit to each.

As I said earlier, families are busier than ever with sports, church, academics, robotics, dance, music and on and on. I get it, you have to make choices. And while I know all of these activities have a lot going for them, I encourage you to find a place for Scouting in your child’s busy life. At every age and in every program, Scouting helps young people develop academic skills, self-confidence, ethics, and leadership skills that will influence their adult lives. It builds better citizens, allows kids to try new things and puts a premium on serving others.

Some Scouts grow up to be astronauts and inventors, politicians, and business leaders. But even the ones who don’t will always carry along memories of fun and adventure with their friends and family. Get them started now at beascout.org.

Scout On!

Scott Fishel wears several hats in Scouting, including a longtime association with Troop 178 and Troop 1178 in Morton. You can contact him at [email protected]. Find a Scout unit in your community at beascout.org.